The EPCOT resort area is home to one of the most rewarding dining landscapes at Walt Disney World — and much of that magic lives just outside the parks themselves. The BoardWalk, the Yacht Club, the Beach Club, and the Swan and Dolphin hotels all sit within easy walking or boat distance of EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, giving guests a wonderful range of options beyond the theme park dining circuit. The Swan and Dolphin campus in particular has long punched above its weight in dining quality. Operating as a Marriott property under a long-standing agreement with Disney, it hosts a collection of restaurants that would hold their own in any major city.
The crown jewel of that collection is Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina — a fine dining steakhouse from the James Beard Award-winning chef behind a global portfolio of acclaimed restaurants. Bourbon Steak arrived at the Walt Disney World Dolphin just one year ago, replacing the long-running Shula's Steak House with a concept built around prime and Wagyu beef, an extensive shellfish and caviar program, and a whiskey and cocktail offering that earns its name. For the Disney dining community, it quickly became one of the most exciting additions to the EPCOT resort area in years — the kind of reservation that gets made weeks in advance for date nights, anniversaries, and birthday celebrations.
On June 25, a kitchen fire changed all of that.
What Happened the Night of the Fire
The fire broke out in Bourbon Steak's kitchen during dinner service. Smoke pushed through the building's ventilation system and out to the Dolphin's exterior, creating alarming images that circulated widely on social media. Resort management evacuated the lobby and several guest room floors as a precaution. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
The resort was quick to put the incident in context, releasing an official statement:
"Pictures make it seem the fire was much larger than it was, as the ventilation system is meant to push smoke outside. No damage to hotel and only in the restaurant."
Bourbon Steak has been closed since that night. Nearly a month later, it remains closed — and the Swan and Dolphin is now communicating directly with guests about the situation and what comes next.
What the Swan and Dolphin Is Telling Guests
The hotel is actively reaching out to guests with existing Bourbon Steak reservations by email, informing them of the closure and offering assistance rebooking at one of the Swan and Dolphin's other restaurants. The language in that outreach describes the closure as lasting "for the foreseeable future while repairs are completed" — which is more open-ended than most guests with upcoming reservations would hope to read.
A public notice posted on the Swan and Dolphin website reads:
"Dear Guests: Please be advised that our Bourbon Steak restaurant is temporarily closed. We invite you to join us at one of our other 22 outlets, including 5 signature restaurants: Celebrity Chef Todd English's bluezoo; Il Mulino Trattoria; Kimonos, Amare or Rosa Mexicano for Coastal, Italian, Sushi, Mediterranean and Mexican cuisines. Guests may also opt for enjoyable meals at our casual, quick stop or lounge venues. We look forward to welcoming you back to Bourbon Steak soon!"
The Bourbon Steak website itself lists the restaurant as "Temporarily Closed, Reopening Soon" — the most optimistic framing available from the property, though without a confirmed date attached.
September 16 Is the Date Everyone Is Watching
The clearest signal about the restaurant's planned return is coming from the reservation system itself. Guests attempting to book a table at Bourbon Steak currently cannot make reservations until September 16, 2026. That date does not constitute an official reopening announcement from the Swan and Dolphin or from Michael Mina's team, but it represents the earliest window the restaurant's own booking system is currently accepting — and that's a meaningful indicator of internal expectations.
A reopening in mid-September would mean Bourbon Steak was closed for approximately twelve weeks following the June 25 fire. Kitchen fire repairs can be extensive depending on what the fire — and the subsequent firefighting water and suppression agents — affected. The fact that damage was confined to the kitchen rather than the dining room may be working in the restaurant's favor in terms of repair scope.
That said, guests with upcoming Disney World trips that include a Bourbon Steak dinner should treat September 16 as a hopeful indicator rather than a guaranteed date. The hotel's "foreseeable future" language suggests the timeline may shift depending on the pace of repairs and inspections.
What the Swan and Dolphin's Other Restaurants Offer in the Meantime
The Swan and Dolphin campus operates 22 dining outlets, including five signature restaurants. Guests looking for an elevated dining experience while Bourbon Steak is closed have meaningful alternatives:
- Todd English's bluezoo — the campus's acclaimed signature seafood restaurant at the Dolphin
- Il Mulino Trattoria — Italian fine dining
- Kimonos — sushi
- Amare — Mediterranean cuisine
- Rosa Mexicano — coastal Mexican food
None of these is Bourbon Steak, and none replicates the specific appeal of a prime steakhouse with a Wagyu program and a deep whiskey list. But the Swan and Dolphin's dining depth means that guests who had built their evening around the Dolphin campus are not left without options.
A Restaurant One Year In — and the Road Back
Bourbon Steak Orlando opened only a year ago, making this kitchen fire and extended closure a significant interruption for a restaurant still establishing itself in the Disney dining landscape. The concept had been building its following among annual passholders, convention guests, and date-night diners before the June 25 incident. Its menu of shellfish, caviar, crab, and prime beef cuts had earned it a spot among the most anticipated dining reservations at Walt Disney World.
The "Reopening Soon" language on the Bourbon Steak website and the September 16 booking window both suggest the restaurant intends to return in full — which is exactly the outcome guests and the broader Disney dining community are hoping for. A year into its run, Bourbon Steak had established itself as something genuinely worth the reservation.
If you had a Bourbon Steak reservation affected by the closure, or if you visited during its first year and want to share what the experience was like, drop a comment below. And if your Disney World trip includes a planned visit to the EPCOT resort area and you want to know which Swan and Dolphin dining options are worth your time in the meantime, ask away — we're happy to help point you in the right direction.