Thinking about changing resorts

[ClareH37]

Next May will be my first 'proper' solo trip - I've booked through a package through a holiday company (I'm from the UK) as I just felt more comfortable having their back-up if I need any help whilst I'm at Disney.

I'm currently booked at RPR for 2 nights at Universal followed by 5 nights at the YC - I love Epcot so intend on spending a lot of time there. I was starting to price up different options as the prices are crazy, and the Swan is alot cheaper (by a lot I mean around $700) if I stay there for 7 nights as opposed to RPR/YC.

I've visited the Swan/Dolphin many times and enjoy eating there, but was wondering if they 'felt' a lot different than the 'proper' Disney hotels and maybe I should just suck up the price difference and go with my original plan?

Any suggestions/opinions would be welcome.

Thanks

 

[Daggett]

I guess I'm a "Disney Property" snob, but I do get a different feel from the Swan and Dolphin than I do Disney resorts. It probably a personal call as to how picky you are. When I walk from Saratoga Spring to DTD, I don't even like the walk because it forces you to go out to the street. The real world sucks.

 

[ClareH37]

I guess I'm a "Disney Property" snob, but I do get a different feel from the Swan and Dolphin than I do Disney resorts. It probably a personal call as to how picky you are. When I walk from Saratoga Spring to DTD, I don't even like the walk because it forces you to go out to the street. The real world sucks.

My problem is I'm too picky lol - this is too hard a decision to make.

 

[Daggett]

If you're picky (I totally understand!) stay at the BC. You're flying 9 hours each way, don't be disappointed when you arrive.

 

[ClareH37]

If you're picky (I totally understand!) stay at the BC. You're flying 9 hours each way, don't be disappointed when you arrive.

TBH I agree with you, and the more I'm thinking about it, I'm going to put the Swan 'on hold', and stick with the YC (but that might change to the BC ).

 

[FunSunDisney]

I personally love the Swan and Dolphin if you get water view rooms. Lovely! Also, I have never met a more comfortable bed in my life!! hehe I have a bad back, and I could sleep for days on their beds.

The location is great for Epcot also, but then again, so is the YC. I have never stayed at the YC, because I can't afford it, but that looks very pretty and interesting too! Either way, I think you will enjoy it.

 

[ClareH37]

I personally love the Swan and Dolphin if you get water view rooms. Lovely! Also, I have never met a more comfortable bed in my life!! hehe I have a bad back, and I could sleep for days on their beds.

The location is great for Epcot also, but then again, so is the YC. I have never stayed at the YC, because I can't afford it, but that looks very pretty and interesting too! Either way, I think you will enjoy it.

Thanks I really love the look of those beds but have decided to stay with the YC - I love having a balcony and the holiday company I'm going through do not have balcony rooms as an option at the Swan.

 

[Redbudlover]

Hi, I have stayed at BC, BWI, BWV and the Swan. I would be hard pressed to stay at either BC or YC now that I have enjoyed the Swan. And I am an on-site snob also and an owner at BCV and BWV. I totally loved the Swan. The rooms are beautiful and in my opinion more upscale than the YC or BC - though I love them both as well. You can walk or take the boats to Epcot and HS. They have character breakfasts on the weekends. It has great restaurants. Best of all it has amazing beds. And you can send your purchases back to the hotel from the parks. They will even transfer your luggage to a WDW hotel on a split stay. I totally fell in love with the Swan and will definitely be back many times.

 

[ClareH37]

Hi, I have stayed at BC, BWI, BWV and the Swan. I would be hard pressed to stay at either BC or YC now that I have enjoyed the Swan. And I am an on-site snob also and an owner at BCV and BWV. I totally loved the Swan. The rooms are beautiful and in my opinion more upscale than the YC or BC - though I love them both as well. You can walk or take the boats to Epcot and HS. They have character breakfasts on the weekends. It has great restaurants. Best of all it has amazing beds. And you can send your purchases back to the hotel from the parks. They will even transfer your luggage to a WDW hotel on a split stay. I totally fell in love with the Swan and will definitely be back many times.

Thanks, I'm still toying with the idea - my travel company advise I will have a courtyard room at the Swan if I go with that option - do you where the courtyard is? Is it overlooking the Dolphin side or the front?

 

[Redbudlover]

Thanks, I'm still toying with the idea - my travel company advise I will have a courtyard room at the Swan if I go with that option - do you where the courtyard is? Is it overlooking the Dolphin side or the front?

Hi, Sorry I am not an expert with rooms and especially since I have only stayed there once. I had a courtyard view and faced a lovely courtyard with a beautiful fountain... Oh, didn't mean to be a sa... I couldn't see anything but the courtyard from my room so couldn't figure out where I was in the hotel. I am pretty directionally challenged as you can tell!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I can do a lot with an extra $700 I would switch to the Dolphin/Swan and save the money. You don't spend a lot of time in the room anyway so why not save the money and put it toward another WDW trip. You will be closer to Epcot.

 

[ClareH37]

I can do a lot with an extra $700 I would switch to the Dolphin/Swan and save the money. You don't spend a lot of time in the room anyway so why not save the money and put it toward another WDW trip. You will be closer to Epcot.

That's what I was thinking too, however, there's since been a development - to cut a very long story short my travel company have now cut out the single supplement (that really annoyed me, Disney don't charge a single supplement so why on earth do my travel company!), so there is no longer a price difference I'm sticking with the YC.

 

[Auntie L.]

YC looks beautiful - I never stayed there. I stayed at the Dophin 4 years ago and loved it. The only reason I wouldn't stay there again is I don't think Magical Express goes there.

Good luck!
Linda

 

[delaneyc52]

I'm an Epcot Resort person and I flipped quickly thru the posts here and see that the final outcome is YC. Can't say I'd disagree!!! YC is wonderful.

However...... hubby and I roamed from Boardwalk to the Swan pool one night and it was just WONDERFUL (don't tell anyone we illegally pool hopped!!!). Since Swan/Dolphin are mostly adult conference people (or at least moreso than YC, Boardwalk, Beach Club) it has a more "adult" flavor with a very cool nighttime pool and bar. If I had the opportunity and there was a significant money difference, I might try it out. After all, these resorts are all within 5 minute walking distance of each other as well as Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

 

[honeydiane1953]

Next May will be my first 'proper' solo trip - I've booked through a package through a holiday company (I'm from the UK) as I just felt more comfortable having their back-up if I need any help whilst I'm at Disney.

I'm currently booked at RPR for 2 nights at Universal followed by 5 nights at the YC - I love Epcot so intend on spending a lot of time there. I was starting to price up different options as the prices are crazy, and the Swan is alot cheaper (by a lot I mean around $700) if I stay there for 7 nights as opposed to RPR/YC.

I've visited the Swan/Dolphin many times and enjoy eating there, but was wondering if they 'felt' a lot different than the 'proper' Disney hotels and maybe I should just suck up the price difference and go with my original plan?

Any suggestions/opinions would be welcome.

Thanks

Claire i would stay with the YC. To me I don't think there's anything like staying on property. I am ticky too so I know where u r coming from. I am going solo(first time) in Dec.. The 7th--17th is a "spur of the moment" decision. Do u think I would save money but NOT going with the dining plan. The promo says free but we know it's not. Too, at this late date ADR's will be hard to get. I value your opinion as it seems like we are so much alike. diane

 

[smidgy]

frm what I understand, you could choose swan for 7 nights, as opposed to 2 nihts, RPR, and 5 YC. now, we have stayed at Dolphin twice, and loved it! (ok, no Magical Express or dining plan, but the heavenly beds are wonderful! and the access to boardwalk, epcot, mg, etc. gret! and the grotto pool!
no one, however, has mentioned leaving OUT Royal Pacific. It is a beautiful resort, great pool. (also,at universal, you can pool hop). but the best perk of staying at RPR is the free universal express pass!!! if you are doing the UNI parks, the (almost) FOTL pass is SO worth it!

 

[ClareH37]

frm what I understand, you could choose swan for 7 nights, as opposed to 2 nihts, RPR, and 5 YC. now, we have stayed at Dolphin twice, and loved it! (ok, no Magical Express or dining plan, but the heavenly beds are wonderful! and the access to boardwalk, epcot, mg, etc. gret! and the grotto pool!
no one, however, has mentioned leaving OUT Royal Pacific. It is a beautiful resort, great pool. (also,at universal, you can pool hop). but the best perk of staying at RPR is the free universal express pass!!! if you are doing the UNI parks, the (almost) FOTL pass is SO worth it!

Thanks - it's all changed again lol

I've now cancelled my travel agent booking, and booked independently (saving money for better rooms than my agent had!), also booked now through Disney UK and got a 20% discount plus gift card, plus extended free tickets, so I'm very happy Now staying Portofino Bay 2 nights (I so hope Harry Potter will be open!), and Yacht Club 5 nights, for less money than before.

 

[ClareH37]

YC looks beautiful - I never stayed there. I stayed at the Dophin 4 years ago and loved it. The only reason I wouldn't stay there again is I don't think Magical Express goes there.

Good luck!
Linda

I think I will stay at the Swan/Dolphin one day thought, the beds just look wonderful.

I'm an Epcot Resort person and I flipped quickly thru the posts here and see that the final outcome is YC. Can't say I'd disagree!!! YC is wonderful.

However...... hubby and I roamed from Boardwalk to the Swan pool one night and it was just WONDERFUL (don't tell anyone we illegally pool hopped!!!). Since Swan/Dolphin are mostly adult conference people (or at least moreso than YC, Boardwalk, Beach Club) it has a more "adult" flavor with a very cool nighttime pool and bar. If I had the opportunity and there was a significant money difference, I might try it out. After all, these resorts are all within 5 minute walking distance of each other as well as Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

I'm so an Epcot resort person, I just love it, I now won't consider anywhere else (although I did momentarily consider AKL because it's beautiful).

Claire i would stay with the YC. To me I don't think there's anything like staying on property. I am ticky too so I know where u r coming from. I am going solo(first time) in Dec.. The 7th--17th is a "spur of the moment" decision. Do u think I would save money but NOT going with the dining plan. The promo says free but we know it's not. Too, at this late date ADR's will be hard to get. I value your opinion as it seems like we are so much alike. diane

I've now dropped the dining plan, I started to worry about all that food! So, I now will just have a very light lunch and a proper meal in the evening

 

[tony67]

ClareH37 - Just saw this thread today for the first time. I'm glad to see you got rid of the travel company. I have found that travel companies in England and Ireland really stick it to people. You can get the best rates it seems on your own.
They really wanted to charge you supplemental for a single traveler at the Swan and Dolphin, that is ridiculous.
These are Starwood hotels and the rooms are always priced as 1-2 adult travelers.
On very rare occasions they charge you for a second person in the room, but never have I seen an extra charge for a single person.

I have run into so many people from Ireland who have been grossly overcharged on packages by travel companies it is disgraceful. I always tell people over there to book themselves to Disney.
If they are going somewhere difficult like Turkey or Croatia then it makes sense to use an agent, but not the US.

One thing I would consider is the QSDP if you are on your own. There is a lot of variety and I was quite surprised at how good the food was. It is very easy to spend 15-18 dollars on a single QS meal at Disney.

I did not believe that is was worth it or that I woudl even break even until I tried it.
(BTW - As others have said free dining is not free especially if you are traveling solo. It is cheaper to book the room with discount and add the dining in most cases. In my case it was over $300 cheaper)

If you are interested take a look at this thread on the meals I had with the QSDP.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2315572

I was able to go 12 days solo in Disney without eating a burger and chips (or other greasy fried foods) on the QSDP and since you are so close to Epcot there are some really nice options there.
Just something to consider, but I do not know what they charge you per day in sterling to add the plan so you may need to consider that. For me it was $30 a day.

 

[ClareH37]

Thanks Tony - I think it's definitely something to consider