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

[patty57]

It was. not last night...Haven't been over today, but I'll let you know if I see it on at some point.

Thank you.

 

[brockash]

Just an update...housekeeping came...no a additional waters left. We've ordered some so we don't need it, bit just wanted to report back.

 

[SteveH]

I noticed on my November reservation it went from “complimentary water” to “water for a fee”. I am just Gold Elite but any other Marriott I have been getting free daily water. Guess an Instacart might be in order.

I think this is pretty much rolling out Marriott wide now. I get it, plastic water bottles are bad - refillable are much better.

We just did a trip Hawaii and while on Oahu we stayed at the Courtyard (I won't highly recommend it) but they had a filtered water bottle filling station available near the elevators which I appreciated and we used a lot. I just wish they had an ice machine near by too.

I hope that SDR steps up and adds more filling stations on each floor, but I think many are going to just hope you buy in the shops. We have always ordered a case of water, and most always go through it too. Beats Disney prices by far.

 

[ilovevacation]

@brockash Thanks so much! They are super tiny. I will request additional in the app but will also bring my own. Thanks so much I really appreciate it

 

[klemsaba]

For those of you who stayed at the Swan/Dolphin and rope dropped (or tried to rope drop) Magic Kingdom: What was your experience like? I'm curious about your timing (while understanding that the season/crowds impact this), preferred transportation, etc.

Last June, we took the Swan bus. Worked out well. Don’t mind the TTC and like a ride on the monorail through the Contemporary Hotel. Took about 30 minutes to navigate everything. We were lucky on the monorail timing and had 20 minutes before rope drop. We were not trying to rush any big attractions since we had Genie+ and just roped dropped Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear.

Did the YC bus back which is nice. Perfect after a long day!

 

[CeeCee101]

I think this is pretty much rolling out Marriott wide now. I get it, plastic water bottles are bad - refillable are much better.

We just did a trip Hawaii and while on Oahu we stayed at the Courtyard (I won't highly recommend it) but they had a filtered water bottle filling station available near the elevators which I appreciated and we used a lot. I just wish they had an ice machine near by too.

I hope that SDR steps up and adds more filling stations on each floor, but I think many are going to just hope you buy in the shops. We have always ordered a case of water, and most always go through it too. Beats Disney prices by far.

Do they have filtered filling stations? We will take our own bottles and happy to refill ourselves. We’ll be at the Swan. Want to make sure it’s filtered. Though haven’t been to WDW in over 10 years our recollection is the FL water is awful.

 

[SteveH]

@CeeCee101 I'm not sure if they have any bottle filling station at S/D, they might at the Reserve (I say just because it's newer). In WDW there were a couple, but not enough to meet demand IMHO. Yes FL water was poor.

 

[Poohlovr]

Just replying to my own questions... so with a Platinum Elite member we get 2 of the continental breakfast at Garden Grove each day or we can use it for items at Fuel at Dolphin or the little place here at the Swan. They said you pick a pastry, fruit, and drink option, although they also said you could order something else and they would use the voucher as $20 off (for example mickey waffles etc). I'm not exactly sure how the continental breakfast works at Garden Grove as online it just shows a la carte items.

We arrived today and so far things have been really nice, although for us the pool leaves a lot. to be desired. It's perfectly fine other then not enough seatimg and very limited shaded seating (we've only been to the main shared one so far,) but we're just used to Disney ones and this is just different.

The hotel itself has been great though. I checked in with the app with some requests and they were all met and our room was ready when we arrived arpund noon. The employees so far have been great, much what you would expect from Disney employees although obviously they are not.

Looking forward to the rest of our stay...if you have any specific questions I'm happy to try to find answers.

Don't know if you're aware but you can go behind the waterfall.

There are usually a few chairs but you can take some back there if not.

It's shady, the temp seems a Hsu cooler due to the spray from the waterfall and there are restrooms back there

Check it out!

They have little bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotion, but they're very small (the one-time uses) for most (shampoo/conditioner). I would still pack some of your own. If I can figure out how to, I can try to post a pic later.

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On our April trip my daughter asked the housekeeper of she could have a few more and she was given a whole bag full. She brought quite a bit back home she sad given so much

 

[CeeCee101]

Someone on Reddit mentioned that you can order non-perishable items from Amazon/Whole Foods delivery and have it delivered to your resort before you arrive. since we’re coming from the West Coast we won’t even land until 3:30. It would be nice to not have to do a grocery stop and/or coordinate with Instacart later. Love to have water and a few other non-perishables already waiting for us when we check in. Anyone tried this at the Swan? Should I contact them and ask?

 

[disneyfan150]

What is happening?!? I stayed Saturday night at the Dolphin and sat on my balcony to watch Harmonious. Moved next door the YC on Sunday. Yesterday on the boat from HS, I saw this:


What is happening?

 

[focusondisney]

What is happening?!? I stayed Saturday night at the Dolphin and sat on my balcony to watch Harmonious. Moved next door the YC on Sunday. Yesterday on the boat from HS, I saw this:
View attachment 691055
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What is happening?

Someone posted here
https://www.disboards.com/threads/dolphin-removing-balconies.3892191/unread

 

[disneyfan150]

Someone posted here
https://www.disboards.com/threads/dolphin-removing-balconies.3892191/unread

Thanks for the link!

 

[SteveH]

I reached out they said they are "reimaging our hotel and balconies" but balconies are not going away permanently. Each wing will be done one at a time and during that phase balconies will not be available. Construction sounded like it's slated until September, and runs 8:30AM to 6:30PM.

I assume that if you paid for a balcony you will still get one. Figure we'll see pictures soon of the new railing soon. I do wonder if a new paint job might be coming, but I didn't ask.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Yeah, I can't see them removing the balconies. Too easy money to be made on balcony rooms with little to no regular ongoing maintenance like a room has.

 

[melking23]

Balconies for Labor Day week have been sold out for quite some time and this makes sense why. Someone posted this on FB. I still haven’t gotten an email about it so I guess my balcony room is safe.

 

[melking23]

The prices for Swan and Swan Reserve have dropped significantly for my week. Not quite as low as I booked at Dolphin but really close. I’m not too excited to have to listen to balcony work being done if we’re trying to take a mid-afternoon break or nap. If the prices drop just a little bit lower I’m going to move to one of the other 2 resorts. Right now Swan is only $63 more but nearly $40 of that is the resort fee alone. DH likes to do laundry on vacation so that’s my biggest concern. I don’t like the idea of carting laundry across the courtyard from one hotel to another. Would Boardwalk’s laundry room be closer? I imagine the laundry room there would be less busy since there are so many villas with their own W/D.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Would Boardwalk’s laundry room be closer?

I would say no.

 

[oceanmarina]

The prices for Swan and Swan Reserve have dropped significantly for my week. Not quite as low as I booked at Dolphin but really close. I’m not too excited to have to listen to balcony work being done if we’re trying to take a mid-afternoon break or nap. If the prices drop just a little bit lower I’m going to move to one of the other 2 resorts. Right now Swan is only $63 more but nearly $40 of that is the resort fee alone. DH likes to do laundry on vacation so that’s my biggest concern. I don’t like the idea of carting laundry across the courtyard from one hotel to another. Would Boardwalk’s laundry room be closer? I imagine the laundry room there would be less busy since there are so many villas with their own W/D.

Great question, as we usually do a 1 bedroom villa when we go to WDW that has a washer/drier in unit - so convenient! (Especially in the summer as it only takes seconds for your clothes to get so sweaty.) I've read the laundry situation as the Dolphin is a little hectic. I will post when we get there after next week on 8/16 about how the laundry room is. (We are staying in Universal Lowes for the 1st half of our trip, so I am definitely going to do laundry there in case I can't get our clothes washed at the Swan for the last 3 nights of our stay.

 

[DisneyGamer11]

Hi,

Do I understand this correctly for Platinum members regarding the free breakfast?

A) Swan or Dolphin: the voucher is worth $20 at quick service or you could pay a bit more and get the buffet at Fresh inside Dolphin?

B) Swan Reserve: the voucher is only good for in the room service continental - no other upgrades possible.

Is that correct? There’s no way to upgrade to a buffet/hot food if staying at Reserve? Thanks

 

[melking23]

I would say no.

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Thank you! That’s quite a hike without a direct path over to BWI. Dolphin laundry room it is!