CONFESSION TIME: Two of My Favorite Disney Hotels AREN’T Disney Hotels

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Whether you’re planning on taking your FIRST-EVER Disney World vacation, you’re planning on staying in a Disney World hotel for the first time, or you just want to collect as much hotel info as possible, you’ve come to the right place!

Swan and Dolphin Hotels

We often explore the Disney World hotels that WE think are the best for Disney World guests, new and returning. We consider theming, convenience, and recent renovations. However, some of our favorite Disney World hotels aren’t even owned by Disney!

The Swan and Dolphin Resort hotels are Marriott-owned hotels that partner with Disney to give you many of those similar theme park perks that you’d also receive along with a Disney-owned resort stay.

Swan and Dolphin Hotel

Perks include:

• Early theme park entry and the deluxe resort-exclusive Extended Evening hours
• Free transportation to and from the parks
• The 7-day Lightning Lane booking window versus the 3-day one

The Swan and Dolphin are also both within walking distance to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. Granted, you’re still gonna be walking 15-25 minutes one way to reach these parks — BUT if the complimentary shuttle service isn’t something you want to wait on, this can be a solid plan B!

View from the Swan Reserve

So why would you choose Swan and Dolphin versus one of the Disney-owned resorts? We’ve got 3 key reasons.

The first is that the Swan and Dolphin not only has nice standard rooms available, but it also has really nice, really spacious suites that you can book, as well — some with dining rooms, some with separate bedrooms, some with multiple bathrooms, some with INCREDIBLE views of EPCOT right outside your window.

The presidential suites even have a piano in their main living space. A PIANO.

The Dolphin

The next reason is that the restaurants here should NOT be slept on. These are some high-profile joints with plenty of tasty eats. While we don’t always talk about them as much as other Disney World hotel restaurants, that doesn’t mean they’re necessarily skippable — whether or not you’re staying there.

Todd’s English bluezoo

The biggest selling point for MANY is that you can use your past Marriott Bonvoy Points to help pay for your future Swan and Dolphin stay! So even if this is your first time going to Disney, if you’ve taken trips to other places and have racked up points with your FREE Marriott Bonvoy membership by staying at other Marriott Resorts, you can use these points toward a Swan and Dolphin room!

Bonvoy

The Swan and Dolphin is a solid option for those who want to pull themselves out of all the Disney-ness for a bit and stay at a place that’s sophisticated, food-driven, and possibly more affordable (ESPECIALLY if you’re part of the Marriott Loyalty Program).

We’re CONSTANTLY exploring the Disney World hotels, so stay tuned right here at DFB for all kinds of hotel updates, tips, tricks, reviews, and more!

HANDS DOWN, This Is the BEST Hotel for Disney World First-Timers

Want More Details About Disney World’s Hotels?

• Ranking of ALL of Disney World’s Hotels

• The “I’m So Tired; Just Tell Me What To Do” Guide To Choosing the Perfect Disney World Hotel

• 13 Critical Things You’re FORGETTING About When Booking a Disney World Hotel

• 8 Gadgets You Need for Your Disney World Hotel Room

• The Surprising Things You Won’t Find in Your Disney World Hotel Room

• The Secret Way to Stay in Disney World’s Hotels for LESS!

• What's New at the Disney World Hotels

• All About Disney World's Resort Hotel Refillable Mugs

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Have you stayed at the Swan and Dolphin? Share your experience(s) in the comments below!

The post CONFESSION TIME: Two of My Favorite Disney Hotels AREN'T Disney Hotels first appeared on the disney food blog.

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