Swan or Dolphin really a delux?

[thumpersfriend]

I was wondering with all of the discounts for nurses,teachers,AAA, govt. AARP etc. does anyone have to pay the full price? If they do is it really worth it? Would you stay there if you had to pay the rack rate? Thanks for your opinions!

 

[Blondie]

I've never stayed at any of the WDW resorts and paid rack rate, and don't ever plan to! There is always some kind of code or discount to be had, if you know where to look and what to ask for.

But yes, I do consider the Swan and Dolphin resorts to be on the deluxe level!

 

[sherry8253]

Hi - I agree with Blondie. The Swan and Dolphin are deluxe hotels. But I would never pay rack rate - over $300 a night - to stay there or at any of the deluxe Disney resorts. I think they are all overpriced at rack rate. If I can't get a discount I will stay elsewhere.

 

[nigel-bigel]

Swan or Dolphin really a deluxe?

Well, yes and no. Yes, in my book it qualifies as a deluxe because it has all the amenites of a deluxe - several full service restaurants, room service, salon services, services for the business traveler.

It is a Starwood property (Sheraton, Westin, etc.), so you should go with the expectation that you are staying at a Sheraton - with a funky lobby! I found the service to be excellent – the same as Disney hotels.

I think a better question would be "Is it consistent with Disney Resorts?"

If themeing is very important to you, and you need to be "immersed in the magic" 24-7, you will be disappointed. IMO, it really has no theme, therefore, it doesn't need the attention to detail that Disney resorts offer.

Would you stay there if you had to pay the rack rate?

Nope. For the rack rate I could stay at any other Epcot resort with all the same amenities and incredible themeing.

However, if I could get the teacher's rate, I absolutely would go back. $139/night for an Epcot resort is really too good to pass up!

Nicole

 

[Connears]

Swan is definitley a deluxe resort(Westin) with exceptional service and amenitites. We stayed there last 12/28-1/02/04 and were thrilled. We are DVC members and it was the first non-dvc since we joined in 1994(some 14 dvc visits)and thought we might not like it, but loved it. We could have gotten $149 for standard using teacher rate , but chose to go CL for $214 and it was well worth it. If you do not qualify for any of the discounts, Hotwire has been known to have dolphin for $112 or so. We chose swan because all other wdw resorts did not offer discounts with a check-in after 12/23. I'm really gald we found the swan.
Connears

 

[Kallison]

I've stayed at Contemp, BC and Dolphin and I would be unhappy if I had paid rack rate at any of them, especially BC. Talk about a teeny, tiny bathroom, same size as the moderates.

I liked Dolphin because it was the cheapest of the three, has a wonderful location, Staff were very nice and accomodating, more so than BC. They bent over backwards to solve a problem we had with our phone bill. The toiletries are nicer (no Mickey soap, but the oatmeal soap is awesome, plus other cooler stuff), had more places to eat, when you called to get a or change a ps you didn't have to sit through 20 minutes of press this, press that and then on hold. Just call coincierge desk and they immediately helped you. That was a big one for me. I was so frustrated in August at the BC that I just gave up on cancelling any PS's we were n't using. The hassle of waiting to get through from a Disney owned hotel was unbelievable.

 

[Lewisc]

The hotels are DELUXE they have EVERY amenity that a deluxe hotel should have. I disagree, the hotels are VERY well themed BUT the theme isn't Micky.

Disney is one of the few hotels that's able to get rack rate on many rooms. Very few people pay rack rate in ANY hotel. If there are conventions when you stay there the hotel may have more of a business or adult "feel" to it.