CBR vs. CSR vs. Swan/Dolphin: What would you choose?

[disneycat321]

We’re looking at booking a Feb 2022 trip and trying to decide between CBR, CSR, and Swan/Dolphin. We’ve previously stayed at POR (loved, but who knows when it will open...) and YC (adored, but it’s out of our price range during Presidents’ Week).

Two adults in our 30s, no kids. We tour pretty hard, but do like to spend some time at the resort. We love eating at many TS restaurants. Epcot is our favorite park. All three resorts are close in price, but CSR is (probably) the cheapest. (Swolphin is not bookable for that week yet, so we don’t know the exact price.) We’d probably want to use Disney transportation, though we’re also considering renting a car, especially since ME will be gone.

Given that information, what would you choose and why?

Thanks!

 

[MMR76]

Our favorite hotel is Beach Club but Swan is a close second. We love the Boardwalk area and with your love of Epcot I would choose to stay close. You can also walk to Hollywood Studios which is a huge bonus for us. The Swan is comparable to a Disney Deluxe and is usually priced like a moderate, sometime less.

 

[Lisa P.]

Based on what you've described, I'd second the suggestion for the Swan/Dolphin. SO MANY restaurants within walking/boating distance (BW, BC, YC, Dolphin, Swan, Swan Reserve, Epcot World Showcase). It's also a reasonable walk/boat ride to Epcot/DHS for park touring. Swolphin has a nice pool area and a more adult vibe which may mean there are fewer children than at CBR or CSR. Further, the bus shuttles at CBR and CSR take a longer time because both of those resorts are spread out with multiple bus stops.

If you love the theme at CBR and the outdoor access to the rooms at moderate resorts, it does have the Skyliner advantage for getting to Epcot & DHS, as well as easy access to the restaurants at Riviera. Not as many convenient TS restaurants at CSR/Gran Destino to choose from, so you'd probably need to take a bus to a theme park or DS for dinner sometimes. Won't really matter on a short trip but could get old if you're staying for a week or more.

All of the mentioned resorts will charge a daily fee for parking your car so factor that into your budget calculations, when considering a car rental vs. Mears-type shuttle vs. rideshare. I can't imagine having a bad vacation at any of them though - have fun!

 

[Marthasor]

We’re looking at booking a Feb 2022 trip and trying to decide between CBR, CSR, and Swan/Dolphin. We’ve previously stayed at POR (loved, but who knows when it will open...) and YC (adored, but it’s out of our price range during Presidents’ Week).

Two adults in our 30s, no kids. We tour pretty hard, but do like to spend some time at the resort. We love eating at many TS restaurants. Epcot is our favorite park. All three resorts are close in price, but CSR is (probably) the cheapest. (Swolphin is not bookable for that week yet, so we don’t know the exact price.) We’d probably want to use Disney transportation, though we’re also considering renting a car, especially since ME will be gone.

Given that information, what would you choose and why?

Thanks!

Definitely Swan/Dolphin. With its proximity to EP and the many TS within walking distance (plus some of the best TS right at Swan/Dolphin), that would be my first choice.

 

[disneycat321]

Our favorite hotel is Beach Club but Swan is a close second. We love the Boardwalk area and with your love of Epcot I would choose to stay close. You can also walk to Hollywood Studios which is a huge bonus for us. The Swan is comparable to a Disney Deluxe and is usually priced like a moderate, sometime less.

This is what we keep coming back to...our love of the Boardwalk area! Because we really do love that area. If we could justify that $680/night rack rate at YC right now, we'd book it...

Definitely Swan/Dolphin. With its proximity to EP and the many TS within walking distance (plus some of the best TS right at Swan/Dolphin), that would be my first choice.

We didn't eat at any of the Swan/Dolphin TS restaurants last time, but I have seen menus and reviews, and they look amazing. We especially want to try Il Mulino.

Based on what you've described, I'd second the suggestion for the Swan/Dolphin. SO MANY restaurants within walking/boating distance (BW, BC, YC, Dolphin, Swan, Swan Reserve, Epcot World Showcase). It's also a reasonable walk/boat ride to Epcot/DHS for park touring. Swolphin has a nice pool area and a more adult vibe which may mean there are fewer children than at CBR or CSR. Further, the bus shuttles at CBR and CSR take a longer time because both of those resorts are spread out with multiple bus stops.

If you love the theme at CBR and the outdoor access to the rooms at moderate resorts, it does have the Skyliner advantage for getting to Epcot & DHS, as well as easy access to the restaurants at Riviera. Not as many convenient TS restaurants at CSR/Gran Destino to choose from, so you'd probably need to take a bus to a theme park or DS for dinner sometimes. Won't really matter on a short trip but could get old if you're staying for a week or more.

All of the mentioned resorts will charge a daily fee for parking your car so factor that into your budget calculations, when considering a car rental vs. Mears-type shuttle vs. rideshare. I can't imagine having a bad vacation at any of them though - have fun!

We are leaning more towards CBR over CSR between those two because of the skyliner access. CSR seems pretty far removed. When we stayed at POR, we at least had easy access to DS and all the dining there. CSR seems more isolated.

 

[Dave006]

Swolphin is not bookable for that week yet, so we don’t know the exact price.) We’d probably want to use Disney transportation, though we’re also considering renting a car, especially since ME will be gone.

I would vote for the Swan. Location, location, location. It is small and compact only 750 rooms. Walking to Epcot and DHS and different dining options around Crescent lake. You can only book a Marriott property 50 weeks in advance you are this close...

Assuming things get back to normal you can always pick up a rental car at MCO and drop it at the Dolphin Rental counter or the MK Car care center for Alamo or National at any time. You can always rent another car for the trip back to the airport. It was quite common pre Covid-19. Currently the Dolphin Rental desk is still closed.

Dave

 

[SwanVT2]

Pre-kid we always stayed at Swan or Dolphin for pool/pool bar (amazing)/and restaurants on Boardwalk. Now, we enjoy renting points at SSR so we can walk to DS for all the dining they have to offer. Of course, Swan has proximity to two parks, which is great. Be aware that they do not have shuttle direct to parks anymore, you get dropped off at TTC.

 

[SteveH]

We've done S/D with kids, now that our kids are on their own we've really enjoyed S/D the location and prices can be hard to beat. As long as you know what you're getting with S/D and the prices are still reasonable its a slam dunk IMHO. There are a few things to be aware of; of course you don't get some of the Disney benefits; as of right now they are using Mears for bus service not Disney, which isn't a big deal except the buses don't drop off with the Disney buses now, so for MK you get dropped at TTC - many have just walked over to YC/BC or BW though.

Pre-Covid I felt like S/D prices were getting a bit high, since then they have come way down, back to a great deal level again. If you are a Costco member it's worth checking their package pricing. And now the team at Dreams Unlimited can book as well.