Swan vs. Dolphin Hotel In Disney World

When is a Walt Disney World hotel not a Walt Disney World hotel? When it is the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort.

When you’re considering staying at one of these resorts, how do you know which one to choose? Well, no need to fear — we’re here to help you decide.

So which do you choose? The Swan or The Dolphin? Aren’t they the same? One is themed after a bird, and the other a fish (that’s right — that sculpture on the top of the dolphin pays homage to the dolphinfish — aka mahi mahi, not the marine mammal). So, if you like birds, stay at the Swan. And if you like sea creatures, stay at the Dolphin. Right? Is it that easy? Not quite. Let’s reveal all of the nuances that make these resorts unique.

Location

Now, since these are sister resorts, they share transportation and have easy access to the same parks. These resorts are in the EPCOT Resort Area of Disney World — within easy walking distance to EPCOT’s “back door” — the International Gateway Entrance of the park, and about 15 to 20 minute walk to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The resorts also offer boat transportation to Hollywood Studios — and you can access the Disney Skyliner at the EPCOT station. If you’re staying at the Swan or Dolphin, you can also walk to Disney’s BoardWalk, and to the dining options at the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts. And yes — there is also bus transportation to the parks from these hotels. It’s not part of the Disney World bus system, though — and it can be a bit slower.

Dining

While they each have their own dining options, since they are adjacent to each other, it is easy to access all of the dining, so it’s not really a deciding factor. You will find fine dining restaurants — including Todd English’s BlueZoo, Amare, Rosa Mexicano, and Shula’s Steak House, casual dining — at locations including Garden Grove and The Fountain, quick service — including Picabu and Fuel, and lounges and pool dining options. Check out our guide to Swan and Dolphin dining here.

Good Neighbor Hotel

You may already know that the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin are not “Disney Hotels.” Yes, they are on Disney World property, and yes, if you stay here you get the same benefits — including Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours — as if you were staying “on-property.” It’s considered a “Good Neighbor Hotel,” which you can read more about here. So, why are these not officially Disney hotels?

The Swan and Dolphin were built by The Tishman Group to fill a need for more convention space at Disney World. Disney was reportedly losing business in the 1980s to other large convention hotels nearby, so they turned to Tishman — a contractor that had built much of the EPCOT theme park — for the project. Michael Graves — a postmodern architect who designed hundreds of buildings around the world including the Disney Studios corporate headquarters in California, as well as mass-market household objects like a tea kettle sold at Target — designed the Swan and Dolphin.

The resorts opened in 1990. The Tishman Group and MetLife are the owners of the Swan and Dolphin, but Disney still owns the land they sit on. The buildings’ owners have a 99-year lease on the ground. The Swan and Dolphin are operated by Marriott Bonvoy. That’s right — the Swan and Dolphin are technically Marriott hotels, which means you can earn (and spend!) your Marriott Bonvoy Rewards Points here.

If you’re a real hotel nerd, you might want to know that technically, the Dolphin operates under the Sheraton hotel brand, the Swan is a Westin, and the Swan Reserve (a new extension of the resort that opened in late 2021) is considered part of Marriott Bonvoy’s Autograph Collection.

Pools

The resorts share a grotto pool with waterfalls and a waterslide, two lap pools, a spring pool, a kiddie pool, and four whirlpools. You will also find poolside activities, pool bars, a white sand beach, beach volleyball courts, and more resort amenities.

So yes — there are many things these hotels have in common. But now, let’s take a look at some of the factors that differentiate the Swan and Dolphin hotels:

• • Size
  • Room Details
  • Theme
  • Price

Size

The Swan is a smaller resort than the Dolphin. It has about half as many rooms. Therefore, it has a bit more of an intimate feel than the Dolphin.

The Swan has 12 floors, and is flanked by two 56-foot swan statues. It has 756 standard rooms, 55 suites, and 8 restaurants and lounges.

The Dolphin has 27 floors, and boasts two iconic statues of dolphinfish, based on the work of Italian Sculptor Bernini. It hosts 1,514 standard rooms, 124 suites, and 11 restaurants and lounges.

Room Details

Both the Swan and Dolphin hotels (as well as the Swan Reserve) have Heavenly Beds that Westin made famous. The primary difference in the rooms here is that the Dolphin offers standard rooms that accommodate five people, while the Swan rooms (and those at the Swan Reserve) are built for a max of four guests. This can be a huge difference depending on the size of your traveling party.

At the Swan, standard guest rooms are 340 square feet, there are three configurations:

• 2 Queen Beds
• 1 King Bed
• 1 King Bed and 1 Sofa Bed

At the Swan Reserve, standard guest rooms are 330 square feet, and there are two configurations:

• 2 Queen Beds
• 1 King Bed and 1 Sofa Bed

At the Dolphin, standard guest rooms are 360 square feet, and there are three configurations:

• 2 Double Beds
• 1 King Bed
• 1 King Bed and 1 Sofa Bed

Most of the guest rooms at both resorts have glass-enclosed showers, but tub/shower combos are available — be sure to request one if you need a bathtub. The Swan has a dedicated vanity space — meaning the rooms have a sink area outside of the bathroom door, as well as one inside. This can be an important feature if you have multiple people in the room who need to get ready to rope drop at the same time.

If the shower situation is important to you, there is a difference between the hotels. You will find the “Heavenly” rain shower head and hand-held wand at the Swan. The Dolphin has an overhead rain shower head. The Swan Reserve has a rain shower head and hand-held wand.

Theme

Now, you won’t find any Disney theming here, because this isn’t technically a Disney hotel — yeah, you’ve got it by now. The Dolphin building is shaped like a triangle or pyramid, in contrast the top of the Swan is curved.

The lobby of the larger hotel — the Dolphin — is “grander” and a larger space than the lobby of the Swan, which has a more intimate feel. The Dolphin is decorated in blue, silver, and white. In the Swan, you’ll find a more muted palette of blue and gray. And the newest hotel in the group — the Swan Reserve — has a more vibrant, contemporary look.

Price

Like all hotels, the prices range depending on the type of room you book, when you’re traveling, the length of your stay, and if your stay includes weekends or weekdays.

Rooms at the Swan tend to start at around $206 per night. Rooms at the Dolphin tend to start at around $273 per night.

The Swan and Dolphin hotels charge a daily resort fee. Guests are charged $40 plus tax, the resort fees cover in-room high-speed Internet, fitness classes, and Swan boat rentals. If you drive to Disney World, self-parking at the Swan and Dolphin is $32 per night. Valet parking is available for $42 per day.

While you will have to pay to park at the hotel, you won’t have to pay to park at Disney World theme parks if you are staying at the Swan and Dolphin. Standard theme park parking will be free during your stay.

Final Thoughts

The Swan doesn’t have as many rooms or restaurants as the Dolphin, but it does have larger beds, and the bathrooms offer some additional space for getting ready. The Swan also comes in a bit cheaper than the Dolphin, though that may adjust based on season and availability.

The Dolphin allows for five guests in a room, though, which could be the deciding factor for your group. The differences between these resorts are minor, especially since they are close enough to be considered the same resort — especially when it comes to location, transportation, dining options, and pools and recreation.

So, the winner here is really going to come down to your needs and preferences — a bigger, grander (and sometimes louder) Dolphin? A smaller, more intimate Swan. You’ll receive the same Disney World benefits at each, so just decide what’s best for your party as far as budget and space!

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Have you stayed at the Swan or Dolphin resort? Which is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!

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