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

[TexanInTheMidwest]

@CBMom01 They can not, these are not Disney owned or operated so they don't have the tie in with the Disney system. I do believe you can use them at the Disney Planning Centers in each hotel as well as the Disney Gift Shop in the Dolphin.

I know for sure you can use a Disney Gift Card (and get a passholder discount) in the Disney shop at the Dolphin because I did it earlier this month!

 

[Best Aunt]

Can Disney gift cards and/or Rewards Redemption cards be used at the restaurants & shops?

If you have the cards to use, don't forget that from Swan & Dolphin it's a very short walk to BoardWalk, Yacht Club and Beach Club. So you could use the cards there.

(And of course in the theme parks and Disney Springs, but I don't know what your plans are.)

 

[The Pluto People]

Planning a trip to the Dolphin. Since we have’nt been in a few years we have some Marriott points. We want a Epcot view with balcony. Should we book a room with cash and attempt to upgrade with points? Or book a room with points and try to upgrade with cash? Thanks so much for any info you can give me!

 

[CBMom01]

Planning a trip to the Dolphin. Since we have’nt been in a few years we have some Marriott points. We want a Epcot view with balcony. Should we book a room with cash and attempt to upgrade with points? Or book a room with points and try to upgrade with cash? Thanks so much for any info you can give me!

If be interested in the answer to this. Would love to be able to upgrade with points.

 

[TexanInTheMidwest]

Planning a trip to the Dolphin. Since we have’nt been in a few years we have some Marriott points. We want a Epcot view with balcony. Should we book a room with cash and attempt to upgrade with points? Or book a room with points and try to upgrade with cash? Thanks so much for any info you can give me!

In all honesty, book what you want room wise at the Dolphin - as a Titanium the "upgrade" I was given was a "view" (no balcony) and my view was of a big Palm Tree.

 

[DisneyJohnson]

Hello all, long time lurker first time poster. I wanted to provide everyone some details on my experience with a recent Swan Reserve cancellation experience. It was helpful reading through this thread and others, so thought I would contribute.

I was first contacted by an automated email stating they are sorry they have to cancel my reservations (I had two standard rooms from 10/10 - 10/15). Additionally, it said I was free to rebook at the Swan and Dolphin because according to Marriott's system, there was availability. I had booked with points, but when I looked on the app and website there was no availability for points or cash bookings. Note, I believe the email says to cancel the reservation, but I opted to hold my Swan Reserve reservation just to have something to show when I talked to a CSR.

So my next step was to call the S&D phone number the cancelation email provided. Do NOT call the general or elite Marriott numbers, as they have no idea what's going on. One representative just told me there is no way I can get to the S&D, and I could move offsite. They had no clue what impact that would have on a Disney trip, and was unaware of the delays going on with the Swan Reserve.

After connecting to the S&D reservation line, a nice CSR (shoutout Connie!!) listened to my situation and complaints. She told me she would speak to a manager to see what she could do, but no guarantees. I have seen varying results from the first call to S&D, so people might experience something different. Five hours later, I received a call from Connie, and was told she has 2 deluxe rooms with firework views on hold for me, but it would be 30k points extra. I saw a report someone negotiated this down, and I should have, but after a very stressful day I was so relieved to have a room I accepted and wanted to be done with the whole fiasco.

The following day I was checking the reservation in the Bonvy App, and it was showing two different rooms than what I was promised over the phone. Weirdly enough, my email directly from S&D showed the correct rooms. I called S&D again just to confirm, and they said because their internal system is different from the general Bonvy one, it would show something different. I didn't like this, but got it in another email confirmation I was staying in my firework view room. So now I have two email per room stating my correct room type, versus the app. Hopefully everything works when I get there in three weeks, but just glad to get past this craziness.

Obviously I am unhappy with Marriott even if I have a room again. Just so unprofessional to let me know 3 weeks out from my trip that I have to cancel my reservation and book something myself. Especially when the 50th anniversary is coming up.

 

[SteveH]

Planning a trip to the Dolphin. Since we have’nt been in a few years we have some Marriott points. We want a Epcot view with balcony. Should we book a room with cash and attempt to upgrade with points? Or book a room with points and try to upgrade with cash? Thanks so much for any info you can give me!

They don't always do points upgrades so do which ever you wish but usually cash is king. That all assumes they have any. You're best to book what you want from the start vs gamble availability.

 

[AaronRif]

Did you speak with an in house Swolphin reservation agent or a main Marriott reservation person? We have the Nov 4 -9 booked with points and I am anticipating a complete mess with this now.

I called the Swan and Dolphin directly (the number was on the email they sent me and took me to the hotel, rather than general Marriott reservations). I’d wait to get the email from them that they have to move you before calling them since they’re likely moving a whole lot of people.

 

[CBMom01]

I’ll say that the on site reservations folks at SD are great and the rooms at Reserve look fantastic but my awful Disney vacations cust service experience has me very nervous about relying on my reservation email and hoping everything will be ok.

 

[Aims127]

Well, they moved me to the Dolphin, using 2 of my free night certificates and then 1 I had booked on points and the last night they comped for me which was super unexpected. So I'm pretty happy. I have never stayed at any of the Swan/Dolphin hotels so I'm curious to see how the Dolphin will be. I was looking forward to brand new hotel but it is what it is and at least I still have a room and a pretty darn good deal!

 

[Dan Murphy]

I have never stayed at any of the Swan/Dolphin hotels so I'm curious to see how the Dolphin will be. I was looking forward to brand new hotel

You'll love it, Aims!!

 

[katyjeka]

I was able to grab the Reserve this morning for an employee rate on 12/11 for six nights. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they will be open by December however I've kept our reservation through Disney at AoA just to be safe. I love the location and grounds around the S/D. I also hate to pay hundreds more a night to stay at a value resort. We also love the feel of a new hotel...please open

 

[NicoleLarson]

So my 60 day dining is today but the app and website won't let me book for my whole stay. The dining line is 60+ minutes, any other tricks i can try? Yes, my reservation is in MDE

 

[mickey916]

So my 60 day dining is today but the app and website won't let me book for my whole stay. The dining line is 60+ minutes, any other tricks i can try? Yes, my reservation is in MDE

Try incognito mode or perhaps a different browser?

 

[jprieur]

So my 60 day dining is today but the app and website won't let me book for my whole stay. The dining line is 60+ minutes, any other tricks i can try? Yes, my reservation is in MDE

This happened to me as well. It's a disney IT issue, according the the CM when I called, S&D hotel reservations are not working with the disney reservation system fully. While I was on the phone with the disney reservation line, he had to call over to guest services so that they could make a 'dummy' reservation in their system at a disney resort that mirrored my dates. Then I was able to make them on the phone with him.

So just call Disney to make dining, its a bit of a pain but its the only way.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

It is interesting to me how long it has taken to finish the exterior of this thing.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1439340591414927364

 

[Dan Murphy]

It is interesting to me how long it has taken to finish the exterior of this thing.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1439340591414927364

Maybe unforeseen problems on the exterior. I guess problems, as such, are always unforeseen though.

 

[Dave006]

It is interesting to me how long it has taken to finish the exterior of this thing.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1439340591414927364

They were slowed down when they knew they were not going to open in March 2021 as originally planned and scheduled. Part Covid and part staffing of construction and subcontractors.

Then opening moved to July, August, Sept, Oct. ( they still claim some time in October it will open )...

Dave

 

[SteveH]

Since January we've been dealing with a road construction project outside of my office. It's running behind by about 4 months now, I know the General contractor and he's said the issues has been various subs and members getting covid and shutting down several crews, which just snowballs. Contractors are generally the type that don't want to wear a mask outdoors (understandable) but it's just been wreaking havoc on them over the past 6 weeks. Plus getting some of the items they need for sewer lines and electrical has been delayed several times. I can only imagine that the Swan Reserve has to be facing the same type of issues.

However, they should have seen this weeks ago and been better prepared to take care of the customers that booked rooms. What bothers me is that it appears that those that booked with points are the ones getting mistreated the most. I know managing the resorts is a challenge but sure seems like they can do better at this. Having problems weeks before the 50th is a big black eye for them.

 

[TexanInTheMidwest]

Since January we've been dealing with a road construction project outside of my office. It's running behind by about 4 months now, I know the General contractor and he's said the issues has been various subs and members getting covid and shutting down several crews, which just snowballs. Contractors are generally the type that don't want to wear a mask outdoors (understandable) but it's just been wreaking havoc on them over the past 6 weeks. Plus getting some of the items they need for sewer lines and electrical has been delayed several times. I can only imagine that the Swan Reserve has to be facing the same type of issues.

However, they should have seen this weeks ago and been better prepared to take care of the customers that booked rooms. What bothers me is that it appears that those that booked with points are the ones getting mistreated the most. I know managing the resorts is a challenge but sure seems like they can do better at this. Having problems weeks before the 50th is a big black eye for them.

I almost feel like they held back rooms the first week or so of September as it seemed like *most* folks got moved a little more easily. But management seems WAY behind the curve in getting people informed and accommodated. . I was at the Dolphin right before Labor Day and in person, the building looked months away from completion.

And honestly, I don't understand the mistreatment of people using points. It isn't as if the points magically appear in anyone's account (beyond a single one-night 50,000 award if you have a Bonvoy Am Ex). Folks using points are usually long-time loyal Marriot people that have spent a lot of time and money with Marriot. They are still getting their (absorbent) resort fee. And I'm sure folks spend at least a little $$ on food.