A fire at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort prompted an evacuation Thursday evening after smoke began pouring from the hotel, sending guests out of the building while emergency crews responded.
I’ve seen some people reporting that large amounts of smoke are coming from the Dolphin hotel. And now here’s a video. 👀
🎥 itsprincesspresley #TikTok https://t.co/S4f2UAd7dY pic.twitter.com/6MH5ODzreg
— Nick Chappell (@NickChaps96) June 26, 2026
The incident occurred on June 25 at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort, one of the most recognizable hotels in the EPCOT resort area. While the situation was quickly brought under control and no injuries were reported, the dramatic sight of dark smoke billowing from the resort led to concern among guests both inside the hotel and around Crescent Lake.
Fire Breaks Out Inside Bourbon Steak Kitchen
According to statements from the resort, the fire originated in the kitchen of Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina, the upscale signature restaurant located on the second floor of the Dolphin Resort.
The hotel immediately evacuated the lobby along with multiple guest room floors while firefighters responded to the scene.
Orange County Fire Rescue crews quickly extinguished the blaze, preventing it from spreading beyond the restaurant. Officials confirmed there were no reported injuries.
In a statement released Friday morning, a spokesperson for the Walt Disney World Dolphin said:
“A fire occurred in the kitchen of Bourbon Steak restaurant in the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel. As a result, the ventilation system moved the smoke out to the exterior of the Dolphin Hotel, as it is designed to do, which made the smoke visible from outside. In the interest of guest and cast member safety, the hotel evacuated the lobby and many guest room floors. Once they were assured of no safety concerns, guests were allowed to return to their rooms.”
The spokesperson added: “The situation has been contained and there is no safety concern at this time; however, the restaurant will remain closed until further notice.”
Guests Reported Heavy Smoke
Guests staying at the Swan and Dolphin Resorts took to social media throughout the evening, posting photos and videos showing thick black smoke rising from the Dolphin.
Several visitors reported seeing smoke drifting across the Crescent Lake area, creating a startling scene for those walking between EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
A fire at the Swan and Dolphin today. I bet it was a local who didn’t have a reservation who somehow did this… and definitely not outdated falling apart infrastructure. pic.twitter.com/VCqgoWwKAq
— Ⓘⓛⓛⓤⓢⓘⓞⓝⓔⓔⓡ (@scottxavier) June 26, 2026
Fortunately, officials emphasized that the smoke was largely the result of the hotel’s ventilation system exhausting it outside the building as designed.
Once firefighters confirmed the fire had been extinguished and the building was safe, evacuated guests were allowed to return to their rooms.
Restaurant Will Remain Closed
Although the hotel itself did not sustain significant damage, the fire was confined to Bourbon Steak, which will remain closed until further notice while the incident is investigated and cleanup is completed.
The exterior of the Disney World Dolphin resort hotel – YouTube, Theme Park Prodigy
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The Dolphin offers numerous other dining options for guests, including Rosa Mexicano, Todd English’s bluezoo, The Fountain, Fuel, and Phins Bar. Those restaurants were not reported to have been affected by the fire.
It remains unclear how long Bourbon Steak will be unavailable.
Rare Emergency at a Disney Area Resort
Fires requiring hotel evacuations are relatively uncommon at Walt Disney World, making Thursday night’s incident particularly notable for guests staying at the popular EPCOT-area resort.
The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin complex includes more than 2,500 hotel rooms across the Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve hotels and is one of the busiest convention destinations on Disney property. While the resorts are located within Walt Disney World, they are owned separately and operated by Marriott International rather than Disney itself.
The lobby of the Disney World Dolphin resort hotel – YouTube, Theme Park Prodigy
The quick response by Orange County Fire Rescue and hotel staff appears to have prevented the situation from becoming more serious, with guests safely returning to the building later that evening.
For now, the only lasting impact appears to be the closure of Bourbon Steak while officials complete their investigation into the kitchen fire.
Disney World guests with reservations at the restaurant should monitor the Swan and Dolphin Resort for updates regarding reopening plans.
Are you surprised by this Disney World fire? Sound off and let us know!
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