Are Swan/Dolphin now Disney Properties?

[DisneyFans4]

That is also my goal, to save up enough points for free nights and we're getting there! It's the beautiful thing about being a Starwood member that at least the money your paying is all going towards rewards to use for future stays and not just in Disney but anywhere


I'm not sure and don't quote me because I haven't been at the Starwood site but isn't it 10,000 points for a free night?

 

[Mickiethepooh]

They have the MOST COMFORTABLE BEDS. they do not have the Disney feel but they are really nice hotels and the Disneyness is just outside the door. I Love the Swan, but as stated you don't get ME or the DDP AND parking at the hotel is either $10 or $11 a day.

 

[DisneyFans4]

They have the MOST COMFORTABLE BEDS. they do not have the Disney feel but they are really nice hotels and the Disneyness is just outside the door. I Love the Swan, but as stated you don't get ME or the DDP AND parking at the hotel is either $10 or $11 a day.

The beds are awesome! It's the only ones I actually sleep in comfortably when on vacation.

Not having the ME and DDP doesn't bother us at all. We are AP holders and we have the DDE card which is very well worth it. I don't want to commit myself to having to eat on Disney property everyday. I think the parking fee is $7.00 a day which is a bummer and I'm happy we fly and don't have a car.

 

[kmjhmom]

Do the employees at S/G wear laniards with pins to trade?

 

[Tiffany]

If you're really used to staying in Disney resorts, is it a huge letdown to be at the S/D? I'd like to hear people's thoughts on this, as the prices at S/D are much more affordable to me! Plus, posters have said that EPCOT and MGM are walkable...

Have you stayed at the S/D before? I know that some feel they are not "Disney" enough but we have stayed at Disney owned and the Swan and Dolphin many times over the years and fine the Swan and Dolphin to be great. What did you find to be a letdown? In some cases we feel as if you get better service in a regular room at the S/D then you do at some of the Disney owned deluxe resorts.

 

[DisneyFans4]

Have you stayed at the S/D before? I know that some feel they are not "Disney" enough but we have stayed at Disney owned and the Swan and Dolphin many times over the years and fine the Swan and Dolphin to be great. What did you find to be a letdown? In some cases we feel as if you get better service in a regular room at the S/D then you do at some of the Disney owned deluxe resorts.

I absolutely agree as far as the treatment and as you can see it's why after our first stay at the Swan it's where we have always returned. I stayed at the Poly 2 years in a row and paid probably triple what I paid at the Swan and received far better treatment at the Swan. I stayed concierge at the Poly and couldn't even sleep in their beds because the amount of stains on my mattress. I laid tons of towels on the bed after it was made. The beds at the Swan were impeccable and believe me I give them a thorough inspection

The S/D offer such great discounts that you cannot go wrong for a deluxe resort. As far as the feel, well I say it many times that I've never felt more like I was in Disney until I stayed there.

 

[AndyMcV]

One thing about SPG that we can't get from any Disney rewards are free nights! We're staying 8 nights at the Swan in December, total cost? Zero, Zip, Nada. We don't need room charging privileges since we use our Amex Starwood card while staying and we're earning points towards our next stay.

Same here Steve!! We've just got 40,000 spg points now and will be using them next year for 5 free nights.... and again, the price.... nothing!

We'll tack it on to a few nights that we'll pay for, for an aweome vacation!

We love SPG points. We use the SPG MasterCard (the SPG Amex is not available in Canada).

 

[grannyminnie]

Have you stayed at the S/D before? I know that some feel they are not "Disney" enough but we have stayed at Disney owned and the Swan and Dolphin many times over the years and fine the Swan and Dolphin to be great. What did you find to be a letdown? In some cases we feel as if you get better service in a regular room at the S/D then you do at some of the Disney owned deluxe resorts.

Well, since I have not stayed there yet, I haven't had a chance to see if I was letdown. I just have read other posts by those who say it's not a Disney "feel".

 

[AndyMcV]

Ok Im on the site now and looking to book a reservation and I do not see the Swan or dolphin listed as an option??!!!

Check out...
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/resorts/resortLanding?id=DolphinResortLandingPage&bhcp=1
or
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/resorts/resortLanding?id=SwanResortLandingPage

 

[wintermom]

I just want to second my vote for the Swan. Please don't think it not
Disney- its so close to Epcot and the boardward I consider it in the heart
of Disney. I first stayed here about 5 years ago because of the great reviews
on this site and great AAA rate I got. The Disney hotels could not compete
with the price because it was Spring Break. I joined starwood and started
collecting points - what a journey that has been. Lets see, 3 stays over
new Years at the Swan for free. This summer 5 nights at Westin Maui for
free. Next summer 5 nights in London free and I once again have NYE booked
at the Swan for free. Points at each hotel varry but Swan and Dolphin are
10,000 per night, get 5 nights for the price of 4. Check out the flyertalk
website under hotels to get lots of tips for maximizing points.
I love Disney and have stayed at the AKL several times and the Poly and
the WL, but since we tend to go durning peak times I often can't justify
the cost because I love the Swan just as well, just wish I could do the dinning package there too!

 

[DisneyFans4]

I just want to second my vote for the Swan. Please don't think it not
Disney- its so close to Epcot and the boardward I consider it in the heart
of Disney. I first stayed here about 5 years ago because of the great reviews
on this site and great AAA rate I got. The Disney hotels could not compete
with the price because it was Spring Break. I joined starwood and started
collecting points - what a journey that has been. Lets see, 3 stays over
new Years at the Swan for free. This summer 5 nights at Westin Maui for
free. Next summer 5 nights in London free and I once again have NYE booked
at the Swan for free. Points at each hotel varry but Swan and Dolphin are
10,000 per night, get 5 nights for the price of 4. Check out the flyertalk
website under hotels to get lots of tips for maximizing points.
I love Disney and have stayed at the AKL several times and the Poly and
the WL, but since we tend to go durning peak times I often can't justify
the cost because I love the Swan just as well, just wish I could do the dinning package there too!

I totally agree and I have never stayed anywhere else except for the Swan the last few years since I was so impressed on my first stay. For a deluxe hotel and the great rates and discounts you get you definitely cannot go wrong. Better yet, you get points for future stays at any of there hotels which is also a plus.

You mention your disappointment with not being able to do the DDP. Have you ever considered getting the DDE card? We have that and it's great and we save alot!!! Not having the DDP doesn't bother me since I wouldn't use it everyday anyway.

 

[Tiffany]

Well, since I have not stayed there yet, I haven't had a chance to see if I was letdown. I just have read other posts by those who say it's not a Disney "feel".

Then I would say do not let others views of whether or not they are Disney enough impact you. Give them (one of them) a try and decide for yourself if the location and service offsets the lack of hidden mickey's in the decor and no "Mickcy wake up calls". We used to never consider the S/D since they were not "Disney owned". That was back in the late 90's when we could get a water view room at the YC with an AP discount for $189 a night plus tax. But now that the AP rate in value season is $245 a night plus tax for a standard view room and we can usually get a room at the S/D for around $200 or less a night inc taxes and then get upgraded to a resort view balcony room for free due to being an SPG Gold member the decison to stay at the S/D over the YC/BC or BWI is now a no brainer for us.

To each there own of course but in my opinion prices for the Disney resorts are getting out of control so we go with the S/D.

 

[Texasmomof3]

We have stayed at both the S/D. We tend to like the Dolphin more because of our kids and the lobby is like a big circus tent. Both are great - we happened to get a better deal in Nov. to stay at the Coronado Springs so we will be trying it. Who knows we may add a day or 2 at the dolphin - we will miss it if we don't. We got engaged there 15 years ago so it will always be special to us. SPG has one of the best hotel points programs around.

 

[danjoan14]

How many Starwood points did you require for a "free stay?

It's 10,000 points a night for a deluxe room. Now you can take the chance to get an upgrade, or use 1,000 points a night extra for a deluxe room with a view and a balcony. We opted to use the extra points. I didn't want to take the chance of not being upgrade.

 

[grannyminnie]

Then I would say do not let others views of whether or not they are Disney enough impact you. Give them (one of them) a try and decide for yourself if the location and service offsets the lack of hidden mickey's in the decor and no "Mickcy wake up calls". We used to never consider the S/D since they were not "Disney owned". That was back in the late 90's when we could get a water view room at the YC with an AP discount for $189 a night plus tax. But now that the AP rate in value season is $245 a night plus tax for a standard view room and we can usually get a room at the S/D for around $200 or less a night inc taxes and then get upgraded to a resort view balcony room for free due to being an SPG Gold member the decison to stay at the S/D over the YC/BC or BWI is now a no brainer for us.

To each there own of course but in my opinion prices for the Disney resorts are getting out of control so we go with the S/D.

I'm certainly considering it! You and many others make strong points!