Swan/Dolphin - Do They Feel Like Disney?

[vinotinto]

We've never stayed at Swan/Dolphin, although we have stayed in the Epcot resort area, and we are now considering it. Does the Swolphin "feel" like Disney? What do you like and don't like about it?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Because they are owned, operated, and decorated by hotel companies, i would not expect them to feel like Disney. Except that weekend character brunch, if they still offer it.

 

[Dave006]

We like it because it is just as close as the Disney Epcot resorts but is often much cheaper.

Note: The Swan / Dolphin charge a resort fee of $31.50 (including tax) per day in addition to the basic room fee. You don't get free DME to/from the airport and you can't charge to your room from the parks. If you are driving, Disney charges for overnight parking as does the Swan / Dolphin.

Dave

 

[saintrob]

Love the Swan, hate the Dolphin. The Dolphin is a conference hotel and doesn't have that 'special' feel of the Disney hotels. The Swan being smaller was so much nicer.

 

[pooh2001]

We love them both because of location
At the Dolphin we were never bothered by conventions.
You can also get a room with a view of DHS or EPCOT fireworks

The heavenly beds are the best to sleep in at night
The pools (yes more than one) are great

easy walk to EPCOT

from MCO take an umber/lyft, or a car service, or a Minnie Van for $150
We like the car service with a 30 minute food stop (to get goodies) to the Dolphin.
The room fee includes 2 bottles of water per night stayed.

You can add your own Disney touch with Disney stuffed animals, window clings, .....depends on the age of the room occupants

Enjoy

 

[GiJohnsGirl]

No they don't.

 

[epsmith921]

Just came back from a 5 night stay at Swan. Bookended with arrival night at YC and night before departure at BC. Wanted magical express - kids are 3 and 7. We booked the most basic of rooms with 2 queens, wound up getting upgraded to resort view. Kids could see tower of terror all lit up at night and the SW fireworks at studios. We could also see some of BWV and illuminations fireworks. It worked out quite well. Kids felt like they were at Disney because...they were at Disney.

The heavenly beds are ridiculously awesome, especially after August Orlando heat and getting the kids themselves to sleep. The bathroom setup at least at the Swan makes it easy for more than one person to get ready with a sink at the same time.

We were very happy with our stay.

 

[Fangorn]

We've never stayed at Swan/Dolphin, although we have stayed in the Epcot resort area, and we are now considering it. Does the Swolphin "feel" like Disney? What do you like and don't like about it?

Short answer: no, not really. They're both very nice hotels and I love the location, but they're just not the same to me. I've stayed there for conferences and that was fine - very convenient, but the couple of times we've stayed there for vacation, it just felt like something was missing.

Steve

 

[loki_d]

Yacht club is my fav but we like the dolphin as well. Great price point for that area and it’s not swarmed with kids.

 

[GC&S]

Not at all. Lots of conventions/business stuff at both hotels. We stayed at the Swan and it was nice but we felt out of place walking around in shorts while the majority was in business attire. But no Disney feel what so ever. We do try to get to the soda fountain place at the Dolphin. Great desserts!!

 

[slpeters]

We stayed at the Swan last November and thought it was lovely. I guess maybe I don't know what the Disney feel is in a hotel. I mean I don't particularly want Mickey ears over the bed or something. It was gorgeous and clean, the staff were amazing. We could see Epcot from the room and pretty much everyone there seemed to be tourists going to Disney like us. I guess in general it struck me as more adult and elegant than the other resorts we went to--that suited us, but we didn't have kids with us.

 

[Next_disney_princess]

Does Disney provide buses from swan/dolphin?

 

[slpeters]

Does Disney provide buses from swan/dolphin?

Yes buses and boats. We used Disney transportation all week and loved it!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

The Swan and Dolphin do not feel like Disney, but it doesn't stop us from staying there. When their prices beat the other WDW EP resort prices significantly, we will choose them over the WDW options. We like the Swan over the Dolphin - it feels less like a convention hotel. Perks - location and luxury at a price slightly above a WDW mod. They also have some of the best restaurants in WDW.

 

[spicey]

We like staying at both for all the reasons above. For me, nothing beats the stroll from Epcot back to the hotel at night. Plus we like eating breakfast buffet at Fresh at the Dolphin hotel. They serve nutritious juices too, got to keep healthy with all the walking.

 

[mcall12]

We loved the price point for the location but missed the Disney touches. I also hated the very long walk from the elevators to our room. We had a room overlooking the pool at the dolphin and it was super long - similar to being all the way at the end at AKL but at least there you have windows along the hallways and can stop to see animals.

I travel a lot for work and I felt like I was on a work trip at the dolphin which I never felt at a Disney operated hotel.

 

[The Pluto People]

We loved the price point for the location but missed the Disney touches. I also hated the very long walk from the elevators to our room. We had a room overlooking the pool at the dolphin and it was super long - similar to being all the way at the end at AKL but at least there you have windows along the hallways and can stop to see animals.

I travel a lot for work and I felt like I was on a work trip at the dolphin which I never felt at a Disney operated hotel.

Longest walk from the elevators to my room (total of 21 Disney vacations) was at the Yacht Club. And at that time there was a huge Clinique convention at the Yacht Club.

 

[Alicenwonderment]

We like it because it is just as close as the Disney Epcot resorts but is often much cheaper.

Note: The Swan / Dolphin charge a resort fee of $31.50 (including tax) per day in addition to the basic room fee. You don't get free DME to/from the airport and you can't charge to your room from the parks. If you are driving, Disney charges for overnight parking as does the Swan / Dolphin.

Dave

Funny thing I've noticed with the off site resorts is that since Disney added a charge for cars many of the off site hotels are waiving the parking fees on their resort.

 

[snappy]

Funny thing I've noticed with the off site resorts is that since Disney added a charge for cars many of the off site hotels are waiving the parking fees on their resort.

And they are mentioning the waived fee in their marketing efforts.

 

[snappy]

There are lots of rooms at the Dolphin and I have found if you ask at check in for a certain location, close to the elevator or high floor or whatever, they are very accommodating. Full disclosure: I usually stay off season, arrive early in the day, and don’t stay more than 3-5 days. I love the location, the cabana bar and the restaurants, seeing HS fireworks from the walkway between swan an dolphin, proximity to the boardwalk or Epcot for relaxing evenings. Like the boat service to HS and EPCOT if I am not inclined to walk. The renovated rooms and lobby are also very much to my taste, especially compared to a Disney moderate or value. Stayed once at Pop and once at Caribbean beach. Once and done for values and moderates. The crowds there scare me more than conventions.