Hotel Review: The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort

The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort is a hotel (two really, the Swan and the Dolphin) that this little travel tribe stays at frequently. There is something about hearing the fountains and the boat horn and sniffing the cozy vanilla smell that immediately makes me feel at peace. In fact, until we joined the Disney Vacation Club it was the only place we stayed initially for two main reasons.

Standout Features

First, the Swan and Dolphin have the unique quality of being a non Disney hotel located on Disney property. Due to this, guests have most (but not all) of the benefits of a Disney hotel. There is still access to Extra Magic Hours and excellent transportation to parks and other properties, as well as the ability to book FastPass+ at 60 days out, but guests also get to redeem points or get points for their stay because the hotel is a Starwood/Marriott Property (which just happens to be our favorite hotel collection, so there’s no way we would’ve turned a blind eye to these two hotels). Occasionally the resorts also allow for cash and points bookings.

The branding of the hotel can also be of importance for those who have status in the Starwood/Marriott program as this may mean special amenities such as upgraded rooms, free late check out, or free breakfasts (all of which we take advantage of when available, without a doubt). I can’t tell you how many times we’ve used that late check out so we could hit up Epcot in the morning and then come change before our flight out of Orlando. (This late check out option can be requested by any guest. There is typically a fee and it is subject to availability.)

The second aspect of the property that drives us to return is its location. It is situated within a scenic and easy 15 minute stroll to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios, which, other than a ramp going over a bridge, is flat and stroller-friendly. The walk to Epcot takes us past the Boardwalk area, so we have easy access to all the amenities there (the hotel restaurants, the restaurants, bars, ice cream shops, bakeries, the ice cream shops…did I mention ice cream?), and when we get to Epcot the path terminates at the entrance found quietly placed between France and England in the World Showcase. You know the one? With the short line and quick bag check?

This location is pretty much a lifesaver and one of the big reasons we stay at the Swan and Dolphin Resort with kids. This lack of line is of significant benefit when we are there for Food and Wine or the International Flower and Garden Festival and we’ve got borderline hangry kids with us. It also makes it quite easy to just slip over to Epcot for dinner after a day at another park. It kind of makes it just no big deal. Kind of perfect then, no?

What are the Resort Amenities?

While there is a $28/per day resort fee, this fee is designed to cover the costs of some of the many amenities offered by the resort, including the daily S’mores kits and unlimited Swan Paddleboat rides for the little people and the unlimited health club access and on-demand Peloton spin bikes for those faithful riders who are working towards a new badge.

For little people, the resort has a revolving program of “Daily Recreational Activities” that run from mid/early morning into the evening hours. Each day has a new theme (think Music Mondays and Tropical Thursdays) with a host of activities happening around the resort, though they are primarily located near or at the pool. You may find arts and crafts like t-shirt tie dying, sand art, or build-a-plush pal (most of which are at an additional cost). There are also food-centered activities like Sweet Treats Happy Hour and movement-based activities like Tiny Tot Bubble Time and Teen and Adult H.O.R.S.E. Basketball Challenge. They make staying at the Swan and Dolphin Resort with kids as easy as possible on us exhausted and magically-challenged parents.

In addition to all the activities, the Swan and Dolphin Resort also offers Camp Dolphin Kids Club (though whether this is more for adults or little ones is still to be determined). During this camp, which runs in the evening only, parents can drop their children off for a few hours. And the bonus is that if parents are planning on staying on property and eating at one of the resort’s four signature restaurants or getting a 75 minute massage at the resort’s spa, then the resort offers two complimentary hours of child care at the camp. So you know where to find me pretty much every night after six.

Beyond just catering to the little ones, the Swan and Dolphin caters to the older crowd as well with a special Punch Hour every day at Phin’s Bar and karaoke in the evenings at Kimonos Lounge.

Finally, one of our favorite offerings of the resort is its Plush Pal Playtime, where the littles can drop off their favorite stuffed animal. And after a day at the parks, they can come back, pick up their pal and get a full run down of their pal’s activities with pictures to corroborate.

What are the Disney Amenities?

While this is not a Disney-owned resort, it does have all of the same park amenities as other Disney properties for the most part. There are still the benefit of Extra Magic Hours and transportation to other locations throughout the Disney property. And, fortunately, FastPass+ reservations begin at 60 days out.

Because of its location, the Swan and Dolphin Resort have plenty of options when it comes to transportation to and from Disney parks and resorts. Located between the two properties is a Friendship Boat Launch, which takes guests to either Epcot or Hollywood Studios. On the way to Epcot it also stops at the Boardwalk area and the Yacht and Beach Club. Because it’s such a short walk to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios from the resort, we’ve found that we can get to the parks walking just as quickly as we would’ve if we had taken the boat. (Note: you do not have to fold your strollers to get on the boat (A.MAZ.ING.)) The Disney shuttles also stop out front of each of the hotels for those looking to go to other parks or resorts.

One of the main differences, on paper, between staying at this property and one owned exclusively by Disney is the way in which dining reservations must be made. On a typical Disney-owned property, Advanced Dining Reservations (ADR) can be booked at 180 days out for the duration of your stay up to 10 days (180 +10). This isn’t the case at the Swan and Dolphin Resort. Here ADRs need to made 180 days out for each day separately. What this means is that for a stay of five days, you will have to log in and chose ADRs for five consecutive days, each of them 180 days out, rather than just logging in once and choosing restaurants for the duration of your stay.

Another difference between staying on a Disney-owned property versus the Swan and Dolphin Resort is that there is no option for the Magical Express. This is the bus that picks up guests and their luggage (so guests don’t ever have to go to the luggage carousels themselves) and takes them to their resorts. The luggage then, magically, appears in your room a bit later. While this option isn’t available, there are options for getting to and from the airport that the resort can help you set up.

Additionally, the resort does not offer its guests magic bands to use in the park, so you must carry your room key, credit cards/payment method, and park ticket with you at all times as it is not linked. This doesn’t sound like a major deal, but when you’re already carrying snacks, diapers, extra clothes, whoosits, whazzits, thingamabobs, and whirlygigs, you try to avoid carrying anything else extraneous.

What Can I Find On Site?

Restaurants

The resort has four signature restaurants, many of which have bars that you can head into for an evening drink. In addition, there are five casual dining options between the two hotels and three quick service/grab and go options. There’s a restaurant to please everyone, whether you’re coming or going.

Additionally, a recent addition to the resort is Phin’s Bar. The Dolphin has recently undergone a renovation and in the lobby of the hotel, a new gathering spot has opened, welcoming the hotel’s guests. Here a variety of special events can be found, such as Sunday Sips, which happens every Sunday from 10-2.

Finally, at Garden Grove, one of the casual dining restaurants located at the Swan, diners can eat dinner with Pluto and Goofy. They can also have breakfast with them on Saturdays and Sundays. This restaurant isn’t that large, at least not as large as most of the character dining spots, so on the occasions when we’ve been there, we’ve been able to spend some quality time with the characters.

Pool

The five pools at the Swan and Dolphin provide a kid-friendly experience with a variety of depths to accommodate everyone (including a zero entry spot for the tiniest). The pool is interesting in its design and has a water slide for little people, not to mention that it’s the social hub during the day, hosting crafts and games. They also offer free life vests for swimmers. We often take a half day at either Epcot or Hollywood Studios and then come spend the rest of the day cooling off in the waters of the grotto.

Mermaid Academy, where you can learn to swim like a mermaid or dolphin, can also be found at the Swan and Dolphin Resort. Costumes, instructions, and games are provided.

Practicalities

There are a number of conveniences found at the resort as well. For those who still need to book Disney-related activities, there are two on-site Disney planning centers.

There is also two car rental counters on site (National and Alamo). Guests can valet or self-park their cars for a fee, but parking at the parks is free with a room key. And when guests are ready to leave, they can print their boarding passes at two kiosks in the lobbies.

There are specialty stores, convenience stores, a coin-operated laundry, three ATMs, and two business centers so many of life’s daily needs can be met.

And for entertainment, in addition to all mentioned above, there is the Asian-inspired Mandarin spa, complete with hair and nail salon; a game room; and a complimentary shuttle to the Orland Vineland Premium Outlets.

What Are the Rooms Like?

As mentioned above, the resort has recently undergone a major renovation, so while many of our stays were prior to this, we have been back while it was undergoing its renovation and stayed in one of the new rooms.

For anyone who has previously been to the hotel, the improvements are palpable. The rooms are inviting, comfortable (and I mean more than just have one of Starwood’s famous Heavenly Beds), and soothing. I was still getting up in the middle of the night to feed the tiny one on our last stay, and I remember being so comfortable as I sank into the deep, soft chairs to feed him.

While the names of the types of rooms have changed since the renovation, we have stayed in a variety of room types. Our latests of which was in a Dolphin Premier Studio with a connecting standard two-queen bed room. The room was large, with a living space, dining space, and kitchenette. The king-bed bedroom was adjacent to the living area and, of import, was only separated by a large cut out in the wall. There was no door separating the bedroom from the living space, so privacy was a bit of an issue when putting children to bed.

This lack of privacy is the same in many of the room types we’ve stayed at during our visits to the resorts. Many of the suites (formerly junior suites, now called family rooms or deluxe with alcove) are large rooms with adequate places to sleep, if everyone is planning on going to sleep at the same time. The problem is, that’s not always the case. And since many of the rooms do not have balconies, this easy escape was not always an option for us. (Looking for tips to on sharing a room with your infant or toddler? Read “Tips for Sharing a Hotel Room with Your Infant or Toddler“.)

All in all, staying at the Swan and Dolphin was a fairly easy decision for us before we had children. Since kids, we still come back about once a year, but it is not our go to anymore. That’s because, while the hotel is clearly a part of the world of Disney, it is also distinct in how distant from Disney it can at times feel.

The hotels have quite large convention centers that are usually booked. This means that rather than having a family vibe, they often have a corporate vibe with groups of adults running from one meeting to another and signs and tables situated throughout the lobby (at least of the Dolphin). It seems the lobby is less a place to gather with a family than it is to be a meeting place of members of a larger visiting convention. When weaving our way through the throngs of convention goers, it feels as though we, as a family, accidentally stumbled into a meeting we were not supposed to be at. It is less than welcoming. In the Dolphin (our preferred property), the bar can become full of people mingling, and since the bar is located in the the lobby it can feel chaotic and impossible to navigate at times.

Finally, I think the aspect of the hotel that keeps it from being as child friendly as we’d want it to be can best be summed up by one of our latest visits. We were at the Dolphin during Hurricane Matthew and the closure of the parks. We asked the concierge if there were any special activities they had set up for the day to keep kids occupied, and they told us the Children’s Center would be open, as it usually is on rainy days. This small collection of rooms, tucked into the back corner of the hotel was the only amenity set up for children on a day when all children were confined to the hotel. (Disney properties, on the other hand, went so far as to bring the characters into the hotels so children could visit with them while stuck indoors.)

Additionally, while the hotel has some great activities like S’mores and parent’s Date Night, they do little to advertise these services upon arrival and parents must go out in search of them (we chanced upon them listed on an electronic poster when wandering the hotel during the Hurricane). In the seven years we had been frequenting the property with children, this information was never verbally discussed with us. No one every willingly pointed it out. In summation, the hotel has much to offer, but don’t be fooled into thinking that because it is on Disney property, it is the equivalent of staying at a Disney hotel.