Just stayed at the Swan

[HauntedMansionFan]

All I can say is WOW! I was very impressed with the Swan when we stayed there. They gave us a great room (526 East) so it was a corner room with windows on both sides, which gave views of the Dolphin and then the other windows gave views of Epcot, the Boardwalk, and then the Yacht/Beach clubs. We had a balcony also, which was nice to sit on at night and see everything all lit up. I splurged one morning and ordered room service breakfast, it was delicious. Also all the staff we are very helpful and extremely nice! I signed up for the Starwoods Program so that way I could use the points that I earned from this stay, it was easy to apply, they did it for me right at the front desk. We did an E-night also, that was a good time as well. Wasn't quite as "magical" as I had imagined, but fun none-the-less. I'm looking forward to my next stay there, I hate to say it but I found the Swan much nicer then the Deluxe Disney Resort, Beach Club, when I stayed there last year.... a little cheaper also and better quality..

Don't even get me started on the Westin heavenly beds! OMG!!! I didn't want to get out of bed in the morning, they were so comfortable.

Oh well... headed back home tomorrow.....

 

[Connears]

Thanks for the report.We will be there 12/28-1/02/04. We will be on concierge level and got a great rate. Thanks for the report.
Connears
Can't wait!

 

[jaw62901]

Thanks for the report as well.

I can't wait till my solo WDW trip Dec 26 to Jan 3 trip to try out the king heavenly bed in my Club level room at the Swan. I got an excellent AP rate of $209.06 a night. The only disney resorts that was under this amount was the value resorts and the standard room at one of the moderates. Not that anything is wrong with either of those, but I wanted to stay at a luxury resort and I believe that I have done that.

I know that some people would never stay at Swan or Dolphin because it's not a "Disney" resort, and thus won't have that Disney magic. I believe that disney magic come from within and I know that I will be acting like a little kid when I am there.

Every year I get real excited about x-mas and the holiday and can never wait for it to come. Just imagine how amped I will get this year. Not only will I have the excitement of x-mas eve and x-mas day with my parents and my brother, but the excitement will be 100 times what it normally is because I will also be going to WDW right after x-mas .

It looks like Santa will be extra nice to me this year .

 

[HauntedMansionFan]

Originally posted by jaw62901
I know that some people would never stay at Swan or Dolphin because it's not a "Disney" resort, and thus won't have that Disney magic. I believe that disney magic come from within and I know that I will be acting like a little kid when I am there.

I thought it was just as magical as my visit to the Beach Club. The only benefit that I didn't get that I got at the Beach Club was being able to charge stuff to my room once I left the Swan/Dolphin property. No biggie though.... that is what my Visa is for. Other then that I got use of the transportation, an amazing view and room, a really comfortable bed (which was actually better then the murphy bed I had at the Beach Club) and great interiors. I actually liked it it better then the Beach Club and thought it was more luxurious and deluxe. I saw a room at the Polynesian the same night that I was at the Swan, and I have to admit... our room was bigger and nicer. But to each their own....

 

[Mouseteacher]

HauntedMansion ~ Thanks for your report. I will be staying at the Swan 7/24 -7/28 using cash and points from spg. A great deal - paying only $60/night plus points. This is thanks to my stay last summer at the Dolphin + use of the Starwood Amex cc this past year to build points. So, I was happy to read that you had a wonderful experience.

I am excited about the new renovations that's why we chose the Swan this time. Our stay at the Dolphin last summer was magical and we didn't miss any so called Disney feel b/c we weren't in a Disney resort. As I have said many times, the S/D is surrounded by Disney magic- just look out the windows. Plus, the Disney feel is within you.

Thanks again!

 

[KaterBell]

Our room at the Poly is the one that HMF saw - Room 1315 in Fiji... and I have to say..... he's right!! We were VERY VERY impressed with the Swan overall... thought it was gorgeous - the value for the price was insane. If I didn't own DVC, I'd make the Swan my 2nd home.

 

[jaw62901]

IMOP I think that now that the renovations are done at the Swan and once the renovations are done at the Dolphin, word will get out about how nice the Swan and Dolphin are and how resonable the rates are and it will be very tough to get a reservation at either of these in the future. It might not seem like that now, but just allow for the word to get out about them and it will be.

I think at some point people are going to get tired of shelling out $200+ for a room and will start making reservations at the Swan and Dolphin where discounts can be had at almost any time even x-mas week(with an annual pass).

I hope this won't be the case, but I have a feeling it will be.

 

[Mskanga]

Don't get me started with the Swan, I stayed there for the first time ever in December on my solo trip and I did not really know if my family would actually like it if we ever stayed there. We decided to take a spur of the moment trip , I had 6 weeks to plan, I made ressies at the Swan because after my kids saw the pictures , that's where they wanted to stay. We got the corner room also on the fourth floor , my kids LOVED the room, LOVED the pool, LOVED the location ,LOVED the heavenly beds and LOVED Tubbies. My husband LOVED everything, that alone is weird because he is miserable when the weather is hot ( cannot tolerate heat very well which is the reason why we didn't go in the summer as originally planned ). We all had a grand time, the weather was cool, the crowds were low, the location was excellent , the hotel was outstanding. This is one of the first vacations I can honestly tell you we all enjoyed doing things together, we walked around the parks ( our favourite was walking around the world showcase ) just taking our time , enjoying everything the parks had to offer and all the little details, doing things we never did before. We enjoyed it so much that dh made me make the ressies for next year , this time we are going for two weeks , and yes we are staying at the Swan again, only this time Club Level. I can't wait, I have become a Part- time Swan resident!

 

[CAP Aircrew]

HauntedMansionFan,

Thanks for the great report on the SWAN. I will be there with the wife and kids (9 and 7) later this month. Really looking forward to it and hoping to get a great room as well.

Tell me, did your room have two queens or was it king with daybed? My reservation states A Category Room, Confirmed A Balcony, Heavenly Bed, High Floor, Non-Smoking, 2 Queen Beds, Starwood Preferred Guest Program.

I know we wont be spending a lot of time in the room but nontheless, it would be nice to have a great view of Epcot and the Boardwalk.

 

[antmaril]

I just posted a thread on a Junior Suite at the Swan - but I'm going to ask here, as well. Has anyone stayed in or seen one of a junior suite? I was offered this at the same rate as a Balcony Resort View and took it because it is a much larger room. However, the picture on the website isn't too inviting. Has anyone seen one of these rooms?

Thanks!

 

[simonmunro]

Antmaril
The pics on the website I think are the old decor. They are now officially bonita!!!! What a great trade you made. Go to debs site and look at resort pics. Look at her pics of deluxe studio. Not sure this is exactly what you have but you'll get a great idea.

 

[antmaril]

Simonmunro:

Thanks for the reply. I am feeling a little better now. I was thinking that the JS didn't look updated like the pictures of a regular room. It didn't make sense.

I will go to Deb's site and check it out.

Thanks again!

 

[antmaril]

Simonmunro:

I went to wdwig and checked out the "King Studio" suite. That is exactly how the junior suite was described to me on the phone. The pictures look VERY nice and I think I will go with that junior suite - 500 sf compared to 340 for a standard room. Obviously, that is definitely the way to go! Now, if I could just get club level, I would be a happy camper. I am going to keep trying - maybe someone will cancel.

Thanks!

 

[HauntedMansionFan]

Originally posted by CAP Aircrew
HauntedMansionFan,
Tell me, did your room have two queens or was it king with daybed? My reservation states A Category Room, Confirmed A Balcony, Heavenly Bed, High Floor, Non-Smoking, 2 Queen Beds, Starwood Preferred Guest Program.

It was two queen size beds.