No More Swan/Dolphin for Me.

[lat]

We just came back from a 10-night trip at Disney. We stayed at Poly for 2 nights, Portofino for another 2 and then 6 nights at Swan.

We loved the Swan when we were there in May. We stayed at the club level during that trip (5 nights) and thought the staff bent backwards for their guests and everything exceeded our expecation.

However, this time, I know it was a busy time during the holiday season and the hotel was sold out. We did not get our room requests met. I had 3 deluxe rooms w/balconies booked almost a year ago and they were pretty adamant about our room location.

I told the CM at the front desk that my impression this time was that everything was a 'NO' while during our last trip, everything was a "YES".

There was really nothing wrong with the hotel, but this time, the place just feels like a hotel, it did not have any magic. While when I walked by the Boardwalk or Beach or Yacht, it just feels much more relaxed and more like a resort than a hotel.

I even tried while I was checking in at Swan to see if I could get a room at the Boardwalk or Beach Club Villa since I am a DVC member, hoping for last minute cancellation, but with no luck. However, if there was a room there, I would have taken it with no 2nd thoughts.

This is not to bash Swan/Dolphin. It is just kind of making me realize that I think Westin resorts have great hotels and I will stay at their properties outside of Disney. However, within Disney, from now on, we will stay at Disney resorts, no Swan or Dolphin unless I get a tremendous rate we cannot refuse.

Anyone feel this way?

 

[dandave]

Yep. I came back to the Dis to say that , although we got what we paid for at the Dolphin, I would not stay there again. Someone (I remember who but will not say) accused me of "not having the Magic *in* me."
A moderator deleted the comments, and I left the subject alone.

Good luck to you lat!!

 

[jgates]

Don't feel bad - if we all loved the same hotel type it would get old and boring!!!! I'm glad we all don't like the Swan or I wouldn't be able to get my room! I'm sure the capacity of the hotel had a lot to do with it (hopefully).

But I do have to say I always feel like I'm in the magic when I can stroll out the door and hop on the boat or bus! Others feel just as much magic in a DTD hotel - I didn't. So it all comes down to personal choice.

 

[VickiVM]

Hi, Christine. Welcome back. I'm sending you a PM. We spent our first night at Dolphin and I really liked the room - we were able to fit a rollaway bed just fine and the theming was bright and cheerful. However, it's just not the same as Disney property. I would, though, return for that great $99 rate we got - but not for an extended stay if I could help it.

Anyway, I was grateful for the rate and the proximity which really helped us in our "move" the next day. I would recommend it because of the rate, but myself, only use it as a back-up, or a first day/last day of a WDW resort stay.

 

[montessori]

I feel the same way about The Swan/Dolphin as you do, lat.
They are very nice resorts but, for me, they do not have the same feeling as Disney Resorts.
When I am at The Boardwalk, I am happy and content.
I feel that I am IN Disney World and that's a good feeling!

When we stayed at The Swan, I had the same feeling I have when staying off-site.
I felt like I had to GO somewhere to be IN Disney World.

I actually prefer Coronado Springs over The Swan/Dolphin, even though it is not located in the Epcot Resort area (where we spend MOST of our time).

There are obviously a lot of Swan and Dolphin fans out there and
it's great that they can enjoy those resorts and usually get good rates there too.

I look forward to hearing more about your vacation!

Best of luck to you and yours in the new year.

 

[miko]

Very interesting!
Relatives of ours from Ohio split a stay between Beach Club and the Swan from December 23 thru January 2nd, 5 nights each. They felt (second hand info) just opposite to you, they found the Beach Club staff seriously overwhelmed and did not get their rooms until after 6:00 pm on the 23rd and not what they reserved (concierge). They were offered to move "up" on the 26 but chose not too. They ate in room one night and waited 1.5 hours for food and it was cold. Their stay at Swan went ok, nothing spectacular but at check-in they mentioned poor quality at BC and when they returned first night they received a bottle of champagne and a cheese assortment with a note from GM saying they hoped their saty at Swan would be more enjoyable than the BC.
I guess it is really hit/miss with all hotels, especially during busy times.

 

[LvsTnk]

Originally posted by miko
Very interesting!
Relatives of ours from Ohio split a stay between Beach Club and the Swan from December 23 thru January 2nd, 5 nights each. They felt (second hand info) just opposite to you, they found the Beach Club staff seriously overwhelmed and did not get their rooms until after 6:00 pm on the 23rd and not what they reserved (concierge). They were offered to move "up" on the 26 but chose not too. They ate in room one night and waited 1.5 hours for food and it was cold. Their stay at Swan went ok, nothing spectacular but at check-in they mentioned poor quality at BC and when they returned first night they received a bottle of champagne and a cheese assortment with a note from GM saying they hoped their saty at Swan would be more enjoyable than the BC.
I guess it is really hit/miss with all hotels, especially during busy times.

Wow, I am very surprised that the BC did not do something to compensate for the lack of concierge since that is what they had a confirmed reservation for.

That would have been unexceptable to me

Thanks lat for your honest review, that's the one thing that scares me the most about S/D "lack of magic". I have been in and out of these hotels, and eaten at their restaurants but I am always ready to go back to my resort. I just can't give up the BWI, hopefully our finances will allow us to continue to stay there.

 

[airhead]

...who have a different opinion on these resorts. I'll be there this summer(we can't wait!!!) and I think for us,the Dolphin will have all the "magic" we can stand! The last time we went to WDW was in Nov,2000 and we stayed at CBR(we loved it!),but I don't remember anything that made it more "Disney" except the soap!!
For me,Disney is definitely a state of mind. Maybe because I don't get there(WDW) that often,its a wicked big whoop for me when I do!! And this year will be an even bigga whoop!!!!! I'm gonna be 50!!!!!!! I can't believe I made it!

airhead(...startin' t'get psyched about WDW)

 

[miko]

Wow, I am very surprised that the BC did not do something to compensate for the lack of concierge since that is what they had a confirmed reservation for.

Just found out a little while ago that BC offered them a free nights stay (good for 6 months) which is nice but is not equal to Christmas time. They were also given (at time of stay) a voucher for $50.00 which they towards meal at Palio's in the Swan (which they really enjoyed).

 

["thegirls"]

lat~

YES! I did feel the same way as you. It didn't help that our first two days were at the Poly cons. We checked into the dolphin on 12/27 for 6 nights. My impressions were similiar to yours in that it is a clean efficient HOTEL. No disney magic or themeing or even a slight reference to the surrounding theme parks. Upon check-in I had to beg for an upgrade (gold starwood member)and was told no ground floor rooms were available. I was assigned an 'old' room on the 9th floor. On the first night I fell out of the bed onto the floor. This was any easy feat because the mattress was so worn that just sitting on any side of the bed made for a small slide strait down to the carpet. I did inform the front desk and lol and behold they found a ground floor room that was refurbished!

But this incident is not what has formed my opinion of this hotel as just that ....a hotel only. My impression was made during the first 1 hour. We settled our luggage into the UN-rehabbed room, went down to Tubbies for lunch and out to the pool. All the while S E A R C H I N G for any thing that would excite us about this resort. We never found it!!

I understand that for some the rates offered at the Doplhin are an incentive but all I could keep thinking(and kicking myself for) was that with the same amount of $ I COULD have had a moderate Disney resort(with AP discount) and still had extra money left over. My kids were so dissapointed in my choice that to make up for the lack of MICKEY (anywhere) they decided to leave our Pal Mickey on the desk so that we would feel more like we were in a disney resort when we came back at night.

Also I don't know if I'm the only one but my room is my "home" when I'm at disney. Even when the crounds are large(like this past week) we still don't spent the WHOLE day in the parks. We really do enjoy a THEMED place to hang out!

Also did any one else find Waldo...oh I mean the lifegaurds at the pool? Maybe its me again, but with a 10 and 12 year old I like knowing there a 2-3 gaurds to a pool at the resort so I can return to my room for a second without having any concerns.

O K, enough complaints and venting of the dissapointments for me....The good stuff!!!......
1.) 11 minute (as touted by the captian) boat ride to MGM.
2.) 24/7 access to disney immersion right across the lake.
3.)(for me only) ESPN !!! - cold beer for me and the "hockey puck" dessert for my kids every night if we wish!!!
4.)really #1 at christmas time....Walking home from NYE at Epcot and being in your ROOM 15 minutes later!!!!!!! SUCCESS!

I hope I don't come off to harsh here, but I really wish I had read some 'opposing views to this resort so that I would not have been so let down and better prepared...

Oh and by the way...I was on the phone 1.5 hours after our arrival BEGGING CRO to allow us back into our Poly room with the AP discount but it was not to be . They did offer me a nice Savannah View room at AKL for $400.00+ per night but we passed!!!

Happy Disney Day All ~ Debbie

 

[Ducky4Disney]

I think it's great that people like and dislike different resorts. I have only stayed on-site twice and it was at the same resort - Coronado Springs. We LOVE CSR! We live in the midatlantic area so we don't ge this type of scenery everyday - but if you lived in New Mexico, I can understand that it might not be for you.

My DH and I stopped at OKW to transfer buses once but we didn't stroll around. It seemed more like a townhouse community than a WDW resort with the way the parking was designed - but people like it for that. We also stopped at the D/S for minigolf and we strolled through the lobby and walked around the grounds a little - it was very big and very nice, but I can see why some people wouldn't feel the magic there.

I think we are all biased a little to some resort. The first one you stayed at, the one you remember as a kid, that kind of thing. We love CSR but we're DVC members and we bought at SSR, so we have a new home. And I'm sure we'll be biased towards it too!

D4D

 

[Valentine]

Okay.. ...just my 2 cents... I also just returned from the Swan....I did not survive until New Years with the re-enactment of the Sharks/Jets scene at Epcot...(see my trip reports - soon to come!!) I spent the midnight hour in my room catching the fireworks from my balcony!!! Which I did not expect to have! Soooooo here is my opinion of the Swan/Dolphin.... first off.. I LOVED my room... I really did...I am actually going out to buy a new featherbed for my house because I was just sooooo comfy there.... I booked a club level room... but was put on the 6th floor... room 690 actually.. facing the pools.. with a view of MGM...and A BALCONY!!! Yipppeeeee.. I was thrilled... However.. i was not thrilled with the Club hours.. they are only open from 7-10 in the am.. and then again 5-9 in the evening... okay...so.. when one arrives back at the hotel in the afternoon for a break from the crazy crowds... no refreshments!!!.. My only regret was booking club level... and I will stay at the Dolphin next time... only because as a solo traveler.. there was more to do there.... it just fit me better... more nightlife...a beautiful lobby... with piano bar...better pool.. with a poolside bar... the Swan seemed shut down even at this very busy time.... The lobby bar was almost never open.... it seemed to keep the same hours as the lounge!!...the bar by the pool was open on the day I arrived... I swear I saw a bartender there.. but was NEVER open again for the duration of my stay... also Splash.. the poolside restaurant/snack place.. was NEVER open.... so... if you wanted anything you had to hike on over to the Dolphin pool.. or to Tubbis... not worth it to me... I spent my last day at the pool at the Dolphin and loved it.... so.. i am torn.. I absolutely loved my room at the swan.. Room service was EXCELLENT!!! I actually ordered in one night.. I NEVER do that!!! Housekeeping was great...the front desk was efficient.. if not overly disneylike...but hey.. they gave me my great room!!!.. Bell services was on the money... and the gift shop people were very friendly....Oh.. and I stopped into Kimonos one night for Karaoke..I didn't stay.. but I should have..... they seemed really nice.... and if I could get that with the extras offered at the Dolphin.. I would definitely stay there again.... But I do agree with the lack of Disney magic.. you were completely in the dark ... no posting of park hours... no early entry info.... etc....but that is something I expected.... so.... if I could get a better rate at a Disney hotel.. I would definitely stay there.. just because but I am a new Dophin/Swan fan.....

Kathy

 

[Tigger Woods]

If the morale of employees at Disney parks and hotels continues it's steady decline, (as recent DIS posts and Roy Disney's resignation letter can attest) I, for one, will be glad there are top-notch non-Disney hotels on-site.