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

[Terp03]

Going in March and am Titanium - curious of any recent reports of benefits/upgrades/etc to Titanium members. Thanks!

 

[isabellea]

Originally, I had planned to book CSR for 5 days using rewards miles (Airmiles) and then move to the Dolphin for 3 days so we could have access to the Deluxe Evening Hours at EP and MK. But then, DH asked that we switch to POFQ which was not available using miles and when we compared prices, we realized that the CAA rate+resort fee for a no view standard room at the Dolphin is actually cheaper then a standard room at POFQ! Needless to say, we cancelled the 3 days reservation and booked for the whole 8 days at the Dolphin instead.

I also checked the Swan but the rate for our dates in July is 100$ more per night. Is that difference common? How much more is 'worth' it for you to upgrade to the Swan? We never cared about hotel views since we spend most of our time at the parks or at the pools and we always book standard.

Our first park day is at DHS so I don't want to miss my chance to book ROTR ILL$ and SDD Genie+ at 7am. Will staying at the S/D be a disadvantage for that compared to staying onsite?

Finally, what are your favourites breakfast items at the resort?

Thanks!

 

[TexanInTheMidwest]

Originally, I had planned to book CSR for 5 days using rewards miles (Airmiles) and then move to the Dolphin for 3 days so we could have access to the Deluxe Evening Hours at EP and MK. But then, DH asked that we switch to POFQ which was not available using miles and when we compared prices, we realized that the CAA rate+resort fee for a no view standard room at the Dolphin is actually cheaper then a standard room at POFQ! Needless to say, we cancelled the 3 days reservation and booked for the whole 8 days at the Dolphin instead.

I also checked the Swan but the rate for our dates in July is 100$ more per night. Is that difference common? How much more is 'worth' it for you to upgrade to the Swan? We never cared about hotel views since we spend most of our time at the parks or at the pools and we always book standard.

Our first park day is at DHS so I don't want to miss my chance to book ROTR ILL$ and SDD Genie+ at 7am. Will staying at the S/D be a disadvantage for that compared to staying onsite?

Finally, what are your favourites breakfast items at the resort?

Thanks!

I usually just grab breakfast at Fuel so I can rope drop (they open at 6 AM - and don't typically get busy until 7:30-ish). I am a big fan of their cold brew if you like iced coffees. That way, I can take it with me to the bus stop. I also like their cream cheese Danish.

I can't speak to Swan VS Dolphin as I've only stayed at the Dolphin - but I think the biggest difference is Queen Beds at the Swan VS Double Beds at the Dolphin. And the Swan is much smaller so easier to navigate. The Dolphin has some LONG hallways and you have to make sure you get on the correct elevator.

 

[isabellea]

I usually just grab breakfast at Fuel so I can rope drop (they open at 6 AM - and don't typically get busy until 7:30-ish). I am a big fan of their cold brew if you like iced coffees. That way, I can take it with me to the bus stop. I also like their cream cheese Danish.

I can't speak to Swan VS Dolphin as I've only stayed at the Dolphin - but I think the biggest difference is Queen Beds at the Swan VS Double Beds at the Dolphin. And the Swan is much smaller so easier to navigate. The Dolphin has some LONG hallways and you have to make sure you get on the correct elevator.

Smaller resort and queen beds would be nice (that's why POFQ is our favourite WDW resort) but not worth an extra 100$/night. If the Swan pricing goes down a lot, maybe I will switch but if not, I'm sure we will enjoy the Dolphin.

 

[Aela]

Smaller resort and queen beds would be nice (that's why POFQ is our favourite WDW resort) but not worth an extra 100$/night. If the Swan pricing goes down a lot, maybe I will switch but if not, I'm sure we will enjoy the Dolphin.

For me it’s $13 more a night for swan. So I swapped to that. Swan Reserve is another $130 per night on top of that.

 

[isabellea]

For me it’s $13 more a night for swan. So I swapped to that. Swan Reserve is another $130 per night on top of that.

I think I would swap for 13$ extra. Since our trip is in July, there is still time for the pricing to change so I will regularly check the Marriott website. Thanks!

 

[Wells Larsen]

The Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve seem to be completely booked between Dec 1 and Dec 3 2022. Does anybody have any idea what might be going on? Seems kind of early for all rooms to be completely booked.

 

[SteveH]

@Wells Larsen its odd that it shows vacancy 11/30 and 12/4 which makes me think they may have a large conference booked and they are holding rooms. But very odd that it's taking all of the rooms at all 3 resorts. It's also very possible there is a glitch. If you want you can call the hotel direct, they may give you some info. I did look at a conference listing site and nothing is showing up, as of yet. I'd say keep checking though.

 

[loves to dive]

Originally, I had planned to book CSR for 5 days using rewards miles (Airmiles) and then move to the Dolphin for 3 days so we could have access to the Deluxe Evening Hours at EP and MK. But then, DH asked that we switch to POFQ which was not available using miles and when we compared prices, we realized that the CAA rate+resort fee for a no view standard room at the Dolphin is actually cheaper then a standard room at POFQ! Needless to say, we cancelled the 3 days reservation and booked for the whole 8 days at the Dolphin instead.

I also checked the Swan but the rate for our dates in July is 100$ more per night. Is that difference common? How much more is 'worth' it for you to upgrade to the Swan? We never cared about hotel views since we spend most of our time at the parks or at the pools and we always book standard.

Our first park day is at DHS so I don't want to miss my chance to book ROTR ILL$ and SDD Genie+ at 7am. Will staying at the S/D be a disadvantage for that compared to staying onsite?

Finally, what are your favourites breakfast items at the resort?

Thanks!

I don't think it's worth $100 per night to switch to Swan, the beds are bigger (Queen vs. Double) and it's a smaller resort. Some say it's a tad nicer than Dolphin but I don't see that. The smaller resort part only comes into play going from your room to the lobby for me. They share all their facilities.

I had no problem booking virtual ques from Dolphin, didn't try Genie+ since I wasn't interested in that. I did turn off my wifi and turn on my 4G but did it from my bed.

Breakfast, most days I either eat in the parks or grab something from Fuel. I do like Picabu, it's just your typical WDW QS type breakfast. On my leaving day I always eat at Med. Fresh Market if it's open. Used to be a buffet, now it's sort of a buffet hybrid. If you are a AAA member all three give you discounts.

 

[ultimatefans]

Breakfast, most days I either eat in the parks or grab something from Fuel. I do like Picabu, it's just your typical WDW QS type breakfast. On my leaving day I always eat at Med. Fresh Market if it's open. Used to be a buffet, now it's sort of a buffet hybrid. If you are a AAA member all three give you discounts.

This is very helpful! Do you just have to show your AAA card to get a discount at checkout?

 

[SteveH]

@isabellea

I really like all 3 of the resorts you listed; CSR & POFQ but if I have a choice I will alwasy pick Swan or Dolphin just because of the location to two parks and the beds.

For $100 I would not jump to the Swan but if it were less of a various I might, just because it’s smaller and a bit quieter. And I don’t get lost at the Swan like I do at the Dolphin Last trip we had a corner room over looking the backside of the Boardwalk and loved it.

We are breakfast people, and we really enjoyed Picabu on our last trip - that was before Covid but the custom omelets were great. Honestly finding any quick serve breakfast in the parks was a huge pile of disappointment so we ate at Picabu every morning. As for AAA yes you need to show it each time, even when the check out person knows you

If you haven't yet download the Swan Dolphin Mobile App you want to grab that.

 

[Wells Larsen]

@Wells Larsen its odd that it shows vacancy 11/30 and 12/4 which makes me think they may have a large conference booked and they are holding rooms. But very odd that it's taking all of the rooms at all 3 resorts. It's also very possible there is a glitch. If you want you can call the hotel direct, they may give you some info. I did look at a conference listing site and nothing is showing up, as of yet. I'd say keep checking though.

I think I may have found the reason. It does look like there is a conference at Beach Club from Nov 29 - Dec 2 (Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Conference 2022). My guess is that folks don't want to pay for retail Beach Club prices, so next best thing is to book rooms at the Swans.

 

[fredandkell]

@fredandkell I assume you know this but its worth checking. When booking on the top screen looking at rooms you need to select the Standard rates. The Prepay and Save is now the default selection. The Prepay does require full payment.
View attachment 642298
If you use AAA it would look like this
View attachment 642300

For those wanting to know that was for one night April 13... I won't be going LOL

Thanks. Yes, I have clicked off the pre-pay tab. This is the normal tab. Maybe there’s something special going on the weekend I’m looking at that I don’t know about?

 

[OScheermom]

I have heard how comfortable the beds are but how are the pillows? I usually hate hotel pillows and bring my own but if I can avoid that I would love to have one less thing to pack. We're staying at the Dolphin.

 

[Meglen]

I have heard how comfortable the beds are but how are the pillows? I usually hate hotel pillows and bring my own but if I can avoid that I would love to have one less thing to pack. We're staying at the Dolphin.

I enjoyed the bed and pillows but I believe I requested foam pillows.

 

[SteveH]

@OScheermom both my wife and I liked the pillows but since we had 2 queens for the two of us we were in pillow haven

 

[Dan Murphy]

Do you just have to show your AAA card to get a discount at checkout?

As for AAA yes you need to show it each time, even when the check out person knows you

If my recollection still serves me well, I think I recall the checkout persons actually writing down my AAA card numbers.

 

[SteveH]

@Dan Murphy I think you are right.

 

[jdkdorn]

We EEH did in December and were there until park close. We had originally planned to hop a bus back to Boardwalk or Yacht and walk, but the lines were so excessively long for those resorts that we took the ferry to the TTC and there was a bus waiting for us to the Dolphin. Very easy.

The Dolphin and Swan always had a bus with the Yacht and Beach, is that gone?

 

[jdkdorn]

Newbie here. Do you always have to put down a full deposit for Swan or Dolphin reservations? That’s the only option I’m seeing on the Marriott website. It’s refundable but I don’t want to plop down $2k+ at the time of booking. Thanks for any insights!

They take a partial deposit, my room was $1700 and they took $869, you do not get to choose....mine was refundable, I do not know if it is different for the pre-pay required rooms