Help! Final ques about where to stay. WL or Swan? UPDATE!

[maxsmom]

If anyone out there has followed this sogga (sp?) we started and still have resservations for the Swan for $149 a night. Total will be $1230ish w/tax and resort fee. We allready have 12 days worth of passes. We will be there for 8 days. Dh and I would each use 6 days.

We then considered the POP after hearing great things, and would save $. Decided not to b/c we didn't want to be away and not have anything to do since we won't have a car and we'll have a 15 mth old.

Then we made ressies for POFQ w/ the annual pass rate. It was going to be $1160is for room and 1 AP. Still leaning toward the Swan.

Called today and changed the POFQ to WL w/ AP rate. They only have courtyard view left. So that's $1400for room and $400 for AP. Dh LOVES this resort. We aren't thrilled about how slow the buses are though. We do love the fact that it's close to the MK. Although we, also love EPCOT a lot. We've stayed at Wl 2 and never at the Swan.

Will the WL be worth the extra $? Can't compare since I've only been to one. We do love the lodge though. If I do go with WL it will be a surprise for DH.

Thanks for everyones help!

 

[Tammi67]

We stayed there the week after Thanksgiving, '04 and loved it. No problem with the buses. The most we had was probably a 10 min wait and never had to wait for a second bus. Took the boat alot too and it was just as convenient. The lodge was beautiful, the staff courteous, and the transpo excellent. I have nothing bad to say about it.

 

[Tammi67]

We stayed there the week after Thanksgiving, '04 and loved it. No problem with the buses. The most we had was probably a 10 min wait and never had to wait for a second bus. Took the boat alot too and it was just as convenient. The lodge was beautiful, the staff courteous, and the transpo excellent. I have nothing bad to say about it.

 

[Muffy]

Maxsmom,
I know WL is close to MK but I wouldn't choose it over the SWAN unless you plan to spend alot of time at MK. We prefer the Epcot location and love the SWAN. You have an incredible price for a deluxe resort that is conviently located so close to Epcot, MGM and Boardwalk. You can push your stroller right on the water taxi and only need a bus for MK and AK. The grotto pool is alot of fun. I'm sure you would enjoy it with your DS and DH during an afternoon break or late evening swim. There are many restaurant choices at the S/D. Palios at the SWAN or Fresh at the DOLPHIN are two of my favs. Fresh has a fabulous breakfest and lunch buffet. No matter which resort you choose, have a great time!

Muffy

 

[bballmom56]

I had the same dilemma going for a while. The $149 teacher rate wasn't available for our dates and we couldn't afford their higher rates, so I was already planning to do WL. But then I finally was able to get the $149 at the Swan! Since you have it, I would definitely choose the Swan - one reason being their discounts seem to be getting fewer and harder to get. The reason you might want WL is to be closer to MK for your little one, but since you said you and DH love Epcot, you can't beat the location of the Swan. We relied totally on Disney transportation there as we didn't have a car, either. It was terrific.

Sounds like either way, you can't go wrong! What a nice dilemma!

 

[dznyntnh]

I do like WL, and the whole thing with slow busses has never been true when I've been there. But, given the price difference and the fact that the Swan has bigger rooms and more to offer in that (Epcot) area, I'd go for the Swan.

There are so many more choices. For both dining and things to do. and I just love the Dolphin and Swan atmosphere.

 

[mouseRD]

The grotto pool that the Swan/Dolphin share is fantastic! Also, if you take a bus anywhere, the Swan is picked up first (shares a bus with Dolphin & other Epcot resorts) & dropped off first. The biggest pull for me, after staying at the Swan in 5/04, would be the wonderful, efficient, & thoughtful people staffing the hotel. Since your little one is so young, I don't thing he or she would miss out on a thing (it is a more adult oriented hotel) & then when your child is a bit older & can appreciate it, the WL atmosphere (bunk beds, Whispering Canyon Cafe, etc.) would probably make that hotel a bigger draw.

 

[robinb]

I didn't read your saga in real-time, but did skim the last month of it. You have been nervous about the Swan since you booked it. You had a couple financial emergencies, so you booked Pop Century to save some money. You cancelled Pop Century after you thought it was going to be too far away and there wasn't going to be enough to do and booked POFQ. For reasons unknown, you cancelled POFQ and booked WL. You love WL and have been there many times. Now you're not sure if you should keep the Swan or WL. Am I caught up?

Here's my take on it: Cancel the Swan and keep the WL. You love the resort and you will enjoy being there for your child's first trip. It's what you really want.

BTW, I have stayed at the Swan, the WL (Villas side), POFQ and Pop. I love them all for different reasons.

 

[maxsmom]

Your good. That has been my saga. The financial reasons were just b/c after having the other things come up I didn't know if we should spend the $. It's not that we don't have it. It's more of a matter of how much is worth it now that we've spent the other money. Cancelled POFQ b/c I thought there was more to do at the Swan w/ the baby.

If you can't tell I have a hard time making decisions. I can be a little obsessive compulsive at times also. It's driving me nuts right now. I have told myself that I will have desicion by Sat. and that will be it. Thanks so much for your advice!

 

[robinb]

Cancelled POFQ b/c I thought there was more to do at the Swan w/ the baby.

Honestly, your baby won't care where he stays. A crib and a wading pool is all he really needs. Easy transportation is nice. So is a balcony so you and your DH can relax and have a beverage while he sleeps. So is easy food that he'll eat.

If you can't tell I have a hard time making decisions. I can be a little obsessive compulsive at times also. It's driving me nuts right now.

We're all like that here! IMO, WL is still your best bet. The wading pool is very nice, the transportation to the MK is good (the rest, as you know, is so-so), you'll have a balcony to relax on and Roaring Forks will have food that he'll eat. The Swan is quite nice too, but you may not have a balcony and the nearest toddler-friendly food is over at the Dolphin. If you're not into balcony relaxing, then I think POFQ would have been a good choice too. I really like the smallness of the resort and the convenience food court. Although all transportation is by bus, we never had to wait for long.

 

[swilphil]

I'd go with the Swan. That is such a great rate--I'm jealous! The Swan is truly a deluxe resort. The rooms are bigger than WL or POFQ and the heavenly beds are great. The bathrooms are also nice. The Swan has a very nice "heavenly crib" too. I prefer that to the pack n' plays. Of course, the best reason to stay at the Swan is the location. You can just roll your stroller across the boardwalk to Epcot and you can get on the boat to MGM. I also found bus transportation to MK to be very good from the Swan.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

take the WL !!
we love it and you can always take the boat to Mk and then go to epcot from there

 

[Leota]

I'd pick the Swan hands down. The Swan is a True Deluxe, where the WL is sort of a deluxe lite. The location & transportation of the Swan is so convienent. The Grotto is a wonderful ppol complex & you have so many great dining options at your doorstep. The Heavenly Beds are awesome & the service is top notch. To get all the Swan offers for such a great rate is something I would snap right up.

 

[maxsmom]

Ok, dh and I fianlly decided. We talked about what al we wanted to get done with the house, bought Phantom of the Opera tickets and decided to go the cheap route. So we ended up at the POP. It's a savings of $650. I'm a little hesitant, but I've heard a lot of good things. So this will be our 1st time at a value. Whish me luck! Thanks for all of your help!