Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort: An Honest Review

The Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort is not a typical on property Disney resort, and is often overlooked. The Dolphin resort isn’t owned by Disney, but does have special Disney benefits for guests staying here.

The Swan & Dolphin is my husband’s favorite resort to stay at. We have stayed here many many times over the years, especially since we can pay with points making our trips budget friendly.

There are three hotels at this resort, The Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel, The Walt Disney World Swan Hotel, and the newer Walt Disney World Swan Reserve. All three share the same amenities, though they are separate bookings.

Today we’re going to share with you everything you need to know about staying in either the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort for your next vacation.

Where is the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort?

The official address for the Walt Disney World Swan Resort is 1500 Epcot Resorts Blvd, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830. You can reach the resort by calling 1-888-828-8850. This resort is considered an EPCOT Area Resort.

The Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel is located in the heart of Walt Disney World within easy walking distance of EPCOT. You also have easy access to Disney’s Boardwalk area and the ability to walk to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort Map

Is the Dolphin Hotel Considered a Disney Resort?

The Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel is considered a Disney Resort, but keep in mind this property is not owned or operated by the Walt Disney Company. For that reason, you’ll find that many of the classic Disney resort touches are missing, but you can still enjoy the great benefits of staying at an Epcot area resort.

The Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort is considered a Deluxe Resort with the same perks as the other Disney property deluxe resorts.

Is the Dolphin Owned by Disney?

The Walt DIisney World Dolphin is not one of the Disney-owned hotels. Disney’s Dolphin is owned by Tishman Realty & Construction Corporation and MetLife, who also own the Swan Reserve and Swan Resorts. Marriott International, Inc. manages all three of these resorts, and you’ll find that when you are booking the resort online, you can do this directly with Marriott on the Swan & Dolphin website.

Guest Rooms

Rooms at the Dolphin are either 2 Double sized Beds or 1 King Bed + Sofa Bed. The rooms are meant for 2 Adults / 2 Children to sleep comfortably in the room. There is 360 square feet for the standard rooms at the Dolphin.

The guest rooms at the Dolphin are slight bigger to fit your family’s needs, but the beds are doubles instead of queens. If you are looking for two queen beds, check out the Swan or Swan Reserve instead.

Check-in time is 4pm and Check-out time is 11am. Contact the resort to check availability for early check-in or late check-out.

How Much Does it Cost to Stay at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort?

Keep in mind that the rates for staying at the Dolphin will vary depending on the time of the year that you are planning your Disney vacation. Rates are naturally much higher during the holiday season and the peak summer season.

The rates start at about $185 a night, but go up significantly based on what type of room you are looking for. You’ll also need to pay a $35 resort fee for each night of your stay here, so remember to budget for this as well when booking your stay.

The great thing about the Dolphin is that you can use your Marriott account to enjoy various perks when booking a stay here. If you have been collecting points with Marriott Bonvoy, it may be a good way to reduce the cost of your Disney vacation. 

The resort offers five different standard room options, some of which have upgraded views over the Disney theme parks. You’ll also find one junior suite and nine other suite options, which can give families more space when staying at the Dolphin. 

Compared to Disney deluxe resorts, you can sometimes find much lower rates here, but this will vary depending on what’s going on at the time at the resort.

Read Also: How to Redeem Marriott Points Staying at Disney World

All Dolphin rooms include:

• Hairdryer
• Internet – Free WiFi Service
• Alarm Clock
• Coffee Maker
• In-Room Safe
• Phone with voicemail
• Mini Refrigerator
• Iron & Ironing Board
• Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash

Standard Rooms

• Traditional Room
• Deluxe Room
• Family Room

Signature Suites

• Junior Suite
• Executive Suite
• Grand Suite
• Signature Suite
• Governors Suite
• Chairman Suite
• Presidential Suite

Transportation

One of the biggest benefits for the Walt Disney World Dolphin is the easy access to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT. Both Disney parks are a short walk or ride on the friendship boat making early theme park entry and after fireworks transportation very convenient. 

There is complimentary transportation provided to all the Disney parks and Disney Springs from the Dolphin. The buses are no longer managed by Walt Disney World Resort and are now managed by the Swan & Dolphin which comes with a few changes.

There is a parking fee for the Swan & Dolphin Resort, but the great news is that you get free parking at the Disney Theme Parks.

How to get to each Disney Park and Disney Springs

Buses and Friendship Boats begin running an hour before park open and 45 minutes after park close. They run every 20-25 minutes similar to the Disney property buses. Walking or taking the friendship boats will drop you off at the World Showcase Entrance to EPCOT. If you want to enter the main entrance at the front, you will need to drive and park in the EPCOT parking lot, or take an Uber/Lyft.

How long does it take to walk to Disney’s Hollywood Studios from the Dolphin?

The walk is about 15-20 minutes depending on how fast you walk. As one of the Epcot area resorts, you’ll be able to walk directly from the Dolphin to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Just follow the path from the Boardwalk along the water.

How long is the boat ride from Swan to Hollywood Studios?

The Friendship boats take about 10-15 minutes to get from the Swan & Dolphin to Hollywood Studios. You may have to wait 20-25 minutes for a boat. Unless the boat is docked, it is quicker to walk.

Can You Walk from the Dolphin to EPCOT?

You can also walk from the Dolphin to EPCOT, via the World Showcase entrance that comes in between the United Kingdom and France pavilions. It is a very short walk to EPCOT taking about 10 minutes. Walking is usually much faster than the friendship boat.

Following the fireworks at the end of the evening, you’ll be able to exit here and avoid the crowds that are waiting for the Disney resort buses or the Skyliner.

What’s the Parking Situation at the Dolphin?

If you are driving to Orlando or hiring a car here, remember to factor in parking costs when staying at any Disney resort. As with the other resorts on property, you’ll be charged for parking each day. Self-parking at the Dolphin is $29 a day, but you could upgrade to use the valet service for $39 a day. The self-parking here isn’t too far away from the entrance to the resort, so you may want to save on the upgrade and take care of this yourself.

You’ll also be able to use the free Disney buses when you are staying here, which is why many people opt out of hiring a car. We love that you can walk to two of the four theme parks from this resort, making driving unnecessary for many guests. Of course, this is a very personal decision, so you’ll want to decide what is best for you and your family during your vacation.

Dining and Shopping

The Dolphin has a Disney gift shop where you can find official Disney Parks merchandise including Magic Bands.

You’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to dining experiences in this area. As well as the on-site restaurants, you can head to one of the many restaurants in the Swan and Dolphin, or walk around and enjoy those at the Boardwalk or Yacht and Beach Club resorts. 

This is without a doubt the best area in the resort to stay in if you are a foodie, as you could eat somewhere different for every meal for a week without trying too hard. You can make reservations for the table service restaurants, though we rarely find we need one. If you have a large party or are visiting at a busy time of year such as Christmas time, you may want to make a reservation.

Shula’s Steak House

One of the Dolphin’s signature restaurants open for dinner from 5pm to 11pm. Reservations are encouraged for Shula’s Steak House. Private and group dining are available here.

There is a dress code as this is one of the nicer restaurants at the Dolphin, though it is pretty relaxed. Jeans are allowed for both men and women “in good condition”. Swimsuits, coverups, tank tops, hats, and offensive t-shirts are not allowed. Park attire is fine, but it is not uncommon to see diners dressed up.

Todd English’s Bluezoo

Another of the Dolphin’s signature restaurants open for dinner from 5pm to 10pm. Reservations are encouraged for Bluezoo. Private and group dining are available here.

There is a dress code as this is one of the nicer restaurants at the Dolphin, though it is pretty relaxed. Jeans are allowed for both men and women “in good condition”. Swimsuits, coverups, tank tops, hats, and offensive t-shirts are not allowed. Park attire is fine, but it is not uncommon to see diners dressed up.

Bluezoo is a seafood restaurant, though there are some delicious non seafood options as well.

Rosa Mexicano

An authentic Mexican cuisine restaurant open for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. This is the newest restaurant at the Swan & Dolphin that replaced the Fresh Mediterranean restaurant.

The Fountain

Open from 11am to 11pm, The Fountain is a very casual restaurant at the Dolphin. You’ll find burgers, salads, and ice cream here. 

PICABU

Picabu is a cafeteria style dining location in the bottom of the Dolphin near the fitness center and laundry rooms. It is very easy to miss this dining option. Picabu is no longer open 24/7 like they were before 2020. They are now open for breakfast and dinner and close at 12am. We have found the food quality has gone down significantly since 2020.

Fuel

Open from 6am to 11pm Fuel has convenience store type offerings as well as coffee and bakery items. They also have sandwiches and pizza as well. This is a great grab-and-go meal, snack, and drink option.

PHINS

Phins is a bar in the Dolphin lobby open from 3pm to 12am. They serve cocktails only, there aren’t food options. My husband is a big dan of the signature bear, Phins and Feathers that you can find here.

Cabana Bar and Beach Club

If you are looking for poolside dining at the Dolphin grotto pool, the Cabana Bar is an excellent choice. You can order from your phone right from your poolside chair and drinks and food will be delivered to you.

You can also sit at the bar or the outdoor tables to enjoy as well and is open from 11am to 8pm.

The Swan and Swan Reserve are also a short walk away so be sure to check out the available dining options at both of these resorts as well. This includes Kimonos, IL Mulino, and Garden Grove.

Does Walt Disney World Dolphin resort have free breakfast?

The Dolphin does not have free breakfast. Marriott rewards members do receive a $20 voucher for breakfast daily while staying here that can be used at any of the three resorts. You can use the voucher at the grab-and-go breakfasts or the table service breakfasts though there is an up charge at the sit down options.

Activities and Amenities

There is a wide array of activities available at the Swan & Dolphin Resort. Your resort fee covers the rental of Swan Boats on the lake which are a lot of fun. There is also a game room and children’s activity centers at the Dolphin. There is also a 24 hour business center available to guests.

Swimming Pool

The Dolphin Grotto Pool is the largest pool at this property and includes a waterfall. There is also a kid-sized pool behind the Cabana Bar and Beach Club. You will also find a waterslide and hot tubs at the Dolphin pool. 

Chairs tend to be taken fairly early in the day at the Dolphin Grotto Pool as it’s very popular and available to guests of all 3 resorts. The pool area for the lap pool and Swan pool tend to be a lot quieter.

Can the Dolphin use Swan Reserve and Swan pools?

The Swan Reserve pool is just for guests of the Swan Reserve. Guests of the Dolphin can use the Swan Resort pools and hot tubs.

Mandara Spa

The Dolphin is home to the Mandara Spa, where you can pamper yourself and relax after a busy few days at the theme parks. There are also endless dining options in these two resorts, so you’ll never struggle to find something to eat at any time of the day.

Health Clubs

Keeping fit on vacation has never been easier when you stay at the Dolphin. The Dolphin Health Club offers all of the machines and equipment you would expect from a modern gym. Enjoy using the strength-training equipment, treadmills, cycles, and stair climbers, all of which were added when the resort opened last year.

There is also a Swan Reserve Health Club as well.

Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf

Another great perk of staying at the Dolphin is that you are just a short walk away from Disney’s Fantasia Gardens mini golf course. Here you’ll be able to choose from two different courses, both of which offer 18 holes of fun for the whole family. 

The course is themed after the popular movie Fantasia and has been operating here since 1996. It’s a great way to escape the crowds of theme parks during the peak travel season. The Fairway side is much more competitive than the Fantasia Gardens course, but you could try both when you are staying nearby at the Dolphin.

Read Also: Disney World Mini Golf Courses: Cost And Other Options

Jogging Trails

A 1-mile loop around Crescent Lake can help you stay healthy on your Walt Disney World Vacation.

Camp Dolphin

Camp Dolphin drop-off is between 4pm and 5pm and pick-up is between 9pm and 11pm. Kids aged 5-12 years can have a night of fun crafts and activities while parents enjoy time to themselves for $12 an hour.

Swan and Dolphin Amenities

As well as enjoying these amenities during your stay, keep in mind that you can head on over to the Swan Reserve and Swan resorts to use their facilities. This means you’ll enjoy access to all of their swimming pools and recreation areas, which are great for families and children of all ages. 

Additional Benefits

Does the Dolphin Have Laundry On Site?

The Dolphin has 24-hour laundry rooms. These are located on the lower level of the resort, and the machines are self-service and can be used at any time. The machines take credit cards and laundry detergent is available for purchase. It is $3 per wash and $3 per dry.

If you are looking for dry cleaning, just dial Housekeeping from the phone in your room, and you’ll be able to receive this service.

Do you get a MagicBand if you stay at the Dolphin?

Magic Bands will not open your resort room door at the Dolphin. You also will not be able to charge anything to the room from your magic band like you can when staying at other Disney resorts.

You can still use your magic band for park entry, photo-pass, and lightning lanes.

Early Park Entry

Guests can enjoy the early morning entrance to the four Walt Disney World theme parks, offering you the chance to enter the parks 30 minutes before off-site guests. Early access to the Walt Disney World Parks is a huge benefit to staying at this resort. 

Make sure everyone in your party is listed on the reservation and each member should connect the reservation to their My Disney Experience App to use these benefits.

Does the Dolphin get extra magic hours?

As well as the earning morning access, you’ll be able to enjoy the extended evening hours that are on offer to Deluxe resort guests on certain nights. Guests of the Dolphin can also enjoy the one hour extra time to purchase your Lightning Lane individual passes at 7 am on the day of your park visit. 

Extended Evening Hours are for Deluxe Resort guests and are included with your room reservation. They do require valid theme park admission to be able to use this perk. Lines will be very short for the extended evening hours, so don’t miss out! Check your My Disney Experience App for the most accurate information about extended evening hours.

Honest Review

The Dolphin is my least favorite of the three resorts at this property. We have stayed at the Swan. Swan Reserve, and Dolphin many times. Our only negative experience happened at the Dolphin at Christmas time.

This room we stayed in was dusty and didn’t feel clean. We had trouble getting housekeeping to come to our room and this was before 2020. When we called to ask for waters and towels, they threw them on the table knocking over the coffee maker and just left it there.

This was our only negative experience, we have stayed at the Dolphin many other times and had clean rooms, friendly service, and enjoyed our visit.

The Dolphin has smaller beds in the two bed rooms, and we don’t love the scent as much as the Swan. For these reasons, we prefer the Swan Resort.

Pros of Staying at the Walt Disney World Dolphin

There are many reasons why families and individuals would choose to stay at the Swan and Dolphin resort for their next vacation. These are just a few of the benefits of booking a stay at either of these properties:

• The Price – The Swan and Dolphin are considered to be Deluxe properties. However, they rarely command the same prices as the other Disney resorts in this category. For this reason, it’s a great option for anyone looking to enjoy excellent amenities and a fantastic location for their next trip. Also, if you collect Marriott points, you can use these for your next vacation here.
• Location – The Epcot resort area is one of the most popular locations for visitors to Walt Disney World to stay in. From both the Swan and Dolphin, you can walk to Epcot and Hollywood Studios, or alternatively, you can take the friendship boats that link these resorts and parks.
• Transportation – You’ll benefit from a wide variety of transportation options when staying at these resorts. Enjoy boats, buses, and walking access to the parks, making the start and end of your day much easier.
• Dining – The dining options in both the Swan and Dolphin are some of the best on property. You’ll be treated to food that’s far superior to the typical theme park offerings. We highly recommend Shula’s Steakhouse at the Dolphin and Il Mulino at the Swan. On top of that, you’ll also enjoy easy walking access to the other nearby resorts, where you can enjoy even more dining and drinking options in the evenings.
• On-Site Amenities – You’ll be blown away by the spacious grounds of these hotels and the beautiful amenities they offer to guests. You’ll have multiple swimming pools to choose from, as well as a white sand beach to relax on after a busy day in the parks. On top of that, there are plenty of sporting facilities on offer and watercraft rentals.
• Points – For those that are enrolled in the Marriott Bonvoy program, you can redeem points here.  It’s a popular Disney destination for business travelers since they can be on property and use points to save on their Disney World vacation.
• Disney Benefits – Finally, while the Swan and Dolphin aren’t operated by Disney, you’ll still enjoy many of the perks of staying on-site. When Extra Magic Hours and FastPass return, these are offered to guests of these hotels. You’ll enjoy free transportation across the resort and package delivery to your hotel. On top of that, if you are driving during your vacation, you’ll enjoy free parking when you visit the Disney theme parks.

Cons of Staying at the Walt Disney World Dolphin

While there are many great benefits of staying at these resorts, there are a few drawbacks that you should be aware of before booking your next vacation.

• Lack of Disney Theming – While for some adults this may be seen as a benefit, for anyone visiting with younger children, you may miss the fun Disney theming found in the other resorts. It’s a luxury resort with beautiful rooms and amenities but lacks any unique theming.
• Resort Fees – The resort fees for the Swan and Dolphin are pretty high and can quickly make this hotel not as much of a bargain as you initially considered it to be. On top of that, there’s also a parking fee if you are bringing a car here.
• Buses – The buses are no longer operated by Disney. Taking a bus to Magic Kingdom now requires the additional step of getting from the Ticket & Transportation Center to Magic Kingdom. You can take either the Monorail or the Ferry from the TTC to Magic Kingdom.

History of the Swan and Dolphin Resort

The Swan and Dolphin are both included in the Walt Disney Collection of resorts yet are a joint partnership that is managed by Marriott International. These resorts still offer you many of the benefits of staying at other Disney resorts, which is why they are a great option for visitors to the area.

The Walt Disney World Swan opened back in January 1990, and in June of the same year, the Walt Disney World Dolphin also opened. Both resorts were designed by Michael Graves, who is a Driehaus Prize winner. The Walt Disney Company owns the land the two resorts were built on, but the buildings are leased to the company by MetLife and the Tishman Hotel Corporation.

While the Dolphin and Swan have some similarities in their overall aesthetic, they both have unique features from the outside. The Dolphin is the triangular-shaped building, whereas the Swan is the rectangular-shaped building.

They both have a similar color scheme and turquoise waves throughout the design. The Swan is the smaller of the two resorts, with 758 rooms, whereas the Dolphin has almost double that at 1509 rooms. They are located between Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot and enjoy easy access to Disney’s Boardwalk Resort.

Their location is one of the many reasons these are such a great option for your next Disney trip, but there are many more reasons you’ll want to consider staying here.