Go Moderate or Swan & Dolphin

[NeverlandPixie]

I read on another thread or WDW Info that the Swan & Dolphin has special rates for teachers. So I called and the rate they gave me per night over spring break was $199 per night. A moderate "Disney" resort would run about the same price.

What are the differences, especially in transportation (to parks, to/from airport) and rooms?

What are the differences between the Swan and Dolphin?

Should I go moderate, or should I go for the Swan & Dolphin?



Much thanks as always,
Suzanne

 

[Mrs Potato Head]

You will probably have your own bus from a moderate, but with the Swan/Dolphin you'll have to share a bus most times with Boardwalk and Yacht/Beach Club. Of course, you can walk or boat from Swan or Dolphin to MGM or Epcot, so that cuts some of the transport time on buses down.

I've never stayed in the moderates, we're DVC members. But I have stayed at the Dolphin, and we're actually going back there in 3 weeks for a conference my DH has to attend. I love the Dolphin...great proximity, nice rooms, GREAT beds, and good prices too!

Good luck with your decision.

 

[bellebud]

I believe you can't use ME from the airport. but maybe the cost savings would justify either a mears shuttle (only if you have to), or splurge on happy limo or one of those companies. they're not crazy, crazy money, and boy is it convenient!

The trans around WDW is the same as other resorts... i believe swan/dolphin shares w/ boardwalk and beach club. no biggie really. it's only to 2 parks, MK and AK, since you'll walk or boat to epcot and mgm. I'd try the swan/dolphin over a moderate for transportation reasons w/in WDW. you just can't beat walking to epcot (and mgm if you wanted), especially at night after illuminations or fantasmic. and the pool area is wonderful too, and i remember seeing ping pong tables outside and they have the swan boats.

I also think all the mods look awesome, but again, walking to/from 2 parks is fantastic! (one of our boardwalk villa stays, we were at the end of the boardwalk by the swan/dolphin, and it was closer for us to walk out a back door and to their boat dock than to walk to the boardwalk one).

and i think the only other *perk* you can't use at the swan/dolphin is charging things in the parks to your room card (which i actually always do, so i don't know how inconvenient you'd find that).

good luck deciding!

 

[Blondie]

I'll go with the S/D over a moderate any old time!

The S/D are deluxe resorts (as you already are aware) and the location alone is worth it! I can't tell you how great it is to walk back through World Showcase after Illuminations to either catch the boat or walk while most everyone else is fighting the crowds out the front of the park!

Being an Epcot resort will also give you more dining options with the Boardwalk being out your back door. We love walking back from Epcot via the Boardwalk. There's always something going on, magicians, musicians, etc. Lots of fun!

Depending on supply & demand, you won't always have to stop at the Yacht/Beach Clubs or the Boardwalk when using the bus. And when going to MGM, it's a straight ride over and back via the Friendship boats, another plus!

 

[Blondie]

What are the differences between the Swan and Dolphin?

The Swan is the smaller of the two, making the walks to/from the elevators shorter and therefore faster.

When it's just DH and myself, I prefer the Swan. It seems just little more quiet. When we bring our teen sons along, we prefer the Dolphin. The Dolphin seems more bustling & festive, and has the things my boys are looking for when they go roaming by themselves like the arcade and Picabu 24 hour eatery. The Dolphin also seems closer to the main "Grotto" pool, but not by that much when you factor in longer walks to/from the elevators. Good thing though about that is being a deluxe resort, the walking is done on carpeted enclosed corridors, as opposed to outside walkways at the moderates.

 

[TinkOhio]

DH is a teacher so we are stuck going during school holidays, too. We have stayed at the Swan during several of the school holidays and never had to share a bus with any other resort but the Dolphin. The busses are great-the best we have experienced on property. It helps to know that the busses pick up at the Swan before the Dolphin. We've never had to stand on busses from the Swan.

We can't wait to go back this Easter!

 

[PrincessAlways]

I've stayed at the Swan last year. The Swan is the smaller of the two resorts. It was very nice, but the best thing about it was the boat transportation to MGM & EPCOT. At EPCOT, you enter the park at the countries & it was just a real plus! The bus transportation was shared with the Dolphin & Boardwalk for trips to MK, AK, DTD & the water parks.

 

[Calfairy]

I am a teacher so I have a $149.00 rate that I could not refuse but I played around with EXCEL to determine the savings that I would get using the DDP. It was not enough for me but it is something that I would think about.

 

[swilphil]

We love the Swan. The bathroom layout is a little nicer and the beds are queen size. It's also right next door to the Boardwalk. I'd still stay in the Dolphin over most Disney resorts. The rooms are very nice and the service is great.

At Easter, Disney resorts won't have free dining, and it's a lot of food even if you do want to pay the per day extra price with Disney.

 

[happymommy]

I've never stayed at a moderate, but have really enjoyed my stays at the Swan and Dolphin. A moderate has some things I would never do: your door opens to the outside (like a motel) vs. interiors at S/D. I love the room service at the S/D (their kids' menu is very reasonable and good for my kids). I love movies on demand at S/D - at night we'll enjoy one while relaxing. The beds are more comfortable than most Disney resorts. I like the location of the S/D - we love Epcot especially! The boats and busses were fine - very convenient I thought. I think you can see who gets my vote! ALso, my DS is a big sushi fan, so we carried out from Kimono's a few times, ordered a movie, and enjoyed it in the room! It was really good. I don't do the DDP as I'd like to choose some places that don't take it, like S/D for sushi, and I just have never tried it. We don't plan a lot of meals at WDW. Just grab and go sometimes. Have fun planning!

 

[bsbcgirl]

I did a split stay this summer at the CBR and the Dolphin. I got the $149 teacher rate at the Dolphin. I am definitely in the minority, because other than the location and the grotto pool, I like CBR better. I found the rooms at the Dolphin totally unacceptable with respect to cleanliness, extreme dampness, and a very moldy smell. I wrote a complete report in "Trip Advisor".

 

[NeverlandPixie]

Thanks everyone. This gives me a lot to think about.

While I love the location of the Swan & Dolphin (EPCOT!), I really like the convenience of using the KTTW to charge park purchases and meals as well as using ME to keep costs down. I will be travelling solo, too, so there's that to consider as well. I don't think I would use any sit-down restaurants, so the DDP isn't really for me, but if I do want an afternoon away from the parks, I also want somewhere relaxing and away from the hustle and bustle, but not necessarily confined to my room.

I am looking at the Epcot resorts in my range, and those closer to Epcot, such as POR (my "home"), POFQ, CBR as well as the Swan & Dolphin, and even Pop.

Again, much thanks,
Suzanne

 

[msn4693]

With having to pay for parking, cameras in the restrooms and everything else, I'll stick with the Disney mods.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1532146

 

[NeverlandPixie]

Absolutely horrific. Glad he was caught!

 

[Samsma]

We stayed at the Swan and also had an issue with musty smell in the room. The carpet always seemed damp, and you couldn't air out the room with the balcony door open because the air shuts off automatically. Kind of gross. I would stick with Disney either mod or Pop, which we totally loved!