What do you have to forgo by staying at the Swan/Dolphin

[Donald Duck888]

Just curious what is different in staying at the Swan/Dolphin vs at say Beach/Yacht club. I know you can not get magic express but can you still get magic bands even though they do not open your room? Also is there a different policy with FP+ is it still 60 days out you can reserve? Just curious as we are currently booked to stay at Beach/Yacht club in Dec but staying at Swan would save almost 1k on the trip so I am tempted as the most important factor for me is the location of Beach/Yacht club and that would be virtually the same at the swan.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts and information.

 

[goofy4tink]

To the best of my knowledge, as long as you have park passes linked in your MDE account, you should be able to book FP+ 60 days out. As for what you'll 'forgo' staying at the S/D? Paying for transportation to, and from, MCO. Not being able to charge back to your room. Not being able to participate in the DDP. That's about it. I just stayed at the Dolphin...I love it there. I don't need to be immersed in Disney/Mickey 24/7. I use my cc, or cash, when purchasing anything. I use the Mears shuttle if I'm on a budget, otherwise, I book a car service.
If I could save $1000 staying at the S/D vs YC/BC, I would be at S/D in a heartbeat.

 

[Babsy]

There is a resort fee of $23.00 per day that you need to add to the cost of staying at the S/D. If you have a car you will need to pay daily parking fees, if you would normally use WDW transportation, you will need to book transportation form/to the airport (no DME). Goofy4tink covered the differences.

If you don't use the dining planned and account for the extra charges, I see the S/D as a great deal. I would definitely stay here to save $1000.00!

BTW: The beds are far better, IMO, at the S/D and I really enjoy some of the restaurants here. Also, you can book things like Epcot fireworks view and a guaranteed full balcony. These are not requests that you are worrying over, like at the BC for example. The pool is not as nice as Storm Along Bay, but that is less important in Dec and the pool is pretty good compared to most.

Good luck!

 

[Donald Duck888]

Thanks for the replies. Actually the $1000 savings is even with paying the $23 per day resort fee. Just need to convince my 8 yr old daughter now that it will be as fun as beach/yacht club.

On another note I work for a college and am assuming that qualifies me for the teacher/education discount? Has anyone used this discount that may know if I am correct in this assumption? Thanks

 

[tinkerbella16]

I have heard the beds at Swan/Dolphin are the best on property- that would be a huge plus if switching! But I know you cannot get the DDP staying there and that would be a huge negative to me as we always participate in either the QS Plan or regular TS.

 

[wahmtexas]

We stayed for 2 nights added on to the end of our Nov 2014 Art of Animation stay. Pros: Teacher discount offset the resort fee, LOVED the pool and pool service, comfy beds, and walking to Boardwalk to eat for dinner. Cons: no free dining that we always use, first room smelled horribly of mold-once we were moved the room was much better We still used the Disney buses and then a shuttle to airport instead of Magic Express that we took on the way in to AofA.

 

[SA mom]

The pool area is pretty amazing. Let your daughter know the price difference. $1000 can buy a lot of extras, like character meals.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

I wish I saw my bed at Disney. Too much to enjoy day and night. The beds at POR were great the little I saw them.

 

[Mom2aJessieGirl]

The beds at S/D are awesome! My family prefers S/D over the other Deluxe resorts, even if we have to get ourselves to and from the airport.

 

[eliza61]

You forgo paying exorbitant Disney prices

 

[acresse]

I recently stayed at the Swan and I have stayed there and the Dolphin multiple times. The room I had was remodeled, and had a lovely view of HS, BW hotel and World showcase. We could watch fantasmic from our room at night.

I did miss the YC pool. I am actually returning next week and staying at the YC because of the pool. If I were a child, I can't imagine anything better than playing in Stormalong Bay. While the Swan Dolphin pools are nice, I feel like the YC pool is almost like having your personal water park. I too struggle with the save money/full disney experience conundrum. It is a difficult decision. I think it may help if you give your daughter the option of the YC pool, or list the experiences she could have in place of the pool. Sometimes kids will surprise you, and not care much about certain things, and small things you didn't even think of will mean the world.

Good luck! Either place will be magical.

 

[Julylady]

I work for a public school as an administrator and have stayed at the Dophin using the teacher discount. I just showed my picture school id to the desk clerk. I actually really like the Dolphin pool area.

 

[MissionMouse]

... Just need to convince my 8 yr old daughter now that it will be as fun as beach/yacht club. ...

We have stayed at both and in our opinion they do not compare and would easily select BC or YC over S/D, but if your budget is tight it could be the way to go. I would not attempt to tell your daughter S/D is just as much fun, since YC/BC is more oriented toward kids then S/D.

 

[Donald Duck888]

We have stayed at both and in our opinion they do not compare and would easily select BC or YC over S/D, but if your budget is tight it could be the way to go. I would not attempt to tell your daughter S/D is just as much fun, since YC/BC is more oriented toward kids then S/D.

I think you may be right on this one. I know one of the things that my daughter really loves are the Disney cartoons that they show on the TV at the Disney resorts. She even looks forward to that crazy Duffy bedtime show Lol. I assume they don't have those at the swan/dolphin. She also loves getting one of those Mickey ice cream bars back at the resort after coming back from the parks. Again I have no idea if the swan/dolphin has those. So while I think the swan or dolphin would be great for me I am now starting to wonder how she will feel missing out on those "litte things"

 

[westfield13]

We have stayed at the Swan several times - always on a discount (I'm a municipality worker, so I got the government discount). I highly recommend it - excellent value for the price.

My boys always enjoyed this hotel when they were younger. I remember one year we were in the gift shop and the ladies working there gave the kids Mickey stickers - they were thrilled. As others have stated - beds are very comfortable, location can't be beat, can use all the Disney internal transportation. We also like the restaurants and the pool. I don't know about the cartoons offered in room - you might want to look at the Swan/Dolphin site to see if they have any info. As for the other small Disney touches - like Mickey ice cream bars - you are very close to the YC/BC and Boardwalk - it wouldn't be hard walking to any of those resorts for a fun Disney treat.

Considering the amount of money you can save at Swan/Dolphin, you should seriously consider trying it.

 

[Donald Duck888]

I am giving it lots of consideration. In fact I keep going back and forth on it in my mind especially since I could get an Epcot view room for about $1600 for our trip vs $2200 for YC. If I went standard view I could get that for about $1200. Tough decision

 

[Donald Duck888]

Does anyone know what cab fare from MCO to dolphin/swan is? If I make the switch I will need to factor that in to the cost for to and from MCO.

 

[ryansstitch]

Just curious what is different in staying at the Swan/Dolphin vs at say Beach/Yacht club. I know you can not get magic express but can you still get magic bands even though they do not open your room? Also is there a different policy with FP+ is it still 60 days out you can reserve? Just curious as we are currently booked to stay at Beach/Yacht club in Dec but staying at Swan would save almost 1k on the trip so I am tempted as the most important factor for me is the location of Beach/Yacht club and that would be virtually the same at the swan.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts and information.

Super pessimistic response, so please excuse me. I got a nice, attractive,clean room with an unexpected upgrade at the dolphin. I got a really nasty, unsanitary, and worn out room at yacht club that was never actually cleaned. Even without that experience though, i would say you don't give up anything worth $1000 by staying at the swan/dolphin. It's a slightly longer walk to epcot, and the pool isn't as exciting. However, the dolphin/swan pool was still very nice, and the dining options are better, more varied in my opinion. My room at dolphin was much bigger too, and as far as I know my upgrade affected only the view, not any other room category factor. But I'm not 100% certain about that.

Just curious what is different in staying at the Swan/Dolphin vs at say Beach/Yacht club. I know you can not get magic express but can you still get magic bands even though they do not open your room? Also is there a different policy with FP+ is it still 60 days out you can reserve? Just curious as we are currently booked to stay at Beach/Yacht club in Dec but staying at Swan would save almost 1k on the trip so I am tempted as the most important factor for me is the location of Beach/Yacht club and that would be virtually the same at the swan.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts and information.

 

[ryansstitch]

I think you may be right on this one. I know one of the things that my daughter really loves are the Disney cartoons that they show on the TV at the Disney resorts. She even looks forward to that crazy Duffy bedtime show Lol. I assume they don't have those at the swan/dolphin. She also loves getting one of those Mickey ice cream bars back at the resort after coming back from the parks. Again I have no idea if the swan/dolphin has those. So while I think the swan or dolphin would be great for me I am now starting to wonder how she will feel missing out on those "litte things"

For $1000, buy her tablet and download some cartoons on it! Lol, I know it may not be the same to her though.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Does anyone know what cab fare from MCO to dolphin/swan is? If I make the switch I will need to factor that in to the cost for to and from MCO.

It should be about $50-$60 one way.

My DS7 and I stayed at the Dolphin 2 years ago when I was able to stack some discounts and get 3 nights there for the price of one night at BWI. It was so worth it! They still have Disney touches - if you're there on a weekend, the character breakfast and dinner buffet at Garden Grove is very good and you can get a 20% discount with an AAA membership card. Instead of a Mickey bar, maybe your new tradition could be ice cream at the Fountain? They also have lots of Disney stuff in the gift shop and a cute candy shop in the Dolphin. Yes, $1000 can buy a LOT of extra goodies! I actually would go for the standard room and sign up for the Starwood Preferred Guest program. They typically give you a free room category upgrade if you are enrolled in the SPG program.

We enjoyed our stay at the Dolphin. As others have mentioned, the beds are very comfortable. I thought the staff were very nice as well.