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

[Grasshopper2016]

Regular Swan guest here. Last year would have been our 7th straight year staying at the Swan if not for our Covid cancellation. We will be going back this July.

I'm pretty bummed about the bus thing. I didn't realize they had made that change. Personally, I will really miss the sights and sounds of the Disney buses. Hearing the music, and that voice saying "The next stop is . . . ." That's how you know you're back at Disney!

And more concretely, it seems like a major inconvenience to get dropped and picked up at TTC with the offsite guests. And an even more major inconvenience not to be able to arrive for the real park opening.

Is there any chance that Disney bus service could be restored by July? And is there any way to express dissatisfaction to the powers that be at the Swan and Dolphin or Marriott before they decide to make this a permanent change in order to save a few bucks? I feel like this change, if it's not just a temporary pandemic-related blip, would partially pull the Swan and Dolphin out of the Disney bubble. And it would make the resort less desirable in the future, at least to my family.

 

[SteveH]

Does anyone know the likelihood of getting a table at The Fountain or Kimonos for a party of 10 with no reservation? As far as I can tell, The Fountain doesn't take reservations and I'm not sure I want to lock in one for Kimonos.

Congrats on your upcoming stay! Just be aware of Fountains open/closed days, if you arrive a day or two early you can ask about holding a spot but you shouldn't need it.. Kimonos might be tough to get for a group of 10 all depends on how busy things are. I'd give them a call though, I don't think there is a penalty for cancelling and living by the adage of better safe then sorry.

Is there any chance that Disney bus service could be restored by July? And is there any way to express dissatisfaction to the powers that be at the Swan and Dolphin or Marriott before they decide to make this a permanent change in order to save a few bucks? I feel like this change, if it's not just a temporary pandemic-related blip, would partially pull the Swan and Dolphin out of the Disney bubble. And it would make the resort less desirable in the future, at least to my family.

Part of the issue here is we don't really know if this is just a money issue or if there was more to it. The change from Disney to Mears took place October 14 2020 - so if they had a 1 year agreement in place I don't see anything changing by July. But we really don't know any details to make a good judgement. If you are ok walking a bit head over to the BW/YC/BC and join the bus there. IMHO the only park that is really inconvienced is MK and getting dropped off at TTC. You can use the contact page from S/D to express your thoughts, the ownership of the resort is Tishman so you might try contacting them too. But I think until we see what happens come October it's going to fall on deaf ears until Covid stops being the major player in all of this.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Staying at the Swan for the first time in three weeks!

Does anyone know the likelihood of getting a table at The Fountain or Kimonos for a party of 10 with no reservation? As far as I can tell, The Fountain doesn't take reservations and I'm not sure I want to lock in one for Kimonos.

Also, if we get ice cream take out from The Fountain, is there any place nearby to sit down with masks off to eat it?

Don't know about Kimonos. At the Fountain, no reservation. But they could push a few tables together I would say.





As to a seating, If you did not want to sit in the restaurant, there have been a number of upholstered benches in the hallway (outside of the restaurant) pictured here, on the very extreme left here. Not sure if still there during COVID, or maybe removed in the past.

 

[2manyplans]

How is the new (Mears) bus for rope dropping at AK if we decide not to drive over? Thanks!

 

[swummyh20]

Here now. The resort is great, haven’t made it to the pool yet. But the bus situation has been less than stellar. And we have only tried for a Disney Springs and MK today. I have now waited for a bus back to MK for over 30 mins—edited to add here: three busses came and went that had MK signs in the corner of the front window but were marked for “Out of Service.” We did the yacht club trick this morning and it worked well. We weren’t concerned about dealing with the TTC and didn’t want the extra walk this afternoon, but at this point we should’ve just huffed it over to one of the other resorts.

The buses just seem to be super inconsistent and makes it not a difficult choice to try one of the BW area resorts for transport, which I realize may be irritating but it’s at least faster if you’re concerned about time. I’ll update through the week. Thanks!

 

[blbrodger1]

Does anyone have pictures of the larger suites (500 sq ft or 700 sq ft) at the Dolphin?

 

[SteveH]

@swummyh20 thanks for your thoughts on the bus service! Does sound like some of the same issues I've read about the Disney bus too.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Does anyone have pictures of the larger suites (500 sq ft or 700 sq ft) at the Dolphin?

Maybe some here?

www.swandolphinmedia.com/rooms.php

 

[VickiHD]

For all you Swan experts......I need some help. We would like to stay at the Swan but I have NO idea where to start my research. Our mouseketeer would like to stay in the "main building" facing out at the Dolphin. I have NO idea what that building is even called etc. Would like to hear your thoughts.
Thanks

 

[blbrodger1]

Maybe some here?

www.swandolphinmedia.com/rooms.php

That is super helpful! Thank you!

 

[Nabas]

For all you Swan experts......I need some help. We would like to stay at the Swan but I have NO idea where to start my research. Our mouseketeer would like to stay in the "main building" facing out at the Dolphin. I have NO idea what that building is even called etc. Would like to hear your thoughts.
Thanks

There is only one building at the Swan. (A second building called the Swan Reserve is opening later this year.)

If you want to face the Dolphin, I believe you book a "Traditional Resort View":



This does not guarantee you a few of the Dolphin, but we have asked for a specific view when we check in at the front desk and they have always been able to accommodate us.

 

[Dan Murphy]

For all you Swan experts......I need some help. We would like to stay at the Swan but I have NO idea where to start my research. Our mouseketeer would like to stay in the "main building" facing out at the Dolphin. I have NO idea what that building is even called etc. Would like to hear your thoughts.
Thanks

There is only one building at the Swan.

Here is a view looking AT the Swan FROM the Dolphin. If you stayed in the ends of either of the towers or any of the rooms in the main part of the Swan, facing north towards the Dolphin, you would have a view of the Dolphin.

Looking AT the Swan FROM the Dolphin

 

[swummyh20]

@swummyh20 thanks for your thoughts on the bus service! Does sound like some of the same issues I've read about the Disney bus too.

I didn’t mean to imply it was only a Swan/Dolphin issue! Just my experience from yesterday and today.

 

[VickiHD]

There is only one building at the Swan. (A second building called the Swan Reserve is opening later this year.)

If you want to face the Dolphin, I believe you book a "Traditional Resort View":

View attachment 570963

This does not guarantee you a few of the Dolphin, but we have asked for a specific view when we check in at the front desk and they have always been able to accommodate us.

Thanks SO much !!

 

[VickiHD]

Here is a view looking AT the Swan FROM the Dolphin. If you stayed in the ends of either of the towers or any of the rooms in the main part of the Swan, facing north towards the Dolphin, you would have a view of the Dolphin.

Looking AT the Swan FROM the Dolphin

Thanks for your help.

 

[CJN]

For all you Swan experts......I need some help. We would like to stay at the Swan but I have NO idea where to start my research. Our mouseketeer would like to stay in the "main building" facing out at the Dolphin. I have NO idea what that building is even called etc. Would like to hear your thoughts.
Thanks

These are the views of our last two stays, booking Balcony Resort View. I *think* all the rooms in the courtyard area that face the Dolphin are balcony so have to be booked as such. We liked the first one better because 1) It was a nicer to see more to the east and 2) While both rooms are above the courtyard, the second one is obviously recessed back further and seemed a lot more echoing with noise from below.

 

[SteveH]

I didn’t mean to imply it was only a Swan/Dolphin issue! Just my experience from yesterday and today.

Yeah I didn't take it that way either, just seems both Disney and Mears are not running on schedule very well, just seems that with technology today they could be doing a much better job.

 

[iujen94]

Hello Swalphin experts! What rooms (if any) does either hotel have with 3 sleeping surfaces? Planning a girls’ trip with 3 of us, and we’d all like our own bed. I’m not seeing anything on the Marriott app, but I feel like I’ve heard there are additional room configurations that don’t show up online?

 

[mousegear]

Hello Swalphin experts! What rooms (if any) does either hotel have with 3 sleeping surfaces? Planning a girls’ trip with 3 of us, and we’d all like our own bed. I’m not seeing anything on the Marriott app, but I feel like I’ve heard there are additional room configurations that don’t show up online?

For a regular double/double room, you could ask for a roll away bed for $25/night at Dolphin. This options is not available at Swan. Otherwise, you could book Premium Double/Double bed room which has 2 double beds and a sofa bed. And higher caterories such as Grand Suite and up have option of getting double/double room and another connecting room. You could check out https://swandolphin.com/

 

[Gitelfor]

Hello Swalphin experts! What rooms (if any) does either hotel have with 3 sleeping surfaces? Planning a girls’ trip with 3 of us, and we’d all like our own bed. I’m not seeing anything on the Marriott app, but I feel like I’ve heard there are additional room configurations that don’t show up online?

You may want to check out the new Swan Reserve, which is located within a five minute walk of the Swan and Dolphin. It is accepting reservations for arrival 09/01/2021 and later. They have several configurations with two queens + a sofa bed. Optons: Signature Suite (2 Queen, Sofa bed), Signature Hollywood Studio (1 Bedroom Suite, 2 Queen, Sofa bed), or Signature Epcot View Suite (2 Queen, Sofa bed).

Otherwise, I believe the Swan and Dolphin will have a suite with a two bedded bedroom + a queen sleeper in an attached parlor.