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

[bishop1989]

Do the Swan/Dolphin have the "Disney" feel?
I am booked in the CR Towers for July 2005 but was thinking about the Swan or Dolphin. Do they have the same feel as being in WDW as do the other properties such as AS, CR, etc.?
How is the transportation between the parks, especially MK?

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

This is just my opinion but no, they don't. They are nice hotels. The Dolphin has a big, fantasy like lobby and the Swan is very pretty and more intimate -but I have to admit I missed the "Disney" aspect. These hotels do have a lot of fans however. My sister actually liked not being surrounded by Disney 24/7. The location is fantastic and the boat transportation is very convenient to MGM and EPCOT. We didn't take any of the bus transportation to the other parks (we had a car) so can't comment on that.

 

[leighe]

I think so. My sister and I stayed at the Dolphin for part of our Christmas trip and we really enjoyed it. The Heavenly Beds are awesome! We could see the Epcot Illuminations fireworks from our balcony - that's Disney magic to me!

 

[CarolA]

I think a lot depends. If you are there during a convention you may very well miss the "Disney feel" Also, there are no charaters on the wall paper etc... I like the hotels but they are very simular to hotels I stay in on business all the time.

Also, when comparing rates... S/D charge a $10 a day resort fee and $7 a day parking.

 

[magicaddict]

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.

 

[Tinkaroo]

I, too, think they don't have that "Disney" feel - although the decor being so whimsical is not like many other convention hotels - except maybe Vegas. The Heavenly Beds are nice, but when at Disney, I prefer to stay truly with Disney. Just my opinion. Plus, there were some things about the Swan that were personally annoying to me when we stayed there on Starwood points.

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

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

I missed that attention to detail and going the extra mile for a vacation experience at the Swan and Dolphin hotels. Except for the Disney merchandise in the gift shop and the lobby of the Dolphin - you could walk into a hotel comparable to the Swan and Dolphin just about anywhere.

As I said my sister prefers the Swan, she isn't as big a Disney fan as I am. I like to be totally immersed in the "magic", all the time, and I didn't feel that at the Swan. JMHO, have fun whatever you decide.

 

[DisCapeCoddr]

We stayed at the Swan before a Disney cruise and were very disappointed. To us, it did not have a disney feel at all. The Swan/Dolphin were booked solid with a convention and we saw very few children. Although we had the pool to ourselves, my young son and daughter kept asking where the other children were. I don't like to be surrounded by "suits" on vacation. We highly preferred CBR, AKL and POR.

Additionally, we had a problem with mold in our bathroom and could not be moved (despite several requests) because the hotel was full. We were also checked in late. We tried to check in around noon but could not get in our room until after 5:00 pm.

 

[kathymc]

no it doesnt feel disney - but if you get one of the special rates - who cares! yes I missed the disney soaps and wake up calls. but to be that close to the boardwalk/epcot at that price and those heavenly beds - WOW!

 

[swilphil]

We have had great views of Epcot's Spaceship Earth, MGM's Tower of Terror, and the Boardwalk, which is next to the Swan. For the price and location, the S/D was worth it. The busses to MK come every 5-10 minutes, but I really liked being able to walk/boat to two other parks. If the price is considerably less than CR, I'd stay at S/D again.

 

[Northern Lights]

Our first trip we stayed at the Swan and we loved it. The price was great as was the location. We never waited very long for buses to MK, although the stops at the other Epcot resorts could be annoying.

After dining at Chef Mickeys and visiting the monorail resorts we decided to stay at the CR-Towers our next trip. Not sure what your traveling party is, but with a DD5 and DS-infant CR-Towers cannot be beat. We will eventually try the Poly (scheduled to in September but we will probably switch to CR-Towers again), but we love the view from the Tower, the resort's atmosphere and of course, the ease of walking to MK and being the first stop back from MK on the monorail. Many people dislike the CR pool but I really like it, if no other reason than it tends to be deserted.

I agree with the others as well that Swan does not have that Disney feel - it is hard to describe. On our Swan trip we did a split stay and the move was hassel free - you might want to try them both and judge for yourself. If you do, make sure you do CR-Towers second though!

 

[chrismiss56]

Both hotels have an excellent location and are very nice but no they do not have the Disney feel. We stayed at the Dolphin a few years ago and my children were disappointed with the atmosphere.

It depends on what is more important to you.........I won't stay there again

 

[webray]

We always fell very disneyish when at the Dolphin. They have the ponchos behind the counter when it rains, the disney stuff in the gift shops.

Only thing is, nicer rooms, better ammenities, great restaurant options. Perfect location.

 

[csmommy]

I really think it depends on the rate you are paying. The location is great & if you are just interested in a comfortable bed & get a great rate go for it. My experience with the staff was that I felt they were Disney rejects, except for the people that work in Concierge, & it felt like a convention hotel until you stepped outside.

If you are paying regular rates, you will be disappointed. This is NOT a Disney run hotel, & it shows. And don't forget to add the $10 daily resort fee & 7 self parking daily fee to the rate you are quoted.

 

[DancingBear]

I, too, think they don't have that "Disney" feel - although the decor being so whimsical is not like many other convention hotels - except maybe Vegas.

FYI, the renovated rooms at the S&D (or at least at the Dolphin, where we stayed last September) are no longer whimsical. Quite nicely done, very bright and clean lines, but no longer the beachy theme.

We really enjoyed the Dolphin. Nice room, view of the fantastic Grotto pool and of the Studios (Tower of Terror, the big hat, etc.), great location with the boats to Studios and Epcot, Boardwalk a stroll away, etc. Didn't really miss the Disney theming we've had at CR, CBR, POFQ, WL, CSR and ASSp.

 

[DisneyFans4]

Well look at my resort history and where I was last year and will be going this year.
If you have small children and you want that Disney theme then don't stay at the Swan/Dolphin. I have 2 teenage boys so it doesn't matter to me. To me the magic is at the parks.
We had beautiful views last year at the Swan. We had an Epcot view and watched Illuminations every night from our balcony and we also overlooked the Boardwalk and when we went to the club lounge we had a beautiful view of the Tower of Terror.
Transportation was never a problem and we never waited very long for a bus and the boat was nice too. If we didn't use the boat it was only a 10 min. walk to Epcot and a little more for MGM but it's a very scenic and relaxing walk.
In the past that's all we did was stay on Disney property but we needed a change. The heavenly beds are also wonderful and are kept very clean. These beds are much better than the beds in the Disney resort because those beds were real hard to me and I had trouble sleeping. After a long day in the park I need a good rest so I can wake up refreshed and ready to start the next day.
Whatever you decide just remember, it's wonderful just to be in Disney!!

 

[CamColt]

On my last stay at the Swan the view from my window to the right was the ToT and Earful Tower, and to the left was the BW. I felt more Disney there than I did during my 2 stays at POR.

 

[dreamflight99]

Nope...absolutely NO Disney feel whatsoever!! Avoid these resorts at all cost. NO Pixie Dust...NO Disney Magical SOAPS (ivory), NO charging from the parks to your room, NO magical "rushing around" frantic on the morning of your departure to make the check-out time (these resorts have LATE check-out...even 'till 4pm *based upon availability...w/no additional fee!!?), NO security guard coming by the grotto pool, and spoiling your late-night plunge by making you leave...oh no (this pool is open 24-7), NO bus available from MGM/Epcot after park closing...(You can WALK to these resorts!), the DOLPHIN even has a convenient CAR RENTAL CAR off the MAIN LOBBY...(acts like a giant vacuume to suck any/all traces of MAGIC out of the air!), the Concierge CLUB level lounge serves CHOCOLATE CROISSANTS, *(definitely NO Magic there!), and the elevators are SO WICKEDLY FAST, I nearly get vertigo everytime I ride in one (never happens in the suggish, slow Disney elevators!), the worst thing in the world...and the most evident of the NON-DISNEY FEEL: "Heavenly Beds" in each room/suite! These were clearly designed to give you a good-night's sleep...and leave you feeling rested and fresh in the morning! In fact, it's difficult to LEAVE these beds in the am, and when you do...you have the thought of these SLEEPER~CLOUDS to comfort you before returning after a LOOOONG hard day in the parks! (Disney Resorts have "graham-cracker mattresses" in all of their rooms/suites...100% appropriate to exact the MINIMAL REST needed to navigate these parks in true DISNEY commando fashion!).
It's a no-brainer, just stay at a DISNEY RESORT...for the TRUE DISNEY EXPERIENCE and DISNEY MAGIC/FEEL/DUST...ETC!!!

 

[CarolA]

FYI.

Late check out is subject to avaiability even if you are are SPG. (I got denied once when a BIG convention was checking in!)

 

[dreamflight99]

FYI.

Late check out is subject to avaiability even if you are are SPG. (I got denied once when a BIG convention was checking in!)

It's not even AVAILABLE at a Disney Resort...which was the jest of my facetious post.