Swan Reserve vs DVC

[nuhusky123]

I just completed a short trip to the swan reserve. I’ve stayed countless times at the swan, although I like the resort and love the location I was not a fan of the rooms. I felt they were tiny and as a Marriott elite never got upgrades or could use my SNA for upgrades

the swan reserve however is very different. My SNA cleared five days out, I got an Epcot view suite. The room is fantastic, huge, it has a microwave (wink wink). View of Epcot fireworks from the room was outstanding too

i have zero complaints with the reserve so now I have a dilemma. The rack rates for the reserve are sub $400 for most of the year.

I have enough dvc points for a week each year. I want enough to spend two weeks a year or pay out of pocket for the second week. So I either add more dvc points (was going to do gfv2), and I was convinced this was the right move. It’s gfv2, rooms look great and really appeal

but the reserve has me rethinking everything. Perhaps it’s better to pay for luxury hotel rooms and skip dvc

I could buy a lot of hotel nights for the price of gfv2

 

[davidl81]

Can you walk to Epcot from the new Swan?
I think it is a viable alternative to DVC for sure, and of course once you factor not only buy in cost, but mostly the maintenance fees it is likely the more economical choice. The lack of full kitchens and washer dryers could be something to consider depending on your travel habits.

 

[nuhusky123]

Yes you can walk to Epcot and Hollywood. Although boat is best to Hollywood and walk to Epcot. The reserve is perhaps an extra 5 min tops to Epcot vs the swan.

I only plan to do dvc studios so don’t care about washer or kitchen

the one downside of the swan and dolphin resorts is transportation is no longer Disney but rather mears. Pre covid guests got Disney buses but that’s now gone. I do drive down to Disney with my own car as I have sworn off ever Riding another Disney bus. I despise Disney busses

 

[DaveNan]

I have sworn off ever Riding another Disney bus. I despise Disney busses

I too do not like Disney buses. I only use them when going to and from MK. I have been known to have breakfast at the Poly or contemporary to avoid that bus trip......

 

[nuhusky123]

I think I found my cure to addontis

I have my blue card, but yeah I’m done buying dvc. Will be augmenting my dvc stays at the swan reserve

 

[davidl81]

I cannot argue with your logic here. We enjoy 1BR since we have kids and really enjoy the extra space, kitchen, etc. That makes DVC a little better deal for us, but if it is just a studio comparison then yeah I think Swan R makes a ton of sense.

 

[BamaGuy44]

Another plus is it’s considered a Deluxe for the purposes of extra magic hours, etc. We love the Swan it’s been our go-to for years. We just became DVC members but I agree it’s a solid alternative to buying more points and paying dues on them if you can get a resort on that level for that price when you want to walk to HS/Epcot.

 

[RoseGold]

does it have the club or any of the other Marriott perks? My Marriott has lapsed since COVID. I do miss those JW breakfasts free in the lounge. Nothing like that at DVC.

To me, DVC is a different product. I’m booking a washer/dryer and larger rooms. But yea, that’s definitely intriguing against studios.

 

[nuhusky123]

Marriott hotels in Orlando don’t have lounges. A few exceptions out by mco but because they all classify as resorts they can bend the rules on lounges.

you can get free breakfast with status. Pre covid the breakfast buffet was a nice perk

 

[kboo]

I think I found my cure to addontis

I have my blue card, but yeah I’m done buying dvc. Will be augmenting my dvc stays at the swan reserve

I cannot argue with your logic here. We enjoy 1BR since we have kids and really enjoy the extra space, kitchen, etc. That makes DVC a little better deal for us, but if it is just a studio comparison then yeah I think Swan R makes a ton of sense.

We used to stay Swolphin with Marriott points, but then we started staying in 1br and 2br ...

 

[Cfabar1]

You can get a free continental breakfast as Marriott elite, but if you want a full hot breakfast, you have to pay extra (which we have done and will do).

Please note, Marriott Bonvoy members also have to pay the hefty resort fee, and pay for parking. So while your AP might get you free parking at the parks, if you’re staying the night you’ve got to pay $$s for that. It is typically an “okay” points redemption, but rarely spectacular (or even good) use of points.

Apart from Downtown Disney and Animal Kingdom and the sports/waterparks, I think you could avoid using buses. Monorail to MK, Walk to HS/Epcot. Our DVC plans involve beach resorts, MK resorts, and staying at Dolphin/Swan/SR for the others.

 

[kes601]

You can get a free continental breakfast as Marriott elite, but if you want a full hot breakfast, you have to pay extra (which we have done and will do).

Please note, Marriott Bonvoy members also have to pay the hefty resort fee, and pay for parking. So while your AP might get you free parking at the parks, if you’re staying the night you’ve got to pay $$s for that. It is typically an “okay” points redemption, but rarely spectacular (or even good) use of points.

Apart from Downtown Disney and Animal Kingdom and the sports/waterparks, I think you could avoid using buses. Monorail to MK, Walk to HS/Epcot. Our DVC plans involve beach resorts, MK resorts, and staying at Dolphin/Swan/SR for the others.

How would you monorail to MK w/o walking through Epcot? I know in the past it wouldn’t matter, but with park passes that currently won’t work.

 

[Nursemanit]

I was in the "S/D is better than DVC" camp as I travel enough for work to get at least a week a year. But things have changed. The Marriott points are constantly devalued so now 2 studios are over 500,000 for the week. They started charging the resort fee for points stay ( years ago it used to be waved) and the parking is steep. A free week on points is now hundreds a week. My status used to get me a full hot breakfast, and now it is 2 $10 coupons per night. I have also had issues with false charges on my bill that required my contacts at Marriott to get corrected when S/D management refused to help. Losing Disney transportation was a hit for WDW since I can't cut through Epcot anymore. The Italian restaurant has IMO gone downhill but I love Fountain and the pool food.

I really like the location ( Swan) for its access - Dolphin is a bit too big and IMO the reserve is a long walk on a hot rainy September week. Daily housekeeping is also a plus. But I bought DVC after watching the trend and realizing that I wanted to stay at other resorts for variety. I still collect Bonvoy points and I am staying a week at the Swan in February using up 750,000 before they devalue again.

S/D is a good back pocket backup reservation if you are waitlisting since you can cancel a week before ( rather than 30 days for DVC) So I would recommend both.

 

[DonMacGregor]

I was in the "S/D is better than DVC" camp as I travel enough for work to get at least a week a year. But things have changed. The Marriott points are constantly devalued so now 2 studios are over 500,000 for the week. They started charging the resort fee for points stay ( years ago it used to be waved) and the parking is steep. A free week on points is now hundreds a week. My status used to get me a full hot breakfast, and now it is 2 $10 coupons per night. I have also had issues with false charges on my bill that required my contacts at Marriott to get corrected when S/D management refused to help. Losing Disney transportation was a hit for WDW since I can't cut through Epcot anymore. The Italian restaurant has IMO gone downhill but I love Fountain and the pool food.

I really like the location ( Swan) for its access - Dolphin is a bit too big and IMO the reserve is a long walk on a hot rainy September week. Daily housekeeping is also a plus. But I bought DVC after watching the trend and realizing that I wanted to stay at other resorts for variety. I still collect Bonvoy points and I am staying a week at the Swan in February using up 750,000 before they devalue again.

S/D is a good back pocket backup reservation if you are waitlisting since you can cancel a week before ( rather than 30 days for DVC) So I would recommend both.

Ironically, I'm also a Bonvoy member (Platinum Elite), and I've never stayed at either the S/D or Reserve, and to be honest have zero desire to do so, for most of the same reasons. Although never in the S/D is better than DVC camp (never actually gave that much thought). In fact, every March I attend a conference at the Grande Lakes resort and stay at either the Marriott or the Ritz (depending on availability), and I actually look forward to adding a day on at a DVC resort before heading home (it's a weird conference that actually ends on Saturday, rather than Friday).

ETA: I'm NOT saying DVC resorts are better than Marriott deluxe resorts, simply that within the Disney bubble, I prefer the DVC offerings over what Marriott is pitching.

 

[Nursemanit]

Ironically, I'm also a Bonvoy member (Platinum Elite), and I've never stayed at either the S/D or Reserve, and to be honest have zero desire to do so, for most of the same reasons. Although never in the S/D is better than DVC camp (never actually gave that much thought). In fact, every March I attend a conference at the Grande Lakes resort and stay at either the Marriott or the Ritz (depending on availability), and I actually look forward to adding a day on at a DVC resort before heading home (it's a weird conference that actually ends on Saturday, rather than Friday).

ETA: I'm NOT saying DVC resorts are better than Marriott deluxe resorts, simply that within the Disney bubble, I prefer the DVC offerings over what Marriott is pitching.

I would say Disney Hotel rooms vs S/W hotel rooms is the apples-to-apples comparison. And with BWI being near 2x the price it is a tough sell for a very similar room.

 

[Cfabar1]

I find the rooms at the Swan to be “fine”…. Barely worthy of the name Westin. However, DVC people also decry the mattresses on property.

 

[DL1WDW2]

I think I found my cure to addontis

I have my blue card, but yeah I’m done buying dvc. Will be augmenting my dvc stays at the swan reserve

Agree ! Done with buying DVC !
Thanks for mentioning the Reserve has suites . Good to know.

 

[havoc315]

Here are the main reasons Swan is probably better than DVC:

1 -- Probably cheaper in the long run, when discounting for present value.
2 -- A location just as good as some DVC and better than some DVC properties
3 -- Far more flexible -- No need to book 11 months in advance usually. Easier to cancel.
4 -- Go as much or as little as you want. If you want to skip 3 years, no worry about wasting points. If you want to go for extra time, no worry about not having enough points.
5 -- Since not locked in, get sick of the Swan/Dolphin, then you can go stay somewhere else on or off property.
6 -- Housekeeping is included

The main reasons Swan/Dolphin are worse than DVC:
1 -- They aren't Disney.

 

[Cfabar1]

I am curious how Swan Reserve was put together. The Swan/Dolphin project has a bit of interesting history behind it, as chronicled in DisneyWar and other things. I’m curious if they were always entitled to another hotel on property, if it was renegotiated, etc.

By the way, the resort may not formally be “disney”, but Michael Eisner had his stamp ALL OVER the development of the Swan and Dolphin. Those hotels would not have been built in the way they were without the imprimatur of WD company.

 

[BamaGuy44]

The main reasons Swan/Dolphin are worse than DVC:
1 -- They aren't Disney.

Now I would add 2– no access to Disney Transport other than friendship boats any more.

Also not a great option for 1 BR and above IMO.