Okay, I’m about to tell you something that might be controversial, but here goes: When you visit Disney World, you should consider NOT staying at a Disney-owned hotel.
Yes, I know that’s a hot take. But there is a non-Disney resort ON PROPERTY that may just offer a better experience for you than a Disney-owned hotel. That’s the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort.
Perks
So you might be thinking, “But if I stay off-property, I won’t get those perks like Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours.” Well, I’ve got some good news for you. You’ll get both of those perks at the Swan and Dolphin Hotels, just like you would at any Disney-owned deluxe hotel.
You’ll also get other Disney World hotel perks like free theme park parking and package delivery.
Location, Location, Location
The biggest draw to these hotels might be their location, though. They are just steps away from several EPCOT-area hotels, which means you’re super close to Disney’s Yacht Club, Beach Club, and Boardwalk Resorts. That means you have a WIDE variety of dining and shopping options in the area. Plus you can walk to EPCOT (and Hollywood Studios, although it’s a little farther away).
Transportation
You’ll also get access to transportation to and from the parks and Disney Springs, including a water shuttle to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. You’re also pretty close to the EPCOT Skyliner station. However, you can also just walk to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. Seriously, as I said above, the location just can’t be beat.
Marriott-Owned Hotel
The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, as well as the Swan Reserve, are all owned by Marriott. That means if you’re a member of the Marriott Bonvoy rewards program, you can earn points for stays at these hotels. You can also use your rewards points to book rooms.
Theme
Okay, so one thing you need to know about these hotels is there is no Disney theme. Instead, at the Swan, there are, well, swans, EVERYWHERE. And at the Dolphin? There are tons of dolphin fish sculptures and lots of water. These hotels are still gorgeous! Honestly, I think this makes these some of the more unique hotels at Disney World and the experience here is worth giving up strictly Disney theming.
Rooms
The rooms are well-appointed, and if you’re looking for a good night’s sleep, THIS is where you want to stay. The beds in the room are those Westin heavenly beds, and if you have never slept on one of those, well, you are missing out. I’ve never had a bad night’s rest in one of these hotels because it almost feels like you’re sleeping on a cloud. Also, you get double-stuffed feather pillows. This could be one of the most comfortable rooms in Disney World.
Price
Here’s where the Swan and Dolphin Hotels really beat out Disney World’s deluxe hotels. Rooms start at around $280 per night (although that depends on when you’re staying and type of room), which means these rooms are a bit more affordable than the rooms at Disney’s deluxe hotels. Also, as I said above, if you can use Marriott Bonvoy rewards to book a room, you could potentially save even more money on a stay here.
Dining
Do you want to eat? Trust me, I’m always hungry, and you’ll have 23 restaurants and lounges to check out between the Swan and Dolphin Hotels. You’re also REALLY close to all the restaurants at the other EPCOT-area hotels. Take your pick, you have a LOT of food options. The only problem is that there are so many options you might have trouble deciding where you want to eat. You can also order food to be delivered to your room with In-Room Mobile Dining. Several of the restaurants here also offer Mobile Order pick-up options.
Pro tip: if you’re staying here during an EPCOT festival, just make sure you have a park hopping ticket and walk to EPCOT every night to check out a wide array of festival foods.
Pools
There are six pools to choose from if you’re looking for a little fun in the sun or just want to curl up with a good book by a white sand beach. When I stayed at the Swan, I noticed that the pool doesn’t get nearly as crowded as the pools at Disney-owned hotels, which is nice.
Also, if you get hungry or thirsty, you can Mobile Order food from your lounge chair. You’ll find a QR code attached to each chair by the pool which you just scan with your phone and then order. Then…get this…the food comes RIGHT to you. Disney needs to take notes.
So if you think you can break yourself away from the Disney bubble (and I know that can be hard), consider a stay at the Walt Disney World Swan or Dolphin. You might just like it so much that you won’t ever stay at a Disney hotel again.
We’ve Gotta Share Some BAD NEWS About Disney World Hotels
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Have you ever stayed at the Walt Disney World Swan or Dolphin? What was your experience like? Let me know in the comments!
This is our go to resort. I will be staying there for the 3rd time in two weeks. But the best time to stay here is in November during Veterans Day weekend. They have their own wine and food festival and it is huge and absolutely fantastic!
Just don’t forget about the additional resort fee. 😞
This is all pretty much true, and we have enjoyed our stays here in the past for the most part. But our last stay in the Swan was abysmal, and we will not be back. We told them in advance that it was our anniversary vacation, and we paid to a premium view, but were assigned a room overlooking a roof, and worse, one that was under repair! Then the air conditioning (or some other mechanical item in the wall) leaked all over the floor. Management were not very responsive. They promised to change our room and we pack all our things again to allow them to move our luggage while we were in the park, only to return and find that we had not been moved and the leak had not been repaired. In the end, all they did was credit us $100 for our 5 night stay (a whopping $20 dollars per night). We were, at the time, Marriott Gold club members and have NEVER had treatment like this at any other Marriott property. The Swan, at least, has definitely slipped FAR from its previous status in our estimation.