Disney World Swan vs. Dolphin: Where Should You Stay?

Disney World Swan vs. Dolphin: Where Should You Stay?

Disney World Swan vs. Dolphin: Where Should You Stay?

In this article, we will break down if you should stay at the Disney Swan vs. Dolphin! As a general rule of thumb, we find the Disney World Dolphin to be best option for families looking for the cheapest price or more hotel room options and the Swan to be better for families looking for a nicer hotel with a smaller hotel which offers more convenience. However, as you will see, although the Dolphin does have more dining restaurants, both hotels are very close to each other and also share many amenities and are both part of the Marriott Bonvoy program.

SPECIAL NOTE: If you are still in the process of planning your Disney vacation and need help picking the best time to visit Disney World, be sure to check out our Disney crowd calendar below!

 Disney World Crowd Calendar

Should You Stay at Disney’s Dolphin or Swan?

As a general rule of thumb, we find the Disney World Dolphin to be the best option for families looking for the cheapest price and the most hotel room options, with 1509 hotel rooms. On the flip side, we find the Disney World Swan to be better suited for families looking for larger beds, nicer rooms, and a smaller hotel, as this resort only had 758 rooms.  However, as you will see, although the Dolphin does have more dining restaurants, both hotels are very close to each other and also share many amenities and are both part of the Marriott Bonvoy program.

Based on location

This is typically always a tie as the Disney Swan and Dolphin resorts are situated in the same location – Both nestled between Hollywood Studios and Epcot theme parks. The Swan Resort is only a few hundred feet from the Dolphin; therefore, you can expect the same kind of travel times and distances from the theme parks. Both are either a boat ride or a short walk away from the Disney Boardwalk resort area and either EPCOT or Hollywood Studios.

Based on price

As a general rule of thumb, we typically find the Disney World Dolphin to be cheaper when compared to the Disney Swan resort. Although both resorts have a starting price of around $250 per night, we believe the Swan is typically more expensive due to this hotel simply having fewer rooms compared to the Disney World Dolphin. As discussed above, we also find the Dolphin to have some very affordable 1 and 2-bedroom suites.  It is also important to note that both hotels also have the same nightly amenities fee which is right around $45 per night.

Based on hotel rooms

As a general rule of thumb, we typically will give the rooms at the Swan an advantage as the regular rooms come with 2 queen beds or 1 King bed compared to the regular rooms at the Dolphin, which come with 2 double beds or 1 king bed. However, from our experience, we have also found that the Dolphin offers more suite options for larger families at a very affordable price.

Based on restaurants and dining

We will typically always lean towards the Disney World Dolphin having the better dining options available for guests. The Disney World Dolphin offers 7 different restaurants compared to the 5 main restaurants offered at the Swan. However, we do believe that due to their close proximity, guests can easily enjoy and take advantage of the dining options at both of these hotels fairly easy. And we also love just how close these two hotels are to the Disney Boardwalk area which has a ton of more dining options for guests to enjoy.

Disney Dolphin restaurants

• Garden Grove (character dining)
• Rosa Mexicano
• Shula’s Steak House
• Todd English’s Bluezoo
• Picabu – buffet service and cafeteria
• The Fountain – 50’s diner American food
• Fresh Mediterranean Market
• Cabana Bar and Beach Club
• Lobby Lounge

Disney Swan restaurants

• Il Mulino New York Trattoria – traditional Italian cuisine.
• Kimonos – Japanese sushi bar
• Java Bar – pastries and coffee
• Splash Grill and Deli – American fare

Based on amenities

This is another category in which we will lean towards the Dolphin; however, as we discussed, guests of each hotel can use the amenities at the other resort. When visiting the Swan and Dolphin resorts, you can enjoy five different outdoor swimming pools, a white sand beach, and even swan boat rentals to paddle around in the water. You can even book a relaxing service at the Mandara Spa, which is located at the Walt Disney World Swan. Any Swan or Dolphin guest can book services at the Mandara Spa; you will have to take a short walk from the Dolphin to get there. 

Based on transportation

There is no clear-cut winner when it comes to transportation to and from the theme parks, as both hotels share the same type of transportation options. Water taxis take our guests to Disney’s BoardWalk, the Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot approximately every 20 – 25 minutes, starting 1 hour before the parks open. You will be able to board the water taxi from the boat dock located by the covered walkway between the Swan and Dolphin wings. Buses depart from the front entrance of the Swan wing and the Dolphin wing to the Magic Kingdom Park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and all other venues approximately every 20 – 25 minutes. There are even options to take guests between Disney World and Universal Orlando. 

All transportation options

• Watercraft Taxi
• Walt Disney World busses
• Walking
• Skyliner (Near Disney’s BoardWalk)

Based on convenience

We will always lean towards the Disney World Swan for families looking for convenience as this hotel is simply much smaller than the Disney Dolphin.  The Swan Resort offers 758 rooms, whereas the Dolphin Resort has 1509 rooms, which results in guests of the Swan having shorter walks to their rooms and to most restaurants and amenities throughout the hotel.

Related post: Disney Deals and Universal Vacation Specials

Disney Swan vs. Dolphin FAQ

Can you walk to EPCOT from the Swan and Dolphin?

Guests will be happy to hear that you can absolutely walk to EPCOT from either of the Swan or Dolphin hotels. In fact, guests can also walk over to Hollywood Studios using the walking path next to the Disney Boardwalk resort if they are up for it. We would say the walk to EPCOT from the Dolphin or Swan is about a 10 minute walk with the walk to Hollywood Studios being a 15-20 minute walk.

Is Swan and Dolphin owned by Disney?

While you do get almost all of the same perks as staying at a Walt Disney World Resort, the Swan, Swan Reserve and Dolphin are not owned by Disney. The Swan is owned and operated by Westin, the Dolphin is owned and operated by Sheraton and the Swan Reserve is owned and operated by Marriott.

Is Swan cheaper than Dolphin?

While the pricing of the Swan and Dolphin are relatively the same, you will actually, on average, pay more for the Swan. The Dolphin is typically a bit busier, as it is perfectly set up for conventions and events, therefore, you might save a couple of bucks staying there.

Are Disney Swan and Dolphin the same?

No, while they are both owned and managed by Marriott Bonvoy, they are two different hotels! Guests are allowed to share and use amenities between both, but the you will have to book a room in one or the other, and treat them as separate hotels. There are slight differences throughout like the theme and dining options, but they are very similar.

Is there a parking fee at the Dolphin or Swan?

• Preferred parking: car or motorcycle – $45-$50 per day*
• Standard parking: car or motorcycle – $25 per day (included for registered guests of the resort)
• Oversized Vehicle Parking: Shuttle, Limo, Camper Trailer, RV, Bus or Tractor Trailer – $30 per day

When is The Best Time to Visit Disney World?

Our Disney  World Crowd Calendar is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We break down park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices, and average temperature. We also break down the best time to visit Disney World based on specific times of the year and special events.

Are You Ready to Plan Your Next Disney World Trip?

Are you planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Be sure to speak with a Disney World Travel Agent for the most recent deals and promotions. The Park Prodigy will provide a Free Quote for all Disney World Vacation Packages. The Park Prodigy can also help you save up to $20 per ticket when purchasing your Walt Disney World Tickets, and we offer promotional discounts for special events such as Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Tickets and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Tickets. If you’re brand new to Disney vacation planning we recommend our Walt Disney World Planning Page! Learn more about Disney hotels by reading our Walt Disney World Hotels Review page.

Don’t forget to check out our wonderful friends over at Theme Park Today, as well!