The Swan Non-Disney?? WHY?

[Mrs.A]

We will be staying at The Swan for 8 days in Aug. Why do some people think you are crazy for staying at a "NON-DISNEY RESORT"? This is our first stay at The Swan, and it looks like a lovely resort, and we are looking forward to it.

Everything is the same except the charging to your room. We never did that on our last trip in 2000.

People say you don't experience that "Disney Feeling" well we stayed at POR our last trip and it is a beautiful resort (had that booked first,) cancelled it and booked the Swan. I really did not have a "Disney Feeling" there.
I get the "Disney Feeling" when we go to the MK and walking down Main Street. That is true Disney to me.

I will never stay off site, I do like staying on property and everything Disney has to offer.

I would like opinions on why people feel this way about The Swan and Dolphin?

We are staying at the AKL concierge the last 4 days of our trip. A Disney Resort!

 

[princessmommy]

We are staying 8 nights this summer and our first 3 nights will be at the Dolphin..followed by 5 nights at the WL. We have visited the Dolphin before and it is a beautiful resort. I have no doubt we will get that Disney feeling because it IS near the boardwalk area and you can still walk to Epcot from there...not to mention you can take the boat to MGM and they do have bus transportation to and from other parks. You will have a good time! Go and enjoy!

 

[WDWalways]

IMHO even though the Swan and Dolphin are owned by Starwood and not Disney I still consider them on-site properties and they do have that "Disney feel" because of their GREAT location right next to the Boardwalk and EPCOT - when you get there check out on both resorts the blacked-out section of windows and that's where the monorail was supposed to go through which I don't know why it was never done because it would have then DEFINITELY made the Swan and Dolphin as "Disney" as a resort can get!

 

[peachgirl]

I don't think anyone is "crazy" because they stay offsite. I don't consider the S/D offsite, but it is a non-Disney resort and it wouldn't be one of our choices.

To each their own, but for us we want a WDW resort for many reasons. Some of which are...

1) If we have a problem we're dealing with Disney and I trust their customer service above and beyond anyone else's. I never have to deal with anyone who isn't an employee of WDW.
2) We want WDW theming. I can get a beautiful resort anywhere. I can only get a Disney themed resort at Disney.
3) On our last trip, one of our fondest memories were all the character greetings they offered in the lobby of the WL. You just never know who's going to show up!

There are many conveniences a Disney resort offers us, some of which may or may not be available at the S/D. The point is, I know what to expect from a Disney resort. I'm familiar and comfortable with them. We've fell in love with every one we've stayed at and I see no good reason to change.


We are contemplating staying at a DTD hotel for our first night. We'll have driven for 24 hrs and from past experience, I know all we'll want to do is sleep....well maybe an evening trip to DTD for a little shopping. However, our Disney vacation won't begin until we drive thorugh the gate at OKW!

There are many who think those of us who don't want to stay anywhere but Disney are the crazy ones....and maybe we are. Fine by me, it's an insanity I can live with!

 

[Rhonda]

We love the Swan & Dolphin! They are right in the heart of Disney - walking distance to MGM and Epcot! They also have wonderful restaurants, and great shops (including Disney shops)! We don't feel like we're not part of Disney when we stay there!

 

[hmp2z]

I agree entirely with peachgirl, and we would never consider staying off of Disney property. We spent one night at the Grosvenor in Sept. 2000, when we arrived late that night and just wanted a close place to crash. We were very disappointed; the bathroom floor & sink had a lot of mildew - definitely not up to the on-property standards. We also couldn't get our baggage conveniently transferred to our next resort, so had to hire a cab to drive us there. It was a small inconvenience, but when we're at WDW, we like to stay at 2 different resorts, and we love that EVERYTHING, even baggage transfers, is already taken care of. We have nothing left to worry about!
Finally, we walked over to the Swan & Dolphin to check them out, and the lobby of whichever we were in just REEKED of cigarette smoke. Definitely not the "Disney" feel. We love the smell of the GF lobby, and how each resort seems to have its own particular smell, but never is it the aroma of cigarette smoke. If you're a smoker, this probably wouldn't bother you, but I don't like lobbies that allow people to smoke in them. Once again, a minor thing that diminishes the total magic for us!
Just our reasons for always, always staying on Disney property!
Cheers!
Heather W

 

[JACKNAG]

The Swan and Dolphin are AWESOME!!! . The swan even more so because it's a shorter distance to the Board walk. So much to do at night. And walking distance to EPcot.

You want be disappointed!!!

Jack

 

[Mrs.A]

I have one other question?

What do you consider a disney themed resort? The only one I would consider being themed disney would be the All Stars.

When we stayed at POR there was nothing that I saw that looked Disney to me.

I'm not trying to start a debate here, am just curious.

Thanks for any replies.

 

[glo]

All the DIsney resorts are themed..Poly is a Hawaiian theme, Grand Floridian a turn of the century exclusive Fl resort, POR is Loisuana French QUarter...Coranado Springs Mexican pyramids...

The Swan and DOlphin have always given me the DIsney feel. Nothing like seeing the fireworks and Epcot or MGM from your window. You are seconds fron the Disney resorts and entertainment, not that you don't have awesome entertainment at the S/D. The service is awesome, atleast it is what I have experiecned til now....For the price I can get as a teacher I can not come close at a Disney resort!!! It is where I have stayed and will continue to stay

 

[Jomrog]

We tried the Dolphin & it did seem more like a convention hotel than a Disney hotel. My experience with Disney CM's was much more "magical" than the "cold" front desk clerk that we dealt with.

When you drive up to S/D, they are beautiful & have an awesome location. It's just the atmosphere, once inside, conventioners taking up the whole lobby & such, it takes away from the Disney experience IMHO.

I would stay in one of the Disney resorts before S/D everytime. S/D would have to knock my socks off w/a killer deal for me to stay there again.

Can't wait to hear about your experience, it hope it is great!

 

[webray]

We are with you. We will never stay off site...and, going one step further...we don't stay at the disney moderates either. No disney feeling at POR...and way to much money for what you get.

Now, we have stayed at the Dolphin...probably 5 times now, most recently just a couple of months ago. There is plenty of Disney magic at the Swan/Dolphin and for a better rate than a regular disney resort. These are beautiful, 1st rate resorts. Great restaurants, easy access to EPCOT/MGM just like the disney EPCOT resorts. We would stay at the Dolphin again in a heartbeat.

We also love AKL, concierge there is the best. You are going to have a great trip!

 

[peachgirl]

What do you consider a disney themed resort? The only one I would consider being themed disney would be the All Stars.

When I say Disney themed, I don't mean you see Mickey Mouse everywhere you look. It's a total package. From the MM shubs to the Mickey soaps and shampoos, it's completely and totally Disney. The employees are in Disney uniform, with Disney name tags. It's just a complete immersion in Disney and that's what I want. Btw, I'm not a fan of the All Stars either, but for different reasons. I'd stay there before I'd stay offsite, but I much prefer Deluxe or Home Away From Home resorts.

I don't want to see, hear or think anything non-Disney while I'm at WDW. It's almost as though for a short while, there is no world except for DW! That's where the magic is!

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

I have stayed at POR four times (when it was still Dixie Landings)
I was at the BC once, WL once, and The Swan twice.

I adore POR and the theming of the Alligator Bayou section, but it seemed such a long way to get to a park. Also...the bus stops at the parks were so much furthur away. As much as I love it there, it was tiring, and I'm not getting any younger !

To me, The Swan had just as much Disney feel to it as POR.
However, the Swan has an edge that POR didn't have, and that is LOCATION ! The Swan had more of a Disney feel to it because EPCOT was so close by, and the Studios was so much closer. I was less tired because of the better transportation, and the relaxing boat ride to EPCOT and MGM. The Swan was more right in the heart of things than POR. I was less tired, less cranky, more relaxed, and had more fun. And that, to me, adds up to more of a Disney feeling to me.

If I could get The Beach Club for the same price that I got The Swan ( gov't discount ) I would go there.

 

[Minnie's Mate]

It all depends on what you are looking for in a resort and what your expectations are when you get there. We have stayed at the Dolphin twice and will be staying at the Swan on our next trip in November. We have stayed at the AKL three times and really love it...it is our favorite Disney resort. We have also stayed at the Polynesian and the Yatch Club.

I thought the Yatch Club was a very nice hotel that is subtlely decorated in nice nautical motiff. But I thought there was really nothing that said "you are at a Disney Hotel!". We were there at Christmas and even with the Christmas decorations it seemed so subtle that you could have been at any upscale deluxe hotel.

I thought the Polynesian was more of a tropical, southseas themed upscale deluxe hotel from the 1970's. You can probably find tropical hotels all over Florida and Hawaii; it just doesn't seem uniquely Disney. Perhaps it was the hotel that inspired the others, but there was nothing that jumped out and said "this is Disney". I know a lot of people treasure the Polynesian and I really don't want to offend anyone who does, but it was just ok for us.

However, I think there is probably no other hotel in America that can compare to the Animal Kingdom Lodge...it is just that unique. The pool is beautiful, it is amazing to have the animals right outside of your balcony 24/7, and the architecture and decor is second to none. (Can you tell we love the AKL?)

If you go to the S/D with the attitude that you have everything that a Disney Deluxe has except Disney toilettries and charging privaliges in the parks, you won't be disappointed and as for staying at AKL for the second part of your trip, you will be in Disney's newest and, I think, best Disney hotel.

Enjoy your stay at both and have a great vacation!

 

[dreamflight99]

All of the things mentioned on this thread can be said for ALL the properties IN THE MAGIC, Disney/Non-DISNEY!

*There were characters IN the lobby of the Dolphin/Swan, just as they made their way in the Caravan around the other resorts.

*There are CONVENTIONS in all the resorts, CSR, CR, PR, GF, Etc.! I have met MANY conventioners and company personnel while sojourning in these other DISNEY-OWNED resorts. These persons have never bothered me.

*In as much as DISNEY is WHIMSICAL...so are the SWAN/DOLPHIN (in theme and decor).


*THE MAGIC...is not found in the resorts. "IT" is INSIDE OF YOU! You BRING the MAGIC with you...and some, leave it behind.

* Dolphin/Swan offer LATE check-out (4 PM)...suits my style.

*Dolphin/Swan Pools are open "24/7", Disney-owned close early.

*Dolphin/Swan offer SPG discounts, AP discounts, Ent. Rate Discounts, Nurses Discounts, Gov't. discounts, Teachers Discounts, and POINTS, POINTS, POINTS accumulated during these magical stays! AMAZING for a DELUXE, with such incredible PERKS, ACCOMODATIONS, and VIEWS!

*HEAVENLY & SWEET SLEEPER BEDS by SERTA!

*AS "Minnie's Mate" noted....Charging privs from the park, and MM toiletries are the only two things separating these resorts! All other conveniences and DISNEY PERKS are yours!

*LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!!!

*SHULA's STEAKHOUSE!

*SPA & HEALTH CLUB

*GREAT CLUB LEVEL & CONCIERGE!

*too many other things to mention.....

ENJOY!!!

 

[Mrs.A]

Thank-you everyone for all of your opinions. I know we will have a wonderful time at The Swan.

I'll be sure to let everyone know how we liked it.
That will be in Aug.

Have a wonderful time at Disney, whenever you may be there.

 

[montessori]

While I can't disagree with anything Dreamflight99 says, I just wasn't happy the one time I stayed at The Swan.
I got the Teacher's discounted rate, which is a fantastic deal for such a nice resort and LOCATION.
We had a terrible view, but the room was lovely.
There were no ceiling fans, which bothered me...just a little bit though.
We arrived early in the day, and they held our luggage for us.
We had to go back to the front desk to get our room key later that night though. We had plans all day up until midnight, so that was a bit of a hassle.
The view...location of the room, was really not what I expected but the other points are really quite trivial. I can't put my finger on what exactly the whole problem was but I just wasn't happy there!
Yet, I think I will give it another try one of these days.

I'm sure you'll have a fantastic Disney vacation at The Swan, Mrs. A!
Have fun!!

 

[CAP Aircrew]

Although I've never stayed there I for one am really looking forward it. Thanks for all the great words on the Swan.

 

[opal]

We stayed at the Swan in January for the first time after 10+ years of "Disney" hotels. Maybe is is slightly less of a Disney feeling (no Mickey soap, more convention people) but the location and the heavenly beds more than makes up for it!

 

[BadgerBruce]

We've stayed at the Swan 2x & the Dolphin once. We've also stayed at BC, YC, BWV (4x) & Dixie Landings (4x). We love the Epcot resort area & always try to book the best room at a reasonable price in that area. Our stays at S/D featured great location, outstanding housekeeping, friendly staff, great pool area & good transportation. We really like the theming at POR, but the location of all those other resorts can't be beat (for us)! The key statement above is reasonable price, which often means S/D at the time of year we like to go to WDW. The times we went in December we picked YC/BC because we wanted to make certain we would have a warm pool in the chilly weather-which turned out to be a good idea. The Swan/Dolphin are wonderful resorts within walking distance of Epcot, the Studios & the Boardwalk. For us, it doesn't get any more Disney than that!