What is the next closest DVC to Swan and Dolphin? aside from BC and BW

[kniquy]

I will be attending a conference in April at the swan and dolphin - I am hoping to book a studio at 7 months for BW, but seeing that it will be Easter and a marathon weekend i am guessing that will fill up quick. We will likely get a rental car so driving to S&D won't be a big deal. I would just like to know what would be the next closest DVC to the conference center so that we have a quick drive there for our early morning meetings.

 

[erionm]

Probably OKW followed by SSR.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I think it's pretty much a toss-up on OKW or Saratoga, but getting there from VWL or Animal Kingdom won't add much time.

 

[JimMIA]

In terms of time, OKW would be much more convenient. Coming from SSR, you either have to take Buena Vista Drive past all of Disney Springs catching every light, or you'd go the back way past OKW.

VWL and AKV are quite a bit further away, but I agree the time difference wouldn't be unbearable.

 

[com_op_2000]

I have stayed at OKW for a conference at the Swan.

 

[bwvBound]

During the ~16 years we attended an IBM Conference at the Dolphin/Swan/Yacht Club Conf Centers we found "NO PARKING" to be the rule for conference attendees unless staying at one of the three conference hotels (Dolphin/Swan/Yacht). We opted to book BWV for many years (2003-2015) so we could walk to the events w/out needing a car. If you *must* have a car -- be sure to buddy up with someone staying at a conference hotel. Perhaps you can piggyback your car on their reservation -- but in these days it might also require a valid room key or Magic Band??

Bottom line -- staying anywhere other than the prescribed conference hotels or walkable DVCs may not be particularly helpful for the early/late events of your conference.

 

[gmboy95]

Agreed OKW

 

[drusba]

Possibly you will have a chance for a BWV pool/garden view studio at 7 months out and if you opt for a 1BR probability of success is high. You do not say when the conference actually is but in the past BWV pool/garden view studios have usually been open when reserving 7 months out from Easter. It is the Stars Wars race weekend, Thurs to Sun, that is more likely to be the issue. The two highest DVC demand times between mid-Jan and late Sep are the Princess half marathon weekend and, beginning with 2016, the Star Wars Dark Side weekend and even for those 1BRs have been open.

As noted above, if the conference you are attending is a large group, you have a risk of being precluded from parking at Swan/Dolphin if staying elsewhere. If staying in a different location, you may want to skip renting a car and instead use taxis or uber, including because it costs $20 to park at Swan/Dolphin (and if you decide to leave for some reason and come back the same day, it is another $20, when not staying at the resort). OKW is the DVC resort with the shortest driving distance to S/D when not staying at an Epcot resort. If considering instead using cab or uber, best would be any resort other than SSR or OKW because the ones that also have Disney hotels generally have cabs quickly available at the main valet areas.

 

[jade1]

Why not rent your points and stay at S&D with the proceeds. Its a great location and hotel IMO.

 

[bwvBound]

Why not rent your points and stay at S&D with the proceeds. Its a great location and hotel IMO.

Speaking from our prior conference history, staying at either the Dolphin or Swan was, simply, nuts. The conference took over everything -- and staying at either property gave no respite, no quiet, no retreat from the conference frenzy. I stayed at the Dolphin only in my first year of the conference ('96) and felt it was like living in a college dorm with all the noise, noise, noise!

We preferred the Yacht Club (1997-2003) until we started booking BWV (2004-2015). I stayed off-site once (2003) but used my husband's hotel parking pass as he was staying onsite at the Yacht Club. (We were, that year, working for different firms and unable to stay together.)

 

[kniquy]

You do not say when the conference actually is but in the past BWV pool/garden view studios have usually been open when reserving 7 months out from Easter.

the conference is Tues April 18th and i will be leaving Saturday 22nd -- With Easter on the 16th, school vacation (at least for my kids) and the dark side marathon on the weekend I am not too hopeful for a studio at BW at 7 months, my best option might to be just get a room under the conference rate. I see the current S&D rates are around the $350+ range so hopefully the conference rate would be better than that. I

 

[crisi]

Why not rent your points and stay at S&D with the proceeds. Its a great location and hotel IMO.

I'd rent points from an BWV owner, then rent out my own points to cover it, myself. That way you know you are withing walking distance of the conference. There will likely be an upcharge if you go through a broker. But its a good way to be sure to get what you want.

 

[jade1]

Speaking from our prior conference history, staying at either the Dolphin or Swan was, simply, nuts. The conference took over everything -- and staying at either property gave no respite, no quiet, no retreat from the conference frenzy. I stayed at the Dolphin only in my first year of the conference ('96) and felt it was like living in a college dorm with all the noise, noise, noise!

We preferred the Yacht Club (1997-2003) until we started booking BWV (2004-2015). I stayed off-site once (2003) but used my husband's hotel parking pass as he was staying onsite at the Yacht Club. (We were, that year, working for different firms and unable to stay together.)

Weird. We have never stayed there (or the YC) without a conference going on. Was always great at both.

 

[jade1]

I'd rent points from an BWV owner, then rent out my own points to cover it, myself. That way you know you are withing walking distance of the conference. There will likely be an upcharge if you go through a broker. But its a good way to be sure to get what you want.

Yep a trade or rental at BWV would be great as well (or BCV). No way I would stay out of the EPCOT Resorts if I had a conference at S&D.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Weird. We have never stayed there (or the YC) without a conference going on. Was always great at both.

I've also attended several conferences there. Really don't understand the previous comment as the hotels, including Disneys, are always busy, it's just a group of people that is connected. I'll even visit over there on trips were not at conferences, like at Christmas season to see the decorations, and Picabo is the 24 hour dining option and just better than most other QS around Crescent lake. So, anyway, I've not considered it any different or louder either.

Now I've also used points at BWV because we have them in part for that now and while convenient it's still not as convenient as being right at the Swan/Dolphin. What I would not ver plan on doing is driving to the Swolphin for a conference. If you even can park, the parking fees will be steep.

 

[jade1]

I've also attended several conferences there. Really don't understand the previous comment as the hotels, including Disneys, are always busy, it's just a group of people that is connected. I'll even visit over there on trips were not at conferences, like at Christmas season to see the decorations, and Picabo is the 24 hour dining option and just better than most other QS around Crescent lake. So, anyway, I've not considered it any different or louder either.

Now I've also used points at BWV because we have them in part for that now and while convenient it's still not as convenient as being right at the Swan/Dolphin. What I would not ver plan on doing is driving to the Swolphin for a conference. If you even can park, the parking fees will be steep.

Agreed to everything.

Have hit Picabo many times as well, fast and many choices, sometimes at odd hours as well. Great option for the area.

 

[Mrs.Milo]

If staying at SSR or OKW, you can easily take a bus to the Studios and then walk (Less than 10 minutes) or boat over to the Swan/Dolphin as it's the 1st stop. It's free! This is how we travel around property when staying at the Boardwalk.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

If staying at SSR or OKW, you can easily take a bus to the Studios and then walk (Less than 10 minutes) or boat over to the Swan/Dolphin as it's the 1st stop. It's free! This is how we travel around property when staying at the Boardwalk.

I would not do that heading to a conference. It's just too unreliable. Your liable to miss the first hour.

I did one a few years ago and got BWV at 7 months so don't give up!

 

[Mrs.Milo]

I would also wait list for Boardwalk, good idea.

 

[bwvBound]

If staying at SSR or OKW, you can easily take a bus to the Studios and then walk (Less than 10 minutes) or boat over to the Swan/Dolphin as it's the 1st stop. It's free! This is how we travel around property when staying at the Boardwalk.

Conference events often start/end far outside the routine Disney bus schedule. It isn't uncommon for a conference to have a breakfast meeting starting at 6A.