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

[SouthFayetteFan]

Disney appears to have removed the list of early entry hotels from the app… can anybody else see it? Was there anyway to see it on the web (I tried Google and only got other useless blogs).

I saw an official SoG Facebook post (I think) which said they are officially now included so things are still in the works.

 

[amador]

Disney appears to have removed the list of early entry hotels from the app… can anybody else see it? Was there anyway to see it on the web (I tried Google and only got other useless blogs).

I saw an official SoG Facebook post (I think) which said they are officially now included so things are still in the works.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/early-entry/

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/early-entry/

Thanks, you're better than google today which apparently only wants me to read WDW News Today and BlogMickey - still no mention of Swan/Dolphin BUT Shades of Green is not appearing there yet either. I guess we keep monitoring the situation for now... I have both Swan and YC booked for our Nov trip right now.

 

[SteveH]

@SouthFayetteFan getting SOG on board is a good sign. S/D on FB keeps sharing (see below) so hopefully things are in the works.

Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin
We are currently awaiting word from Disney on the status of this. We hope to be able to participate. Stay tuned for more information on that. As soon as we know we will share. Thank you and we hope to see you soon!

 

[ww52]

In answer to a previous question - boats are running just fine (we were at the Dolphin 7/1 through 7/8

They don't run if there is a storm or an approaching storm. Don't really know if that includes just regualr rain.

It CAN be slow - esp going to Epcot - so we prefer walking. But we did take it at leat once I remember knowing we had a lot of walking ahead of us (hey - a bit of a concession to my being in my late 60s!)

Boat to HS is much quicker IMO; the boaters beat the walkers in our party twice and neither time was the boat right there (didn't wait more than a few minutes though). It's a nice walk to HS (did it once just to do it - never had before).

Unrelated essentially - but I don't get the advantage of the Skyliner in the summer with daily rain. I could see it likely you could get to the park and then have to take a bus or Uber back to your hotel. It seemed to stop often. However, the never leave anyone stuck on it I was told. They run it until everyone s off before stopping.

 

[mdmost]

We debated Caribbean Beach Resort before deciding on the Swan because wanted to be closer to HS. After watching some videos on how the Skyliner goes down if it rains and the general long waits, we moved over to the Swan so we could walk. Plus, DW loves the Heavenly beds.

 

[ww52]

Plus, DW loves the Heavenly beds.

VERY much an underrated factor in the decision

EDIT - I see you just joined a few days ago. how did you have all those trips in your signature and not discover DISBOARDS?

 

[empedocles]

@CeCe0906 lol the whole WiFi sales pitch is a bit of a joke, to further complicate their WiFi sales pitch Bonvoy members are supposed to get "free in room WiFi" bottom line is the resort fee sucks, but its not going away. I've never seen two different SSIDs that would make me think one is high speed vs the standard. Reality for us was we had no issues with the WiFi at S/D during our visits.

This. I'm lifetime Gold with Marriott, and supposedly got "enhanced WIFI" with my status during my Swan stay last year. Wasn't impressed with the speed (but wasn't doing anything where internet speed mattered, either). My reaction was: "If this is enhanced, how bad is the regular WIFI?" Reality is, it's all the same.

 

[Dan Murphy]

When we're there, and lord knows we all do a lot of walking while at WDW, we almost always use the boats. We're on vacation and try to relax when we can. We've never had a problem getting to the parks prior to rope drop, if necessary.

 

[mdmost]

VERY much an underrated factor in the decision

EDIT - I see you just joined a few days ago. how did you have all those trips in your signature and not discover DISBOARDS?

We went to WDW in 2015 and then after going to Disneyland in 2016, decided not to go back to WDW for awhile as we enjoyed the easiness of getting in and out of LA. Plus, DLR is just a cheaper option for us since there are a lot more flights to LAX from DFW. I honestly thought this was a WDW only board. So when I was looking at trip planning for WDW since it had been 6 years since our last visit, I came back here.

 

[ckelly14]

I find it a bit disconcerting that NO Marriott properties are on that list...

 

[SteveH]

@empedocles exactly my thought too. Worked fine by nothing amazing, just worked.
@Dan Murphy same for us, saved our legs for the parks. Plus the boat was a nice chance with kids to build the excitment and with my wife and I to surroundings and people watch
@ww52 I really agree with the assessment of the Skyliner, for all the money they put into it to have it go down in the summers without AC is a big deal to me. I ready deal with a fear of heights but a confined space like that in the heat of the day with a possible storm around... oh that's a big no freaking way for me.
@mdmost I really enjoy both, we had a wonderful year of doing Disney in 2019 we did Disneyland for 5 days with my youngest son (21 at the time) and got to experience Smugglers Run and everything, then early 2020 we we're at Disney World and got to do ROTR, so fun going that close together.

 

[mdmost]

@SteveH We were all set to go to DLR in June 2020 until Covid. We were actually going to try something new which was flying into San Diego and spending 3-4 days there before continuing on to DLR. Well now that's next year's summer trip right after school lets out.

We enjoy the easiness of it all. More choices on flights and airports. More choices in hotels as we always stay offsite since the perks at DLR resort hotels is minimal. We are big fans of Maxpass. We love that park hopping is just walking across a plaza. There's less hussle and bussle to a DLR trip. Plus, we'll try to sneak in a beach day or trip up to Malibu.

 

[AUDramaQueen]

Anyone use the Dolphin wifi doing the "please can I possibly hit join fast enough" Rise of the Resistance boarding group madness? Did you use complimentary WiFi included with your resort fee ( how is it complimentary if it's part of a paid fee, which being mandatory should just be a part of the room fee....but anyway) or did you upgrade to "high speed internet for additional charge"

We were at the Swan, but used data (Verizon) and got it at 7am both times we tried.

 

[mickey916]

I find it a bit disconcerting that NO Marriott properties are on that list...

That bothers me too but maybe they're still working out the details with Marriott....fingers crossed!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Any thoughts on Disney World selling Swan Reserve packages for arrivals starting Oct 1? Think Marriott is limiting what's sold for the first couple weeks or Disney is worried they might not make that mid-Sept opening (I'm assuming that's opening as it's what's available for booking direct with Marriott)? Or something else entirely?

I've got a late Sept trip booked and am getting nervous. I hope if they don't open they'll walk people to Swan but knowing people who have been #bonvoyed...

 

[CeCe0906]

That bothers me too but maybe they're still working out the details with Marriott....fingers crossed!

A comment on the DolphinSwan Facebook page in response to that question "We are currently awaiting word from Disney on the status of this. We hope to be able to participate. Stay tuned for more information on that. As soon as we know we will share. Thank you and we hope to see you soon!"

 

[mickey916]

A comment on the DolphinSwan Facebook page in response to that question "We are currently awaiting word from Disney on the status of this. We hope to be able to participate. Stay tuned for more information on that. As soon as we know we will share. Thank you and we hope to see you soon!"

I saw that and it makes me hopeful!

 

[Jhoyer5150]

Swan/Dolphin really need to get this Early Entry question resolved. They could potentially lose bookings if they are not included. The Early Entry is a pure replacement for EMH which of course they were included in when that was operating. So there's no reason they wouldn't be in this now, other than Marriott playing hardball and not wanting to pay the piper. Shades of Green got their 'stuff' sorted out this morning, c'mon Swan/Dolphin that means it's your move!

 

[Dan Murphy]

I honestly thought this was a WDW only board.

Welcome to the dis, mdmost.

Lots of DLR stuff here