Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort breaks ground with new tower hotel

Last updated Dec 4, 2018

Pictured from left to right are Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort General Manager Fred Sawyers, Tishman Chairman and CEO John A. Vickers, Tishman Principal and Vice Chairman Dan Tishman, Mickey Mouse, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Senior Vice President of Global Development Andy Hopkins, MetLife Director of Hotel Asset Management Bill Webster and Marriott International COO of the Eastern Region David Marriott.

The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Florida revealed that work had begun on a ‘ground-breaking’ new tower last Tuesday, bringing together hotel owners Tishman and MetLife along with representatives from Walt Disney World and Marriott International. The new 349-room hotel brings the resort’s total inventory to 2,619 rooms and will feature a rooftop reception space. As part of the ceremony, The Cove at the Walt Disney World Swan Resort was announced as the official name. It is scheduled for completion in 2020.

The project is expected to be completed in the fall of 2020. The new structure will be located next to the Swan Resort on the current site of the tennis courts. The tower will be 14 stories tall and include over 22,000 square feet of meeting space, including two ballrooms, 12 meeting rooms and a rooftop reception space offering spectacular views of the nightly Walt Disney World fireworks. There will be 349 guest rooms including 151 suites featuring separate working and private spaces, built-in AV system, large conference table and other features designed to create the perfect collaboration space. Outdoors will be a landscaped 16,800 square foot (1,561 sq m) elevated deck with a fire pit and pool. There will be a 90-seat restaurant and a 50-seat lounge, a health club, business centre, grab-and-go market, and an upscale craft cocktail lobby bar,

“This is another significant phase for the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort,” said Fred Sawyers, the resort’s general manager. “We’re excited about the resort’s continued evolution and the new experience it will provide for our guests.”

“This new resort is designed to allow us to better meet the needs of meetings and groups,“ said director of sales and marketing Gino Marasco. “Its unique new features will complement our location, recent renovation and service to give planners even more options to enjoy.”

The expansion follows a $150 million transformation of the resort’s guest rooms, lobby areas and all meeting space. Once the new tower is completed, the resort will offer more than 2,600 total guest rooms and 350,000 square feet (32,516 sq m) of meeting space.