Complete Guide to the Walt Disney World Swan vs Dolphin Resorts 2023

Complete Guide to the Walt Disney World Swan vs Dolphin Resorts 2023

Complete Guide to the Walt Disney World Swan vs Dolphin Resorts 2023

This article is your complete guide to the 2023 Swan vs Dolphin Resorts in Walt Disney World. Choosing the right hotel for your Disney vacation can be tough, especially when deciding between offsite and onsite locations. The Swan and Dolphin resorts are always at the top of the list for resorts that we love staying at, along with many other Disney guests. That leaves many people wondering is the Dolphin or Swan hotel better?

This is where we come in! We are experts at staying at the Swan and Dolphin resorts and have the ultimate comparison of the two. We’ve even seen the new Swan Reserve hotel, which is an incredible choice too! There are many differences between the two hotels, but they are also very similar. So in this article we will comparing everything Disney Swan and Dolphin like restaurants, rooms and more!

So if you’re wondering which is better, Disney Swan or Dolphin resorts? – read on!

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

 Disney World Crowd Calendar

2023 Dolphin vs Swan Hotel Overview

When wondering which hotel should I choose the Swan or Dolphin – which is better, it is important to know that both choices are great! Some of our favorite Disney resort choices are the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts. These two luxury hotels owned by Marriott are centrally located in Walt Disney World Resort and within minutes of any of the WDW theme park. Many people don’t know the difference between Swan and Dolphin resort, and actually think they are the same resort! 

But, since we’ve stayed at the Swan, Dolphin and even the brand new Swan Reserve, we like to think that we’re experts. So, if you’re looking as to all of the details on Disney Swan vs Dolphin, we’ve got you covered.

What are the factors to consider when deciding if the Dolphin or Swan is better?

• Swan and Dolphin Location
• Transportation
• Hotel Rooms
• Pricing
• Dining Locations

And you’ll be happy to hear that although not owned by Walt Disney World, the Swan and Dolphin Marriott’s have the same perks as Disney resorts like access to the free Disney resort transportation. While these resorts are two separate sister resorts, they share a lot of similarities and differences. So next, let’s talk about some of the differences between the Disney Swan and Dolphin hotel next!

Related post: Disney Deals and Universal Vacation Specials

Walt Disney Swan vs Dolphin Location

The 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 short walk away from Either EPCOT or Hollywood Studios parks. So if you’re wondering WDW Swan or Dolphin for location, it is truly splitting hairs on which is better.

If you’re heading to EPCOT, the Dolphin is maybe a few minutes closer and if you’re heading to Hollywood Studios, the Swan might be a step or two closer. Either way, its a wash when it comes to Swan vs Dolphin for location.

Can you walk to EPCOT from the Swan and Dolphin?

Another popular question we receive is, can you walk to EPCOT from the Swan and Dolphin? And, yes 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.

Related Page: Guide to the Disney World Boardwalk  

2023 Swan vs Dolphin Map

As you can see on the 2023 Dolphin vs Swan map the hotels are almost identically located. They are also located directly in the middle of Walt Disney World which we love as you have easy transportation to all four Walt Disney World theme parks and not just EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. We also feel like because the hotels are so close to each other you can really take advantage of all of the amazing restaurants and amenities at either Swan or Dolphin resort. 

The Swan Reserve is located right on the left of the Swan, across the way from Disney’s Fantasia Gardens & Fairways golf courses. You can see the Swan Reserve from Buena Vista Drive if you are driving between the theme parks.

Related Page: Guide to the Cheapest Disney World hotels 

Dolphin vs Swan Hotel Rooms 2023

While there are very little differences between the Walt Disney World Dolphin vs Swan in terms of location, there are some differences when it comes to the hotel rooms. The Swan and Dolphin hotel rooms are very similar in terms of size and amenities, but the Swan hotel rooms have been recently renovated. The Swan hotel rooms have a more modern feel to them, while the Dolphin hotel rooms have a more traditional feel.

The Swan and Dolphin hotel rooms are both spacious and comfortable, with the Swan hotel rooms being slightly larger. The Swan hotel rooms also have a larger bathroom area, which can be a big plus for families. The Dolphin hotel rooms, on the other hand, have a larger living area, which can be a plus for families who need more space to spread out.

The Disney Swan hotel vs Dolphin rooms hold a slightly different theme. The Dolphin color palette is beautiful shades of blue, silver and white while the Swan has more of a relaxing blue and gray vibe. Both resorts offer 4 types of rooms – traditional, resort view, grand deluxe and grand family deluxe. There are also several suites available for guests to book, such as junior, executive and presidential suites.

How many rooms are in the Swan and Dolphin resorts?

A minor difference between the two resorts is the number of rooms which a guest can book. The Swan Resort offers 758 rooms, where the Dolphin resort has 1509 rooms, which is double! The guest room themes are similar, with a contemporary nautical palate of colors.

Comparison of Disney World Swan vs Dolphin traditional rooms

Swan vs Dolphin beds

• Swan – 2 Queen Beds or 1 King (2 adults/2 children)
• Swan – 1 King Bed + 1 Sofa Bed
• Dolphin – 2 Double Beds or 1 King (2 adults, 3 children)

Disney Swan vs Dolphin traditional room sizes

• Swan – 340 Square Feet / 32 Square Meters
• Dolphin – 360 Square Feet / 33 Square Meters

Disney Dolphin vs Swan bathrooms

• Swan – Heavenly Shower Curtain and Wand
• Dolphin – Overhead Rain Shower Head

Both:

• Glass Enclosed Shower
• Shower / Tub Combination Available Upon Request

Disney Swan vs Dolphin room features

Both Swan and Dolphin rooms have all of these features for guests to use.

• All Rooms are Non-Smoking
• Safe
• Iron / Ironing Board
• Single Serve Brew Coffee Makers
• In-Room Mini Refrigerators
• Clock Radio with Dual USB Charging Stations
• Individual Climate Control

The Swan and Dolphin hotel rooms both have a mini-fridge, coffee maker, and a safe. The Swan hotel rooms also have a microwave, which can be a big plus for families who want to save money by eating in their room.

If you want to see a Swan vs Dolphin review of the rooms, we have a short YouTube video here of the Dolphin rooms.

 

Disney Swan vs Swan Reserve traditional rooms

• Swan: Two queen or king with sofa bed, 340 square feet (32 square meters)
• Swan Reserve: Two queen or king with sofa bed, 330 square feet (30 square meters).

Related post: The Complete List of Disney World Resorts

Walt Disney Swan and Dolphin Restaurants

One of the largest differences between the Swan or Dolphin hotels are the dining options available for guests. Both offer an array of cuisines, from Italian to Japanese to traditional steakhouse. So does the Disney Dolphin or Swan better for restaurants? It is hard to compare because both resorts have amazing options and exclusive, world class dining! 

Disney Swan Restaurants

The Swan Hotel offers 5 different kinds of restaurants to guests. Our favorite option is the only character breakfast between these two resorts called Garden Grove.  During this breakfast at Disney you can meet Pluto and goofy and dine on an a la carte menu or enjoy from the breakfast buffet.

Other restaurants include:

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

Disney Dolphin Resort Restaurants

While the Swan has the character breakfast, the Dolphin has more choices to eat from, offering 7 different restaurants. The most important, award-winning Todd English bluezoo.

You can also find:

• Shula’s Steak House
• Picabu – buffet service and cafeteria
• The Fountain – 50’s diner American food
• Fresh Mediterranean Market
• Cabana Bar and Beach Club
• Lobby Lounge

So for WDW Swan vs Dolphin restaurants, it is completely up to you what you think will be better! Guests can book dining reservations at either resort, so this may not be something to be concerned about. 

What are the Disney Swan Reserve restaurants?

The Swan Reserve restaurants are Amare Mediterranean cuisine, Tangerine poolside snacks, food and refreshments, Grounds grab-and-go coffee, sandwiches, and more, Stir lobby lounge with cocktails and light bites. We tend to think that since the Swan Reserve is so small, if you’re looking for more options and aren’t a fan, the Swan has many more options to choose from, with some of the best dining of all three hotels.

Related post: Ranking All of The Boardwalk Disney Restaurants

Walt Disney Swan vs Dolphin Price 2023

When it comes to which is better Swan or Dolphin for price, both resorts tend to start at $250 a night. Recently, the Swan has been a bit more expensive that the Dolphin, which could be due to the lesser amount of rooms available.

When booking through the Swan or Dolphin, there is a mandatory Resort Service package, which is $35 per day. That covers many of the amenities that we will talk about below.

Swan and Dolphin parking fee

When parking at the Swan and Dolphin, there is a daily parking fee for your vehicle.

• 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

Related Article: Complete Guide to the Disney Boardwalk 

Swan Versus Dolphin Hotel Amenities

When wondering is Disney Swan or Dolphin better, both resorts offer luxurious amenities, making that a hard question to answer. When visiting the Swan and Dolphin Marriott 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 just have to take a short walk from the Dolphin to get there!

Services at the Mandara Spa include

• Mandara Customized & Deep Tissue Massage
• Elemis Urban Cleanse For Men Facial
• Coconut Poultice Massage
• Elemis Cellutox Aroma Spa Ocean Wrap
• Elemis Visible Brilliance Facial
• Mandara Coffee Body Polish and Coconut Milk Wrap

These are just some of the services offered by the Mandara Spa at the Swan Hotel.

What are the Swan and Dolphin amenities for all guests?

• in-room high-speed wireless Internet access
• unlimited access to the health club facilities, including 24 hour access to Dolphin Health Club
• complimentary Swan Paddle Boat rentals
• complimentary daily scheduled fitness classes
• daily scheduled recreational resort and pool activities

These amenities are also offered for the brand-new Swan Reserve, which is the third Swan and Dolphin hotel that was finished in 2021.

Related post: Complete Guide to the Best Disney Resort Pools

Disney Swan vs Dolphin Transportation

Walt Disney World Dolphin or Swan transportation will be the same for either resort. 

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. 

You can also walk to either Disney’s Hollywood Studios or EPCOT park from either resort. There are walking paths running along the waterway next to the Walt Disney World Swan Resort and EPCOT is accessible from the BoardWalk Inn.

Disney Swan vs Dolphin transportation options

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

Related post: The Complete Guide to the Disney Skyliner Route

Disney World Swan Vs Swan Reserve

One of the newest hotels on Disney property also just opened up across the street from the Disney World Swan and Dolphin and that is the Swan Reserve. The newest addition to the Marriott hotels on Disney World property is more sleek and modern compared to the Disney Swan or Dolphin resort. But is the Disney World Swan reserve nicer than the Dolphin or Swan? 

Very simply, it’s a different type of hotel boasting more suites for families looking to upgrade to larger rooms with more space. All in all we do feel like the rooms are nicer but with that they will cost you a bit more per night. And with only 349 rooms at the Swan Reserve and 150 of those rooms being considered suites you can understand why. And many of those suites also provide amazing theme park views of EPCOT which can be a great way to experience the fireworks.

Our favorite part of the Swan Reserve vs Swan is that all of the amenities are shared between the three hotels. So while the Swan Reserve may be smaller than the other two hotels, the ability to walk between the three hotels and use the pools, gyms, spas and more is a huge perk.

Swan vs Swan Reserve – What are the Swan Reserve Restaurants?

The Swan Reserve restaurants are:

• Amare – Mediterranean cuisine
• Tangerine – Poolside snacks, food and refreshments
• Grounds – Grab and go coffee, sandwiches and more
• Stir – Lobby lounge with cocktails and light bites

We tend to think that since the Swan Reserve is so small, if you’re looking for more options are aren’t a fan, the Swan has many more options to choose from, with some of the best dining of all three hotels.

What are the Swan Reserve transportation options?

When it comes to the Disney Swan vs the Dolphin, and comparing that to the Swan Reserve, all of the transportation will be the same. The three hotels are in the same area and share all of the same transportation options, which, at the Swan Reserve are busses, boats and the Disney Skyliner.

Disney Swan vs Swan Reserve Traditional Rooms

• Swan – Two Queen or King with Sofa Bed) – 340 Square Feet / 32 Square Meters
• Swan Reserve – (Two Queen or King with Sofa Bed) 330 Square Feet/ 30 Square Meters

Related Page: Disney World Vacation Package Deals and Promotions

Dolphin and Swan Hotel – Which is Better?

So you’ve read this article and are wondering still what is the difference between the Swan and Dolphin hotel? As you can see, there isn’t much of one! We think that a stay at either Swan or Dolphin hotels will be a great stay. The closeness of the two sister resorts make a lot of the amenities and restaurants easy to access within minutes. Both resorts are beautifully designed with many different recreation options to enjoy while you’re on vacation.

So, Walt Disney swan or Dolphin – which is better? We can’t decide. We suggest that you look for the best deal between the two and book that way. 

Related post: What are the Best Disney World Hotels for Families ?

Disney Swan vs Dolphin FAQ

Q: Is Swan and Dolphin owned by Disney?

A: 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.

Q: Is Swan cheaper than Dolphin?

A: 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.

Q: Are Disney Swan and Dolphin the same?

A: 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.

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!