Walt Disney World SWAN, DOLPHIN & SWAN RESERVE RESORTS Information & Questions

[SMRT-1]

Just saw this on the website re: the "Make a Green Choice" rewards for opting out of housekeeping. They used to offer the choice of $5 per day in Swan/Dolphin gift certificates (useable at places including QS restaurants like Picabu) or Loyalty Club points.

However, now the site reads, "For each night you participate and forgo room cleaning services, you have the choice of either: Planting a tree through the Arbor Day Foundation or 500 Marriott Bonvoy points awarded at check out.", so it looks like they may have done away with the gift certificate option which is a little disappointing.

 

[ckelly14]

Just saw this on the website re: the "Make a Green Choice" rewards for opting out of housekeeping. They used to offer the choice of $5 per day in Swan/Dolphin gift certificates (useable at places including QS restaurants like Picabu) or Loyalty Club points.

However, now the site reads, "For each night you participate and forgo room cleaning services, you have the choice of either: Planting a tree through the Arbor Day Foundation or 500 Marriott Bonvoy points awarded at check out.", so it looks like they may have done away with the gift certificate option which is a little disappointing.

Welcome to Marriott...

 

[prisjoyce]

New to this thread; read Post 1 & the last 5 pages.
We are regular visitors to WDW & resort hotels, but we are looking into S & D for our next trip.
Are there any amenities/processes that aren’t included at Swan/Dolphin? I see 60 day FP & resort transportation- what about MDE? Can I get the dining plan? Is there anything lost booking through Costco?
What do I “lose” for staying at a non-Disney hotel?
If this is explained somewhere in a post, my apologies. Please direct me there.
Thank you!

 

[SamFaniam]

New to this thread; read Post 1 & the last 5 pages.
We are regular visitors to WDW & resort hotels, but we are looking into S & D for our next trip.
Are there any amenities/processes that aren’t included at Swan/Dolphin? I see 60 day FP & resort transportation- what about MDE? Can I get the dining plan? Is there anything lost booking through Costco?
What do I “lose” for staying at a non-Disney hotel?
If this is explained somewhere in a post, my apologies. Please direct me there.
Thank you!

You cannot have a dining plan. No MDE, so you’ll need to consider airport transportation. The Swan and Dolphin does have a resort fee, but if you book through Costco this may be included in your price. there are no drawbacks to booking through Costco. And, sometimes their packages can be a pretty good value. I don’t think you lose anything by staying at the S/D, they are in a great location, walking distance/boat ride to two parks, great pool area, and good Disney internal transportation.

 

[jabrown40]

You will also have to purchase your own magic band if this is what you choose to use in the parks for entrance and FastPass lines.

 

[SMRT-1]

New to this thread; read Post 1 & the last 5 pages.
We are regular visitors to WDW & resort hotels, but we are looking into S & D for our next trip.
Are there any amenities/processes that aren’t included at Swan/Dolphin? I see 60 day FP & resort transportation- what about MDE? Can I get the dining plan? Is there anything lost booking through Costco?
What do I “lose” for staying at a non-Disney hotel?
If this is explained somewhere in a post, my apologies. Please direct me there.
Thank you!

Included "on property" benefits:

• 60+10 Fastpass+ window
• Extra Magic Hours
• Disney transportation to/from parks & Disney Springs

NOT included:

• No Magical Express
• No Disney Dining Plan
• No Free Magic Band (you can still buy your own if you like)
• Magic Bands can't be used as room key
• Magic bands can't be used to charge to your room.

We booked our upcoming trip through Costco, and the only drawback is that, as I understand it, you won't be able to earn Marriott loyalty points (because technically you're getting a discount group rate). One other thing to note when price shopping is that everything (including both the $30 resort fee AND the taxes) is included in the Costco price, which makes it an even better deal when you compare it to other places that might not show the resort fee or taxes in their price quotes (packages quoted through Disney don't show taxes, IIRC).

 

[SteveH]

"For each night you participate and forgo room cleaning services, you have the choice of either: Planting a tree through the Arbor Day Foundation or 500 Marriott Bonvoy points awarded at check out."

Yep you've been #Bonvoyed - yes its a term used by a lot of Marriott Bonvoy members. Even worse do the calculation on the value of those 500 points and its even more of a joke. But even Disney's $10/day to skip room service is an insult to me.

you won't be able to earn Marriott loyalty points (because technically you're getting a discount group rate).

This is true, but do make sure you give them your Bonvoy # as you might earn points or nights. I stayed at SpringHill Flaming on a amazing TA rate and knew I wouldn't get points or nights at that rate, but low and behold I did earn points and you will earn points if you charge anything back to your room while eating at S/D.

 

[SMRT-1]

This is true, but do make sure you give them your Bonvoy # as you might earn points or nights. I stayed at SpringHill Flaming on a amazing TA rate and knew I wouldn't get points or nights at that rate, but low and behold I did earn points and you will earn points if you charge anything back to your room while eating at S/D.

Indeed. I certainly plan to make sure they know I have a membership # when I check in, since there are other benefits beyond the points (according to the website at least - ex. Bonvoy members are supposed to get faster in-room WiFi).

 

[Dawn Peterson]

No dining plan but your MDE (my Disney experience) is attached to your tickets so you can still use it to set up ADR (Advanced Dining Reservation) and FP and Swan/Dolphin has airport option (or at least they did). You just can’t use the Magical Express. Sorry I put the meanings for the acronyms because I get confused easily

 

[SteveH]

The MagicBand is nice for park entry and rides, and of course for ride photos but with Mobile ordering it doesn't help.

 

[MarBee]

You will also have to purchase your own magic band if this is what you choose to use in the parks for entrance and FastPass lines.

You can also use an old magic band if you have any. That’s what we always do when staying at Swan/Dolphin.

 

[shoreward]

New to this thread; read Post 1 & the last 5 pages.
We are regular visitors to WDW & resort hotels, but we are looking into S & D for our next trip.
Are there any amenities/processes that aren’t included at Swan/Dolphin? I see 60 day FP & resort transportation- what about MDE?
What do I “lose” for staying at a non-Disney hotel?

There is no complimentary transportation between MCO and the Swan/Dolphin. You can pay for Uber or a limo service, rent a car (there is a National/Alamo counter at the Dolphin) if you want to do a one way rental, or you can take the Mears shared shuttle. One of the Disney resort perks I miss the most, if my last night at WDW is at the S/D, is having remote airline check-in to drop my bags at the resort, and catching DME to MCO. Sometimes, I will do a split stay, with at least my last night at a Disney resort, to take advantage of the RAC and DME.

 

[virk4]

There is no complimentary transportation between MCO and the Swan/Dolphin. You can pay for Uber or a limo service, rent a car (there is a National/Alamo counter at the Dolphin) if you want to do a one way rental, or you can take the Mears shared shuttle. One of the Disney resort perks I miss the most, if my last night at WDW is at the S/D, is having remote airline check-in to drop my bags at the resort, and catching DME to MCO. Sometimes, I will do a split stay, with at least my last night at a Disney resort, to take advantage of the RAC and DME.

Same for me. The "curbside" check-in is a super perk. It's the only thing missing from the Swan/Dolphin......otherwise my favorite resort.





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[akmac57]

New to this thread; read Post 1 & the last 5 pages.
We are regular visitors to WDW & resort hotels, but we are looking into S & D for our next trip.
Are there any amenities/processes that aren’t included at Swan/Dolphin? I see 60 day FP & resort transportation- what about MDE? Can I get the dining plan? Is there anything lost booking through Costco?
What do I “lose” for staying at a non-Disney hotel?
If this is explained somewhere in a post, my apologies. Please direct me there.
Thank you!

No Magical Express included or free magic bands to open your room or charge items to in the park. You can get MDE access.

 

[ww52]

MDE = ?? To me, it means My Disney Experience (app and website) and anyone can use that - even offsite.

But if it's the Express service to/from airport, then that's correct - not for S/D (nor free Magic bands or having the ones you buy work for hotel charges or room entry.

EDIT - DME is Disney Magical Express (not part of S/D)
MDE = My Disney Experience (available to anyone)

 

[shoreward]

No MDE included or free magic bands to open your room or charge items to in the park. You can get the dining plan.

Unfortunately, Disney Dining Plans are not available at either the Swan or Dolphin.

From Disney Parks Moms Panel:

You can add a Disney Dining Plan when you book a Magic Your Way Vacation Package, where you can customize your Walt Disney World Resort hotel, tickets and Disney Dining Plan to fit your vacation specifications. Unfortunately, the Swan and Dolphin Resorts are not eligible for the Disney Dining Plans

From the Swan/Dolphin website:

https://swandolphin.com/welcome/disneyinfo/disneydining.html

 

[SaintsManiac]

No MDE included or free magic bands to open your room or charge items to in the park. You can get the dining plan.

Might want to edit your post to say DME and no dining plan.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Same for me. The "curbside" check-in is a super perk. It's the only thing missing from the Swan/Dolphin......otherwise my favorite resort.

Yep I realized this when we decided to stay there and said oh well! We are hiring a car service and always get to the airport 2 hours before a flight, so I am willing to put up with the hassle of checking bags.

 

[LandonDunes]

No Magical Express included or free magic bands to open your room or charge items to in the park. You can get MDE access.

so, you have to use a regular credit card to charge things in the park? But the magic bands will give you access to the rides, FP+ etc? Thanks.

 

[Dan Murphy]

so, you have to use a regular credit card to charge things in the park? But the magic bands will give you access to the rides, FP+ etc? Thanks.

Correct