The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin announced a $275 million update including a meeting space expansion and upgraded guest rooms.
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Updates
The hotels will add 120,000 square feet to their pre-existing meeting and convention spaces, bringing the total to 469,000 square feet across the Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve. The largest contiguous event space will be 175,000 square feet total.
The expansion includes a two-story annex at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel, the first major expansion to the hotel’s meeting space since 2003. The annex will connect to the existing convention space. Guests will enter an open atrium with floor-to-ceiling windows, a two-story chandelier, and a winding staircase.
There will be 41,000 square feet of multi-purpose space and 24,000 square feet of additional pre-function space on the first floor. A 41,000-square-foot divisible ballroom and 14,000-square-foot foyer will be on the second floor. The building will feature state-of-the-art event technology and enhanced flow between new and existing areas. Outdoor power and infrastructure will be installed next to the annex, adding temporary structures in an environmentally friendly way for groups needing more space.
The design of the annex will reflect the original hotel design by Michael Graves with modern elements, water themes, and warm, wooden touches. It will break ground in November 2024 and is expected to be complete in the late summer of 2026.
The update also includes the modernization of the hotel’s existing 333,000 square feet of meeting space. Ballrooms, corridors, breakout spaces, carpets, and air walls have already been upgraded at the Walt Disney World Dolphin with a color scheme of whites, blues, grays, and natural wood to align with the hotel’s water theming and offer a fresh, bright ambiance.
The Walt Disney World Swan Hotel’s meeting spaces are currently being upgraded and are expected to be complete by the summer of 2025.
All guest rooms in the Walt Disney World Swan Hotel will be remodeled. New modern guest room designs will feature luxury tile flooring. This transformation will be complete in 2024.
“We look forward to delivering such a major transformation for our customers. These enhancements will be a great addition to our iconic and award-winning operation,” said Swan and Dolphin Area General Manager Sean Verney. “It positions our property to remain at the forefront of meeting and convention venues globally.”
The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels opened in 1990. The Walt Disney World Swan Reserve opened in late 2021, adding 349 luxury guest rooms to the Swan and Dolphin’s accommodations.
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