Resort Debate

[JanBlessed]

If the name starts "Walt Disney World" XXX it is not owned or operated by Disney (as in: Walt Disney World Swan). Hotels that starts "Disney's" XXX (as in Disney's Boardwalk Inn) are owned and operated by Disney.

Very easy !!! Never noticed that

 

[JanBlessed]

6 nights at Swan.
One complaint - Monday AM Extra Magic Hours a Animal Kingdom ...... I got to the queue at 7:30 am, and there were already 15 ppl waiting. The first bus showed up AFTER 8am. People were fuming. I called the Disney Desk (they never answer the phone, btw.) ....

Didn't destroy my day as bad as I thought it would, but the real issue I had is this: I got my family to sleep the night before, then woke them up early to feed and prep them all for absolutely nothing to show for it except getting screwed out of Magic Hour prime touring time WHILE THE LINES FOR ATTRACTIONS grew. I don't think ppl understand that losing 30 minutes doesn't just mean you leave the park 30 minutes later than you planned. That screws up your whole day because the lines for all the attractions you planned are steadily growing while you are stuck. So when you get in line for your first, and have to wait longer than you should have, the line for your second is growing even more, and so on, and so on. What REALLY pist me off, tho, is that I could have ordered an uber, and got my family there for like 6 bux BEFORE rope drop. GLADLY!!!!!! Swan made my life harder for no reason at all. Life is too short. I would have absolutely no issue, if they would have sent a csr out to the crowd of 70 ppl CLEARLY WAITING, and said, "hey, **** happens, the busses are screwed up." I would have GLADLY ordered an uber - the price is almost insignificant.....

My fault for relying on humanity. I'd suggest Uber to anyone who actually plans their days out. Uber is cheap and on time.

The restaurants:
We did Picabu:

Kimonos:
You could do pretty well at Kimonos....

Garden Grove:
We did the breakfast buffet at Garden Grove.....

I spied the Seafood Sensation buffet one night before we headed out to a park...

The Fountain was pretty decent.....

I totally hear you on those precious morning minutes AND getting the family ready in the morning (in an effort to maximize park time). It's frustrating when you're thrown off schedule and neither slept in/relaxed NOR got to the parks at the expected time! That happened to me once at the TTC when I wanted to get my in laws tickets for the day (they don't have Magic Bands & don't go to all of the parks). They had almost half of the windows closed!

I hear you on the UBER! I used one when the Hilton/Waldorf motor coach drove away just as we exited the lobby (you have to go down to the street to catch it). I told my DH that I was NOT missing DISNEY Jr live fast pass, so we called an Uber. Best idea & drop off right up front. She even had a car seat !!!

Thanks for an up to date & thorough report - especially the restaurants!

 

[JanBlessed]

Great report on the foods..

Agreed

 

[JanBlessed]

All the pros have been well stated above. I only add that the beds are truly heavenly. We stay at the Swan.

My DH will definitely appreciate this !!!

 

[JanBlessed]

They put a hold on my credit card for $450 which was much more than the one night stay was (it was $105), I did get it removed eventually, but it was a lot of grief and not enough customer service assistance, it took close to a month for it to be removed. No where on the check in did it say that a hold would be placed on a booking credit card in that amount.

Ugh!!!

 

[JanBlessed]

once the calls started coming in to the Disney Desk and the Front Desk at the hotel, someone could have walked out to the group of ppl, and just said, "Listen, the bus is running behind, the ETA is 8:10 am." No apologies needed, imo. I would have absolutely LOVED to know that, and made the very simple adjustment accordingly - no big deal. Uber would have been a fantastic, easy, cheap workaround. I understand that things can happen, but, a simple courteous announcement would have gone a long, long way.

I completely agree. It's just common courtesy , IMO

 

[JanBlessed]

I like the heavenly beds better than the WDW beds and the rooms are truly deluxe rooms, IMO. I really like that you can book and pay for such things as a full balcony and a view of the Epcot fireworks, things that are only requests at some WDW Epcot resorts.

I'm LOVING the positive "heavenly" beds comments & glad that you mentioned paying for extras that are only "requests" at WDW resorts: I didn't know that!

 

[JanBlessed]

Indeed. I would eat again at Shulas and Kimonos in a flash. Shulas is possibly my favourite of any restaurant in the WDW area.

 

[JanBlessed]

.....The best part of a stay at the Swan/Dolphin, however, is the price.
Current example:
Price of a "Resort view, balcony room" per night this Thanksgiving week (including weekend nights and Thanksgiving) at the Dolphin $211.00 plus resort fees and taxes = $266.00 per night with AAA discount.

We stay at the Swan or Dolphin for at least a portion of most trips to WDW. It may not be an actual Disney hotel, but we enjoy the trip just as much as when we are staying at a Disney hotel. We walk out of our room and step onto a WDW bus or boat or walk to Epcot/DHS. We watch Illuminations from our bedroom balcony. It feels like Disney to us.

Thanks for all of this info! It really answers a lot of questions. I guess it's really deluxe accommodations at a moderate price! And the location...wow!!!

 

[JanBlessed]

... beautiful resorts and they are right smack dab in a wonderful location !!! Not to mention it's to the point now with the cost of Disney resorts, this is a great option!!! They offer decent rates for what I would call a 4 star if not a 4.5 star resort. Heck, I'd maybe call it a 5 star. I agree the food is superior.

. Location , price, quality & superior food options! Sounds like a winner!!

 

[JanBlessed]

I can book the Swan over NYE - 5 nights for the price of 4. 48,000 points for 5 nights + $125 resort fees v/s $1907 for the cheapest room over the same dates

How much is 48k points? Im not too familiar with points, honestly. I don't really know how points work or where they work.

I've heard people using them for DCL cruises, Aulani & DISNEY resorts, but didn't know that other resorts use points, too.

Is it always cheaper to use points?

 

[JanBlessed]

... I looked at Swan/Dolphin for years and always wondered why folks said they were cheaper. Their rates usually came up the same, if not higher, than the Disney Epcot resorts. Then I learned SPG Membership was free, for instance. But rack rate at Swan/Dolphin is not a better rate in many cases.

Guess I'd better become a member

 

[Babsy]

Thanks for all of this info! It really answers a lot of questions. I guess it's really deluxe accommodations at a moderate price! And the location...wow!!!

It is the discounted rates that bring the Swan/Dolphin in at a lower price. There are a lot of discounts available such as the Teacher/Nurse discounts or the AAA or senior rates. You need to dig around on the SwanDolphin website to find them all, but the effort often pays off. Also, don't give up with the first discount that you find. Often, if you check back, you will find the rate reduced again and it is only a 1-888 tel call to get the lower rate applied.

There have been some times when WDW rates can be a better deal, but those times seem less and less frequent these days. You do still need to check out all the discounts and rates for each trip for Disney and Swan/dolphin resorts. AND... Don't forget to add the resort fee and either the parking fee or the cost of return transportation to MCO to the cost of the Swan/Dolphin. The rate looks deceptively lower until you factor these items into the rate. Usually it is still significantly lower priced, however, just not as great as at first glance.

 

[JanBlessed]

Actually, I liked the mugs better at the S/D. The have a top that screws on and is kind of spill-proof. It also has a bottom with material that keeps it from sliding, tipping, etc. I use it for my coffee every day at home.

 

[JanBlessed]

One thing that impressed me at the Swan was the quality of the towels. LOL! They are bigger and thicker than any I've used at "real" Disney resorts.

Hehehe! Little things DO make vacation extra special !

 

[JerseyJanice]

I didn't see it mentioned on this thread, so want to mention that if you are a Costco member, you should look into any deals that their travel agency may be offering for the Swan and Dolphin. I haven't booked it that way myself, but I have seen reports of some pretty sweet deals.

We stayed at the Swan last month when Matthew came through. Loved the resort. Not one thing could be better there. The room, dining, workers--everything was absolutely fabulous.

 

[chris benton]

We booked through Costco. It was a breeze, and also the savings are substantial. No hidden fees. Unless we get the free dining plan, we're Swanners all the way. Even if we got free dining, we'd have to carefully itemize how we'd use the dining plan for show packages like fantasmic. We don't eat enough to make the dining plan really worth it. Walking to Epcot is seriously 10 minutes. We didn't do the walk to Hollywood, but heard it was 20-ish minutes. We were probably in our room after a stop at Ample Hills and Boardwalk Bakery before most ppl go to their car after Illuminations.

 

[JanBlessed]

....
if you are a Costco member, you should look into any deals....
We stayed at the Swan last month....Loved the resort. Not one thing could be better there. The room, dining, workers--everything was absolutely fabulous.

Love hearing the positive comments! We are not Costco members, though.

 

[JanBlessed]

Unless we get the free dining plan, we're Swanners all the way. Even if we got free dining, we'd have to carefully itemize how we'd use the dining plan for show packages like fantasmic. We don't eat enough to make the dining plan really worth it.

That's my worry about getting the dining plan. Will it be worth it? Also: are Swan/Dolphin restaurants in the dining plan?

 

[JanBlessed]

That's my worry about getting the dining plan. Will it be worth it? Also: are Swan/Dolphin restaurants in the dining plan?