News New Event Space and Luxury Rooms Coming to Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin by Summer 2026

[Comped]

What do you mean quite a few third party hotels on property? Other than swan and dolphin, what other non Disney hotels are “on property?”

In general that list includes everything from Rosen Inn LBV to the good neighbor hotels around Disney Springs, to the luxury hotels like JW and Waldorf Astoria (all of which are physically on Disney property and count when discussing what hotels are on property, although not every one gets the same level of benefits). In terms of meeting space, you've got places like the Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace with 160,000 ft² of event space, not to be confused with the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista also on property, which has 84,000 ft². The Waldorf has 60,000 ft²+. The JW Marriott has over 50,000 ft², the Drury with close to that amount, a couple of Wyndhams with a bunch of event space, and many more.

The only thing I can think of, is that they can’t be competitive. I’ve been to several trade shows and corporate expos in central Florida and none have been on property. The main reason given is that others offer more for less and if people really want to visit Disney on their own time, then that’s why the events usually end on a Friday.

It seems Disney would rather leave the rooms for leisure guests than put them out at a wholesale rate for convention attendees. Which is why the contemporary convention center just doesn’t work.

At the same time the Coronado convention center is sucking wind because even though it has the capacity (rooms) it still isn’t competitive compared to a similarly equipped offsite venue.

Absolutely right. It's not competitive versus an off-site competitor, never mind some of the on-site hotels that are cheaper especially for smaller to mid-sized events. What's funny is that Disney could really make it work if they wanted to but just don't want to bother with the effort because they can sell their rooms to tourists and keep the event spaces for whatever clients they currently have. It's weird because it's clearly a huge investment opportunity if they really wanted to do it but they leave it on the table. I know of at least one major convention coming next year to Orlando that went with Shingle Creek over Disney because of the money, despite very much being interested in having the convention at Disney because many members of the organization probably would have stayed a few extra days for Disney and Epic, and brought their families too - so there would have been additional convention passes sold for attendees who wouldn't have thought about coming otherwise. But the money was simply too good off property.

I'm assuming they are including Waldorf, Wyndham Bonnet Creek, and Four Seasons, who all have meeting spaces (though I don't think any are close to Swan/Dolphin size, but I know very little about convention spaces). Also worth mentioning Coronado has a lot of convention space (though not third party).

Among others. Coronado has a bunch but it is not as competitive as one might expect.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

In general that list includes everything from Rosen Inn LBV to the good neighbor hotels around Disney Springs, to the luxury hotels like JW and Waldorf Astoria (all of which are physically on Disney property and count when discussing what hotels are on property, although not every one gets the same level of benefits). In terms of meeting space, you've got places like the Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace with 160,000 ft² of event space, not to be confused with the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista also on property, which has 84,000 ft². The Waldorf has 60,000 ft²+. The JW Marriott has over 50,000 ft², the Drury with close to that amount, a couple of Wyndhams with a bunch of event space, and many more.

Absolutely right. It's not competitive versus an off-site competitor, never mind some of the on-site hotels that are cheaper especially for smaller to mid-sized events. What's funny is that Disney could really make it work if they wanted to but just don't want to bother with the effort because they can sell their rooms to tourists and keep the event spaces for whatever clients they currently have. It's weird because it's clearly a huge investment opportunity if they really wanted to do it but they leave it on the table. I know of at least one major convention coming next year to Orlando that went with Shingle Creek over Disney because of the money, despite very much being interested in having the convention at Disney because many members of the organization probably would have stayed a few extra days for Disney and Epic, and brought their families too - so there would have been additional convention passes sold for attendees who wouldn't have thought about coming otherwise. But the money was simply too good off property.

Among others. Coronado has a bunch but it is not as competitive as one might expect.

One of the last conventions I spoke at in Florida was at the Bonnett Creek JW Marriot. Great location for a convention. Large spaces, multiple rooms available, decent food. Absolutely amazing space/bar on the roof with great sightlines around Orlando. That being said, there is no way you could claim that the JW Marriot is "on property" in any functional sense of the phrase. There is no benefits to staying on that property related to the parks. There is no Disney Transporation that will bring you to the parks. You aren't walking to any of the parks. I guess you could try and cross the roads and try and make a run to Disney Springs, but at least from JW Marriot, its well over a mile or 2 from the property to the main road, which would make the walk to DS pretty problematic. So other any being in the Orlando area, I would find it a stretch to call any of those other hotels to be considered "on property" and certainly they are not comparable at all to either Disney owned hotels, or the Swan/Dolphin.

 

[mgf]

It was already a hike to reach the end of the current conference center. The new location is going to be quite a walk. I wonder if they will add a shuttle for mobility assistance.

 

[mgf]

Among others. Coronado has a bunch but it is not as competitive as one might expect.

Went to a conference there a few years ago and had a fantastic experience. I've stayed at lots of conference centers and it really was a good place to be "trapped" with enough variety of food, drinks, and entertainment to spend a few days on location without even venturing out (which we of course still did).

 

[Jumping Fountains]

At the Swan right now in a renovated room. Last here in 2019 and stayed at the Swan Reserve in 2022. I’d say the renovated room in the Swan is a downgrade over the same thing in 2019 and I don’t think I’ve ever had that reaction to renovation! It all just looks and feels cheaper and is less comfortable. And all pillows on both beds (queens) are foam, which I’ve never experienced. (I’m going to see if I can request one of something else tomorrow). Bizarre.

 

[Chef idea Mickey`=]

At the Swan right now in a renovated room. Last here in 2019 and stayed at the Swan Reserve in 2022. I’d say the renovated room in the Swan is a downgrade over the same thing in 2019 and I don’t think I’ve ever had that reaction to renovation! It all just looks and feels cheaper and is less comfortable. And all pillows on both beds (queens) are foam, which I’ve never experienced. (I’m going to see if I can request one of something else tomorrow). Bizarre.

To me the rooms never felt dated. What's dated is the hallways, lobby and by the elevators. They started modernizing some of the elevators when I stayed in 2019.