Walt Disney World Dolphin

Category: Deluxe
Theme: Beachfront whimsy
Location: EPCOT Resort Area
Opened: June 1, 1990
Areas: None
Rooms: 1509
Major Renovations: 2006

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Fountain in WDW Dolphin's lobby in January 2007

The Walt Disney World Dolphin is a resort hotel designed by architect Michael Graves located between Epcot and Disney-MGM Studios next to Disney's BoardWalk Resort area. The Dolphin, which opened in June, 1990, is joined to its sister hotel, the Walt Disney World Swan (also designed by Graves) by a palm-tree lined promenade splitting a lagoon. While located on Disney property, the resort is operated by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide under the Sheraton Hotels brand.

The Dolphin and Swan share similar whimsical elements, but each has a distinctive appearance. The Dolphin is composed of a 27-story triangular tower bisecting a 12-story rectangular mass with four 9-story wings on the Swan-side of the structure. The roof of each half of the main mass is adorned with a 56-foot tall Dolphin statue. On the main colored facade there is a turquoise banana-leaf pattern echoed by a similar wave pattern on the Swan.

Restaurants at the Dolphin include: Shula's Steak House and Shula's Lounge, the Fresh Mediterranean Market, and Todd English's BlueZoo. There is over 329,000 square feet of meeting space for conferences between the two resorts.

In 2006, the Dolphin and Swan underwent an over $135 million dollar renovation to their lobbies and 2265 guestrooms. In addition, the renovation added more shopping as well as the Mandara Spa.