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

[GADisneyDad14]

GADisneyDad: I see that you are often on the Poly thread, so I'll ask you this question. April 2022 will be the anniversary of our family's first trip to WDW, when we stayed at the Poly in 1972 (I was 5 at the time). For the celebration, I just made a reservation for a 5 day trip to the Poly yesterday- $900/night for a standard room. Unfortunately, I'm flipping the bill for 3 rooms. I haven't been to the Poly for 20 years and I've been a S&D guy over that period.

Some time at the Poly is definitely in the cards, but I'm considering a split stay with the Swan (or maybe the Reserve) instead to save money (I have lots of Marriott points), and be walking distance to Epcot and DHS. I've never done a split night before and I would consider it a pain to pack up and move in the middle of my stay.

Any advice?

This is my kind of thread - everyone else has already answered your question!

I kind of waffle back and forth on the split stay topic. I like mixing things up but don’t love the process of moving. There are very few resorts that I don’t like/don’t want to stay in, so the only way I can visit favorite places is to split. But part of my likes squatting the whole trip and not messing with it. So I donno, I could argue it both ways.

Personally I don’t like to split if less than 3 nights at any resort, if I had my choice.

I do love a MK/monorail resort and Epcot resort split. Best of both worlds, can craft a trip with minimal busing like a PP said above, access to pretty much every dining option possible. It’s just hard to go wrong.

Packing cubes are your friend - that’s how I’ve gotten over the whole unpacking/packing part.

Good luck planning!

 

[ckelly14]

Just booked 7 nights at the Swan in May!

One quick question, please... Are we able to book all of our dining reservations 60 days out or can we only book one day at a time? I've heard both to be true & knew I should come to the experts for a definitive answer.

There have been mixed messages on this. In the past they did not offer 60+10, but people report that they have been able to from time to time, and recently it has been more frequent. Not sure if something changed when they moved to 60 day reservations. Hopefully someone with more recent experience can comment.

 

[ckelly14]

This is my kind of thread - everyone else has already answered your question!

I kind of waffle back and forth on the split stay topic. I like mixing things up but don’t love the process of moving. There are very few resorts that I don’t like/don’t want to stay in, so the only way I can visit favorite places is to split. But part of my likes squatting the whole trip and not messing with it. So I donno, I could argue it both ways.

Personally I don’t like to split if less than 3 nights at any resort, if I had my choice.

I do love a MK/monorail resort and Epcot resort split. Best of both worlds, can craft a trip with minimal busing like a PP said above, access to pretty much every dining option possible. It’s just hard to go wrong.

Packing cubes are your friend - that’s how I’ve gotten over the whole unpacking/packing part.

Good luck planning!

Thanks for the thoughts. I feel exactly the same way and honestly have never done a split night before. If I can make due with 2 rooms or if I can split the cost with some siblings I may just stay at the Poly. I’ll probably keep both reservations and stew over it until the very last minute!

 

[fly girl]

Well, I have read several pages still cannot find the exact answers to my questions, so I am sure these are repeats but I did attempt to find them before asking. (but I'm not reading 600+ pages, )

We have stayed before at Dolphin and Swan. Granted, Dolphin was eons ago (2000), and Swan was 2017 after the refresh. We had a less than impressive stay at Swan (room wasn't properly cleaned, crib in room never removed after requesting it to be, AC issues, etc.) but all the reviews for Swan appear to be better than the Dolphin and I have to think our last stay wasn't the norm.

However, I know Dolphin recently had a refresh. Which one would you recommend as the price for both are pretty much the same? FWIW, family of 3, getting balcony king room with sofa bed. Benefits of staying at Dolphin over Swan and vice versa? (does Dolphin have a sink outside of shower/toilet?) Fuel seems to be where we would hit breakfast and I know that is in Dolphin. (we have done Java Bar while at Swan and it was fine)

Second, I know about the MK buses. Are AK buses dropping off in same area as Disney Resorts? If not, we just may uber over to AK.

Thanks for your help!

 

[mickey916]

I've been doing a lot of reading lately and from what I've read, the Dolphin does not have the sink outside the bathroom, it has a little vanity area with no sink. Haven't stayed at either so can't answer any of your other questions.

 

[Dave006]

However, I know Dolphin recently had a refresh. Which one would you recommend as the price for both are pretty much the same? FWIW, family of 3, getting balcony king room with sofa bed. Benefits of staying at Dolphin over Swan and vice versa? (does Dolphin have a sink outside of shower/toilet?)

They both had a refresh during the same time period. The Dolphin is twice the size of the Swan making the Swan a lot easier to navigate. The Swan rooms all have 2 sinks with mirrors, one with the tub / shower combination and one just outside the bathroom door. The standard guest rooms are the same size at both resorts.

Fuel seems to be where we would hit breakfast and I know that is in Dolphin. (we have done Java Bar while at Swan and it was fine)

Normally the Dolphin would have more food options but currently it is a toss up. The good news is that the covered walkway between the two resorts is about 360 feet so you can take advantage of food options at either resort. You should download the free Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin smartphone app for your iPhone or Android as it lists the hours of the different food venues and has menus to review, and phone numbers for each venue. Some venues are only open during the weekends.

Second, I know about the MK buses. Are AK buses dropping off in same area as Disney Resorts? If not, we just may uber over to AK.

The buses for AK don't drop off in the old bus resort loop as before Oct. 2020 but it is not really any farther due to the layout of the AK parking lots. If you compare the Uber drop-off area to the area where the Mears busses drop / pickup, no real difference.

Dave

 

[fly girl]

They both had a refresh during the same time period. The Dolphin is twice the size of the Swan making the Swan a lot easier to navigate. The Swan rooms all have 2 sinks with mirrors, one with the tub / shower combination and one just outside the bathroom door. The standard guest rooms are the same size at both resorts.

Normally the Dolphin would have more food options but currently it is a toss up. The good news is that the covered walkway between the two resorts is about 360 feet so you can take advantage of food options at either resort. You should download the free Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin smartphone app for your iPhone or Android as it lists the hours of the different food venues and has menus to review, and phone numbers for each venue. Some venues are only open during the weekends.

The buses for AK don't drop off in the old bus resort loop as before Oct. 2020 but it is not really any farther due to the layout of the AK parking lots. If you compare the Uber drop-off area to the area where the Mears busses drop / pickup, no real difference.

Dave

Thanks. I just watched YouTube on the Dolphin rooms. I see the big difference is sinks (but still the one sink is outside of shower/toilet) so it is doable. Since the price is only a few dollars different for our category I think I might make the switch to Swan. Fingers crossed our experience goes more smoothly this time around.

I am remembering that back in April of 2017 when we stayed at Swan some of the Dolphin rooms weren't finished yet so that is why we stayed at Swan. I didn't want an old room. (and back then with a King room the sofa bed wasn't a guarantee)

We have dined at quite a few of the restaurants, Kimono's being our personal favorite. I need to give Bluezoo another chance as it didn't win us over versus Flying Fish, but that was years ago and we all know FF isn't open right now.

Thanks for the AK bus info.

 

[DizneyLizzy]

Does anyone know if you can use the Marriott Bonvoy app at the S/D to bypass the front desk (like at WDW hotels) and use the mobile key feature?

 

[Dave006]

No they don't have the Bonvoy Mobile Key feature yet! Maybe the new Reserve will have it when it opens in September.

You can still do online check in and use the message feature to chat with the staff at the Swan & Dolphin. You will have a separate Bonvoy check-in line at the Front desk to show your ID and get your physical room keys. You can also manage your reservation from the Bonvoy app. Also you can request room items using the app; towels, coffee/tea, water, soap and shampoo.

Last I saw it is only available at about 50% of the properties. Marriott is not pushing "Operators" to make the move as fast as they were before Covid-19. It is quite an expense that is not warranted as all operators are trying to conserve capital and control expenses.

Dave

 

[blrem]

No they don't have the Bonvoy Mobile Key feature yet! Maybe the new Reserve will have it when it opens in September.

You can still do online check in and use the message feature to chat with the staff at the Swan & Dolphin. You will have a separate Bonvoy check-in line at the Front desk to show your ID and get your physical room keys. You can also manage your reservation from the Bonvoy app. Also you can request room items using the app; towels, coffee/tea, water, soap and shampoo.

Last I saw it is only available at about 50% of the properties. Marriott is not pushing "Operators" to make the move as fast as they were before Covid-19. It is quite an expense that is not warranted as all operators are trying to conserve capital and control expenses.

Dave

Dave is 100% correct. We check into the Dolphin Sunday. They just sent me an email saying I could use the Bonvoy app to check in, get my mobile key and avoid the front desk. So I did it and the phone app said I'd hear from them with my mobile key when our room is ready. However, I had a question concerning our room so I used "chat" to contact the Dolphin. In the course of our chat today they informed me that the app is INCORRECT and no, there would not be a mobile key coming our way and that yes, we DID need to check in via the front desk. So there was no point in me doing the online check-in process at all and the email was a generic type email sent to all Marriott reservations (even though it specifically said the Dolphin and gave details about our upcoming ressie). I've heard the line at check in can be long - hoping we get lucky and that's not the case this weekend!

 

[Dave006]

So there was no point in me doing the online check-in process at all

I have found the online check-in part sort of works. You should get a push notification when your room is ready if it is not available when you show your ID at the Front desk grab your physical keys and start enjoying your weekend.

Dave

 

[blrem]

I have found the online check-in part sort of works. You should get a push notification when your room is ready if it is not available when you show your ID at the Front desk grab your physical keys and start enjoying your weekend.

Dave

Thanks Dave - good to know!

 

[happ]

Booked the Reserve for Marathon week 2022. Now let's hope there's a race!

Were you able to link your reservation in MDE? Mine is still not linking.

 

[duder92]

We are staying at the Swan next month. When parking at the parks, does the magic band linked to your room stay allow you to park, or do they also need to see your room key?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

A good view of the current status of things. Not crosswalk work.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1363444006215168005

https://twitter.com/x/status/1363446157914046467

 

[Turk February]

Thinking about booking Swan for October on a AAA rate. Can someone tell me how much I'm charged at booking when going through Marriott's site?

The final page before booking has some confusing language... it looks like they break my 6-night stay up into 3 parts and it says I will be charged $628 for each (which makes sense because the rate is $314/night). So am I charged the full rate minus taxes and resort fee at booking? Or is it just 2-nights?

Making this even more confusing, if I click on "learn more" below the rate details, it says I'll be charged a pre-payment of $420.75.

Any help is appreciated! Just curious what I should expect when I click that "book now" button. Thanks!

 

[sophy1996]

Thinking about booking Swan for October on a AAA rate. Can someone tell me how much I'm charged at booking when going through Marriott's site?

The final page before booking has some confusing language... it looks like they break my 6-night stay up into 3 parts and it says I will be charged $628 for each (which makes sense because the rate is $314/night). So am I charged the full rate minus taxes and resort fee at booking? Or is it just 2-nights?

Making this even more confusing, if I click on "learn more" below the rate details, it says I'll be charged a pre-payment of $420.75.

Any help is appreciated! Just curious what I should expect when I click that "book now" button. Thanks!

I recently booked for a AAA rate (not the pre-paid rate, but the AAA rate fully cancellable up to 5 days before) and was charged the equivalent of one night + tax + resort fee. I know what you mean about the varying estimates of required deposit, but for both this recent booking and our previous booking in 2019, no matter the varying estimates on different screens, the actual deposit upon booking (for the cancellable rate) was based on one night.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Thinking about booking Swan for October on a AAA rate. Can someone tell me how much I'm charged at booking when going through Marriott's site?

The final page before booking has some confusing language... it looks like they break my 6-night stay up into 3 parts and it says I will be charged $628 for each (which makes sense because the rate is $314/night). So am I charged the full rate minus taxes and resort fee at booking? Or is it just 2-nights?

Making this even more confusing, if I click on "learn more" below the rate details, it says I'll be charged a pre-payment of $420.75.

Any help is appreciated! Just curious what I should expect when I click that "book now" button. Thanks!

I booked the AAA rate and was prepared to pay half, which is what it said before I booked, but they didn’t charge me at all.

 

[Turk February]

I recently booked for a AAA rate (not the pre-paid rate, but the AAA rate fully cancellable up to 5 days before) and was charged the equivalent of one night + tax + resort fee. I know what you mean about the varying estimates of required deposit, but for both this recent booking and our previous booking in 2019, no matter the varying estimates on different screens, the actual deposit upon booking (for the cancellable rate) was based on one night.

I booked the AAA rate and was prepared to pay half, which is what it said before I booked, but they didn’t charge me at all.

Thank you both!

 

[julesann]

I'm staying at the Swan in April and make my ADRs next week. I'm wondering what is the easiest (fastest) way to get from the Swan to DS. I want to get a sense of my options and costs to see if we want to eat there twice or once. Thank you!