The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin has announced plans for a $275 million update, which will include expanding meeting space and updating guest rooms.
The current meeting and convention spaces at the hotels are 349,000 square feet. An additional 120,000 square feet will be added, bringing the total square footage across the Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve to 469,000. The largest contiguous event space will be 175,000 square feet.
The expansion will bring a two-story annex to the Walt Disney World Dolphin, 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.
The first floor alone will boast 41,000 square feet of multi-purpose space and 24,000 square feet of additional pre-function space. The second floor will contain a 41,000-square-foot divisible ballroom and a 14,000-square-foot foyer. 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 original hotel was designed by Michael Graves and the design of the annex will reflect the original hotel with added modern elements, water themes, and warm, wooden touches. The project is expected to break ground in November 2024, with expected completion in late summer of 2026.
Part of the upgrade project 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 is currently undergoing upgrades to the hotel’s meeting spaces with completion expected by summer of 2025.
Remodeling is underway to all the guest rooms in the Walt Disney World Swan which will feature modern guest room designs and luxury tile flooring. The transformation will be complete in 2024.
Have you ever stayed at the Walt Disney World Swan or Dolphin Hotel?