Swan or Dolphin?

[Domo]

I'm planning a trip back to the land of magic (suffering from withdrawal symptoms!) and I was wondering, which is better... Swan or Dolphin?

UPDATE QUESTION #8

 

[Robbi]

We like the Dolphin better Can't really explain why, guess it's just a better fit. It does have full and kings instead of queens and kings at the Swan if that makes any difference. The Swan also has Shula's Steakhouse. Both have a nice variety of restaurants.

 

[tjmw2727]

We like the Dolphin becuase it just has more for us - the food court type restaurant Picabu as well as the burger fast food restaurant, similar to a Jonny Rockets with burgers and hand dipped ice cream and fountain drinks.

Shulas and Fresh are also great and if you have kids the kids club is at the Dolpin. Its much bigger and has more rooms with views of Epcot or the Studios.

It is a little closer to the feature pool and we really like the food and service at the pool bar by the Dolpin lap pool just outside the fitness club - also at the Dolpin

You can't go wrong with either IMHO but we just like the Dolpin a bit better

 

[TaraPA]

The Swan also has Shula's Steakhouse.

Shula's is at The Dolphin, not The Swan.

They are almost identical. Swan is smaller & more intimate. It has no quick service place to eat & no laundry facilities. Dolphin is larger & livlier. It has Picabu as a quick service & The Fountain as a very casual sit down. Shulas, Fresh & Blue Zoo are also at The Dolphin. The main Grotto pool is closer to Dolphin, and it has the only laundry room between the two.

As far as the room, Swan has queens & Dolphin has doubles.

You can't go wrong with either, I've stayed at both many times. We do choose Dolphin over Swan just for the CS, close proximity to the pool & the laundry room, but we'd never be disappointed staying at Swan.

 

[Judy from Boise]

My all adult family loves the swan for the calm and beautiful vibe. We also like the bed configurations. That said we love eating at picabu, got to love that AAA discount on top of the most affordable food around.

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[CanadianGuy]

I have stayed at each and ... we found the Dolphin a bit more in tune with our personal tastes and travel style.

The differences are subtle and minute ... but there nonetheless.

 

[wiigirl]

My vote would be Dolphin...

 

[Domo]

How about the Animal Kingdom Lodge?

 

[TaraPA]

AKL is my all time favorite.

 

[Domo]

Does AKL have a spa? I've seen that it offers massages, but is this a full blown treatment centre?

 

[Robbi]

No, there is no spa at AKL. There is the Mandara Spa at the Dolphin which is wonderful.
We love AKL. My teenager though can only take it for a night or so because she gets bored. She prefers the S/D or another Epcot resort because there are more things to do. She and whichever guest she invites usually walk to either Epcot or DHS in the evenings.

 

[partigus]

General thoughts- We've stayed at Yacht and Beach twice, poly twice, WL three times, Contemp once, and the Swan once.

1) We love the Epcot resort area. I'll walk around Cresent Lake while the wife puts the little ones to bed- much more going on than AKL or even the monorail loop.

2) For the family aspect- we would vote YBC again...BUT swan and Dolphin are offering discounts now when Disney is not...For similar money it would be YBC, or even BW (but the kids don't like the creepy clown slide). For a significant savings though???? Dolphin and Swan are great. That said, if this were a once in a long time trip, if possible I'd spend more for the imersive disney experience..with kids that is.

3) the doll/ Swan vibe....Less disney..actually quite swanky. While a simlar theme...Swan feels like a boutique hotel in NYC, while the Dolphin feels like a Vegas hotel sans casino. During our stay at the Swan, I actually spent a lot of time at the Dolphin for a lot of the reasons mentioned already- Picabus, etc...I would have booke thed dolphin this trip, but they are booked solid 1 night during our stay. not a big deal though- they are close together, AND you also have access to all the restraunts in the yacht beach and boardwalk hotels as well.

4) Both hotels have some floor plan quirks...the swan is confusing with its wings etc for guest rooms..the dolphin is confusing as their "main levels" and external entrances are spread over several floors.