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

[Disneyhanna]

If you exit through the door at the end of the NW wing and follow the sidewalk to the access road, the distance to the Yacht Club bus stop is very short. It's honest probably just as close if not closer than some of the rooms in YC and definitely closer than the rooms at some Disney resorts are to their bus stops.

Good to know! There are so many little paths and entrances around the Epcot resort area, you could stay at every resort and take a different route every time and still not have found them all, I swear!

 

[emilyann704]

When I was at the Dolphin in November, the coffee wasn't Starbucks (don't remember what it was though). Have they gone back to Starbucks now?

In January at the Swan Reserve it was definitely not Starbucks - in the rooms or at Fuel. I don't consider myself a coffee snob (we drink Aldi brand at home) but both spots were really terrible.

 

[Dave006]

In January at the Swan Reserve it was definitely not Starbucks - in the rooms

I just checked with the Dolphin (for @Dan Murphy) to get the latest answer, they no longer offer Starbucks so @summerlvr and @emilyann704 are tied for the most current update.

It is just a generic Hospitality brand offering for the guest rooms.

Dave

 

[Dan Murphy]

I just checked with the Dolphin (for @Dan Murphy)to get the latest answer, they no longer offer Starbucks so @summerlvr and @emilyann704 are tied for the most current update.

It is just a generic Hospitality brand offering for the guest rooms.

Dave

Thanks, Dave. Well, Starbucks had a good run.

 

[summerlvr]

Oh, if that were true. I'm one of the few people who really dislike Starbucks, it tastes burnt to me. I'm so against them I won't even go into the ones at MK or AK to get something to eat, I'll find something somewhere else. (and don't even get me started about converting the Main St. Bakery and the Trolly Car at HS to a Starbucks)

I also disliked the Starbucks coffee in the rooms. As a matter of fact, I brought a Keurig Mini and some McCafe k cups with me, but never used it because the in room coffee had changed and I actually liked it.

 

[loves to dive]

I just checked with the Dolphin (for @Dan Murphy) to get the latest answer, they no longer offer Starbucks so @summerlvr and @emilyann704 are tied for the most current update.

It is just a generic Hospitality brand offering for the guest rooms.

Dave

Good to know, now I don't have to bring my own coffee with me. One less thing to pack.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Only disadvantage about staying at S&D in my mind is the lack of Disney buses - most especially to the MK.

A lot of people are known to walk to BC or BW and take the bus from there. Seems really silly on the part of Marriott and Disney to have not been able to work out the Disney busing.

I always treat myself to a Minnie Van for starting my MK day from Swolphin, $40 I’ve never regretted. (However, they are near impossible to get for the return if you’re ending your day around firework time.)

 

[gottalovepluto]

…The most frequent example quoted as to why it was not Marriott's fault is that when the Friendship boat service returned after following COVID even with the boat captain shortage, boats still serviced the S & D.

I’m convinced there is something in the CC&Rs about Disney running that boat service due to how key it is to the property value. Buses I can see leaving out, people can drive cars, but losing boat service would be disastrous to the property and its long term value.

Alas, we will never know

 

[Cfabar1]

I always treat myself to a Minnie Van for starting my MK day from Swolphin, $40 I’ve never regretted. (However, they are near impossible to get for the return if you’re ending your day around firework time.)

sounds like a good idea... too tough for us with car seats...

 

[kylenne]

sounds like a good idea... too tough for us with car seats...

Don’t Minnie Vans guarantee 2 of them? At least that’s what I’ve heard. I’m a Childless Millennial(tm).

Speaking of MK transportation I’m strongly considering tacking on a couple of nights at CR with the AP rate before my Swan stay for my annual Labor Day solo trip just so I can skip that drama altogether (I plan on going to the Halloween party), but when I check Amex Travel for the adjusted dates I actually see Swan Reserve at the same price as the Dolphin, $400. Now I’m torn! SR has not really been on my radar too much. Do y'all think it would be worth it over the og Swan for $318?

If not this quick split I may just go the Minnie Van route. I don’t know why I always forget you can book those from Swolphin, it would have saved me some agita on my last stay.

 

[Dave006]

Now I’m torn! SR has not really been on my radar too much. Do y'all think it would be worth it over the og Swan for $318?

We did not find the SR to be anything special that requires crossing Epcot Resort Blvd twice a day or more and we did not find the beds to be as comfortable, and even the sheets felt rough compared to the Swolphin options.

I don’t know why I always forget you can book those from Swolphin, it would have saved me some agita on my last stay.

That would be because Minnie Vans did not allow Pickups at the Swan & Dolphin for a long period as they rolled out the Minnie Van service. We forgot for quite a while after they started to allow pickups.

Dave

 

[kylenne]

We did not find the SR to be anything special that requires crossing Epcot Resort Blvd twice a day or more and we did not find the beds to be as comfortable, and even the sheets felt rough compared to the Swolphin options.

I thought about the crossing the street situation and it really does seem like it would get old fast. I ended up just rebooking with the shortened dates. Ended up snagging a king room, no view at the Swan for $335. Not counting Amex hotel credit and statement credit. I feel like that’s a steal.

That would be because Minnie Vans did not allow Pickups at the Swan & Dolphin for a long period as they rolled out the Minnie Van service. We forgot for quite a while after they started to allow pickups.

That’s right! It’s easy to forget how limited that pilot was. Especially since Swolphin are always included as Disney Deluxes for the purposes of resort perks.

 

[Dave006]

Buses I can see leaving out, people can drive cars, but losing boat service would be disastrous to the property and its long term value.

I think the Friendships are still servicing the Swan / Dolphin dock is because it would be really hard for Disney to explain why they would pass the dock as they turn into the canal for HS. I also think that bus, and boat service was included in any agreements for the property leases with Tishman, and MetLife.

My view was, and is still that is was a Disney decision since they still struggle to get bus drivers to fill the open positions, and even as they have modernized their bus fleet they are always short on drivers.

Dave

 

[Cfabar1]

My guess is that when the Swan Reserve happened several things were renegotiated - including the bus service. That building didn't come out of nowhere...

We enjoy SR, but have never stayed in a standard room there - we have been fortunate to be upgraded to a suite every time - including one time the Chairman Suite which was just wonderful! We found the rooms nicer than the rooms at Swan & Dolphin, but I don't think I would pay a price premium for SR over say $30/night. The location is objectively worse, but it is a nice property, very new and quiet as well. All depends if you want to be in the heat of the action, close to the boardwalk, etc. I know some people prefer Dolphin to Swan for that reason for example.

 

[Dave006]

My guess is that when the Swan Reserve happened several things were renegotiated - including the bus service. That building didn't come out of nowhere...

Good guess but 100% not the reason.

The Swan Reserve was built on existing land that was included in the original Swan & Dolphin 99 year land lease. The SR was built on land that used to contain the Swan & Dolphin tennis courts.

All of this property was then handiwork of Michael Eisner in the 1980s when Disney faced a Cash crunch for development of new resorts. WDW had added Epcot and Eisner had plans for MGM Studios but needed more resort rooms.

Dave

 

[Cfabar1]

Good guess but 100% not the reason.

The Swan Reserve was built on existing land that was included in the original Swan & Dolphin 99 year land lease. The SR was built on land that used to contain the Swan & Dolphin tennis courts.

All of this property was then handiwork of Michael Eisner in the 1980s when Disney faced a Cash crunch for development of new resorts. WDW had added Epcot and Eisner had plans for MGM Studios but needed more resort rooms.

Dave

I would imagine though that Disney would have had a say in converting tennis courts to the first all cash Disney Deluxe property built since what, Animal Kingdom Lodge? I would be surprised if S/D are permitted to use the land however they would like and that alterations to the site plan require approval from Disney as the landlord. Now, it might be that further expansion was defined already in the original contract, but given Eisner's reluctance to have non-Disney hotels built (and building the S/D was part of a settlement with Tishman) I would be surprised, but of course have not seen the contract.

Did not realize there used to be tennis courts there though - sounds like a loss for the Swan/Dolphin guests, but I don't know how popular they were...

 

[gottalovepluto]

sounds like a good idea... too tough for us with car seats...

People who need car seats tend to love MVs since they’re guaranteed 2 car seats in every MV (except accessible MVs, those only come with 1).

But there are limitations, if you have a party over 6 people or need more than 2 car seats a MV won’t work.

 

[Bird003]

How are the pools at dolphin? Thinking about switching from French quarter to dolphin for may

 

[kylenne]

How are the pools at dolphin? Thinking about switching from French quarter to dolphin for may

Fantastic, and vastly superior to POFQ in my opinion (I have stayed at both). My hot take is I actually prefer the grotto complex to SAB. You don't have the same problems with chair hogs, even in the middle of the day in the summer I never had a problem getting a chair. You can order food from the pool bar with a QR code on the seat too, it's really nice. If you want a "quiet" option the pool nearest the Swan is usually less occupied. It's easy to move between them. The nice thing is you have access to all the pools no matter which hotel you're staying at.

 

[Bird003]

Fantastic, and vastly superior to POFQ in my opinion (I have stayed at both). My hot take is I actually prefer the grotto complex to SAB. You don't have the same problems with chair hogs, even in the middle of the day in the summer I never had a problem getting a chair. You can order food from the pool bar with a QR code on the seat too, it's really nice. If you want a "quiet" option the pool nearest the Swan is usually less occupied. It's easy to move between them. The nice thing is you have access to all the pools no matter which hotel you're staying at.

Thank you!