The Walt Disney World Dolphin – Orlando, Florida | Hotel Tour

The Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort is one of the premier hotels in the Epcot resorts area and is located adjacent to its sister resorts, the Walt Disney World Swan and the Swan Reserve.  This amazing resort has a stunning architectural design and consists of 1,514 well-appointed rooms & suites topped by two 56-foot dolphin sculptures.  The hotel is on the grounds of the Walt Disney World Resort and is within walking distance to the International Gateway of Disney’s EPCOT theme park.

The Dolphin and Swan originally opened in 1990 and recently announced a $275 million renovation & expansion that will include the addition of 120,000 square of convention and event space, the modernization of existing meeting spaces, technology advances throughout the property, and upgrades to the guest rooms in the Swan.

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About the Walt Disney World Dolphin

The Walt Disney World Dolphin hotel is located in the Epcot Resort Area of the Walt Disney World Resort. This area features several individual resort hotels, five which surround Crescent Lake and area interconnected by walking paths, several restaurants and shopping venues and immediate access to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios via boat transportation as well as walking paths and gondola service known as the Disney Skyliner. 

The resort hotels located in the Epcot Resort Area are as follows:

• The Walt Disney World Dolphin
• The Walt Disney World Swan
• Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
• Disney’s Beach Club Resort / Disney’s Beach Club Villas (vacation club)
• Disney’s BoardWalk Inn / Disney’s BoardWalk Villas (vacation club)
• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• Disney’s Riviera Resort (vacation club villas)

Guests can get to the Epcot Resort area from Interstate 4 by using the Epcot Center Drive exit, heading west to East Buena Vista Drive.  Epcot Resorts Boulevard is located  approximately one mile west of Epcot Center Drive along East Buena Vista Drive.    The Walt Disney World Swan is the first hotel on the western entrance of Epcot Resorts Boulevard.

It is a fairly direct route from the Orlando International Airport via SR 528 (the Beachline Expressway) to Interstate 4 west or State Road 417 to World Center Drive which becomes Epcot Center Drive at Interstate 4.  Barring any significant traffic issues, it will take approximately 30 minutes to get from the airport to the resort.  The Orlando / Orange County Convention Center is also close the hotel, just 10 miles along Interstate 4 east towards downtown Orlando.

Since the Walt Disney World Swan is located within the boundaries of the Walt Disney World Resort, all four Disney theme parks as well as the two Disney water parks and Disney Springs are a very short distance (and even walking distance to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios).

Travel time per Google Maps (non-peak hours) to the other Orlando area theme parks and significant destinations include:

• The Universal Orlando Resort: approximately 20 minutes
• SeaWorld Orlando: approximately 15 minutes
• ICON Park: approximately 20 minutes
• Downtown Orlando: approximately 30 minutes
• Vineland Premium Outlets: approximately 15 minutes
• The Mall at Millenia: approximately 25 miles
• The Florida Mall: approximately 25 minutes

In addition to the hotel amenities indicated below, the Walt Disney World Dolphin features on-site car rental, valet dry-cleaning, valet parking and an on-site Disney planning services.

Hotels Amenities

Amenities at the this resort are typical of other similar class hotels in the Orlando tourist area.  Since the Walt Disney World Dolphin shares amenities with the adjacent Walt Disney World Swan resort, there are more extensive options than a single, stand alone hotel.  

Amenities at the Walt Disney World Swan and the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel Include:

• Five heated pools including a resort style grotto pool with waterfalls and a water slide; two lap pools, a spring pool, a kiddie pool, four hot tubs and two poolside restaurants.  There is poolside entertainment and organized activities at various times during the year as well as games, ping pong tables and a pool table.
• A white sandy beach facing Crescent Lake with two volleyball courts, beachside playground and children’s spraying fountain play area.
• Poolside cabanas and hammocks.
• Paddle boat and bicycle rentals (included in resort fee)
• A fully equipped fitness center with a variety of cardiovascular equipment, strength training machines and dumbbells.
• Free water taxi transportation to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
• Shuttle bus service to the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney Springs.
• An on-site business center with computer and copier service.
• A 10,500 square foot full-service spa featuring a variety of treatments (which unfortunately was not open at the time of our visit).  Click here for the spa menu at the Mandara Spa.
• Two mini-golf courses at Fantasia Gardens.

Dining at the Walt Disney World Dolphin and the Walt Disney World Swan Hotels

There are a number of differing dining options available at the Walt Disney World Dolphin and Swan hotels which include quick service, casual and fine dining. 

Walt Disney World Dolphin Dining Options

• Todd English’s bluezoo: AAA Four Diamond restaurant offering seafood and coastal cuisine; only open for dinner service. 
• Shula’s Steak House: One of the finest steakhouses in all of Florida; only open for dinner service.
• Rosa Mexicano: Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Authentic Mexican cuisine is served for lunch and dinner.
• Cabana Bar and Beach Club: Dine by the pool – open for lunch and dinner.
• Picabu: Casual dining with American and southwest fare; open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  
• The Fountain: Casual dining 50’s style serving burgers and sandwiches; open for lunch and dinner.  
• Fuel:  Grab and go marketplace; open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

In addition to the dining options, there are three lounges at the Walt Disney World Dolphin.

• Tood English’s bluezoo Lounge
• Shula’s Steak House Lounge
• Phins

Walt Disney World Swan Dining Options

• Il Mulinos New York Trattoria: Traditional Italian Cuisine; open for dinner service only.  
• Kimonos: Japanese sushi restaurant; open for dinner service only.  
• Garden Grove:  Casual dining; open for breakfast and lunch with character dining during select times.   
• Splash Pool Bar:  Open for lunch and dinner (closed during our stay at 6:00 PM).
• Java Bar: Quick service marketplace serving coffee & other beverages, sandwiches, salads and other snacks.  Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

In addition to the dining options, there are two lounges at the Walt Disney World Swan.

• Il Mulinos New York Trattoria Lounge
• Kimonos Lounge

In addition to the above referenced dining options, there are a number of additional dining options for the Epcot Resort Area hotels along the adjacent Boardwalk as well as within the Boardwalk area hotels.   These include:

• Big River Grille & Brewing Works
• Cape May Cafe’
• Ale & Compass Restaurant
• Flying Fish
• Yachtsman Steakhouse
• The Market at Ale & Compass
• Beach Club Marketplace
• Beaches and Cream Soda Shop
• Boardwalk Bakery
• Boardwalk Joe’s Marvelous Margaritas
• Funnel Cake Cart
• The To-Go Cart
• Hurricane Hanna’s
• Leaping Horse Libations
• Pizza Window
• Ample Hills Creamery
• Trattoria al Forno

The Boardwalk area and Boardwalk hotels also offer a number of entertainment and shopping options.  These include:

• AbracadaBAR
• Atlantic Dance Hall
• Jellyrolls
• Midway Games & More
• Seabreeze Point
• Belle Vue Lounge
• Crew’s Cup Lounge
• Martha’s Vineyard
• Disney’s Character Carnival
• Dundy’s Sundries
• Screen Door General Store
• Thimbles & Threads
• Wyland Galleries

The Rooms at the Walt Disney World Dolphin

Rooms and suites feature premium linens, high quality bathroom finishes, flat panel televisions and mini-refrigerators. 

The room types at the Walt Disney World Dolphin are as follows:

• Traditional guest rooms with one king bed and two double beds, no view.
• Resort view rooms with views of the Epcot Resort Area hotels, Crescent lake and the hotel courtyards with two double beds.
• Resort view rooms with balcony and two double beds.
• Fireworks view rooms with resort view/balcony with two double beds.