Moderate vs. Swan/Dolphin

[PryncessChrysty]

I've yet to stay at any WDW resort, but was just wondering what you preferred.

From what I've seen, the themes of the moderates seem like a lot of fun, especially POR, but I also like how the S/D seem to have that real sort of hotel thing going on. Plus, those heavenly beds just seem too good to be true! I can only imagine how good that would feel after a busy day at the parks. What are your opinions?

 

[swilphil]

Swan/Dolphin is great for the beds and location. If you can get a decent discount, go for it.

 

[sarahsmom73]

If you can swing it go for the Swan Dolphin! The LOCATION is awesome! So are the beds, the Grotto, etc!

 

[CamColt]

Weve stayed at POR twice and the Swan once. I much prefer the Swan. The location/transportation is wonderful!

 

[paras4ri]

Echoing what's already been said. We've stayed at POR and the Dolphin and will choose the Dolphin for future visits.

Heavenly beds......location, location, location.....24-hour cafeteria.....24-hour pools.......beautiful facilities......shall I go on?

 

[CarolA]

Swan/Dolphin are nicer hotels, but from what I am hearing the discounts in 2005 are meager. I don't think the Swan/Dolphin are a $100 a night nicer.

 

[DisneyKidds]

If you can get a good discount or have the money to spend, the Swan/Dolphin are very nice resorts with great location. If money were not a major consideration I'd probably take them over POR 99% of the time. Have to keep that 1% open because POR is a great resort with wonderful themeing at a very good price.

The location of the Swan/Dolphin are tough to beat.

 

[princess pooh]

I've preffered the S/D to every moderate resort I've stayed in. I like the indoor hallways and the location is better. Plus I wish I could get a bed like that at home! I try to always stay at a sheraton or westin whenever I travel.

 

[NMAmy]

I'd stay at the Dolphin over a mod any old day! We get the gov't rate and you can't beat the price. Sign up for the Starwood Preferred Guest Program if you stay at the Swan/Dolphin.

The whole family loves this hotel! We're going back for Christmas.

 

[WDW2000]

Having stayed at most of the Deluxe and moderate resorts at one time or another, I would definitely recommend the Swan/Dolphin over any moderate. Many times you can get a better rate at the Dolphin or Swan than the moderates. As everyone else said ... LOCATION!!! You can walk or take a boat to MGM STUDIOS or EPCOT. You are also walking distance to the BOARDWALK and BEACH/YACHT CLUB with dozens of great dining options, and oh yes, HEAVENLY BEDS are incredible. The Dolphin and Swan also offer beautiful lake and resort views from most of their rooms, and some even have private balconies, you are not going to get all these great amenities at ANY moderate resort. I would even choose SWAN/DOLPHIN over some of the DELUXE Disney resorts.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Originally posted by princess pooh
I've preffered the S/D to every moderate resort I've stayed in. I like the indoor hallways and the location is better. Plus I wish I could get a bed like that at home! I try to always stay at a sheraton or westin whenever I travel.

Actually, princess pooh, after staying at the Swan in January 2003, DW worked on me to go buy such a mattress, and a year later we did! It is magnificent! Ours is a King Koil pillow top mattress, I believe, whcih we were able to put on top of our current high-end box spring. Add to that our high threadcount sheets (yeah, my mom was an innkeeper for many years, so we have a source for the good stuff) and we're talking as good as the heavenly beds.

BTW, I was a Montrealer myself for a few years (attending McGill, undergrad years). But I don't know of a source near you, but there must be one. Good luck in your search for your own heavenly bed!

 

[pouncingpluto]

Originally posted by princess pooh
Plus I wish I could get a bed like that at home!

No you don't, because it would ruin Westins for you. When we got a new bed, we got a pillow top mattress because we loved the Heavenly Bed so much. Our mattress is too good... we are *so* uncomfortable in hotel beds now, and even the Heavenly Bed is no longer any good.

 

[princess pooh]

Originally posted by pumpkinboy

BTW, I was a Montrealer myself for a few years (attending McGill, undergrad years). But I don't know of a source near you, but there must be one. Good luck in your search for your own heavenly bed!

I also did undergrad at McGill

I saw a catalogue that featured heavenly beds as well as other heavenly stuff. Maybe I'll check out the prices next time.

Pouncingpluto you are too funny

 

[opal]

We have stayed at CBR, POR, BWI Y&B and Swan. The Swan is our favorite by far! Great location, great beds and Starbucks coffee!

 

[jasper]

We were at the Swan last Thanksgiving and were pretty impressed. That said, we wanted to try something new this time around so we are spending the first 5 nights at POR, and then switching to the Swan for the last two nights. We are planning on saving Epcot and MGM for those last two days so we can walk or take the water taxi from the Swan.

The grotto pool at S/D is very nice; hopefully our kids will also enjoy the pools at POR and POFQ.

I might have chosen the Swan for all 7 nights, but right now the rate is $249 for most of the nights in late April 05, and $189 for the other nights.

 

[jwfla422]

As Disney guests for the past 13 years we've stayed in many of the deluxes and 1 moderate...after staying in deluxes so much I have to admit we were (and still are!) so spoiled, the moderate was a disappointment

At this point we are almost exclusive guests to the S/D--when we stay at a WDW resort we find ourselves making comparisons to the S/D and preferring the S/D and with the heavenly beds now it's sooooo tough to stay anywhere else!!

We've stayed over at the WL and FW cabins on occasion for a change of scenery but still miss the comfort, convenience and the CM's at the S/D!!

 

[Kallison]

Stayed at POR and Dolphin, I would definitely pick Dolphin. Just for the location alone, can't beat being able to walk to Epcot and MGM. We are not bus fans, we went to Deluxe when the three kids got bigger and try to stay at the Contemp. or in the Epcot area.

 

[i like stitch]

We just returned home from our first Disney trip and stayed at both the Swan and Dolphin. We had a great rate and used points to upgrade to club level (the food was great!). The laundry facility at Dolphin was easy to use when we were staying at the Dolphin. The grotto pool and slide was terrific. The lobby at the Dolphin is impressive. The beds & bathroom at Dolphin were smaller than at the Swan. The room at the Dolphin was larger.

When planning for this trip, the hotel choice for us was between S/D and POR. This was a hard decision but decided on S/D because of CL, closeness to Epcot/MGM, the overall desire to stay in a nicer hotel.

I'm glad we chose S/D and would chose it again if the money we saved by getting a good deal at POR wasn't a big priority.

 

[HughJackman'n'me]

...have stayed at ALL the Mods, and loved them 'till I experienced a Dlx (WL). I have also stayed at the Dolphin. You can't beat it for location, location, location!!

 

[PryncessChrysty]

Thank you all for your informative responses! This has helped a lot!!

I'm really surprised, I had a feeling before I posted this that I would get more positive responses for the Swan/Dolphin hotels, but I never thought it would be a clean sweep!!

What are the differences in perks between the moderates vs. S/D?