If you’re planning a Walt Disney World vacation and looking for a resort that feels a little more upscale and sophisticated than the typical Disney hotel, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts are worth putting on your list. I recently stayed at the Swan Reserve and there was a lot I liked about the experience. The hotel is beautiful, the location is good, and there are some definite perks to staying in the Swan and Dolphin resort area.

However, there’s something a little unusual about the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve. It’s right in the middle of the Disney magic, surrounded by EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and the BoardWalk, and its guests enjoy many of the perks associated with staying at Walt Disney World. Yet when you walk through the doors, it doesn’t quite feel like a Disney resort. For some travelers, that’s exactly what makes it appealing, but for others, it might be a drawback.

Here’s my honest review of the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve, including the rooms, dining, pools, transportation, location, and the things I loved and didn’t love about my stay.

If you’ve ever searched for a hotel at Walt Disney World, you’ve probably noticed the Walt Disney World Swan, Walt Disney World Dolphin, and Walt Disney World Swan Reserve listed alongside Disney’s own resort hotels. So, what exactly are these hotels?

The Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve are three separate hotels located together in the heart of the Walt Disney World Resort. They’re situated in the EPCOT Resorts area, between EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and they’re just a short walk from Disney’s BoardWalk. The Swan Reserve is the newest and smallest of the three properties, while the Dolphin is the largest.

Here’s the catch: Disney does not own these hotels. The Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve are Marriott-affiliated properties. However, they have a relationship with Walt Disney World that allows guests to receive many of the benefits associated with staying at a Disney World hotel. Guests staying at the Swan, Dolphin, or Swan Reserve can take advantage of Disney benefits such as Early Theme Park Entry, transportation to the theme parks and Disney Springs, and other Disney guest benefits. So while you’re technically staying at a Marriott-affiliated hotel rather than a Disney-owned resort, you are very much in the middle of the Disney World experience. That’s why you’ll often see the Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve included on lists of the best Disney World hotels, even though they’re not Disney-owned resorts.

The distinction is less about who owns the building and more about what you get when you stay there. In other words, you’re not staying at a Disney-owned resort, but you are staying right in the middle of the Disney action and receiving many of the benefits that make an on-property stay attractive.

The first thing that struck me about the Swan Reserve was how beautiful it is. The hotel has a polished, upscale feel that is quite different from the more overtly Disney-themed resorts you’ll find throughout Walt Disney World. The design is sleek, modern, and sophisticated, and because the Swan Reserve is much smaller than the Swan and Dolphin, it has a more intimate, boutique-style feel.

Not surprisingly, though, it doesn’t have the same unmistakable atmosphere you’ll find at a Disney-owned resort. You won’t have the same feeling of walking through the lobby and immediately being surrounded by Disney characters, music, colors, or theming. I see why some travelers would prefer this more sophisticated environment. If you’re a Disney fan who loves the parks but doesn’t necessarily need your hotel to be covered in Disney theming, the Swan Reserve offers a nice balance. You can spend your days surrounded by Disney magic at the parks and then return to a beautiful, more grown-up-feeling hotel at the end of the day.

I did find myself missing some of those little Disney touches, though. A Disney gift shop, Cast Members dressed in colorful uniforms greeting you as you walk in the door, and a bustling food court or casual dining venue were noticeably absent. Another small thing I missed was the lack of the resort-specific Disney TV welcome channel. It sounds silly, but those little details are part of what makes staying at a Disney resort feel different from staying at a regular hotel.

At the Swan Reserve, the overall experience feels more like staying at a beautiful upscale hotel that happens to be right in the middle of Walt Disney World. If you’re someone who would actually prefer a sophisticated hotel without a lot of Disney theming, you may love it. But if you love the immersive theming of Disney resorts, you’ll want to keep that distinction in mind.

My room at the Swan Reserve was nicely decorated and matched the overall feel of the hotel. Since it is a newer hotel (built in 2021), everything still felt relatively fresh. The design was modern and upscale while still being comfortable, and everything was well put together. My biggest complaint about the room was simply the size. It felt a little small, even when compared with some of the smaller Disney resort rooms I’ve stayed in. Since I was solo on this particular trip, that detail didn’t affect me much, but it’s something to consider depending on who you’re traveling with and how much time you plan to spend in your room.

The best part of my particular room, though, was the view. I had a great view of the EPCOT ball from my window, and I was able to watch the nighttime fireworks from my window. After a long day in the parks, there was something pretty magical about being able to sit back and watch the fireworks in my pajamas, enjoy the air conditioning, and not have to fight the crowds or find a spot around World Showcase.

If you’re considering a stay at the Swan Reserve, I’d definitely ask about the available views when booking or checking in. Of course, a particular view can’t be guaranteed, but if you have the opportunity to choose between room locations, an EPCOT-facing room can add something special to your stay.

The dining options throughout the Swan and Dolphin complex tend to feel more upscale than the dining you might find at a traditional Disney resort. If you’re looking for quick, casual Disney resort dining, the Swan Reserve isn’t going to give you the same experience as a Disney resort with a food court or casual quick-service restaurant. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from, but the overall atmosphere leans more toward full-service and elevated dining rather than quick, casual meals.

During my stay, I grabbed a quick breakfast at Grounds at Swan Reserve (a grab-and-go cafe serving a small selection of sandwiches, salads, and coffees) and dinner at Rosa Mexicano at Dolphin (modern Mexican cuisine). Both were perfectly fine, and I enjoyed having the opportunity to try them, but neither restaurant left a strong enough impression that I’d specifically seek it out again on a future trip.

If you’re looking for a wide variety of upscale restaurants within easy reach, the Swan and Dolphin complex has plenty to offer. If your ideal Disney resort experience includes a casual food court where you can grab breakfast, a burger, or a quick meal without much planning, however, the dining experience here may feel a little different.

Transportation from the Swan Reserve to the Disney theme parks and Disney Springs is one of the areas where I had both a definite favorite and a definite “meh.”

The Friendship Boat transportation to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios was fantastic. I really enjoyed being able to hop on a boat and make my way to the parks instead of waiting on a bus. It’s a relaxing way to start or end a park day, and the fact that both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios are accessible by a very quick boat ride is a major perk of staying in this area.

There are also walking paths connecting the resort area with the nearby EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. I didn’t personally use them during my stay, although they seem like a very convenient option. It was simply too hot for me to be enthusiastic about adding a lengthy outdoor walk to my park day! In more comfortable weather, though, I can definitely see the appeal. The location also puts you incredibly close to the BoardWalk area, which gives you even more options for walking around, dining, and enjoying the atmosphere outside the parks.

As much as I loved the Friendship Boats, the bus transportation was less convenient. The bus stops at the destinations are located farther away than the regular Disney resort buses, so using the buses didn’t feel quite as easy.

Instead of being dropped near the main entrance of Magic Kingdom, you arrive at the Transportation and Ticket Center where you then have to catch either the Monorail or Ferryboat to get to the park. The pick-up and drop-off location at Disney Springs was at the opposite end of the complex from where most of the dining and shopping is. I ended up getting a Lyft back to the Swan instead of walking all the way back to the bus stops!

If you’re primarily planning to visit EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, I think the location of the Swan Reserve is fantastic with the accessibility of the walking paths and Friendship Boats. If you’re going to spend a lot of time traveling by bus to the other parks and Disney destinations, I’d take the bus-stop locations into consideration when deciding whether this is the right resort for you.

The pools at the Swan Reserve were nice and offered a good place to take a break from the parks and cool off a bit. When you stay at any of the three hotels at the Swan and Dolphin, you have access to all the pools and amenities around the entire property.

The main pool, the Grotto Pool, is the largest and most lively on the property. There is a waterfall, upbeat music playing, and kids splashing around. There are also four smaller quiet pools and several whirlpools around the complex.

I also really liked the beach area, which gives the resort a more traditional vacation-resort atmosphere. One of the fun features is the ability to rent Swan paddle boats and get out on the water. They also have bonfires and s’more-making on the beach in the evenings!

Another major advantage of the location is how close you are to Disney’s BoardWalk. Even if you don’t have a park planned for the day, there’s plenty to do in the surrounding area. You can walk over to the BoardWalk, explore the restaurants and entertainment options, or simply enjoy being outside the parks without feeling like you’ve left the Disney World area entirely.

That combination of a beautiful hotel, resort amenities, and an excellent location makes the Swan Reserve a particularly appealing option for travelers who want a little more flexibility during their vacation.

If you’re considering a stay at the Swan Reserve, you’re probably wondering how it compares to its sister properties, the Swan and Dolphin. All three hotels are beautiful, share the same fantastic location, and offer many of the same Disney World benefits, but they each have a distinctly different feel. I think the biggest difference comes down to size and atmosphere.

The Dolphin is the largest of the three and definitely feels like a big, full-service resort. The lobby alone makes an impression, with a gorgeous crystal chandelier taking center stage. There’s a luxurious spa, multiple restaurants, two gift shops (including one that’s Disney-themed!), and a large conference center. There’s a lot happening at the Dolphin, and it feels like a resort designed to accommodate just about everything.

The Swan is a little smaller and feels somewhat more understated than the Dolphin, but it still has that larger-resort atmosphere. It also has a conference center and a Disney-themed gift shop, along with its own restaurants and amenities. It’s substantial without feeling quite as grand as the Dolphin.

Then there’s the Swan Reserve, which feels like a completely different type of hotel. It’s noticeably smaller than both the Swan and Dolphin, and that smaller footprint gives it a much more intimate, boutique-like feel. You don’t get the sense that you’re navigating a massive resort every time you leave your room or head out for the day.

For me, that’s one of the Swan Reserve’s biggest differences. The Dolphin feels grand, the Swan feels classic and understated, and the Swan Reserve feels intimate and upscale. They’re all part of the same resort complex, but choosing between them really comes down to what kind of hotel experience you prefer.

There was a lot to like about my stay. The hotel itself is beautiful, and I really appreciated the more upscale atmosphere. The smaller size was also a plus for me because it made the resort feel more manageable and intimate than some of Disney World’s enormous properties.

The location is probably the biggest selling point. Being close to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, having the BoardWalk nearby, and being able to take a boat to the parks made getting around especially enjoyable. And having a view of the EPCOT ball and fireworks from my room was definitely a highlight.

I also liked having the beach and pools available when I wanted a break from the parks. There’s something nice about having a resort that feels like a destination in itself rather than simply a place to sleep between theme park days.

Of course, the Swan Reserve isn’t perfect, and a few things kept it from being an automatic favorite for me.

The room felt a little small, and the bed was firmer than I prefer. The bus transportation wasn’t as convenient as I’d hoped, particularly because the bus stops are farther away. And while I enjoyed the restaurants I tried, neither Grounds nor Rosa Mexicano was somewhere I’d make a point of returning to.

But the biggest consideration is the lack of Disney theming. If you’re booking the Swan Reserve because you want the classic Disney resort experience, I think it’s important to adjust your expectations. You’re getting many of the practical benefits of staying in the Walt Disney World Resort area, along with an incredible location, but you’re not getting the same immersive Disney atmosphere you’d find at a Disney-owned resort.

After staying there, I think the Swan Reserve can be an excellent choice for the right Disney traveler. If you prioritize a beautiful, upscale hotel, a fantastic location, easy access to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, and a quieter, more sophisticated atmosphere, there’s a lot to love. It’s especially appealing if you don’t need your hotel to feel heavily themed or covered in Disney details.

On the other hand, if what you love most about staying on Disney property is the theming and those little touches that make you feel like you’ve stepped completely into the Disney bubble, this may not be the resort for you.

Would I stay there again? I wouldn’t rule it out. The location, boat transportation, beautiful surroundings, and those fantastic EPCOT views are all compelling reasons to return. But if I were choosing a resort specifically for that unmistakable Disney feeling, I’d probably look elsewhere.

If you’re still trying to figure out which Disney World resort is right for your vacation, my guide, How to Choose the Best Disney World Resort For Your Trip, can help you narrow down your options.