Swan/Dolphin magical express

[kaytieedid]

I know there is Disney transportation provided between the Swan/Dolphin and the parks, but is magical express included too? Or do we have to use another carrier and pay a fee?
thanks!

 

[Lynne M]

Magical Express is only offered to guests of Disney-owned resorts, so no, Swan & Dolphin guests aren't eligible. You would need to find your own transportation from the airport to the resort.

 

[DebbieB]

I know there is Disney transportation provided between the Swan/Dolphin and the parks, but is magical express included too? Or do we have to use another carrier and pay a fee?
thanks!

It is not included. You can contact Mears and pay for transportation, they may put you on a ME bus since they operate those. You would not be able to use the luggage service.

 

[TaraPA]

Rental car, town car, taxi or Mears shuttle are your options.

 

[goofy4tink]

It is not included. You can contact Mears and pay for transportation, they may put you on a ME bus since they operate those. You would not be able to use the luggage service.

Doesn't seem to happen very often anymore. When I took the Mears bus to the Dolphin, I jokingly asked if they were going to put me on the YC/BC DME bus. The Mears lady looked at me, as if I had said something blasphemous, and said...'DME buses are for Disney owned resorts..not for the Swan or Dolphin or any other regular hotel!!!'

It is pretty reasonable to take the Mears shuttle if there are only two-three people...it's something like $32 pp, r/t. But if you have more than that, it's going to be cheaper to have a car service transport you....as well as much nicer.

 

[TaraPA]

Doesn't seem to happen very often anymore. When I took the Mears bus to the Dolphin, I jokingly asked if they were going to put me on the YC/BC DME bus. The Mears lady looked at me, as if I had said something blasphemous, and said...'DME buses are for Disney owned resorts..not for the Swan or Dolphin or any other regular hotel!!!'

It is pretty reasonable to take the Mears shuttle if there are only two-three people...it's something like $32 pp, r/t. But if you have more than that, it's going to be cheaper to have a car service transport you....as well as much nicer.

I had to chuckle because I just took Mears to Dolphin last month & asked the same thing & they looked at me like I had 2 heads. I don't think it's standard practice anymore to be added to the ME bus!

 

[kapoof]

fl tours limo service is right here on the dis..we have used them twice and found them to be very good. mears might be cheaper but you do run the risk of driving around orlando quite a bit for other riders.

 

[Scott MC]

Doesn't seem to happen very often anymore. When I took the Mears bus to the Dolphin, I jokingly asked if they were going to put me on the YC/BC DME bus. The Mears lady looked at me, as if I had said something blasphemous, and said...'DME buses are for Disney owned resorts..not for the Swan or Dolphin or any other regular hotel!!!'

It's this attitude that really grinds my gears.

The S and D are on Disney property, are nestled among very popular Disney resorts, (BWI, BC, YC), are very posh, very beautiful and frequently run much cheaper than Disney deluxe resorts. There seems to be this attitude of treating the S and D like some b-----d child that no one wants to admit exists. I don't quite know how else to put it into words, but it's like Disney really hates that the 2 resorts are sitting there, and wants the world to ignore them. Correct me if I'm wrong...but isn't Disney getting a cut of the revenue? Isn't Disney getting moolah from those guests buying park tickets, and souvenirs, and expensive breakfasts and CRT and fancy dinners and V&A's?
This year, we booked a week at the Boardwalk, which we're over-the-moon excited about, but we were even more excited to find a great rate for the Swan on Priceline and because of this, and because of the great price (insanely cheaper than BWI), we were able to come down to Disney 2 days early and...well...that's just magical! What wasn't so magical was finding out that we were denied ME service because of this change to our schedule. We really look forward to it and were very disappointed in the "NO MAGICAL EXPRESS FOR THE SWAN AND DOLPHIN!" policy. I even called and tried to say that since we've booked a week at the Boardwalk, we'd be willing to be dropped off at the Boardwalk, and we'd schlep our own luggage over to the Swan. The CM I spoke to was polite, but curt and emphatic about this being an absolute "No!" When I pointed out that my package at the BWI included Magical Express service, she suggested that after I was done at the Swan..I could taxi back to MCO and ME would be glad to bring me to the BWI from there.

As Charlie Brown would say...."Sheesh!"

 

[Mrsjvb]

Scott MC: hey SoG is unloved too and it used to BE a Disney resort! heheh

 

[lilsydney]

I had booked Mears shuttle for the four us arriving at the Swan tomorrow a.m. but found an AMAZING deal with Florida Town Car. Private town car with door to door service (sign at baggage when you land!) for $85!!! well worth it for sure

 

[Scrubba2]

Scott MC: One more night on the Boardwalk resort area almost equals the cost of your own transportation. Then it's a cheap taxi or an easy walk to the Swan/Dolphin in the a.m.! We have done a few split stays along the boardwalk. It is a little bumpy tho for the luggage, but a good reason to add another night! Just sayin

 

[seashoreCM]

Stopping at Swan/Dolphin for Mears' regular shuttle guests would be a crimp in the Magical Express route because it is "another stop". But since DME and Disney Cruise Line guests may be commingled and S/D handles DCL guests, a DME bus may go to S/D.

 

[goofy4tink]

Disney wants to be able to offer 'perks' for their own resorts. And this is how they do it. Stay at a WDW owned resort and get free DME and use of the dining plan.
The way I figure it, the S/D are lucky they get to pay to use the resort to park buses. I love staying at the Dolphin...one of my favorite spots to stay. But, if I rent a car, I have to pay to park it there. And I have to pay an addtl 'resort fee' on top of my quoted price. It drives me nutty.

But, since Disney doesn't own these hotels, the hotel guests don't get all the same perks the Disney owned resorts get.

 

[Lewisc]

S/D frequently offers lower room rates the Disney run resorts in the EPCOT resort area. Unlike Disney resorts S/D charges guests for parking and charges a resort fee.

I doubt S/D has any interest in increasing room rates in order to pay Disney for DME nor do I think S/D has any interest in increasing room rates in order to set up their own system.

Guests staying at the S/D have to consider the resort fees, parking fees and cost for airport transfers when evaluating the room rate.

The CM told you the policy.

It's this attitude that really grinds my gears.

The S and D are on Disney property, are nestled among very popular Disney resorts, (BWI, BC, YC), are very posh, very beautiful and frequently run much cheaper than Disney deluxe resorts. There seems to be this attitude of treating the S and D like some b-----d child that no one wants to admit exists. I don't quite know how else to put it into words, but it's like Disney really hates that the 2 resorts are sitting there, and wants the world to ignore them. Correct me if I'm wrong...but isn't Disney getting a cut of the revenue? Isn't Disney getting moolah from those guests buying park tickets, and souvenirs, and expensive breakfasts and CRT and fancy dinners and V&A's?
This year, we booked a week at the Boardwalk, which we're over-the-moon excited about, but we were even more excited to find a great rate for the Swan on Priceline and because of this, and because of the great price (insanely cheaper than BWI), we were able to come down to Disney 2 days early and...well...that's just magical! What wasn't so magical was finding out that we were denied ME service because of this change to our schedule. We really look forward to it and were very disappointed in the "NO MAGICAL EXPRESS FOR THE SWAN AND DOLPHIN!" policy. I even called and tried to say that since we've booked a week at the Boardwalk, we'd be willing to be dropped off at the Boardwalk, and we'd schlep our own luggage over to the Swan. The CM I spoke to was polite, but curt and emphatic about this being an absolute "No!" When I pointed out that my package at the BWI included Magical Express service, she suggested that after I was done at the Swan..I could taxi back to MCO and ME would be glad to bring me to the BWI from there.

As Charlie Brown would say...."Sheesh!"

 

[mlittig]

I have priced the Swan/Dolphin because I can get the teacher rate but it really irritates me that they have the resort fee, water bottle fee, parking fee when I don't even have a car Adding all that in on top on no Magic Express makes it not such a great deal after all

 

[mikat]

I have priced the Swan/Dolphin because I can get the teacher rate but it really irritates me that they have the resort fee, water bottle fee, parking fee when I don't even have a car Adding all that in on top on no Magic Express makes it not such a great deal after all

I just checked my invoice from the Dolphin last month - there is no parking fee if you do not have a car on property. The only fee is a $10 resort fee, which INCLUDES the water bottles - and free internet access.