Swan it is

[WendyMichaelJohn]

I don't know why I flip-flopped on this until it was too late.

We were set on the Swan, and then I read about mold issues. We had a great rate. I cancelled and started looking at Values (I know, apples and oranges, but not in price as far as our rate is concerned.) Settled on Pop but now Pop is full. In fact, EVERYTHING is full. We're back at Swan.

I'm really worried about the mold. I know for some it isn't a big deal, but for us it really is because of two people in our party. I think the problem is that I have seen SO many neg. reviews with mold stories. I haven't seen nearly as many non-mold Swan stories.

I know there are great things about the Swan, namely location. We're not big on the decor, but with all of the neat things in the area, I don't think we'll really care about that.

Anyone have some great, mold-free things to say about the Swan? At this point, there are NO other choices, because everything in our price range is full. I refuse to go offsite after living on the DIS, eating and breathing Disney onsite stories. Plus, I don't want to rent a car. (I consider the Swan onsite because of transportation and several other issues.)


Any positive stories?

Thanks

Shel

 

[Pea-n-Me]

We just got home yesterday from a split stay at Pop and the Dolphin. You are right, they are apples and oranges, LOL. I love both, but I must say that the Dolphin is probably our favorite now of any resorts we've stayed in.

I wish I could talk to you in person because I would love to tell you all the reasons we loved it there. But I would be here all night writing to be honest. The pools are fantastic, and open 24hrs/day as is Tubbi's. Starbucks coffee available. Wonderful beds. Very nice staff on many fronts. Tons of onsite amenities. Excellent transportation. Etc, etc...

I don't know about the mold at the Swan, but we saw no mold at all at the Dolphin. If I were you I really wouldn't worry about it. You are about to have a wonderful trip!! One suggestion I would make is to read about and study the resort information to figure out in what area you'd like to be so you can make a room request. If I can be of any help just PM me. Really, I wouldn't worry, they're great resorts. (Would it be possible for you to move over to the Dolphin? Maybe you can talk to them about your concerns about reports of mold at the Swan?)

 

[bjakmom]

I stayed at the Swan twice this year - June and last weekend in Sept. We loved our stays here !! I am certainly not saying that others did not have mold as reported - but we did not have any mold in either of our rooms - and I am a fussy traveller - I definitely notice things like mold. We upgraded to club level on both trips - lovely rooms - great service - you're right, you can't beat the location (we are BWV DVC owners). I agree with calling the hotel directly and asking to speak to the manager - I would explain that you are really looking forward to your first stay at the Swan, but, due to medical reasons, are concerned with reports you are reading on line about the mold issue. We enjoyed excellent customer service at the Swan - I believe they would be able to move you to a mold free room if you find any - hope you have a wonderful stay - and NO MOLD ! (PS: hopefully you can check in early in case you have a problem )

 

[spiceycat]

go with the Swan - if the two people in your party get sick. then get on the phone and ask to speak to the manager.

I am allergic to mold. so I start coughing within 5 min of smelling the stuff. then I start to get sick and can't breath and my sinues have a fit.

for me this is not life threatening - just a big, big pain....

Florida does have a mold problem. but lots of time it just needs to be giving a good cleaning.

I would also call the hotel before you arrive - explain to the management that you have people who are allergic to mold.

I really think you will be fine.

 

[spiceycat]

if when you talk to the manager over the phone about the mold issue. if he can't help or won't.

then cancel and go rent points from a DVC member.

SSR is new and it should not have a mold problem.

I don't think any DVC resorts has a mold problem - others will disagree.

 

[finnie48]

Hi,

On our family trip last August, we had four rooms, located in various parts of the Swan, and there were not any complaints of mold. We had a most magical stay there. The people at the concierge desk (available to all guests) were great as were the CMs at the Disney desk.
Have a wonderful trip!!!

 

[addicted2disney]

Ive never stayed at the Swan, but our room at the Dolphin last Thanksgiving was great. No mold there!!

 

[roozlilone]

We just got home yesterday from a split stay at Pop and the Dolphin. You are right, they are apples and oranges, LOL. I love both, but I must say that the Dolphin is probably our favorite now of any resorts we've stayed in.

I wish I could talk to you in person because I would love to tell you all the reasons we loved it there. But I would be here all night writing to be honest. The pools are fantastic, and open 24hrs/day as is Tubbi's. Starbucks coffee available. Wonderful beds. Very nice staff on many fronts. Tons of onsite amenities. Excellent transportation. Etc, etc...

I don't know about the mold at the Swan, but we saw no mold at all at the Dolphin. If I were you I really wouldn't worry about it. You are about to have a wonderful trip!! One suggestion I would make is to read about and study the resort information to figure out in what area you'd like to be so you can make a room request. If I can be of any help just PM me. Really, I wouldn't worry, they're great resorts. (Would it be possible for you to move over to the Dolphin? Maybe you can talk to them about your concerns about reports of mold at the Swan?)

We are going on our first trip to the Dolphin over Thanksgiving break. We switched from the Swan because of all the bad reports on the "mold" issue. Any suggestions for room requests?

 

[Ladyhawke10]

I had a lovely stay at the Swan and there wasn't any mold in our room, or anywhere in the common areas of the resort that I saw. We were in a recently renovated room..maybe you could request a room that has been renovated in the last year or two? In any case, if you make note of this ahead of time on your reservation, I bet you won't have a problem, most likely. It's a great hotel you can look forward to

 

[liamsaunt]

Another nice thing to say about the Swan--the Swan is a Westin hotel so you will have the Heavenly Beds! The Heavenly Beds and the accompanying linens are so comfortable, which is great after a long and tiring day trekking the parks. My DH and I just got back from a long weekend at the W Times Square and are planning on purchasing a Heavenly Bed for our house next month, they are that comfortable. Have a great trip!

 

[lyncruiser]

Swan vs. POP -- wow, no reason to be down about that. One is a superb Westin resort hotel, with all of the service and amenities one would expect from a first class resort hotel. The other is a motel. Maybe a cute motel, but still a motel.

Don't be down. Be thrilled. You will have a wonderful time. We recently stayed at the Dolphin and loved it. So many dining options, such a gorgeous, uncrowded pool with waterfall and slide, such truly excellent and attentive service (much better service than Disney deluxes), the most comfortable beds, pillows and linens in Orlando.

 

[joll43]

We are going on our first trip to the Dolphin over Thanksgiving break. We switched from the Swan because of all the bad reports on the "mold" issue. Any suggestions for room requests?

Bad thread hijack! We're trying to make WendyMichaelJohn feel BETTER, not worse! You should really look at the big picture next time - my .02!

Pros for the Swan = LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!!! Right in the middle of everything! You're going to have a great time - be happy!

 

[Rella Bella]

You will LOVE the 'Heavenly Beds'... they are wonderful!! SOooo comfortable! There are tons of pillows! Very, very nice!

There are also 'Heavenly Showers' (two shower heads)... and Westin is 1st class in other ways too! I'm sure if you mention your 'mold' allergy they will do all they can to accomodate you. Our iron didn't work right so we called for a different one. It was brought up right away and later management called to ask if our problem was taken care of properly. Then they offered us our choice of a box of chocolates or extra 'Starwood' points because of our inconvienence!

Which reminds me before your trip, go to Westin's web site and sign up for thier 'Starwood Preferred Guest Program'. It's free, but gets you great things like shorter lines at check in/check out. Then you can earn points toward a free nights stay! Our 5 nights at Disney earned us one free night... if you have more than one room... and/or more nights.... you could earn even more nights for your next trip! I think you'll be very glad to be at the Swan!
Here's the site!
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/index.html

 

[roozlilone]

Bad thread hijack! We're trying to make WendyMichaelJohn feel BETTER, not worse! You should really look at the big picture next time - my .02!

Pros for the Swan = LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!!! Right in the middle of everything! You're going to have a great time - be happy!

It was not my intention to make anyone feel bad, I empathize with the situation, boy you know how to make someone feel like a heel For the record, WendyMichaelJohn, I'm in the same situation, I had to choose between POR or the Swan/Dolphin. I was all set on the Swan until I read the "mold" posts. Then I started doubting my decision, because the cost would be the same at either the POR or the Swan. I decided to switch from the Swan to the Dolphin since most of the posts have been about the Swan. But if there hadn't been any availability at the Dolphin, I would have stayed with the Swan. The Swan/Dolphin is definitely better than POP or the POR, mold or no mold!

 

[WendyMichaelJohn]

Now you've gotten me ALL excited! I also got off the phone with CRO and the really great CM said that the values and mods and almost all of the deluxes are completely booked for the 3rd and most of the first week of December. If things are going to be crowded, I'd rather be dealing with walking and boats than crowded buses at the values. If the toddler falls asleep in the stroller on the walk back to the Swan, we can just wheel him right into bed, lol!

You've made me feel MUCH better and given me a plan as well. I guess no one things to do preventive requests. If I mention the mold at the outset, they're less likely to stick me in a room they know has a mold history problem.


I feel 1000% better, and very excited!

Shel

 

[Rella Bella]

YEAH!!!!
Have a wonderful trip!!

 

[joll43]

It was not my intention to make anyone feel bad, I empathize with the situation, boy you know how to make someone feel like a heel For the record, WendyMichaelJohn, I'm in the same situation, I had to choose between POR or the Swan/Dolphin. I was all set on the Swan until I read the "mold" posts. Then I started doubting my decision, because the cost would be the same at either the POR or the Swan. I decided to switch from the Swan to the Dolphin since most of the posts have been about the Swan. But if there hadn't been any availability at the Dolphin, I would have stayed with the Swan. The Swan/Dolphin is definitely better than POP or the POR, mold or no mold!

Sorry - it's just that she'd posted that she'd already booked her trip! If it had been me, your post would've made my doubts increase. Glad you re-posted.

 

[madge]

we have stayed at the Swan/Dolphin many times and have NEVER had a mold issue, ever.

our last stay was September 30-October 2. Our room was on the 12th floor--stunning view of the ToT and Epcot. Lovely fresh scent in the room. Not one housekeeping issue to speak of.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Now you've gotten me ALL excited! I also got off the phone with CRO and the really great CM said that the values and mods and almost all of the deluxes are completely booked for the 3rd and most of the first week of December. If things are going to be crowded, I'd rather be dealing with walking and boats than crowded buses at the values. If the toddler falls asleep in the stroller on the walk back to the Swan, we can just wheel him right into bed, lol!

OK, you'll like this then, too. Now I don't know if this is the norm, but here's what we saw last week (all resorts full also). The very night we moved from Pop to the Dolphin, we went to MNSSHP, leaving from the Dolphin. Had a nice un-crowded bus ride over to MK around 4pm. And here's the funny part: upon leaving MK that night after midnight, we hopped on a bus back to the Dolphin which had about 4 other groups/families on it (shared with BC/YC/BW). DH nudged me as we were going by the Pop Century bus stop. There had to be at least a hundred or more people in line with two buses pulled up and loading. Holy cow!! We were on those Pop buses back in January and we didn't mind (and won't in the future when we again stay at Pop), but it sure was nice to be spread out on our bus that night with two sleeping kids stretched across the empty seats, LOL.


I agree about the SPG Program. We stay at Starwood properties at places other than WDW and it was nice to have that level of service this time while we were there. Here's two examples of the differences you see. When we left for our trip it looked like Wilma would be blowing through while we were there. I'd ordered raincoats via mail order and had them delivered to the Dolphin. As I was coming down the hall I saw a staff member walking toward our room with our box. Instead of handing it off to me he not only brought it back to our room but he opened it for me and waited to see if everything was alright (and I didn't get the sense he was put out by it but rather that he really wanted to see it was alright). And when our bellman delivered our luggage to our room he brought it in and then took the ice bucket and filled it for us unsolicited. This type of service was typical of our stay there and it was very much welcomed.

 

[Kuzco]

Just to reiterate, you made the absolute right decision, in my opinion! Have a great trip.