Resort Thread Walt Disney World SWAN, DOLPHIN & SWAN RESERVE Resorts

[Jillfo]

What is the best way to get to the larger pool from the Swan? Do you walk out side past the quiet pool?

Yes. Out the back door, turn left, walk past the quiet pool and you'll see the large pool ahead/on the right.

 

[melking23]

One woman told me she got a great hamburger from room service, but there was no room service menu in our room and when I called (using the bedroom phone), it went to a recording saying that the “mailbox was full.”

Room service is available for order through the SwanDolphin app. Click “I Am On Property” followed by “Restaurants” and then “Mobile Dining”. There’s links for Swan and Dolphin together and, separately, Swan Reserve.

It sounds like you’re not there now so this is for future reference.

 

[klemsaba]

How far is the walk to Hollywood Studios? I have heard you can walk is it quicker than taking the boat?
Any other input, must experience appreciated

Almost a mile. Maybe 20 minutes depending on how fast you walk. Boat is faster if you don’t have to wait for it to arrive to pick you up. We originally planned on walking but ended up doing the boat. It’s a pleasant ride especially after a busy day at the park.

 

[brockash]

What is the best way to get to the larger pool from the Swan? Do you walk out side past the quiet pool?

Yes, that's what we did.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Hi we are staying at the Swan for 3 nights before going home to VGF for 6 nights. Took the Swan because we wanted to do food and wine and the Swan was very reasonable.
Never stayed here and it looks very nice a few questions for anyone who has stayed here.
We usually come back mid day for some relaxation by the pool, are the pools nice?
How far is the walk to Hollywood Studios? I have heard you can walk is it quicker than taking the boat?
Any other input, must experience appreciated

I love the quiet pool at the Swan - we don't want/need the more active pool with the slide and such. It's huge, with ample chairs, and they have drink/food delivery to your chair (just order on the app).

Walk is about 20 minutes, similar to the walk from Boardwalk (it's just right over the bridge). Quicker than the boat only if you wait long for one.

 

[brockash]

Hi we are staying at the Swan for 3 nights before going home to VGF for 6 nights. Took the Swan because we wanted to do food and wine and the Swan was very reasonable.
Never stayed here and it looks very nice a few questions for anyone who has stayed here.
We usually come back mid day for some relaxation by the pool, are the pools nice?
How far is the walk to Hollywood Studios? I have heard you can walk is it quicker than taking the boat?
Any other input, must experience appreciated

We just returned from the Swan and the boat takes took us 6.5 mins (I timed it the first time). So, we ended up taking the boat except the 1 day we rope dropped DHS. The wait for the boat each time was between 0-10 mins. so even with a 10 min. wait, it was still just about the same if not faster and without getting all sweaty lol. The walk is not baf though if it's early morning or after sunset.

 

[tomeaine]

What is the best way to get to the larger pool from the Swan? Do you walk out side past the quiet pool?

You can walk directly outside towards the dolphin or head towards the hall going to garden Grove, follow it around and you can exit to the pool area. Currently the large walkway is blocked off due to the tent being put up.

Hi Toneaine, was the pizza and calamari from room service? (We had such a hard time getting good food during our stay that I’m curious where you ordered from.)

One woman told me she got a great hamburger from room service, but there was no room service menu in our room and when I called (using the bedroom phone), it went to a recording saying that the “mailbox was full.”

Sorry to hear that.
Similar to the other poster, I used the swan and dolphin app. I believe the food on the room service app is from Mulino.
I can say the pizza is 1million times better than what you can get from board walk.
The service was quick 30-40 min for 2 pizza and calamari.
Charges are what is expected for hotel room service

 

[tomeaine]

"HEY! DON'T CLIMB UP THERE!!!"

Funny..well my child was asking me to earlier..one of her ear buds fell off and landed right on the tin roof..lucky is was just a cheap ear bud, learn her lesson for the day

 

[Dan Murphy]

The wait for the bus

Bus, or boat?

 

[HeiHei2018]

Does anyone know if there is creamer provided with the coffee makers at Dolphin? (Hoping for the little single serve liquid creamer, not powder.)

 

[brockash]

Bus, or boat?

Lol...thank you, yes I meant boat...just changed it.

 

[jlundeen]

Does anyone know if there is creamer provided with the coffee makers at Dolphin? (Hoping for the little single serve liquid creamer, not powder.)

I can't answer for the Dolphin, but I know a lot of the Disney resorts only have the Coffee Mate packets/tubs... I usually buy a little container of Half and Half in the convenience store (I like a lot of cream in my coffee).

 

[tomeaine]

Does anyone know if there is creamer provided with the coffee makers at Dolphin? (Hoping for the little single serve liquid creamer, not powder.)

If it's like swan, they provide you with liquid creamer and a few Starbucks packs for the coffee machine

 

[tink7736]

If it's like swan, they provide you with liquid creamer and a few Starbucks packs for the coffee machine

When we were at The Dolphin in June, they only provided the dry packaged creamer, nothing liquid.

 

[tomeaine]

Quick dolphin patio refurb update.
Noticed today that some of the lower level patios had the paint scraped off.
Also noticed that several of the decks, randomly have a large notch cut away from a corner of the patio. Not sure if they noticed repair that was needed or it is part of the plan for the update.
Lastly since the Gartner conference came, I noticed that the rooms that are under refurb, may actually be booked? I see lights on in the rooms, people walking across the windows.
There was no work yesterday (Sunday) and today.
Today is our last night..overall enjoyed the stay and proximity to both HS/Epcot.

 

[Poohlovr]

I am looking to stay at the Dolphin to use my Marriot points but a friend going with us doesn't do tight spaces, like elevators, so was curious if anyone could tell me about the current stair access. I can see in the thread that over the past couple of years the stairs were open to go up and down to rooms and am hoping that is still the case. Could anyone confirm that is still an option and where we should request that is reachable via stairs? Or an option that avoids stairs entirely? We are not opposed to the Swans but have kids going and the pools at the Dolphin looked like they may be more fun for them. Thanks for any o

I might add that there are areas of the Swan that are closer to the Grotto than some areas of the Dolphin.
It depends on room location more than resort wing

 

[Suzanne74]

As others have said, i think it depends on the makeup of your family and how valuable to you the queen vs double beds would be. In my opinion, the Dolphin is better than the Swan in pretty much everything except for bed size and bathroom layout (most Swan rooms have an extra sink outside the bathroom). Just the wife and I, we pick the Dolphin every time. Travelling with our 15 and 12 year old boys, we need 2 rooms so we pick the Dolphin every time. When the kids were younger and we could be by with one room, we wanted the extra bad size and went Swan.

I am highly considering two connecting rooms at the Dolphin over the King room since we have a 13 and 17yr old and would like the extra bathroom, but would I have to pay $80 in resort fees a night? That seems insane.

 

[HeiHei2018]

I am highly considering two connecting rooms at the Dolphin over the King room since we have a 13 and 17yr old and would like the extra bathroom, but would I have to pay $80 in resort fees a night? That seems insane.

I have read that you can request that the rooms be combined into a “suite” to eliminate the second resort fee, but we didn’t have any luck with that. (Rates had gone up by the time we called, and combining the rooms would have been a different category “room” at the higher rate.) Our two rooms for tonight (!) each have a separate resort fee.

 

[GoofyDad_4427]

I am highly considering two connecting rooms at the Dolphin over the King room since we have a 13 and 17yr old and would like the extra bathroom, but would I have to pay $80 in resort fees a night? That seems insane.

One problem here is that the Dolphin, at least in the past, has not guaranteed connecting rooms. When I requested them a few years ago (as a Marriott Platinum), not only did we not get connecting rooms, but the rooms they told us at the desk were right next to each other were actually 4 rooms apart.

 

[SteveH]

I am highly considering two connecting rooms at the Dolphin over the King room since we have a 13 and 17yr old and would like the extra bathroom, but would I have to pay $80 in resort fees a night? That seems insane.

In the past the Swan & Dolphin were known to waive the 2nd room when connecting, a report from the Reserve were not waiving the second room fee. So I'm unsure what the policy really is. That said, getting a connecting room has been a challenge over the years you can find a lot of past discussions here that might help you. If you are going to book I would do it by calling M-F 8-5 ask for In-House Reservations.