Boardwalk or Swan?- Opinions Please

[antmaril]

We are taking a quick trip to Orlando for four nights arriving the Wed. before Labor Day. We are going to stay two nights at WDW and then move over to Universal and stay two nights at RPR. The Boardwalk Inn is $209 for a standard view room and the Swan (Dis Hot Deal - one category upgrade) is $194 for club level. I've always wanted to stay at the BWI, but that Swan club level deal is pretty good.

Any thoughts?

 

[sters]

The location benefits of both are basically the same, since they are next to each other. I think it mostly depends on how much you love Disney. At the Disney owned resorts, you are surrounded by the Mouse 24/7, from the wake up calls, etc. The Swan/Dolphin is not owned by Disney and caters to the convention crowd. I didn't feel surrounded by the Disney magic there, which can either be a plus or a minus depending on your view. (My cousin hates all the mouse ears everywhere. He says he KNOWS he's in Disney, he doesn't need it in his face all the time. I, on the otherhand, want to be submerged in Disney until I'm all wrinkly and pruney.)

I've stayed at the Dolphin before kids and it was fine and have never stayed at BWI, although I've been in its lobby and walked on its grounds. THe BWI seems to have some clever pools, one has a slide that looks like a roller coaster. On the downside, you could have a noisy room if you're too close to the boardwalk, although that might just be the villas that are near the clubs.

Great room service at the Dolphin! And it's cheaper, so you probably get more bang for you buck there. You can also get "real" coffee there, and not the Nescafe crap they serve througout Disney. On the downside, I didn't care for the dark, and to my eye, wierd, theming there, but that is all a matter of taste. The Swan was smaller than the Dolphin with less resaurants there, but they seem to share all their pools etc. so I tend to think of them both as a single resort.

 

[antmaril]

Thanks for your thoughts. This trip is just me and my hubby, so we don't really need the "Magic", although I do really love it. We have stayed at the Beach Club before, so I'm familiar with the area. The Boardwalk Inn really appeals to me. However, the Swan give us the good location and Club Level (which appeals to my husband). I think I'm going to go with the BWI because I've always wanted to stay there.

 

[Lewisc]

Comparing a club level room at Swan to a standard view room at BWI isn't really fair.

The promotional rate for the Swan is $149 (139 + $10 resort fee). That gives you an upgraded view. The real question, is it worth more than $50/ night to stay at BWI? S/D have a better variety of restaurants and a nicer pool. I'd save the money but it's really up to you.

 

[antmaril]

I wasn't really comparing the rooms. I know the standard room at BWI won't be a nice as a Club Level room at the Swan. I was just trying to get opinions on the resorts themselves. I'm thinking I will get more "atmosphere" at the BWI, but I'm sure the Swan is a better value.

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[zagafi]

I'm probably one of the few people here who really doesn't care for the BoardWalk (we stayed in the villas, not the Inn). It's far too spread out for us, and well...I just didn't enjoy it nearly as much as I did WL or AKL.

That's why Disney has so many different themed resorts, though. Different strokes for different folks.

As far as "magic"? I always get a chuckle out of this one. I think the magic is what you make it. I don't find plastic bottles of shampoo with a Mickey label or Mickey wake-up calls particularly "magical", truthfully. For us, the magic happens in the parks, not when we're sleeping.

We're giving the Swan a shot next summer. We're a family of five now and are going to stay in a Studio. The location can't be beat!

 

[Micca]

We just stayed at BWI in May for the first time. Very nice resort, and not as steeped in as some of the other Disney hotels. This was our first time staying in the Epcot resort area and we liked the location a lot.

 

[ADisneygirl]

We have stayed at both BWI and the Swan. While the Swan is in the same great location, and the room was very nice, we missed our favorite. We have been back to the BWI five times now and whenever we try other resorts we always miss it, and talk about how/when we will go back there! We love the Keister Coaster slide at the pool, the beautiful spacious rooms, the Belleview Lounge area where you can get a continental breakfast in the am or sit and read/relax/play a table game in the afternoon. It is the whole "atmosphere" there that we love.

The Swan is nice, and if you are looking to save $ it is a great deal right now. But our vote will always go with our favorite! Have a great time!

 

[mouseRD]

We stayed at the BWI in May 2003 & the Swan in May 2004. We loved both. The room at the BWI was larger but our room at the Swan had the heavenly beds! The hotel itself was quieter (more conducive to sleeping when we were ready to go to bed) & more compact - less walking. My husband still asked when we could stay at the BWI again! Go figure! It is charming.

 

[CarnotaurDad]

I will offer my Swan thoughts. Stayed there for a week. The Heavenly Beds are fantastic. You can sleep for two less hours and feel just as rested. On the club level you get lovely robes to lounge in.

We loved the Club. The staff was great. Helped us get PS when my DD changed her mind on her favorite character. They brought out extra food for our picky eater. They let you take all the bottled water you want - and other juices. Great fruit plate in the am. I loved the croissants. All sorts of goodies. Hot and cold snacks in the pm. I think all the fruit is great after a day of park food.

It just was a lovely feel in there --- if you don't mind missing the magic, it is definitely worth the savings.

It does have a more business feel to it. My DH is a Starwood Platnuim member and definitely is used to a level of treatment from a Starwood hotel. The front desk was a little brusk for us but it did not ruin our trip. We brought his computer and the High Speed Internet access was down almost everyday - if that matter to you.

The pool area is nice but --- sometimes they close it for special events.

Either way we loved that area of WDW. We strolled around with the DD and got drinks over at the BC pool area and Mickey Cakes at the bakery.

And did I mention the beds. We are saving our money to buy one...seriously.
Good Luck