If I'm a hotel snob, which is nicer Polynesian or Swan and Dolphin?

[chris benton]

This thread reminds me of when I got my first smart phone. I asked a lot of my friends if a droid or Iphone was better.
All of the Iphone users only said, "The Iphone is better."
All of the Droid users said, "Droids are better" and then they each listed a myriad actual reasons.

Swan was a no-brainer for our family. The amenities and location for the price are one thing, but my wife is a hotel snob. Swan was a no brainer.

 

[davale4]

Poly can be a bit run down, housekeeping is not consistent, and there are many visitors via the GCH who create crowd.

This ☝!!! Our experience at the Poly was aweful. I will NEVER stay there again...room was so filthy. I felt so icky that I had to actually clean it myself. I didn’t want the kids touching the disgusting smudges all over furniture and doors, which came out easily with some wipes (not to mention the floors and bathroom - yuck!)

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

Definitely Four Seasons if you're feeling it, Swan/Dolphin will do if not. There is no Disney hotel that is in a true luxury category.

 

[FSU Girl]

I probably will never stay at Poly because of the hotel rooms not being connected from the main building. I did that at the Grand Floridian and hated going outside to get to my room with rain and heat. If I'm spending that much I want the hotel to be all connected.

I just recently stayed at the Swan and liked it. It doesn't have all the Disney charm with the theme, but it is a nice hotel and it's great being able to walk to two parks.

 

[Miffy]

OP: I think a lot depends on who you're going with (alone? spouse? boy/girlfriend? kids?), where you expect to spend most of your time, and if you intend to use Disney transportation or your own car. If Epcot and the Studios are a high priority, then you'd probably prefer staying at an Epcot resort. I'm not a fan of the Swan. I stayed there once--years ago, so the room interiors have changed since then--and I felt like I was at a convention hotel in the middle of Anywhere, USA. People seem to like that, though, so perhaps you would. There are a lot of businesspeople who stay at the Swan for conventions, etc., so one sees many people in suits around the hotel. I would not call it a luxury hotel. It's not a downscale hotel, but it's not the Four Seasons, which other people on the thread have suggested, and it's something you might want to consider.

If you're going to be at the Magic Kingdom a lot, the convenience of the monorail resorts can't be beat. You can walk to MK from the Contemporary--which is upscale--and take the monorail or a boat from the Poly and GF. I find the GF to be more luxurious than the Poly, but I'm not in love with the current style of the rooms there. The restaurants and lobby and shops at the GF are pretty darn upscale. If you like that sort of thing. But maybe Victoriana isn't your sort of thing.

When you have the chance, leave a little more info about your traveling party and access to transportation and you'll get more relevant responses. Because if you're going with younger children who are going to want to spend all their time in MK, then no matter how nice the Swan may seem to you, you'd probably much prefer staying on the monorail line, if not at the Poly, then at another monorail resort.

If what you're after is luxury and you have a car, then consider staying offsite. There are several very upscale hotels not that far from WDW.

 

[IceQueen182]

Agree with Miffy- I think it depends on the goals for your trip and who you're traveling with. I'm a hotel snob (I travel for work a lot, and frequent the Ritz-Carlton, Waldorf Astoria, etc.). I prefer to stay at the Poly CL when I travel with my kids. I've never had a room that isn't spotless (although the room itself is not luxurious, it's large and comfortable). The pool is lovely. The location to the Epcot and MK monorails can't be beat. We have friends who love the Swan/Dolphin, but for me it feels too much like a large convention hotel without any Disney touches - which isn't what I'm after on a Disney trip. (I also have no interest in folding a double stroller to board a bus to the MK!)

Now, if I'm traveling with just my DH to Disney, we prefer the BWI Garden Cottages!

 

[nkereina]

Sorry if I'm repeating, but a few things to keep in mind with Swan/Dolphin stays is that there is no DME to and from the airport, there is a parking charge, there is a daily resort fee, you can't add a dining plan, your stay does not include MBs, and you can't charge back to your room while in the parks/restaurants. If none of those things matter to you, I do think Swan/Dolphin is a better location with some great dining options. It's also good for those with Starwood resort loyalty.

 

[tommygunn]

I dig the Poly but the rooms are not my favorite. A bit too dark for me. If you can switch over to a tower room in the contemporary I'd much rather do that. Rooms are much brighter and modern with lots of clean lines. And nothing beats waking up to the amazing views there. That plus the smell of chocolate chip muffins and donuts as chef mickeys starts to fire things up. Love that resort!

 

[SharonZ]

Poly is definitely my least favorite deluxe. If you consider yourself a hotel snob, go with the Swan or Dolphin.

 

[maxiesmom]

To me it isn't even close. I stayed at the Swan this past October, and it doesn't hold a candle to the Poly. People rave about the Swan, and to me it was just ok. The carpet in the halls looks worn, though I understand it is supposed to be some sort of wave pattern (fail). The elevators move at a snails pace to the point we wondered if they were working correctly.

The space to hang clothes in the room was very small. There isn't even any type of towel bar, they expect you to keep them all on the shelves under the sink, but then where do you put your stuff? I'd like to be able to hang up the hand towel once I dried my hands, but nope. There isn't even a curved shower curtain bar, something even the Disney value resorts have. I also missed having a food court. There is something similar at the Dolphin, but again, it doesn't hold a candle to a Disney quick service.

For me, the only thing the Swan has going for it is location. The end. I much prefer Disney resorts, and I really loved the Poly the one time I stayed there.

 

[emilymad]

We stayed at the Swan for a few days in April. We could not wait to leave and actually considered checking out early. We hated it! We had a renovated room but it seemed like the renovations were done on the cheap. The bed was awful, housekeeping was a mess. Every employee we dealt with had an attitude. The parking lot was a mess, people parking on the grass, etc. We complained after our trip and actually got some of our Starwood points refunded.

I would actually say the Boardwalk over the Poly but we like the Poly as well. I would stay almost anywhere over the Swan though.

 

[maxiesmom]

I complained after my trip too and was given points. My major complaint was I was supposed to have a feather free room, and my bedding was identical to the bedding in my sister's room. And no one could tell me if my bedding was down free or not. They would only say it was noted on the reservation. Which was no peace of mind at all.

Then the phones were on the fritz. Good thing that in addition to booking a wake up call (that never came due to the phone issues) I had set my cell to beep. Or my dad would have missed his flight home. I would have been downright hostile had that happened.

I know people can have bad stays at all resorts, but nothing about my stay at the Swan felt deluxe. I would have been happier at a Disney moderate, and my bank account would have been happier too.