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Choosing Swan vs Dolphin vs Swan Reserve comes down to three things: how many people share the room, how much convention bustle you can live with, and how far you want to walk to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. All three are Marriott-run hotels on or next to Crescent Lake inside Walt Disney World, sharing pools, boats, buses, Disney perks and fees.
The Dolphin (Sheraton) is the big convention tower with most of the restaurants, the Swan (Westin) the calmer building with remodeled rooms, and the Swan Reserve (Autograph Collection) the 2021 boutique hotel with the most suites.
Quick answer: Book the Dolphin if you are a family of five or want the restaurants and Camp Dolphin a few steps away. Book the Swan if you are a couple or a family of four who wants renovated rooms, a quieter lobby and the shortest walk to the parks. Book the Swan Reserve if you want the newest rooms or a suite and don’t mind a slightly longer walk.
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Quick verdict: which one fits your trip
- Suite seekers: the Swan Reserve, where 149 of the 349 rooms are suites.
- Avoiding conventions: the Swan or the Swan Reserve. The Dolphin is the main meeting hotel, and its lobby and restaurants get busy in the evening.
- Marriott Bonvoy members: any of the three; book direct to earn or redeem points.
- Tight budget: compare all three for your dates. Fees are identical, so the nightly rate is the only real difference.
Swan vs Dolphin vs Swan Reserve at a glance
| Feature | Dolphin | Swan | Swan Reserve |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marriott brand | Sheraton | Westin | Autograph Collection |
| Opened | June 1990 | January 1990 | November 2021 |
| Rooms (suites) | 1,514 (124) | 756 (55) | 349 (149) |
| Standard room | 360 sq ft; two doubles or a king | 340 sq ft; two queens or a king | 330 sq ft; two queens, or king plus sofa bed |
| Max guests, standard room | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Balconies | Deluxe balcony rooms | Deluxe balcony rooms | Top suites only (floor-to-ceiling windows) |
| Room condition | Renovation reported for 2026-2027 | All remodeled (completed early 2025) | Newest building (2021) |
| Restaurants and lounges | 11 | 8 | 4 |
| Vibe | Busy convention hub | Calmer, closest to the dock | Boutique, a bit removed |
Location: walk or boat to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, hotel buses everywhere else
All three hotels sit on or next to Crescent Lake between EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, which is the main reason to stay here. Free Friendship boats (water taxis) run to Disney’s BoardWalk, EPCOT’s International Gateway and Hollywood Studios from the dock on the covered walkway between the Swan and the Dolphin. At the time of writing, they run about every 20 to 25 minutes, starting one hour before park opening, and boats can be suspended in bad weather, so ask the front desk about alternatives.
For the other parks, the hotels run their own free Mears buses (not Disney’s system) from all three front entrances, until 45 minutes after park close and up to 90 minutes after Disney Springs closes. Magic Kingdom buses stop at the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC). Official intervals vary from 15 to 30 minutes, so treat 20 to 25 as a rough guide.
| Destination | How | Time and notes |
|---|---|---|
| EPCOT (International Gateway) | Walk or boat | About 0.7 mi / 15 min walk; boat about 20 min |
| Hollywood Studios | Walk or boat | About 1.1 mi / 21 to 25 min walk; boat about 10 min |
| Magic Kingdom | Hotel bus | Via the TTC, then monorail or ferry; allow 45-60 min |
| Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs | Hotel bus | From each hotel’s front entrance |
| Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach | Hotel bus, then Disney bus | Transfer at Disney Springs (Typhoon Lagoon) or Animal Kingdom (Blizzard Beach) |
| Orlando airport (MCO) | MearsConnect or private transfer | About a 25-min drive per the hotel; more in traffic |
The Swan Reserve has its own bus stop, so only its walk to the dock is longer. If you would rather pay less and still skip driving, see our list of Orlando hotels with free Disney World shuttles.
Disney perks all three share (and what they don’t get)
The three hotels aren’t run by Disney, but their guests get most of the perks Disney gives its own Deluxe resort guests. At the time of writing, they include:
- Early Theme Park Entry: 30 minutes before regular opening at all four theme parks, every day of your stay, including check-in and check-out days (valid admission required). Disney says it continues in 2027.
- Extended Evening Theme Park Hours: limited to Disney Deluxe and Deluxe Villa guests plus four other hotels: these three and Shades of Green. Fall 2026 nights rotate among EPCOT, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios (EPCOT and Hollywood Studios are walkable); check the current schedule.
- 7-day Lightning Lane window: buy Multi Pass and Single Pass 7 days before arrival for your whole stay (up to 14 days), like Disney resort guests; other visitors get 3 days. Premier Pass is also available up to 7 days ahead.
- Free standard theme park parking with your room key (others pay Disney’s $35 daily rate).
- Dining and parties: book park restaurants 60 days before arrival for up to 10 days of your stay, plus early booking for Disney’s after-hours and holiday parties.
What you don’t get: the Disney Dining Plan, charging purchases in the parks to your room (you can charge to your room only at the hotels’ own outlets), Disney buses straight to Magic Kingdom’s gate, or Disney luggage transfers between hotels. Disney gift cards generally aren’t accepted.
For every outside hotel with early entry, see our guide to non-Disney hotels with Early Theme Park Entry, and for ways to use those extra minutes, read our Disney World park tips.
1. Walt Disney World Dolphin
The Dolphin is the 27-story Michael Graves tower with the two 56-foot dolphin statues, opened in June 1990. With 1,514 rooms, it is by far the largest of the three, and it holds most of the complex’s dining: Todd English’s bluezoo, Bourbon Steak, Rosa Mexicano, the Fountain for ice cream and burgers, and Lagoon Games, Lanes & Eats, a game room with lanes and pizza. Camp Dolphin and Mandara Spa are here too.
It is also the convention hub, and a new meeting annex was due to open in late summer 2026. In late 2025 the general manager said Dolphin rooms would be renovated floor by floor from May 2026 to the end of 2027, with no guests on the floor directly beneath active work. The hotel’s site doesn’t confirm the timeline, so ask for a renovated room when you book.
- Why stay: the only standard rooms of the three that allow five guests (360 sq ft, two doubles or a king), plus the most restaurants and Camp Dolphin under one roof. Balcony rooms and 480 sq ft family rooms are also offered.
- Getting to the parks: the boat dock is a short walk away on the covered walkway to the Swan; buses leave from the Dolphin’s front entrance.
- Good to know: at the time of writing, a third, fourth or fifth adult costs $35 per night plus tax, cribs are free and rollaways cost extra. Breakfast isn’t included in standard rates; Rosa Mexicano serves it from 7 to 11 am (hours can change).
Best for: families of five, groups that want lots of dining nearby, and parents planning a kids club night.
2. Walt Disney World Swan
The Swan is the 12-story building topped by two giant swan statues. It opened first, in January 1990, and has 756 rooms including 55 suites. It runs under Marriott’s Westin brand, and every room and suite was remodeled with tile floors and new furnishings, a project completed by early 2025.
With the main convention space at the Dolphin, the Swan’s lobby tends to be calmer, and planning sites generally rate it the shortest walk to the dock and the parks. Its signature restaurants are Il Mulino (Italian) and Kimonos (Japanese), and Java handles grab-and-go coffee and breakfast.
- Why stay: fully renovated rooms (340 sq ft, two queens or a king), a quieter lobby and the least walking. Balcony rooms with courtyard, landscape or Crescent Lake views and 500 sq ft family rooms are available.
- Getting to the parks: walk or take the boat to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios; buses leave from the Swan’s front entrance.
- Good to know: standard rooms hold four people at most and rollaways aren’t allowed in two-queen rooms, so a family of five needs the Dolphin, two rooms or a suite (check its occupancy).
Best for: couples, families of four and anyone who wants renovated rooms and the shortest walk.
3. Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
The Swan Reserve opened on November 3, 2021 as a separate 14-story hotel across Epcot Resorts Boulevard from the Swan, and it belongs to Marriott’s Autograph Collection. It has 349 rooms, and 149 of them are suites, the highest share by far. Standard rooms are 330 sq ft, with two queens or a king plus sofa bed, floor-to-ceiling windows and a rain shower. Standard rooms have no balconies; the resort’s suite photos show a balcony at the Chairman Suite and a terrace at the Presidential Suite.
The Reserve has its own pool with an elevated deck and fire pit, and its guests can also use the Grotto pool. Amare, its Mediterranean signature restaurant, serves breakfast (with a buffet menu), lunch and dinner; Stir is the lobby bar, and Grounds sells grab-and-go coffee from 6 am.
- Why stay: the newest building, the most suites and a boutique feel, plus its own smaller pool.
- Getting to the parks: buses stop at the Reserve’s own entrance. For boats or the walk to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, you cross the street and pass the Grotto pool, roughly a quarter mile beyond the Swan, with no covered route in rain.
- Good to know: standard rooms sleep up to four. The rooftop space is for private events only, not a public bar.
Best for: couples, suite seekers and travelers who want the newest rooms and don’t mind a few extra minutes of walking.
Pools, restaurants and Camp Dolphin (shared by all three)
The centerpiece is the Grotto pool, with tropical waterfalls and a water slide, plus two lap pools, a kiddie pool and four whirlpools. On Crescent Lake there is a white-sand beach with hammocks, a playground, volleyball, swan paddleboats and rentable cabanas. The pools are for guests of the three hotels only: you can’t pool-hop to Disney’s resorts, and outside food and coolers aren’t allowed.
The complex has 23 restaurants and lounges, but none take the Disney Dining Plan, and standard rates at all three hotels don’t include breakfast. For breakfast, use the grab-and-go counters (Fuel, Java, Grounds) or sit down at Rosa Mexicano or Amare; hours change with the seasons.
Camp Dolphin takes potty-trained kids ages 5 to 12 nightly from 3 to 10 pm by reservation, with activities, a meal and a snack. At the time of writing, the hotel lists $120 for the full evening including dinner, or $60 for a two-hour session. Dine at any of the six signature restaurants (bluezoo, Bourbon Steak, Rosa Mexicano, Il Mulino, Kimonos, Amare) and kids get two free hours. Confirm prices when you reserve.
What it really costs: resort fee, parking and extra guests
All three hotels charge the same extras, and they add up quickly. Amounts are as listed by the hotel and Disney at the time of writing.
| Charge | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resort Service Package | $50 + tax per room, per night | About $56 with tax; mandatory, also on points stays |
| Self-parking | $40 + tax per day | Not covered by the resort fee |
| Valet parking | $51-$61 + tax per day | Range listed by the hotel and Disney |
| Theme park parking | Included | Standard parking with your room key |
| Extra adults | $35 + tax per person, per night | 3rd-5th adult at the Dolphin; 3rd-4th at the Swan and Reserve |
| Cribs and rollaways | Cribs free; rollaways extra | No rollaways in two-queen rooms |
| Early departure | One night’s room + tax | Tell the front desk by midnight on arrival day |
For a four-night stay with a car, that is $200 in resort fees plus $160 in self-parking, or $360 before tax, on top of the room rate. The resort fee covers in-room Wi-Fi, daily paddleboat rentals, fitness classes, nightly beach movies with s’mores, a small game credit at Lagoon Games and a $30 spa discount on services of $230 or more.
Parking is the biggest gap versus Disney-owned resorts, which no longer charge overnight self-parking. If you can skip the car, the free boats and buses reach all four theme parks. To compare stays without these add-ons, see our guide to Orlando hotels with no resort fees.
Booking tips: Disney vs Marriott (points) vs Booking.com
- Book through Disney for a vacation package with park tickets. It links to My Disney Experience automatically, but Disney’s own resort discounts don’t apply here.
- Book with Marriott or swandolphin.com to earn or redeem Bonvoy points. Award prices are dynamic, so compare them with the cash rate; the resort fee still applies on award nights.
- Compare cash rates on Booking.com, but check whether the resort fee is in the total or payable at the hotel. Third-party bookings generally don’t earn Bonvoy points or elite night credits.
- Link any non-Disney booking in My Disney Experience with your confirmation number to use Early Entry, the Lightning Lane window and dining reservations. The adults and children on the reservation must match your party in the app.
- Check the hotels’ offers page for deals such as Annual Passholder rates.
- Plan your arrival and departure: check-in is 4 pm, and guaranteed early check-in can be bought at the time of writing. Leaving early can cost one night’s room and tax, so tell the front desk about any change by midnight on arrival day.
Other EPCOT-area hotels to compare
Disney’s own resorts nearby offer a similar location with different trade-offs. They are booked directly with Disney, not on Booking.com.
- Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, Beach Club and Yacht Club: Deluxe resorts within walking distance of EPCOT, on the same boat route, with Disney buses, Dining Plan packages, Extended Evening Hours and no overnight self-parking charge.
- Disney’s Riviera Resort and Caribbean Beach Resort: linked to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios by the Skyliner gondola. Riviera is a Deluxe Villa resort; Caribbean Beach is a Disney Moderate.
For a wider view, see our picks for the best hotels near Disney World. Just off the Disney complex, the Bonnet Creek resorts are the nearest upscale alternative, though Disney doesn’t include them in Extended Evening Hours. Still choosing an area? Start with where to stay in Orlando.
How to choose
- Count heads first. Five people in one standard room means the Dolphin; four or fewer opens up all three. For bigger groups, see our guide to rooms that sleep 5 at Disney World and Universal.
- Decide how much buzz you want. The Dolphin has the most restaurants and the convention crowds; the Swan and Swan Reserve are calmer.
- Weigh the walk. If you will walk or boat to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios daily, the Swan and Dolphin save roughly a quarter mile each way over the Swan Reserve.
- Ask about room age. With a Dolphin room renovation reported for 2026-2027, ask for an updated room, or pick the remodeled Swan or the newer Swan Reserve.
Full reviews: read our Walt Disney World Dolphin review and Walt Disney World Swan review, or see every Marriott hotel near Disney World.
Evening sessions: see Disney Extended Evening Hours for 2026 dates by park.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, the Swan or the Dolphin?
Neither wins across the board. The Swan has fully remodeled rooms, a calmer lobby and usually the shortest walk, which suits couples and families of four. The Dolphin allows five guests in a standard room and has most of the restaurants and Camp Dolphin, but it is the convention hotel, and a floor-by-floor room renovation has been reported for 2026-2027. Pools, transport and perks are identical.
Can you walk to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios from the Swan Reserve?
Yes, but it is the longest walk of the three. Reserve guests cross the street and pass the Grotto pool first, adding roughly a quarter mile with no cover. From the Swan and Dolphin, EPCOT’s International Gateway is about 0.7 mile (around 15 minutes) on the lakeside walkway and Hollywood Studios about 1.1 miles (around 21 to 25 minutes) along the canal walkway. The free Friendship boats are the alternative.
Do Swan and Dolphin guests get Early Entry and Extended Evening Hours?
Yes. Disney lists the Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve among the outside hotels whose guests get 30-minute Early Theme Park Entry every day, and among the few that also get Extended Evening Theme Park Hours. Guests can also buy Lightning Lane passes 7 days before arrival. Check Disney’s current terms.
How much are the resort fee and parking at the Swan and Dolphin?
At the time of writing, the mandatory Resort Service Package is $50 plus tax per room per night at all three hotels, including Marriott Bonvoy award stays. Self-parking is $40 plus tax per day and valet $51 to $61 plus tax. Standard theme park parking is free for hotel guests. Check the hotel’s reservations FAQ for current amounts.
Can you book the Swan, Dolphin or Swan Reserve with Marriott Bonvoy points?
Yes. All three are Marriott hotels (Sheraton, Westin and Autograph Collection) inside Walt Disney World but not operated by Disney, so you can earn and redeem Bonvoy points by booking through Marriott or swandolphin.com. Award prices are dynamic, and the resort fee still applies on points nights. Stays booked through Booking.com and other third-party sites generally don’t earn points.
Sources checked in September 2026: Swan and Dolphin Transportation FAQ, Swan and Dolphin Room Reservations FAQ, Swan and Dolphin Special Disney Benefits, Disney Extended Evening Theme Park Hours, Disney World Parking.