What's The Story About Swan & Dolphin?

[Texian@WDW]

All these years we've been going to WDW, and I never thought why Swan and Dolphin are not Disney resorts even though they are on the property (or not?). Was it a mistake on Disneys part in that the land they sit on was bought up? Anyone know?

 

[CarolA]

No, the owners got those properties as part of the payment for the construction costs for Epcot. Acutally they origianally got MUCH more, but when Eisner came on board he managed to get the contract re-written and Swan/Dolphin is all they got.

Bonnet Creek Resort sits on land surrounded by Disney that is not owned by Disney In that case the deal to buy the land was not finalized prior to the news leaking that Disney was the one buying the property. The owners wanted a LOT more money and the Disney company walked.

 

[HeatherPage]

Actually aren't the Swan and Dolphin (or Sheraton and Westin) just leasing the property for quite a few years?

 

[Texian@WDW]

I didn't know it was a Sheraton property......interesting.

 

[Got Quattro?]

If you read the book "Disney Wars" there is an entire chapter on them.

Disney, had already signed the deal to allow Sheriten to build hotels on Disney property. Then when Isner came to the scene in the mid 80's he saw that the hotels and parks were the only thing currently making money at dosney. he wanted out of that deal. So he canceled it, and shopped around and was close to signing a deal with marriott.

Isner told his designers to come up with the most crazy theme or design they could think of (for 1984). The design you see for the swan and dolphin is 98% of what they came up with. Down to the color schemes and everything.

Isner was ready to let marriott build them, but the sheritan people freaked and sued. part of the settlement was the arangment out today.

The swan and dolphin are true disney designs, but they are opperated under a lease aggreament to sheriton.

 

[Texian@WDW]

Quattro, did the book say when the lease is up? What happens then? I wanted to read that book but I was afraid it would change my rosy perception of Disney.

 

[minnie61650]

Here is an article about understanding the Swan Dolphin

http://www.mouseplanet.com/articles.php?art=ww060726ws

 

[minnie61650]

I read a thread about the dolphins at the Swan Dolphin hotels a while back that was very interesting.

The question asked was....

Does anyone know the story behind why the Dolphin has gigantic sculptures on top that are obviously fish, not dolphins?

See post 13 where Mr. SwanDolphin gives a little of his insight about the Dolphins sculptures.


http://disboards.com/showthread.php?p=3152004#post3152004

 

[Got Quattro?]

I wanted to read that book but I was afraid it would change my rosy perception of Disney.

You should read it. very incitefull. It shows that Isner was a genius at maximizing the parks and sustaining them as an income stream to make the studios do better.

There was an extreme case of too many chiefs and not enough indians at the top of the disney food chain. everyone had their own seperate deal that worked counter productive to each other.

It goes into details about how some movies were made and how other well known movies were passed on.

It read to vilianize isner, but gives him a lot of credit for saving the company in the 80's.

What most of us don't realize is disney is about making movies first. then the parks.

I am sure it does outline the details of the hotel lease deal, I just don't recall it right now. sorry.

 

[pooh2001]

The S/D does not have Disney soaps, the WDW advertising TV channel, Disney wake-up calls or Disney hidden mickeys.

But the S/D have great teacher, nurse, government, AAA & AP rates.
You can have a great rate and still be an EPCOT resort like the Y/BC and Boardwalk.

You still use the Friendship boats like the other WDW EPCOT resorts. You can still walk to EPCOT from the S/D.

The S/D pool is very nice. SAB at the Y/BC still is #1, but for the EPCOT resorts, I would put the S/D Grotto pool as #2.


We can not afford the Y/BC ,

But we can afford the Dolphin at $199 a night for Easter week

 

[Blondie]

The S/D does not have Disney soaps, the WDW advertising TV channel, Disney wake-up calls or Disney hidden mickeys.

Last time I was there they still had WDW Television.

The soaps at the S/D are a step up from the regular soap found at the WDW resorts. The S/D oatmeal soap smells wonderful!

 

[CarolA]

Last time I was there they still had WDW Television.

The soaps at the S/D are a step up from the regular soap found at the WDW resorts. The S/D oatmeal soap smells wonderful!

I think the oatmeal soap is gone. My August visit did not have it.

 

[Mark P.]

I think the oatmeal soap is gone. My August visit did not have it.

Uh-Oh...DW isn't going to like hearing this!

 

[Blondie]

No oatmeal soap? I wonder if they were out of it. One can only hope!

I have a stockpile from our last few stays there, guess I'll have to bring some with me from home!

 

[pooh2001]

We love the oatmeal soap too

I hope it was just an inventory problem

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

Isner told his designers to come up with the most crazy theme or design they could think of (for 1984). The design you see for the swan and dolphin is 98% of what they came up with. Down to the color schemes and everything.


The swan and dolphin are true disney designs, but they are opperated under a lease aggreament to sheriton.

Uhhhh...the Swan and Dolphin were designed by the famous architect Michael Graves (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Graves).

The company that runs the resorts is actually Starwood, which owns both Westin and Sheraton (and other hotel chains like W, St. Regis, Four Points, etc.)

That is a shame about the oatmeal soap! It was in use when we were there again in July

 

[princess pooh]

I think the oatmeal soap is gone. My August visit did not have it.

I had the oatmeal soap in August. I've beeen there at times when they ran out of it though. Hopefully it's not gone for good!

 

[1st x dis mom]

Which resort would you stay at and why? Swan or the Dolphin?