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

[Cfabar1]

I see fireworks views on the Dolphin rooms, but not the Swan (on the Marriott App). Is there a specific way to see them?

Swan officially doesn't have any fireworks view rooms.

 

[mmm_texas]

I have a 5 night stay at Swan booked for June. Thinking about moving to a Disney resort the last night for the water park perk. If I change my reservation to drop off a night do I lose the rate I have if the current rate is higher?

If you do it online or in the Marriott app, I'm pretty sure you'll lose your previous rate and get the current rate for any change.

However, my experience with Marriott in general is that, if you call the property directly, they have the ability to drop nights at the beginning or end of a stay without changing your rate (assuming the rate doesn't depend on length of stay—some rates specify 5 night minimums, for instance). That doesn't mean they have to or will always do it for you, but it seems like more often than not they will. Good luck!

 

[gottalovepluto]

I have a 5 night stay at Swan booked for June. Thinking about moving to a Disney resort the last night for the water park perk. If I change my reservation to drop off a night do I lose the rate I have if the current rate is higher?

OT but do review the recent threads on that perk so you know what you’re getting yourself into. (The water park has been reaching capacity and turning people away. They will have 2 parks by June- but they’ll also have higher demand.)

 

[loves to dive]

Just got back yesterday from a 6 night stay at the Dolphin/balcony room. My stay was mostly good. A few issues. I have a 3 year old Google One Note phone, the Swan/Dolphin app. will not download to that. They like you to rely on that app. I was able to check in with the BonVoy app. so that worked. I ended up with either a cracked or infected tooth so one night just wanted room service, which they have. The only way you can order it though, is through the Swan/Dolphin app. no phone calls, just the app. So I had to put some clothes on and take my poor sore mouth down to the Fountain and get something to go. Not ideal. Housekeeping was not consistent in the times they came. One day it was around noon, the next time around 4. I skipped it a couple of times because sore mouth and I just wanted to rest so when I got back to my room around 3 and it hadn't been cleaned, I just put the privacy notice out. The days they came they basically halfway made the bed and one day replaced and emptied the trash. No new water or coffee or cups. No big deal since I had plenty of both but still, the "resort" fee is supposed to pay for that. They did replace them the next time they came and I know I could have called and asked for them to bring more (or used the app if I had it) I hate they did away with Picabu for the darn arcade. Now if you want some quick scrambled eggs you are SOL. It's either Rosa's or walk over to YC.

On the positive side, transportation was all good, took the bus to AK a couple of times and the boat to HS a couple of times. Was lazy and walked over to YC for the bus to MK, would have been shorter on that day to do BW because they had the little access road blocked off so had to go through the YC lobby. No big deal though. There was some sort of convention there the first few days so the lobby was always pretty full and they had events at the Swan pool so if you wanted to use it, nope. My room was a tad dated but it was fine. The plug ins on the bedside lamp were all loose but I had adapters so it was o.k. My balcony looked sort of over the lake toward the BW but you really couldn't see anything but the lake and a few of the BW buildings. I didn't book it for a view so I was fine, I just like sitting out on a balcony at night. My room was 4184 which was nice because I could take the stairs near the gift shop and they went right to the fourth floor. I stay at Dolphin probably 80% of the time I go so I knew what to expect except for the App. issue. Most likely I'll get a new pixal before my next trip so that will take care of itself.

 

[Best Aunt]

I'm pondering Swan versus Dolphin. I like the Swan better, but I definitely will need to do laundry during this trip. (It would be a trip tacked onto another trip to a different state.) I know the laundry room is in the Dolphin. Where, exactly is it? How much of a pain would it be to drag my laundry over there from the Swan?

 

[SteveH]

@loves to dive thanks for the review, sad you had app issues like that, assume you had enough space and all that, I wonder if they just didn't design it for older droid versions. I'd sure expect them to be beyond the poor housekeeping we saw during Covid, no excuse for that anymore.

 

[loves to dive]

@loves to dive thanks for the review, sad you had app issues like that, assume you had enough space and all that, I wonder if they just didn't design it for older droid versions. I'd sure expect them to be beyond the poor housekeeping we saw during Covid, no excuse for that anymore.

Just my older droid phone. Plenty of space, it just says that the phone does not support that app. when I try to download it. Last time I was there last year, it would load the app. but parts of it didn't work for that phone (room service again).

 

[SteveH]

@Best Aunt Laundry is near the Fitness Center, you can find it on this map. Either way if you stay in Dolphin or Swan I'd just load up an empty suit case and take it to the laundry room. For a few you can see the photos from Resort Gals page.

 

[Dave006]

I know the laundry room is in the Dolphin. Where, exactly is it? How much of a pain would it be to drag my laundry over there from the Swan?

It is located on the 1st floor right next to the new Lagoon - bowling lanes, games, and food that replaced Picabu food. It really is not much farther from the Swan than many of the Dophin rooms in the north wing.

Dave

 

[Dave006]

I wonder if they just didn't design it for older droid versions. I'd sure expect them to be beyond the poor housekeeping we saw during Covid, no excuse for that anymore.

They can't really cover all the Android version just like MDE, and iOS. The new app development environments, and tools just keep depreciating the old Android functions, just like iOS (Apple does force a longer cycle).

Dave

 

[Best Aunt]

@Best Aunt Laundry is near the Fitness Center, you can find it on this map. Either way if you stay in Dolphin or Swan I'd just load up an empty suit case and take it to the laundry room. For a few you can see the photos from Resort Gals page.

It is located on the 1st floor right next to the new Lagoon - bowling lanes, games, and food that replaced Picabu food. It really is not much farther from the Swan than many of the Dophin rooms in the north wing.

Dave

Thank you so much! I've been to Picabu several times, but I guess I didn't go any further down that hall.

 

[elvispursley]

I'm pondering Swan versus Dolphin. I like the Swan better, but I definitely will need to do laundry during this trip. (It would be a trip tacked onto another trip to a different state.) I know the laundry room is in the Dolphin. Where, exactly is it? How much of a pain would it be to drag my laundry over there from the Swan?

It’s on the ground floor. Follow then signs to the pool and it’ll be down that long hallway. We stayed at the swan and did laundry—no worse than doing it at a Disney-owned resort. I actually the laundry room better at Dolphin.

 

[SteveH]

They can't really cover all the Android version just like MDE, and iOS. The new app development environments, and tools just keep depreciating the old Android functions, just like iOS (Apple does force a longer cycle).

Dave

Oh I totally agree, but a 3-year old device (not sure when it was released) but that seems like a very short cycle to not support. Though looking at the App it requires iOS 15 which was released Sept 2011 2021 so maybe that cycle isn't that far off.

 

[mmm_texas]

Oh I totally agree, but a 3-year old device (not sure when it was released) but that seems like a very short cycle to not support. Though looking at the App it requires iOS 15 which was released Sept 2011 so maybe that cycle isn't that far off.

I assume you meant 2021.

Although iOS 15 can be installed on iPhones that came out in 2015, so it's not that far off.

 

[SteveH]

@mmm_texas yep typo should have been 2021

 

[wannabee]

Will Swan transfer luggage to a disney resort?

 

[Dave006]

Will Swan transfer luggage to a disney resort?

Yes the Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve will all transfer luggage to Disney resorts and receive luggage from Disney resorts.

They don't actually send them to a Disney resort and neither does Disney. All transferring luggage is sent to a common location for distribution to the individual resorts.

Dave

 

[gottalovepluto]

Will Swan transfer luggage to a disney resort?

Yes unless you are going to Pop. There were prior reports Swolphin cannot transfer to Pop (only Pop, due to a luggage storage issue there). Don’t know if that is still the case.

 

[loves to dive]

They can't really cover all the Android version just like MDE, and iOS. The new app development environments, and tools just keep depreciating the old Android functions, just like iOS (Apple does force a longer cycle).

Dave

I deal with that all the time since I don't upgrade my phone until the darn thing dies, which is usually 4 or 5 years. MDE seems to be able to deal with it a little better. My only problem with it was that just about all the "perks" at Swan/Dolphin require you to use the app. If you can't get the app. for whatever reason, you are just SOL. Funny thing when I tried to install it from home it did install onto an old Samsung tablet I have. I'm talking at least 10 years old. I don't use the thing, it's plugged up to my TV in my exercise room just to keep the battery charged. I used to have to use it to watch Utube workout videos on my old TV, new one is internet enabled. I suppose I could have taken it with me but I just didn't want one more electronic devise to lug around.

 

[Mel42]

Is there usually a long wait for the Fountain restaurant at the Dolphin? I see they don’t take reservations and wondered how busy they get?