The event took place on Thursday, June 25, in the EPCOT resort area.Credit: Viictor Mendes, FlickrA fire broke out Thursday in the kitchen of Bourbon Steak, the upscale steakhouse located inside the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort — prompting an evacuation of the lobby and sending plumes of smoke billowing from the building that quickly alarmed onlookers on the property.According to a statement provided by a public relations official to WKMG ClickOrlando, the blaze was contained to the restaurant’s kitchen and described as small in scale. “Pictures make it seem the fire was much larger than it was, as the ventilation system is meant to push smoke outside,” the statement reads — a clarification that will likely bring some relief to the many guests who spotted dramatic images circulating on social media showing smoke pouring from the resort’s exterior. The official confirmed there was “no damage to the hotel and only in the restaurant.”Credit: DisneyA Reddit post shows the scale of the smoke at the hotel’s exterior:WDW Dolphin Resort Fire byu/Nearby-Medicine9484 inWaltDisneyWorldOut of an abundance of caution, resort management evacuated the lobby and some guest room floors while the situation was assessed. Guests were later allowed back inside once the all-clear was given, the spokesperson explained. No injuries have been reported.About the ResortThe Walt Disney World Dolphin is one of the most recognizable hotels on Disney property, even though it technically sits outside the Disney-owned portfolio. The Dolphin — along with its sister property, the Swan — is owned and operated by Marriott under a long-standing agreement with Disney, and the two towers have anchored the EPCOT resort area since 1990.Credit: DisneyDesigned by architect Michael Graves, the Dolphin is hard to miss: its turquoise facade, enormous sculpted fish, and coral-and-banana color scheme make it one of the most architecturally distinctive buildings in all of Walt Disney World. Despite not being a Disney-owned hotel, guests staying at the Swan and Dolphin enjoy many of the same perks as those at Disney’s own resorts, including early theme park entry and the ability to use Disney’s Skyliner gondola system.About Bourbon SteakBourbon Steak is not your average resort restaurant. It is a Michael Mina concept — bearing the name of the celebrity chef and restaurateur behind a global portfolio of acclaimed dining establishments — and it positions itself firmly at the fine dining end of the Walt Disney World spectrum. The Orlando outpost mirrors the style of Mina’s other Bourbon Steak locations across the country, anchoring its menu around prime and Wagyu beef cuts alongside an extensive whiskey and cocktail program that lives up to the bourbon in the name.Credit: DisneyFor Disney dining enthusiasts, Bourbon Steak has long been a noteworthy option for a splurge-worthy dinner within easy reach of EPCOT and Hollywood Studios — particularly appealing to guests who want a high-end steakhouse experience without leaving the resort bubble. The restaurant has earned a loyal following among annual passholders, convention attendees who fill the Dolphin’s vast meeting spaces, and date-night diners looking for something a step above the typical theme park fare.What Happens Next?As of Thursday, Bourbon Steak has been closed until further notice while an assessment of the kitchen takes place. Given that the resort’s statement confirmed damage was limited to the restaurant itself and did not affect the hotel, it is reasonable to hope the closure will be short-lived — though anyone with upcoming reservations should reach out to the Swan and Dolphin directly to confirm their booking status before heading over.Credit: Laura (Tiger Girl), FlickrThe good news is that the Dolphin Resort itself remains open and fully operational. For guests already on the property, the Swan and Dolphin campus offers several other dining options to tide them over while Bourbon Steak gets back on its feet.We will keep an eye on updates from the resort and report back when a reopening timeline is announced.Have you ever been evacuated from a Disney World location? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!The post Fire Breaks Out at EPCOT Resort Location, Guests Evacuated as Area Closed Indefinitely appeared first on Inside the Magic.