Swan/Dolphin vs Value???

[arrdee11462]

Swan/Dolphin vs Value???

We are scheduled for a Aug 16 - 26th vacation and since there is no discount for the disney locations we are looking at Swan & Dolphin. The difference from Pop to Dolphin is only @ 600!
Can those who have stayed at Swan & Dolphin give me some info on the benifits and some of the downside to staying there.

 

[jjeanms]

I have stayed at both Swan and Dolphin several times. I am planning another trip this July for the Swan. I love both but lean towards the Swan for the bigger bathrooms and queen beds. Dolphin has double beds and only one sink in the bathroom. The location is fantastic so close to Epcot and Studios, can walk to both. The boardwalk area is great, great dining in all nearby resorts and plenty of options in the Dolphin and Swan. The grotto pool area is beautiful. I love the heavenly beds, hard to get up in the morning. You may be able to get an even better rate at Swan and Dolphin if you can get a goverment, teacher, AAA or AARP rate. I think once you try these resorts you won't go back to a value. Hope this helps.

 

[roydavid7771]

The upside is that you get a deluxe level resort for the price of a moderate and even a value if you look hard enough! You also have one of the best locations in all of WDW, with short walks to the Boardwalk and leisurely strolls to EPCOT and DHS if you want. Dining options are plentiful all around you as the restaurants from the Swan, Dolphin, Boardwalk, and YC/BC are all within easy walking distance. Finally, the Heavenly Beds are easily the best on property!

Now the downside. Even though you can access the Extra Magic Hours, you don't qualify for Disney's Magical Express, and you can't charge anything to your room from the parks. You can have stuff from the parks delivered to the hotel, but you have to pick up your items at the hotel gift shop.

I've stayed at the S/D several times and enjoyed every stay. Now that we're DVC memebers, I doubt we'll plan on staying there again, but would have no reservations about doing so if circumstances warrant it. Have fun!

 

[PixieDustFanatic]

We really liked the Swan, but the Grotto pool was too cold to swim in. While we were there, it was mid 80s and sunny every day, yet that pool was too cold. You wont have that at a Disney pool. On the flip side, the beds are bigger, softer, and far exceed the comfort of the beds at a value. And, the rooms are larger at the Swan.

It's really going to depend on what is most important to you. If you want comfort, lots of excellent on site dining options and a great location, go with the Swan. If you want Magical Express, a warmer pool and the full on Disney experience go with the value.

 

[PSUGuy]

The upside:

You can walk to half of the WDW parks, no bus, no waiting

BoardWalk is right there, practically a park itself.

S/D is a deluxe resort with numerous table service restaurants, nice bars and a cafeteria style eatery, used to be called Tubbi's, since renamed.

We never experienced thge Cold Pool problem described here, the pool(s) were great and there's a large, white sand beach as well.

The downside:





Bill From PA

 

[vicki_c]

If you can afford it, I would do it in a heartbeat. We stayed at the Swan and it was very nice. Walking to 2 parks is a great benefit.

If you don't plan on much Epcot or DHS time, and mainly MK time, I might reconsider. The buses from the Epcot resorts aren't that great.

Downsides:
No Magical Express.
No Dining plan.

 

[lucysmom]

No brainer for me----stay at the Dolphin (or Swan.) Location, location, location!
Great views, Friendship Boats, Grotto pool, super beds! What's not to love? Frankly, the Dolphin is my favorite hotel. We are staying at the YC this year because of Stormalong Bay. However, I really like the Grotto Pool because it is not as warm as SAB on a warm day. The WDW pools are so shallow they warm right up, and it is not refreshing to soak in a warm pool when it is already 90 degrees outside. You are going in August and it will be hot, hot, hot. The Grotto will be super! Oh, and go to Picabu's for a meal or two. If you are an AAA member, you will get a 20% discount on your meals. Yes, I would definitely stay at the Dolphin.

 

[Joshua_me]

Hmm, let's see...

A luxury resort with great restaurants, large rooms, (many with views of Epcot and it's fireworks from your balcony) "Friendships" that dock practically at your "backdoor" to take you to Epcot and DHS, (if the short walk doesn't appeal to you). A *great* pool area with a waterfall, a hot tub, an outdoor bar/restaurant and even a beach, and a feeling of being in "the middle of everything" - because you ARE, in terms of the Epcot side of the property. That's the Dolphin. (Or The Swan) But, we much prefer The Dolphin.

Vs.

A value resort located just about as far away as possible from everything while still being on Disney property with small, cramped rooms, one often packed food court, long bus rides to most anywhere you'd like to go and often spotty outsourced "mousekeeping" in your room. That's Pop Century.

Hmm, that's a tough one.

P.S. Did I mention the Starbucks coffee and machines in every room at The Dolphin ?

 

[Drdomore]

We are going to WDW 6/16-6/22/2012 and debating Swan vs Dolphin since can book some days using SPG points. Based on feedback here seems like Swan is better than Dolphin. Correct?

What is Magic Express? I still need to explore this forum more - first time today with lots of good info

 

[Aliceacc]

We are going to WDW 6/16-6/22/2012 and debating Swan vs Dolphin since can book some days using SPG points. Based on feedback here seems like Swan is better than Dolphin. Correct?

What is Magic Express? I still need to explore this forum more - first time today with lots of good info

Disney's Magical Express is a free bus shuttle to and from the airport.

but if you go to the Swan/Dolphin site and look under "transportation" you'll see some options that won't break the bank.

We had a room reserved at the Dolphin, using the teacher's discount, until I got a 30% PIN from Disney. I fully expect that the next time we want to go to WDW, if there's no PIN in my future, we'll be staying at the Dolphin.

Also, in case anyone is interested, they also apply those discounts to the larger rooms. We had a Deluxe Alcove, which sleeps 6, for something like $250 a night-- pretty much the same as the Beach Club with our PIN.

 

[arrdee11462]

I'm learning so much about the Swan/Dolphin, Thank you all so much!

The Starbucks Coffee is one of the best tidbits!

i had a someone say the pool is a far walk,? Does not seem to be an issue for anyone of you.

 

[Drdomore]

We had a room reserved at the Dolphin, using the teacher's discount, until I got a 30% PIN from Disney. I fully expect that the next time we want to go to WDW, if there's no PIN in my future, we'll be staying at the Dolphin.

Also, in case anyone is interested, they also apply those discounts to the larger rooms. We had a Deluxe Alcove, which sleeps 6, for something like $250 a night-- pretty much the same as the Beach Club with our PIN.

how does one get the Disney PIN? Thanks for the response

 

[jujube]

We are going to WDW 6/16-6/22/2012 and debating Swan vs Dolphin since can book some days using SPG points. Based on feedback here seems like Swan is better than Dolphin. Correct?

What is Magic Express? I still need to explore this forum more - first time today with lots of good info

how does one get the Disney PIN? Thanks for the response

Hi and welcome!
We like the Dolphin better but it has double beds. If you want queen sized beds, go for the Swan.
Magical Express is the bus that takes travelers from Orlando International to the Disney resorts. It's a free service.

PINS are randomly issued by Disney.

 

[Rosanne]

So... question about the skipping the housekeeping for the 500 spg points.

I would actually be thrilled about skipping the housekeeping because...
1. We are quite tidy anyway.
2. I'm a germaphobe so once I've clorox-wiped everything I like it to stay that way. It seems unless I actually hide my toothbrush it always gets moved.

However... I do like fresh towels and want supplies like toilet paper and additional coffee and cups (and the water since we are paying the delightful resort fee anyway).

Can I get those things by going down to the lobby or do I still request them through housekeeping?


Ooooops. I'm so sorry. I forgot I wasn't on the Swan/Dolphin general thread. After I submitted I realized I'd hijacked another thread. I'll re-post on the right thread.

 

[akl-fan]

I would go with the Swan but beware that they charge for car parking and the also charge a resort tax. I am not sure how much these are but they can add $$ to your bill.

 

[jujube]

I would go with the Swan but beware that they charge for car parking and the also charge a resort tax. I am not sure how much these are but they can add $$ to your bill.

It will add $25, 11 for parking and 14.00 resort fee. The resort fee includes:
In room High-Speed Internet Access
Up to 60 minutes of free local, toll free and credit card access calls
20 minutes of domestic long distance per day
Unlimited access to the Resort's health club facilities
2 bottles of WDW Swan and Dolphin Resort water daily (provided in the room)

 

[jerseyleo]

I've read a few posts about a Teacher Discount PIN for resorts...Sway/Dolphin.

How does one get one? Obviously, I'm a teacher and would like to explore this option.

Thanks.

Disney's Magical Express is a free bus shuttle to and from the airport.

but if you go to the Swan/Dolphin site and look under "transportation" you'll see some options that won't break the bank.

We had a room reserved at the Dolphin, using the teacher's discount, until I got a 30% PIN from Disney. I fully expect that the next time we want to go to WDW, if there's no PIN in my future, we'll be staying at the Dolphin.

Also, in case anyone is interested, they also apply those discounts to the larger rooms. We had a Deluxe Alcove, which sleeps 6, for something like $250 a night-- pretty much the same as the Beach Club with our PIN.

 

[jgates]

I believe Teacher, Nurse, etc., are just standard discounts S/D offers.

I have nothing but AWESOME things to say about S & D. I actually prefer Swan because of the queen beds, but OMG they are great resorts. We did Swan I think 3 times & Dolphin once.

Only leaving them out of the mix this January as we want to make sure we are definitely covered for the kids to get to the marathon & 1/2 marathon - not sure if Dis buses will run marathon routes to S/D. If I knew they would then they would be back in the mix of pricing.

 

[Alabama Minnie]

We switched our BWI (30% discount) to Dolphin and saved $100 a night (which includes parking fee and resort fee).
We don't do DDP or ME so that $100 will go a long way for our dining cost.

 

[TaraPA]

We are going to WDW 6/16-6/22/2012 and debating Swan vs Dolphin since can book some days using SPG points. Based on feedback here seems like Swan is better than Dolphin. Correct?

What is Magic Express? I still need to explore this forum more - first time today with lots of good info

You will get half saying they prefer Swan, the other half prefer Dolphin. Here are the differences:

Swan has 2 queens, Dolphin has 2 doubles. Swan resort is smaller & more intimate, Dolphin is larger & has more if a hustle & bustle feel. Swan rooms have 2 bathroom sinks - one inside the bathroom, one out. Dolphin only has 1 bathroom sink.

The only CS is at Dolphin, called Picabu. The only laundry facilities & arcade are at Dolphin. The Grotto pool is next to The Dolphin, although depending where your room is, could still be quite a walk.

I've stayed at Swan 2x and Dolphin 5x. We prefer Dolphin when the kids are along for the closeness to Picabu, arcade, pool & laundry, but if Dolphin wasn't available, we'd stay at Swan in a heartbeat.

Magical Express is the free transportation from the airport to a Disney resort. Swan & Dolphin aren't owned by Disney, so you can't use ME. You have to pay for your own transportation to/from the airport via rental car, taxi, car service or Mears shuttle. This will add another $100-$150 on the cost of your trip.

For $600 I'd stay at S/D over Pop without even thinking! The location alone is worth the extra $600!