Swan or Disney Moderate Resort?

[pitmindi]

I booked the Swan for $135 for gov water-view rate for 8/31 for 6 nights (900.00 with tax). It seems very fancy and I am very excited to stay there. Now I see Disney has the free dining so we could stay at a moderate for $1200 which includes 6 nights with dining, 1 day resort pass (I have left-over tickets to use up). The problem with choosing this great deal is that in 2003 we stayed in Carribean Beach and hated it. My husband spends most of his time in the room when he is in the hotel, while my daughter (now 10) and I use the pools and sand. He hated the food court and the "nice" restaurant which wasn't good at all. He also hated the lack of privacy you get with your blinds open as people pass your room to get to their room. He spent much time in the dark room with the blinds closed. He thought the resort was a rip-off with a typical motel quality. We ended our trip at the Universal Royal Pacific Resort, which was less money than the Carrib Beach and we both loved it! This year we only plan to visit the parks for 2 days, plus a day at the waterpark (where I know my husband won't stay long) since it will be hot and crowded over Labor Day. Should I stick with the Swan hotel, or take advantage of the incredable Disney deal offered and stay at the POR or the POFQ or the CS? Are any of these alot nicer than the Carrib Beach??? If we stay at the higher priced Disney resorts it is an extra $400 for the standard room which has no view, $600 more for a room with a view, and my great deal would vanish.

 

[NancyIL]

I have never stayed at a moderate resort, but I love the Swan and Dolphin. The other moderates have different theming than CBR, but they are all still motel-style resorts. I think for your husband's sake, you should stick with the Swan, and pay for meals as you go.

 

[i like stitch]

We made reservations for a September stay at the Dolphin using the govt. rate. We switched to POFQ when the free dining plan was re-offerred. It was a hard decision because we liked the S/D complex. However, the dining will give us the opportunity to try disney eating places that we would not have used otherwise (le cellier, cindy's, etc), we won't have to lug our food in the parks, won't have to get a rental car, and the water slide at POFR looks like a lot of fun.

We've not stayed at any other disney resort so I figure "we'll try it and then we'll know". We have friends who stayed at POFQ last year and liked it, and other friends who really disliked carribean beach.

 

[DisneyGuy]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=879041

see my post here . But, if you don't feel like reading it - I'd choose the SWAN!

 

[Tinkaroo]

Based on the reasons why you said your husband didn't like Caribbean Beach, I don't think he'll like any other moderate resort, either. All will have the exterior corridors with the windows opening to the walkways, and if he doesn't want to see people walking by, then he will spend his vacation with the blinds draw again. I would stick with your reservation at the Swan. The pool complex is nice, and it is more of your "typical" hotel.

 

[Leota]

Based on the reasons why you said your husband didn't like Caribbean Beach, I don't think he'll like any other moderate resort, either. All will have the exterior corridors with the windows opening to the walkways, and if he doesn't want to see people walking by, then he will spend his vacation with the blinds draw again. I would stick with your reservation at the Swan. The pool complex is nice, and it is more of your "typical" hotel.

ITA. Even tho the Dolphin is my favorite, I switched to POFQ for the free dining. I have a 16 yo son who will really benefit from it. But, a moderate will still have all the things your DH hated about CBR, no matter how nice the themeing is. I happened to have been impressed with CSR & was willing to give POFQ a try due to my stay at CSR. But, if I had been less impressed, we would have stayed put at the Dolphin. IMHO, The Swan & Dolphin are the best resorts on property.

 

[Buzz2001]

Csr!!

 

[swilphil]

It doesn't sound like your husband would like any of the moderates, so I would stay with the Swan. We love the Swan. It's our favorite.

Now if your husband is excited about saving money on your meals, then he might be able to tolerate the inconveniences of a moderate. It also depends a lot on how your family eats. My family, at this point, wouldn't eat all the food offered on the dining plan.