Swan/Dolphin Onsite?

[ajenks22]

Sorry for the silly question, but is the Swan/Dol considered an onsite resort? I remember that several years ago it was not entitled to onsite perks such as EMH and such. Still true? Would we still get MBs and FP+ at 60 days? Thanks!

 

[JerseyJanice]

The Swan and Dolphin resort is definitely on-site. The biggest differences AFAIK are:

You are not eligible to buy the Disney Dining Plan in any form.

You can't use the Magical Express to/from MCO.

You can't charge purchases back to your room. (Not a bad thing necessarily.)

You won't receive free Magic Bands. You can purchase them for a nominal fee, but they won't work as room keys nor can you use them to charge back to your room.

You are entitled to Extra Magic Hours and you will be allowed to make ADRs and FP+ the same as other guests although I've seen conflicting reports about whether you get the "plus ten days" rule that applies to resort guests.

The resorts themselves are fabulous. The location is a huge draw, but having everything you need under one roof with indoor corridors is also a good reason to choose the Swan or Dolphin. Overall, they are luxurious hotels with upscale furniture, linens and toiletries. If you can get a good discount--and many are offered--you get a lot more bang for your buck than any Disney resort.

The in-room coffee is Starbucks. The butter in Picabu is Plugra. The towels are larger, thicker and softer than any you'll get in a Disney resort. Like I said, overall everything is more luxurious at the Swolphin.

 

[ajenks22]

The Swan and Dolphin resort is definitely on-site. The biggest differences AFAIK are:

You are not eligible to buy the Disney Dining Plan in any form.

You can't use the Magical Express to/from MCO.

You can't charge purchases back to your room. (Not a bad thing necessarily.)

You won't receive free Magic Bands. You can purchase them for a nominal fee, but they won't work as room keys nor can you use them to charge back to your room.

You are entitled to Extra Magic Hours and you will be allowed to make ADRs and FP+ the same as other guests although I've seen conflicting reports about whether you get the "plus ten days" rule that applies to resort guests.

The resorts themselves are fabulous. The location is a huge draw, but having everything you need under one roof with indoor corridors is also a good reason to choose the Swan or Dolphin. Overall, they are luxurious hotels with upscale furniture, linens and toiletries. If you can get a good discount--and many are offered--you get a lot more bang for your buck than any Disney resort.

The in-room coffee is Starbucks. The butter in Picabu is Plugra. The towels are larger, thicker and softer than any you'll get in a Disney resort. Like I said, overall everything is more luxurious at the Swolphin.

Thank you! This is very helpful. What about free park parking and transportation?

 

[maxiesmom]

Each resort charges you to park at that resort. But you don't have to pay for theme park parking. The resort buses are Disney resort buses, and may in fact stop at other boardwalk resorts before heading to a park.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Ditto what everyone else posted, but Swan/Dolphin does not participate in 180+10 ADR's. You do get the 60 day prior FP+ plus perk, however. Depending on the season, the Swan/Dolphin will either have dedicated buses (they did during our Christmas trip) or share with BWI (they did over our Memorial Day trip). What I love about staying in the EP area, though, is everything is within walking distance so, regardless of where we are staying (BC/YC, BWI or Swan/Dolphin) we hop on whatever resort bus arrives first.

If choosing between Swan and Dolphin, I would highly recommend the Swan. It will most likely price out a little higher, but all of the rooms were recently renovated and they are really nice!! We also prefer the lobby area which is smaller than the Dolphin, so a little cozier and less of a convention feel. The restaurants are great and they have fantastic pool and recreation areas. We've stayed at all five EP resorts now and BWI and Swan are definitely our favorites.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Like Maxiesmom said, you have to pay for parking at the resort, but theme park parking and transportation is included.

For my family, the ability to walk to and from Epcot is huge. Obviously, you get that perk staying at the Boardwalk or Yacht & Beach Club, but if you get a good deal at the Swan & Dolphin, you'll pay a lot less.

Also, Picabu is the cafeteria/food court at the Dolphin. It's open 24/7 and has a decent selection of good inexpensive food. A drawback to the Disney Boardwalk resorts is that they do not have any place comparable.

I like Disney resorts. They have a busy yet institutional vibe, so they aren't for everyone. If you are used to traveling for business, they may not be your cup of tea. The Swan & Dolphin OTOH are corporate hotels. They have a professional feeling that Disney resorts can seem to lack.

 

[PamNC]

I've stayed at the Dolphin twice and the Swan once - ditto to what others are saying. Much more luxurious than the Disney resorts. Great location obviously. Great rates all throughout the year - for Labor Day I got an email for $168 a night. You can't get a moderate at Disney for that rate without breaking your neck. I think the resort rates are getting out of control so booking through a DVC owner and renting points or the Swan/Dolphin are great choices. You get a deluxe experience at a Moderate - well - a Value price.

 

[Geezer12]

Love the Swan and Dolphin. We are Florida residents and stay there every few months. The location is great. We always grab a Fl Res rate for $159 or $169 per night. We also like the 24 hour restaurant Picabu. With all the resort charges, etc it usually comes out to approx $200 a night. Florida resident rates at Beach, Yacht and Boardwalk usually run over $300 a night. Extra Magic hours is a great perk as well. And the Heavenly beds are awesome.

 

[PlutoFromJupiter]

I've stayed at the Dolphin twice and the Swan once - ditto to what others are saying. Much more luxurious than the Disney resorts. Great location obviously. Great rates all throughout the year - for Labor Day I got an email for $168 a night. You can't get a moderate at Disney for that rate without breaking your neck. I think the resort rates are getting out of control so booking through a DVC owner and renting points or the Swan/Dolphin are great choices. You get a deluxe experience at a Moderate - well - a Value price.

Hi we are Florida Resident Passholders...just curious if the rate for $168 was a resident rate or a loyalty program?

 

[PamNC]

Hi we are Florida Resident Passholders...just curious if the rate for $168 was a resident rate or a loyalty program?

I'm not sure. I think it was a loyalty program.

 

[dp911]

they do give a fl resident rate of I think 10% off. Go to their website and click special offers. They do have a resort fee for each night and also a parking fee each night.

 

[loves to dive]

We stayed at Swan in March for the first time and were a little leary before our stay. I was afraid it would feel too much like a Hampton or any other business hotel. While, yes, it does have that feel it isn't too much so and you can't beat the location and the rooms are nice. You do have to be very careful when comparing prices, we drive down so we have to pay parking and then there is also the resort fee, which isn't included in that initial quote. All those factored in and sometimes, it might actually be the same price to say at a WDW deluxe. I have an upcoming split stay booked for F&W and will be staying 2 nights at CSR and 3 nights at Swan.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

Is there a daily resort charge like the ones at the Disney Springs area resorts? a per day or per guest amount...

 

[Dave006]

Yes, $25 per room Resort Fee - incudes in-room Wi-Fi, free phone calls and the exercise room. Any they also charge for self-parking: $18 and valet parking: 26 per day.

Dave

 

[writerguyfl]

If choosing between Swan and Dolphin, I would highly recommend the Swan. It will most likely price out a little higher, but all of the rooms were recently renovated and they are really nice!!

The WDW Swan hotel has earned a 4-Diamond AAA rating. The Dolphin is a 3-Diamond hotel. So, your feeling that Swan is nicer is backed up by the professional reviewers from AAA.

Is there a daily resort charge like the ones at the Disney Springs area resorts? a per day or per guest amount...

FYI: Only some of the Disney Springs properties charge a daily resort fee. Currently, the Buena Vista Palace, DoubleTree Suites, and Holiday Inn do not charge a resort/service fee.

 

[Sue M]

I haven't priced out Swan/Dolphin in awhile, but when I priced them last, Swolfin with room discount vs YC with discount, on the surface looked good, but after adding the daily resort fee plus airport transportation to cost and that bought it to pretty much same price as YC.
That $168 rate is really $193 with daily resort fee. And if you need parking.....now it's up to $211 and haven't yet factored in the airport transportation costs.

 

[butternut]

I recently called S/D to see how far along the renovations are with the dolphin. Was told they were doing really well and would probably be completed by my October trip. After a gem here on the boards were a little skeptical about that I made a second call and was told no way will it be completed by then. Only a portion of the rooms have been completed so no guarantee of getting one. Sooooo Due to me being an asthmatic and cannot be sleeping with any mold smells( which many have said is present in the Dolphin) I went ahead and did the upgrade for a renovated room in the Dolphin. Was this smart or is it just their way of having me pay the extra money each night? We're my chances good that I would have received a renovated room anyway when I check in? I always feel like it's a game you play with your money. Anyway, has anyone been there recently who can give an insight into how the new rooms look compared to the non rennevated ones? Also with the price now for the Dolphin I'm paying 275.50 without any taxes or resort fees, should I be checking prices for Disney property on the Boardwalk? Sorry for rambling on so much but any help would be appreciated.

 

[butternut]

Any Swan and Dolphin experts out there?

 

[JACKNAG]

The Dolphin is awesome, The area is great
It has just priced us out with resort fee, parking fee, and no 180 days for dinning. or no dinning plan
But everyone one's vacation requirements are different And if those listed were no longer important to my stay I would stay there again in a second.
Good luck with your choices

 

[butternut]

Thank you Jacknag!