swan/dolphin vs disney hotels

[fiictiion]

is the swan hotel a good alternative vs disney hotels if i can save a lot of money?

 

[hcortesis]

Great location. Swan rooms have just been renovated. Dolphin is being done next year. Not being able to charge to our room (in the parks) was a bit of an inconvenience for us. Other than that, they are are great alternative in our opinion.

 

[goofy4tink]

I love the S/D. But....there are a few things you need to keep in mind when booking there. There is a daily resort fee that is charged to the room. You are also charged daily for parking. If you don't have a car, then you need to find transportation from the airport to the hotel...DME isn't an option.
I don't really miss not charging back to my room. And I don't use the DDP so that isn't an issue either. I don't need the constant in your face Disney that you get at Disney owned resorts.

 

[cleophus12]

We loved staying at the Swan/Dolphin. Location is amazing and beds are terrific. We would stay again if we could get another good deal. Haven't been able to find one lately though.

 

[MN96]

The resort is beautiful and amazing. As PPs have mentioned you can't get the dining plan, magical express, or room charging. There are also those apex tra fees that have been mentioned. They had their own refillable mugs that were different from the disney ones when I was there last August. I filled it at picabu I believe at the dolphin, I was staying at the dolphin so it was convenient but I don't know if there is somewhere to fill at the swan. I loved it there, the bus service was great while I was there, the boat to Epcot and DHS was great and so was the proximity to both parks and the boardwalk!
Also, I don't know if this is a viable option for you but if you get a Starwood preferred guest credit card you can stay at the swan or dolphin in points. Last year they gave I think 5000 points for signing up and 10000 for a certain amount of spending in the first few months. I think it was 5000 per night and if you bought four with points the fifth night was free. This may have changed but it is worth looking into. You still have to pay the resort fee and parking though if you use points for your stay. Have a great trip, it will be amazing no matter where you stay!

 

[fiictiion]

Great location. Swan rooms have just been renovated. Dolphin is being done next year. Not being able to charge to our room (in the parks) was a bit of an inconvenience for us. Other than that, they are are great alternative in our opinion.

thanks, think ill stay at the swan, now if i can only figure out what week in april

 

[fiictiion]

The resort is beautiful and amazing. As PPs have mentioned you can't get the dining plan, magical express, or room charging. There are also those apex tra fees that have been mentioned. They had their own refillable mugs that were different from the disney ones when I was there last August. I filled it at picabu I believe at the dolphin, I was staying at the dolphin so it was convenient but I don't know if there is somewhere to fill at the swan. I loved it there, the bus service was great while I was there, the boat to Epcot and DHS was great and so was the proximity to both parks and the boardwalk!
Also, I don't know if this is a viable option for you but if you get a Starwood preferred guest credit card you can stay at the swan or dolphin in points. Last year they gave I think 5000 points for signing up and 10000 for a certain amount of spending in the first few months. I think it was 5000 per night and if you bought four with points the fifth night was free. This may have changed but it is worth looking into. You still have to pay the resort fee and parking though if you use points for your stay. Have a great trip, it will be amazing no matter where you stay!

i am an SPG which is why im staying there, good value for the point system,

 

[kiki02]

I love the S/D. But....there are a few things you need to keep in mind when booking there. There is a daily resort fee that is charged to the room. You are also charged daily for parking. If you don't have a car, then you need to find transportation from the airport to the hotel...DME isn't an option.
I don't really miss not charging back to my room. And I don't use the DDP so that isn't an issue either. I don't need the constant in your face Disney that you get at Disney owned resorts.

Yes, I agree. The resort fee makes me angry. It's not that I mind paying XX for any room, just don't add it on separate. Feels sneaky. They should just be upfront with the rate.

 

[rcraw45425]

the resort fee doesn't bother me that much, it covers the wi-fi (better signal than most Disney resorts I've stayed at lately, my daughter is doing online summer college classes and had trouble getting online i the tower at the Contemporary last month) and also a couple of bottles of water (Dasani last November) daily. The parking fee does gall me a bit but you also pay for parking at the Loews Universal hotels too and the parking is pretty close compared o some Disney hotels. I just booked (again) at the Dolphin the last weekend in September ( first weekend of F&W) for $168 /night AAA. They have a $149 getaway rate but it's non refundable, not good for me with the way my hubby works. Lowest rateI could find for a WDW deluxe for that weekend was around $300 for WL with the late summer discount.

 

[westfield13]

Agree with the other posters - Swan/ Dolphin are a great choice. You really can't beat their discounted prices - very nice, quality hotels and the locations is excellent.

My grandparents lived in Florida, so went every year to see them and then spent several days at Disney. We always stayed at Disney deluxe hotels (heck, when we first went to Disney there were only TWO choices - Contemporary or Poly)! When our boys hit their teens, we needed two rooms and two Disney deluxe rooms were out of our price range. We loved the EPCOT hotels, so it was hard to consider a moderate or value. I was in heaven when I discovered the Starwood hotel program - immediately got the Starwood AMX card and started charging everything on it!

With Starwood, we could use points for 4 nights and get the 5th night free (40,000 points for 5 nights). I also work for our local government, so I would get one room free (with points) and the second room pay a great government discounted rate - generally $149 per night. Location is great, beds are super comfy. Not as much of a "Disney" feel as the other hotels, but all you have to do is stroll around the Boardwalk for your Disney fix. We also really liked having so many excellent restaurant choices within walking distance of our room. I think you'll be very happy staying at either the Swan or Dolphin!

 

[fiictiion]

the resort fee doesn't bother me that much, it covers the wi-fi (better signal than most Disney resorts I've stayed at lately, my daughter is doing online summer college classes and had trouble getting online i the tower at the Contemporary last month) and also a couple of bottles of water (Dasani last November) daily. The parking fee does gall me a bit but you also pay for parking at the Loews Universal hotels too and the parking is pretty close compared o some Disney hotels. I just booked (again) at the Dolphin the last weekend in September ( first weekend of F&W) for $168 /night AAA. They have a $149 getaway rate but it's non refundable, not good for me with the way my hubby works. Lowest rateI could find for a WDW deluxe for that weekend was around $300 for WL with the late summer discount.

FYI, the swan was just finished being updated,

 

[MoyCoy]

I am set to visit DW with my 5 year twins this Dec. 18-22. I will actually be in Orlando 18-27 but decided to visit WDW BEFORE Christmas in order to avoid the crazy crowds. I am staying at the Swan. I have stayed at Riverside and French quarter in the past. The bus a little crazy and at times we had to wait 45 for transportation. I was hoping , staying at the Swan would be better. We plan to do just Magic Kingdom and therefore will not have access to Epcot. I was wondering is it worth staying on property during the high season of December. Is it crazy using transportation shuttles at good neighbor resorts because of the crowds entering and exiting. Would it be better to drive and park at WDW? Or is it better to use Swan transportation because it drops you off at the gate? Also the Extra Magic hours. Does it make a difference during high season? Are the rides just as crowded?

We are renting a car and will have to pay the parking fee at Swan plus its more expensive than other resorts off site. Just wondering if the Pros outweigh the Cons.

Also how festive is swan over the holidays?

 

[Babsy]

I am set to visit DW with my 5 year twins this Dec. 18-22. I will actually be in Orlando 18-27 but decided to visit WDW BEFORE Christmas in order to avoid the crazy crowds. I am staying at the Swan. I have stayed at Riverside and French quarter in the past. The bus a little crazy and at times we had to wait 45 for transportation. I was hoping , staying at the Swan would be better. We plan to do just Magic Kingdom and therefore will not have access to Epcot. I was wondering is it worth staying on property during the high season of December. Is it crazy using transportation shuttles at good neighbor resorts because of the crowds entering and exiting. Would it be better to drive and park at WDW? Or is it better to use Swan transportation because it drops you off at the gate? Also the Extra Magic hours. Does it make a difference during high season? Are the rides just as crowded?

We are renting a car and will have to pay the parking fee at Swan plus its more expensive than other resorts off site. Just wondering if the Pros outweigh the Cons.

Also how festive is swan over the holidays?

If you are primarily doing the MK and not going to Epcot/DHS, then I would consider the WL rather than the Swan. You are taking a bus to the MK, just like you do from the moderates. The bus transportation isn't any better from the deluxe than it is from moderate or values, IMO. Now, the WL has a boat to the MK as well as a 5 minute bus ride. Perfect!!! Keep watching for discounts for your time period. Finally, the decorations at the WL are fabulous for Christmas!!

Good luck!

 

[rcraw45425]

FYI, the swan was just finished being updated,

We had an updated room there in November, very nice

 

[rcraw45425]

If you are primarily doing the MK and not going to Epcot/DHS, then I would consider the WL rather than the Swan. You are taking a bus to the MK, just like you do from the moderates. The bus transportation isn't any better from the deluxe than it is from moderate or values, IMO. Now, the WL has a boat to the MK as well as a 5 minute bus ride. Perfect!!! Keep watching for discounts for your time period. Finally, the decorations at the WL are fabulous for Christmas!!

Good luck!

Echoing this poster, for strictly MK the WL is a great location. The holiday decorations are beautiful and the enclosed larger boat wonderful in that if yo feel the need for stroller there is no need to fold it up if the children are sleeping

 

[MoyCoy]

Is WL Wilderness Lodge or the Cabins? Huhh the prices are in the $400 now. I paid $190 for the Swan.

Will the prices ever come down? This is the week of Christmas so I am guessing they won't run a promo or anything- right?

 

[cleophus12]

Also the bus from the swan isn't really good neighbor hotel transportation. It is Disney transportation and runs very regularly. You will probably share with the beach/yacht club and boardwalk though.

 

[Babsy]

Is WL Wilderness Lodge or the Cabins? Huhh the prices are in the $400 now. I paid $190 for the Swan.

Will the prices ever come down? This is the week of Christmas so I am guessing they won't run a promo or anything- right?

There were discounts until Dec 23 in 2013 and until Dec 20 in 2014, so it is possible that discounts could be available for Dec 18 - 22. Not certain, but possible. Plus, don't forget parking fees and resort fees at the Swan are about $40 per day. Brings the rate to $230. But you are still right - the rate at the WL will not likely come down anywhere near that low price. The Swan/Dolphin still give great value for a deluxe resort on WDW property!

 

[rcraw45425]

Is WL Wilderness Lodge or the Cabins? Huhh the prices are in the $400 now. I paid $190 for the Swan.

Will the prices ever come down? This is the week of Christmas so I am guessing they won't run a promo or anything- right?

WL is the hotel, although the cabins are now pricey too. What's sad is just a few years back you could often get discounted rooms for around $200. I remember back after 9/11 being offered a rate at WL of $99/ night. I turned it down in favor of $129/night for a wing room at the Contemporary. The last time we stayed at WL was in November of '09 and I had a PIN code rate for Club level of around $@50, too good to pass up.

 

[fiictiion]

thanks for all the feed back, gonna stay at the swan for 10 nights, now to figure out if april 20-30 2016 or last week of february into march is the better time to go