food IS a theme park
Believe it or not, the time is NOW to start planning your 2027 Disney World vacation, including your next hotel.
Art of Animation
However, be aware that not every Disney World hotel is created equal in 2027. Some have new perks and amenities to enjoy, while it may be wise to skip over a few others for the time being.
Let me share a little secret with you — here at DFB, there’s a non-Disney resort we like a LOT.
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin
The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin are a group of three hotels owned and operated by Marriott — the Swan, the Dolphin, and the Swan Reserve. These hotels are located right in the heart of Disney World, and they have some pretty awesome perks. In fact, the perks are SO good that we might recommend you choose them instead of a Disney Resort!
Disney World is well known for its restaurants. Across the resort’s theme parks and hotels, there are countless eateries that many rightfully adore. However, what a lot of those guests don’t know is that some of the best restaurants on property are located at hotels NOT owned by Disney: The Swan & Dolphin!
Florida Beehive
The iconic Michael Graves-designed resorts (which are located near EPCOT on Disney property but not owned by Disney) are home to over 20 restaurants and lounges that offer a lot of unique items where there’s something for everyone! However, even the most seasoned visitors may be skipping over one of the best bars at the resorts!
Trying to choose the perfect Disney World hotel for your vacation?
Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Resorts
You’ll want one with great perks, good transportation options, and a location that fits your needs. You’re also going to want to consider the dining and activity options available if you’re planning to spend some time there on your off days from the parks. One Disney World hotel has all that and more…but people keep sleeping on it!
Listen, we love hotel points. It’s like a guilty pleasure to see how many points we can earn and how much we can save during our next stay, so when we spot a killer deal, we know we have to share it with everyone.
Disney World’s Dolphin Resort
You can earn 200,000 bonus points with this hotel deal, and trust us, they’re going to come in handy.
There is a very specific kind of Disney vacation heartbreak that happens when you start out browsing resort rooms “just to look” and then suddenly find yourself staring at a fireworks-view Deluxe room that costs roughly the same as a small appliance, a nice handbag, and part of your dignity combined.
Fireworks over the Swan and Dolphin
Because yes, watching fireworks from your hotel room sounds dreamy. Magical. Effortlessly glamorous. Like the kind of vacation move made by people who never panic-buy ponchos or eat a granola bar in line for Peter Pan’s Flight. But here’s the little loophole hiding in plain sight: you do not necessarily have to book one of Disney’s most expensive Deluxe resorts to get that elevated, fireworks-view, Deluxe-perks kind of trip.
While the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival may be what comes to mind when you think of Food & Wine in Disney World, there is also another Food & Wine event that happens in Disney World! The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic will be returning in 2026 for its 17th year!
2025 Food and Wine Classic
The annual event is two days of gourmet cuisine from award-winning chefs, paired with fine wines, beers, and spirits from around the world. In addition to the delicious food and drinks, the event also features live entertainment, seminars, and fireworks.
If you’re a foodie visiting Walt Disney World, it truly is the “most wonderful time of the year.” Not only is the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival about to put a bow on its celebratory 2025 season, but another of our favorite events is about to happen in conjunction with it!
Food and Wine Classic
Each year, the Swan & Dolphin Resorts stage a special weekend in conjunction with the final weeks of EPCOT’s premier festival: The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic! This annual ticketed event, which kicks off on November 14th, will feature gourmet cuisine from award-winning chefs, fine wines, beers, and spirits from around the world, along with live entertainment, educational seminars, and even fireworks to put a bow on the experience.
Each year, we eat WAY TOO MUCH at EPCOT’s International Food & Wine Festival. Can you blame us? The event is chock-full of longtime favorites and brand-new delicacies to try, usually leaving us totally full when walking out of the park, to the point where we couldn’t eat another bite… until we’re offered a sampling of foods from some of Disney World’s best restaurants of course.
Food and Wine Classic
Each year, the Swan & Dolphin Resorts stage a special weekend in conjunction with the final weeks of EPCOT’s premier festival: The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic!
There have been a lot of changes already this year at Disney World, and there are still SO many to come. Construction is already in progress for new expansions like Pueblo Esperanza in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Piston Peak National Park, and the Villains Land in Magic Kingdom, and the new Monsters, Inc. Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Disney’s BoardWalk
There have also been a lot of changes at Disney World hotels, so we thought we would round up some of the biggest changes that have hit Disney World hotels in 2025!
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