Swan or Dolphin

[maxiesmom]

Would you recommend one over the other as easier to walk for someone who is 77 years old? Or do you prefer one over the other for some reason?

 

[patty57]

You will find fans of each one. The Swan is smaller, and slightly closer to Epcot & DHS. The Dolphin has the 24 hour food service Picabu, and the laundry. It also has the car rental.

I like them both very much, and would book whichever is the better price, but all things being equal...I prefer the Swan. Newly renovated rooms, queen beds...just a little less hubbub (although I really kind of enjoy the somewhat busy atmosphere of both).

Edited to add...some of the rooms at the Dolphin are pretty far from elevators, so more walking there potentially.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I agree with patty57. If you plan on walking to DHS or EP, Swan has a slight advantage. The resorts are equidistant to the boat dock, however. Swan definitely has a quieter feel to it!

 

[EvilQueenT]

This is a little off topic but since you're worried about how far your 77 y/o has to walk at the resort I have a suggestion, you might want to think about how active your 77 y/o is in everyday life, how well they might do in the high heat and humidity we have here in FL, and how are you planning on attacking the parks. I say this simply because we took my 71 y/o dad who was still working both a full time and part time job at the time, plays golf a lot, and is generally a busy guy but he found the pace with long days and humid heat down here to be hard to deal with. And he use to live down here but hasn't for about 20 years. We ended up getting him a scooter and he did great using it as needed.

 

[maxiesmom]

This is a little off topic but since you're worried about how far your 77 y/o has to walk at the resort I have a suggestion, you might want to think about how active your 77 y/o is in everyday life, how well they might do in the high heat and humidity we have here in FL, and how are you planning on attacking the parks. I say this simply because we took my 71 y/o dad who was still working both a full time and part time job at the time, plays golf a lot, and is generally a busy guy but he found the pace with long days and humid heat down here to be hard to deal with. And he use to live down here but hasn't for about 20 years. We ended up getting him a scooter and he did great using it as needed.

Oh definitely. That is in part why I'm looking at the Swan or Dolphin. We tend to spend a lot of time in Epcot, so it would be very easy for him to walk or boat back to the resort when he needed a break.

Do they allow roll-aways at the Swan or Dolphin?

 

[jnfr2424]

My mother is 91 and anywhere in the Epcot area is her favorite particularly the Swan and the Dolphin (probably because we were there when they were putting the dolphins on top of the hotels) with that being said, She has bad knees but loves the walk as exercise and also loves the boat ride to Epcot/DHS. I believe they do have roll away beds that can be requested.

 

[Babsy]

The Swan

newly renovated rooms
queen beds
first pick up and drop off at bus stop, so more likely to get a seat
smaller resort so less walking to the furthest rooms

 

[patty57]

They do allow rollaways at the Dolphin...not sure if they do at the Swan or not. The Swan/Dolphin thread here on the Dis has lots of good info, and knowledgeable posters. Might want to pop over there for more info.

 

[BellsFam]

Keep in mind, if it matters, One has full size beds one has queens...

 

[WiscMomof2]

Both resorts very nice, but I would choose the Swan. It's a little bit smaller and also slightly closer to DHS, BW, and Epcot.

 

[disneypaws]

I would also choose the swan. The walk is marginally closer, it feels smaller and less busy. Even though the dolphin has our most favourite Disney steak place of all time!

 

[JerseyJanice]

I think the Swan would be a better choice for your situation.

Many of the rooms can be a long walk from the elevators in the Dolphin due to its triangular shape and multiple wings. The Swan is basically a rectangle.

 

[snayak]

If you're familiar with Starwood properties, the Swan is a Westin and the Dolphin is a Sheraton.

I've only stayed at the Swan, but from a travel to the parks perspective, they're about the same. The Swan is about 1/2 the rooms of the dolphin. Dolphin allows 5 people per room, Swan tops out at 4.

The laundry facility was on the Dolphin side - I thought the restaurants in the Swan were good and didn't venture over to the Dolphin. You can use the pool from either I believe.

 

[Belle83]

They are going to be pretty similar but I would choose the Swan due to the smaller size and layout.

 

[writerguyfl]

Although it might not matter to some, the Swan has a 4-Diamond AAA rating. The Dophin has a 3-Diamond rating.