Port Orleans or Swan or Dolphin?

[coachYO & my 3 girls]

I am planning a trip in June with wife & 2 daughters 8 & 11. First time for the girls wife & I went 1990. Staying about 10-14 nights. If I can get prices somewhat close which is a better place to stay to really get the whole Disney experience? Swan or Dolphin vs Port Orleans? For getting around to the parks, which place is better? Should we get a rental car or cab it to go off grounds? Thanks, YO

 

[las3888]

I have stayed at all 3 (Swan, Dolphin and Port Orleans - Riverside) and like them all, but to me it is hands-down Swan or Dolphin.

The pro's at S/D:

1 - Location, Location, Location!!! - You are right in the Boardwalk area with walking access to restaurants, shops, EPCOT, MGM, and all the little fun things there are to do on the Boardwalk.

2 - The S/D are luxury resort hotels with many amenities.

The con's at S/D:

1 - The bus to MK isn't the greatest (but if you want a 'magical' experience, I have always enjoyed spending time in EPCOT, then taking the monorail to MK.

2 - Others comment from time to time that since S/D are not truly Disney, they are missing the 'Disney' magic. I and many others completely disagree. I think the only thing lacking is the Mickey wake-up call and Mickey soaps. Other than that, it is a great Disney experience for the whole family.

The Port Orleans is nice - I think it has some of the best landscaping on Disney grounds and it is very picturesque, but it is a pretty spread out resort. You also are remote from everything and pretty much have to take a bus to anything (no evening stroll to EPCOT). Also, the rooms seem smaller and more cramped.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[#1hockeymom]

I have stayed at PO-FQ and the Swan.. and I can't believe we didn't try the Swan/Dolphin sooner than we did! While we loved the French Quarter when we went there... the Swan/Dolphin is now our new favorite place in Disney.

To add to the LOCATION!!!!!!!, add in heavenly beds to sleep your poor tired muscles in after a long day at the parks! You will also have a bigger bathroom/vanity area in the Swan/Dolphin which with girls, you just might need! Please go to www.swandolphin.com and surf around their site.

Let us know what you decide! Happy vacation!
Debbie

 

[harleyquinn]

I stayed at POR b/c of the FTP my other choice had been the Swan.

I absolutely loved POR. It was amazing.

That being said I'd go with the S/D over POR if the prices are similar. S/D are deluxe resorts while POR is a moderate.

Honestly you can't go wrong either way!

Sarah

 

[anne60]

On this one, I know, but I have stayed at both, and I would go with POR with kids. The food court is better (bigger, more choices, more convenient), the transportation to MK is better, and it has a more "Disney" feel.

The Swan is a beautiful hotel, but it is like many other beautiful hotels that you might stay at for a conference. At POR, we felt like we were in Disney.

Maybe we were there at a bad time, but getting to the Magic Kingdom and back was a monumental pain in the butt...felt like we stopped at every bus stop in greater Orlando and then drove right by the one we had been picked up at!!! (I am exagerrating, but you get the idea).

At POR, most of the folks were on vacation like us, at the Swan, most of the folks were at a conference. It just had a different feel.

One big plus for the Swan is the close proximity to Epcot and MGM, but we had no trouble getting to either of these via the POR bus either. We walked back from Fantasmic (to the Swan) one night, and it was really nice. Also, the boardwalk area is fun to explore.

Either way - have a great time, and think about what is important to you on your vacation.....to each his own.

 

[swimmom]

I just got back for a short stay at the Swan on Sunday with my DH and three little boys - I would certainly reccomend it over PO (or as my son calls is - the dump).

The rooms are lovely, beds comfy. They are currently running a promotion of "kids eat free" which saved us big money over our three night stay. There is a saturday morniing character breakfast buffet which cost us $18 in total. There were very few kids there, if any and my brood had about 10 minutes with Rafiki and Pluto. I have no idea if they will be running this promo in June, but I did have an interesting conversation with a bellman. He said that with the opening of Pop Century at $70 per night, plus 5000 more rooms scheduled to open in Orlando by 12/31, the deals at non-disney properties will keep getting better.

We paid $400 per night in March for the Poly, did a Fairytale Pkg in August also at the Poly and $149 per night at the Swan - The rooms are much, much nicer than the Poly -(not quite as big) great, great value for a buck