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

[BadgerBruce]

We stayed at the Swan from 4-2 through 4-9. Our first room was on the 12th floor,with an excellent view of the fireworks at both Epcot and the Studios. The room looked so fresh, it was like we were the first to be in it since the remodel. Our love affair with the room ended when we went to bed. All night long we could hear the elevators (I believe) zooming up and down the shafts. It wasn't doors opening, but the actual whirring sound. I asked to be moved in the morning. They were able to find us a different room, even with a full resort. We ended up with a nice room on the 3rd floor facing the Dolphin, this time with a balcony! I want to stress that everyone---front desk, concierge, housekeeping, and the rest of the staff were all very pleasant and helpful. The pools and resort landscaping are great. Had the very reasonable and very good pizza and 2 delicious soups at Picabu. Three different & tasty sandwiches at Splash Grill. Used the resort mugs we bought at Picabu for refills of coffee and soda there, Splash Grill, & Cabana bar. Sorry, this has to be my longest post in my many years on the DIS! Loved the Swan.

 

[Tess]

No way! I'm staying the first night at AoA - will all the Disney properties transfer to the Swan? I'm so excited if so! How/when do I set that up?

On check-out morning, take your luggage to bell services and ask that it be transferred to the Swan. Be sure to keep with you anything you might need through the day because the luggage may not arrive at your new destination until after 3:00 p.m. When we make the switch from Swan/Dolphin, we usually repack our luggage (keeping what we will need for the night or two we are there, i.e., swimsuits change of clothes, toiletries, etc.) and then have bell services take everything else to our next hotel the day before we check in. For example, this year we are at Dolphin for two days prior to our BCV stay. We will check in at Dolphin, repack the luggage the day before check-out and have it sent to BCV. On check-out morning (fairly early--maybe 7:00 - 7:30 a.m.) we will carry what we have retained to bell services at BCV and check-in for our stay there. Once done, we will head off to the parks until our room is ready. If the room is not yet ready and we want to lounge by the pool, we go to bell services and get our swim bag.

It takes a bit of organization, but it works.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Thanks for the great post, Badger Bruce. It's not too long at all. I love reading about other guests' experiences.

 

[Okiechick80]

On check-out morning, take your luggage to bell services and ask that it be transferred to the Swan. Be sure to keep with you anything you might need through the day because the luggage may not arrive at your new destination until after 3:00 p.m. When we make the switch from Swan/Dolphin, we usually repack our luggage (keeping what we will need for the night or two we are there, i.e., swimsuits change of clothes, toiletries, etc.) and then have bell services take everything else to our next hotel the day before we check in. For example, this year we are at Dolphin for two days prior to our BCV stay. We will check in at Dolphin, repack the luggage the day before check-out and have it sent to BCV. On check-out morning (fairly early--maybe 7:00 - 7:30 a.m.) we will carry what we have retained to bell services at BCV and check-in for our stay there. Once done, we will head off to the parks until our room is ready. If the room is not yet ready and we want to lounge by the pool, we go to bell services and get our swim bag.

It takes a bit of organization, but it works.

Thank you SO much for the detailed explanation! I was hoping to have the Garden Grocer deliver to AoA, but now I'm wondering...probably can't transfer groceries to the Swan, huh?

 

[JerseyJanice]

Okiechick, I just want to tell you that it's easy to get some basic groceries without a car if you're at the Swan.

If you need just a few things, the Screen Door General Store that serves Bwalk DVC guests is steps away. But for breakfast items, snacks, beer and soda, you can walk to the Speedway gas station. To get there, walk through the Boardwalk lobby, out to the Bwalk resort bus stop, then go straight across the parking lot and cross the street. It's easy to find and their prices are what you pay in the real world, i.e., not Disney World prices.

 

[Okiechick80]

Okiechick, I just want to tell you that it's easy to get some basic groceries without a car if you're at the Swan.

If you need just a few things, the Screen Door General Store that serves Bwalk DVC guests is steps away. But for breakfast items, snacks, beer and soda, you can walk to the Speedway gas station. To get there, walk through the Boardwalk lobby, out to the Bwalk resort bus stop, then go straight across the parking lot and cross the street. It's easy to find and their prices are what you pay in the real world, i.e., not Disney World prices.

Oh thank you! I had been wondering about that exact place - how far it was and the prices there!

 

[Dan Murphy]

I was hoping to have the Garden Grocer deliver to AoA, but now I'm wondering...probably can't transfer groceries to the Swan,

You can not have groceries delivered from GArden Grocer (or others) to the Swan, but I would think transferring from AoA would be fine.

you can walk to the Speedway gas station. To get there, walk through the Boardwalk lobby, out to the Bwalk resort bus stop, then go straight across the parking lot and cross the street

Keep in mind that the walk, though not terribly long, is about 3/5 mile each way.

 

[Clare Voince]

Just back from my trip to the Dolphin! I had a Epcot/Fireworks view, and I loved it! I've been having some back issues, so it was a 'take it easy', kind of trip for me. I spent 4-5 hours each afternoon in the room napping and watching the boats. I was in room 6023. It was not remodeled yet, but the hallways on that floor were done. My room had a connecting door, and when the other people were in their room, it could get quite noisy. Luckily, they were out most of the time. Here are some photos of my view:

This is zoomed in a bit on the fireworks, fyi. The photo doesn't do them justice.

There were a ton of cheerleaders and conference people there. One afternoon, I was taking in the view, when an endless line of business people came walking from the yacht club toward the hotel. Must have been over 200 people. It didn't really impact my stay, however.

I got a times guide when I checked in that suggested using Disney transportation when traveling to Disney Springs due to the construction. I had planned on driving there, but decided to opt for the bus. It took FOREVER. The bus stopped at all 5 Epcot resorts and typhoon lagoon. It was about 40 minutes before I got to DS. The MK bus was dedicated to just the Swan and Dolphin. I didn't visit AK this trip.

 

[Okiechick80]

You can not have groceries delivered from GArden Grocer (or others) to the Swan, but I would think transferring from AoA would be fine.

Keep in mind that the walk, though not terribly long, is about 3/5 mile each way.

I know, such a bummer that we can't do GG directly to the Swan. You think that they would transfer groceries though? I wonder where I would call to find out?

3/5 mile isn't terrible at all. Does anyone know if the Speedway has lunch meat, cheese, bread, etc?

 

[Cloudy]

Thanks for the info. I have decided to try the Garden Grove on Saturday night with the AAA discount (I had forgotten about that). I figure getting in at 6:30 PM, my family will want to go straight to the resort and check in not stop somewhere and eat first. Plus the menu looks really good.

Now I have Garden Grove, Captain's Grill, Coral Reef, and Cape May booked for our 4 nights. Seems like a lot of the same food. I think I am going to cancel the Captain's Grill (menu looks very similar to Coral Reef without the aquarium) and just eat on the fly that night. Maybe just a cheap meal at the Picabu. I hope this is not a mistake. We are not on DDP so that makes it easier. Planned on using Disney Visa Rewards to pay for all our meals. This way we will have more money for souvineers.

 

[JerseyJanice]

I know, such a bummer that we can't do GG directly to the Swan. You think that they would transfer groceries though? I wonder where I would call to find out?

3/5 mile isn't terrible at all. Does anyone know if the Speedway has lunch meat, cheese, bread, etc?

The Speedway was a Hess when we were there. IIRC, the lunch meat and cheese sold there was the pre-packaged kind--Kraft American cheese slices & Oscar Mayer type. Definitely sold bread and Entenmann's style bakery goods.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Is a microwave available in the lobby or Picabu?

I searched this thread and didn't get a definitive answer to this question. I'm almost certain that Picabu had toasters when we stayed at the Dolphin. Not sure about microwaves though.

Can anyone who has stayed there recently answer? TIA.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Picabu has microwave to use.

 

[Clare Voince]

Why not take a cab or an uber to a real grocery store?

 

[Okiechick80]

Why not take a cab or an uber to a real grocery store?

Two reasons: 1) we are a family of 5, I would prefer all of my children be in car seats, but especially my youngest who is two - no negotiation on that and 2) sure, my husband could go alone, but why spend the extra time apart when we are trying to maximize our family vacation time? I don't want much, just milk for the little guy, and if we could do sandwiches for lunch a day or two, that'd be great. Not worth a trip out of the Disney Bubble.

 

[Tess]

Thank you SO much for the detailed explanation! I was hoping to have the Garden Grocer deliver to AoA, but now I'm wondering...probably can't transfer groceries to the Swan, huh?

I have had them transfer grocery items--nonperishables--along with our luggage. It wasn't a problem. We keep the perishable items with us in the fridge and then hand carry them to storage at check-in. They then put them in the cooler for us and we retrieve those items along with our luggage when the room is ready. We even transfer adult beverages with our luggage--it has never been an issue.

 

[Okiechick80]

I have had them transfer grocery items--nonperishables--along with our luggage. It wasn't a problem. We keep the perishable items with us in the fridge and then hand carry them to storage at check-in. They then put them in the cooler for us and we retrieve those items along with our luggage when the room is ready. We even transfer adult beverages with our luggage--it has never been an issue.

Well, my plan was to head out to a park first thing in the morning on our checkout day from AoA, drop our luggage and ask for transfer to the Swan, and then not return to the Swan until that evening. Is that a plausible scenario - will the Swan accept our luggage if we haven't checked in yet? I thought they would? And if so, then it seems like the plan you just mentioned for perishables wouldn't work, would it? It would be great if it would!

 

[Tess]

Well, my plan was to head out to a park first thing in the morning on our checkout day from AoA, drop our luggage and ask for transfer to the Swan, and then not return to the Swan until that evening. Is that a plausible scenario - will the Swan accept our luggage if we haven't checked in yet? I thought they would? And if so, then it seems like the plan you just mentioned for perishables wouldn't work, would it? It would be great if it would!

As long as AoA has a cooler to store your perishables, it should work. I'm not sure I would trust the perishables though--who knows how long they will be in the transfer process with no cooling. The Swan will accept the transfer regardless of your check-in plan. You may be better served to catch a cab with all your belongings pre-park opening, do your check-in at Swan and then head to a park from there. If you are up and about early enough, you could still hit rope drop and all of your items will be handled plus you will be checked in.

 

[Okiechick80]

As long as AoA has a cooler to store your perishables, it should work. I'm not sure I would trust the perishables though--who knows how long they will be in the transfer process with no cooling. The Swan will accept the transfer regardless of your check-in plan. You may be better served to catch a cab with all your belongings pre-park opening, do your check-in at Swan and then head to a park from there. If you are up and about early enough, you could still hit rope drop and all of your items will be handled plus you will be checked in.

Ahhhh...I hadn't thought abiut the amount of time it would spend uncooled during travel (potentially).

True, but I think it would be more hassle than it's worth. I may think about just getting sandwich stuff and bringing it in our cooler to the park, possibly. Otherwise, may just stick with nonperishables.

 

[JerseyJanice]

While not groceries, Okiechick, the All Ears site lists a special meal deal at Picabu that we took advantage of when we stayed there. It's $25 for a whole rotisserie chicken with 3 large sides.

It's a nice easy meal for the family plus you can make sandwiches with any leftover chicken.