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

[Dan Murphy]

I have magic bands from my last trip 9 years ago so they are super outdated. Is there ANY point to me bringing them for my Swan stay?

You can use them for park entry.

 

[rafiki]

I have magic bands from my last trip 9 years ago so they are super outdated. Is there ANY point to me bringing them for my Swan stay?

Our MBs are the original plain solid color ones (I’ve lost track of how old they are, but they’ve got to be a lot older than 9 years) and they still work for us. We use them for park entry and Genie+, ILL, etc.

 

[Karalee402]

Our MBs are the original plain solid color ones (I’ve lost track of how old they are, but they’ve got to be a lot older than 9 years) and they still work for us. We use them for park entry and Genie+, ILL, etc.

Same for us! We have originals that are SUPER old, and we still use them in the parks. The only thing they don't do at the Swan is open your door/allow charges within the hotel. Definitely worth bringing them for entry and to tap into rides if you use Genie+/LL.

 

[Disneyhanna]

Wow! Check your Dolphin rates especially if you have a trip for Thanksgiving week to early-mid December. I just checked my post-Thanksgiving trip and the AP rate absolutely plummeted! Today it dropped down over $50/night to a whopping $248/night (INCLUDING taxes and fees) for the first week of Dec. Looks like quite a few other weeks are low as well, and non-AP rates look good too. I checked yesterday and didn't see this much savings but it could be timing, so not sure if those who saved a lot yesterday will save more or not.

For some reason the modify room has been erroring out lately for me most of the time so I am just rebooking and then cancelling. But worth it to save over $300 for a five-night stay!




Also I hate that the calendar view doesn't show fees lol.

Just look at the Saturday-Sunday rates for Thanksgiving week. This is an amazing deal.



The passholder rate for Pop is more expensive!!!!



Also, the week immediately following Thanksgiving was historically low crowds last year. We have done these dates multiple years but last year was exceptionally quiet. Hoping these rates (and WDW having tons of passholder rate availability) means that trend will continue. I'm talking Space Mountain 5 minutes in the middle of the day and Peter Pan 20 minutes quiet. Holiday decor, nice weather...my absolutely favorite time to travel to WDW. Downside is by the time Christmas rolls around I'm already over it

Edit: Swan is also super low! I have never seen Swan rates this low for this period. WOW! $260/night for week after Thanksgiving. Less than $300/night for Thanksgiving week. Rates at Dolphin/Swan for Princess Weekend (Thursday check-in) also dropped to below $300. That is stinking good as I paid about $300 for those dates this year even with my obsessive rate checking. WDW rates never go down year over year so thank you Marriott

 

[Sunshine11]

Hi. Have two rooms booked at Dolphin in August (first time stay) only have stayed at SR last Christmas, and wondering if anyone knows why I don't see the ability to apply for suite nights like another Dolphin stay I have reserved in December. Wondering if the two rooms reserved is the reason. We have enough suite nights to cover the one night - two room stay. Regardless, I fainly remember someone here mentioning to call in house reservations to see if they can possibly put our rooms together (nearby), is that a thing? If so, does anyone have the in house reservation phone number for the Dolphin? Appreciate any insight. Thanks.

 

[AussieFan8]

Edit: Swan is also super low! I have never seen Swan rates this low for this period. WOW! $260/night for week after Thanksgiving. Less than $300/night for Thanksgiving week. Rates at Dolphin/Swan for Princess Weekend (Thursday check-in) also dropped to below $300. That is stinking good as I paid about $300 for those dates this year even with my obsessive rate checking. WDW rates never go down year over year so thank you Marriott

Oh goodness, now I'm torn. I could book Swan for just $100 more total than Dolphin. I like the Dolphin lobby but would enjoy the two sinks and closer access to the boardwalk at Swan. Is Java a lot smaller than Fuel? Has Swan completed the room renovations? A guaranteed updated room might sway me to Swan.

Edited to add - I just saw that someone posted there was no confirmation of how many rooms were renovated as of mid-June.

 

[Disneydawg74]

Oh goodness, now I'm torn. I could book Swan for just $100 more total than Dolphin. I like the Dolphin lobby but would enjoy the two sinks and closer access to the boardwalk at Swan. Is Java a lot smaller than Fuel? Has Swan completed the room renovations? A guaranteed updated room might sway me to Swan.

Edited to add - I just saw that someone posted there was no confirmation of how many rooms were renovated as of mid-June.

Java is smaller than Fuel

 

[Dan Murphy]

Oh goodness, now I'm torn. I could book Swan for just $100 more total than Dolphin. I like the Dolphin lobby but would enjoy the two sinks and closer access to the boardwalk at Swan. Is Java a lot smaller than Fuel? Has Swan completed the room renovations? A guaranteed updated room might sway me to Swan.

Edited to add - I just saw that someone posted there was no confirmation of how many rooms were renovated as of mid-June.

For $100 more, no question would do it. You can check the Dolphin lobby every day. Two sinks, large beds at the Swan. Smaller overall, a big plus. Java is more gran and go.

https://swandolphin.com/dining/fuel/

https://swandolphin.com/dining/java/

 

[Disneyhanna]

Oh goodness, now I'm torn. I could book Swan for just $100 more total than Dolphin. I like the Dolphin lobby but would enjoy the two sinks and closer access to the boardwalk at Swan. Is Java a lot smaller than Fuel? Has Swan completed the room renovations? A guaranteed updated room might sway me to Swan.

Edited to add - I just saw that someone posted there was no confirmation of how many rooms were renovated as of mid-June.

I ended up booking the Swan. Lately Swan has been so much more expensive (like $50+/night) so I’ve always ended up booking Dolphin. But it dropped down to only being like $25/night (or less) more for my dates and I am giving it a try for that difference. My biggest (only) complaint about Dolphin has always been the bathroom and I’m hoping the two sinks at Swan makes a difference!

 

[AussieFan8]

I ended up booking the Swan. Lately Swan has been so much more expensive (like $50+/night) so I’ve always ended up booking Dolphin. But it dropped down to only being like $25/night (or less) more for my dates and I am giving it a try for that difference. My biggest (only) complaint about Dolphin has always been the bathroom and I’m hoping the two sinks at Swan makes a difference!

Yes, every time I had checked Swan it was over $100/night more than Dolphin, so I had given up looking until you posted!

 

[lampshadehead]

If anyone is going this summer, I found that code "LPR" worked.

A question.. I keep seeing "resort view" or "no view" as an option. Is there an option to view the theme park?

 

[Disneydawg74]

If anyone is going this summer, I found that code "LPR" worked.

A question.. I keep seeing "resort view" or "no view" as an option. Is there an option to view the theme park?

AFAIK, the Swan doesn’t specify theme park view, although we have had a number of rooms from which you can see HS or EPCOT.

Edited to add: We have had views of HS from rooms that were “no view” rooms. Granted, that we also saw parking lots, and the air conditioning systems on top of a roof too.

 

[VickieMouse]

Swan King Alcove Room with Balcony…

Any Thoughts? Specially concerned about:
1. Are these located all around the resort? Do these rooms have a better chance of a good view than in a regular 2 queen balcony room?
2. Is the sofa bed comfortable? Two teens would be sharing it. If not…
3. Is the room big enough for an air mattress?
4. Any other differences I should consider?

Overall would you do this room or a 2 Queen room? Traveling party is 2A and 2 teens.

Thank you!!

 

[kylenne]

Wow! Check your Dolphin rates especially if you have a trip for Thanksgiving week to early-mid December. I just checked my post-Thanksgiving trip and the AP rate absolutely plummeted! Today it dropped down over $50/night to a whopping $248/night (INCLUDING taxes and fees) for the first week of Dec. Looks like quite a few other weeks are low as well, and non-AP rates look good too. I checked yesterday and didn't see this much savings but it could be timing, so not sure if those who saved a lot yesterday will save more or not.

For some reason the modify room has been erroring out lately for me most of the time so I am just rebooking and then cancelling. But worth it to save over $300 for a five-night stay!

View attachment 874247
View attachment 874248

Also I hate that the calendar view doesn't show fees lol.

Just look at the Saturday-Sunday rates for Thanksgiving week. This is an amazing deal.

View attachment 874249

The passholder rate for Pop is more expensive!!!!

View attachment 874250

Also, the week immediately following Thanksgiving was historically low crowds last year. We have done these dates multiple years but last year was exceptionally quiet. Hoping these rates (and WDW having tons of passholder rate availability) means that trend will continue. I'm talking Space Mountain 5 minutes in the middle of the day and Peter Pan 20 minutes quiet. Holiday decor, nice weather...my absolutely favorite time to travel to WDW. Downside is by the time Christmas rolls around I'm already over it

Edit: Swan is also super low! I have never seen Swan rates this low for this period. WOW! $260/night for week after Thanksgiving. Less than $300/night for Thanksgiving week. Rates at Dolphin/Swan for Princess Weekend (Thursday check-in) also dropped to below $300. That is stinking good as I paid about $300 for those dates this year even with my obsessive rate checking. WDW rates never go down year over year so thank you Marriott

That's roughly what I paid on AP rate Labor Day weekend last year at the Dolphin. You can get some crazy good deals over there.

 

[gottalovepluto]

If anyone is going this summer, I found that code "LPR" worked.

Make sure to read the details on it. Sometimes there are qualifications on these codes that you can’t meet (say locals only or something). This one appears to be a generic code used by Marriott properties where properties can set the rules for the promo.

The only hotel in the US that I had validate a rate (different code than this one) on check-in was actually SR. (Luckily I did qualify for what I booked so no issues.)

 

[lampshadehead]

Make sure to read the details on it. Sometimes there are qualifications on these codes that you can’t meet (say locals only or something). This one appears to be a generic code used by Marriott properties where properties can set the rules for the promo.

The only hotel in the US that I had validate a rate (different code than this one) on check-in was actually SR. (Luckily I did qualify for what I booked so no issues.)

Yes for sure, definitely don't want myself or anyone else stuck. This one doesn't seem to have any restrictions that I could find. Its on the Swan website but worked for Dolphin also. The AAA rate actually just came down so I switched to that. They have always checked my AAA card in person.

 

[elvispursley]

So far, for my dates (Aug 26-Sep 3) the rates have only gone up. I keep hoping that Swan will drop some. Oh well, still happy to be at the Dolphin and it shouldn’t be too bad with just 2 people, right?

 

[SteveH]

@elvispursley you'll have a blast. We stayed at the Dolphin one year with our two kids and wife and I, and loved it. That was the year we got a free upgrade after they offered for us to pay and it just wasn't in our budget. Great view of the parks made it even more special for the kids.

 

[lmross]

It looks like there's a $35/night charge for extra adults. Has anyone had success with only paying for 1 or 2 nights? My FIL is coming up for a couple of nights during our trip but not the entire length of stay.

 

[dansdad]

It looks like there's a $35/night charge for extra adults. Has anyone had success with only paying for 1 or 2 nights? My FIL is coming up for a couple of nights during our trip but not the entire length of stay.

Yup. When you check in add him to the room just for the nights he will be there.