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

hedberg1661 said:
I will wager that the Swan/Dolphin will be part of the options you can choose from with the Mears Connect.
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That makes sense, as the Swan/Dolphin account has provided some valued business to Mears, since the Disney park motor coach transportation service to AK and MK ended. Unless Disney has some very strange and limiting contractual terms with Mears, I can see Mears' new motor coach service to/from MCO being an option for Swan/Dolphin/Reserve guests. That would certainly be a plus.
 
FYI the DIS has published a trip report from Kelly Mack titled, Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort Accessibility Review. It's well worth a read, a very honest and I'd say fair and accurate review. For anyone using a wheelchair or scooter it's a must read, but I think its a great read for anyone.

@Dan Murphy can you still edit the first post? This might be a good item to link... just a thought.
 
jbock said:
I am patiently waiting for Swolphin to bring back bookable fireworks rooms. If anyone is also looking, and you happen to see them go live (resort says "soon - but no timeline") and you wouldn't mind posting I'd be very thankful.
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I was looking at the reserve rooms and half seem to face ecpot so I hope I get lucky with one of those rooms!
 
Just a heads up to anyone who is booking the Reserve. The pictures for the Suites are kinds wrong. The only photos they have are for the Signature suite but these photos show up in the jr suites. Kinda bummed but its still a good deal. Hope they update the photos soon so I know what I actually booked.
 
jbock said:
I am patiently waiting for Swolphin to bring back bookable fireworks rooms. If anyone is also looking, and you happen to see them go live (resort says "soon - but no timeline") and you wouldn't mind posting I'd be very thankful.
Click to expand...

Wait, there are fireworks rooms that are named that? I assumed resort view rooms would have a view of fireworks. I’m so glad to have seen your post!
 
Swolphin newbie here...

Forgive me if these questions have been asked before. There's 719 pages on this thread, so I figured I'd ask in one post.

Since our honeymoon in 1994, we've stayed at the YC and BC every trip, but now they've become unaffordable. Giving the Dolphin a shot because we just love the location near Epcot/Boardwalk/DHS. Going for my hubby's 50th and to enjoy the F & W festival at Epcot. That being said, can anyone answer a few questions for me?

1. Years ago before DME, we'd use Tiffany Town Car for transportation to and from MCO. If we were to do a Lyft instead, can they be booked in advance, or will we have a good shot of getting a Lyft for 4 adults when we land? We arrive on a Thursday around 10am.

2. We booked through the WDW website because we're going during hurricane season (mid-September) and I wanted to get the travel insurance and have the park hoppers all linked on the app together. Because of this, we couldn't choose room options-they only had 1 standard kind of room on the Disney site. Can I call Marriott-Bonvoy to see about perhaps getting a room with a view and balcony? Disney didn't have the capability to take requests when I called. I noticed on the Marriott website that they all different categories of rooms to choose from.

3. Is it easy to link our tix to a magic band? Is it worth it since we can only use it for park passes? I read somewhere that you could use your Apple Watch? Do tell...

4. Tell me your favorite things about Swolphin! I'm so excited to try a new resort (hubby is a creature of habit, so for the past 27 years, it's only been the Yacht and Beach...LOL!). All the little details that you love about them!


Thanks so much everyone!
 
kldmom200 said:
Swolphin newbie here...

Forgive me if these questions have been asked before. There's 719 pages on this thread, so I figured I'd ask in one post.

Since our honeymoon in 1994, we've stayed at the YC and BC every trip, but now they've become unaffordable. Giving the Dolphin a shot because we just love the location near Epcot/Boardwalk/DHS. Going for my hubby's 50th and to enjoy the F & W festival at Epcot. That being said, can anyone answer a few questions for me?

1. Years ago before DME, we'd use Tiffany Town Car for transportation to and from MCO. If we were to do a Lyft instead, can they be booked in advance, or will we have a good shot of getting a Lyft for 4 adults when we land? We arrive on a Thursday around 10am.

2. We booked through the WDW website because we're going during hurricane season (mid-September) and I wanted to get the travel insurance and have the park hoppers all linked on the app together. Because of this, we couldn't choose room options-they only had 1 standard kind of room on the Disney site. Can I call Marriott-Bonvoy to see about perhaps getting a room with a view and balcony? Disney didn't have the capability to take requests when I called. I noticed on the Marriott website that they all different categories of rooms to choose from.

3. Is it easy to link our tix to a magic band? Is it worth it since we can only use it for park passes? I read somewhere that you could use your Apple Watch? Do tell...

4. Tell me your favorite things about Swolphin! I'm so excited to try a new resort (hubby is a creature of habit, so for the past 27 years, it's only been the Yacht and Beach...LOL!). All the little details that you love about them!


Thanks so much everyone!
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1. You can schedule a Lyft in advance but I don’t believe they’d be as flexible as a car service should your flight land late. You may want to check out Tony Hinds or any of the other options if you want to book in advance.
2. You’d be better off calling the hotel direct rather than a Bonvoy call center.
3. Very easy to link. In fact, if you have an old band, you can just use that and the new tickets should be automatically linked I believe. I personally like to use the magic bands bc it’s just one less thing to carry in my pocket. I do not have an Apple Watch though.
4. Swolphin is a different sort of feel than the Disney hotels but still amazing. I love the music they play by the pool, the pool is great, and the dining options are better than Disney hotel options. The location is amazing and it’s a fraction of the BC price. Depending on when you go, there are all types of special events available. And if you are going just the 2 of you, having a more “adult” hotel can be nice.
One word of warning though, you should go in knowing that it’s not as nice as YC/BC. But for the hundreds of dollars you’ll save, it’s more than worth it. Just make sure you go in with the right mindset so you’re not disappointed.
 
LSK said:
Wait, there are fireworks rooms that are named that? I assumed resort view rooms would have a view of fireworks. I’m so glad to have seen your post!
Click to expand...
At least in the past they had Fireworks view rooms, that was pre-covid and before they had their new website so it's a bit unknown right now.
kldmom200 said:
4. Tell me your favorite things about Swolphin! I'm so excited to try a new resort (hubby is a creature of habit, so for the past 27 years, it's only been the Yacht and Beach...LOL!). All the little details that you love about them!
Click to expand...
A couple things make sure you get the Marriott Bonvoy App (allows communication with S/D) and get the SwanDolphin app that will give you the times restaurants are open and if reservations are needed. Do check out some of the Signature restraunts I think you and your husband would be impressed with the food at any of them. The Fountain for Ice Cream is really good, like a hidden gem and not as busy as Beach & Cream.

Few of my favoriate things; the Heavenly Beds & Heavenly showers are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G great sleep and great start to the day. Our past few days have been at the Swan - which we like because its a bit more quiet. Fuel in the Dolphin is great, plus they have FroYo!!! For us we like a breakfast so we ate every morning at Picabu and really enjoyed the Omelets your way, hopefully their hours expand soon. The boats are fun and a nice way to get around if you are not in a rush to DHS & Epcot.
 
kldmom200 said:
1. Years ago before DME, we'd use Tiffany Town Car for transportation to and from MCO. If we were to do a Lyft instead, can they be booked in advance, or will we have a good shot of getting a Lyft for 4 adults when we land? We arrive on a Thursday around 10am.

3. Is it easy to link our tix to a magic band? Is it worth it since we can only use it for park passes? I read somewhere that you could use your Apple Watch? Do tell...
Click to expand...

1. From what I've read, it's actually bad to book Uber or Lyft in advance. Your ride doesn't get booked and assigned the way it does with a towncar. I think it gets assigned about 15 minutes before your requested pickup. In general with Uber and Lyft, if the driver arrives and you are not at the designated spot within 5 minutes, they can take off and charge you a no-show fee. If you requested them in advance, they might show up early and do this. Uber and Lyft are designed for you to request when you are at the curb ready to be picked up. People are still happily using Tiffany Towncar.

3. You don't link tickets to a Magic Band. You link tickets to your My Disney Experience account, and then assign each ticket to the correct person in your MDE account. Once the tickets are in your MDE account and assigned to the correct person, that person can use their Magic Band to access your MDE info to enter the park. The Magic Band info also would have to be entered into your MDE account and assigned to that person. If you want to use your phone or Apple watch to enter the park, you still need to enter the ticket info into your MDE account because you would be using your phone or watch (instead of Magic Band) to access your MDE info to enter the park. The alternative is to have a plastic RFID card for each ticket and use that to enter the park. Some people want to have at least one Magic Band on them in the parks for use in getting ride photos.
 
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