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

[jimrpa]

Swan and Dolphin are not on the early entry list.

Very odd, given that all the BC and DS area hotels are on the list. I’m wondering what’s up with it. Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve are Deluxe hotels.

 

[Meglen]

Beauty Pageant, Dance Competition, next it will be Cheer leading, PopWarner Football and the bazillion Brazillions so much for the quiet S/D Defiantly time for Disney to open more of their resorts up.

They usally inhabit the All-Stars right?

 

[SteveH]

Very odd, given that all the BC and DS area hotels are on the list. I’m wondering what’s up with it. Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve are Deluxe hotels.

Very well could be S/D/R isn't ponying up, or it could be a contractual issue. Hard for us mortals to know what's going on and why.

They usally inhabit the All-Stars right?

Yes, All-Star Sports in particular.

 

[jimrpa]

The Mears bus thing was driven at least partly by a Disney capacity issue. Apparently Disney is trying to hire 200 additional bus drivers and, from what I’m told, Swan/Dolphin service was becoming less frequent. To be honest, the only park where there’s a noticeable difference is MK. The walking distance to the AK stop is about the same, you just go left instead of right when you exist AK. They even have a small covered pavilion with benches to wait in.

 

[SteveH]

@jimrpa I agree, if not for MK it's a non-issue IMHO. I'm sure that S/D has saved money over the issue, and that's kept prices lower too.

 

[CeCe0906]

Do the Disney busses from the Boardwalk or Yacht Club leave earlier than the Mears Busses for Magic Kingdom? Current info from dolphin website says 45 min prior to opening hours
Which bus waiting line in the morning is longer? Are there multiple stops to pick up on the Disney busses or are they dedicated to YC or Boardwalk? Know I know the drop off is different; since it is my granddaughters first trip, arrival via the ferry/monorail would probably be more special than by bus, but don't want to arrive like an hour after opening waiting for bus at hotel.
Plan to be there first thing in the morning, but I'm a slow walker, so front of the rope drop line is wasted on me.
What time do people get in line for the busses usually

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I was staying at YC this past weekend and did several AM runs out/about Cresent Lake. I sometimes dart over around S/D just to break up the run. Saw many families walking around with little kids dressed like going to prom and the moms/dads pulling around massive cases - was wondering what was going on! Figured it must have been some cheer or dance something just judging by the outfits and level of makeup.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

And fortunately I found the pot of gold behind the Swan one morning… since I need it to pay for my Disney deluxe accommodations.

 

[SteveH]

@GADisneyDad14 did you still have to take out a second on the mortgage too?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

@GADisneyDad14 did you still have to take out a second on the mortgage too?

Not yet, but I’m hoping my application gets approved before my rack rate 50th Anniversary reservation balance is due.

 

[Disney21First]

I am looking to book first trip to Disney the week before Christmas. Family of 4 with both kids under 10, but also traveling with extended family of 6 others. We have decided on Dolphin or Swan due to being able to walk to the two parks we think we will visit the most. My question is more around the pricing of Dolphin and Swan. It seems that when I add kids to a reservation, the AAA, Nurse and Senior rates all are higher than the standard rates. If I only select 2 adults, the "discount" rates are lower. Does anyone know why this is? I would think even with kids, the discount rates should be cheaper, but that doesn't seem to be the case at all.

 

[PPFlight75]

I am looking to book first trip to Disney the week before Christmas. Family of 4 with both kids under 10, but also traveling with extended family of 6 others. We have decided on Dolphin or Swan due to being able to walk to the two parks we think we will visit the most. My question is more around the pricing of Dolphin and Swan. It seems that when I add kids to a reservation, the AAA, Nurse and Senior rates all are higher than the standard rates. If I only select 2 adults, the "discount" rates are lower. Does anyone know why this is? I would think even with kids, the discount rates should be cheaper, but that doesn't seem to be the case at all.

I just noticed this the other day. I thought maybe it was a mistake since we haven't had this happen before with the Dolphin. It doesn't make any sense.

 

[Disney21First]

I just noticed this the other day. I thought maybe it was a mistake since we haven't had this happen before with the Dolphin. It doesn't make any sense.

Glad I am not the only one. Definitely does not make any sense. I am going to call them and figure out why this would be. If it is the case, I don't see any harm in booking the "adult only" option at the lower price. And then just have the kids in the room. My disney park tickets will be separate anyway, so the hotel booking would have no impact on that.

 

[Gitelfor]

It looks like the AP rate no longer necessarily offers a significant savings over the Senior or AAA rate. Running random dates at the Swan, some nights the AP rate is $3 lower than the Senior rate and $5 lower than the AAA rate. Even stranger, though, are dates when the AAA and Senior rates are less than the AP rate.

Don’t automatically assume that the AP rate will offer the best discount, without comparing against other discounts for which you qualify.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Do the Disney busses from the Boardwalk or Yacht Club leave earlier than the Mears Busses for Magic Kingdom? Current info from dolphin website says 45 min prior to opening hours
Which bus waiting line in the morning is longer? Are there multiple stops to pick up on the Disney busses or are they dedicated to YC or Boardwalk? Know I know the drop off is different; since it is my granddaughters first trip, arrival via the ferry/monorail would probably be more special than by bus, but don't want to arrive like an hour after opening waiting for bus at hotel.
Plan to be there first thing in the morning, but I'm a slow walker, so front of the rope drop line is wasted on me.
What time do people get in line for the busses usually

Should be running around 6:30 or so.

 

[Grasshopper2016]

The fact that the Swan and Dolphin are not included on the early entry list, even though some of the Disney Springs hotels are, strikes me as a really bad sign of things to come.

When we first started staying at the Swan, what sold us was that, while guests didn't get all of the onsite benefits, they did get the ones that seemed most important to us: location, bus service, ability to book fastpasses and ADRs early, extra magic hours.

The excellent, essentially onsite, location won't change, but Disney has already dropped the Swan and Dolphin from the bus service, and now, apparently, from the new version of extra magic hours. I suspect that, when fastpasses come back in whatever form, any advantages for onsite guests (whether it be booking window, free passes, ability to buy extras, etc.) won't be extended to Swan and Dolphin guests anymore. And maybe it's just a matter of time before the extended ADR window (60 days plus length of stay) goes away too. Whatever caused the bad blood between Disney and the Swan and Dolphin, it looks like Disney is playing hardball. And, if you'll pardon the mixed metaphor, they hold all of the cards.

The Swan and Dolphin has always charged less for better quality, relative to the true Disney resorts. If you didn't care that much about Disney theming, and you were willing to miss out an a few minor perks, like DME and magic bands, it really was a great choice. For my family, it was the perfect one. But it seems that Disney is trying to disincentivize people from staying there anymore. And I hate to say it, but it's working. We are coming up on our ninth stay at the Swan. We have never stayed anywhere else. But if things keep going in the same direction, I fear that this stay will be our last. And that really saddens me, because we have become very attached to the place.

 

[maxiesmom]

I have read in other places that the Swan and Dolphin may yet be added to the list of resorts allowed in early. Fingers crossed!

 

[SteveH]

... My question is more around the pricing of Dolphin and Swan. It seems that when I add kids to a reservation, the AAA, Nurse and Senior rates all are higher than the standard rates. If I only select 2 adults, the "discount" rates are lower. Does anyone know why this is? I would think even with kids, the discount rates should be cheaper, but that doesn't seem to be the case at all.

This has been an issue ever since Marriott took over SPG, the charges for the kids was supposed to have been fixed almost 2 years ago, but well still hasn't. I would suggest calling S/D direct, talk with in-house reservations, the additional charges for the children should be removed they can either book it for your or confirm the fees will be removed.

We are coming up on our ninth stay at the Swan.

As a regular maybe on your next stay see if you can meet with the GM, share your concerns (and your loyalty) you may find out some good news or get the confirmation we all don't want to hear.

With so much in flux right now; coming out of the pandemic, staffing issues, the huge losses properties saw over the past year, supply issues, etc. it's all tough to understand the future of Disney and S/D. With some of Disney's latest changes I think that will turn off a lot of people as a big cash grab. I would imagine that S/D & Disney are probably negotiating some things, like the future of busing hopefully. Just so many moving parts right now.

 

[CogsworthTN]

I just did a chat on the Disney site and asked why the Disney Swan and Dolphin was not on the list for Disney’s early entry into the parks. The CM stated that the Swan and Dolphin are on property only but are not Disney owned resorts. I then asked, so Holiday Inn and Hilton are owned by Disney? Read the screenshot of her response back.

 

[Meglen]

I just did a chat on the Disney site and asked why the Disney Swan and Dolphin was not on the list for Disney’s early entry into the parks. The CM stated that the Swan and Dolphin are on property only but are not Disney owned resorts. I then asked, so Holiday Inn and Hilton are owned by Disney? Read the screenshot of her response back.

I would take this with a grain of salt. This CM dosnt seem to understand the actual question. She prolly has the same list we all have so the only thing they can say is "they are not on the list"