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

[champagne&disney]

With the addition of the Reserve and with all the picture links (and most of the web links themselves) broken because of the new S/D/R website, what are your opinions on my starting a new S/D and now also R thread? This one is over 7 years old, almost 800 pages long. This thread, as are the several past threads, would be linked in the new one. I could not do it all at one time. I would do most of it in Word and then copy/paste. Also, I would use 3-5 initial posts/replies so as to be able to add pictures in the future. A post here is limited to 35 pictures. I had that many when I started this one 7 years ago. If I ever wanted to add a picture, I had to delete one.

Your thoughts?

I think it's a great idea, Dan!

 

[SteveH]

Dan after your years of maintaining this thread I think you know best. Of course the search is a great asset for past info, but so much has changed since COVID that it's always hard to know what's current and what's dated. Grabbing the first few pages is a great idea. I might suggest waiting a few months, maybe 1st of the year - so that we get some more details on the Reserve. On another forum I'm on we ran a "help build the FAQ" by asking what questions people had that they couldn't easily find; The fridge & coffee pot, cabana/discounts, Disney benefits/what's not included, and as much info about the various suites seem to come up often. Just an idea to play with. Thanks for maintaining this!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Dan after your years of maintaining this thread I think you know best. Of course the search is a great asset for past info, but so much has changed since COVID that it's always hard to know what's current and what's dated. Grabbing the first few pages is a great idea. I might suggest waiting a few months, maybe 1st of the year - so that we get some more details on the Reserve. On another forum I'm on we ran a "help build the FAQ" by asking what questions people had that they couldn't easily find; The fridge & coffee pot, cabana/discounts, Disney benefits/what's not included, and as much info about the various suites seem to come up often. Just an idea to play with. Thanks for maintaining this!

Good thoughts, Steve.

 

[lorimay]

Well I made a huge boo boo
I saw the Swan Reserve for $430 a night for our December trip, it was a Bonvoy member price but non-refundable so I held off just in case something came (our world today). We booked a tower room at Coronado for the same price, but that was refundable. I was watching the Reserve because I wanted to really stay there on the Boardwalk.
We were going to switch over and the price of the basic Reserve room is now $1200 a night. UGH! I blew it.

 

[SteveH]

@lorimay keep watching, with the rumors of them opening Oct 28 you may see a bump in prices that comes down. With their fluctuating prices it's hard to predict, but 2 months out and a new hotel, it may not come down. Fingers crossed for you it does.

 

[bakerworld]

Well I made a huge boo boo
I saw the Swan Reserve for $430 a night for our December trip, it was a Bonvoy member price but non-refundable so I held off just in case something came (our world today). We booked a tower room at Coronado for the same price, but that was refundable. I was watching the Reserve because I wanted to really stay there on the Boardwalk.
We were going to switch over and the price of the basic Reserve room is now $1200 a night. UGH! I blew it.

I just booked a room at the Dolphin for $200/N and I'm kinda sorry not to be staying at the Coronado but location/price won the day.

 

[SteveH]

I just booked a room at the Dolphin for $200/N and I'm kinda sorry not to be staying at the Coronado but location/price won the day.

Congrats, that's a good deal! Our last trip was at POFQ because it was priced better then S/D. But the location alone makes it better than any Disney Moderate IMHO. As much as the resort theming at CS & POFQ are great, the money can go to other things!

 

[lorimay]

I just booked a room at the Dolphin for $200/N and I'm kinda sorry not to be staying at the Coronado but location/price won the day.

I know we love the Coronado tower, but transportation there is not that great.
We may switch to the Swan in the end.

 

[SteveH]

I know we love the Coronado tower, but transportation there is not that great.
We may switch to the Swan in the end.

I can't recall does the bus pick up start at the tower or over by the Casitas? As big as the tower is you would think it might have its own bus.

 

[jpnoel]

For what it's worth another S/D group is sharing that several have been told the Swan Reserve will open October 28.

We have reservations for 10/29-11/1 so I hope this is true!

 

[Gitelfor]

Offer valid today, only, for 20% discount on three sizes of Marriott gift cards (very limited quantities). This offer is through the U.S. Travel Association and goes live at 1:00 PM ET. I expect these to sell out quickly.

Marriott discounted gift cards

 

[jmcross]

Would these gifts cards be taken at Swan Reserve? Would they pay for the room cost or just meals?

 

[Gitelfor]

Would these gifts cards be taken at Swan Reserve? Would they pay for the room cost or just meals?

The gift cards could be used to pay your hotel room charges at the front desk.

Marriott gift cards FAQs

 

[lorimay]

I can't recall does the bus pick up start at the tower or over by the Casitas? As big as the tower is you would think it might have its own bus.

You would think they would offer a separate bus since its so big, but they don't unfortunately.

 

[SteveH]

@lorimay, thanks I haven't been there since the tower was built.

 

[georgina]

Offer valid today, only, for 20% discount on three sizes of Marriott gift cards (very limited quantities). This offer is through the U.S. Travel Association and goes live at 1:00 PM ET. I expect these to sell out quickly.

Marriott discounted gift cards

Eek, you are lowering my chances of snagging one! They go so fast! Actually, a couple of my American Express cards have offers of spend $200 at Marriott, get a $50 credit, which is an even better deal if I can find a local Marriott that sells gift cards.

 

[Gitelfor]

Eek, you are lowering my chances of snagging one! They go so fast! Actually, a couple of my American Express cards have offers of spend $200 at Marriott, get a $50 credit, which is an even better deal if I can find a local Marriott that sells gift cards.

Do the T&C on your offer exclude the purchase of gift cards? If your offer is the one I believe you are referring to, the $50 credit is applied to a stay by a registered guest. But, maybe your offer is different.

Enrollment limited. Must first add offer to Card and then use same Card to redeem. Only U.S.-issued American Express® Cards are eligible. Limit 1 enrolled Card per Card Member across all American Express offer channels. Your enrollment of an eligible American Express Card for this offer extends only to that Card. Offer valid only at participating Marriott Bonvoy® properties in the U.S. and U.S. territories, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Reservations must be made online at Marriott.com, via the Marriott Bonvoy® App or by calling 1-888-236-2427. Excludes Marriott Vacation Club®, Design Hotels™, Protea Hotels®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Homes & Villas by Marriott International and Vistana Signature Experiences™. Excludes gift card purchases. Not valid for online retail purchases, hotel amenities or purchases of Marriott Bonvoy® points. Qualifying purchase means a purchase at a participating Marriott Bonvoy® property made during the offer period with your enrolled American Express Card

 

[bakerworld]

Congrats, that's a good deal! Our last trip was at POFQ because it was priced better then S/D. But the location alone makes it better than any Disney Moderate IMHO. As much as the resort theming at CS & POFQ are great, the money can go to other things!

We kept playing with the dates, syncing up with SW $49 flights. We almost pulled the trigger on $1200 and then I changed the dates one more time and BINGO! I do wish to eventually experience the Coronado Tower. Also hoping the Epcot F&W is still going on so I experience it without getting heat stroke. LOL

 

[georgina]

Do the T&C on your offer exclude the purchase of gift cards? If your offer is the one I believe you are referring to, the $50 credit is applied to a stay by a registered guest. But, maybe your offer is different.

Yes, the T&C have always excluded GC, but purchase of physical GC at Marriott hotels has always triggered the credit. Have done it many times, when I lived in PA and had a Marriott near me that sold GC. Now I'm in VA and haven't found one yet. Doesn't work for online purchases, as far as I know.

 

[Dan Murphy]

expect these to sell out quickly.

I'm going to try, Gilelfor.