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

[Grasshopper2016]

I called one of the tech support lines: (407) 934-7639. The wait time was over two hours, but fortunately, it gave me the option to enter my phone number for a callback, which I did. When I got the callback a few hours later, I did my best to explain my question to the CM. She had not heard of this phenomenon. She looked into my account and assured me that I am all set, and there is absolutely no reason why I wouldn't be able to make ILL$ reservations at 7:00 on my first park day. I hope she's right!

 

[Pocahontas618]

Thanksgiving week I stayed at the Swan Reserve. Everyone was on the room reservation but at 7 I couldn’t book ILL. The only reason I stayed at the hotel was to book at 7. It was our only day. (Daughter was home from college for a few days) Hotel said it was Disney’s problem and guest services said it was the hotels. Day was a total mess. Almost didn’t get in for early entry because again a problem with room not being linked properly. Paid for a hotel and park hoppers and it was all a waste of money. I didn’t realize at the time that reservations could fall off so I didn’t check that. I think with all the changes and planning involved day of, and this total mess, I’ve hit the end with Disney. They just don’t care about guest experience anymore and It’s just not worth the $. I really feel like they knew it was a problem too.

 

[patty57]

As I understand it, this is something different from the long-standing problem of S&D reservations falling off of MDE from time to time. This is a necessarily new phenomenon that affects the Genie system, in particular the ability to purchase ILL$ at 7:00 -- which is very important, especially on more crowded days, because the best rides sell out long before 9:00. This is a phenomenon where MDE still shows and recognizes your S&D reservation, but yet the system won't let you book at 7:00 because it somehow doesn't think that you are entitled to do so. By the time you get that taken care of, you have missed out on a huge perk of staying at S&D, and you have suffered through very stressful interactions with CMs that wasted a ton of valuable park time.

Thank you for clarifying this for me. And...uh oh. This isn't good.

 

[Donald Duck888]

Man, all this sounds horrible. I just booked the Swan reserve for March and I guess I will need to keep a close eye on MDE account to be sure the reservation stays linked.

I do have another question about the reserve though, how far is the walk to EPCOT from the resort compared to that of the swan or Dolphin? It’s hard to tell from maps.

Thanks

 

[Pocahontas618]

Man, all this sounds horrible. I just booked the Swan reserve for March and I guess I will need to keep a close eye on MDE account to be sure the reservation stays linked.

I do have another question about the reserve though, how far is the walk to EPCOT from the resort compared to that of the swan or Dolphin? It’s hard to tell from maps.

Thanks

After you walk across the street it’s a short walk to the Swan boat launch, less than 5 minutes. I would say it’s about 15-20 minute walk.

 

[Donald Duck888]

After you walk across the street it’s a short walk to the Swan boat launch, less than 5 minutes. I would say it’s about 15-20 minute walk.

Sounds like its not bad at all then. Thanks for the info.

 

[KYPartyof3]

In case anyone is wondering baggage transfers to the swan/Dolphin- we are staying one night at the all star resorts and then transferring over to the Dolphin and the bell/luggage service at the all star resort confirmed they will transfer luggage to the swan and dolphin. We had chatted with Disney before and didn’t get a straight answer and then the front desk here at the all star resort told us no (she didn’t really sound like she knew or not) so we stopped at the Bell/luggage service on our way in for the night and he confirmed they will transfer.

 

[melking23]

For those that have experienced issues purchasing ILL$ at 7AM, was it only on arrival day, first park day at least a day after arrival, or random days during your stay? I’m trying to figure out a rhyme or reason for the technical issues.

We arrive on a Saturday but our first park day will likely be on Sunday so we can have a mid-week break (leaning towards Tuesday so we don’t miss out on the extended evening hours on Wed). I’m still on the fence about spending the extra money for ILL$. I’m sure I’ll be stalking wait times in the days (who am I kidding?…weeks ) leading up to our trip.

 

[KYPartyof3]

We just arrived at the swan and Dolphin after staying 1 night all star resort so haven’t gotten the chance to see how early park admission and lighting lane selection will go in the mornings, but we have noticed our dolphin reservation has fallen off our Disney experience app multiple times already today. Luckily, adding it back with our confirmation numbers adds it back in. We are thinking it might have something to do with when you are assigned a room or an issue with your current booking - we noticed it fall off in the morning and I added it back and then when our room wasn’t ready this evening and they had to give us a double bed room instead of king and fell off after that.

 

[starry_solo]

@anita46 - I thought two rooms connected to the executive suite?

 

[Poohlovr]

The exec suite is the larger sitting room with a sleeper sofa and it attaches to either a queen/queen or a king room, although you can reserve both the king and the queen/ queen.

Many moons ago, we traveled with our daughter and her three children and were graciously given the king room in addition to the queen/queen we reserved.

 

[Gitelfor]

@anita46 - I thought two rooms connected to the executive suite?

The exec suite is the larger sitting room with a sleeper sofa and it attaches to either a queen/queen or a king room, although you can reserve both the king and the queen/ queen.

There also is the Grand Suite at the Swan, with a larger Parlor and either an attached Queen/Queen or King room, or both, with the parlor in the middle. The same is available at the Dolphin, but with an attached Double/Double, instead of Queen/Queen. The Parlor can be locked off from the bedroom(s), and the Parlor and bedrooms have their own doors out to the public corridor. The Parlor has its own full bath, TV, wet bar, and conference/dining table; it’s a nice set-up,

There is no resort fee charged on the parlor, when reserved with a bedroom.

Exec Suite
Grand Suite

 

[porkslap]

Data point for the Swan: Booked a 6 night stay in a King Room Traditional as a Bonvoy Platinum, received a King Resort View Balcony. Pleasantly surprised as we did mobile check-in and the Marriott App didn’t reflect the upgraded room at check-in time.

The daily $20 voucher for Platinum breakfast was easy to get and use, but I had to ask for it at the front desk since mobile check-in defaults you to points instead of the breakfast benefit.

 

[Meglen]

SR seems to be booking at a much lower price than S/D now. Yikes.

 

[Pocahontas618]

For those that have experienced issues purchasing ILL$ at 7AM, was it only on arrival day, first park day at least a day after arrival, or random days during your stay? I’m trying to figure out a rhyme or reason for the technical issues.

We arrive on a Saturday but our first park day will likely be on Sunday so we can have a mid-week break (leaning towards Tuesday so we don’t miss out on the extended evening hours on Wed). I’m still on the fence about spending the extra money for ILL$. I’m sure I’ll be stalking wait times in the days (who am I kidding?…weeks ) leading up to our trip.

I booked for one night and I was unable to book on my check out day. I was assigned a room and went to the front desk after to make sure everyone was listed correctly on my reservation.

 

[JJ2017]

OK - I have officially sold Swan/Dolphin to my friend, but she is very hesitant due to the bus situation to MK. She is going there two of her three park days. What is the "easiest" option for her so I can pitch it to her and convince her to stay here! She wants a direct route to MK, not to TTC. Her second choice is Grand Destino Tower. Any thoughts?

 

[melking23]

OK - I have officially sold Swan/Dolphin to my friend, but she is very hesitant due to the bus situation to MK. She is going there two of her three park days. What is the "easiest" option for her so I can pitch it to her and convince her to stay here! She wants a direct route to MK, not to TTC. Her second choice is Grand Destino Tower. Any thoughts?

If staying at Swan, walk next door to the Boardwalk. If staying at Dolphin, walk next door to Beach/Yacht Club. The Disney resort hotel buses go directly to MK.

 

[MSC]

I must have missed something - you can’t get a bus from S/D to MK anymore? What about AK?

 

[Gitelfor]

Costco limited time offer, which must be booked by 12/08/2021:

 

[SteveH]

I must have missed something - you can’t get a bus from S/D to MK anymore? What about AK?

This post should explain it all.