Swan + Dolphin Hotels - To Expand!

[Al]

Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel expands


Hi! I got this off a news link on the wdwmagic home page
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The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel in Lake Buena Vista, FL, has unveiled a $75 million expansion plan that includes adding a 50,000-square-foot exhibit hall next to the hotel’s current exhibit hall. The new hall will have 26-foot ceilings and pillarless space that can be divided into three sections, as well as 14,000 square feet of pre-function space and an 18,000-square-foot outside pavilion.

The hotel will also expand the current exhibit hall by 10,000 square feet, bringing the total exhibition space at the hotel to 111,000 square feet. The new space is expected to be complete sometime this fall. The hotel is also redesigning its guest rooms and adding a new seafood restaurant as well as updating existing restaurants.

Contact: (800) 524-4939

Link: http://www.swandolphinmeetings.com

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Disney wont be paying will they? the people who operate them will (i hope!)

 

[Al]

whilst were on the topic, could someone explain how 2 "not owned by disney" hotels, managed to open on Disney property? Im confused:veryconfu

 

[MGM WDWFan]

Believe it or not, the Swan and Dolphin are not the only hotels open on Disney property that are not Disney-owned. There are actually several, most of them in the southeast corner of the property near the main-gate entrance. I believe there is a Doubletree Suites open as well as the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, and several others.

I'm willing to bet that these hotels pay some sort of zoning fee to Reedy Creek to remain in operation on Disney property.

--MGM

 

[FantasiaBish]

THe way I understand it they have to maintain Disney standards but give the people who are not into total Disney immersion an on-site hotel with out being overwhelmed with Disney.

 

[Testtrack321]

The hotels in the southern east part of the property were put there for Disney not to seem like a monopoly. The Swan and Dolphin are the only hotels in the true Disney property that are not Disney owned and operated.

 

[ToTBellHop]

disney must be getting SOME of the profits from the Swan and Dolphin. They are the only resorts not owned by disney that appear on the disney website and are serviced by DisneyTransport.

 

[Thespis]

Disney needed more hotel rooms but didn't want to risk building them. There was a partnership with the company that originally owned the S&D and there they are. Disney does get a portion of the profits and the standards agreement exists. If the standards drop, Disney owns two more hotels!

 

[Luau Cove]

They are called Walt Disney World Swan and Walt Disney World Dolphin, so they are not just non-Disney resorts in their land. Although they are not totally themed as Disney Resorts they present some kind of theming and they offer Disney service. With this I mean they are also CM's if you look at their badge, they can sell Disney packages, and can be booked by callin WDW-MAGIC. They also have Disney buses and boats, so it's definitely a Disney Resort constructed and owned by the Sheraton chain.

-->LuAu

 

[degunter]

Takeover Compromise

I could be wrong, but I read something about the Swan and Dolphin being part of the deal so that Disney would not be bought out by a few major shareholders.

Back in the early 80's, a few major shareholders were trying to buy up as much stock as they could, take over the company and then break it up and sell it off in pieces.

Then the board hired Eisner and Wells and with the help of "friendly" shareholders, they prevented the takeover and part of the deal was that the "friendly" shareholders would build hotels on WDW property and that they would pay Disney a small portion of the profits.

I also read that Disney had control of the architecture and design and that Eisner approved the design against the advice of certain imagineers because you could see the hotel from World Showcase. And once they were built, that Eisner actually asked if there was a way to hide them so they could not be seen.

I believe I read all of this in a book by Kim Masters called, "The Keys to the Kingdom - How Michael Eisner lost his Grip"....

It was a while back so I could be confused on some of the details.

Just thought I would share anyway.

 

[thedisneyfan]

I agree that the visibility from EPCOT is a big disaster! It really takes away from Walt's unblemished park scheme he set up for WDW.

 

[Main Street USA]

originally, i believe those two hotels were owned by disney. they are not anymore. thats why they used to be called Walst Disney.... and now they are not.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

The Swan and Dolphin were never owned by Disney. And they are still called the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin.

 

[Disney4648]

The Swan and Dolphin Hotels have to pay dues or payments to the Disney Company. They pay them for the Bus Transportation,Advertising,Property Location, amd Disney Merchandise. And no, Disney never owned either hotel.

 

[ibaDisNut]

They are very cool hotels. Love the designs!