Swan/Dolphin vs Disney

[lucky1]

We were thinking about staying at the Swan or Dolphin on our next visit, but wondering what we would be missing out on from a Disney perspective? We have always stayed on site, using the Length of Stay passes or Annual passes. Packages shipped back to the resort?, Length of stay passes (or whatever they are called now an option?, Early Entry (if that even exists anymore)?

THanks in advance for comments.

 

[Deb & Bill]

EMH - yes
UPH - yes
Charging to the room - no
Package delivery to the room - no (I think)
Disney Theming in the room - no
Nice room - yes
Bus transportation to the parks by Disney - yes

 

[jimmiej]

Package delivery to the room - no (I think)

Actually, you CAN do package delivery to S/D. We used it several times last trip.


Other than the theming, you won't miss much. Plus, the location is awesome!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Oops, forgot the nice beds at S/D. Very cushy.

 

[jwfla422]

I was just going to say the same thing!! One thing you will miss at the WDW resorts are the amazing beds at the S/D!! Once you try the S/D and sleep in those awesome beds you may never be able go back to a WDW resort again

Yes, EE is included. Disney perspective, for us, these days, it's the only perspective we see Disney in...is at the S/D!!

 

[webray]

You won't miss anything Disney, in fact..everything is so nice at the Dolphin (never stayed at Swan but, sure it is great also), for the price and ameneties you get, you probably won't every want to stay at a "disney" resort again.

Enjoy!

 

[madthemouse]

We stayed at the Dolphin two weeks ago, for our last night. We got a good rate from being a SPG. I would agree with everyone on the great location, and the beds. But IMO and my daughter's, as beautiful as the Dolphin is, it did not have that Disney feel that we are accustom too. If that is important to you, you may have a bit of a drop off in that feeling.

 

[Kitty 34]

There's no Disney themeing in the rooms but when I would walk out on the balcony and see the Tower of Terror in the distance or hear Fantasmic in the evenings, I can't think of a stronger Disney feeling for me!!

I love the location of the SwanDolphin and the quick and easy boat rides to and from Epcot and MGM.......the captains are usually a lot of fun and add to the experience.

The rooms are nice and quiet. We have stayed twice (in the same room) and the hallway is always quiet. Big plus for our family.

 

[BadgerBruce]

The Epcot resorts I've stayed at (BC,YC,BCV,Swan & Dolphin) have all been great. The only real difference at the Disney resorts is the ability to charge back to your room, but that only means you need to carry a credit card when staying at S/D. At any spot I would have used a WDW key card, I was able to use a credit card instead. Enjoy your trip!

 

[CamColt]

We stayed at the Swan for the first time in December and were very impressed. I too was worried about lack of "Disney feel", but once we were there, I had no complaints. At one point I was looking for the park maps and thought they didnt have them. Upon returning and posting that here I found out they do have them at a separate Disney desk, not the regular check in desk. Other than that the only thing I missed was not having the tv channel that shows the park hours, weather, recreation, DTD, etc.. I have a routine of turning that on after my morning shower, before the rest of the family is up. But, I just put on the weather channel to get the weather and I was fine.
As others said the beds are incredible and I found the location made me feel more like I was at Disney than in some of the other Disney resorts Ive stayed at. Being a quick boat ride or walk to 2 different parks cant be beat!

 

[ADisneygirl]

We stayed at the Swan for the first time 2 months ago. We worried a little that we were going to miss the Disney "feeling", but it was a short trip and we were really there to attend an anniversary party, not just visit the parks. Well, I will say that we did miss the mickey wake up call, the Mickey toiletries in the bathroom, and the park tv channel. But.... the room was nicely decorated, the location was great (Epcot area is our favorite), the facial bars and oatmeal soaps in the bathroom were a luxury, and the beds were the most comfortable we have ever slept in.

You still get to use Disney transportation, EE, and they do deliver packages to the hotel, just not to your room.

Overall, it was a nice stay and we are glad we tried it.

 

[Mercy]

On our last trip we stayed at the Dolphin and loved it! I originally booked it again for this coming trip, but since we need two rooms, I switched to CSR (this will be our first time at an "official" WDW resort) and now I am a little worried I will miss the Dolphin... the deluxe feel, the location, etc.

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

Iv'e stayed at the majority of luxury hotels in Disney and am a DVC member. The Dolphin/Swan does not have a Disney feeling and is in an awful location. I promise you will really really hate it!!!!!!!!!!!!! ( heheheh---more room for me


Only kidding! The Dolphin/ Swan is Disney to me as much as any of the other hotels. The fact that it doesn't have Mickey soaps and shampoos is meaningless. It has a great location in Disney. How can anyone think as they are look out from their Dolphin/Swan room at the Epcot Ball or the Tower of Terror or the Boardwalk or their fabulous pool area that "Gee this doesn't have a Disney feel?" LOL at those people. IT is great there!!!!!!!!!

 

[jwfla422]

You know, we stayed at WL 2 summers ago and BOY was I disappoined when I asked for a Mickey wake up call, gave the phone to my 3 yr old dd and it was STITCH!! She was not real fond of STITCH!! What happened to Mickey?? I hope they switched it back since!!

First I must say every view we've ever had from our rooms at the S/D have had some type of view of WDW, whether of EPCOT, MGM, BW with EPCOT in the bkgd or even way high up being able to see the MK fireworks, that's right...the fireworks at MK!! (not just the ones at EPCOT!)

IN ALL of the WDW resorts we ever stayed at, not once did we have any view whatsoever of any of the parks!!

All views aside and "Materialistic" things aside...the CM's are what make WDW what it is and I have to say the CMs at the S/D have been nothing but wonderful!!

I can list tons of stories on how CMs at the S/D have added so much "magic" to each and every trip we have taken to WDW! It's gotten to the point that we stay there often and have gotten to know some of the CMs there--we feel like they're "family" and that the S/D is our "magical" home away from home.

 

[#1hockeymom]

You're right... no Disney feel. My back was real happy there was no Disney feel too, when I slept like a baby in my heavenly bed! After my luxury sleep, I woke up, opened the curtains, and looked out my balcony room to watch the boardwalk wake up, the first few friendship boats starting their day, and the EPCOT ball greeting me in the distance. Nope, no Disney feel to me!

There is a Disney desk to purchase whatever ticket media your family needs. Yes, they are on a separate ticket from your room key, but so are my AP pass tickets! As far as charging back to your room, you can do it at the Swan/Dolphin, but not anywhere else. I left the room with one extra card - my credit card.

The grotto pool is still my kids' favorite pool in all of Disney. While we are starting our visit every resort part of our life at Disney, we will still be returning to the Swan and Dolphin on a regular basis. Location, price, heavenly bed, great CMs, fantastic pool, and regular discounts for teachers will keep us as returning guests.

You can't go wrong with the Swan and Dolphin. You'll be glad you made the choice!
Debbie

 

[SeattleMark]

Plus, where else could you get a Deluxe resort experience for such a low price? Use these codes and anyone, not just teachers can get a fabulous room with those Heavenly Beds for $149! http://allearsnet.com/acc/sd_discounts.htm

 

[luvmarypoppins]

We just returned from our 2nd stay at the swan over easter, last was aug. I chose the swan due to the great reviews on these boards and mostly due to the fact we are a family of five and we usually stay at the poly, have boughten ap's in the past etc. Well when all disney wanted to offer us was no ap discounts and a nice huge $300 plus room a night we jumped on the swan's nice govt. disct. again for $149 plus a rollaway. We definetely got our moneys worth again. The only disney feeling I didnt feel was them trying to rip me off at rack rates during peak season etc. The huge money we saved helped pay for alot of nice meals for our family etc. We handled the room charging by giving our ds disney dollars or using the credit card. At the swan we were always the lst bus pickup etc. No complaints here. An excellent value and a great resort.

 

[Mercy]

Hey come on guys!!!! You all are making me regret I switched to a Disney resort for this trip!

 

[jgates]

Quit giving our secrets away!!!!!!! I want to have room for me!

I actually prefer picking up my packages (delivered) downstairs. I hate people going in and out of my room any more than they have to. Just not comfy with it. At St. Augustine, the Renaissance left our door open THE WHOLE DAY (with $1600 worth of golf clubs in the room). Luckily nothing was missing. So I just prefer the room cleaned and left alone and getting my stuff from the desk.

Only thing we missed? If DS wanted transport to the golf courses, he would have to hire it - no free transport. However, we had our vehicle so this was not an issue last trip.

 

[Rafikifan]

O.K. You all have sold me! Next trip it's the Dolphin for us. I can get the teacher's rate too if it is available. Thank you all for such great details about the S/D. Keep 'em coming!