What is the story behind Swan and Dolphin and Disney?

[swilphil]

poly is an awesome looking hotel, not sure what you are smokin.

It's awesome if you happen to be a fan of orange and black. Don't get me wrong, I love the landscaping, pool, big rooms and location, but the Poly lobby looks like someplace where the Bradys may have stayed on their trip to Hawaii or maybe even something architect Mike Brady himself would have designed back in the '70s.

If you want to see an example of a hotel with a great tropical theme, check out the Royal Pacific Resort at Universal. Now THAT'S awesome.

As far as the S/D, I thought it was weird looking the first time I saw it, but when we actually stayed there it all works together. The new rooms are great, and I love me a nice teacher discount!

 

[Irishhockey]

Tho not the topic of this thread, I think you'll see the Four Seasons Resort very closely tied with Disney and having at least the same benefits as Swan/Dolphin and maybe more.

Dont' forget, Disney is taking a piece of the Four Season's revenue, so Disney wants it to succeed (like the Swan & Dolphin)

Knox

Disney will have to walk a very fine line if they're looking to expand the same on-property amentities to Four Seasons, especially depending on what Four Seasons comes out with rate wise (including there timeshare.)

Just an FYI

Actually the Swan/Dolphin hotels have a theme even though most guests do not understand the whimical building s that were designed by Micael Graves.

Here is the story behind the Swan& Dolphin...

So are you telling me that the statues are in fact correct as is? That story was rather confusing (I'm not familiar with either resort) to me and I'm not sure I really understood it

 

[minnie61650]

So are you telling me that the statues are in fact correct as is? That story was rather confusing (I'm not familiar with either resort) to me and I'm not sure I really understood it

As I understand it the statues are on the correct buildings. I never heard the story of the mix up of the statues before.

The story I quoted is Michale Graves story but to me the theme of the buildings is Florida whimical.
The Swan hotel reminds me of the "Unly Duckling" story.
The Dolphin (dolphin named after the dolphin fish not the mammal) hotel
reminds me of the story of The Magic Fish by Freya Littledale

 

[DISshopkeeper]

minnie61650 Thanks for the article, great info... a fun read!

 

[LISAMWDW]

poly is an awesome looking hotel, not sure what you are smokin.

I agree, btw, the poly is awesome!

 

[Poohbear123]

Thanks Minnie61650 Never seen that article before!

 

[CanadianGuy]

Disney will have to walk a very fine line if they're looking to expand the same on-property amentities to Four Seasons, especially depending on what Four Seasons comes out with rate wise (including there timeshare.)

Four Seasons will -- if their other locations are any indication, be priced above the Deluxe level of Disney resorts and provide a level of service not otherwise available at Disney resorts. Now when I say that, I mean the non-monorail Deluxe resorts. I think they'll be in proximity of the monorail resort pricing. (ie: +/- $100)

Four Seasons will charge a premium for the proximity to the Disney parks and being on Disney property. They charge 425$ a night for a standard room in Beverly Hills and 295$ a night in Miami. Location clearly plays into their rates.

I think you'll see a minimal level of Disney involvement .. but at the same time, I think you'll see the same type of Disney amenities you see at the Swan & Dolphin.. perhaps one or two more.

Four Seasons specializes in creating 'experience packages'. Most of their resorts depending on location) offer things like :

- Golf Package
- Romance Package
- Hike & Bike Package
- Girls Getaway etc.

Those kinds of value add-on type experience vacations are big profit-centers for 4S, so I expect you'll see that is exactly what Four Seasons does on Disney Property.

I even suspect that they may offer a Four Seasons package that includes something very much like the Premium or Platinum packages offered at Disney resorts... but with the Four Seasons twist.. and price.

Knox

 

[Sammie]

It's awesome if you happen to be a fan of orange and black. Don't get me wrong, I love the landscaping, pool, big rooms and location, but the Poly lobby looks like someplace where the Bradys may have stayed on their trip to Hawaii or maybe even something architect Mike Brady himself would have designed back in the '70s.

If you want to see an example of a hotel with a great tropical theme, check out the Royal Pacific Resort at Universal. Now THAT'S awesome.

As far as the S/D, I thought it was weird looking the first time I saw it, but when we actually stayed there it all works together. The new rooms are great, and I love me a nice teacher discount!

There is a difference in a tropical theme which is what the Royal Pacific has. As does many other resorts in the US and Hawaii.

However the Polynesian whether it appeals to everyone or not, is authenic Polynesian, not tropical themed. There is a difference.

Also the colors that so many associated with the Brady episode are no longer there at the Polynesian.

As to the looks of the Swan and Dolphin they are fine, if they had been somewhere else. They simply do not fit in with the theme and architecture of the Boardwalk and Yacht and Beach Club resorts.

 

[Irishhockey]

As I understand it the statues are on the correct buildings. I never heard the story of the mix up of the statues before.

Hmm... interesting! Of course you have to wonder, what came first... the story or the misplaced statue? That's a very interesting story and I had no idea such article existed! The buildings still make me laugh though because of that

...I think you'll see a minimal level of Disney involvement .. but at the same time, I think you'll see the same type of Disney amenities you see at the Swan & Dolphin.. perhaps one or two more...

lol Knox... you've done your research! I guess only time will tell really... but I'm expecting great things from this resort area.

 

[disneyfan67]

minnie61650 Thanks for the article, great info... a fun read!

I agree, thanks for posting it. I read all those articles on Mouse Planet, Mice Age, etc, all the time.

The thing that cracks me up though, is how complicated the back story is from the designer Micheal Graves. If you have to explain something so lengthy and wild as that, then probably your design didn't work or maybe isn't a good one, IMO. I'm sure the fans of both those resorts love them for many reasons, but that design was a byproduct of the mid 80's style of design and architecture. Part of that decade had some wild and garish looking designs, especially with colors. I have heard some designers call it the "Miami Vice effect" where pastels, turquoises, and different, off colors are used. Micheal Graves wanted to do something different, controversial, and completely off the wall when designing those resorts. I think it's safe to say he accomplished that. Some designers like to see how far they can "push the envelope" and what they can get away with. Most of what is behind that thinking, is ego. I think the WDW area is one of the few areas in the country where you could get away with resorts that look like the S&D. Miami is another city that those designs might work. I don't think they would go over to well in some cities like Chicago, etc.

 

[jessica52877]

Okay, I am confused. Are the statues backwards? Like as in is the dolphin on top of the swan hotel? But they are really like as in to the story? Hope I am making sense, because I am confused by the story.

 

[minnie61650]

Okay, I am confused. Are the statues backwards? Like as in is the dolphin on top of the swan hotel? But they are really like as in to the story? Hope I am making sense, because I am confused by the story.

The dolphins are on the Dolphin hotel and the swans are on the Swan hotel just the way Mr. Graves designed them.

It is confusing (perhaps this is why the rumor of the statue mix up happened )because the Dolphins are on the hotel with the banana leaves and the Swans are the hotel with the waves .

The Walt Disney Dolphin is a mountain that has struggled to thrust its way out of the tropical rain forest. That is the reason for the banana leaves painted along the side of the building.

It would more logical for us to equate waves with Dolphins (fish).
But then you have to remember Michaels Graves line of thinking.,,,,
IE:
"It was to be a hotel for conventions and when you attend a convention, what do you want the participants to do? You want them to think differently, to see things from a different perspective.

He (Michael Graves) saw things differently and thus the elaborate and somewhat confusing story behind the Swan and Dolphin hotels.

 

[Tiffany]

There is a difference in a tropical theme which is what the Royal Pacific has. As does many other resorts in the US and Hawaii.

However the Polynesian whether it appeals to everyone or not, is authenic Polynesian, not tropical themed. There is a difference.

Also the colors that so many associated with the Brady episode are no longer there at the Polynesian.

As to the looks of the Swan and Dolphin they are fine, if they had been somewhere else. They simply do not fit in with the theme and architecture of the Boardwalk and Yacht and Beach Club resorts.

Actually is the BW, YC/BC that do not fit with the S/D. The S/D were built first and you could take a tram from them to the IG entrance of EC. That is why there is a tram turnaround by that entrance. Over the year Disney built the YC/BC and then the BW and added the boats and got rid of the tram.

I always view the S/D as sitting slightly outside of the BW, YC/BC area as they are on the other side the of the bridge.

 

[jessica52877]

Thanks for clarifying and pictures. I had never paid much attention to the looks, minus the statues. I guess fish do go with waves, but swans to me don't go much with banana leaves so I might not have thought that logic that others were thinking. Quite interesting to know the history of all.

I used to think they were neat, that was before disney is what it is today. When the marketplace seemed so far from disney and not very disney like!

 

[TeddyToo]

Thank you all for the fascinating info! We are first timers staying at the Swan due to the $125 rate. We were planning on WL but the rate and location sucked me in. When I started researching resorts I thought they looked strange and didn't even consider them an option. However, Heavenly Beds, Westin/Sheraton Brand and Epcot location all for $125, I was sold. Cool to know the background of the resorts.

 

[HumphreytheBear]

Actually is the BW, YC/BC that do not fit with the S/D. The S/D were built first and you could take a tram from them to the IG entrance of EC. That is why there is a tram turnaround by that entrance. Over the year Disney built the YC/BC and then the BW and added the boats and got rid of the tram.

True they were "opened first", but Y&B was under construction at the same time and actually opened only 5 months after the Dolphin, so Sammie has a Valid point.

The Swan opened in late 1989 early 1990 (I found conflicting dates one said Nov '89 another said Jan '90), the Dolphin followed in June 1990, The Yacht and Beach Club opened just a few months later in November of 1990. So given that the Swan and Dolphin were moved from the Hotel Plaza area to their current location (prior to construction) would say to me that the Yacht and Beach were already planned with permits being pulled and ground breaking around the exact same time the Swan and Dolphin began construction.

 

[MissMet]

True they were "opened first", but Y&B was under construction at the same time and actually opened only 5 months after the Dolphin, so Sammie has a Valid point.

The Swan opened in late 1989 early 1990 (I found conflicting dates one said Nov '89 another said Jan '90), the Dolphin followed in June 1990, The Yacht and Beach Club opened just a few months later in November of 1990. So given that the Swan and Dolphin were moved from the Hotel Plaza area to their current location (prior to construction) would say to me that the Yacht and Beach were already planned with permits being pulled and ground breaking around the exact same time the Swan and Dolphin began construction.

Swan & Dolphin were open in Nov '89. The only reason I know is 'cause we were there early Nov '89 & we visited them- due to all the hype of the "new amazing" hotels opening. They were very popular when they opened.

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

The listed opening dates are (keep in mind these are probably the "Grand Opening" dates not the soft opening/ test stay dates that most places at Disney have... so they were probably open to the public a little earlier than this...):

WDW Swan: November 22, 1989
WDW Dolphin: June 4, 1990
Yacht Club: November 5, 1990
Beach Club: November 19, 1990

So I have to agree that Disney probably already had the "theme" for that area set when they had to move the Swan and Dolphin. All 4 resorts would have been under construction at the exact same time. Either way, the Swan and Dolphin are love em or hate em resorts. I don't think there really is a happy medium with these. People either think they are great or they think they are ugly. I personally don't care for the look from the outside but I think they are very well presented on the inside and the pools are really nice!

 

[TripTime]

I am still curious as to how these hotels came to be on Disney property. I hear all that about the design, but why are they there? Why did Disney allow them to be built? Does anyone have any articles on this? Those that think they are ugly will disagree but, I've wondered why Disney doesn't just buy them. They can fix them up if needed or change the theme. If Disney can turn a castle into a birthday cake,they can fix these hotels.

 

[Sinderelli]

Thank you all for the fascinating info! We are first timers staying at the Swan due to the $125 rate. We were planning on WL but the rate and location sucked me in. When I started researching resorts I thought they looked strange and didn't even consider them an option. However, Heavenly Beds, Westin/Sheraton Brand and Epcot location all for $125, I was sold. Cool to know the background of the resorts.

$125????? Is that the teacher rate? We are going to WDW in Feb. and if that is the teacher rate I may seriously consider switching to the Swan.