Swan, Dolphin or Wilderness Lodge

[Terk-1]

Trying to decide where to stay for my next trip. Have stayed at the Wilderness Lodge and absolutely love it!!! My sister is a nurse and she may come with me. I know she gets a great discounted rate at either the Swan or Dolphin with her nurses license and am wondering if we should give this a try. Which of these is the one closest to the Yacht Club? Do all the rooms have balcony's? Is it more money to request a room facing EPCOT? How high up do you need to go to get this view? If you have no intention of using their health club (which we won't), will they waive that fee? If you are staying there on a discounted rate, can you still earn Starwood Points? Do you feel you lose the "Disney" experience by staying at a non-Disney owned resort? Do you think it's worth staying at a "non-Disney" resort or should I stay at the Wilderness Lodge?

 

[CarolA]

I will try to respond to a few of your questions.

1. Your sister can get a Nurse's discount. (Rumor is they are much harder to get in 2005 however)
2. The Dolphin is probably a little closer to the Yatch Club.\
3. No, all rooms don't have balconys and balconys cost extra
4. Views cost extra.
5. They won't waive the resort fee much anymore, you are probably stuck with it.
6. Starwood points vary. Generally they do give them however,
7. These hotels do not have a "Disney" theme. The Dolphin is a convention hotel and depending on when you go there could be lots of poeple going to a convention and not to Disney.

 

[swilphil]

The Dolphin is closer to the Yacht Club, but I actually like being closer to the Boardwalk. Really you can't go wrong with either the Swan or Dolphin. They share many amenities and are so similar.

I think the Dolphin may have more rooms with balconies and it definitely has more rooms in general. Balconies and rooms with views can cost extra, but depending on availibility others have gotten free upgrades. Since the Dolphin has so many more rooms, you might have a better chance of a free upgrade there.

You will definitely get Starwood points when using a nurses discount. You get points based on how much money you spend.

You do not lose any Disney "magic" when you stay at the Swan/Dolphin. We've had views of the Boardwalk, Beach/Yacht Club, and even MGM's Tower of Terror. You are just a few steps from the Boardwalk and can WALK to MGM/Epcot. They both are deluxe hotels, and the grounds/decor is very nice. The Dolphin does have a more impressive lobby, if that is important to you. The Swan lobby is more like a Westin hotel any where in the country, expect when you walk out the door you are in WDW!

 

[Epcotgal8]

This is a toughie for me. We've stayed at both WL and more recently, (July) the Dolphin. I loved the WL but I really loved the location of the Dolphin. We spend more time at Epcot and MGM than the MK plus we loved the Boardwalk at night so this location was great for us. We chose the Dolphin over the Swan only because there are more dining options there but either are very nice. The grotto pool is great! BTW, I was there with a teacher's discount and I did earn Starpoints. Have fun whichever you choose!

 

[denecarter]

Did Swan for Christmas 2002 with teacher discount... we (DD15, DM, & I) decided there was a difference to us. Yes, it was a really nice hotel... it just wasn't Disney enough for us. YMMV

 

[PamNC]

Hi there - we just got back from the Swan. It was our first time. We've only stayed at Disney-owned resorts int he past and we were a bit nervous about it. We were pleasantly surprised with the Swan and would definitely stay there again. I can't say it's my favorite resort (the Poly wins out!) but if there were good rates being offered, I wouldn't hesitate to stay there again. The rooms are very nice and the service was up to par with Disney resorts. We also thought they had great restaurants!! On a scale of 1-10 we would give the Swan an 8.

PamNC

 

[HughJackman'n'me]

This is a toughie for me. We've stayed at both WL and more recently, (July) the Dolphin. I loved the WL but I really loved the location of the Dolphin. We spend more time at Epcot and MGM than the MK plus we loved the Boardwalk at night so this location was great for us. We chose the Dolphin over the Swan only because there are more dining options there but either are very nice. The grotto pool is great! BTW, I was there with a teacher's discount and I did earn Starpoints. Have fun whichever you choose!

....SHE said! I absolutely LOVE the atmosphere of WL. Also, the one thing I found unique to WL compared to other WDW resorts is, when you leave WL, you can't wait to get back "home"!! Of couse, you can't beat S/D for location, location, location!!

 

[CRSNDSNY]

I've stayed at all three. Of the three my favorite is the Wilderness Lodge. BUT if you are looking for something different, both the Swan and the Dolphin are beautiful resorts == they just do not have a Disney feel to them. Although, I would not hesitate to stay there if you can get a good rate. Afterall, there are many benefits to saying at either of these resorts. For instance, you are within walking distance to the Boardwalk restaurants and all that entertainment, MGM Studios, Epcot and Beaches and Cream for some great ice cream! The location is great and the accommodations beautiful. BTW -- I've stayed there numerous times on the teacher rate and still earned the Starwood points.

Again, if you can get a good rate and are up for trying something different, I do not think you'll be disappointed at all.

Good luck making your decision!

 

[Tikiman]

I have not stayed at the WL but visited it many times. While it is not one I care to stay at I believe I would stay at it over the Swan or Dolphin. We did part of our last stay at the Dolphin and I did personally notice a difference from not staying at a Disney resort. If I were considering the Dolphin or Swan but wanted to stay at a Disney resort I would go back to the Yacht Club but since your question asked about the WL than I say do the WL.

 

[Hieatt]

I would go with the Dolphin. The WL is an impressive resort, but I its WDW transport limitations would keep me from staying there. Decent access to MK by boat, but otherwise you are bussing it anywhere else, and not all that efficiently.

I have stayed at other Deluxe WDW properties, and have visited nearly all, and IMO the loss of Disney "magic" at the Dolphin is negligible at best. When one considers the price difference between the discounts offered at the Dolphin and the rates at other Boardwalk area resorts, I think the Dolphin becomes a no-brainer. After the renovation, the rooms are as nice as any Disney property - and the beds are way better than any. And you simply cannot beat walking to the Boardwalk, and taking launches to Epcot and MGM. The bus service to MK also is excellent.

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

Whichever hotel DOESN'T have the doubles (that is, whichever has the queen beds), it would be a choice between that one and the WL. I would never pay deluxe rates for double beds. DH and I have a King at home, so going to a queen is bad enough.

I've stayed at WL twice now, and we love it. But the Epcot resorts have it for location, so it all depends on what you want.

Good luck deciding.

 

[Hieatt]

Whichever hotel DOESN'T have the doubles (that is, whichever has the queen beds), it would be a choice between that one and the WL.

The Dolphin has choice of either 1 King (many with sofa bed), or 2 Doubles. The Swan has choice of either 1 King (some with sofa bed), or 2 Queens.

Another option to consider - for the price you pay for a room at a Boardwalk area Disney Deluxe resort, you can get a discounted Jr. Suite at the Dolphin with a King bed in one room, connected to a parlor with King murphy bed and sofa bed - about $350/night at the AAA discounted rate.

 

[swilphil]

The Dolphin beds are actually oversized doubles--1 inch smaller than a queen. DH and I sleep in a queen bed at home, and we didn't notice any difference at the Dolphin, and we had a baby sleeping with us. I agree that the S/D discounted rooms are a great value--if you can get one. We visited the WL for dinner, and didn't find the decor "deluxe" enough for that kind of money.