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

[SouthFayetteFan]

I believe I heard a while back no more Disney buses? How is the bus service now? Any other changes recently?

thanks

FWIW, we walked to boardwalk each morning and caught buses there. I didn’t feel that there was enough good data yet to rely on these Swolphin buses. We were the first people in DHS and MK this week on Thu/Fri and today we were on the first ride of FoP at AK. And we just elected to ride BW or YC buses back as well since it was easier and we were often visiting their stores anyways.

(but we are big-time early arrivers as you can see so if that’s not as important to you take this DP for what it is)

 

[julesann]

This thread has been remarkably helpful. I have my first 6 day stay at the Swan in May with a 2 queen balcony room resort view premier or deluxe (I think they are the same).

A couple of questions:
1-Is it correct that room requests are best made in the ap or by calling in house reservations.
2- What is good room view request. I'd like a view of water plus resort view. Do I need a higher room to get this?
3-What is the advantage of linking MDE with my stay? I already made park reservations? Thank you all!

 

[SteveH]

A couple of questions:

1. My understanding is it's best to use the App, not the website right now. Calling has never been recommended for room requests.

2. If you want a resort water view put that in your request. I assume you booked a resort view room already.

 

[tigertides]

Is still legit to walk over to Yacht or Boardwalk hotels and take Disney bus to MK without any hassle?

the Swolphon MEARS bus to TTC doesn’t sound like most efficient way to make rope drop...

 

[SteveH]

Is still legit to walk over to Yacht or Boardwalk hotels and take Disney bus to MK without any hassle?

the Swolphon MEARS bus to TTC doesn’t sound like most efficient way to make rope drop...

No reports of anyone being hassled, just some signage at YC/BC. A friend from another forum went, and used it for their MKx2 and AK days without any issue. He did say the made a point to walk through the resorts he said rather then around, but they also went to the Boardwalk Bakery every time.

 

[julesann]

1. My understanding is it's best to use the App, not the website right now. Calling has never been recommended for room requests.

Thank you Steve. I have the App but I don't see where I would make my room request. I made my reservation on line--how do I link it to the App?

 

[Dave006]

1. My understanding is it's best to use the App, not the website right now. Calling has never been recommended for room request.

Just a reminder to all there are two (2) apps. The Walt Disney Swan & Dolphin app and the Bonvoy app from Marriott. Both are very helpful and worth a download.

The Walt Disney Swan & Dolphin app has great information about the resort for pre-planning and while on-site. Menus, and hours of operation of the different resort features.

The Bonvoy app from Marriott features used to communicate with the Swan & Dolphin staff before you arrive and while you are on-site and other great Marriott features.

Dave

 

[SteveH]

Thanks @Dave006 good reminder

 

[samara]

I would agree that you want to double check. Call the Swan & Dolphin directly at 888-828-8850 or 407-934-4000 and chat with in-house reservations.

This configuration is often confusing to guests and the reservation agents. That's why I would suggest you call the local in-house reservation team to confirm. Since tomorrow is Sunday your call may roll over to central reservations.

Dave

I called back today and spoke to Terry at in-house reservations. She confirmed that I had an alcove room with a king bed with a connecting room with two double beds. She said not to pay attention to what it says on the regular Marriott website because these configurations usually don’t show up correctly. Thought I would share in case anyone else runs into this so they don’t panic like I did!

So excited for this trip!

 

[sachilles]

Currently, is there a path from the Swan to Buena Vista dr along the canal parallel to the boardwalk/hollywood studios path? I know there isn't one from buena vista to hollywood studios on that side.
Google street view shows the start of a path at the bridge towards the swan, the path view makes it look like the path ducks under the trees and brings you up near the bus depot. Just wondering if this is the smarter way to walk from the Swan to DHS as opposed to walking over by Jellyrolls and then to DHS?

 

[SMRT-1]

Currently, is there a path from the Swan to Buena Vista dr along the canal parallel to the boardwalk/hollywood studios path? I know there isn't one from buena vista to hollywood studios on that side.
Google street view shows the start of a path at the bridge towards the swan, the path view makes it look like the path ducks under the trees and brings you up near the bus depot. Just wondering if this is the smarter way to walk from the Swan to DHS as opposed to walking over by Jellyrolls and then to DHS?

The path on the Swan side ends at Buena Vista Drive. From that point, there's a sidewalk slightly uphill to Buena Vista Drive. Once you get up to Buena Vista, you follow the sidewalk across the overpass over the canal, and then take the sidewalk back down the hill to the HS path on the Boardwalk side. Depending on how fast you walk, it saves you maybe 2 or 3 minutes over walking toward Jellyrolls and taking the Boardwalk-side path all the way.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Currently, is there a path from the Swan to Buena Vista dr along the canal parallel to the boardwalk/hollywood studios path? I know there isn't one from buena vista to hollywood studios on that side.
Google street view shows the start of a path at the bridge towards the swan, the path view makes it look like the path ducks under the trees and brings you up near the bus depot. Just wondering if this is the smarter way to walk from the Swan to DHS as opposed to walking over by Jellyrolls and then to DHS?

Are you suggesting to walk up to the bridge, then cross the Buena Vista bridge on foot and then finish walking on the other side?

 

[Gitelfor]

The new Swan Reserve is now bookable for check-in on 09/01/2021 and beyond. All info states that the new property is scheduled to open July 2021, so first bookable check-in date may be moved up in the future.

The resort is a Bonvoy Category 6, like the Swan and Dolphin, so points bookings currently start at the limited time, promotional off-peak rate of 36,000 points, per night. However, today’s cash rates appear to be higher, than the Swan and Dolphin. At the moment, there is no AP rate displayed on the booking engine; however, I would inquire with on-site reservations to double-check availability of an AP rate at the Swan Reserve.

I’ll look forward to reading the first reviews of the Swan Reserve next summer.

 

[SaintsManiac]

The new Swan Reserve is now bookable for check-in on 09/01/2021 and beyond. All info states that the new property is scheduled to open July 2021, so first bookable check-in date may be moved up in the future.

The resort is a Bonvoy Category 6, like the Swan and Dolphin, so points bookings currently start at the limited time, promotional off-peak rate of 36,000 points, per night. However, today’s cash rates appear to be higher, than the Swan and Dolphin. At the moment, there is no AP rate displayed on the booking engine; however, I would inquire with on-site reservations to double-check availability of an AP rate at the Swan Reserve.

I’ll look forward to reading the first reviews of the Swan Reserve next summer.

Do we know much about the rooms yet? Will the Epcot or HS views have balconies?

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

The path on the Swan side ends at Buena Vista Drive. From that point, there's a sidewalk slightly uphill to Buena Vista Drive. Once you get up to Buena Vista, you follow the sidewalk across the overpass over the canal, and then take the sidewalk back down the hill to the HS path on the Boardwalk side. Depending on how fast you walk, it saves you maybe 2 or 3 minutes over walking toward Jellyrolls and taking the Boardwalk-side path all the way.

I guess it would depend on where you popped out of the Swan too. The stairway right beside our room spit us out right beside the BW bridge. So in looking at this on google maps, I think the path referenced here would actually be 0.1 miles further than the BW side of the canal based on where our room was.

So I would say that you're correct, we're talking a difference of 2-3 minutes saved OR even 2-3 minutes more depending on where you are located in the Swan building.

 

[Gitelfor]

Do we know much about the rooms yet? Will the Epcot or HS views have balconies?

From the renderings and photos, it appears that there are very few balconies; there are, however, full height windows in the guest rooms.

 

[SMRT-1]

Are you suggesting to walk up to the bridge, then cross the Buena Vista bridge on foot and then finish walking on the other side?

Yes. There's a sidewalk along the bridge on Buena Vista that gets you over to the Boardwalk-HS path.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Yes. There's a sidewalk along the bridge on Buena Vista that gets you over to the Boardwalk-HS path.

View attachment 553696

Yep - was just confirming that this is what he meant. Perhaps he could've known about some secret canoe available to cross the canal, or maybe even swim... but think of the gator risks!!

 

[Erica Ladd]

According to that picture of the sidewalk if I was walking TO HS would I be walking away in that pic or walking towards the camera? Thx!

 

[SMRT-1]

According to that picture of the sidewalk if I was walking TO HS would I be walking away in that pic or walking towards the camera? Thx!

Away. That picture is from the Swan side of the canal, so if you were headed to HS, you'd be walking toward the bridge and over the canal.

If you're going from the Swan to HS via the Swan side of the canal, the path eventually just winds up the hill (you can see it in the background in the photo), so just follow the path, and it will take you up to the bridge, and then just follow the sidewalk back toward the bridge and over the canal, and then there will be a sidewalk on the other side of the bridge back down the hill to the boardwalk side of the canal where the path continues all the way to HS.