Bus TO/FROM Swan & Dolphin!?

[ThruTheEyesOfMyChild]

I know you can book these resorts on WDW website, but do all the same benefits apply to these resorts, bus, dining plan, etc.? Is it worth the extra money to go from moderate resort to one of these or is the price difference too much!?

 

[kapoof]

at the s/d you do get the benefits of emh and buses to and from the parks. you don't get the dining plan or the ME. have agreat trip no matter what you decide!

 

[goofy4tink]

Most of the benefits are the same. But there are some things you can not have/use at the S/D..they are:
DME..you need to find your own transportation to and from the airport

DDP...no dining plan is offered if you stay there

Room charging..you can not charge purchases from the parks to your room

You don't get immersed in Disney/Mickey nearly as much. Yes, there is a Disney gift shop in each hotel, and they have plenty of Mickey stuff. But you won't find Mickey soap in the rooms or hidden Mickeys in the carpets!


You do get EMHs, bus transportation to the parks on the same schedule as the WDW owned resorts, you can get packages sent back to the hote from the parks.

 

[Crazy Kanga]

As kapoof mentioned no ddp, but from what I have read about the changes they have made to it this year, that is no big loss. Also no ME from the airport, but if you can get the nurse/teacher/government employee discount or one of their many online specials, you will still come out way ahead even with a taxi ride to the reort and back. We drive down, so this also doesn't affect us. They are deluxe hotels with fabulous amenities and location. With our rate of $179, we are extremely happy, considering another Disney owned Epcot area hotel would cost us about twice that.

 

[Liltx]

The key is not to book it through the disney website. You need to book direct to get a discount. I think they even have an entertainment book discount?

 

[ThruTheEyesOfMyChild]

They aren't WDW owned resorts! Now I am more confused than before! Can you have a "true" Disney experience like my DD and i are used to?

 

[BadgerBruce]

Although you can only charge Swan/Dolphin purchases on your room key, we found this was not that big of a deal. Just need to carry a credit card along with you--all WDW places where we would have used our room key were happy to take our Visa! I don't know that reserving through Disney is the best way to go. I would:
1.go to the Starwood website
2.join the Starwood Preferred program (it's free)
3.check rates at the Starwood Preferred site or call the S/D directly for specials (AAA, AARP, Entertainment,AP, & teachers are some I know of)

I love the CSR, but you can't beat the location of the Epcot resorts if you can get a decent rate. Have a great trip!!

 

[Crazy Kanga]

They aren't WDW owned resorts! Now I am more confused than before! Can you have a "true" Disney experience like my DD and i are used to?

No, they are Starwood Resorts. They are still exceptional hotels and we had better overall service than at Disney owned hotels. They a have views of Epcot or Studios from many rooms and are in walking distance to those two parks. The main Disney touches you might miss are Mickey soaps and hidden Mickey's in the carpet, otherwise no real difference other than a deluxe for the price of a moderate(in our case anyway) in a great Disney location.