Hi Stephanie! Welcome to planDisney!
Oh boy! A visit during the
holidays to the Most Magical Place on Earth sounds like a dream vacation! Between the festive decor and holiday offerings, you are in for an amazing stay!
When booking your trip directly through the
Walt Disney World website, you'll be able to group your hotel stay and ticket package together. You'll pay an initial deposit at the time of booking, then the remainder of your stay will be due 30 days before your arrival. This will allow you to modify your trip easily and not require you to pay for your park tickets upfront. Your hotel accommodations should link to your My Disney Experience account by booking your stay this way, which will allow you access to a few of the perks that come along with your reservation. The
Walt Disney World Swan Reserve is a magnificent hotel that is within walking distance to both EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios. At this time, Guests receive Early Theme Park Entry to the parks each day of their visit!
Since you're technically booking your hotel stay through Walt Disney World, you may need to call the Swan Reserve to have them link your reservation to your Marriott account. I would check with them to see if you can use the features of their app when booking your stay this way. If you went ahead and booked your hotel portion directly through Marriott, you would need to purchase your park tickets separately and pay for them in full at the time of purchase. They will also be non-refundable this way, which will allow for less flexibility.
Stephanie, you're going to have a fantastic experience visiting during the holidays! If you have time to venture over to
Disney's Wilderness Lodge, the main lobby is breathtaking during this time of year. With the roaring fireplace and large Christmas tree, it's the ultimate place to enjoy a warm beverage and take in all of the sights and sounds. You can take the boat from the Magic Kingdom to get there and finish off your visit with a meal at
Geyser Point Bar & Grill.
I hope you have a magical stay! Happy planning!
Greg