Resort Debate

[JanBlessed]

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.

I love this

 

[vandort]

I just got back from a stay at the Dolphin and I really enjoyed it. The resort is beautiful. To me, it had the beauty of a Disney Deluxe resort with a spa-type vibe. The bed in my room was super comfortable. I really appreciated the Starbucks coffee pods in the room (3-Pikes Peak, 2 regular, 1 decaf) with Tazo tea bags. The towels were also really nice. I had a standard room that had a perfect view of the Boardwalk.
I actually checked in a 6am without any issue. The staff was always accommodating, like my experience with CMs in Disney resorts. I had a couple of issues, one with my room phone and one with my internet password and both those issues were addressed immediately with a Disney-like attitude. The pool area seemed more spa-like to me than the Disney hotels.

I loved being so close to Epcot and DHS. I often walked to both parks. I also did take the boats a few times. I even walked through Epcot to catch the monorail to MK. The only park that requires a bus ride is AK. I did ride the bus back from the parks. The bus drop off is first at the Swan and then the Dolphin. The lines were smaller here, like the other Deluxe resorts, compared to the moderates and values.

One of the things I did appreciate was all of the healthy options at the Fresh Market for breakfast. I had the paleo options, the paleo crunch and the paleo cereal. My favorite was the paleo crunch, a mixture of nuts, seeds, and nut flour with almond milk and fresh fruit. The paleo cereal was the paleo version of oatmeal. These options were both very good, healthy and filling.

I did think that the resort fees and parking were too much, adding ~$45 a night to my stay. My room rate was $197/night, which was about the rate of the value resorts at Disney during my stay.

As others have said, this resort does have some but not all of the Disney benefits. You get proximity to the parks at a lower room rate than the deluxe resorts. You have transportation to and from the parks, but not free Magical Express transportation to and from the airport. There are no magic bands included (you get a room key with your name on this and the dates of your reservation). Charging privileges for the hotel are put on your card and not a magic band (if you have a magic band for your tickets/photopass). The resort offers Extra Magic Hours, free transportation of packages from the Disney Parks to your room, and free parking at the parks (albeit not at the hotel). They have a Disney ticket desk, airline check in desk, offer FP+ and My Magic+ (60 days in advance of trip).

I will definitely look to stay here again. The resort is beautiful, the beds are incredible and the price point for what you get is great. I also understand that they do offer AP benefits, like room discounts. I am interested in understanding what rate discounts have be offered in the past and what is available now. If any of you have experiences about this, I would appreciate learning about this.

 

[chris benton]

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

You'll have to figure out if the dining plan is worth it on your own, but the Swan/Dolphin Restaurants are NOT on the dining plan as I understand it. My main issue with the DDP is, unless it's free, you are still paying essentially full cost for all the meals. It would probably be just way too much food for us at this point, so we'd be throwing away a lot of it - yet still paying for it, so, unless it's free, just not worth it for us.

 

[jenrose66]

A friend and I argued over whether Swan & Dolphin are considered "Disney Resorts" or not. I said " they're on property and have some perks, but are Not DISNEY Resorts". Upon returning from a four day trip, he said "I can now tell you that they are DISNEY Resorts - and the best ones"....

Instead of calling Disney, I know exactly where to get answers: right here on the DIS Home of Disney experts! This thread should conclude the debate.

So: are they Disney Resorts or not? Are they the best resorts on property, in your opinion? Why and why not? And.... Is the food there REALLY that good?

They are resorts on Disney property not owned or operated by Disney.

There is a book called Disney Wars that breaks down in detail what went down with those hotels...among other topics. Good read.

 

[JanBlessed]

I will definitely look to stay here again. The resort is beautiful, the beds are incredible and the price point for what you get is great. I also understand that they do offer AP benefits, like room discounts.

AWESOME report of your recent stay! Love the idea of walking to Epcot & catching the MR to MK !!!
Was the rate that you stated the base rate or with the $45 extra already included?

 

[JanBlessed]

I had the paleo options, the paleo crunch and the paleo cereal. My favorite was the paleo crunch, a mixture of nuts, seeds, and nut flour with almond milk and fresh fruit....These options were both very good, healthy and filling.

I just looked this up to see what is was. I Have learned a few things here on the DIS !!

 

[thelittlemermaid2]

I've only stayed in the Dolphin, but my main argument isn't over who owns the hotel or anything logistical. It just doesn't feel like disney there! Its a very nice hotel, just misses the magic that could elevate it into a disney hotel

 

[chris benton]

We also thought about doing the walk to Epcot to catch the Monorail to MK. Seems like a decent plan, but we saved our steps. The bus comes to the front door.

 

[North of Mouse]

Did not read all these posts, so this may have been discussed. Does Swan/Dolphin charge guests extra for parking?

 

[AngiTN]

Did not read all these posts, so this may have been discussed. Does Swan/Dolphin charge guests extra for parking?

Yes, $25

 

[North of Mouse]

Yes, $25

Thanks!

 

[JanBlessed]

It just doesn't feel like disney there! Its a very nice hotel, just misses the magic that could elevate it into a disney hotel

no magic?

 

[bryanb]

At this moment, I am staying at the Walt Disney World Swan. I'm sitting on a Westin Heavenly Bed, with crisp white linen, a soft thick comforter, and plush pillows. The towels are luxurious and fresh.

This Swan room, it's wonderful. This Swan location, it's amazing. This view from outside my very large bright window. There's Epcot in the distance. And from another angle, I see the Boardwalk and the Yacht Club, with the Friendship boats plying the waters. I feel giddy with magic -- even if the cast members here are Starwood cast members. I feel very much in the heart of Walt Disney World. The rainfall shower head feels great after a day at the parks. My pocketbook feels comfortable and happy too. And I get SPG reward points too.

How does it compare to a "Disney" Disney hotel?

- For this vacation, I tried really hard to book at Disney hotel. Really, really hard. But the Yacht Club was over $450/night for a standard room. The Contemporary and Poly were each over $500/night.

So I looked at moderates. I could only get "standard rates" which worked out to the same as the Swan even factoring in the stupid resort fee and Mears shuttle.

I love the POFQ. It has that "Disney Magic" that people mention. What a beautiful setting. What great cast members. But once you step inside your POFQ room, let's face it... you're sleeping in a motel. A nice motel, but it's a motel room at a hotel price. The room is darker than the Swan and the window opens right into where people walk all day. The shower heads are very basic. The beds are fine, but not great. The towels are fine, but not great. I'd stay at POFQ again for sure when the Swan is priced higher.

I have yet to afford a Disney Deluxe hotel. Someday I will be able to pay more than $300+ per night for one of them, and then I can really compare them with the Swan.

Are the Swan and Dolphin "Disney" hotels? The answer is actually quite complicated. Contractually, they are. If you look at old vacation planning videos, they are the only non-Disney-owned hotels that were pitched in the videos. They are the only non-Disney-owned hotels that are required to be listed on Disneyworld.com, even though Disney does its best to bury them at the bottom and shows only the highest prices. They are entitled to the Disney resort perks that existed at the time they executed the agreement with Disney. I'm assuming that Magic Bands and DME weren't grandfathered.

 

[fla4fun]

I would consider the S&D to be equivalent to a "Good Neighbor Hotel" just as I would the hotels on Hotel Plaza Blvd. near Disney Springs, or the newer Wyndham/Hilton Bonnet Creek properties. Technically they are "on property" (or as good as) but since they are not owned and operated by Disney, they aren't actually Disney hotels. Nothing wrong with staying in one though, if the price is right. You just have to remember to add in all the extra fees before comparing prices, and factor in transportation from the airport if applicable.

 

[bryanb]

I would consider the S&D to be equivalent to a "Good Neighbor Hotel" just as I would the hotels on Hotel Plaza Blvd. near Disney Springs, or the newer Wyndham/Hilton Bonnet Creek properties. Technically they are "on property" (or as good as) but since they are not owned and operated by Disney, they aren't actually Disney hotels. Nothing wrong with staying in one though, if the price is right. You just have to remember to add in all the extra fees before comparing prices, and factor in transportation from the airport if applicable.

Maybe instead of "Good Neighbor" we could call the "Good Houseguest" hotels. The main difference being that they are located in the heart of Disney World, rather than off to the side (next door). Being in the heart of Disney, they get special privileges that the neighbors don't.

 

[bamaliving]

I stayed at the Swan in 2005 during Christmas and absolutely loved it! My parents took my brother and I when we were in college. There were poinsettias everywhere, including a huge poinsettia tree. We loved being able to walk to the Boardwalk and Epcot/Hollywood Studios. The theming isn't as good as the "Disney" resorts, but the actual hotel is better (like beds and linens). I would definitely recommend it for couples or families with older children.

 

[JanBlessed]

At this moment, I am staying at the Walt Disney World Swan. I'm sitting on a Westin Heavenly Bed, with crisp white linen, a soft thick comforter, and plush pillows. The towels are luxurious and fresh.

wow , a report ABOUT the Swan while staying AT the Swan can't get more authentic than that!!

 

[JanBlessed]

This Swan room, it's wonderful. This Swan location, it's amazing. This view from outside my very large bright window. There's Epcot in the distance. And from another angle, I see the Boardwalk and the Yacht Club, with the Friendship boats plying the waters. I feel giddy with magic --

wow

 

[JanBlessed]

Are the Swan and Dolphin "Disney" hotels? ... Contractually, they are. If you look at old vacation planning videos, they are the only non-Disney-owned hotels that were pitched in the videos. They are the only non-Disney-owned hotels that are required to be listed on Disneyworld.com,

. I actually DO remember seeing them in the old "VHS" videos - lol! Ok... That just made me feel really old!

 

[JanBlessed]

@bryanb , how much did you pay per night? If you don't mind sharing....