Do the Swan/Dolphin have the "Disney" feel?

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Is this recent that late checkout isn't available at a Disney resort? I've gotten them as late as 1pm without being charged, no problem. Never needed later than that.

Maybe I'm just a good sleeper but I don't think the beds in Disney resorts are uncomfortable either. Yes, the heavenly beds are nice but honestly it's a lot like my bed at home so I don't get overly impressed by them.

To each his own

 

[Blondie]

I guess it's a matter of opinion, but I think they have just as much Disney feel as the others, sometimes more so.

Some of the views from the S/D are spectacular! We've been lucky enough to have views of Epcot and Spaceship Earth on several stays. We've also watched the fireworks from Illuminations on our balcony in pajamas! It just doesn't get any better than that except maybe watching Wishes at the Polynesian or GF!

 

[minijeanie]

"disney feel" absolutely not.. and don't anyone tell you different
stayed at Dolphin...
major convention going on
all business people

but on the plus side..rooms were ample, service great and once you walked out of the building Disney comes alive....

so....it depends what you want
if you have small children, stay where you are

but the convenience from Dolphin to Epcot and MGM is unsurmountable.

I love the Epcot side...beautiful and so much to do

so. if you are strictly going for the DIsney feel, my suggestion is to split your stay ...and then you get the best of both worlds

 

[Kaycee]

Yes, the S/D have the Disney feel. For us, they had more of a Disney feel than the Disney resort where we stayed. I felt much more like I was at WDW when staying at the S/D than I ever did at CSR.

 

[AndyMcV]

We've stayed at both Disney owned resorts and at the Swan and I have to say that my family liked the Swan best. I don't get it when people say that a resort does or doesn't have a Disney feel. Each resort is themed differently so it's not like you've got Mickey heads all over the place at the Disney owned resorts and the others don't. All the hotels have a gift shop that sells Disney stuff ad nauseum including the Swan and Dolphin so if you want a really great hotel with really comfortable beds then I'd got for S/D. Just my two cents.

I totally agree with magicaddict. We've stayed at the Swan in 2003 (DW and DS3 at the time). We all love the resort. My son now associates "The Swan" with Walt Disney World. With it's newly renovated rooms and closeness to Epcot and the Boardwalk I don't know how you can say it does not have Disney Magic. We stayed at the CR in 2000 and I loved that resort too but for different reasons and theming.

 

[nwdisgal]

My DS is "obsessed" with Disney, literally and figuratively and he loved our stay at the Swan - so much that we are going back. The Swan is so close to Epcot, that you don't feel to out of the fold. I loved the Heavenly beds and the boutique feel of the hotel. I also preferred the food at Swan/Dolphin to the food at the Disney resorts. Yes, it is less Disney than the Disney Resorts, but not enough that I missed that Disney feeling.

 

[Ladyhawke10]

I don't get it when people say that a resort does or doesn't have a Disney feel. Each resort is themed differently so it's not like you've got Mickey heads all over the place at the Disney owned resorts and the others don't. .

 

[Ladyhawke10]

I guess it's a good thing we all like something different and there are many choices at WDW!

The thing is I appreciate Disney's attention to every detail in their themeing, for example the Wilderness Lodge and the Animal Kingdom Lodge. I love hearing the "crickets" when walking up to the WL, seeing the animal tracks in the sidewalks, the huge fireplace, even the music that reminds me of old western movies on tv, they even appeal to your sense of smell in these hotels - it all combines into a unique experience that is "Disney" to me. And I don't know of anywhere else that there is a resort you get the same ambiance as the Animal Kingdom Lodge - unless you actually go to Africa. These are the "Disney" touches to me - I'm not just talking about mickey heads
QUOTE]

Loved your description of Disney's attention to detail! It's what I've always appreciated about Disney.

There is an African Safari type experience at the Safari West hotel in Sonoma county, California. There is a main building and cottages that are on a wildlife reserve that is reminiscent of an African plain. You can drink coffee out on your deck with giraffe and zebras a few feet from you. The sounds are much stronger at night, you feel like you are in an African jungle. They have safari treks every day that last about 2-3 hours. It's the closest thing I've ever found to AKL on the west coast

 

[nwdisgal]

As long as I have a decent caffeine source for the morning and a good glass of wine at night (I am an avid supporter of Sonoma's economy) to calm myself after enduring the stampede at the parks, the Disney feeling is there. Swan has both... and chocolate croissants too. Three out of four of my basic food groups are covered with a stay at the Swan- what more could I ask for.

 

[DisneyFans4]

I've stayed at alot of Disney resorts and of all my stays my best views were from the Swan. I woke up every morning and opened the blinds on my balcony to see Spaceship Earth!! Every morning when I ate breakfast in the club lounge I was looking at the Tower of Terror. There was nothing like watching Illuminations from our balcony! Our vacation was so memorable last year that we are staying there again this year. So there is Disney feel here! I NEVER got that staying at the other resorts and those were Disney resorts.
I've always had late checkout without any problem. As far as the traffic with a convention, I always call ahead when making my vacation plans and ask if any conventions are running during my stay and I will work around that.
I've never had any problems with transportation and the boats from Epcot/MGM. You can also walk and it's not long at all.
Every person is different and to me it's good that the Swan/Dolphin is different because I'M sure there are people out there that don't want that Disney feel or maybe get tired of it so I think it's great that there are hotels out there that are different.

 

[elf]

Disney feel? Well CR with the monorail and a view of MK thats Disney feel at it's best for me. But we've gone every year (more than once ayear) to S/D. my 5 & 7 yr. love it, it's probably our favorite hotel. The small but zippy slide the waterfall. My favorite Epcot Disney feel is overlooking Spaceship earth and Boardwalk area which is also very beautiful at night.
I like the idea of splitting the stay between CR and Dolphin, this way you do all your MK, AK stuff while there and Epcot and MGM while at the Dolphin. I've done that and liked it.

 

[Hieatt]

"disney feel" absolutely not.. and don't anyone tell you different

Please let me tell you different. We have stayed at the Dolphin 4 times and we have 4 kids, the oldest being almost 7 years old. We all absolutely love the place. I've stayed at the Contemporary, and the Dolphin blows that away. I've also walked through all of the other Deluxe resorts. Each is beautiful, but the Swan and Dolphin have every bit as much luxury and feeling of being at Disney. If you happen to be there during a convention, I suppose seeing a bunch of people with nametags might take away from the feeling of being on vacation, but it didn't bother me the one time it happened.

The service is excellent and the beds are the best around. If you can get one of the great AAA/Entertainment/Teacher/Govt rates, it's really a no-brainer. The S/D advantages more than outweight the higher cost, the mickey soaps and the charging privileges at the "real" Disney resorts.