Well we are just back from 5 nights at the Swan (8/23-8/28) and trying to get readjusted. We have stayed at the Swan before, and overall I have to say we were happy with the stay.
We stayed in connecting rooms (455 & 456) and had the nurses rate of $149 (DW is a nurse). We arrived at around 7pm on the 23rd, and check in was a breeze. The rooms were clean, and a good size. We had 4 adults and 4 kids, and I didn't really feel cramped at all at any time. We did rent a fridge for one of the rooms during the stay (12 bucks a day for what is probably a 80 buck fridge). Only complaint on the room was an annoying rattling noise that went off every 10 seconds or so in my kids room when the AC was on. I didn't realize how bad it was until I tried to take nap in there on Sunday. One of those annoying things, like an aching toothache. Couldn't locate the source, seemed to be inside one of the walls.
Housekeeping was good, but yesterday morning they were annoying the heck out of us. We had a late night out on Monday, and were planning on sleeping in. Our limo was picking us up at 1230 to get to the airport. Well at around 730, our door opens and a guy yells in. I thought he yelled, "it's 1130". My 1 year old who was asleep in her crib starts screaming. My wife wakes up and looks at her watch and tells me it's 7:40am. So I don't know if he yelled 7:30 or what. Two minutes later my phone rings. I answer and it's a dial tone. Ten minutes later, it rings again - another dial tone. I then unplugged both phones in the room. Ten minutes after that I hear the phone ringing in the connecting room. I run in there and try to answer it before my sons wake up - another dial tone. I now disconnect every phone, and try getting back to sleep.
After about 15 minutes of laying there and getting more annoyed, I get up and call the front desk. They claim they don't know anything, and tell me that I can get a late checkout at 1230. I then hung the "do not disturb" signs on both of the outside doors. Didn't have anymore probs after that.
The new Italitan Trattoria was beauiful. We didn't eat dinner there, but I had a few drinks one night in the bar while waiting for everyone to get ready. They really did a nice job in there.
One other complaint about the hotel is the cost of food and drinks. Went to Picabo's over at the Dolphin after the EMH at Epcot cause it was the only place open, and spend almost 100 bucks for 4 people for simple burgers and pizza (although pizzas were a good size). Went there for bfast yesterday morning, and my egg and cheese sandwich was 9 bucks.
Went to the little bfast stand in the Swan on our first morning there, and got 3 drinks (2 waters and a diet snapple), and 3 bagels, and it was almost 22 bucks. Drinks were $3.50 each. The waters were cheaper in the MGM Studios. I would usually think that it would be more expensive in the parks than the hotel. The money I saved with the nurse rate went towards food.
The weather was hot, as is the case in August in Florida, but it didn't seem as bad as it has been in past years. During the day, walking in the sun was brutal, but it did cool off significantly in the evening.
We did the Hoop Dee Doo dinner show on Friday night (during the rain storm), and as usual it was a good, fun show. Also did the character bfast at the BC on Sunday morning. Other than that, we spent alot of time at ESPN club on the Boardwalk, and picking at different foods around World Showcase.
On another note, the beers in Epcot are getting a little pricey as well. I realize things are going to cost more at Disney, but 8 bucks for a pint of bass in UK is getting a little crazy. Not that it deterred me from having about 7-8 (who's counting anyway) of those delicious pints during the rain storm that lasted most of Saturday evening...lol...
As I said at the start. Overall it was a good stay at the Swan. People were friendly, hotel is beautiful and the location can't be beat, esp at the $149 rate.
We stayed in connecting rooms (455 & 456) and had the nurses rate of $149 (DW is a nurse). We arrived at around 7pm on the 23rd, and check in was a breeze. The rooms were clean, and a good size. We had 4 adults and 4 kids, and I didn't really feel cramped at all at any time. We did rent a fridge for one of the rooms during the stay (12 bucks a day for what is probably a 80 buck fridge). Only complaint on the room was an annoying rattling noise that went off every 10 seconds or so in my kids room when the AC was on. I didn't realize how bad it was until I tried to take nap in there on Sunday. One of those annoying things, like an aching toothache. Couldn't locate the source, seemed to be inside one of the walls.
Housekeeping was good, but yesterday morning they were annoying the heck out of us. We had a late night out on Monday, and were planning on sleeping in. Our limo was picking us up at 1230 to get to the airport. Well at around 730, our door opens and a guy yells in. I thought he yelled, "it's 1130". My 1 year old who was asleep in her crib starts screaming. My wife wakes up and looks at her watch and tells me it's 7:40am. So I don't know if he yelled 7:30 or what. Two minutes later my phone rings. I answer and it's a dial tone. Ten minutes later, it rings again - another dial tone. I then unplugged both phones in the room. Ten minutes after that I hear the phone ringing in the connecting room. I run in there and try to answer it before my sons wake up - another dial tone. I now disconnect every phone, and try getting back to sleep.
After about 15 minutes of laying there and getting more annoyed, I get up and call the front desk. They claim they don't know anything, and tell me that I can get a late checkout at 1230. I then hung the "do not disturb" signs on both of the outside doors. Didn't have anymore probs after that.
The new Italitan Trattoria was beauiful. We didn't eat dinner there, but I had a few drinks one night in the bar while waiting for everyone to get ready. They really did a nice job in there.
One other complaint about the hotel is the cost of food and drinks. Went to Picabo's over at the Dolphin after the EMH at Epcot cause it was the only place open, and spend almost 100 bucks for 4 people for simple burgers and pizza (although pizzas were a good size). Went there for bfast yesterday morning, and my egg and cheese sandwich was 9 bucks.
Went to the little bfast stand in the Swan on our first morning there, and got 3 drinks (2 waters and a diet snapple), and 3 bagels, and it was almost 22 bucks. Drinks were $3.50 each. The waters were cheaper in the MGM Studios. I would usually think that it would be more expensive in the parks than the hotel. The money I saved with the nurse rate went towards food.
The weather was hot, as is the case in August in Florida, but it didn't seem as bad as it has been in past years. During the day, walking in the sun was brutal, but it did cool off significantly in the evening.
We did the Hoop Dee Doo dinner show on Friday night (during the rain storm), and as usual it was a good, fun show. Also did the character bfast at the BC on Sunday morning. Other than that, we spent alot of time at ESPN club on the Boardwalk, and picking at different foods around World Showcase.
On another note, the beers in Epcot are getting a little pricey as well. I realize things are going to cost more at Disney, but 8 bucks for a pint of bass in UK is getting a little crazy. Not that it deterred me from having about 7-8 (who's counting anyway) of those delicious pints during the rain storm that lasted most of Saturday evening...lol...
As I said at the start. Overall it was a good stay at the Swan. People were friendly, hotel is beautiful and the location can't be beat, esp at the $149 rate.
