A 100,000-square-foot expansion kickstarts a new chapter for the property
Walt Disney World’s Swan and Dolphin has long been known for two things—its scale and prestige. Opened in 1990 by then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner and Tishman Construction & Realty, the innovative campus—unified by a shared color scheme and statues crafted by architect and designer Michael Graves—captured the vibrancy, character and storytelling focus that characterized Walt Disney World in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Designed to accommodate large corporate, association and incentive groups, the property offered 200,000 sq. ft. of meeting space at the time of opening.
However, the property has swiftly adapted over the years to meet the evolving needs of planners and attendees. Now, 36 years later, the September 10 opening of a two-story event venue connected to the Dolphin’s existing event space means the property now boasts an expansive 600,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.
From its bold beginnings to its latest chapter, the Swan and Dolphin has never stood still. And with the debut of the Peninsula Ballroom, that evolution takes another significant step forward.
A Celebratory Ribbon Cutting
The expansion was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by representatives from Tishman, Marriott International, Walt Disney World and Visit Orlando. The milestone adds valuable capacity to a campus already optimized to accommodate large-scale programs while offering new opportunities for customization, networking and memorable attendee experiences.
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“The customers told us this expansion was something we needed, and we are so happy to be able to deliver,” shared Swan and Dolphin General Manager Sean Verney during the ceremony.
That guest-first approach has shaped the resort’s evolution for decades. Gabe Tishman, the grandson of Tishman’s founder, described the Peninsula Ballroom opening as another chapter at a property that has continually reinvented itself.
Magical Spaces and Experiences
The expansion follows other significant additions to the campus, including Pacific Hall and the Swan Reserve, which opened in 2021. Together, the properties offer planners a range of accommodations and event environments within the broader Swan and Dolphin complex.
For large groups, the scale is a major selling point. Following the opening of the new space, the property is now among the largest convention hotels on the East Coast. That footprint can help planners manage complex programs under one campus while having room to separate general sessions, breakouts, receptions and other components of a multi-day event.
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The resort’s location within Walt Disney World Resort adds another layer to the experience. The Disney Meetings & Events team can deliver customization components that many teams may not have the resources to fulfill independently, allowing planners to incorporate distinctive entertainment and production elements into their programs.
Attendees and their guests can also purchase special evening access tickets to visit a Disney theme park after a day of event programming—an option not available to regular day guests. For incentive groups and corporate programs, these experiences can extend an event’s networking and relationship-building goals, giving participants something memorable to do beyond the conference room.
The property’s annual Food and Wine Classic event offers another opportunity for planners to incorporate engaging experiences. Attendees can participate in wine classes as part of the festival, a valuable option for planners looking to incorporate culinary education or social programming into an event.
Community Impact by the Numbers
Cassandra Matej, CEO of Visit Orlando, noted during the ribbon cutting that the Swan and Dolphin’s continued investment reflects what makes Orlando a premier meetings destination. She pointed to the destination’s location, range of offerings and ongoing development as factors that help planners deliver successful and memorable events.
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“Seeing this commitment from our destination matters,” Matej said. “It signals to our planners that Orlando is always ready to meet their evolving needs with new flexible meeting venues.”
That investment also has implications beyond the property. Matej shared that Orlando’s group meeting segment grew more than 3% year over year in 2025, reaching 5.8 million visitors and generating $7.4 billion in economic impact for the community.
The Peninsula Ballroom’s opening offers a new reason for planners to revisit a familiar campus. The resort’s unique combination of extensive meeting inventory, Disney-related experiences and continued investment positions it to support organizations looking for both operational scale and a blueprint to build something distinctive.
For the Swan and Dolphin, the new venue’s opening marks another step in an ongoing evolution. For meeting professionals, it offers a larger and more inspiring canvas for bringing ambitious programs to life.
