The Swan Reserve is one of the newest resort options at Walt Disney World, adding another property within walking distance of EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The construction of this resort has been going on for a few years now, leaving visitors to the area with many questions about this new resort.
Before we go further, just note that the Swan Reserve is considered to be a Disney resort, and gets all the benefits of staying at a deluxe resort.
Today I’m going to answer some of your top questions about the Swan Reserve to help you decide whether this would be a good option for your next vacation.
Is the Swan Reserve considered a Disney Resort?
The new Swan Reserve is considered a Disney Resort, but keep in mind this property is not owned or operated by the company. For that reason, you’ll find that many of the classic Disney resort touches are missing, but you can still enjoy the great benefits of staying at an Epcot area resort.
Read More: Comparing Disney’s Dolphin vs Swan vs Swan Reserve
That being said, you’ll still experience all of the perks of staying at a Disney resort when you book your vacation here. Guests can enjoy the early morning entrance to the four Walt Disney World theme parks, offering you the chance to enter the parks 30 minutes before off-site guests.
You’ll also find that you have easy access to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which is why so many people are opting to stay here.
As well as the earning morning access, you’ll be able to enjoy the extended evening hours that are on offer to Deluxe resort guests on certain nights. Guests of the Swan Reserve can also enjoy the one hour extra time to purchase your Lightning Lane individual passes at 7 am on the day of your park visit.
You’ll also appreciate the free bus transportation to all of the theme parks and across the resort, as well as free parking at the theme parks. As you can see, there are still a lot of perks of staying here, so definitely consider the Swan Reserve if the price is right for your next vacation.
Who Owns Disney’s Swan Reserve? Why Was it Built?
Disney’s Swan Reserve is owned by Tishman Realty & Construction Corporation and MetLife, who also own the Swan and Dolphin resorts. Marriott International, Inc. manages all three of these resorts, and you’ll find that when you are booking the resort online, you can do this directly with Marriott.
The resort opened in the fall of 2021, offering a tranquil and luxury resort option that would be perfect for couples and adults visiting the resort. It’s part of the Autograph Collection of hotels from the company, showcasing the high quality of the accommodation on offer here.
The Swan and Dolphin are extremely popular resorts, so it was only time before they added another resort to the collection here. The Swan Reserve is a more modern property than the other two resorts here, which were built back in 1990.
With many business travelers opting to stay at these resorts, they are some of the most popular on property for convention attendees. It’s no surprise that the company decided to add another resort here, and we are excited that it’s expanded the accommodation options on offer to visitors.
Can You Walk from the Swan Reserve to Disney’s Hollywood Studios?
One of the top reasons to consider staying at the Swan Reserve is to enjoy the fantastic location that it offers. As one of the Epcot area resorts, you’ll be able to walk directly from the Swan Reserve to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Just follow the path from the Boardwalk along the water, and you’ll be there in no time at all to start your day.
Can You Walk from the Swan Reserve to EPCOT?
You can also walk from the Swan Reserve to EPCOT, via the World Showcase entrance that comes in between the United Kingdom and France pavilions. Many guests opt to stay in this area just to be able to visit here whenever they like.
Following the fireworks at the end of the evening, you’ll be able to exit here and avoid the crowds that are waiting for the Disney resort buses or the Skyliner. If you do fancy exploring some of the other resorts nearby, you could also hop on the Skyliner here one day, which allows you to enjoy even more dining and entertainment options.
What is There To Do at the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve?
You’ll certainly never be bored when staying at the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve. Of course, most visitors here opt to spend most of their time at the four Disney theme parks, but if you are taking a day off the parks, you’ll have no trouble finding things to do to keep your whole family entertained.
These are just a few of the highlights of the amenities available at the Swan Reserve.
Swimming Pool
The on-site pool area is one of the highlights of the resort, offering a curved swimming pool with plenty of seats for you to relax during a day off from the parks. We love the fire pits that are located around the pool, and there’s also the option to rent a cabana here for an additional charge if you are looking to upgrade your day here. Check the hours at the pool for exact timings that it will be open during your stay, but expect it to be open all day long during the summer months. If you time your visit well, you could even enjoy a relaxing swim after a long day in the theme parks.
Workout Area
Keeping fit on vacation has never been easier when you stay at the Swan Reserve. The Swan Reserve Health Club offers all of the machines and equipment you would expect from a modern gym. Enjoy using the strength-training equipment, treadmills, cycles, and stair climbers, all of which were added when the resort opened last year.
Mini Golf
Another great perk of staying at the Swan Reserve is that you are just a short walk away from Disney’s Fantasia Gardens mini golf course. Here you’ll be able to choose from two different courses, both of which offer 18 holes of fun for the whole family.
The course is themed after the popular movie Fantasia and has been operating here since 1996. It’s a great way to escape the crowds of theme parks during the peak travel season. The Fairway side is much more competitive than the Fantasia Gardens course, but you could try both when you are staying nearby at the Swan Reserve.
Read Also: Disney World Mini Golf Courses: Cost And Other Options
Swan and Dolphin Amenities
As well as enjoying these amenities during your stay, keep in mind that you can head on over to the Swan and Dolphin resorts to use their facilities. This means you’ll enjoy access to all of their swimming pools and recreation areas, which are great for families and children of all ages.
The Dolphin is home to the Mandara Spa, where you can pamper yourself and relax after a busy few days at the theme parks. There are also endless dining options in these two resorts, so you’ll never struggle to find something to eat at any time of the day.
Does the Swan Reserve Have Laundry On Site?
The Swan Reserve doesn’t have laundry on its site, but the good news is that you can head over to the Dolphin and use their 24-hour laundry rooms. These are located on the lower level of the resort, and the machines are self-service and can be used at any time.
You can purchase your machine tokens from the laundry room, so you don’t need to worry about bringing laundry detergent with you on vacation. If you are looking for dry cleaning, just dial Housekeeping from the phone in your room, and you’ll be able to receive this service.
Read Also: Laundry at Disney World: In-Room, Self Service, Valet
How Much Does it Cost to Stay at the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve?
Keep in mind that the rates for staying at the Swan Reserve will vary depending on the time of the year that you are planning your Disney vacation. Rates are naturally much higher during the holiday season and the peak summer season.
The rates start at about $330 a night, but go up significantly based on what type of room you are looking for. You’ll also need to pay a $35 resort fee for each night of your stay here, so remember to budget for this as well when booking your stay.
The great thing about the Swan Reserve is that you can use your Marriott account to enjoy various perks when booking a stay here. If you have been collecting points with Marriott, it may be a good way to reduce the cost of your Disney vacation.
The resort offers five different standard room options, some of which have upgraded views over the theme parks. You’ll also find one junior suite and nine other suite options, which can give families more space when staying at the Swan Reserve.
Compared to Disney deluxe resorts, you can sometimes find much lower rates here, but this will vary depending on what’s going on at the time at the resort.
Read Also: How to Redeem Marriott Points Staying at Disney World
What’s the Parking Situation at the Swan Reserve?
If you are driving to Orlando or hiring a car here, remember to factor in parking costs when staying at any Disney resort. As with the other resorts on property, you’ll be charged for parking each day. Self-parking at the Swan reserve is $29 a day, but you could upgrade to use the valet service for $39 a day. The self-parking here isn’t too far away from the entrance to the resort, so you may want to save on the upgrade and take care of this yourself.
You’ll also be able to use the free Disney buses when you are staying here, which is why many people opt out of hiring a car. We love that you can walk to two of the four theme parks from this resort, making driving unnecessary for many guests. Of course, this is a very personal decision, so you’ll want to decide what is best for you and your family during your vacation.
What are the Dining Options at the Swan Reserve? What’s Close By?
You’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to dining in this area. As well as the on-site restaurants, you can head to one of the many restaurants in the Swan and Dolphin, or walk around and enjoy those at the Boardwalk or Yacht and Beach Club resorts. This is without a doubt the best area in the resort to stay in if you are a foodie, as you could eat somewhere different for every meal for a week without trying too hard.
There are four dining options at the Swan Reserve, so you don’t even have to leave your resort to have a good amount of choice for your meals. Firstly, there’s Amare, which is the full-serve restaurant offering breakfast, lunch and dinner. You’ll also find Tangerine, which is a casual restaurant located by the pool.
For a quick cup of coffee or pastry on your way out for the day, Grounds is a grab-and-go option offering a variety of quick meals and snacks. Finally, you can visit Stir, which is the lobby bar. While it mainly offers cocktails, wine, and beer, there are some light snacks on the menu here. We are always blown away by the quality of the food and drink in this area, so you’ll certainly not go hungry on your vacation.
The Swan Reserve is an exciting addition to the EPCOT resort area. If you haven’t considered staying here before, it’s well worth checking out when looking into the Deluxe Disney resorts. At some times of the year, the rates here are much lower than elsewhere, making it a good value for money option for luxury accommodation.
You’ll love how close you are to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, helping to maximize your vacation time when staying in this part of the resort.
