Swan/Dolphin questions

[perla75]

I wondered how great this might be as a honeymoon option & if you think it's for us (based on what I tell you).

We LOVE Epcot & would love to be able to walk to Epcot. We also really love the BW area. We've never stayed on the BW before because we really can't afford it, but I just recently read that the Swan/Dolphin costs the same as a WDW moderate resort!! I am also very picky about mattresses & mattress quality is probably the most important thing to me, as far as a resort room goes. I've heard the Heavenly mattresses at the Swan/Dolphin are amazing! We would be ok with a queen sized bed, but would prefer king-sized. We really do not want 2 full sized beds for our HM! We wouldn't have a car.

We love children, but it would be a bonus not to have them running around making a bunch of racket while we are relaxing in our room. Same goes for avoiding loud drunken college kids or adults. We would love something a bit more "grown up" yet Disney at the same time.

As far as WDW experience, We love theming, but a beautiful resort with an Epcot or DHS view would still constitute theming to us. Resort restaurant choices are irrelevent to us and we could care less about the DDP. We will likely do the DDE though. Extra Magic Hours are VITAL to us. ME is important, but we would be ok without it, if it meant the opportunity to stay on/near the BW & walk to Epcot for moderate prices!!

Some questions-

**Main question: Does it sound like something we might enjoy (based on what I've described about our preferences)??

If yes....
1) Should we opt for the Swan OR the Dolphin? I think they are the same price, but is one fancier than the other? Does one have an Epcot vs a DHS view or different view? Different perks, etc...
2) What are the PROS of staying Swan/Dolphin?
3) What are the CONS of staying Swan/Dolphin?
4) What are the exact price ranges of Swan/Dolphin? Do they operate under the same WDW schedule in terms of value season vs. peak season?
5) How are the holiday decorations?
6) Do they have any Disney type theming incorporated in to them, such as character meals or meets, play Disney music, hidden Mickeys, etc...
7) Do they have WDW buses for MK and DAK or are they separate buses? Are the bus stops in the same location at the parks as the WDW resort buses?
8) Do they offer airline check-in & and luggage check in for departure like at the WDW resorts? We had this wonderful perk at AKL.
9) Do they honor AAA discounts? How much of a discount is the teacher's discount & what sort of proof do you need to provide? Also, are teacher-related staff eligible for the discount? I am an educator for young children, but not a school teacher.
10) Do they offer package delivery to your room if you buy something at a park?
11) Are there different levels of rooms at the Swan/Dolphin? Concierge level, suites, specialty view rooms? Do the rooms have a balcony?
12) Where can I find a link to the Swan/Dolphin official Disboard thread & also a Swan/Dolphin photo thread?

Thanks so much!!

 

[NMAmy]

Well, here goes--I'll see if I can help a bit.

ISome questions-

**Main question: Does it sound like something we might enjoy (based on what I've described about our preferences)??

If yes....
1) Should we opt for the Swan OR the Dolphin? I think they are the same price, but is one fancier than the other? Does one have an Epcot vs a DHS view or different view? Different perks, etc...

Yes, based on your criteria, I think you might enjoy it. The Dolphin is a bit noisier and bigger and has more action. The Swan is quieter (I've heard--we always stay at the Dolphin.) If you are not reserving a room with a king bed, you should probably stay at the Swan. I've heard the beds at the Dolphin are smaller. We have no issues with the bed quality or size at all but DH and I share a full-sized bed at home. I have back issues and, yes, the beds are heavenly. I sleep better at the Dolphin than I've ever slept at any other hotel.

Different rooms in both hotels may have an Epcot or DHS view. The perks for both hotels are the same. Picabu's, the cafeteria/convenience store, and the laundry room are located in the Dolphin.

2) What are the PROS of staying Swan/Dolphin?
3) What are the CONS of staying Swan/Dolphin?

The pros: A hotel that's very close to both Epcot and DHS and yet has a very affordable price and I earn points toward future stays with the SPG card. Great, extremely helpful CM's. Free room upgrades with SPG card--none of that Disney coyness, they just upgrade without being asked. 24 hour cafeteria/convenience store. Heavenly beds. EMH's are available for hotel guests. Some complain about conventioneers but I prefer it since they're not competing for the things my family uses--buses/boats, pools, etc.

The cons: No Magical Express. We prefer to use a town car service, anyway, because they're waiting for us at baggage claim and we take advantage of the grocery stop to pick up supplies. No free dining--again, not an issue for us as we prefer not to use that service.

4) What are the exact price ranges of Swan/Dolphin? Do they operate under the same WDW schedule in terms of value season vs. peak season?

It really varies. Your best bet is to sign up for the Starwood Preferred Guest card (www.spg.com) if you don't already have it. I've found better deals by calling instead of booking online--the SPG people are quite helpful about informing folks about special deals.

5) How are the holiday decorations?

Very pretty. When we were there at Christmas, the Dolphin had a poinsettia Christmas tree in the lobby and a small train. A piano player plays Christmas songs in the lobby.

6) Do they have any Disney type theming incorporated in to them, such as character meals or meets, play Disney music, hidden Mickeys, etc...

No hidden Mickeys or music. There are Disney gift shops and a character meal at the Swan.

7) Do they have WDW buses for MK and DAK or are they separate buses? Are the bus stops in the same location at the parks as the WDW resort buses?

The Swan/Dolphin uses WDW buses for MK, AK, and DTD. Sometimes buses are shared with the other Epcot area resorts. The bus stops for the Dolphin are in the same area as the Epcot resort buses.

8) Do they offer airline check-in & and luggage check in for departure like at the WDW resorts? We had this wonderful perk at AKL.

No, I don't believe so.

9) Do they honor AAA discounts? How much of a discount is the teacher's discount & what sort of proof do you need to provide? Also, are teacher-related staff eligible for the discount? I am an educator for young children, but not a school teacher.

I'm not sure about AAA discounts. The teacher discount is quite good and price varies according to the time of year you go. All I've had to bring for proof is a recent paystub and a letter from my employer stating that I am employed there. I work as staff at a college. If you call the Starwood Preferred Guest phone number, they will be happy to tell you if you're eligible and exactly what you need.

10) Do they offer package delivery to your room if you buy something at a park?

Packages from the parks are delivered to the resort gift shop and can be picked up there.

11) Are there different levels of rooms at the Swan/Dolphin? Concierge level, suites, specialty view rooms? Do the rooms have a balcony?

Yes, there are different levels. Some rooms have balconies. Some rooms have great views of Epcot. If a balcony or view is important to you, reserve that room. If it's a bonus if you get it, use your SPG card and you may be upgraded. I've been upgraded on almost every visit to a balcony room and/or Epcot view.

12) Where can I find a link to the Swan/Dolphin official Disboard thread & also a Swan/Dolphin photo thread?

I'll let someone else provide this--unfortunately, I don't have time to look for it right now. Hope some of this was helpful. I've recommended the Dolphin to many of my friends (some on honeymoons) and they've all loved it.

Happy honeymoon!

 

[geokeim]

Based upon my experience, the Swan is quieter and more quaint.
I consider these hotels more on the line of a Disney deluxe. (ie CR,CF,AKL etc)
They are to me, the best value for what you get.

The Dolphin offers two fine dining restaurants, Shula's and Blue Zoo, both of which I can recommend.

The Heavenly beds are, well..Heavenly( I don't believe you will even notice the size of the bed) and of course you can't beat the access to Epc (which as you know is full of great restaurants as well) and DHS.

So yes, I believe the Swan is a great choice.

Enjoy your stay!

 

[Shmily1]

If you prefer to be up in the morning and heading to the parks early, then the Swan and Dolphin may not be for you. We are usually early risers with DD16 being the only one that could sleep until noon. On our last stay at the Swan, I had to fight them all to get them to get out of the bed and get ready!! The heavenly beds were too heavenly!!! Don't get me wrong... I loved them too, but this is still Disney!!!

We prefer the Swan over the Dolphin due to the placement and proximity to the BW activities and Epcot. It's not that much closer, we just like that extra half second!!

I don't think they have any full size beds. We've always gotten queen.

The pros of staying at S/D are that they are great resorts for a great price. They are located within walking distance to many activities and two parks. Heavenly beds if you can get your family out of them!!!

The cons of staying at S/D are that you can't get the DDP, it costs $10/ day to park a car, and you will sometimes share a bus with these two resorts plus YC, BC, and BW!!! Once the bus was so full that it wouldn't raise back up on the air shocks!!! They had to unload some passengers, raise the bus, then let them back on! That was the most crowded I've ever been on a WDW bus! This was only once though so I wouldn't call it the norm.

Have a great time!!!