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

[patty57]

I just finished reading the menus for the Epcot Holiday Kitchens. I'm really sad now that I canceled my Swan reservation for December. I do love eating and drinking my way around the Holiday Kitchens.

 

[amalone1013]

Any reports of Christmas Decorations up at Swan/Dolphin? I would LOVE some pics!!

No Christmas decorations yet... we are here thru Sunday so I'll keep an eye out

 

[stephanie3430]

Hi! With the new Mears bus service dropping off at TTC, what is the best option for getting to the Magic Kingdom for rope drop? I’m debating walking to Yacht Club to get the Disney bus, getting a mobile breakfast order at the Contemporary and walking or taking the Swan bus/switching to monorail at TTC. Please let me know your thoughts as this is our first trip...thank you!

 

[SteveH]

@stephanie3430 as I've not been there I'm just giving my thoughts. The downside to getting over to YC/BC or BW for the bus is you're going to be inline with all the others from those hotels too, that option all comes down to how many buses they are running. I'm hearing some pretty mixed comments about Disney bus service in general. If you are don't have kids or if your kids are old enough not to need car seats then I'd day Uber/Lyft to CR for breakfast is a good/safe bet. I just can't comment on the Swan/Mears bus service via TTC and either monorail or boat. If it were my wife and I we'd use Lyft and go to CR or a drop off at BLT and walk.

 

[Dug720]

.

 

[Dave006]

but it's not fair to add to people who are legit entitled to Disney transportation.

As guests of an onsite resort Swan & Dolphin guests have a legit entitlement to access all Disney transportation just like any other Disney World guest. Even day guests have access to all Disney transportation. Even if they don't get direct Disney bus service from or to the Swan & Dolphin at this time.

Hey the Friendships still dock at the Swan & Dolphin. We will have to wait to see how the bus situation changes / develops going forward.

Dave

 

[Dug720]

.

 

[Rich M]

Hi! With the new Mears bus service dropping off at TTC, what is the best option for getting to the Magic Kingdom for rope drop? I’m debating walking to Yacht Club to get the Disney bus, getting a mobile breakfast order at the Contemporary and walking or taking the Swan bus/switching to monorail at TTC. Please let me know your thoughts as this is our first trip...thank you!

We had a car and drove to MK. I will tell you that the parking lot doesn't open until an hour or less before schedule start time. That being said we got through the parking lot around 8:15 each day for a 9:00 opening. I saw the Disney buses where getting through a lot sooner since they go to the MK. If you want to be there early I would go to Boardwalk and get on a bus there. With us getting through at 8:15 we did get to the park before official opening but by the time we go in the line for 7DMC was already pretty long but we were able to walk on other rides.

 

[GoofyDad_4427]

But to the parks they have elected to go the Mears route rather than continuing to offer Disney transportation from the Swolfin. It's not fair to cram the Disney busses just because you don't like Mears. You have the option to stay at a WDW-owned and operated property

This seems like a pretty weak argument to me. The transportation is provided for all. It doesn't say anywhere that it is only for select hotel guests.

 

[stephanie3430]

Thanks for the replies so far . We are super excited!

 

[Dave006]

But to the parks they have elected to go the Mears route rather than continuing to offer Disney transportation from the Swolfin.

We don't actually know the details of how the switch to Mears was decided. We don't know that they "elected" to go with Mears.

All we know is based on a single email response from the GM's email address to an unhappy Swan & Dolphin guest's complaint about no announcement of the switch. It just happened one random day and also surprised employees at the Swan & Dolphin.

There has been speculation here on the DIS and other forums about what really drove this change. Was it the Swan & Dolphin trying to save money, was it Disney jacking up the bus contract or was it driven due to limited Disney buses / bus drivers to properly handle the social distancing spacing and the increased number of buses required.

I think it is great that we can discuss this issue and any actual or potential impact to BWV, YC, and BC guests but to all members please respect other's views, comments, and feedback on this and all topics.

I think we can agree that nobody is happy with the current bus situation for the Swan & Dolphin. Nothing specific to Mears buses but focusing on where they pickup / drop off at the parks.

Dave

 

[empedocles]

But to the parks they have elected to go the Mears route rather than continuing to offer Disney transportation from the Swolfin. It's not fair to cram the Disney busses just because you don't like Mears. You have the option to stay at a WDW-owned and operated property

So people who want to use Disney transportation to explore other resorts should not be able to? People should only be able to use transportation between their specific resort and the parks? According to your logic, using the Monorail to sightsee around those resorts is "not fair". Getting off the Skyliner at a resort where you are not staying is "not fair".

 

[TISHLOVESDISNEY]

Quick question-Can they fit a roll away and crib in a Dolphin 2 double room? Narrowing down my choice between Yacht Club and my fab AP price at Dolphin for Spring Break.

 

[SteveH]

@TISHLOVESDISNEY good question, the Dolphin with it's double beds has occupancy for 5, but I'm not sure if they will allow both bed and crib - but I'd give them a call 407.934.4000

 

[CarolinaBlue99]

Thanks, great info! .

I feel like I read a post some pages back from a recent visitor who said that during their stay they were told to use the app for requests and that the page submissions weren't being monitored. Can't remember where I read it though.

An upgrade would be nice, though it certainly isn't expected. That was another reason I thought a split stay might have an edge, if they might be more able to fulfill a request/preference if we are checking in early in the morning or afternoon vs when we arrive around 10pm the first night...

Hi everyone! For past stays at the Swan I've made our room request using the concierge email from the page, but I saw this. I must have scrolled back 50+ pages trying to find the reference to the note that page submissions were no longer monitored.

Does anyone know the current best practice to make room requests? We'll be back at the Swan 12/17-12/19, and I'd like to get our request noted. Thanks so much!

 

[armerida]

Hi everyone! For past stays at the Swan I've made our room request using the concierge email from the page, but I saw this. I must have scrolled back 50+ pages trying to find the reference to the note that page submissions were no longer monitored.

Does anyone know the current best practice to make room requests? We'll be back at the Swan 12/17-12/19, and I'd like to get our request noted. Thanks so much!

I would do online checkin and then use the messaging feature in the app to make your request. I did this and heard back right away and all room requests (location, floor, etc) were honored.

 

[CarolinaBlue99]

I would do online checkin and then use the messaging feature in the app to make your request. I did this and heard back right away and all room requests (location, floor, etc) were honored.

Thanks, @armerida! This is helpful. I was also considering calling the in-house reservation line to see if they could note it there. We have been so lucky in the past -- I think DH's Platinum Elite status helps. And I think I'd gotten the wording down to the right level of specificity to allow them to accommodate us within a few rooms that fit our requirements.

 

[cgattis]

Checked in last night and had some good luck and got upgraded!

Very nice! Do you know (or does your receipt say) what that room is actually called? I have booked a room which the phone CM referred to as a “premium studio with two doubles and a queen sofabed” and my confirmation says “2 Double Beds,Premium Guest Room,Sofabed.” None of these names align exactly with the verbiage on the SwanDolphin website or the many images I find online.

And the answer may be that they just have a handful of these rooms which they’ve converted from other room types over the years, and it may be luck of the draw how yours is actually configured, as long as they give you the number of beds you booked! Anyone else know?

Either way, I’m looking at $1100+ less than my AoA res for the same dates. I lose a bathroom but gain walking access to two parks. We love AoA but I think access is king right now.

 

[SteveH]

@cgattis that sounds like you've got the 2 bed version of the Grand Suite without the King bed.

 

[cgattis]

@cgattis that sounds like you've got the 2 bed version of the Grand Suite without the King bed.
View attachment 537378

That looks awesome, but she said it would only have one bathroom. Sorry—I left that out, and the description in my email doesn’t specifically say that. I’d feel pretty pixie-dusted if we end up with this!!