Anyone have Swan and Dolphin tips/answers to questions?

[Cadi40]

I will tentatively be traveling to the Swan and Dolphin resort the second week of august. Does anybody have any tips or recommendations for this resort? We were looking at other deluxe resorts but at the price point we found for this package we just couldn't beat it. I do have a few miscellaneous questions...

- I have read about the third-party buses, how is the walk to Yacht or Boardwalk to catch their busses?
- Does Swan and Dolphin get resort TV? (WDW Today, Must do Disney?)
- Any other cons I should know about to this resort?
- Is staying at S&D better than say a value resort? Are the few perks you get S&D worth losing the true Disney feel?
- Anything else I should know?


Thank you in advanced for your hopefully helpful information!!!

 

[Figgy1]

Paging @Sans Souci @bee

 

[Disney Glimpses]

1. The walk from those resorts is not really that bad. 5-10 minutes, not a huge deal
2. They have their own interactive TV service. Not sure if they still have the WDW Today channel but that channel is slowly being pulled from Disney resorts as well, so I'd imagine it does not.
3. Nothing comes to mind
4. It's better than a value and the proximity to EPCOT/DHS is worth it, IMO. You also get access to Extended Evening Hours which is 2 extra hours at EPCOT on Monday nights and Magic Kingdom on Wednesday nights (only deluxe resorts).

 

[Sans Souci]

I used the S/D busses. I know people don't like going through TTC, but it didn't bother me. I know people like to recommend walking to an adjacent resort for direct service to MK, I have seen people here complain about S/D guests using Boardwalk, B&C busses.

I don't know about the Disney resort TV, I don't turn on the TV when I am on vacation.

Things I can see people not liking about S/D are: it's a convention hotel. A convention can easily take over the hotels. It's not "themed."
You can't charge back to your room in the parks or other resorts.

I think it's way better than a value--nicer room, better food options, better amenities. If you have children, the S/D pool is better than any value pool. You can walk or take a friendship to two parks. As far as loss of benefits, you can't charge back to your room and you are own your separate transportation. Even if you stayed on property, there is no more DME and no more Disney dining plan. But like the person above me said, you have access to Extended Evening Hours and you can book your Genie+ at the same time as Disney resorts. I just remembered, make sure the S/D resort fees are included when comparing.

The following is just a random stream of disjointed thoughts regarding S/D LOL I don't feel like I am off property when I stay here. I like that it feels "adult," but it is still family-friendly. Cabana is great for a post-swim meal. Every employee I've encountered has been friendly and helpful. Room service has the best banana pancakes.

 

[Disneyfan_76]

1. Walking to the resort is not bad at all, unless it is really hot as there is not a lot of shade once you get up into the lake area. Used to have your own private entrance to EPCOT prior to the skyliner, but still not that bad as far as crowds.
3. I wouldn't stay at the new reserve hotel over the main buildings. Took a look around on our day off and it didn't seem all that great.
4. I would argue that the S&D is more "disney" than others I have stayed at. It's ugly on the outside (just my opinion), but overall a really nice resort with a wonderful staff.
5. Make sure you try the swan paddle boats. They are the orginal ones from MK (or at least they used the same body). Also, you are able to use either pool, so if you don't have kids with you, the lap pool is a little more chill.

We just got back from 2 weeks at the poly, and the S&D was a better experience for me. I personally like B/Y Club best in that area, but you get a better value for you money at S&D.

 

[dave&di]

I’m also interested to hear views, we just booked 10 nights at The Dolphin for September 2023.
I’ve heard a lot of positives about these resorts, close to HS and Epcot, cheaper than a deluxe but with a deluxe feel, great eateries.

 

[Sans Souci]

1. Walking to the resort is not bad at all, unless it is really hot as there is not a lot of shade once you get up into the lake area. Used to have your own private entrance to EPCOT prior to the skyliner, but still not that bad as far as crowds.
3. I wouldn't stay at the new reserve hotel over the main buildings. Took a look around on our day off and it didn't seem all that great.
4. I would argue that the S&D is more "disney" than others I have stayed at. It's ugly on the outside (just my opinion), but overall a really nice resort with a wonderful staff.
5. Make sure you try the swan paddle boats. They are the orginal ones from MK (or at least they used the same body). Also, you are able to use either pool, so if you don't have kids with you, the lap pool is a little more chill.

We just got back from 2 weeks at the poly, and the S&D was a better experience for me. I personally like B/Y Club best in that area, but you get a better value for you money at S&D.

I love the Swan Reserve. I'm staying there again in Sept. I think it's meant to be a "boutique hotel," since it is in Marriott's Autograph collection. It feels more chill and low key, because it's relatively smaller than the other two. I could totally see how families with young children would not like it, the pool is "meh," at best. But you can use the pools/gym across the street at S/D when you stay there.

 

[dreday3]

I used the S/D busses. I know people don't like going through TTC, but it didn't bother me. I know people like to recommend walking to an adjacent resort for direct service to MK, I have seen people here complain about S/D guests using Boardwalk, B&C busses.

I have to admit, I'm wondering how that will affect us on our next trip. Staying at BC and hoping the buses aren't filled for MK openings by the time it picks up at Yacht (Yacht guests and S/D guests) and gets to Beach.

I think only an issue with MK though?

 

[Weather_Lady]

Swan/Dolphin has all the perks of a deluxe, at a fraction of the cost. The only drawbacks we found were: (1) the theming (which is only a drawback if, like me, the Swan/Dolphin theming just isn't to your taste); (2) the buses for MK (we took the Dolphin bus to/from AK, and walked to Boardwalk or Beach Club when we wanted to go to MK, but the week we visited - end of August 2021 - was so lightly attended that the buses were never more than half-full, so we certainly weren't taking seats away from anybody); and (3) if you stay at Dolphin, the beds are full-sized, not queen.

Honestly, other than that, the pools were gorgeous, the dining options were good, the walk or boat ride to/from EPCOT and HS was convenient, the free bottled water in the room was great, the Marriott app was an easy way to request things we needed (e.g., extra blankets) and staff were very responsive to it, and we stayed in a 2-room family suite for about $400/night even after the extra resort fee they add on -- significantly less than a standard room at any Disney deluxe would have cost us for the same week. We loved it.

 

[Sans Souci]

I have to admit, I'm wondering how that will affect us on our next trip. Staying at BC and hoping the buses aren't filled for MK openings by the time it picks up at Yacht (Yacht guests and S/D guests) and gets to Beach.

I think only an issue with MK though?

Yeah, I think it's MK that is the most popular for that. I'm too lazy for rope drop, so I don't know what the crowds are like? I did take the bus from BWI twice, but it was late morning, so the stop was dead. In the end, I didn't feel like it was such a great time saver. I just use the S/D bus. I guess psychologically it feels better to get dropped off at MK. v. TTC and going through security and then ferry or monorail.

Disney says you can use the transportation even if you are not a resort guest. It's included in the ticket. But I understand people's frustration.

I am curious about what happened with S/D and Disney. Until Covid, we used to stay at either BC or BW and S/D were 2 pick ups. I don't know if Disney wanted more money or if opening a third hotel made S/D think it was better than to have their own transportation?

 

[dreday3]

Yeah, I think it's MK that is the most popular for that. I'm too lazy for rope drop, so I don't know what the crowds are like? I did take the bus from BWI twice, but it was late morning, so the stop was dead. In the end, I didn't feel like it was such a great time saver. I just use the S/D bus. I guess psychologically it feels better to get dropped off at MK. v. TTC and going through security and then ferry or monorail.

Disney says you can use the transportation even if you are not a resort guest. It's included in the ticket. But I understand people's frustration.

I am curious about what happened with S/D and Disney. Until Covid, we used to stay at either BC or BW and S/D were 2 pick ups. I don't know if Disney wanted more money or if opening a third hotel made S/D think it was better than to have their own transportation?

Honestly, out of 9 mornings we will probably only rope-drop MK once!

 

[dave&di]

We last went to WDW in 2013 before Disney bus stops had the information boards, does the S/D stop have information boards as to when the next buses are due?

 

[Disneyfan_76]

I love the Swan Reserve. I'm staying there again in Sept. I think it's meant to be a "boutique hotel," since it is in Marriott's Autograph collection. It feels more chill and low key, because it's relatively smaller than the other two. I could totally see how families with young children would not like it, the pool is "meh," at best. But you can use the pools/gym across the street at S/D when you stay there.

Exactly. I didn't really have time to elaborate more when I posted earlier. I wasn't exactly knocking the hotel, it just feels out of the way unless you really like the mini golf. It might be the perfect fit for some folks, just maybe not for our family at this moment. Now, once they put in the new pool/waterpark, my opinion may change.

 

[Disneyfan_76]

They did when we stayed there in 2019. I never really had a problem getting to MK from there, but we went in April and it wasn't terribly busy.

We last went to WDW in 2013 before Disney bus stops had the information boards, does the S/D stop have information boards as to when the next buses are due?

 

[erstwo]

If you are considering a nice dinner, Book Il Milano for dinner one night (arrival night or a non theme park night maybe?). You will not be disappointed!
We walked over to Il Milano from the Yacht Club last 4th of July and it was a very short walk.
I’ve never noticed S&D guests crowding the busses but we aren’t rope drop people and per the comments on here, Yacht Club (our favorite) is usually first pick up so maybe we just didn’t know any better??

 

[monorail81]

Swan and Dolphin are looking VERY rough around the edges in terms of room upkeep. We stay there often for the convenience of being able to walk to Epcot - but last weekend was it for us. There were no washcloths in the room, so I called and asked for them - it took over an hour to get any. In the meantime, I saw a housekeeper in the hall when I was on my way to get something from our car and I asked for washcloths. The ATTITUDE that I got was astounding. The bathtubs have chipping coating coming off. There is mold in a lot of the grout - they tried to paint over the mold, but that’s coming off. The beds are not “Heavenly” at the Swan. And they put what looked like blood-stained pillowcases on the pillows. I tried to have a chat with a manager, but he didn’t care. So, I finally told him that the only reason the hotel was so expensive was because of it’s proximity and convenience to the parks - otherwise it’s no better than a hotel on 192.

 

[Witchy Chick]

I stayed at Dolphin last September and we (whole family) will be staying at Swan in August.

I, too, love the proximity to both Epcot and DHS from Swan/Dolphin. I love the Friendship boats although the route is maddening at times — direct to DHS from S/D, but you’re better off walking to Epcot (boat route is S/D -> Boardwalk -> Beach/Yacht -> Epcot IIRC.

Dolphin’s snack bar/convenience store (I forget the name) has frozen yogurt machines………and one is Dole Whip.

 

[zappy]

Will be staying at Swan in late September and can't wait to try a non value resort for the first time. Not having to hop on a bus for Epcot and Hollywood Studios with a three year old is something my wife and I are looking forward to. Put the little one in a stroller and off we go.

For Ak and MK we were thinking of walking over to Boardwalk or Yacht Club so the drop off is right at the park. From the map it looks like Boardwalk is the shorter walk? Am I wrong thinking this? Does Boardwalk multiple have pick up points?

 

[Jimmy Thick]

I love the Dolphin its an outstanding resort. Personally I don't find them to be as kid friendly as even a value Disney resort but their location is ideal. Plus they have the best beds on property.

Also the higher end restaurants are some of the best on property.

The Swan/Dolphin is a no lose destination in my humble opinion I have never had any issues.

 

[Disneyfan_76]

I love the Dolphin its an outstanding resort. Personally I don't find them to be as kid friendly as even a value Disney resort but their location is ideal. Plus they have the best beds on property.

Also the higher end restaurants are some of the best on property.

The Swan/Dolphin is a no lose destination in my humble opinion I have never had any issues.

I guess it depends on the age of your kids. They have a great pool, arcade, paddle boats, mini golf/boardwalk is nearby and they are one of the few resorts that have a playground. I would agree that the higher end restraunts are not great for kids, but they have a lot of other options in the hotel and nearby within walking distance.