Swan & Dolphin Resorts

[MBELSANTI]

HI,
So I love staying on property and have only once stayed offsite through no fault of my own Anyway I am looking at the AAA rate for S & D and it comes to about $400 more for a week than Pop Century. Will I feel enough Magic staying there? Are they "nicer" than Pop? My son and I love Pop but I like the location of S & D.

 

[TDC Nala]

I think they're much nicer than Pop.

You do have to be aware that staying there, you can't get DME transportation to/from the airport, you can't get the dining plan, and you can't charge purchases made outside the Swan/Dolphin resorts back to your room.

 

[Belle83]

Soooo much nicer than Pop!

The rooms are larger, have super comfortable beds, Starbucks coffee, and fridges. The hotel is considered a luxury hotel by Disney. Tons of on-site dining options (and even more within walking distance). Walking distance to Epcot and HS, boat access to Epcot and HS, walking distance to one of Disney's mini-golf courses, walking distance to the Boardwalk area (more restaurants, stuff to do). You can see the Epcot fireworks from the hotel, and the Epcot "ball".

You will have to come up with your own transportation to/from the hotel and the airport though.

 

[roydavid7771]

Without question, so much nicer that Pop! They easily have the best beds on property, the dinig selection blows Pop away, and the location cannot be beat. Have a great time!

 

[pgianna]

HI,
So I love staying on property and have only once stayed offsite through no fault of my own Anyway I am looking at the AAA rate for S & D and it comes to about $400 more for a week than Pop Century. Will I feel enough Magic staying there? Are they "nicer" than Pop? My son and I love Pop but I like the location of S & D.

The Swan/Dolphin blows the Pop away. I feel its the best resort on property dollar for dollar.

 

[MBELSANTI]

How is the transportation to and from the S& D? Is it easy to walk to Epcot or Hollywood Studios?

 

[TaraPA]

Comparing Pop to S/D is like comparing apples to oranges. S/D would be Deluxe hotels in Disney's resort category.

You have either a boat ride or a short walk to both Epcot & DHS - and you're just steps from The Boardwalk. The walk to Epcot is about 15-20 min, about 25 to DHS. The boats can vary from 15-30 min. depending on where you're going & the order of stops, and how long you have to wait for one to come.

You can rent a car, take a taxi, take a town car or use the Mears shuttle to get to/from S/D from MCO.

There is no Disney theming inside S/D (they do both have a Disney gift shop), however when you look out of your window to see either Epcot or DHS, and you can literally take a few steps out to The Boardwalk, that's plenty Disney theming for me!

 

[MBELSANTI]

Thanks for all of the awesome replies!

Can we order groceries from garden grocer and have them delivered there? I am only going to have a few perishables that will hopefully fit in the small in room fridge. And I am assuming that delivery of my Owner's Locker would be the same as with Disney resorts?

 

[jujube]

I'd call but people have things delivered so I don't see a problem.

If you don't mind me asking, do you like Owner's locker? I'm thinking about getting one but I'd like an opinion. Thank-you.

 

[MBELSANTI]

I'd call but people have things delivered so I don't see a problem.

If you don't mind me asking, do you like Owner's locker? I'm thinking about getting one but I'd like an opinion. Thank-you.

I love Owner's Locker. Even though we haven't went in a few years so we have had to pay the yearly fee anyway, it works for us and we are just my son and I. I imagine it would come in handy even more for larger families.
Some things I have in there are:
shampoo/Conditioner, lotions, ponchos, pool toys, small Brita pitcher, mugs both the refillable kind and ceramic coffee type, coffee and filters, bandaides, goggles, sicssors, laundry soap/dryer sheets. Ours is stuffed and I haven't seen it since 2009 ( I really miss it LOL ) but I will take inventory or a picture of it so I know what I have in it. I think I am going to thin it out when we go, but I cannot see cancelling it just yet as I want to buy back into DVC again in the future.

 

[pgianna]

Thanks for all of the awesome replies!

Can we order groceries from garden grocer and have them delivered there? I am only going to have a few perishables that will hopefully fit in the small in room fridge. And I am assuming that delivery of my Owner's Locker would be the same as with Disney resorts?

I don't think they allow deliveries from Graden Grocer anymore, but what we do as an alternative is have the car service that picks us up at the airport stop at a grocery store. They will usually do this free of charge.

 

[mkoerner]

Swan and Dolphin are very nice. Transportation for Epcot and Studios is easy. Their beds can't be beat and they offer great discounts. If a quick service dining option is important to you, stay at the Dolphin. That's where quick service and self service laundry is.

 

[jujube]

I love Owner's Locker. Even though we haven't went in a few years so we have had to pay the yearly fee anyway, it works for us and we are just my son and I. I imagine it would come in handy even more for larger families.
Some things I have in there are:
shampoo/Conditioner, lotions, ponchos, pool toys, small Brita pitcher, mugs both the refillable kind and ceramic coffee type, coffee and filters, bandaides, goggles, sicssors, laundry soap/dryer sheets. Ours is stuffed and I haven't seen it since 2009 ( I really miss it LOL ) but I will take inventory or a picture of it so I know what I have in it. I think I am going to thin it out when we go, but I cannot see cancelling it just yet as I want to buy back into DVC again in the future.

Thank-you!

 

[kapoof]

These are deluxe resorts so they are nicer than pop. There is very little magic there but the beds and coffee and location up for it very nicely.

 

[MBELSANTI]

Is the Dolphin considered more desirable than the Swan? I cannot get any rooms to come up at the Dolphin and I have tried a number of sites. I was only able to get availabiltiy for the Swan for mid June.

 

[LexiC123]

These are deluxe resorts so they are nicer than pop. There is very little magic there but the beds and coffee and location up for it very nicely.

I never understand comments like this. I mean, all I have to do is look out the window and there's no doubt that I'm right in the middle of the 'magic'.

 

[LexiC123]

Is the Dolphin considered more desirable than the Swan? I cannot get any rooms to come up at the Dolphin and I have tried a number of sites. I was only able to get availabiltiy for the Swan for mid June.

I wouldn't say more desirable, but lots of families prefer it because many of the resort amenities are slightly more accessible from the Dolphin, i.e. the quick service restaurant (Picabu), the laundry facilities, the game room, and the main Grotto pool is closer to the Dolphin than the Swan. Also, since the Dolphin is a Sheraton property, it's nightly rate averages $10-$30 less than the Swan, which is a Westin.

Sometimes, blocks of rooms are held for conferences, but are later freed up for the general public. If you really want the Dolphin, I would keep checking back.

 

[estherhead]

Is it nicer than Pop. BY FAR! The best thing about them is the location. The location is very magical. The customer service is wonderful. I would stay here again in a heartbeat.

However, my sister and dh did feel that magic was missing. The people at these resorts are not all going to WDW. Many, many of them don't care at all about WDW. And the pool scene is much more about adults than kids.

For me, it seems ridiculous to choose Pop over the Dolphin. I LOVE the Boardwalk. And it is super Disney. And my dh would struggle to choose between Pop and the Dolphin. But he'd take POR over the Dolphin in a heartbeat for the magic. The Dolphin fits 5 per room, the Swan only 4. That's why the Dolphin fills up faster.

 

[LexiC123]

Is it nicer than Pop. BY FAR! The best thing about them is the location. The location is very magical. The customer service is wonderful. I would stay here again in a heartbeat.

However, my sister and dh did feel that magic was missing. The people at these resorts are not all going to WDW. Many, many of them don't care at all about WDW. And the pool scene is much more about adults than kids.

Look at it this way, though...less people hitting the parks = lots more seating on those morning buses to MK and AK!

 

[TDC Nala]

They are convention resorts, often host large conventions, and it is true that convention attendees in general are not there because of WDW. It is a good point that convention attendees are not packing the park buses in the mornings/evenings. Same is usually said about Coronado Springs. While CS is a Disney resort, the Swan and Dolphin are not Disney resorts and the pool and rooms do not have Disney theming.