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

[buzz1fan]

Are you asking about booking while you’re at beach club or S/D? Either way, yes you can book 7-days out from the start of your reservation

Sorry yes S&d, I’m current booked at Beach Club but I think I’m going to switch. I didn’t know S&D Also had this perk.

 

[buzz1fan]

I did book 2 nights. Do you know if I call Marriott- they will allow me to pay off my balance rather than check in day?

 

[eticketplease]

I did book 2 nights. Do you know if I call Marriott- they will allow me to pay off my balance rather than check in day?

I am not sure but if they do and you have any Chase credit cards check the “Chase Offers” section as several of my cards had offers on Marriott properties where you would receive a statement credit from Chase shortly afterwards.

 

[buzz1fan]

Yes I looked at my chase- no Westin right now.

 

[SteveH]

I did book 2 nights. Do you know if I call Marriott- they will allow me to pay off my balance rather than check in day?

They will be happy to take your money at any time. Not sure why you'd want to prepay vs keeping the money in your account, but go for it.

 

[buzz1fan]

Yes I looked at my chase- no Westin right now.

I did see book at Chase travel- but I wasn’t sure it would like correct in MDE

 

[eticketplease]

I did see book at Chase travel- but I wasn’t sure it would like correct in MDE

It will but you won’t earn Bonvoy points or use any Bonvoy benefits you might have.

 

[eticketplease]

They will be happy to take your money at any time. Not sure why you'd want to prepay vs keeping the money in your account, but go for it.

One reason that comes to my mind is that this would count towards a new CC welcome offer where you have to spend $xx in so many days.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I did book 2 nights. Do you know if I call Marriott- they will allow me to pay off my balance rather than check in day?

Yes. They will charge exactly what you ask. Done this multiple times. Just make sure you call the hotel and not Marriott.

They will be happy to take your money at any time. Not sure why you'd want to prepay vs keeping the money in your account, but go for it.

Credit card offers. Usually 10-15% back. I’ve seen them on all major banks at one time or another. Been a bit skimpy this year though.

Swan = Westin
Dolphin = Sheraton
Swan Reserve = Autograph

 

[Best Aunt]

Someone was commenting on the Swan in another thread and they posted this:
"The room they gave me was adjacent to some kind of machinery on the roof and the noise never went away."

I really, really want to avoid that.

Any guesses as to which view that would be?

I have a "Traditional Guest Room, 2 Queens, no view" booked. I will modify it to a more expensive room if necessary. There are other views available for my dates. I don't care what I see when I look out the window, because I keep the drapes closed the entire time. But I do care if I will hear a nonstop mechanical noise.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Someone was commenting on the Swan in another thread and they posted this:
"The room they gave me was adjacent to some kind of machinery on the roof and the noise never went away."

I really, really want to avoid that.

Any guesses as to which view that would be?

I have a "Traditional Guest Room, 2 Queens, no view" booked. I will modify it to a more expensive room if necessary. There are other views available for my dates. I don't care what I see when I look out the window, because I keep the drapes closed the entire time. But I do care if I will hear a nonstop mechanical noise.

Could be any view, most hotels have “those” rooms. You just need to be proactive if you get the bad one and talk to the front desk about a new room as soon as you realize it. Even if they can’t move you immediately, maybe they can move you the next day.

(And if the noise is that bad the hotel probably knows there are high odds they will need to move you. Happened to me at CSR Tower. Back office acknowledged they knew about the high levels of noise complaints from that specific room but were full up when I was assigned it. They assigned me a different one the next day and apologised for the inconvenience.)

 

[Honeypot]

We just got back from a split stay at the Swan and then the Contemporary. We moved there in part for the location to MK, but I also figured it would be an upgrade with more space and an extra sleeping surface for the 4 of us. Jokes on me, because I had booked the Swan through Amex FHR and we got a serious upgrade! Booked a non-resort view 2 queen, and we got upgraded to a suite on the 10th floor with an attached 2 queen room. I would have stayed the entire time at the Swan had I known, haha! One note, I don't think the suites are updated, but not sure if it's necessary compared to the rooms.

I thought the Swan was great, and despite my initial hesitation, I would 100% stay here again (even if it was just a regular room). Beds were comfortable, location was great, loved Java in the morning to grab a quick coffee or breakfast, and I thought the extra sink outside the bathroom was super useful for getting multiple people ready in the morning. Also loved having a regular fridge over the beverage cooler at the Disney resorts.

 

[TOBS2010]

Two questions:
1. Are the mini fridges in the room actual mini fridges at the Swan or are they beverage coolers like you find in the Disney resorts?
2. When going to the water park, are towels free? I am reading mixed information that it was only Disney resorts that got them for free but then also have seen some comments that they are free for everyone as of very recently.

 

[SteveH]

@TOBS2010 in the post directly above you they confirmed what I remember that they are still mini fridge not beverage coolers.

 

[Honeypot]

I can't help with the second question, but the bedroom portion of our suite had a regular mini fridge, not a beverage cooler.

 

[gottalovepluto]

One note, I don't think the suites are updated, but not sure if it's necessary compared to the rooms.

Epic upgrade!

That should be the updated version, didn't Swan make an announcement they had completed room renovations?

 

[Honeypot]

Epic upgrade!

That should be the updated version, didn't Swan make an announcement they had completed room renovations?

Yes, no complaints here!

They did say all the rooms have been renovated, and I have never stayed in a suite so I don't have anything to compare it to, but the room felt "new-ish", where the suite part did not. Things such as the carpet seemed more worn, not freshly painted, etc - and the colour palette is different. But like I said, I don't think it really mattered for the suite, or maybe they were refreshed - but to a different degree?

Perhaps there is someone here who has stayed in the suite before that knows better than me and based on my photo if anything has indeed changed?

 

[gottalovepluto]

Yes, no complaints here!

They did say all the rooms have been renovated, and I have never stayed in a suite so I don't have anything to compare it to, but the room felt "new-ish", where the suite part did not. Things such as the carpet seemed more worn, not freshly painted, etc - and the colour palette is different. But like I said, I don't think it really mattered for the suite, or maybe they were refreshed - but to a different degree?

Perhaps there is someone here who has stayed in the suite before that knows better than me and based on my photo if anything has indeed changed?

Dec 2023 I got an upgrade to a suite, not sure about the exact type. Decor was very different from your photo (unfortunately this was the only photo I snagged but that table was big), bedroom not refurbed

 

[Honeypot]

Dec 2023 I got an upgrade to a suite, not sure about the exact type. Decor was very different from your photo (unfortunately this was the only photo I snagged but that table was big), bedroom not refurbed
View attachment 980469

Yeah, see that seems more updated to me than the one we got...and more in line with how the rooms now look. I did some digging on the S&D website, and I would say it looks to me based on the floorplan I think we were put in a grand suite - we had our room on one side, but there was a door on the other side that could have also opened and connected to another room https://swandolphin.com/accommodations/grand-suite/ The photos on the website also are much more like what I would have imagined to go with the new rooms. So maybe they have updated all the "rooms" but not the "suites"? I really have no idea, I'm certainly not an expert of the S&D.

 

[TXYankee]

Someone was commenting on the Swan in another thread and they posted this:
"The room they gave me was adjacent to some kind of machinery on the roof and the noise never went away."

I really, really want to avoid that.

Any guesses as to which view that would be?

I have a "Traditional Guest Room, 2 Queens, no view" booked. I will modify it to a more expensive room if necessary. There are other views available for my dates. I don't care what I see when I look out the window, because I keep the drapes closed the entire time. But I do care if I will hear a nonstop mechanical noise.

For the room and the view that you have, it could be in many places throughout the resort. I have found that the swan and dolphin are very good at accommodating guests. When you check in and go to your room, if you notice any noise that would disturb you, go back to the front desk and ask to have a room change. If they can’t do it the first night they can usually do it the next.