Pick a favorite- Swan or Dolphin?

[JnoMoremoney]

Hi everyone! My family is deciding between the Swan or the Dolphin. Which is your favorite and why?

Thanks in advance for your knowledge!

 

[jolene63]

We won't stay at the Dolphin because they don't have queen beds. There is no way we are sharing a full size bed.

 

[Marthasor]

Swan - smaller, quieter lobby, plus queen beds and closer to DHS path. Dolphin is way too chaotic for me, but I love to visit for ice cream and bluezoo!

 

[EricLaurie]

We’ve stayed at both.

Dolphin:
closer to big pool / water slide
laundry facilities are at Dolphin (none in Swan)
most restaurants in Dolphin
Con : full size beds, huge foot print, convention hotel

Swan:
quiet
queen beds
quick 5 minute walk to Dolphin
Some restaurants / coffee, etc

We prefer Swan when staying there with the family because of the bed sizes. If traveling without kids and booking a king bed, it wouldn’t matter. I’d take whichever was cheaper.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

I'm a vote for dolphin. We prefer the lobby vibe, the fins bar, the grab and go option fuel, being closer to the big pool. More times than not, we're fine with either, since we sometimes go back and forth between the two and they're very similar. I usually choose based on availability and which is less expensive.

 

[Dave006]

Hi everyone! My family is deciding between the Swan or the Dolphin. Which is your favorite and why?

Thanks in advance for your knowledge!

The Swan is half the size of the Dolphin. About 750 rooms vs 1500 rooms. So shorter hallways, easier to navigate common spaces. Almost all Swan rooms have 2 sinks. One in the bathroom area an one just outside the bathroom door across from the closet. Average Dolphin rooms only have 1 sink located in the bathroom.

As mentioned above standard Queen beds vs Double bed rooms. The plus for the Dolphin would be more under one roof and the ability to add a roll-away bed to the standard rooms as there is more space due to the Double bed size.

Dave

 

[patty57]

I prefer the Swan because of the smaller size, however, I like them both. I stay at whichever is offering a better rate.

 

[Mazz519]

We stayed at both through the years and we like the Dolphin better... Seems busier and most of the restaurants are located there... But we did enjoy both places

 

[Dan Murphy]

I prefer the Swan. Smaller, more compact. I prefer the queen vs double beds and the double bathroom vanities,

Remember, if you are going to use the common pool complex, it is about equidistant to both hotels, If using the Dolphin lap pool or the Swan lap pool, each is closer to their respective hotels. If you are going to the common complex, The Grotto, and staying at the Dolphin, make sure to request a room in the west. If in the east, it can be a hike, Does not make a lot of difference at the Swan.

For those services that are only at the Dolphin, like laundry, it is only 545 feet door to door across the causeway from the Swan to the Dolphin. That's about 2 minutes tops, maybe 3 for me in a scooter.

https://goo.gl/maps/5ZZzEcLcw4QAB9cD8

 

[Blondie58]

Just got back from WDW. Took the time to go over to Swan Reserve. Not a fan of the sterile look. Asked to see a room for a possible future stay. Was told this was not possible. Like the Swan and/or Dolphin better. Personal opinion, of course, as others may like to stark look of the Reserve. Wished I could have seen a room to make a more educated decision about a future stay but not seeing a room made the final decision for us.

 

[nancipants]

We have stayed at both. Since we get a king room, the bed size doesn't matter to us. I like Il Mulino and the various courtyards in the Swan. I like the Fountain and lobby in the Dolphin. Twice at the Dolphin we have gotten upgraded to rooms with the half-circle balconies and I LOVE them. Therefore, we default to the Dolphin, but will stay at the Swan if the rate is better. Once our son is big enough for an actual bed and not the pull-out couch, we will probably switch our default to the Swan.

 

[Harmacist]

My first response will be whatever is cheaper, but I’m just going with my partner. Last time I stayed at the Dolphin, I just told her that we are sleeping in separate beds since no king rooms available. Going with a family you need to consider the double beds.

I do think the Swan is in a slightly better location if you plan on walking to the parks.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

All excellent opinions and advice. I'm big on a balcony and there is more balconies at the Dolphin. I also prefer the views from the Dolphin.

The Dolphin can have a convention crowd that will spend the evening in the Lobby Bar but other than that, having a convention around isn't a big problem.

 

[bakerworld]

We've only stayed at the Dolphin and usually upgrade to a King size bed. We're actually booked in the Swan for October and I don't even know why - LOL - so we'll be finding out if we like or not. Something tells me the Dolphin will be my spouse pick as they've the lobby bar and many rooms have a balcony.

 

[farfaraway]

Our family preferred the Swan because of the queen beds. It's definitely quieter and easier to get around. It had everything we needed (minus a lobby bar). We did hop over to Dolphin to eat one night. To be honest, it wasn't that far to walk to the pool. I thought it was faster/easier walking to HS/Epcot from the Swan. I'd definitely stay there if/when we go again.

 

[carbonF1]

I would pick whichever is cheapest. Personally, I like the Dolphin. The elevators are more fun to ride there...going all the way up the triangle has some nice views from the hallway where you'd get on/off the elevators, plus seeing where the suites are is fun and no special access required

 

[loves to dive]

Another who has stayed at both and usually pick whichever one is less for the time I'm booking. It's usually just me or me and my son so no bed sharing. The size of the beds don't matter in that case. The bathrooms are different layouts. We stayed in some sort of semi-suite the last time my son and his family went with me. I think it was called a King Deluxe at the Dolphin. It basically had a king room and then a divider semi-wall (open on both sides with no door) and a living room with a little kichenette. The bad part was only one bathroom and you had to go through the bedroom to get to it. Otherwise it was a decent room, lots of space. I was there in April in a King room at the Dolphin with a wonderful view of the roof and ACs, I'll be staying at the Swan in August.

 

[Prissyms]

We stayed in Swan awhile ago and just wasn't impressed with it. The one thing we enjoyed most about the Swan was and still is having dinner at II Mulino. We just prefer the Dolphin!

 

[maxiesmom]

The Swan. It is easier to navigate because it is much smaller. Also like that the bathrooms are much bigger in general.