The Walt Disney World Swan Reserve is now officially open to guests and we took a tour of the new tower during the grand opening celebration earlier this month.
The Swan Reserve is a brand new 14 story tower, the third main building at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort complex - known for its incredible location at the center of Walt Disney World within walking distance of both EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios.
We will start our tour leaving the original Swan and Dolphin area and heading towards the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve.
Although the Reserve is a self-contained hotel, guests still have access to all of the amenities of the Swan and Dolphin, including the impressive main feature pool. A newly installed crossing and traffic light makes crossing the road much easier than before.
The exterior design is intended to recreate the reflective light of Crescent Lake, and includes a nod to the region's citrus legacy, with orange trees lining the entranceway.
The Reserve has its own porte-cochere and arrival area, including dedicated parking.
Stepping inside, you are greeted with a bright and inviting lobby area. Immediately ahead is an entrance that leads directly to the ballrooms. So for business guests who are perhaps staying at the Swan or Dolphin and are using the Reserve for meetings, access is easy and direct and bypasses the other guest areas.
An escalator and stairway lead guests up to the second floor, where all guest facilities are located, including the main lobby and reception.
You will find a check-in desk and concierge, with mobile check-in also available.
The lobby is dominated by a welcoming central lounge, including the "Stir" bar and lounge.
Seating areas surround the lounge, making ideal spots to unwind after a day at the parks or to hold informal meetings.
Just off the lobby on the second floor is the Reserve's own swimming pool area.
There are covered cabanas, lots of seating, loungers, and even a fire pit.
The Tangerine pool bar offers poolside drinks and eats throughout the day.
Heading back inside, the Grounds coffee shop offers a full line-up of grab and go items, including craft coffee.
Adjacent to Grounds is Amare, the Reserve's signature restaurant.
The upscale venue highlights fresh premium ingredients from the Mediterranean region, including a variety of seafood, citrus, olive oils, pasta and pitas.
The restaurant transforms from a casual breakfast and lunch experience to a more upscale venue in the evenings for dinner service.
That completes a look at the second-floor guest amenities and now onto the guest rooms.
The 14-story hotel features 349 guest rooms, all with floor-to-ceiling views of the surrounding Walt Disney World area. This is one hotel where there truly is not a bad view to be found. One side of the hotel looks towards Disney's Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom, and the other side looks towards EPCOT.
The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin became known for having some of the most spacious and versatile rooms on Disney property, and this continues with the Swan Reserve.
The guest rooms are bright and airy, with up-to-date design details that deliver a high-end feel.
There are 151 suites, including two-bedroom options featuring a spacious living room area.
Some of the suites also include balconies to enjoy even more of the spectacular views.
The Swan Reserve offers a lot for events and weddings, and nothing highlights that more than The Vue event space that the hotel boasts on its top floor.
The exclusive roof-top space is ideal for weddings and special events, offering 360-degree views of the Walt Disney World Resort - including firework views of EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Magic Kingdom.
There are two ballrooms and twelve meeting rooms on the ground floor, bringing more than 15000 sq. ft. of meeting space.
If you are a fan of the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, the Reserve adds even more to the resort and offers the opportunity to try something new on your next trip. Being part of the Marriott Autograph Collection, it becomes another hotel at Walt Disney World where you can use points for the stay.
As with the Swan and Dolphin, the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve also gives you access to Disney's theme park perks, including morning early park entry and extended evening hours benefits.
Reservations are available now, with pricing typically below the price of Disney's deluxe resorts. Visit the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin website for more details.
Click the gallery to see more of the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve.
WDWMAGIC Intelligence
Answers from our archive, with sources
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