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

[SMRT-1]

Yup, I am aware of the business relationship and have posted about it in the past. Disney owns just the land which is leased to Tishman and MetLife, under a long term lease; I don't think many of us will still be around for the end of the lease, which runs until about 2089.

To clarify what I posted, my thoughts about the "Good Neighbor" properties concerned their perks, many of which have not been in place all that long. In this climate, I believe that Disney will try to do whatever it has to to retain their share of the accommodations market.

I agree that they might strip benefits from Good Neighbor hotels. However, my point was that Swalphin isn't a Good Neighbor resort, so Disney's policies re: Good Neighbor resorts don't necessarily apply to Swalphin.

 

[MinnesoTristan]

Fun fact, I input the latitude and longitude of all four parks into geomidpoint, and determined that the Dolphin is the most centrally located hotel on property, according to science!

 

[shoreward]

This is a good quick reference guide to the Swan and Dolphin:

https://www.swandolphin.com/pdf/resort_report.pdf

 

[SMRT-1]

This is a good quick reference guide to the Swan and Dolphin:

https://www.swandolphin.com/pdf/resort_report.pdf

Always a good resource to check as it seems to be the one they keep most up to date.

Also... There's your official confirmation of the Mears buses to all parks. I really hope it's not a permanent change. Swalphin's unique "semi-Disney" status among the resorts and its history with Disney makes me think it's probably temporary, but I guess you never know; this year is always full of unpleasant surprises.

 

[Lugan]

Staying at the Swan right now. We checked in on the 10th, staying through the weekend.

A big reason we switched to the Swan from our CR reservation was that we would still have access to Disney run transportation, especially to MK. We were not interested in dealing with TTC, or Mears buses, after our experience with them in 2018, staying at a DS good neighbor resort.

The staff at the Swan seem to be just as surprised about the change to bus transport as anybody. I suspected something was up when trying to return to the Swan from DS on Wednesday, and saw no buses at the normal stall for Swan or Dolphin.

We were informed that this change occurred by other guests, while waiting for a bus this morning... Not the staff or any official communication. I do plan to complain via Marriott Bonvoy, and to the management of the hotel. It is unconscionable to implement this change without notice, as it directly affects the amenities advertised when reserving the stay.

 

[aj24]

As long time Swan fans, spending 10-20 nights per year...disappointing, but understandable, and hopefully a temporary bandaid to help them financially weather this storm. For AK and MK, I could see us walking to Boardwalk's bus stop since we usually head that way for breakfast any way.

That said, this could be a huge turn-off to attracting those "on the fence" Disney-goers about staying at Swan/Dolphin, when a lot of people are already on the fence about traveling in general.

 

[DanSchwartz]

Looks like Swan and Dolphin guests won't have access to Disney Buses anymore. I'm guessing layoffs and cutbacks will continue to cause more inconveniences.

 

[aj24]

Looks like Swan and Dolphin guests won't have access to Disney Buses anymore. I'm guessing layoffs and cutbacks will continue to cause more inconveniences.

I think the last 3-4 pages are discussing this news already

 

[SteveH]

After reading the report from @Lugan above it makes me think this was probably more of a Disney move, not in retaliation, but one done of necessity after the layoffs Disney has announced. The Mears buses won't fit in the parking spots as @Dave006 pointed out, they are taller and doubt they can make the turn around. Plus, I'm sure there are some union rules about Disney bus drivers too.

This is a big hit on the S/D as a big selling point is the price point and getting many of the same services such at the Disney transportation. Getting dropped off at TTC is a big hit, the other parks to some degree too, but having to take the boat or monorail to MK is a big deal. I can't see how S/D would want this, which is makes me think this was Disney forcing their hand to make the change.

I am curious how or if S/D shares this with guests with upcoming stays. Hard to spin this in a positive way for guests. I'll be curious to hear from others on site and how they communicate.

 

[aj24]

I can't see how S/D would want this, which is makes me think this was Disney forcing their hand to make the change.

Especially as Marriott is mid-way through a $150m build out for a new hotel on Disney property.

 

[SugarSweetLee]

Many apologies if this is an inappropriate suggestion/question, but would it be terribly difficult/lengthy to walk from Swalphin over to one of the other Boardwalk area bus services to hop on a Disney bus to AK/MK in the morning?

 

[Lugan]

So, as a follow-up: We had a MK day planned today. We went ahead and walked to the Boardwalk bus pickup in the morning for easier transport to the park. The stall used as late as Tuesday for Swan pickup at MK had no label for a resort.

I snapped the picture on my way in to the resort for our mid-day break. It looks like a normal Disney bus without the livery. Both Ak and MK buses have looked like this since Wednesday morning. The tall Mears buses in the article referenced above have been providing alternate transport to Epcot and HS with the boats being unavailable. I'm sure this could change, but, at least for now, it isn't bus height that is forcing the buses to go to TTC.

 

[JoelB]

Many apologies if this is an inappropriate suggestion/question, but would it be terribly difficult/lengthy to walk from Swalphin over to one of the other Boardwalk area bus services to hop on a Disney bus to AK/MK in the morning?

It's not a very far walk to the Boardwalk bus stop (less than half a mile). People are definitely going to be using other Epcot resort buses, especially to/from MK. I could see it potentially becoming a problem as time goes on and the resorts get busier.

I would be interested in firsthand reports of how early the Mears buses are starting in the morning. I know the official word is 45 minutes before park opening, but that's Disney's standard line too. Are people able to get to MK/AK when/before the parks actually open?

 

[shoreward]

Many apologies if this is an inappropriate suggestion/question, but would it be terribly difficult/lengthy to walk from Swalphin over to one of the other Boardwalk area bus services to hop on a Disney bus to AK/MK in the morning?

That is perfectly acceptable. I believe that there may be a couple other posts mentioning that option, earlier in the thread. If staying at the Dolphin, the YC might be the closest Disney resort, while the Boardwalk complex is probably the closest to the Swan. There can’t be much difference in distance for either option, though.

 

[kclark9830]

Is there a benefit to having a magic band when staying at the Swan? Besides using it to get into the parks, can you use it to pay for things in the parks?

 

[SteveH]

@SugarSweetLee According to Google the distance is about 4/10th of a mile to BW and about the same for YC/BC. Don't worry about asking your question, as of yet Disney hasn't stopped anyone from doing this even before the bus change situation. I think this option or taking Uber/Lyft to Bay Lake Tower are going to be very popular for those that know how to get around the Mears/TTC drop off area.

 

[SteveH]

Is there a benefit to having a magic band when staying at the Swan? Besides using it to get into the parks, can you use it to pay for things in the parks?

Right now without FastPass not really much benefit. We got them for our Swan stay in 2018, but between park entrances and FP+ it made a bit of sense, now I'm not sure I'd bother.

 

[SugarSweetLee]

It's not a very far walk to the Boardwalk bus stop (less than half a mile). People are definitely going to be using other Epcot resort buses, especially to/from MK. I could see it potentially becoming a problem as time goes on and the resorts get busier.

I would be interested in firsthand reports of how early the Mears buses are starting in the morning. I know the official word is 45 minutes before park opening, but that's Disney's standard line too. Are people able to get to MK/AK when/before the parks actually open?

That is perfectly acceptable. I believe that there may be a couple other posts mentioning that option, earlier in the thread. If staying at the Dolphin, the YC might be the closest Disney resort, while the Boardwalk complex is probably the closest to the Swan. There can’t be much difference in distance for either option, though.

@SugarSweetLee According to Google the distance is about 4/10th of a mile to BW and about the same for YC/BC. Don't worry about asking your question, as of yet Disney hasn't stopped anyone from doing this even before the bus change situation. I think this option or taking Uber/Lyft to Bay Lake Tower are going to be very popular for those that know how to get around the Mears/TTC drop off area.

Thanks! I was hesitant to ask, picturing hordes of angry Boardwalk-stayers yelling at lower-budget interlopers for stealing precious bus space...

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Is there a benefit to having a magic band when staying at the Swan? Besides using it to get into the parks, can you use it to pay for things in the parks?

Just to add to PP, no, you can’t use a MB to pay for things in the park. MB payment only works with a Disney resort stay since it’s connected to your room folio.

But there are some MB benefits....access to the park without having to pull out a card, PhotoPass pics, on ride pics, if those things are important to you.

 

[jennypenny]

Is there a benefit to having a magic band when staying at the Swan? Besides using it to get into the parks, can you use it to pay for things in the parks?

I'd wear one if you're planning on walking over to the boardwalk to catch the bus, just to blend in.