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

[Scalemaster34]

I have booked a room at The Dolphin March 13-18 2023 with bonvoy certificates. I haven't been to Disney in about a decade, so everything is new to me! I have never stayed at this resort, we usually stay at a Disney Property. How do I get magic bands? How do I book dining reservations? Do I need to buy my park passes before I make reservations for the parks? I will be traveling with my husband and my 4 yo daughter. Any info you can share that you think I may need is appreciated!

Magic Bands don't work at Swan/Dolphin.... But Magic Bands aren't free anymore either way, buy them.

Dining is currently done at 60 Days... but can book the length of your stay.

Will need to manually added you Dolphin conformation info into your Disney Account or MDE App. Keep the info, as sometimes it get's kicked out day of check-in.

Do need tickets of some type to make a Park Reservation.

Really going to need to read up on using the My Disney Experience and Genie+.

As for Dolphin... only tip would be don't take Dolphin Bus to MK as it stops at Ticket and Transportation, walk over to Yacht Club

 

[Addies Mom]

Magic Bands don't work at Swan/Dolphin.... But Magic Bands aren't free anymore either way, buy them.

Dining is currently done at 60 Days... but can book the length of your stay.

Will need to manually added you Dolphin conformation info into your Disney Account or MDE App. Keep the info, as sometimes it get's kicked out day of check-in.

Do need tickets of some type to make a Park Reservation.

Really going to need to read up on using the My Disney Experience and Genie+.

As for Dolphin... only tip would be don't take Dolphin Bus to MK as it stops at Ticket and Transportation, walk over to Yacht Club

Would buying the Magic bands be useful if we are staying at The Dolphin? Do I download the MDE app now? Is it intuitive to add my Dolphin reservation? Trying to decide if we are going to rent a car. We can come down a couple of days early and stay with family in Orlando, and maybe go to SeaWorld or Universal. It will also be useful to eat off property as it's cheaper.

 

[Scalemaster34]

Would buying the Magic bands be useful if we are staying at The Dolphin? Do I download the MDE app now? Is it intuitive to add my Dolphin reservation? Trying to decide if we are going to rent a car. We can come down a couple of days early and stay with family in Orlando, and maybe go to SeaWorld or Universal. It will also be useful to eat off property as it's cheaper.

Must use the Dolphin conformation number, if you booked through a third party... you'll have to ask for it. If you booked thought Marriot, just use the one they provide (two or three days after booking it should work. Add Reservation > Name > Confirmation #... pretty easy.

MB Useful.... that's up to you. Four year old would likly love having one, and having to touch in. MDE App will hold your passes and you can add them to your Wallet ((Apple or Google). I have it on my Apple Watch, so works much like a MB. You can't use it to unlock your room door, or to pay for stuff.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I have booked a room at The Dolphin March 13-18 2023 with bonvoy certificates. I haven't been to Disney in about a decade, so everything is new to me! I have never stayed at this resort, we usually stay at a Disney Property. How do I get magic bands? How do I book dining reservations? Do I need to buy my park passes before I make reservations for the parks? I will be traveling with my husband and my 4 yo daughter. Any info you can share that you think I may need is appreciated!

Here is a link to the forum breakdown. Each of them has stickied posts to help you in getting an overall feel for tickets, dining, reservations, transporation, etc. There is a decent amount you are going to need to learn because so much has changed in the last decade. This will take some time be warned, so I'd spread it out. Don't expect to gather it all in one night of reading. For instance go to theme park attractions, and strategies forum. Scroll down and you'll see a yellow area with bolded, stickied threads. When you click on a thread read the first couple pages, it will contain all the general 101 regarding that topic.

Google is also your friend, the various bloggers have written so many different articles on the best tips and tricks and beginners approaches to everything at WDW from A-Z.

 

[CeeCee101]

Here is a link to the forum breakdown. Each of them has stickied posts to help you in getting an overall feel for tickets, dining, reservations, transporation, etc. There is a decent amount you are going to need to learn because so much has changed in the last decade. This will take some time be warned, so I'd spread it out. Don't expect to gather it all in one night of reading. For instance go to theme park attractions, and strategies forum. Scroll down and you'll see a yellow area with bolded, stickied threads. When you click on a thread read the first couple pages, it will contain all the general 101 regarding that topic.

Google is also your friend, the various bloggers have written so many different articles on the best tips and tricks and beginners approaches to everything at WDW from A-Z.

I would add YouTube is your friend too

 

[piglet1979]

How does memory Maker work without a MB? Do we still get the on ride photos and videos? When getting a picture taken how do you scan for it? This is the first time going and not staying at Disney.

 

[mickey916]

How does memory Maker work without a MB? Do we still get the on ride photos and videos? When getting a picture taken how do you scan for it? This is the first time going and not staying at Disney.

We used our MB for photos and entry to the parks when we stayed at the Swan. Much easier than using a phone. Everyday the tapstiles were backed up with people struggling to use their phones and usually ended up with CMs handing the people a card to use. If you have MBs from a prior trip I would use them.

 

[piglet1979]

I do have some old ones. They are from about 6ish years ago. How long do the batteries typically last in them?

 

[Addies Mom]

I do have some old ones. They are from about 6ish years ago. How long do the batteries typically last in them?

I think I read they are good for two years max.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I do have some old ones. They are from about 6ish years ago. How long do the batteries typically last in them?

The battery that works the entrance or attraction tapstiles should be good. Battery for on ride photos, probably not.

 

[piglet1979]

Thank You!

 

[chris benton]

The battery that works the entrance or attraction tapstiles should be good. Battery for on ride photos, probably not.

I can attest to this. We used some of our that were just after the two year mark, and everything was fine except for a few of the ride on photos. Lesson learned.

 

[mmm_texas]

For things you actually tap, the Magic Band doesn't require a battery at all (it uses NFC), so that should work indefinitely. But where it needs to identify you from some distance (like for a photo on a ride), that needs the battery, and Disney estimates a 2 years battery life.

 

[Dan Murphy]

(it uses NFC)

No power at all required for the NFC?

 

[mmm_texas]

No power at all required for the NFC?

That's correct. It's the same technology that's used in tap-to-pay credit cards. The device that you're tapping is basically providing the power. Pretty cool, right?

 

[Dan Murphy]

That's correct. It's the same technology that's used in tap-to-pay credit cards. The device that you're tapping is basically providing the power. Pretty cool, right?

Yes, I use my Google Pay all the time, or wherever I can. In that case, the phone actually is not providing any power to make the connection work, only the tapped device? I've always thought (not that I have ever dug into it deeply) that both the tapped and the tapping device would need power of some sort. The tapping device simply has to have the NFC capability?

 

[Scalemaster34]

NFC does use power, RFID does not... CC and MB utilize none powered RFID Chips that can be read via a powered NFC Reader - usually very short range.

MB also have a radio transmitter for long range identification and tracking. This portion only last a few years, but the RFID Chip could last forever... or as long as Disney utilizes those types of readers.

 

[mmm_texas]

NFC does use power, RFID does not... CC and MB utilize none powered RFID Chips that can be read via a powered NFC Reader - usually very short range.

MB also have a radio transmitter for long range identification and tracking. This portion only last a few years, but the RFID Chip could last forever... or as long as Disney utilizes those types of readers.

I realize we're a bit off-topic now, but I don't think that's correct. Here's a quote from the relevant Wikipedia page:

NFC always involves an initiator and a target; the initiator actively generates an RF field that can power a passive target. This enables NFC targets to take very simple form factors such as unpowered tags, stickers, key fobs, or cards.

 

[DisneyGamer11]

Here this weekend and they were doing construction on the Dolphin balcony's on Friday. Also, the main pool waterfall is still not operating.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Here this weekend and they were doing construction on the Dolphin balcony's on Friday. Also, the main pool waterfall is still not operating.

Bummer. But enjoy in spite of.