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

@Mel42 We've eaten and had ice cream many times and never really had much of a wait. There was one very large food service conference (pre-covid) and my guess is a lot of families were with the attendees that time it was about a 30 minute wait, but service was fast once we were seated. These were mostly non-summer trips, my wife and I went many times in the late Jan/Feb months, with our kids it was usually December or late fall.
 
How long would you say it takes to walk from SR to the big pool complex at Swolphin? I see it on the map looking pretty close, but would like to hear the real-world experience. I know you have to cross the street, not that big a deal, we're all grown. :)
 
How long would you say it takes to walk from SR to the big pool complex at Swolphin? I see it on the map looking pretty close, but would like to hear the real-world experience. I know you have to cross the street, not that big a deal, we're all grown. :)
5 min? Once you cross the street, and pass the playground, you’re pretty much there.,
 
Just got back yesterday from a 6 night stay at the Dolphin/balcony room. My stay was mostly good. A few issues. I have a 3 year old Google One Note phone, the Swan/Dolphin app. will not download to that. They like you to rely on that app. I was able to check in with the BonVoy app. so that worked. I ended up with either a cracked or infected tooth so one night just wanted room service, which they have. The only way you can order it though, is through the Swan/Dolphin app. no phone calls, just the app. So I had to put some clothes on and take my poor sore mouth down to the Fountain and get something to go. Not ideal. Housekeeping was not consistent in the times they came. One day it was around noon, the next time around 4. I skipped it a couple of times because sore mouth and I just wanted to rest so when I got back to my room around 3 and it hadn't been cleaned, I just put the privacy notice out. The days they came they basically halfway made the bed and one day replaced and emptied the trash. No new water or coffee or cups. No big deal since I had plenty of both but still, the "resort" fee is supposed to pay for that. They did replace them the next time they came and I know I could have called and asked for them to bring more (or used the app if I had it) I hate they did away with Picabu for the darn arcade. Now if you want some quick scrambled eggs you are SOL. It's either Rosa's or walk over to YC.

On the positive side, transportation was all good, took the bus to AK a couple of times and the boat to HS a couple of times. Was lazy and walked over to YC for the bus to MK, would have been shorter on that day to do BW because they had the little access road blocked off so had to go through the YC lobby. No big deal though. There was some sort of convention there the first few days so the lobby was always pretty full and they had events at the Swan pool so if you wanted to use it, nope. My room was a tad dated but it was fine. The plug ins on the bedside lamp were all loose but I had adapters so it was o.k. My balcony looked sort of over the lake toward the BW but you really couldn't see anything but the lake and a few of the BW buildings. I didn't book it for a view so I was fine, I just like sitting out on a balcony at night. My room was 4184 which was nice because I could take the stairs near the gift shop and they went right to the fourth floor. I stay at Dolphin probably 80% of the time I go so I knew what to expect except for the App. issue. Most likely I'll get a new pixal before my next trip so that will take care of itself.
Why did you walk to YC for the bus to MK? Does the S&D have MK bus transportation (early entry hours)?
 
its so disappointing! I'd love to see this changed....
I think most S/D guests would too. Unfortunately, we don't know all the details. It started as part of the Covid restrictions, and probably due to the challenge of finding enough drivers for WDW busses. But each fall as the time frame comes up there has been no change, so I don't know if it's an issues with Disney or S/D saving money. The reality is that the only park that is really negatively impacted is MK. It could be this year we see a change, it will be 5 years since the change so maybe there is a renewed effort to bring back the Disney buses.
 
I think most S/D guests would too. Unfortunately, we don't know all the details. It started as part of the Covid restrictions, and probably due to the challenge of finding enough drivers for WDW busses. But each fall as the time frame comes up there has been no change, so I don't know if it's an issues with Disney or S/D saving money. The reality is that the only park that is really negatively impacted is MK. It could be this year we see a change, it will be 5 years since the change so maybe there is a renewed effort to bring back the Disney buses.
Hot take, I might actually prefer the ones they have now. Since they use a lot of the Mears buses you have actual cushioned seats instead of hard plastic benches. On those buses strollers have to go under the bus instead of either obstructing the aisles or taking up a seat (yes, I've seen more than one family actually fold up the smaller strollers and put them on a seat even in standing room only buses). The drop off and pick up place at AK seems (and I say seems since I don't know if it's true) closer to the entrance than the WDW bus stops and it's a pretty uncrowded shaded spot. Yes, it's a pain to either walk to YC or BWI or go to TTC to go to MK but even that isn't horrible. Unless you are going at a really crowded time or have to get to rope drop, it's actually kind of relaxing to hop on the ferry and approach MK from the water.
 
Yes, it's a pain to either walk to YC or BWI or go to TTC to go to MK but even that isn't horrible. Unless you are going at a really crowded time or have to get to rope drop, it's actually kind of relaxing to hop on the ferry and approach MK from the water.
Hard disagree on this one and bolded is why. If you have anything to get to at MK with any kind of time constraint, which many, many people do (whether it's EE rope dropping, LLs at other times of day, ADRs, etc), it's almost guaranteed those buses will screw you. They cost me Jack & Sally at the Halloween party the last time I stayed at the Dolphin so yeah I'm a bit salty about them and hope someone, whether Disney or Marriott blinks and we get Disney bus service back. It's enough of a deal breaker to me that I booked a couple of nights at CR at the start of my annual Labor Day Swolphin trip this time specifically to avoid them. If I didn't I would straight up take Minnie Vans before dealing with them to MK again.
 
@loves to dive back when this started I looked at the map for AK parking and I think it gets a slight edge over the WDW Buses, but it all depends on which slot they put the busses in for pick up.

You bring up a good point about comfort and strollers too.
 
When we stayed at the Swan in 2023, we had the most problem with the buses from AK to the Swan. We took midday breaks and both days waited close to an hour or more for a bus. I am not even sure when one showed up. We left both times and took a BW bus after waiting so long.
 
Hard disagree on this one and bolded is why. If you have anything to get to at MK with any kind of time constraint, which many, many people do (whether it's EE rope dropping, LLs at other times of day, ADRs, etc), it's almost guaranteed those buses will screw you. They cost me Jack & Sally at the Halloween party the last time I stayed at the Dolphin so yeah I'm a bit salty about them and hope someone, whether Disney or Marriott blinks and we get Disney bus service back. It's enough of a deal breaker to me that I booked a couple of nights at CR at the start of my annual Labor Day Swolphin trip this time specifically to avoid them. If I didn't I would straight up take Minnie Vans before dealing with them to MK again.

Yeah, the TTC is awful. After running the 10K over Marathon Weekend we headed to MK and waited at Swan Reserve at 9:40am for the bus. We had a LL that expired at 10:50am.

We didn't end up inside the park until 10:45am. LAME.
 



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