Swan and Dolphin vs. WDW resort?

[DebbieB]

I stayed at the Swan for 1 night when I arrived at WDW one day early because of airfare. They did have the most comfortable bed - it was "heavenly". But it just did not feel "Disney", I felt like I was at a business hotel. I used Starwood points and cash and they upgraded me from a standard to a balcony room. Too bad the balcony had a chain link fence across it.

[KonaKaiTom]

Originally Posted by DebbieB

I stayed at the Swan for 1 night when I arrived at WDW one day early because of airfare. They did have the most comfortable bed - it was "heavenly". But it just did not feel "Disney", I felt like I was at a business hotel. I used Starwood points and cash and they upgraded me from a standard to a balcony room. Too bad the balcony had a chain link fence across it.

I have stayed many times at Dolphin and Swan for business purposes. I agree that it does feel like a business hotel, but I don't find that to be a bad thing. The rooms are quite comfortable, the hotel is comparable to a Disney Deluxe in a lot of ways, but when you can get it for $140 per night at a corporate rate, it is hard to beat. Throw in Mears Transportation Shuttle from the airport at $21 per person and it isn't so bad.

If you want pure Disney Theme, it isn't the hotel for you. But if you want a business hotel in the Hyatt/Westin caliber and be next to, with SOME of the same priviledges as a Disney Themed hotel, it might be a good option. Note that the walk to Epcot or DHS is just as easy as it is from any of the "Disney" Epcot hotels -- +- 4 minutes.

It is just a matter of deciding what you want. A 3 year old would probably love All Stars Movies over the D or S, and I bet the same child would think the same of All Stars Movies versus the GF, Poly or CR!

My 2cents

Tom

[Sue M]

Hope your sister has a great time. I would consider S/D. WE stayed at BC and loved it, got a good AP rate. Love the Epcot area.
I can get educator rate at S/D and sometimes check their rates.
I don't have a car, so parking fees don't apply, and I never charge to resort, I load up a Disney Gift Card on arrival, and prefer to use that to pay for meals, suvies, etc. We also haven't ben using DDP the past year. I find it's not the value it once was.

[jenndisney]

Originally Posted by LexiC123

It is true that there is a daily parking fee at the S/D resort, but you do not have to pay to park at the theme parks.

So the daily rate there also covers parking at the parks??

[Robbi]

Originally Posted by Magic3forme

There is a 15.00 a day fee to park at the resorts.

The pools are better maintained at the Disney resorts. The Dolphin pool in June had a film all over it.

The hotels are better maintained too. ( the carpet on floor 10 was thread bare in certain places.) and many rooms have a musty smell.

The was something floating in the pool at the Poly and it wasn't film! The pool was evacated. Any resort can have an off day. We were just at the Swan in August and thought it was beautifully maintained.

Originally Posted by jenndisney

So the daily rate there also covers parking at the parks??

Yes, it does. There are excellent restaurants at the the Swan and Dolphin too.

[LexiC123]

Originally Posted by jenndisney

So the daily rate there also covers parking at the parks??

Yep...you just have to show your room key.