Swan or Boardwalk for December 2023 Trip?

[QueenofPrideRock]

Decided to splurge on a hotel for a quick holiday trip with my sister to focus on Jollywood Nights, EPCOT and touring the resort decorations. We currently have reservations at both the Swan and BoardWalk and I simply can't choose.

I know the basic Swolphin vs Disney Resort points: transportation, MagicBand charging, etc. I've never stayed on Crescent Lake though! We've done POP, a few moderates and all the monorail resorts.

I know the Boardwalk rooms were just renovated while Swan's are a few years old at this point, but they have the Heavenly beds. So the room situation honestly feels like a bit of a wash to me ... what I'm curious about is the atmosphere, especially at Christmas time.

What's construction like at the Boardwalk right now? Does it feel any more in the holiday spirit than Swan might? Do the Disney buses, ever-so-slightly-closer proximity to EPCOT, ability to charge to your MagicBand, etc etc make that much of a difference?

For what it's worth, our Swan room would be a traditional "no view" room and our Boardwalk room is a resort view. Boardwalk is about $550-600 total more for a three night stay - it's a quick trip! That takes into account the parking and resort fees at Swan, too. When I see that written out, it feels silly to go for Boardwalk, but then I'm like ... Disney at CHRISTMAS!!

Which would you choose?

 

[focusondisney]

I voted Boardwalk. We stayed at the Dolphin for the first time Easter week, we’ve have never stayed at the Swan. We usually stay at YC or CR. Didn’t decide to go then until about 2 weeks before. YC prices were more than double the Dolphin. We’re newly retired, so I decided it was a good time to try the Dolphin & save some money. I know there are so many people happy with S&D. Unfortunately, we didn’t care for it at all. The room was very generic, seemed not as clean as we would have expected & had a bit of a musty smell. I had heard great things about the pool, but both pools were so crowded, we didn’t see any open chairs & decided not to even bother. I will admit, some of it was that everything was unfamiliar to us & the hotel seemed huge. We were disappointed & decided Swan & Dolphin just aren’t for us. I’d go with a Disney moderate if I need to save money in the future. I know Swan is supposed to be a bit nicer than the Dolphin, so that might make a difference.

 

[maxiesmom]

If cost is not an option, go with the Boardwalk. For me, I can't justify paying an extra $400 a night to be 5 minutes closer to Epcot. I love the Swan and Dolphin. Great food options at both.

The above poster missed the third pool, and they admit some of their frustration was being unfamiliar with the resort. Anytime I have needed something (such as extra blankets or a room cleaning ) a quick message thru the app and they take care of me promptly.

 

[Marthasor]

I actually love the Swan, No View rooms - you have a great view of DHS from those rooms. If we were comparing Dolphin and BWI, I would probably splurge on BWI. I really like the Swan, however - it's smaller and doesn't feel as chaotic. In terms of atmosphere, Swan will be decorated and they have lights on the causeway with music. You can also simply walk around the Boardwalk and enjoy all of the decorations at YC/BC and BWI as well. I would probably pick Swan, particularly if your focus is DHS and EP. If you want to tour the MK resorts, you can either take a bus from Swan to TTC and take the monorail from there or walk over to BWI and take a bus to MK to start touring from there.

 

[loves to dive]

I voted save on Swan but that is because I stay at Swan/Dolphin and/or BW a lot so have experienced both plenty of times. The Xmas decorations are easy enough to walk over to BW/YC/BC and see and Dolphin usually has a huge tree and choc. display so that's fun. Other than the bus to MK, I actually think the bus to AK at Swan/Dolphin lets you off closer to the park. The only problem with it is if you have a stroller or wheelchair, they usually have to go underneath the bus instead of being carried/ridden on. The walk to HS/Epcot is not that much longer from Swan then from BW. I think the pools are slightly better at Swan/Dolphin since it's a bigger area. The QS options at Swan/Dolphin (actually at Dolphin) are slightly better than at BW since you have to leave the building and go outside to get to the bakery there.

Having said that, if it were my only time getting to stay at BW, I'd go for it. There is just a different vibe from the Disney owned resorts. BW will have a balcony (if you aren't on the first floor) which is always nice to sit out on and enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning no matter what the view is. A silly pro to BW over Swan to me is Disney owned resorts have Joeffry's coffee and Swan has Starbucks. There would have to be absolutely no coffee available any where else and I would have not have any for a week before I'd drink Starbucks. I bring my own when staying there.

 

[glocon]

I voted for the BW.
Our last trip was 7 nights at the Swan then 2 nights at the BW so both are pretty fresh on my mind (trip was last month).

While the Swan was comfortable and clean, it did feel pretty generic. And though it’s not much farther from EP, at the end of the night the extra steps felt long to us. I would definitely stay there again for a longer trip to save money, but for a shorter trip I’d splurge for BW.

The BW was so much more beautiful and felt so much more deluxe and so much more Disney.
And Josh D’Amaro held an elevator for us there .

I would definitely stay at both again, but if money didn’t matter I’d pick the BW all day long.

Have a great trip whichever way you go!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Does the $600 matter? BWI will be a more bubble stay but if you are going to be thinking “I paid $200 extra dollars a day for this” and debating with yourself if that was wise, I’d switch to Swan.

Views are a wash to me as “Resort View” at Disney now includes such beautiful things as parking lot views Swan rooms are more beat up but BWI’s refurb was sad to me as it got Chapeked (no rain shower, no desk, no long counter, crammed outlets where you can only plug a couple things in).

Swan lays claim to the world’s biggest chocolate Santa so it’s not like they’re lacking in holiday spirit. It’s annoying not being able to charge on my magic band or open my room with it but again $200/day isn’t worth that convenience to me. MK access is annoying because Swan drops you at TTC but you can walk to BWI for a bus or use the money you’re saving and splurge on Minnie Vans to MK!

You’ll enjoy being on crescent lake. You won’t go wrong either way but I ultimately come back to will you question yourself on your trip. Don’t want to regret going too big on a trip that’s leading right into those Holiday bills.

 

[QueenofPrideRock]

Thank you all for your input! Yes, the focus is definitely EP/HS and honestly, the whole "Bus to TTC" thing isn't the worst because that could be a great starting point for an MK resort tour.

I think I am leaning towards the Swan ... it's not like Boardwalk and YC/BC are far away and that extra $200ish/night would make a difference toward both other things on the trip and the holiday season generally. Plus, I'm a frequent visitor so it's not like this is my only chance to stay at either of these places.

 

[LordG]

The sawn’s heavenly beds are amazing. Lots of restaurants to try out and both the Dolphin and Swan.

 

[stinkpickle]

For the savings, I'd definitely go with Swan.

 

[BeachMouse1]

Have stayed at both I vote Boardwalk. Swan is right there but we had booked a balcony room there once and the balcony is unusable. We enjoy our balcony. I really don’t like the whole look and feel of the Swan/Dolphin and would want to say if money is no issue stay at Boardwalk. But if your not going To be enjoying time at the resort as you said it’s a quick trip that $600 could do a couple of nice meals.

 

[maxiesmom]

Have stayed at both I vote Boardwalk. Swan is right there but we had booked a balcony room there once and the balcony is unusable. We enjoy our balcony. I really don’t like the whole look and feel of the Swan/Dolphin and would want to say if money is no issue stay at Boardwalk. But if your not going To be enjoying time at the resort as you said it’s a quick trip that $600 could do a couple of nice meals.

What do you mean the balcony is unusable?

 

[patty57]

What do you mean the balcony is unusable?

Good question. I've used the balconies at the Swan.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Good question. I've used the balconies at the Swan.

Maybe it was in bad shape? Mine was a few years back but when I was at WDW in Sept I saw Swan’s balconies were getting rebuilt like Dolphin’s were recently.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

For me, I wouldn't hesitate and stay at the Swan, and I could use the extra $$ for a lot of other stuff. Plus, I like the food options better at Swolphin. Now, if it was between BW and Dolphin then I would pick BW just because of the bed size.