Swan/Dolphin or CSR?

[MickeysFan]

We finally decided on CSR for our moderate choice, and now some of our party want to take a look at Swan/Dolphin as an option. That's what happens when you try to arrange a trip with ten people!!

Anyway, I would love to hear some opinions. I think the Swan/Dolphin are beautiful, and I have wanted to stay there...my one thought is, are they very Disney at all? It seems from the photos that they could be a nice hotel anywhere, not ness. at WDW. I have also gotten really excited about CSR from all the info here on the boards, special thanks to Buzz2001, so that's a factor. However, we are eligible for the Military discount at the Swan/Dolphin, which makes it significantly less expensive than CSR.

I would love to hear everyones opinions about one resort vs. the other!

 

[Buzz2001]

The Swan and Dolphin are deluxe resorts with larger beds in one of them, I forget which. Their location is great too so its hard to compare the two. That will come down to your preference.

 

[CamColt]

Personally, I would choose the Swan & Dolphin. I have stayed at both 3X each and really enoyed them. The location, in walking distance to 2 parks and 3 other resorts, cannot be beat. You have many choices for dining and entertainment right there.

While no, you wont get Mickey soap or Mickey wake up calls, etc... looking out the window and seeing the TOT or Earful Tower, or the BW, or friendship boats, etc...doesnt make me feel like Im missing any magic. I have even found Hidden Mickeys at both hotels.

 

[swilphil]

You are getting a nice deluxe resort for LESS money than a Disney moderate? Definitely go with Swan/Dolphin. The location, size of room, and service are the best.

The Swan beds are queen size/Dolphin are oversized doubles. It's easier to get around in the Swan and Swan is closer to the Boardwalk. Dolphin has a much more impressive lobby...if you're into lobbies.

 

[Blondie]

I'd go with the Swan or Dolphin, no second guessing for me! It's our favorite!

 

[HockeyMomR]

Go with Swan / Dolphin. Swan has the queen beds. We stayed at Dophin for 2 nights a couple of years ago and my kids really liked the resort. The location is great! The double beds weren't too bad at the Dolphin as they are "heavenly". The double bed thing is a real deal breaker for the us and we would do the Swan definitely instead of a Disney moderate.

 

[Escape Artist]

We stayed at the Dolphin at the beginning of June and loved it. The pool is great, and the room seemed more spacious than I remember having at CSR. It was nice not to have to do all the walking, as CSR is pretty spread out.

We were on the 20th floor of the Dolphin, and since we usually are campers (i.e. very close to the ground) we loved the soaring views from the 20th floor! They have a dedicated elevator for the top floors, so even the elevators were speedy. The dining and shops are great, too. They have a Disney gift shop and I didn't feel like I was missing being in a Disney hotel a bit.

We had 5 people in our room, and my son had the nicest rollaway he's ever had. It didn't bend in the middle, so it had a decent mattress, and there was enough space in the room for his bed to stay set-up full time without us feeling inconvenienced by it all the time. For parties of 5, the Dolphin is great!

Sue in Texas
...who really likes oatmeal soap anyways...

 

[MickeysFan]

Thanks so much for all the info and responses! We are actually leaning towards the Dolphin now, even though the double over queen issue was a factor, just looking at photos ect. the feel seems to appeal to us over all.

I was really interested in your post, Escape Artist! Did they allow 5 guests in your room because 3 were small children, or do they in general? I was assuming we would need three rooms for 10 of us, I am going to have to look into that!

So, it seems our final decision is to go with the Dolphin, and then while we are there, we are going to visit a few resorts, including CSR, to help us make the decision next time! Thanks everyone!!!

 

[biolabetty]

We are going to a conference at CSR in January and are considering staying at the Swan. Can you easily walk from one to the other, I've never been to Disney World.

 

[flynnmnstr]

that would be really tight. Showering and just moving around in general would be tough; Storing luggage etc. My girlfriend did that years ago with her parents, brother and grandfather (they were in their late teens) and she said they would never do it again. I think its different when the 5 is composed of 2 or 3 kids younger kids.

I vote for the Swan/Dolphin-- we love it and stay every year.

 

[Pig Pen]

We are going to a conference at CSR in January and are considering staying at the Swan. Can you easily walk from one to the other, I've never been to Disney World.

You cannot walk from the Swan to CSR.

 

[Pig Pen]

If you go with Swan/Dolphin, remember that you will not get some of the perks of staying at a WDW resort. No Magical Express for one. I am not sure of others.

 

[MickeysFan]

that would be really tight. Showering and just moving around in general would be tough; Storing luggage etc. My girlfriend did that years ago with her parents, brother and grandfather (they were in their late teens) and she said they would never do it again. I think its different when the 5 is composed of 2 or 3 kids younger kids.

I vote for the Swan/Dolphin-- we love it and stay every year.

We would have three adults, a 13 year old and a 10 year old. My 13 yr old DS could use a roll away and my 10 yr old DS could sleep with his aunt, she is only there for 3 of the 7 nights anyway. I confirmed with the Dolphin that their guest limit per room is 5.

 

[MickeysFan]

If you go with Swan/Dolphin, remember that you will not get some of the perks of staying at a WDW resort. No Magical Express for one. I am not sure of others.

The Magical Express is to and from the airport right? We will still be able to use all the internal transportation to and from the different parks? I thought that was part of the charm about the Swan/Dolphin, was the convenient transportation.

 

[Colleen27]

The Magical Express is to and from the airport right? We will still be able to use all the internal transportation to and from the different parks? I thought that was part of the charm about the Swan/Dolphin, was the convenient transportation.

You still get the transportation to the parks, package delivery to the resort from shops in the parks, and the extra magic hours. You cannot get Magical Express (free airport transportation), the dining plan, or the ability to charge purchases to your room key.

 

[Escape Artist]

I was really interested in your post, Escape Artist! Did they allow 5 guests in your room because 3 were small children, or do they in general? I was assuming we would need three rooms for 10 of us, I am going to have to look into that!

So, it seems our final decision is to go with the Dolphin, and then while we are there, we are going to visit a few resorts, including CSR, to help us make the decision next time! Thanks everyone!!!

Hi MickeysFan!

We had two adults and kids ages 14, 13 and 5. So except for the 5 year old, we're all adult sized, some of us a bit more generously than others!

I wanted to book the Swan because of the bigger beds but the TA wouldn't let me because she said their rooms only allow 4 people, even though some posters on these boards told me that they had 5 in a room at the Swan. So we booked the Dolphin with 2 doubles and a rollaway, and it turned out fine. The sink is separate from the toilet/shower area, so that helps with 5 in a room, and my kids loved sitting on the rollaway to play when we happened to be hanging out in the room, and that made it less crowded, too.

We're normally campers, so most standard hotel rooms feel pretty cramped to me (what, no kitchen?), but I REALLY liked the Dolphin and would stay there again in a heartbeat! It was great having soda refills just an elevator ride away, and even their laundry room was excellent, too.

(I can't say the same for CSR. That felt really cramped with only 4 of us back then, and getting around the resort took way too much walking for my taste.)

If I was booking a trip for 10 people, I'd have to seriously consider how much time we were planning to spend in the rooms. If you'll be at the hotel a lot, I'd probably get 3 rooms, but if not, I'd do 2 and save the bucks. Those hotel nights sure add up, if $$$ are an issue. I always have other places to spend my money!

Sue in Texas

 

[Pirate Me]

We go to the Swan and Dolphin the most when going to WDW. The location is great, I love getting balcony rooms over the lake. You can have an Epcot view and can see the back of the Tower of Terror from the front. They have the best restaurants. We loved Picabu for a quick breakfast or pizza. You can also go into the nearby hotel (if you are at the Swan, walk to Dolphin, vise versa) and see what they have there. The shopping inside the hotel is great. The Dolphin has many stores and my favorite, a candy store. You can take a 10 minute walk to Epcot or MGM, or take a 15 minute Ferry. Bus to MK and AK.

 

[mahoneyth]

We stayed at the Dolphin and didn't care for it, it's a hotel vice a resort. That's really the difference. The dolphn bed is very confortable but the room is really small....
and if your next to the elevators, your going hear them quite often.
oh yeah, no disney feel there....
please try CSR, i know they won't be disappointed.

 

[NancyIL]

I've stayed at the Dolphin and Swan numerous times, and I love them. I've been inside a room at CSR, and they are smaller than the rooms at the Swan/Dolphin. I'd go with the location, location, location and heavenly beds of the Swan/Dolphin.

 

[Blondie]

We stayed at the Dolphin and didn't care for it, it's a hotel vice a resort. That's really the difference. The dolphn bed is very confortable but the room is really small....
and if your next to the elevators, your going hear them quite often.
oh yeah, no disney feel there....
please try CSR, i know they won't be disappointed.

The rooms at CSR are smaller than the rooms at the Swan/Dolphin. If you're concerned about the size of the rooms and want something with a little more square footage, stay out of the Disney values and moderates.

I have to disagree about the S/D being just a hotel. It's a resort in every aspect of the word. Their room service is some of the best we've ever had and the main "Grotto" pool area is like a tropical vacation in itself. JMHO as always.