Swan/Dolphin pros/cons

[KimK2006]

I am thinking about staying at either the Swan or Dolphin for our upcoming October trip. I have always stayed at a Disney resort. Please give me any pros/cons of staying at the Swan or Dolphin instead of an actual Disney resort.

Also, what are the pros/cons between the Swan and the Dolphin?

Thanks!

 

[disneysuncat]

I think that the Swan has queen sized beds and the Dolphin has doubles. They're both beautiful hotels.

You can't do the Disney dining plan at the Swan/Dolphin. I believe there is an additional resort or parking fee per day at the Swan/Dolphin.

It's a heck of a location, though! You can't beat that boat to DHS/Epcot.

 

[aarmando20]

We prefer the Swan because of the Queen sized beads and less noise. Some people will say it isn't disney enough but with room views of Space Ship Earth, The Tower of Terror, or the Disney Boardwal I say how much more disney can it get.

 

[DisFlan]

They're both lovely but not "Disney" enough for us when we're at WDW. At another location, we'd find them quite enjoyable. We used our Starwood points to stay in 2 connecting rooms at the Swan for the last night of our trip last fall. (We're DVC and wanted to save weekend points.) My 4 yo niece walked into our rooms and asked, "Why can't we go back to that Disney place?" We'd been at WL and BWV and she liked those better. From the mouth of babes...

DisFlan

 

[webray]

Yes, Swan/Dolphin have a daily parking fee for both self park and valet.
There is also a $10 per day resort charge which includes internet access, paper, two bottles of water per day and I think something else.

We always stay at Swan or Dolphin because they are true deluxe resorts.
They have the wonderful comfy beds, excellent linens, wonderful soaps/shampoo. The staff is fantastic and we find the resort overall much much cleaner than disney resorts. Great nightly rates as well.

It just depends on what you are use to resort wise. We have stayed at almost every disney resort from value (pop/all stars) to deluxe, including main building concierge at Grand Floridian. We do not think much of Grand Floridian, it was our worst disney stay ever. We can deal with the values, hate the moderates. Love the villas at the deluxe resorts, but again, we have been checked into less than clean rooms over and over again, so we stick with Swan and Dolphin.

 

[wood145]

PROS: Location, location, location!
Nurse discount (and teacher, gov't employee too)
Deluxe accomodations at a Disney Mod Price
View of Epcot/ToT with many Resort View rooms
Great staff

CONS: No ME or DDP

Sorry, can't think of any other "cons". We've never done ME or DDP so that's not a biggie for us!

 

[geokeim]

We to have stayed at nearly every Dis resort at some point.
And IMHO, for the what you spend, Dolphin/Swan is the best value.
They are deluxe properties with a great location, and a willingness to upgrade you and make your stay comfortable.
The only, cons are no DME or dining plan, but to us, that is not a big deal.

The D to me is more like a big resort hotel with lots of restaurants and excitement. The Swan is more of a "boutique" type property.

Both, are nice, just depends on what you are in the mood for, beef or seafood.
Oh and the Heavenly beds.....

 

[KimK2006]

Thank you for all of your responses. We never do the dining, so that isn't a big deal. We will probably rent a car, so that doesn't matter. I was worried about not having the "Disney feel", but for some soft queen size beds, I think I could get over it! (We normally do moderates with double beds.) I just saw something with the "teacher" discounts and thought this might me something to consider. (My DH is a HS principal, so I assume he would get the teacher discount, since he is a certified teacher.)

Let me know if anyone has any more advice!

 

[bluwater]

Kim K, I read somewhere that the teacher discount is also for support staff and administration. Good luck with your decision!

 

[rie'smom]

The only cons are no DDP or Magical Express.
We did the DDP last year and it was ok. We did it this year and won't do it again.
As for ME, I prefer either renting a car or using a limo service.
Everything else about the S/D are pro.

 

[cboudre1]

Depending on when you are going yesterday I was able to book the Dolphin with a teacher discount and the code staycation. The dolphin was $129 a night with the code ($159/without).

 

[MaryCate]

Depending on when you are going yesterday I was able to book the Dolphin with a teacher discount and the code staycation. The dolphin was $129 a night with the code ($159/without).

Wow! We are going in October, so hopefully I can get a similar price!!

 

[lucysdad]

You will definitely feel like you are at WDW. When you sit on the balcony and watch EPCOT's Spaceship Earth change colors at night, and watch the Friendship Boats toot-toot their way under the bridge to DHS, and look across the water to the Boardwalk area, you will agree the Dolphin is soooooo Disney, at a great price! The beds are so comfy. Picabu's restaurant is delicious and affordable with an AAA discount. The grotto pool is fun. The Dolphin is our favorite resort, and, frankly, if DH didn't get such a great price on POFQ, we'd be back at the Dolphin. We don't do the dining plan and Magical Express is not an option we would take advantage of (too many unhappy stories). We take a Tiffany Town Car and do a grocery stop on the way. Really, you'll love the Dolphin. It has a great WDW feel for a great price.
Lucy's Mom

 

[KimK2006]

I called to book a room, and they aren't taking any reservations on my 10/15 arrival date! Evidentally, there is a big convention and they have the rooms blocked off. And that is the only date that will work because it is during my kids fall break. So, I will try again next year! Thanks for all of the help!