Hi Andrew! Welcome to planDisney!
You have picked a great location to stay during your visit to the
Walt Disney World Resort. The
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels are nestled just behind
Disney's Boardwalk and give you easy access to several Disney Resorts Collection hotels. In turn, you will also have a plethora of dining options at your fingertips, including all of the wonderful restaurants located inside of these resorts.
EPCOT and
Disney's Hollywood Studios are just a short walk or boat ride away. I love being this close to the parks because it allows my family to take a mid-day break back at the hotel if needed.
Since you already own a
MagicBand, I would recommend bringing it on your trip. You will be able to use it for entry into the parks and Lightning Lane entrances on rides. However, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels do not allow for a credit card to be linked or purchases to be made using your MagicBand. This perk is reserved for Guests staying at a
Disney Resorts Collection hotel.
I do have an idea that may be beneficial during your stay. If you purchase
Disney Gift Cards, you can add these cards into your digital wallet on your mobile device or smartwatch. This way when you checkout at dining or merchandise locations, you can simply tap your device for easy payment. This also may help with budgeting purposes since you will have already purchased the gift cards prior to your visit. You can purchase the amount you hope to spend and keep better accountability. The one issue I run into using my MagicBand for purchases is that you can easily lose track of how much you are spending.
Andrew, I hope you find this information helpful during your upcoming stay. If you have any more questions,
find me again here at planDisney!
See ya real soon!
Greg