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When I finally paid off my student loans, I wanted to treat myself to something special—a night at my favorite Disney park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, as well as a trip to Disney World overall. The Walt Disney World Swan Hotel was available, and though it’s not Disney-owned (it’s managed by Marriott), it still comes with perks that make it a Disney Deluxe Resort.
But how does it actually stack up? Part of my goal in helping plan stress-free travel and theme park adventures is to let you know my thoughts on different locations across the world, especially at theme parks. Keep reading for my honest Walt Disney World Swan review—and find out if this is the right stay for your next Disney adventure!
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Disney World Swan Location

As part of this Disney World Swan review, I have to highlight one of its biggest advantages – the prime location. It’s right next to the Disney’s Boardwalk hotel and entertainment area, so Disney’s Boardwalk Inn & Villas, Disney’s Yacht Club Resorts and Disney’s Beach Club are also nearby.
Being in this area means The Disney World Swan is within walking distance to both EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It also has access to boat transportation to both EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Bus transportation is provided to the other parks, however, I believe that because the hotels are owned and operated by Marriott, they’re not official Disney transportation. They act fairly similarly, but you won’t be able to find departure times in my Disney MyExperience app like you can for other Walt Disney World resorts.
I loved being able to take a stroll over to one of the Disney World theme parks or just wander around the Boardwalk area. This location alone makes the Swan worth considering, especially if you want easy access to some of Disney’s most popular parks.
In comparison to other Disney World resorts, this hotel offers the unique advantage of Marriott Bonvoy perks at Disney, meaning you can use your points to book your stay. So if you’re looking for a way to stay on Disney World property and still get some of those benefits, including extended evening hours, early entry, and transportation, you can use your Marriott Bonvoy points to pay for your hotel.
Disney World Swan Rooms and Accommodations

The rooms and accommodations at the Swan are modern, clean, and stylish. It doesn’t have much in the way of Disney theming—this hotel was designed with business travelers and conference-goers in mind—but it feels far more upscale than, say, Disney All-Star Sports for sure. But be aware that if you’re looking for a lot of Disney theming in your room or resort, there’s just not a ton of that here.
For the purposes of this Disney World Swan review, I’ll say that although the Disney theming isn’t as prominent, the quality of the rooms still makes it a great stay.
The rooms themselves are very nice and the beds are very comfortable. I was able to hear conversations in the room next to me, and I did hear their TV when it was very loud. But once they turned the TV down, it wasn’t too bad at all. It should be noted that because I had a connecting room, there was a shut connecting door there, and I’ve found that those don’t normally have the best insulation. But overall, there wasn’t a ton of noise, and I was able to sleep very comfortably.
If you’re sensitive to noise when you travel, I recommend some noise-cancelling earbuds, Apple AirPods Pro, or even these wax earplugs!
If you’re looking to have the best Walt Disney World vacation, work with me as a travel advisor and Authorized Disney Vacation Planner! With the help of my host agency, Wishdrawals Travel, I can help you enjoy your next trip and make it one to remember. Whether you’re a family planning the ultimate Disney trip, an LGBT+ couple seeking a romantic getaway, or a solo explorer ready to conquer the world, I’m here to craft the perfect itinerary just for you.
Disney World Swan Restaurants and Dining
I didn’t eat a ton at the Disney World Swan when I stayed there, mostly because I was eating in the parks and I had some other things already lined up. I did grab a sandwich for breakfast at the Grounds quick service lcoation, and it was very good. I’m not a big coffee drinker, so I didn’t grab any coffee. This is a quick grab-and-go place where you have a few different options.

I also ate breakfast one day at Garden Grove, and this was very nice as well. I ended up just getting Mickey waffles (the best waffles ever), but the atmosphere of Garden Grove is really cool. There’s a big tree in the middle that goes all the way to the ceiling. There are windows all around you, and the restaurant is circular, so you get some nice views of the resort.
There is an Italian place to eat called Il Mulino New York Trattoria Aluno. I did not eat there because I was planning on eating at other Italian restaurants when I went to Universal Orlando the next day. There’s also a Japanese sushi place called Kimonos. When I walked by, it looked (and sounded) like they were having a karaoke night. Since I’m not a big fan of karaoke or sushi, I skipped that.

Overall the restaurants seemed very nice. Everyone seemed friendly and the restaurants are a little more upscale as opposed to other hotels you can stay at on Disney World property.
Disney World Swan Pools, Perks, and Amenities
I visited the Lap Pool whenever I was there. However, while it was nice to lay out in, it was a bit too chilly to go in the water. The pool is fairly small, and it is not a pool where there are a lot of kids. It’s really just a nice basic pool, which is totally fine. It was very relaxing. As I said, there were no kids there, so it was nice and quiet.

If you’re looking for a family-friendly pool with more action, there’s a larger pool between the Disney World Swan and Dolphin with kid-friendly options.
Again, you do so get those Disney perks staying at this hotel. Even though it’s technically not operated by Disney World, it is on Disney World property. You do still get things like early admission and free transportation to and from the parks.
Staying here provides access to Deluxe Resort perks at Disney World, like access to those extended evening hours, early park entry, and the convenience of Disney transportation. So you definitely got some nice amenities with this hotel. Overall, the Disney World Swan just feels more upscale than some other Disney hotels, especially compared to the likes of a Pop Century or the All-Star Resorts.
Just note that because it isn’t officially operated by Disney, some things are a bit different. The buses are not official Disney transportation, for example, and not all features in the Disney MyExperience app may work here. But as mentioned in other parts of this Disney World Swan review, the amenities are well-suited for those who prefer a more adult-friendly, upscale environment.
If you’re looking for some essential items to pack for Disney World, Universal, theme parks, or travel in general, check out my blog post where I list some of my personal essentials! These items can definitely help make your vacation easier.
Disney World Swan Review – Overall Thoughts and Conclusion

Wrapping up this Disney World Swan review, I enjoyed this hotel, but I also knew what to expect going into it – a nice hotel with very little Disney theming. This is a very nice resort, but I think that if you’re somebody who really wants to absorb as much Disney theming and the Disney experience as possible, you may not enjoy this resort as much as you would enjoy other ones.
However, if Disney theming isn’t a huge priority to you and you’re just looking for a place to relax, sleep, and maybe have a few meals on Disney World property, I would definitely recommend this hotel. It definitely feels a little more upscale and more adult-friendly. Keep in mind some conferences are held at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, so sometimes they can get busy depending on what the conferences are.
And again – if you have Marriott Bonvoy points, you can use them here, and the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotels are the only Disney World hotels where I believe that’s an option. It’s nice to be able to do that if you’re really looking to save some money on your Disney trip.
If you’re considering the Swan Hotel for your next Disney vacation, this Disney World Swan review can serve as your guide. Have you stayed at the Walt Disney World Swan Hotel? What were your thoughts?
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