Walt Disney World Dolphin

The Walt Disney World Dolphin and it's neighbor, the Walt Disney World Swan Resort are part of the Starwood Hotels group and are Official Disney Hotels, but they are not operated by Disney themselves.

Rating: 4 stars
Rooms: 1509 rooms & suites
Rates: from $219 Check rates

Address: 1500 Epcot Resort Boulevard, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Area: Epcot Resort
Nearest airport: Orlando International (MCO)
Map: Click to view

The Dolphin is operated by Sheraton Hotels. They appeal to both the business and convention traveler as well as Walt Disney World vacationers.

The Walt Disney World Dolphin is about a 15 minute walk (less than a mile) from the International Gateway entrance to Disney's Epcot theme park and about a 30 minute walk from Disney's Hollywood Studios.

If you don't want to walk then both parks can be reached by boat. You can also get to the other Disney theme parks, water parks and Downtown Disney by Disney motor coach.

Because they are official Disney hotels, guests can take advantage of some of the special Disney onsite benefits such as the Extra Magic Hours, character dining and free transport and parking at the parks. However, the Swan and Dolphin Resorts are not part of the Disney Dining Plan or serviced by the complimentary Magical Express Orlando Airport shuttle. Nor can you charge to your room when visiting the parks and there is a daily parking charge of $9 for self-parking or $12 for valet parking.

Like the Swan, the Walt Disney World Dolphin was designed by the award-winning architect Michael Graves and first opened in 1990. It has recently been extensively refurbished.

It is twice the size of the Swan and features a distinctive 257 foot tall triangular tower as part of the main 12 story central building with four 9 story wings.

Dolphins are used to decorate the hotel but they are not the familiar Florida dolphins everyone knows, they are modeled on the 'dolphin' fish sculptures of the Triton Fountain in Rome. Those on the roof are 56 feet tall.

Complimentary water taxis operate to the nearby Disney's Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios theme parks plus to the entertainment area at Disney's BoardWalk but they also accessible on foot, Epcot is just 15 minutes away.

All the other Disney theme parks are accessible by free shuttle buses.

Close by, around Crescent Lake is Disney's Boardwalk Inn Resort and the twinned Disney's Beach Club Resort and Disney's Yacht Club Resort.

Rooms/Suites

The accommodation in the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort has also been designed by Michael Graves with original artwork and contemporary designs plus the renowned Westin Heavenly Beds®.

Rooms range from standard rooms sleeping up to 4 people to luxury suites accommodating up to 10 people with separate living areas and 1 or 2 bedrooms. There are a total of 133 suites and 76 club rooms at the Dolphin.

Standard (Traditional) rooms will sleep 4 on either 2 double beds or 1 king bed and a sofa bed.

With the standard rooms, there are a choice of views; Standard View overlooking the grounds, Pool and Disney's BoardWalk View overlooking the pool or Boardwalk Resort area, Resort View with views of Resort grounds and the nearby Walt Disney World Swan, Resort View with Balcony for a premium view of the Resort grounds, pools or the Walt Disney World Swan, MGM/Fantasmic View with views of the Disney-MGM Studios, including the Tower of Terror and the nightly laser and fireworks Fantasmic spectacular, Epcot View with views of Disney's Epcot and the nightly Illuminations fireworks spectacular and Epcot View with Balcony.

Not all the rooms have balconies and some balconies are large full balconies whereas other are quite small so if you want a balcony you need to request a room with one.

There is also a range of Suites with either 1 or 2 bedrooms sleeping up to 10 people.

The Junior Suites have a separate bedroom and living area, each with a full bath, desk and refreshment center. There is a king sized bed plus Sico pull down queen (Murphy bed) in the bedroom and a queen sofa in the living room and it sleeps 5.

The Executive Suites have either 1 or 2 bedrooms each with their own bathroom and sleep 6 or 10 respectively. The master bedroom has a king sized bed and sleeper sofa and the second bedroom has 2 doubles. The large living area also has a sofa bed and a Sico pull down king, wet bar, dining/conference table for 4 and an additional bathroom.

The Governors Suites are designed for couples wanting a bit of extra luxury or someone wanting to host a business meeting. There is one large bedroom with king sized bed, sofa and easy chairs plus its own deluxe bathroom. The large living area has its own bathroom, a wet bar, kitchen area, sofabed, entertainment center and conference/dining table for 8. All the Governors Suites have private balconies overlooking Crescent Lake.

Each of the four Presidential suites is individually themed with a large sitting area with a grand piano, 42" plasma TV, deluxe stereo system, conference table for 8, kitchen and sleeper sofa.

Each suite has a master bedroom with jacuzzi bathroom and optional second/third bedroom.

Two of the suites are split across two levels on the 20th floor with fantastic views across Crescent Lake towards the Disney-MGM Studios and Epcot. The Los Presidentes Suite is themed on the American South West and the Emperors Presidential Suite has an oriental decor.

The other two are located on the 19th floor, the Caesars Presidential Suite is decorated in a classical Greek style and the Pharaoh's Presidential Suite is themed on ancient Egypt.

Dining

The Walt Disney World Dolphin and it's neighbor, the Walt Disney World Swan Resort share their facilities including 17 restaurants and lounges so there really will be something for everyone. The Swan Resort is only a couple of minutes walk away and then there are the restaurants at the nearby Disney's Boardwalk Inn Resort, Disney's Yacht Club Resort and Disney's Beach Club Resort plus other nearby Disney resorts on Crescent Lake and the World Showcase restaurants at Epcot are only a few minutes away.

The two signature restaurants are Shula's Steak House owned by coach Don Shula and Todd English's bluezoo, both serving dinner only. Shula's Steak House is decorated with sports memorabilia celebrating the Miami Dolphins' 1972 NFL season when they won all 14 regular season games, two playoff games and the Super Bowl (the only time is has been done).

Amongst the menu favorites is certified Angus Beef including New York sirloin, the signature 48-ounce Porterhouse filet, filet mignon and seafood such as Maine lobster.

The nearby Shula's Bar lounge is open from late afternoon until late evening serving beers, wines and after dinner drinks with comfy leather chairs and a choice of sports channels to watch.

The internationally renowned chef, Todd English has put his name to the Todd English's bluezoo restaurant serving fresh seafood from around the world including tuna steak, swordfish and surf and turf. The lounge is open from late afternoon until late evening serving handmade cocktails as well as champagnes, wines and cordials in a trendy setting.

The Fresh Mediterranean Market serves Mediterranean style breakfast and lunch bringing you the cuisine of Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Morocco including hams, lamb and roast poultry cooked on a rotisserie in the open kitchen. There is also a pastry station, which has fresh baked croissants, French baguettes, Danish pastries, scones, pies and chocolate desserts.

The Dolphin Fountain is open for lunch and dinner and serves burgers, fries, salads, sandwiches and home made ice cream. The servers entertain the guests by dancing to classic hits from the '50s in an old-fashioned American soda shop setting.

For a quick service, there is Picabu which also has a convenience store, both open 24 hours.

The Lobby Lounge serves pastries and Starbucks coffee in the morning and then in the evening is open for cocktails, beer, spirits and wine.

If you are near the pool, there is the Cabana Bar & Grill (open seasonally) serving salads, sandwiches, hot dogs, burgers, snacks, ice cream and cocktails. Lastly there is 24 hour room service.

Recreation

The Swan and Dolphin Resorts share a total of 5 heated pools including the 3 acre pool area called the Grotto with fountains, a waterfall, waterslide and white sandy beach. There are also two lap pools, a spring pool, children's pool and four whirlpools (spa tubs).

If you want to relax then you can lie in a hammock and soak up the sun on the white-sand beach.

You can rent a boat including swan shaped paddle boats from the Cabana Beach Hut, where you will also find floats, towels, suntan lotions, summer apparel and complimentary life vests.

If you enjoy playing tennis then there are four floodlit hard courts (racquets and balls are available for rental) whilst joggers and walkers can take advantage of the various jogging trails around Crescent Lake (0.8 mile loop) past five Epcot area Disney Resorts.

There is also a volleyball sand court and basketball court.

Guests can take advantage of the Swan's WestinWORKOUT® gym where you can work out on state-of-the-art exercise equipment like Life Fitness and StairMaster® exercise machines, take a sauna or join a fitness class like yoga, Pilates, or aerobic dancing.

There is also the Balinese-style Mandara Spa where you can meditate, enjoy massage treatment, aromatherapy and reflexology or have a drink in the Tea Garden, inspired by the Zen Buddhist tea ceremony.

For children aged 4 to 12, there is evening supervised activities at the Camp Dolphin where they can play computer games and watch Disney movies plus dinner and snacks are provided.

There is also a children's playground near the Grotto and a video game arcade.

Disney's Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf courses are just 5 minutes walk away.

Amenities

The Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort offers (along with the Swan Resort) a host of amenities including:

• 24 hour room service
• concierge service
• rooms and facilities for guests with disabilities
• self parking or valet parking (charge applicable)
• babysitting and childcare services
• voice mail, high speed wireless internet access (surcharge for high-speed access)
• laundry facilities/services (coin operated)
• 27" color Cable TV with Remote Control
• in-room movies (charges apply)
• complimentary daily newspaper
• The Heavenly Bed®
• bath robes and hair dryer
• in-room coffee maker and refreshment center
• in-room safe
• rollaway beds (upon request)
• writing desk
• Health Club
• a range of shops including Picabu (open 24 hours at the Dolphin Resort) for sundries, snacks and gifts, Disney Cabanas for sundries, Disney merchandise and souvenirs, Daisy's Garden for sundries and Disney merchandise, Galleria Sottil for Fine art and jewelry, Lamont's for upscale boutique resort and swimwear from designer labels including Tommy Bahama, Quicksilver, Lilly Pulitzer and Ralph Lauren and Sugar³ for gourmet confections

Meeting Facilities

The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts share over 329,000 square feet of combined meeting and exhibition space, a total of 84 meeting rooms (including two executive boardrooms), four ballroom options from 3,500 to 56,000 square feet, 51 hospitality suites, outdoor function space (including the 16,200 square feet Pacific Terrace) and two Business Centers (open 24 hours).

Weddings

The Walt Disney World Dolphin is also ideal for a wedding ceremony with its own outdoor area called the Crescent Terrace and banqueting rooms and ballrooms that can accommodate over 1,000 people.