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

[Dan Murphy]

Since I had a million questions prior to my trip I thought I would post a Swan Reserve review.
I am not a fussy person and the issues I will list were very trivial at the time but they all added up to not good.
First of all, the hotel is gorgeous. Very clean and pretty. The front desk staff were very nice. The bathroom was large and the rainforest shower head was awesome. We had food at the quick service coffee place and it was delicious and they had many varieties of specialty coffee that we tried.
Now for the bad(sorry the list is long)....
I think there are a lot of kinks to be worked out with housekeeping. I had to fetch a lot of my own stuff as nothing was replenished. I got fresh towels but dirty ones were left on the floor. We had to get our own soap off of a cart. Coffee cups were replenished but coffee was not restocked. I asked for a packet with sugar in the hallway and was told that sugar was in short supply.
For an Autograph Collection hotel I should not have to take care of my own room.
Room was small, walls were thin, storage was lacking.
Bed and bedding were very average.(not as good as Swolphin bedding by any means)
The walk over there from the boat was just a little further than the Swolphin but it seemed far when you were tired at the end of a long park day.
When I asked about the bus situation to Animal Kingdom I was told I was better off going to the Beach Club to catch a Disney Bus on a more reliable schedule.
I wanted to really love this hotel but I won't be staying again.

Thanks for the review, jmcross. Hopefully some of those concerns are early shake-out issues and will be fixed in the future.

 

[SteveH]

@jmcross thanks, I wonder if they are short on proper bedding - the Heavenly bed setup at the Swan is amazing after a long day. Sugar? I've not heard of that being in short supply, though I guess anything can be. I find it shocking the resort would suggest going to BC for AK, I mean yes its an option but I would think that's off limits for an SDR employee to suggest.

I do agree with Dan though, give them a few months and hopefully thye've got the kinks worked out, clearly opening during this era is an extra challenge but sure seems like with all the delays they would been better prepared.

Thanks for the review!

 

[emmabelle]

ughhhhh.... I don't know what to do.

I now have 3 reservations and two have to go.

For 5 nights in December

Dolphin - king bed $1700
POR - Royal guest room $1900
Swan Reserve - Queen room $2400

 

[travellovingirl]

Yes, you get the 60+10 for ADRs as well as treated like a Deluxe resort for extra evening hours.

Great, thank you! So at the 60 day mark, we can make up to 10 days of reservations, as I understand it.

 

[mickey916]

ughhhhh.... I don't know what to do.

I now have 3 reservations and two have to go.

For 5 nights in December

Dolphin - king bed $1700
POR - Royal guest room $1900
Swan Reserve - Queen room $2400

Just my opinion, I'd stick with the Dolphin...less money and you get the perks of Deluxe and ability to walk to Epcot and DHS or take the boats. I'd spend the other money on Genie+ or food.

 

[SteveH]

@emmabelle who's all in your party? What are the primary parks you are going for? I know for the 2400 I'd drop SR, the comes down to a $200, since you booked a Royal Room I'll assume you have young ones - if that's the case POR very well could be a top choice as those rooms are great.

 

[SteveH]

Great, thank you! So at the 60 day mark, we can make up to 10 days of reservations, as I understand it.

Yes, but be aware a lot of people are having major issues with the ADR system. I do suggest spending some time in the Restaurant forum so you're prepared and ready to deal with the potential stress. Wish you good luck and that the Disney IT gods be in your favor

 

[emmabelle]

Just my opinion, I'd stick with the Dolphin...less money and you get the perks of Deluxe and ability to walk to Epcot and DHS or take the boats. I'd spend the other money on Genie+ or food.

I really wanted to try the Swan Reserve but then started to worry what if we have a rowdy wedding group next door. We stayed at the Dolphin in June and on our last night there must have been a bachelorette party next door. They were screaming "fireball, fireball!" at midnight.

I also love staying in a Disney resort, but I think POR is kind of off the beaten path compared to the Marriott properties.

 

[Gitelfor]

One of the first things I noticed when looking at actual photos/video of the Reserve’s guest rooms was the bedding. The beds at the Swan have down comforters in duvets. The beds at the Reserve appear to have what look like blankets. One can tell that the Swan’s duvets are changed when the sheets are changed, but are the blankets at the Reserve changed when guests check out?

Many deluxe hotels sandwich blankets between fresh sheets, but I don’t see that in the photos, either.

 

[emmabelle]

@emmabelle who's all in your party? What are the primary parks you are going for? I know for the 2400 I'd drop SR, the comes down to a $200, since you booked a Royal Room I'll assume you have young ones - if that's the case POR very well could be a top choice as those rooms are great.

ummmm... it's actually me and my husband. I don't know why I did the Royal room. I thought it would be fun. haha

 

[Jillfo]

Great, thank you! So at the 60 day mark, we can make up to 10 days of reservations, as I understand it.

You may have to call to do it. I know that was the case for my Swan Reserve reservation for marathon weekend.

 

[SteveH]

ummmm... it's actually me and my husband. I don't know why I did the Royal room. I thought it would be fun. haha

For my wife and I we prefer the location of S/D. We stayed our last trip at POFQ and enjoyed it but the bus to all 4 parks is a downer, and honestly I was unimpressed by the food we had for breakfast and my own lunch there was a huge let down. If it were me I'd stay at the Dolphin and save the $200. Good luck with your decision.

 

[Meglen]

The prices of the S/D/R just shot up for our time in june by 30$ per night for each resort.. We grabbed the reserve for 270$ a night but now all 3 are over that price. After these reviews I was gonna swap to swan.. but guess I will keep checking.

 

[emmabelle]

I just want to stay at one of the three Disney Epcot hotels, but even with my PH discount they were over $600 a night and I just couldn't bring myself to pay that for a basic room. Now throw in club level and I may have bitten on that.

 

[cgattis]

Does anyone have a map of the Dolphin room numbers? It would be nice at check-in to know where your room assignment is before going all the way there and then maybe wanting to request a different location. I checked the first post, but I don’t see anything. Thanks if anyone has this! Or just a general idea of “these numbers are on this side” type info.

 

[patty57]

ughhhhh.... I don't know what to do.

I now have 3 reservations and two have to go.

For 5 nights in December

Dolphin - king bed $1700
POR - Royal guest room $1900
Swan Reserve - Queen room $2400

I would pick the Dolphin.
I am at a studio in BWV for a quick food & wine trip. Walked over to the other Epcot resorts to see if any Christmas decorations were up. Swan had decorations, but no chocolate Santa. Maybe that goes up closer to Christmas? Dolphin was decorated, but SR was not. SR looked pretty, but I wouldn't pay more to stay there. BC had their carousel, but YC didn't have their train out yet. No decorations at BW yet either.

 

[Meglen]

I just want to stay at one of the three Disney Epcot hotels, but even with my PH discount they were over $600 a night and I just couldn't bring myself to pay that for a basic room. Now throw in club level and I may have bitten on that.

yikes with the reviews they will be lucky to get 200$ a night.. Legit all the review sites are being responded to with apologies from staff.. lol

 

[TexanInTheMidwest]

Does anyone have a map of the Dolphin room numbers? It would be nice at check-in to know where your room assignment is before going all the way there and then maybe wanting to request a different location. I checked the first post, but I don’t see anything. Thanks if anyone has this! Or just a general idea of “these numbers are on this side” type info.

Not sure if there is one online, but you can ask at the front desk BEFORE you go to your room.

When I was there in August, I was offered an "upgrade" to a "resort view" because I was platinum and the gal at the front desk pulled out a schematic and let me pick room location from the 3 she had available.... Just know that if they are super busy (and the Dolphin looks to be sold out the rest of this year) they may not have many choices.

 

[CBMom01]

Question about getting back to Swolphin for those who have stayed there a lot: Returning from MK after park close on busy days, is there. SD bus waiting at TTC when you get there? I’ve never had to deal with TTC before

 

[kappyfamily]

I really wanted to try the Swan Reserve but then started to worry what if we have a rowdy wedding group next door. We stayed at the Dolphin in June and on our last night there must have been a bachelorette party next door. They were screaming "fireball, fireball!" at midnight.

I also love staying in a Disney resort, but I think POR is kind of off the beaten path compared to the Marriott properties.

If you can hang tight I check in on the 20th and plan on writing up an initial review of check in process and what the room looks like. We will be going to EPCOT that day so I plan on timing the walk as well. I'm more than a little picky with hotel rooms, I travel a bunch for work. Dolphin was always out for us because we didnt want the double beds. Not sure if it was you or someone else that said something about loud wedding parties but that can literally happen anywhere, doesnt matter which hotel or cost, so I wouldnt let that sway you. Stay tuned!