Swan or BC

[badger5]

We are planning our spring 2005 trip and cannot decide between the Swan and BC. We are a family of 5, children ages 11, 10 and 5, and do not spend all day at the parks. What do you think??? Thanks for your input.

 

[232271]

It depends on what you are looking for?
I think I would choose BC for the coolest pool on property.

 

[swilphil]

We love the Swan! Probably the most crucial factor for us is the price. With the numerous discounts at the Swan (AAA, Ent. Card, gov/teacher around $150), we get a standard room there that's about 1/2 the price of the Beach Club. They also have some nice suites--there's a king studio suite for around $230 with the discount. And it's a deluxe hotel in every sense of the word. Great restaurants, excellent service, fun grotto pool. The heavenly beds really are heavenly.

 

[rahwest]

i would choose the BC ... because of the pool.
your kids would probably love the slide.

i agree the heavenly beds are nice -- but the pool wins over sleep in my book

sarah

 

[luvmarypoppins]

We have stayed at both and also have 3 ds. If you are not doing any water parks then I might take BC for the pool too, but we get a govt. disc. at the swan and its great for us. Our ds love the grotto pool, love being the 1st bus pick up, sandy beach, beach volleyball, basketball court etc. If the rate you get is just about the same, go for the bc, if you get a good swan rate, take it and use the money you save for nice meals, thats what we do. We dont get too many souveniers, but the money saved could be used for your shopping too. Good luck deciding. They are both great places.

 

[drusso]

I was a YC/BC regular for many years, just had our first Swan stay 9/10 -14 and loved it. Location, beds, pool all wonderful and we SAVED quite a bit of money.

 

[badger5]

Thank you all for your input. It is going to be a tough decision.

 

[candleonwater]

Do you get any disney feeling at the swan and dolphin? I know the busses are Disney, and you can easily get to MGM and EPCOT, but am i going to feel like I am missing out on something? We're thinking about going down for 2 nights before our cruise, so it's not a long trip.

Also, is either better than the other (swan vs dolphin)?

 

[swilphil]

Originally posted by candleonwater
Do you get any disney feeling at the swan and dolphin? I know the busses are Disney, and you can easily get to MGM and EPCOT, but am i going to feel like I am missing out on something? We're thinking about going down for 2 nights before our cruise, so it's not a long trip.

Also, is either better than the other (swan vs dolphin)?

Swan/Dolphin is right between the Boardwalk and the Beach Club/Yacht Club. It is actually more "on-site" than many of the Disney owned resorts. We have been able to see Epcot, the Boardwalk, and/or MGM's Tower of Tower from our room--definitely felt Disney all around. The CM's at Swan/Dolphin bend over backwards to make sure you have a nice stay. I think it would be great for just a 2 night trip because you could get to the parks so easily--a 10 min. walk to Epcot and about 15 min. to MGM--also short boat rides to both. Bus service to MK is excellent.

Both the Swan and Dolphin are great. I do like the lobby at the Dolphin better, much more impressive and magical. But the Swan is more intimate and it's a little easier to get around--less walking to get outside and over to the Boardwalk. At the Dolphin you have more restaurants and, depending on where your room is, you could be closer to the grotto pool. The two hotels are across from each other, connected by a walkway, so it's easy to go between the two.

 

[x5x5x5x5x5]

If you can get them for a similar price, I'd go with BC. The pool is really neat and there is a quiet pool if it gets really crowded. I've stayed at BW, BC, Swan and Dolphin and for me, the S & D feel a TAD less Disney-like than the others. (Of course there are lots of S & D fans that will vehemently disagree - but that's the beauty of opinions, right?). All have good service though. If you get a much better deal at S or D - go with it. It's not like you are choosing between something great and something terrible - they're all wonderful fun. By the way, some of the views from the S and D are fabulous!

 

[Pinnochio]

BC definatly I got three good reasons

The pool

the location, right on the boardwalk and in the swan you have to walk all the way to the dolphin to get to a food court, tubbies

Also there is smoking in the lobby at the swan and you have to walk right through it to get any where.

hope this helps

 

[NancyIL]

Originally posted by Pinnochio
BC definatly I got three good reasons

The pool

the location, right on the boardwalk and in the swan you have to walk all the way to the dolphin to get to a food court, tubbies

Also there is smoking in the lobby at the swan and you have to walk right through it to get any where.

hope this helps

Nope...can't smoke in the Swan or Dolphin lobbies any more.

 

[SamanthaL]

BC all the way!

 

[swilphil]

The walk to Tubbi's was actually shorter from our room at the Swan than it was from our room on the East Wing of the Dolphin. The Swan is much smaller and easier to get around. I also don't think the walk to Tubbi's from any where at the Dolphin is any longer than it takes to get from a far away room at a Disney resort to their food court. At the S/D you are doing most of your travelling on the very fast elevators.

Smoking in the lobbies of hotels was outlawed July 2003, during our stay at the Dolphin. June 30th--cigar smokers in the lobby, July 1st--clean air, no smokers.