Swan,Dolphin or Moderate...Help!

[Lebjwb]

We've stayed at OKW, Coronado and POR and have loved them all.

I'm knocking around the idea of staying at the Swan or the Dolphin. It seems as if they have a lot to offer but I'm a bit leary.

Can anyone out there tell me the pros and cons of these resorts?

Thanks!

 

[mouseRD]

Stayed at the Swan. Loved it! It was fantastic being right outside Epcot & able to walk there & take the boat to MGM. Grotto pool was great. Able to use all of the facilities at the Dolphin. Staff was tremendous. Great for adults (quieter). Lovely restaurants & close to many other dining choices at BC/YC, Boardwalk, & Epcot. Best of all, the Heavenly Beds!

 

[Swan]

I also vote for the Swan. I stayed at the CSR last June and found myself missing the Swan. I love the pool. I love the views. It is really nice having the Boardwalk close by. I also like having a couple options on transportation. Since Epcot is my favorite park I enjoy being close to it. We ended most nights with a stroll down the boardwalk.
I did enjoy the buses at CSR they were never crowded

 

[swilphil]

We stayed at the Dolphin last summer and loved it, especially the location and how easy it was to get to MGM and Epcot. We wanted to stay there again last month, but they were booked during our vacation, so we stayed at the Swan--loved it too!!

The pros are: great rates at Deluxe hotel, LOCATION, service is awesome! Bus service to MK was excellent as well. Most of the time the bus went straight to the park after it picked up at the Dolphin.

Cons: I really can't think of any.

The Dolphin has a much more impressive lobby, has Tubbi's Buffeteria with Starbucks coffee, and is slightly closer to the grotto pool, depending on where your room is. But the Swan is much smaller and a little easier to get around. The Swan also has 2 queen size beds; Dolphin's are 2 oversized doubles. Swan has two sinks in a standard room and the Dolphin has only one.

You can't go wrong with either the Swan or the Dolphin.

 

[bballmom56]

I agree with everything everyone has already said. We were there in June and just loved it! The family is talking about staying at either AKL or WL next year and I'm kind of hesitant because I thought we got so much value for the money (at teacher's rate) at the Swan. Could be a really tough decision (or a big family fight )

 

[webray]

Swan, Dolphin or POR...there is no choice there for me.

Dolphin..because we have stayed there many times. It is convenient to so many restaurant choices...it is a deluxe, above and beyond a disney deluxe..for a disney moderate price. I am sure the Swan is just as nice..just never stayed there.

We have stayed at POR..we didn't care for it...and we didn't care for any of the moderates..just to let you know. We will stay at a value in a heartbeat for a quick weekend trip..other than that deluxe all the way...so now you see why we choose the dolphin often.

Enjoy!

 

[travelbug]

I've stayed at both the Swan and the Dolphin. I loved them both! Others have itemized the pros very well. I'm just weighing in to say that I fully agree.

Cons? I guess the difference in price between S/D and a moderate would be one consideration. If you qualify for any of the S/D discounts (as I do), then you can get an excellent price for a deluxe.

Let us know what you decide.

 

[Lebjwb]

Thanks for all the great responses! I guess another question I have would be regarding the staff at the Swan and Dolphin. Are they Disney CM's?.

It seems like the S & D are always running great deals. Anyone know of a discount in the January-March, 2005 time frame? Has there traditionally been one offered?

Again, thanks for all the advice...you all are the best!!!!

 

[swilphil]

Originally posted by Lebjwb
Thanks for all the great responses! I guess another question I have would be regarding the staff at the Swan and Dolphin. Are they Disney CM's?.

I don't think they are technically Disney CM's, but I do hear them referred to as CM's quite often. Best of all, they are extremely cordial, helpful and go WAY out of their way to make your stay a pleasant one. They are as good, if not better, in every way compared to the official Disney CMs. Theyjust don't have a rodent on their nametag, if that makes a difference to you.

 

[Patio]

We stayed at the Dolphin in June and fell in love with the place. The location is the best, grotto pool is awesome, bus and boat transportation was wonderful, CM's were so nice. We love the BW and YC/BC areas so we were right there, without the high Disney cost.

 

[CamColt]

Definitely the Swan or Dolphin. Ive only stayed at the Swan, so I cant tell you about the Dolphin, but the differnece between there and POR(weve stayed 2x) is huge. If the location and transportation options arent enough, the beds would definitely push my choice in that direction.

 

[trola2]

Call me a thread hijacker, but I wanted to ask a couple of things:

Do BOTH the Dolphin and the Swan have the Heavenly beds?

Thanks!
~~Beth

 

[Lebjwb]

Originally posted by swilphil
Theyjust don't have a rodent on their nametag, if that makes a difference to you.

Funny! Thanks!

 

[NotUrsula]

Technically, the beds at the Dolphin are Sheraton Sweet Sleeper beds, as opposed to Westin Heavenly Beds at the Swan.

Both are the same type of bedding, a pillowtop mattress, all-cotton triple-sheeting, a duvet and nice thick pillows. The Westin version has higher-count sheets, and the linens on the Westin beds are all pure white (like clouds, get it?) There are more pillows in the standard setup on the Westin beds, 5 pillows, including a neckroll, on each bed.

Also, at WDW, the Swan's beds are queen, while the Dolphin's are an odd size called an extra-long double; about 5 inches narrower than a queen, but the same length.

 

[swilphil]

Originally posted by NotUrsula
Also, at WDW, the Swan's beds are queen, while the Dolphin's are an odd size called an extra-long double; about 5 inches narrower than a queen, but the same length.

Are you sure they are 5 inches narrower? I remember reading last year that they are 1-2 inches narrower, and we didn't notice a big difference from our queen at home.

 

[Kapp]

of the staying at the Dolphin last year since it wasn't a "real" Disney resort but the Teacher Rate ($129) was too good to pass up. Boy, were we wrong! We LOVED the Dolphin! The customer service was better than most "real" Disney resorts, the rooms (renovated) were beautiful, the location is great and the upgrade (Starwood member) was super. We always like to stay at a different resort every visit to WDW but have said we would stay at the Dolphin again with out any hesitation!

Enjoy!

 

[sarahsmom73]

We changed our ressie for last Easter form the POR to the Dolphin! So glad we did! It was AWESOME! Love the Location, locations, location!!! Great rooms, great pool, Great price (we got the $129 teacher discount!!)

 

[Lebjwb]

Originally posted by Kapp
We LOVED the Dolphin! The customer service was better than most "real" Disney resorts, the rooms (renovated) were beautiful, the location is great and the upgrade (Starwood member) was super.
Enjoy!

"Starwood Member" ? Sorry, what is that?