If you are staying at the Dolphin or Swam hotel at Walt Disney World, you could be getting FastPass+ soon.
Here is the letter some resort guests are getting:
Welcome to the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel You have the opportunity to participate in a test of
Disney FastPass+ service, the next generation of FASTPASS® Service. To take part in this test, you will need to
purchase valid Walt Disney World ® Theme Park admission and have a valid resort ID (room key card) for the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel for stays between November 4, 2013 and January 12, 2014.
Here are the details about My Magic Plus / FastPass+ for the Dolphin and Swan Resorts:
Do you know if the guests staying there around March get the Magic Bands? I was really excited to hear about this feature and was curious if my family would get to experience it. Thank you!
Yes, If you are staying at a Disney onsite resort you will be getting Magic Bands for each person on your reservation. You will need to contact your travel agent and they will go over how to pick your colors, book ride and attractions times, dining etc., or if you booked on your own, go to My Disney Experience and sign up to start the process. Have a great time. March is a nice time to be down in FL.
We are staying there in February and have been told that we are not able to get the magic bands. They told us that the Swan and Dolphin are not participating.
Hi, Tammy,
They did have them in testing at the Dolphin and Swam earlier. It sounds like that testing ended and they have not implemented them there yet.
There will be kiosks at the parks for day guests, get to a kiosk and make your fastpass+ selections for that day. There are several kiosk locations so hunt one out off the beat-in path to find some with shorter lines.
I had contacted Disney when I had noticed that the Dolphin was not one of the approved FastPass+ hotels. The response I got back was “The Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel is a resort in Walt Disney World but it is not owned by Walt Disney World. Not all of the benefits are the same as if you stay at a Walt Disney World Resort. To utilize the Fast Pass+, you will need to stay at a Walt Disney World Resort”. I am hoping that this will change by Summer, but not sure if I should consider changing hotels. Any advice? Thanks 🙂
Hey John,
I think everyone needs to seriously consider staying on Disney Property “At a Disney owned resort” going forward. For me I hate lines. And if I am going to spend any amount of time at Walt Disney World, time is money. So the more stuff I can see and experience the more I am willing to pay for that. Sure I can stay off property for say $99 at a Holiday Inn but for a tad more I get free transportation to and from the airport, early park admission with Extra Magic Hours, and now FastPass+ prebooking of my top selection of rides and attractions. For the little bit more in my room resort cost for a value resort like Art of Animation it’s defiantly worth it for me. Or even a moderate or deluxe Disney resort if I am going to splurge.
Now is it “fair” to those staying off site that now go to a FastPass+ kiosk? I don’t know and I am sure Disney is getting loads of feedback as am I ever minute of the day from guests that stayed off site during peak periods and are reporting long wait times.
I would evaluate the costs, how you like to vacation and tour the parks, and then make an informed decision from there.
Either way, plan ahead, and have a great trip.
Beginning March, 31, 2014 guests of the Walt Disney World Swan and Walt Disney World Dolphin Resorts will be eligible for Fastpass+ (ride reservations 60 days prior to arrival) like all guests of the other Walt Disney World Resort Hotels. However unlike guests of the other Disney resorts, guests of the WDW Swan and Dolphin must pay a fee of $12.95 per Magic Band (or use Magic Cards for Free), a discounted price MAY soon be available if you buy your Magic Bands at the Disney Gift Shops within the resorts themselves and present your S&D resort ID. It shouldn’t be necessary to change hotels as the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin combine benefits and Services of staying at a Disney Resort and a Starwood Resort. Enjoy your stay, and if you have any more questions please ask.
So how do i link my tickets to:
1-my reservation at swan/dolph
2-magic bands
3- can i get my magic bands in advance? and if not, do all ticketholders need to be present to get the magic bands (one person from our party is getting in a day early)
Mike: I linked my reservation and tickets by using the “My Disney Experience” app. You must create an account if you don’t have one. Also, if you prefer to work from a computer rather than a smartphone, you can access “My Disney Experience” online. Once you’ve created an account, it will guide you step by step.
Is the magic band still not offered to Dolphin guests and if so, is the discounted price going to be available in July?
You will have to buy a MagicBand if you want one at at WDW resort shop or at the parks. They are 12.95 but are not needed. You can use your park ticket for FastPass+ instead.