Swan Reserve Pros and Cons
Thinking about staying at the Swan Reserve? This particular Deluxe Disney hotel holds a special place in my heart for its perfect blend of elegance, and location. I want to share my experience and some pros and cons you should know!
Here’s what we will cover -
Room Features
Dining Options
Location & Transportation
Ameneties
Booking with Marriott or Disney
Room Features
Here are a few room highlights from my recent stay at the beautiful Swan Reserve. We scored an impressive “Signature Suite," which we comfortably shared with our two adult children.
As the grown ups in charge, we decided to take the main bedroom, which features a generous king-size bed, while the kids settled into the cozy sofa bed located in the living room.
This arrangement provided us all with the delightful feeling of having our own separate spaces.
Additionally, the suite comes equipped with a divided bathroom, which thoughtfully includes a toilet and sink in one area, while the shower and an additional sink are situated in another area.
This clever design can be separated by a convenient pocket door, which is especially great for times when someone is taking a shower, as it allows easy access to the toilet for everyone else!
Room Pros: Comfortable, new, and clean!
Room Cons: The master bedroom door isn’t very private. It has a large gap between the room and shared bathroom.
Dining Options
Guests can enjoy a delectable dining experience at Amara dining room, unwind at Stir Lounge, or opt for a quick bite from the convenient grab n go pantry.
For those seeking even more dining choices, the proximity of other resorts and the boardwalk opens up a myriad of additional options to explore and savor.
Dining Pros: On site dining options are available.
Dining Cons: On site options are not as diverse and plentiful as other Disney resorts I’ve stayed at. No refillable resort cup option here.
Location & Transportation
Their are a lot of great transportation options when staying at the Swan Reserve - Here is the breakdown.
You can easily walk to various places from Swan reserve, such as Epcot (18 minutes), Skyliner Station (18 minutes), Disney Boardwalk (11 minutes), Swan & Dolphin Hotel (5-7 minutes), Water Taxi Station (6 minutes), and Beach Club & Yacht Club (10-12 minutes).
Water taxi - can transport you to Epcot, Skyliner, Hollywood Studios, Boardwalk, and Yacht/Beach Club Resort.
Skyliner - Ride from Epcot to Hollywood Studios and resorts like Rivera, Pop Century, Art of Animation.
Bus - You can also take this option to get to the parks and Disney Springs.
Transportation Pros: Lots of transportation options are available and you are close to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
Transportation Cons: Most transportation options are anywhere from a 5-18 min walk away with limited shade. Keep in mind the Swan Reserve is the farthest resort on the property.
Amenities
While staying at the Swan Reserve you will have access to all the Swan Resort amenities. There are numerous activities to enjoy such as relaxing by any of the pools, working out at the fitness center, lounging on the private beach, playing a round of golf, unwinding at the cabana bar, indulging in treatments at the full-service spa, visiting the barber/beauty shop, or having fun in the game room.
Staying here also gives you early park access, just like at other Disney Resorts.
Guests can also take advantage of services like laundry facilities, a gift/newstand for souvenirs, vending machines for snacks, valet dry cleaning for convenience, and daily housekeeping to ensure a comfortable stay.
Amenity Pros: The resort as a whole has great options! The staff is wonderful!
Amenity Cons: Be prepared to walk A LOT. Some amenities are located at the Swan or Dolphin.
Booking with Marriott or Disney
You can book your Swan Reserve stay with either the Disney website or the Marriott website. Let’s go over the differences.
Using the Disney website you simply head to “Places to Stay” and check under the “Other Select Deluxe Hotels” Section. There you will find the “Walt Disney World Swan Resort”. Booking with Disney will usually force you to purchase a package that includes tickets. This could be a good option if you need tickets. if you are an annual pass holder or already purchased your tickets you might consider calling or booking with marriott instead.
We prefer to just use the Marriott website directly. Simply head over to marriott.com and search for the “Swan Reserve” and add the dates you would like to stay. There you will get the rate and room options. The best part about using Marriott is that you can use your points towards your stay and request upgrades if you are a Marriott member.
Booking Pros: Marriott members can use points and request upgrades, which we take advantage of!
Booking Cons: Using the Disney website can be frustrating, and linking your reservation to the Disney app takes an extra step.
There you have it! The Swan Reserve is truly a phenomenal choice for travelers seeking the exceptional high-end luxury experience that the Marriott Autograph Collection offers, along with those sought-after Disney perks!
In my opinion, this beautifully designed hotel seems to be more geared towards adults, providing a serene and sophisticated atmosphere perfect for a relaxing getaway.
