Swan Reserve vs DVC

[havoc315]

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.

Might not be “Disney” transport, but they still run regular shuttle buses to MK and AK. It’s not like official Disney buses are so great.

 

[Nursemanit]

Might not be “Disney” transport, but they still run regular shuttle buses to MK and AK. It’s not like official Disney buses are so great.

S/W uses air-conditioned coaches with no need to stand - It baffles me that someone would walk to BWV to avoid them, especially for Animal Kingdom but you see people doing it since it is "Disney transportation"

I will say that during the current bus area refurb they are sending Swan to Dolphin busses, and the reverse but that is a temporary thing.

 

[BamaGuy44]

Might not be “Disney” transport, but they still run regular shuttle buses to MK and AK. It’s not like official Disney buses are so great.

Their buses don't go to MK. They go to TTC. The official buses aren't great, and the s/d buses are another notch down, at least to MK. Not a huge deal breaker but still a drawback vs a DVC resort, IMO.

 

[TraJon]

My husband is I believe a Titanium Elite Lifetime member. What does this mean? He lived in hotel rooms more than home for 15 years. Years ago Swan did have a lounge for members, so nice. We prefer to use our points outside of the country but we have done Swan many times. It’s too high for the point cost and personally doesn’t compare to DVC. And that TTC busing drove me bananas, that’s new. They do charge ridiculous fees as well. It’s a good choice, and the location. BUT.

*(Covid hit and he barely travels, they realize he works more hours at home)

 

[RichVIII]

When we run low on points or need to have more flexibility S/D is a great option. I would agree with others, it is a different option but certainly can a great one.

 

[kboo]

Their buses don't go to MK. They go to TTC. The official buses aren't great, and the s/d buses are another notch down, at least to MK. Not a huge deal breaker but still a drawback vs a DVC resort, IMO.

I think I'm lifetime Platinum and closing in on Titanium? We used points at S/D when we were still Starwood, and they put off our DVC purchases for a few years. But even the bathroom layouts in the studios where we stay (Riviera and VGF) are far better than the S/D bathroom, which was always a crowd control issue in the mornings. The one thing I preferred over DVC was:
--two real beds for our family of 4
--longer booking windows/shorter cancellation windows (12 mo in advance, days to cancel)

But - now that 2 of our 3 home resorts have murphy beds, the bus to TTC instead of to MK was the kicker. I suppose we will try Swan Reserve at some point if we decide to take a last minute trip (we did for the TS Land preview over an SSR studio, pre-refurb) but we have tended to use our Marriott points for non-Disney vacations instead.

 

[TTA Rider Matt]

We stayed at the Swan Reserve for one night and man, that is a beautiful property. Rooms are awesome, lobby is beautiful, there’s nothing not to like. For me, as silly as it seems, the extra 6-7 minutes of walking to get to the Boardwalk entrance is a lot. I travel in July every year, and if it was just me, it wouldn’t be 6-7 minutes, but with my kids it is.

We use the S/D/SR as add ons at the beginning or ends of trips if we find better flights an earlier day than our arrival or later day than our departure, for example. I don’t think I would ever truly replace DVC or not buy more points because of the S/D/SR, but it’s nice to know there is a good option that gets me in that Boardwalk area.

 

[sethschroeder]

Just looked for our July trip (with member rate):
$12,786.78 for 2 rooms at Swan/Dolphin - no kitchen, no living room, double beds size
$10,047.60 for 2 bedroom at BCV - booked with RIV and BWV points

The gap doesn't account for investing the money but honestly that money likely wouldn't have earned more than 1% or something small as I am not risking short term swings in the market with vacation money.

The gap will only grow over time as well.

Now flip side is we wouldn't be going to Disney at all or for a very truncated trip because I could never pay normal ticket prices for over a 10 day trip.

 

[havoc315]

Just looked for our July trip (with member rate):
$12,786.78 for 2 rooms at Swan/Dolphin - no kitchen, no living room, double beds size
$10,047.60 for 2 bedroom at BCV - booked with RIV and BWV points

The gap doesn't account for investing the money but honestly that money likely wouldn't have earned more than 1% or something small as I am not risking short term swings in the market with vacation money.

The gap will only grow over time as well.

Now flip side is we wouldn't be going to Disney at all or for a very truncated trip because I could never pay normal ticket prices for over a 10 day trip.

How did you calculate the 2 BR cost for BCV? May I ask how many points that's coming out to?

I'm guessing you're pretty close to the numbers I would have used, just curious.

 

[Nursemanit]

Just looked for our July trip (with member rate):
$12,786.78 for 2 rooms at Swan/Dolphin - no kitchen, no living room, double beds size
$10,047.60 for 2 bedroom at BCV - booked with RIV and BWV points

The gap doesn't account for investing the money but honestly that money likely wouldn't have earned more than 1% or something small as I am not risking short term swings in the market with vacation money.

The gap will only grow over time as well.

Now flip side is we wouldn't be going to Disney at all or for a very truncated trip because I could never pay normal ticket prices for over a 10 day trip.

Swan has 2 queen beds and is $8419.00 for both rooms 10 nights in July unrestricted

That includes resort fee and taxes

$9540 if you want 10 nights resort view and balcony reserved- nonrestrictive

But you don’t want a balcony at swan in July unless you want to fry eggs in room.

 

[sethschroeder]

Swan has 2 queen beds and is $8419.00 for both rooms 10 nights in July unrestricted

So that would be $15,154.20 for my stay of 18 nights. Plus is that 2 bedroom because we sleep 2 adults, 2 grand parents, and 2 little kids.

If that is not a 2 bedroom but simply a room with 2 queen beds that would bring the total up to $30k as I would need two rooms. Plus we would still be missing a private space for both my parents as well as us while the kids have the living room.

How did you calculate the 2 BR cost for BCV? May I ask how many points that's coming out to?

I'm guessing you're pretty close to the numbers I would have used, just curious.

Its fairly "basic"

Its my specific contracts (BWV + RIV) price per point (flat line division of price over the life of the contract), with my specific MFs, totaled up for all the points required. It will be slightly off because some of the points were banked and borrowed but I used this years MFs for all the points.

One thing to note I didn't calculate in my 5% discount on MFs that I get when we pay monthly with Disney Gift Cards but this should offset any sort of MF increase for 2024 I am borrowing.

Rough math but it was simply a quick calculation to show the difference. If anyone is really weighing the two options they should look to do the math themselves (can always ask for help around here because there are math gurus).

 

[havoc315]

So that would be $15,154.20 for my stay of 18 nights. Plus is that 2 bedroom because we sleep 2 adults, 2 grand parents, and 2 little kids.

If that is not a 2 bedroom but simply a room with 2 queen beds that would bring the total up to $30k as I would need two rooms. Plus we would still be missing a private space for both my parents as well as us while the kids have the living room.



Its fairly "basic"

Its my specific contracts (BWV + RIV) price per point (flat line division of price over the life of the contract), with my specific MFs, totaled up for all the points required. It will be slightly off because some of the points were banked and borrowed but I used this years MFs for all the points.

One thing to note I didn't calculate in my 5% discount on MFs that I get when we pay monthly with Disney Gift Cards but this should offset any sort of MF increase for 2024 I am borrowing.

Rough math but it was simply a quick calculation to show the difference. If anyone is really weighing the two options they should look to do the math themselves (can always ask for help around here because there are math gurus).

Ahh, but without a present value/opportunity cost factoring. Paying $10,000 10 years in advance is actually more expensive than paying $12,000 10 years later.

Ultimately, I maintain DVC only retains savings-value when compared to onsite deluxe. Swan/Dolphin may be close, but still a bit cheaper.

 

[havoc315]

So that would be $15,154.20 for my stay of 18 nights. Plus is that 2 bedroom because we sleep 2 adults, 2 grand parents, and 2 little kids.

If that is not a 2 bedroom but simply a room with 2 queen beds that would bring the total up to $30k

I believe that was a quote for 2 rooms, each with 2 queens. So 4 queen beds to sleep 6 people.

For 18 nights, July 10-28, for 2 rooms with 2 queens each, unrestricted cancellation, with taxes and fees:
$14,672
If you prepaid with restrictions, then it’s $13,362 total.

For BCV 2 bedroom: 804 points.
Assuming a real cost per point if $15-$20 per point… that would make DVC between $12,000 and $16,000 for the stay.

as I would need two rooms. Plus we would still be missing a private space for both my parents as well as us while the kids have the living room.



Its fairly "basic"

Its my specific contracts (BWV + RIV) price per point (flat line division of price over the life of the contract), with my specific MFs, totaled up for all the points required. It will be slightly off because some of the points were banked and borrowed but I used this years MFs for all the points.

One thing to note I didn't calculate in my 5% discount on MFs that I get when we pay monthly with Disney Gift Cards but this should offset any sort of MF increase for 2024 I am borrowing.

Rough math but it was simply a quick calculation to show the difference. If anyone is really weighing the two options they should look to do the math themselves (can always ask for help around here because there are math gurus).

 

[sethschroeder]

For 18 nights, July 10-28, for 2 rooms with 2 queens each, unrestricted cancellation, with taxes and fees:
$14,672
If you prepaid with restrictions, then it’s $13,362 total.

Thing is though its July 2-20.

I just did a July 10-28 for the 2x 2 queen room at Swan Reserve:
18,699.75

I am not sure where you are getting $13,362 as I did the non-refundable/non-changeable even (which I wouldn't book with a hotel)

Assuming a real cost per point if $15-$20 per point

My points don't cost that though most that were used (579) are $11.75 roughly based on 2023 MFs not adjusted for the time passed between Aug 2020 (contract actually paid mostly in late Nov 2020) to now. The other $14.35 (contract acquired in Nov 2019 so this more so hits your range if you try to account for investing the money).

Note the money would never be invested as the money is marked for spending on travel or other options. I also wouldn't work with a random bank even if they gave my savings an extra 1-2% in interest annually I am willing to "pay" (lose out on) that difference for the value of the service my credit union drives for me.

Finally if we want to really do this math I need a 3rd room either with 3 rooms (with 2 connecting) or a 1 bedroom suite and a 1 hotel room (where the 1 bedroom suite as a door to the bedroom not like the "family suite" they have where the bedroom is open to the sitting area).

In the end the trip would be so much more expensive we would simply not go or if we did we would go for a shorter period and rent DVC instead.

 

[havoc315]

Thing is though its July 2-20.

I just did a July 10-28 for the 2x 2 queen room at Swan Reserve:
18,699.75

I am not sure where you are getting $13,362 as I did the non-refundable/non-changeable even (which I wouldn't book with a hotel)

I'll take a screenshot later. Ran it again, still getting the $13,000 to $14,000.... I'm running Swan, not Swan Reserve. Swan has 2 queen beds..



I assume Swan Reserve is slightly more.
At swan, I can get 2 "1 bedroom" units for $16,000.

My points don't cost that though most that were used (579) are $11.75

That doesn't factor in lost opportunity cost. Even if you never would have "invested" the money is irrelevant. You still would have had the money sitting in your bank account (and likely earning at least minimal interest), ready to use for other purposes, and you lost that opportunity to use it for other purposes.

I've run the math many times, always comes out to somewhere in the $15 to $20 range, depending on how much the points cost and the number of years.

 

[tom1944]

Does the Swan have an actual 1 bedroom that has living quarters separate?

If I don’t purchase DVC that might be my option for an August 7 day trip.

 

[Nursemanit]

Does the Swan have an actual 1 bedroom that has living quarters separate?

If I don’t purchase DVC that might be my option for an August 7 day trip.

They have old-fashioned suite-style rooms - I have stayed in the Governor's suite - it had a wet bar and the living/dining room was about the size of 3 rooms with a joining room on either side.

They have jr. / family suites with sitting areas -- but not designed like DVC. I would not consider it apples to apples - the suites are designed for business meetings not kids.

I would never pay for a suite @ Swan over DVC ( that is why I purchased RR) at its heart S/D is a business hotel, not a family resort. But Studio to Studio - it is a good option for singles or couples.

 

[tom1944]

They have old-fashioned suite-style rooms - I have stayed in the Governor's suite - it had a wet bar and the living/dining room was about the size of 3 rooms with a joining room on either side.

They have jr. / family suites with sitting areas -- but not designed like DVC. I would not consider it apples to apples - the suites are designed for business meetings not kids.

I would never pay for a suite @ Swan over DVC ( that is why I purchased RR) at its heart S/D is a business hotel, not a family resort. But Studio to Studio - it is a good option for singles or couples.

I am just interested in what a week in a suite would cost in comparison to purchasing DVC

 

[Nursemanit]

Thing is though its July 2-20.

I just did a July 10-28 for the 2x 2 queen room at Swan Reserve:
18,699.75

I am not sure where you are getting $13,362 as I did the non-refundable/non-changeable even (which I wouldn't book with a hotel)



My points don't cost that though most that were used (579) are $11.75 roughly based on 2023 MFs not adjusted for the time passed between Aug 2020 (contract actually paid mostly in late Nov 2020) to now. The other $14.35 (contract acquired in Nov 2019 so this more so hits your range if you try to account for investing the money).

Note the money would never be invested as the money is marked for spending on travel or other options. I also wouldn't work with a random bank even if they gave my savings an extra 1-2% in interest annually I am willing to "pay" (lose out on) that difference for the value of the service my credit union drives for me.

Finally if we want to really do this math I need a 3rd room either with 3 rooms (with 2 connecting) or a 1 bedroom suite and a 1 hotel room (where the 1 bedroom suite as a door to the bedroom not like the "family suite" they have where the bedroom is open to the sitting area).

In the end the trip would be so much more expensive we would simply not go or if we did we would go for a shorter period and rent DVC instead.

The only real comparison would be renting something like a Bonnet Creek 2-3 bedroom. about 7-8k for 2 or 3 br 1200 sq feet plus -(400-450/night). But I would not make that choice over DVC.

 

[Nursemanit]

I am just interested in what a week in a suite would cost in comparison to purchasing DVC

For the family suite - just a large studio with a living room area - only about $500 / night.

The rest of the suites you have to call to book. They will make good deals for longer stays.