?? For those who have stayed at the Swan and/or Dolphin

[Scoootch]

Hi all!

While I've stayed at many of the WDW resorts (DVC and non-DVC alike), I have yet to try out the Swan or Dolphin. We are contemplating booking a long weekend stay at one or the other and canceling a POR ressie.

I know that S/D are more of a deluxe vs. POR only being a moderate but being that they are not Disney owned, will I feel like I'm missing being at an actual Disney owned WDW resort? Will it have more of a regular hotel feel and I'll be longing for the Disney touches and magic?

Part of me really wants to try it out and part of me is nervous that S/D are not truely Disney resorts and won't be as happy.

Has anyone ever stayed at S/D and felt they would have rather stayed at a moderate or any other WDW resort? Anyone feel like S/D is just totally worth it and I should go for it??

Give me the good, the bad, any and all opinions

TIA!

 

[patsal]

I loved the Dolphin last summer ( I was able to get a great deal from Travelocity making it cost less than a WDW Moderate). It is in the heart of the Epcot resort area and makes access to both Epcot, MGM and the boardwalk just so easy. The pool is fabulous and because of the location there are so very many food choices. The rooms are beautiful and the beds are too comfy. The themeing is great, hallways are painted etc. I don't think you'll be feeling left out of anything. If I could get a great rate I would do it again in a heartbeat!

 

[BostonRob]

My wife and I stayed at the Swan (or the Dolphin, I can never remember which is which) a few years ago. Whichever one it was, it was the one with the small lobby and the oatmeal bath soap. Anyway, these resorts are RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE of the Boardwalk, Epcot, and MGM. I don't know how you could NOT have a Disney feeling staying there.

Honestly, the only difference I can remember is that you don't get Mickey soaps and the people who work there don't have cast member nametags. If you need those minor details to feel like you're in Disney . . .

 

[NMAmy]

We love the Dolphin and it would take a truly incredible rate to get me to stay anywhere else.

The service is fantastic (after the first two mornings of picking up breakfast at Tubbi's, the cashier was greeting me by name), the beds are wonderful, the price is great, you're so close to Epcot and MGM--I could watch the Illuminations fireworks from my balcony every night and watch people and boats at the Boardwalk during the day. Not to mention the fact that I've earned points toward future stays there or at other Sheraton/Westin hotels.

My whole family loves the Dolphin!

 

[mommykds]

Hi, I posted a similiar question ..here are the reponses..very favorable!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=822725

 

[pooh2001]

Swan/Dolphin - great rates for AAA, AP, teachers, nurses, military (I think)
BETTER than a Moderate

Swan - best for adults - less kids - quiet - father away from main pool

Dolphin - best for familes - arcade & laundry

PROS
1) walk to EPCOT, boat ride to MGM and EPCOT
2) walk to Boardwalk activities
3) can see EPCOT or MGM fireworks - depending on your view
4) inside door passages - you do not get wet walking in the resort
5) Wonderful main pool - 3 sections -> quite area, waterfall and water slide area, and volleyball net area
6) other pools -> lap pool, quiet pool by Swan, kiddie pool, spa area
7) great selection of food - Swan/Dolphin. Y/BC, Boardwalk and EPCOT world
8) You can see fireworks from the bridge over the lake
9) larger rooms than moderates - for a great price (see above)

CONS
1) no Mickey soaps or wake-up calls
2) to pick up HDD or Luau tickets must go to Y/BC next door

What to do -
bring with you or create your own Disney Window clings for the windows and glass mirror in the room and bathroom.

Bring Disney 3oz or 6 oz bathroom cups to use.

Have the kids pick out Disney toothbrushes and tooth paste.

Have the Disney florist deliver something Disney themed to your room - www.ftdfloristsonline.com/waltdisneyworldflorist
click on 'Our Unique Designs' on the left had side of the page
Ask the Disney florist to have autograph books, Mickey Mouse ear hats (black for boy, pink for girl), and any other Disney items you would like added - ballons, mugs, .... give them a call, they are wonderful.

Buy Disney character stuffed animals and bring them with you to place on the bed, chair, dresser or dreser.

Bring Disney themed PJ's, t-shirts and bathing suits.

Go to Minnie's character Breakfast at the Beach Club and Gullivers at the Swan for a character dinner


If you can snag a great room rate at the Swan/Dolphin - create your own Disney Magic

The Pooh Crew
:thewave:

 

[BostonRob]

CONS
1) no Mickey soaps or wake-up calls
2) to pick up HDD or Luau tickets must go to Y/BC next door

What to do -
bring with you or create your own Disney Window clings for the windows and glass mirror in the room and bathroom.

Bring Disney 3oz or 6 oz bathroom cups to use.

Have the kids pick out Disney toothbrushes and tooth paste.

Have the Disney florist deliver something Disney themed to your room - www.ftdfloristsonline.com/waltdisneyworldflorist
click on 'Our Unique Designs' on the left had side of the page
Ask the Disney florist to have autograph books, Mickey Mouse ear hats (black for boy, pink for girl), and any other Disney items you would like added - ballons, mugs, .... give them a call, they are wonderful.

Buy Disney character stuffed animals and bring them with you to place on the bed, chair, dresser or dreser.

Bring Disney themed PJ's, t-shirts and bathing suits.

Go to Minnie's character Breakfast at the Beach Club and Gullivers at the Swan for a character dinner


If you can snag a great room rate at the Swan/Dolphin - create your own Disney Magic

The Pooh Crew
:thewave:

These are all great suggestions, but they're not necessary. I mean all those things you suggest to 'Disnify' your room are'n replacing anything you'd be missing out on. Except the mickey soaps. Think about it. None of the Disney hotels, except maybe the All-Stars, are actually Disney themed. They all have distinct theming, but they don't have anything to do with Disney.

This is what kills me when people ask if they'll be missing out on 'that Disney feeling' by staying in the S/D. Disney hotels aren't Disney themed, so ANY FEELING YOU HAVE THERE IS WHAT YOU BRING. Ditto for the Swan and Dolphin. Bring that Disney feeling (and Disney toothbrushes if you must) and you'll have that Disney feeling.

 

[Kerlynne]

None of the Disney hotels, except maybe the All-Stars, are actually Disney themed. They all have distinct theming, but they don't have anything to do with Disney.

However, remember, that there are hidden Mickey's in each room. Like on the bed spreads.

Also, when you have deluxe hotel, or wherever there is a lobby, makes you feel like you are in the parks. Because there is Disney music. So if you don't want to hit the parks one day, while you are at your Disney Hotel you still feel like you are part of the parks.

 

[Scoootch]

Think about it. None of the Disney hotels, except maybe the All-Stars, are actually Disney themed. They all have distinct theming, but they don't have anything to do with Disney.

This is what kills me when people ask if they'll be missing out on 'that Disney feeling' by staying in the S/D. Disney hotels aren't Disney themed, so ANY FEELING YOU HAVE THERE IS WHAT YOU BRING. Ditto for the Swan and Dolphin. Bring that Disney feeling (and Disney toothbrushes if you must) and you'll have that Disney feeling.

Hmmm.... I have to disagree with you there. Many of the Disney resorts are themed Disney....OKW for example While yes it's themed to Key West, FL ...the railings on the buildings have Mickey spindles and the slide at the pool comes through a Mickey ears shaped tunnel made to look like a sandcastle and as someone else just mentioned the bedspreads have hidden mickey's in them at lots of the resorts as do the wall paper in the rooms...like at GF . Even the curtains sometimes have Disney in them. These are the kinds of things that make me wonder if I'll get to the room and think "wow, kind of blah" I know they don't have the Mickey soaps and wake up calls but the lack of theming throughout the rest of the resort is what makes me wonder if we'd like it as much Is the theming that they DO have at S/D enough on it's own that even though it's not themed Disney we'll love it just as much? I guess that's really what I'm wondering

Also, no offense but if I have to bring everything on my own to "disney-fy" the room then that kind of defeats the purpose of feeling I'm at a Disney resort. I don't want to have to purchase all those extras on top of already paying for a room there to make it more like a room at an actual Disney owned resort. If that's the case then why would I want to switch the ressie's over? I'm looking to want to stay at the S/D for it's own merrits and theming and want to feel we'll like it just as much if not better than if we stay at the regular WDW resorts. Thanks for the rest of the info. though pooh2001 much of it was quite helpful I'm very familiar with the Epcot area (stayed lots at Y&B & BCV's) just not familiar with S/D itself.

.... so Keep the opinions coming and thanks to all so far who've posted

 

[MSC]

Well, as I said on another similar thread, I think it feels like Disney because you can see the golf ball and the ToT from your room. Is there a Disney Resort from which you can see two parks?

If it's hidden Mickey's in the bedspread that make it feel Disney for you, then the S/D aren't the place for you. Frankly, I never looked that closely at the bedspread or the walls when I stayed at a Disney Resort, so that doesn't really matter to me.

Inside, they're hotels, no more, no less. (But they are hotels with Heavenly Beds. In my opinion, the beds alone are reason enough to forgo a hidden Mickey sighting.) Outside, it's pure Disney as far as the eye can see. How much time do you spend inside?

Anyway you're looking at a long weekend, right? Just try the damn joint and decide for yourself!

(I don't think you'll be disappointed.)

 

[magicaddict]

I have to agree that the Heavenly beds are worth the trip all on their own. I also like the fact that since this is a deluxe hotel you have inside corridors. I didn't really like staying at value and mod because your door is open to the outside. I know that you can have noisy people running down the inside hall of a hotel but somehow being outside lets people think that the amount of noise they make doesn't matter. BTW by the end of our last trip at the swan my kids were calling it "their" hotel so if they loved why shouldn't I?

 

[swilphil]

Location, location, location. You are right in the middle of things at S/D and it is such a nice deluxe. If you can get a good rate, go for it. The grotto pool is a lot of fun, too. The lobby at the Dolphin is much more impressive and feels more Disneyish, though it only has a few Mickey things in the gift store window.

 

[Scoootch]

Mommykds....Thanks so much for that link Reading so many of the replys from people who were initially hesitant also was a help...not to mention that pic of the view...pretty cool!

Think I'm going to give S/D a call and see what kind of rates we're looking at ...I'll let y'all know if we end up booking.

Thanks again everyone!