Tell me the coolest things about the Swan & Dolphin!

[Disneymoon678]

My fiance and I were very worried about not being able to find a resort that suits our needs and desires for our June '08 honeymoon within our budget that we hadn't already stayed at.

I'm happy to report that I just got a rate of $159/night for a whole week in June at the WDW Swan Hotel!! We were able to receive the teacher's discount since we are both educators. We're thrilled!!

Since we've never stayed at the Swan, I was hoping some of you could share the coolest things about it to get us geared up!!

 

[teacher31]

What week are you going? I got a $179 teacher's rate for the last week in May. Obviously, you did better.

Haven't stayed here. Looking forward to the responses. It looks great, though, and walking to Epcot/MGM will be wonderful.

 

[Disneymoon678]

We are going June 21-28. $179 is still good!! I was so shocked when I heard our price, my jaw really hit the floor. I feel extra blessed by God today!

I am also very much looking forward to the nice walk to Epcot and the Boardwalk.

 

[veraletta]

The best part is being so close to epcot and being able to walk to the epcot and boardwalk.
Oh yeah and the beds are the best.

 

[TaraPA]

There is a great thread on this Resorts board called something like "The NEW Swan & Dolphin FAQ.." It helped me immensely, you should check it out. We stayed at the Swan in '00 and loved it's location, you can't beat it for the price. We're going to the Dolphin in 3 months & really looking forward to it. You're right in the heart of Disney Deluxe magic at a moderate rate!

 

[debsays]

The best thing is location, location, location. We LOVE staying there. We also enjoy the walk to/from Epcot and around the Boardwalk. The hotels are wonderful! Enjoy your stay !

 

[NancyIL]

The Swan is where I usually stay, and I'll be back 7 weeks from today! You can't beat the location or the Heavenly beds. The fact that it isn't a Disney resort means there are usually fewer kids running around, and that's fine with me!

 

[Tiffany]

My fiance and I were very worried about not being able to find a resort that suits our needs and desires for our June '08 honeymoon within our budget that we hadn't already stayed at.

I'm happy to report that I just got a rate of $159/night for a whole week in June at the WDW Swan Hotel!! We were able to receive the teacher's discount since we are both educators. We're thrilled!!

Since we've never stayed at the Swan, I was hoping some of you could share the coolest things about it to get us geared up!!

The Swan is a great resort. We have stayed at the the S/D many times over the years and we are booked to stayed the Swan for three of our upcoming four trips. The staff is very professional and helpful. You can make dinning arrangements online for any of the places in the S/D complex. If you are looking for a highend Italian place give Il Mulino's a try and for a high end Steakhouse experiance Shula's located across the walkway inside of the Dolphin cannot be beat. I am sure you will have a great time and $159 is a great rate.

 

[dreamflight99]

Just as everyone else here has posted, you will have a MAGICAL time at the WDW Swan resort! Be sure to inform them upon check-in of your celebration (honeymoon~!), and perhaps you will be offered an upgrade. It happens...more often than you would presume.

I enjoy both properties, but have a special affinity for the Dolphin. The Swan is a bit smaller, more subdued and refined...and quieter (IMOHO). Many people have a preference for one or the other, but both are comparable in comfort and amenities (although the Swan does have the Queen beds and the Hollywood vanity sink as well).

I am so pleased you were able to secure a great rate for such a fabulous property. You will both enjoy a magical time, and make memories to last a lifetime. The grotto pool alone is something to relish...Blondie has posted some amazing photos of this creation! I prefer it to the Beach Club pool...again, personal opinion.

Nice to see some regulars still haunting this board (Hi Nancy & Tiffany!). Take care, and enjoy all the excitement associated with the planning and journey, not just the destination. ^_^

 

[disnut8]

The Swan gift shop is one of our favorites. I don't know why we like it so much but it's not crowded with a zillion people elbow to elbow.

The sitting area over by the elevators is always a nice and quiet place to rest or have a chat.

The pool, in my opinion, is second to Stormalong Bay. Excellent for the hot tubs. One note of caution - there is a sitting area behind the waterfall. Nice for the ambiance but almost impossible to sit back there. Waaayyyyyy too noisy.

The hammocks along the walkway near the quiet pool.

The Swan boats.

And, we timed the elevators. No matter what floor we were on, we didn't have to wait more than five or ten seconds for one to show up.

 

[MSC]

Just checked out of the Dolphin on Monday. Loved it, loved it, loved it. Spent 5 nights there after 4 nights at Pop. The difference is incredibly striking. That was our second attempt at a Value, and only because so many people here rave about Pop. And while I don't have any complaints about Pop, and while I don't want to denigrate what is obviously a favorite of a lot of people on these boards, I'll just say we won't ever stay there again. I think we're just not Value resort people. And I am trying to say that without making any value judgments (no pun intended... well, mostly not).

Anyway, back to the Swan/Dolphin. What's not to love about it? I find the threads where people worry whether it will feel "Disney" enough. Like because there aren't Mickey heads in the wallpaper and on the soap, they just won't feel like they're at Disney. Well, fine. I look around my room, and I don't see anything Disney (except all the stuff I bought!!). But I walk out onto my balcony and I can see Epcot; I can see the sphere, I can see the Eiffel Tower, I can see the parapets on the castles of Germany, I can see the Boardwalk and the Friendship boats traversing waterways. I can see lighthouse at the YC/BC. I can see people in their Surreys struggling the peddle up the hills of the bridges, and see passersby pitching in to help by pushing them that last few feet . At night I can see all the twinkling lights of the Boardwalk, I can see the Epcot fireworks, and if I really look closely, I can see the people on the beach at the YC/BC watch Cars on the movie screen they have set up.

Last Saturday night, my DD5 was kind of tired from an intense week, and didn't want to go to Fantasmic. So she and my DW walked to the Boardwalk for an ice cream sundae and took in some "street" performers, while my DD7 and I took a boat to MGM, watched Fantasmic, then walked back to the Dolphin.

Where else in the World can you get all that? None of the other Disney properties can match the setting of the Epcot resorts. Only the GF and Contemporary with their views of the MK could come close. But even those (very expensive) hotels are a long bus ride to all the other parks.

Those are just some of the things I think you'll find are "cool" about the S/D.

 

[Mouseteacher]

Location, Location, Location!!!! what MSC said

Price, Price, Price!!! Teacher Rate!!!!

 

[Magic2000]

You will LOVE the Swan!!! We've stayed there a few times, most recently last December!!! And everyone is right - those heavenly beds are heavenly!!! You almost don't want to get up in the morning!!!

Can't beat the price either (I usually the government worker rate)!! You will love the location too!!!! Have a great trip!

 

[anbouk]

Just checked out of the Dolphin on Monday. Loved it, loved it, loved it. Spent 5 nights there after 4 nights at Pop. The difference is incredibly striking. That was our second attempt at a Value, and only because so many people here rave about Pop. And while I don't have any complaints about Pop, and while I don't want to denigrate what is obviously a favorite of a lot of people on these boards, I'll just say we won't ever stay there again. I think we're just not Value resort people. And I am trying to say that without making any value judgments (no pun intended... well, mostly not).

Anyway, back to the Swan/Dolphin. What's not to love about it? I find the threads where people worry whether it will feel "Disney" enough. Like because there aren't Mickey heads in the wallpaper and on the soap, they just won't feel like they're at Disney. Well, fine. I look around my room, and I don't see anything Disney (except all the stuff I bought!!). But I walk out onto my balcony and I can see Epcot; I can see the sphere, I can see the Eiffel Tower, I can see the parapets on the castles of Germany, I can see the Boardwalk and the Friendship boats traversing waterways. I can see lighthouse at the YC/BC. I can see people in their Surreys struggling the peddle up the hills of the bridges, and see passersby pitching in to help by pushing them that last few feet . At night I can see all the twinkling lights of the Boardwalk, I can see the Epcot fireworks, and if I really look closely, I can see the people on the beach at the YC/BC watch Cars on the movie screen they have set up.

Last Saturday night, my DD5 was kind of tired from an intense week, and didn't want to go to Fantasmic. So she and my DW walked to the Boardwalk for an ice cream sundae and took in some "street" performers, while my DD7 and I took a boat to MGM, watched Fantasmic, then walked back to the Dolphin.

Where else in the World can you get all that? None of the other Disney properties can match the setting of the Epcot resorts. Only the GF and Contemporary with their views of the MK could come close. But even those (very expensive) hotels are a long bus ride to all the other parks.

Those are just some of the things I think you'll find are "cool" about the S/D.

Sounds like you had a nice room with a view...mind to share where you stayed. High floor, east or west wing? Thanks

 

[MSC]

Absolutely! Seventh floor, far east wing: 7023.

Here's the view:

 

[Disneymoon678]

Just checked out of the Dolphin on Monday. Loved it, loved it, loved it. Spent 5 nights there after 4 nights at Pop. The difference is incredibly striking. That was our second attempt at a Value, and only because so many people here rave about Pop. And while I don't have any complaints about Pop, and while I don't want to denigrate what is obviously a favorite of a lot of people on these boards, I'll just say we won't ever stay there again. I think we're just not Value resort people. And I am trying to say that without making any value judgments (no pun intended... well, mostly not).

Anyway, back to the Swan/Dolphin. What's not to love about it? I find the threads where people worry whether it will feel "Disney" enough. Like because there aren't Mickey heads in the wallpaper and on the soap, they just won't feel like they're at Disney. Well, fine. I look around my room, and I don't see anything Disney (except all the stuff I bought!!). But I walk out onto my balcony and I can see Epcot; I can see the sphere, I can see the Eiffel Tower, I can see the parapets on the castles of Germany, I can see the Boardwalk and the Friendship boats traversing waterways. I can see lighthouse at the YC/BC. I can see people in their Surreys struggling the peddle up the hills of the bridges, and see passersby pitching in to help by pushing them that last few feet . At night I can see all the twinkling lights of the Boardwalk, I can see the Epcot fireworks, and if I really look closely, I can see the people on the beach at the YC/BC watch Cars on the movie screen they have set up.

Last Saturday night, my DD5 was kind of tired from an intense week, and didn't want to go to Fantasmic. So she and my DW walked to the Boardwalk for an ice cream sundae and took in some "street" performers, while my DD7 and I took a boat to MGM, watched Fantasmic, then walked back to the Dolphin.

Where else in the World can you get all that? None of the other Disney properties can match the setting of the Epcot resorts. Only the GF and Contemporary with their views of the MK could come close. But even those (very expensive) hotels are a long bus ride to all the other parks.

Those are just some of the things I think you'll find are "cool" about the S/D.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for this awesome post! (Thanks to everyone else, too!) I can only hope we get upgraded to such a stellar view. I did sign up for Starwood Preferred Guest as suggested. Hopefully they'll do it since we'll be on our honeymoon, but even if they don't, I'm still in love with this hotel!! I remember the grotto pool from when we stayed at the Dolphin when I was in high school. I loved it! The Dolphin is great too, but we chose the Swan for it's intimacy and quietness-- most appropriate for the honeymoon. I am so excited now!!!!

Chipndale69-- LOL! That's awesome, we're hoping to come back with a "souvenir" as well, maybe!

 

[marvel]

Is there any major difference between the Swan and Dolphin? Is one better than the other for kids aged 9 and 7?

 

[N10CJT]

We have stayed at the Swan and Dolphin six times and have five kids to show for it, all conceived in WDW. Must be the heavenly beds!

Ha! Sounds to me like a reason NOT to stay at the Swan!

 

[eebadeeba]

Is there any major difference between the Swan and Dolphin? Is one better than the other for kids aged 9 and 7?

The major difference for me is the bed size. In a room with two beds, the Swan has 2 queens, while the Dolphin has 2 doubles. If this didn't matter to me I would chose the Dolphin (although I have never stayed there because of this). It has the arcade, kids club, bigger lobby, more restaurants, and basketball courts are closer. These are all available to Swan guests as well, but have to walk to the Dolphin to use them.

 

[MSC]

The major difference for me is the bed size. In a room with two beds, the Swan has 2 queens, while the Dolphin has 2 doubles. If this didn't matter to me I would chose the Dolphin (although I have never stayed there because of this). It has the arcade, kids club, bigger lobby, more restaurants, and basketball courts are closer. These are all available to Swan guests as well, but have to walk to the Dolphin to use them.

+1 on all that. Also, the Dolphin not only has more restaurants, but it has the cafeteria (24hr), and soda fountain/ice cream parlor (whatever that joint right inside the door is). So much more family friendly in that respect, I think.