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

[JulieODC]

During our trip in a few weeks, both sets of Grandparents will be coming to visit us at the Dolphin. Will they run into problems trying to park at the hotel when they come see us?

 

[loves to dive]

This might be old news for some that follow ThePointsGuy, and so far (as of yet) it doesn't appear to have landed at Swan Dolphin. But TPG reports that six Autograph resorts have implemented a new fee called a Sustainability Fee. So far it appears to only be in the Midwest. Just wanted to share the article and lets keep our eyes open for something like this. For me Parking and Resort fees are bad enough this would give me pause to keep going back to SD.

When I'm pricing the room I always pick the show all fees and charges option, if it hits higher than a WDW moderate or close to a WDW deluxe, I just go with WDW.

 

[SteveH]

During our trip in a few weeks, both sets of Grandparents will be coming to visit us at the Dolphin. Will they run into problems trying to park at the hotel when they come see us?

They shouldn't have any issues, they'll just need to pay the parking fee. The thing is to check when you check in to see if they could get the Registered Guest which is $29/day vs the non-registered guest which is $29/exit. Transportation FAQ

When I'm pricing the room I always pick the show all fees and charges option, if it hits higher than a WDW moderate or close to a WDW deluxe, I just go with WDW.

True, but I am unwilling to pay a fee for "sustainability" to be a guest, that is their job to build it into the fee they charge. I got into it with several vendors that added a fuel surcharge years ago, then didn't remove it when gas prices went down.

 

[champagne&disney]

I'm at the Reserve this weekend and they sent me an email yesterday stating they can't yet confirm my suite night request upgrade so I'm not hopeful I'll get upgraded. I'll report back if I do.

Soooo, I got the "Your Upgrade Is Confirmed" email from Marriott but lol. I booked a Trad. Hollywood Studios, Guest room, 2 Queen ... and drumroll please .... they put me in a Trad. Hollywood Studios, Guest room, 1 King, Sofa bed.

So not a true Suite upgrade, but at least I have a king bed? That's what I get for choosing a non-suite for an upgrade.

PS I'm Marriott Titanium.

 

[GabrielMom]

Thank you for the info above, I called the 1888 number above and was told Swan was not available eventhough it was showing as available. I went ahead and booked Dolphin and will keep checking Swan. We are very excited, this will be first time staying in Epcot area!

 

[SteveH]

@GabrielMom congrats! I really love being so close to the two parks and the Boardwalk. Have fun and do keep checking, hopefully Marriott gets the online system fixed quickly.

 

[TexanInTheMidwest]

Since I'm planning on taking photos for Fuel and the gym at the Dolphin.... is there anything specific you guys want to see in Fuel?

 

[Jedimike]

My family of four is going over our school spring break from 3/12 to 3/20 (8 nights). Have been booked in a Port Orleans Riverside with an annual pass holder discount for 4 of those nights for a grand total of $2900. I've been looking at the Swan for the last few months for vacancies during this time but never saw anything for the whole week. Well, this week when I checked, I found rooms available. With the pass holder discount (code QWH), I was able to get a "no view" room for $2889.01. Less than Port Orleans Riverside. NUTS, right?!?!? Deluxe after hours access, proximity to Boardwalk and Epcot, bigger room, for less money! Heck, I'm thinking about going for a Resort View room for $3115.14.

 

[Aela]

My family of four is going over our school spring break from 3/12 to 3/20 (8 nights). Have been booked in a Port Orleans Riverside with an annual pass holder discount for 4 of those nights for a grand total of $2900. I've been looking at the Swan for the last few months for vacancies during this time but never saw anything for the whole week. Well, this week when I checked, I found rooms available. With the pass holder discount (code QWH), I was able to get a "no view" room for $2889.01. Less than Port Orleans Riverside. NUTS, right?!?!? Deluxe after hours access, proximity to Boardwalk and Epcot, bigger room, for less money! Heck, I'm thinking about going for a Resort View room for $3115.14.

We will be there at the same time (3 days only for swan though). We are split saying at Swan and WL:BRV because we are debating buying DVC, and want to try out both. The nights at BRV are hitting my pocketbook hard. I am not renting points because I need to have the flexibility to be able to cancel due to Covid issues.. so yeah. Wish I could do the entire stay at Swan!

 

[loves to dive]

My family of four is going over our school spring break from 3/12 to 3/20 (8 nights). Have been booked in a Port Orleans Riverside with an annual pass holder discount for 4 of those nights for a grand total of $2900. I've been looking at the Swan for the last few months for vacancies during this time but never saw anything for the whole week. Well, this week when I checked, I found rooms available. With the pass holder discount (code QWH), I was able to get a "no view" room for $2889.01. Less than Port Orleans Riverside. NUTS, right?!?!? Deluxe after hours access, proximity to Boardwalk and Epcot, bigger room, for less money! Heck, I'm thinking about going for a Resort View room for $3115.14.

Good find. Did you verify that is the price including all the fees and if you are driving add the parking fee, which is a tad higher than WDW's fee.

 

[Jedimike]

Good find. Did you verify that is the price including all the fees and if you are driving add the parking fee, which is a tad higher than WDW's fee.

These numbers do include taxes and resort fees. But not parking. I think it is $29 Swan vs. $20 Disney moderate? Still totally worth it

 

[Aela]

Marriott has started actually showing fees on their booking page now with the tax in your final total. So the fee is no longer a “surprise.”

They lost a court case about it, so that makes the cost comparison a bit easier then it used to be. The parking is shown on that pagr as well, but not added in.

 

[TexanInTheMidwest]

My family of four is going over our school spring break from 3/12 to 3/20 (8 nights). Have been booked in a Port Orleans Riverside with an annual pass holder discount for 4 of those nights for a grand total of $2900. I've been looking at the Swan for the last few months for vacancies during this time but never saw anything for the whole week. Well, this week when I checked, I found rooms available. With the pass holder discount (code QWH), I was able to get a "no view" room for $2889.01. Less than Port Orleans Riverside. NUTS, right?!?!? Deluxe after hours access, proximity to Boardwalk and Epcot, bigger room, for less money! Heck, I'm thinking about going for a Resort View room for $3115.14.

The time you save being so close to Epcot and HS will be worth the little bit extra for sure!

 

[Gitelfor]

It looks like the Swan/Dolphin/Reserve Transportation page has been updated. It answers most questions related to transportation to parks, DS, and airport, as well as parking fees at resorts and parks.

It’s a good resource for guests.

 

[isabellea]

My family of four is going over our school spring break from 3/12 to 3/20 (8 nights). Have been booked in a Port Orleans Riverside with an annual pass holder discount for 4 of those nights for a grand total of $2900. I've been looking at the Swan for the last few months for vacancies during this time but never saw anything for the whole week. Well, this week when I checked, I found rooms available. With the pass holder discount (code QWH), I was able to get a "no view" room for $2889.01. Less than Port Orleans Riverside. NUTS, right?!?!? Deluxe after hours access, proximity to Boardwalk and Epcot, bigger room, for less money! Heck, I'm thinking about going for a Resort View room for $3115.14.

I know! It's crazy how the S/D are CHEAPER than most moderates, even when including the infamous resort fee. For our July trip, I had originally planned a split stay between POFQ and Dolphin but when I compared prices, it was actually cheaper to only stay at the Dolphin. My DH prefers not to change hotel while we are at WDW so the choice to switch to the Dolphin was very easy, especially since we will have access tot he Deluxe Extra Evening Hours. I would prefer the Swan but it's too expensive right now (100$ extra per night) so I'm waiting to see if prices go down.

 

[Weezerette]

I'm going on a week now and MDE still won't take my Dolphin reservation. Has anyone had problems linking their reservations to MDE recently? In the past a couple days max was all I needed.

 

[Jillfo]

I'm going on a week now and MDE still won't take my Dolphin reservation. Has anyone had problems linking their reservations to MDE recently? In the past a couple days max was all I needed.

I had to call the property about a linking problem last year. They pushed the reservation again, it still didn't link so they then put me in contact with Disney tech support to get the problem resolved.

 

[Gitelfor]

I'm going on a week now and MDE still won't take my Dolphin reservation. Has anyone had problems linking their reservations to MDE recently? In the past a couple days max was all I needed.

It is probably time to contact in-house reservations at 888-828-8850, so they can resend the info to Disney.

That usually resolves the issue in one or two weekdays.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

My family of four is going over our school spring break from 3/12 to 3/20 (8 nights). Have been booked in a Port Orleans Riverside with an annual pass holder discount for 4 of those nights for a grand total of $2900. I've been looking at the Swan for the last few months for vacancies during this time but never saw anything for the whole week. Well, this week when I checked, I found rooms available. With the pass holder discount (code QWH), I was able to get a "no view" room for $2889.01. Less than Port Orleans Riverside. NUTS, right?!?!? Deluxe after hours access, proximity to Boardwalk and Epcot, bigger room, for less money! Heck, I'm thinking about going for a Resort View room for $3115.14.

That's good score. We're going over our spring break in April and POR and POFQ were averaging $30 more/nt than dolphin. We'll miss the theming and landscape at PO but they'll enjoy the extended evening hours at the parks, the boardwalk and walking to DHS/Epcot much more. And for me, I'd rather pay for a hotel room than a motel room.

 

[Luisfba]

Do the on site casual restaurants that do not take reservations.. is there usually a wait or fairly straightforward to get a seat. Specifically for breakfast at Garden Grove and lunch or dinner at the Fountain.