Good things come in threes! The Disney Good Neighbor Hotel, the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve opened in November 2021 and shares all amenities with the popular Swan and Dolphin Resort, so there are plenty of perks to enjoy, including Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours. Thanks to the Reserve's great location, you can walk or take a boat to both EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios. With floor-to-ceiling windows in all of the rooms, take in the view and enjoy watching fireworks from the comforts of your own room. Without further ado, here's our complete guide to The Walt Disney World Swan Reserve!
Overview of Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
As the newest addition to the lineup, Swan Reserve joins the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin duo as hotels on Disney property that aren't actually owned by Disney. Having opened in November 2021, this 14-story building offers 349 rooms, including 149 suites. There are four restaurants and lounges, as well as a pool and fitness center. Are you taking a magical business trip? There is a business center, meeting rooms, two ballrooms, as well as a rentable rooftop event space for wonderful views of the resort.
Located in the EPCOT resort area, the hotel offers incredible views of the property. The Swan Reserve shares all amenities with Swan and Dolphin, as well as the many perks for Disney World hotel guests. Upon arriving, head up the escalators to the spacious third-floor lobby, with the pool and all four dining options nearby. Spot the Disney Planning Center desk in the corner of the lobby, complete with huge Mickey ears. This desk is a helpful tool for vacationers.
Swan Reserve Rooms
The traditional bedroom comes with either a king and sofa bed or two queens, along with an attached bathroom. Rooms include a mini-fridge, 65-inch TV, desk, safe, coffee maker and iron and ironing board. (Don't froget — Undercover Tourist offers both King and Queen Suites at the Swan Reserve at a discount! Ribbit!)
The 600-square-foot signature suite consists of a bedroom, bathroom, living and dining area. The bathroom consists of a sink and toilet separate from another sink and shower. This is especially helpful when getting ready in the morning. The sofa bed in the living area offers additional sleeping options. There are two 65-inch TVs, a mini-fridge, microwave, desk, safe, coffee maker and iron and ironing board.
For the ultimate retreat, the two-bedroom suite combines the traditional bedroom and signature suite into one large suite. This is perfect for large families or groups.
All rooms offer incredible floor-to-ceiling windows for great views and lots of natural light. You can even opt for a traditional or signature room with a view of either EPCOT or Hollywood Studios. Just imagine enjoying the EPCOT fireworks at night from the comfort of your own room!
Transportation at Swan Reserve
Location, location, location!
Being in the EPCOT resort area is so helpful and a huge perk. The Swan Reserve is right next to Swan and Dolphin, so it makes traveling between the three hotels really easy. You can access the rest of the "Swolphin" by using the crosswalk at the Reserve entrance (don't worry — there's a button to trigger the red stoplight, allowing families to safely walk across the road). You can walk to EPCOT by heading through Swan and Dolphin and down the BoardWalk Entertainment District. Disney's Hollywood Studios is a bit of a farther walk, or you can hop on the Disney Skyliner hub at EPCOT's International Gateway entrance to soar your way there. Water taxis are also available at Swan and Dolphin to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, with stops at the BoardWalk and other resorts along the way.
Complimentary buses are available at the back of the building and drop you off at Magic Kingdom, Disney's Animal Kingdom and Disney Springs. Note that currently, the Swan Reserve buses drop off at the Transportation and Ticket Center, so you'll want to leave a little extra time if traveling to Magic Kingdom. Plus, Swan Reserve guests get free Disney World theme park parking!
Swan Reserve Recreation and Amenities
Located right off of the third-floor lobby is the pool. There are complimentary beach balls, pool noodles and inner tubes to use, as well as a fire pit. Other accessories are available for purchase, such as sunscreen, sunglasses, goggles, diving toys and more. Relax at one of the many pool chairs or rent a covered cabana with comfy seating and a TV. A fitness center is located on the second floor. Rentable ballrooms and a business center are located on the first floor.
On the top floor, The Vue is a rentable space featuring extra tall ceilings with floor-to-ceiling windows throughout, perfect for the EPCOT fireworks at night. Enjoy a reception area, ballroom and outdoor terrace. You can actually see all four parks from here — your eyes won't want to stop looking at the incredible view! The Vue is currently only open for paid bookings and is a great space for big events.
Like Swan and Dolphin, the Reserve offers Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours. Early Entry is offered for 30 minutes before park opening at every park, every day! Extended Evening Hours hoppens on select nights for two hours after park close (and only offered to select Deluxe Resorts, so we are very excited the Reserve is included in this epic perk).
You also receive early access to individual Lightning Lane selections through the Disney Genie service. With the individual Lightning Lanes for purchase, hotel guests can begin booking at 7 a.m., while general admission must wait until the park opens. This can be a crucial jump for popular rides such as Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Tron Lightcycle Run. Be sure to link your hotel reservation to your My Disney Experience account to take advantage of these benefits. To head into the parks early, you'll need to present your room key. (See all the benefits of staying on-site in our full blog post).
Additionally, the Swan Reserve offers:
- Merchandise delivery from the parks or World of Disney (service currently unavailable)
- Self and Valet parking ($32 or $42 plus tax per day, respectively)
- Complimentary theme park parking
- Disney planning center
- Fitness center
- Business center
- Concierge
- 24-hour bell desk
- ATM machine
You can also access all of the shared perks and amenities available at the Swan and Dolphin Resorts, such as laundry services, child care, spa, game room and more.
Dining at Swan Reserve
Swan Reserve offers a variety of dining options, all located on the main third floor.
Amare
The resort's signature dining is Amare, which means "to love." This table-service restaurant offers the tastes of the Mediterranean. For breakfast, choose from classic dishes such as eggs, waffles, breakfast meats and more (even avocado toast!), or go all-in with the buffet. Lunch offers appetizers, salads, flatbreads and entrees such as the Mahi Mahi Sandwich and Grilled Souvlaki. For dinner, enjoy quality dishes such as the Seabass Al Cartoccio and Bistecca All Fiorentina.
Reservations are not needed for breakfast and lunch, though are recommended for dinner. Bookings can be made on the Disney World website, the My Disney Experience app or through Open Table.
Grounds
Located next to Amare is Grounds, a coffee bar and grab-and-go station. Enjoy a variety of coffees, lattes, teas, frappes and more. Grab some pre-packaged snacks or order breakfast sandwiches (including Mickey waffles), pastries or sandwiches.
Tangerine
When hunger strikes at the pool, stop by the pool bar, Tangerine. Relax by the water with your choice of cocktails, wines and beers. Typically open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., a full food menu is available until 8 p.m., including appetizers, salads, sandwiches and flatbreads. The food is prepared in the Amare kitchen and brought out to you, so this is another way to get a small taste of the signature menu while the tadpoles enjoy some pool time.
Stir
This lobby lounge offers a variety of cocktails, wines and beers, as well as appetizers, entrees and flatbreads (prepared in the Amare kitchen). There is ample seating in the lobby and two large TVs. Stir is typically open from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m.
What to Consider Before Staying at Swan Reserve
- The Swan Reserve is next to Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf, so it's a perfect chance to enjoy a non-park day with some putting.
- The Reserve's pool does not have any extra theming, so if that's a must for your family, you can walk across the street to Swan and Dolphin's five pools, which feature water slides and waterfalls.
- Keep in mind there is a daily resort fee of $35.
- The separate living area in the signature suites is very spacious and would be perfect for larger families.
- Being a non-Disney hotel, you won't find much magical theming here, so if that's also a must-have for your family, we suggest looking at one of the many Walt Disney World Resort hotels. That said, the property is elegant and modern, perfect for adults or those looking for a more upscale feel.
- The floor-to-ceiling windows are in every room, offering incredible views of Disney property. We recommend splurging for the EPCOT view rooms for your own private viewing of the fireworks, all from the comfort of your room (quickest walk back to bed ever!)
Have you stayed at the Swan Reserve yet, or have an upcoming trip? Let us know in the comments below! We'd love to hear your experience or what you're most looking forward to.
Related: Our Hoppin' Guide to Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort
Hoppy planning!
