Swan Different than WDW properties?

[MKCP5]

My DD works for Marriott, which owns the Swan and Dolphin. We get crazy good rates as her parents (thanks Marriott!) so we are staying at the Swan in September How do those resorts work? I know they don't participate in Magic Express. What else are you able to participate in like a typical, on property experience and what are you not? Thanks!

 

[CastAStone]

You don’t get Magic Bands for free. I think that + ME are it for differences. If I got crazy good rates at the Swan/Dolphin it wouldn’t be a question at all, I’d stay there.

 

[MKCP5]

You don’t get Magic Bands for free. I think that + ME are it for differences. If I got crazy good rates at the Swan/Dolphin it wouldn’t be a question at all, I’d stay there.

Thank you! I'm excited! I am going for a Disney Institute class and will be staying at the Contemporary for that thanks to my job, but I'm adding 4 nights on prior to the class at the Swan. Couldn't beat the rates, even if I had booked waaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy off property

 

[writerguyfl]

My DD works for Marriott, which owns the Swan and Dolphin.

It definitely doesn't matter in terms of your question, but Marriott doesn't own the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin. The land under the buildings is owned by the Walt Disney Company. Disney leased the land to the building owners: MetLife and the Tishman Realty and Construction Corporation.

The hotels are managed by Marriott International.

As far as your question goes, aside from lack of free Magic Bands and Disney's Magical Express service that CastAStone mentioned, you also will not be able to charge any purchases back to your room account.

 

[MKCP5]

It definitely doesn't matter in terms of your question, but Marriott doesn't own the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin. The land under the buildings is owned by the Walt Disney Company. Disney leased the land to the building owners: MetLife and the Tishman Realty and Construction Corporation.

The hotels are managed by Marriott International.

As far as your question goes, aside from lack of free Magic Bands and Disney's Magical Express service that CastAStone mentioned, you also will not be able to charge any purchases back to your room account.

Lol Thanks for the unneeded precision. If we're going there, they aren't even Marriott hotels. They're part of the Starwood brand, which is a Marriott brand now, and use can use your Bonvoy/Marriott points to rent a room, or in my case, an employee discount that also extends to the parents and siblings of a Marriott employee

 

[DLgal]

Other than not needing a magic band, and not being able to use DME or room charging, you cannot utilize resort package delivery. Everything else, including extra Magic hours, is open to you. You show your room key for EMH.

 

[gwynne]

Lol Thanks for the unneeded precision. If we're going there, they aren't even Marriott hotels. They're part of the Starwood brand, which is a Marriott brand now, and use can use your Bonvoy/Marriott points to rent a room, or in my case, an employee discount that also extends to the parents and siblings of a Marriott employee

As this is a Disney board, the explanation @writerguyfl provided was interesting to me.
Your outline of the Bonvoy/Starwood/Marriott brand was
interesting as well. Always nice to learn something new.
Enjoy your stay!

 

[Hopefully]

Lol Thanks for the unneeded precision. If we're going there, they aren't even Marriott hotels. They're part of the Starwood brand, which is a Marriott brand now, and use can use your Bonvoy/Marriott points to rent a room, or in my case, an employee discount that also extends to the parents and siblings of a Marriott employee

I believe that the Starwood brand no longer exists. It is now Marriott.
I too found the explanation interesting.

 

[FourBees]

My DD works for Marriott, which owns the Swan and Dolphin. We get crazy good rates as her parents (thanks Marriott!) so we are staying at the Swan in September How do those resorts work? I know they don't participate in Magic Express. What else are you able to participate in like a typical, on property experience and what are you not? Thanks!

My daughter also gets the employee discounts that we can use. We are going the end of October for a crazy good deal. We stayed a couple nights a couple years ago at the Dolphin. The location is great. Have a great time

 

[MKCP5]

As this is a Disney board, the explanation @writerguyfl provided was interesting to me.
Your outline of the Bonvoy/Starwood/Marriott brand was
interesting as well. Always nice to learn something new.
Enjoy your stay!

I believe that the Starwood brand no longer exists. It is now Marriott.
I too found the explanation interesting.

I'm not angry that he made the distinction. I thought it was funny that he was so precise in his response. I understand that Marriott does not own the land. But since they are run by Marriott etc, they are most commonly referred to as Marriott properties. I don't see it as a big distinction but some people might and that's fine. I agree. Always nice to learn something new.

As far as Starwood goes, you are right that the group doesn't exist anymore! I said the wrong thing. Sheraton was Starwood's flagship chain and although Starwood doesn't exist anymore, Sheraton still exists as a brand under the Marriott Umbrella

 

[TaraPA]

We go 4-5 times a year & often stay at Swan/Dolphin. As Bonvoy Titanium Elite members S/D treat you better than staying onsite, in our opinion. As for the Disney feeling - I've never once felt "outside" of WDW when staying at S/D, we love them both. While the hotels themselves aren't in-your-face Disney themed, without young kids it's not makde a difference to us. The location is stellar being right at The Boardwalk. A tip for those with Bonvoy status - you can choose a breakfast voucher as your Welcome Gift (over points, snack, beverage, etc.) - you get $10 breakfast voucher per person, per night, that can be used towards the $16 Garden Grove breakfast buffet at The Swan - a very nice buffet well worth the $6! Enjoy!

 

[shocker]

Also you cannot use Disney gift cards at Swalphin & you can't get or use DDP there. But a few of their restaurants accept Tables in Wonderland & DVC discounts.
I don't believe they have a refillable mug program like on site.
Worth noting that we actually found some food cheaper to buy at next door Disney properties (hard to do at Disney price points) & found it worth the walk over to Boardwalk to purchase.
Easy peasy walk to Disney's miniature golf...if you might enjoy that.