When You Are At The Swan...

[CamColt]

...Do you feel like you are at Disney?

We are looking into staying there and Im just afraid with it not being a Disney owned hotel, Ill feel like something is missing. So, do you get the Disney Magic feeling there?

 

[madge]

when I look at my window and can see Tower of Terror or the fireworks from Illuminations, it's tough to ignore that I am at Disney

I understand that not everyone shares my enthusiasm for the S/D properties, so I imagine you'll get a variety of responses....

 

[Muffy]

I think you will love the location, views and themeing of these resorts. We are long time disney resort visitors and now have booked our second stay at the Dolphin. We LOVE the S/D and will continue to experience the magic they offer.

 

[anitad]

We used to stay at the Yacht Club (and we loved it there), but as our visits became more frequent, we moved next door to the S/D for great rates (saving us a lot of money) in the EPCOT resorts area. Without the S/D option, we would not be able to enjoy frequent visits to WDW. We have not been disappointed. We continue to enjoy the WDW resorts as we dine at the resort hotels frequently.

 

[#1hockeymom]

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION! My view on the seventh floor was of the boardwalk, and in the distance Epcot. I had Mickey's backyard for my playground! Great room, great staff, and great food. I was definately in Disney.

There was one thing that wasn't Disney. I didn't have to fight for a pool chair!

Debbie

 

[maggiew]

We felt more Disney magic at the Dolphin than we did when we stayed at Port Orleans Riverside. At the Dolphin, we could see the boardwalk from our room, it was a super quick trip to EPCOT and MGM, and the YC&BC were right there. The only thing missing was Mickey soap and the Mickey wake up call, but we found the Dolphin location to more than make up for that.

Maggie

 

[CamColt]

Oh its sounding good, guys. Thanks for the encouragement.
I have a couple questions though...

Do you get the regular Disney channels on tv that you get at the other hotels(Zip a dee do dah, tip for today, park hours, weather, etc...)?
And if you have a "lake view" what is the view. Well, I figured out the lake part, LOL, but would you see the BW from a lake view room or something else?

 

[#1hockeymom]

I am not sure what is considered resort view/lake view/resort A view. I would ask for the specific view you are seeking if that is important. I asked for Epcot view as high up as possible, still being able to keep a balcony.

I drove my family crazy and constantly listened to the Disney channel "Zip-a dee-do-dah" tip of the day! My theory is, while in Disney, all senses should be tuned towards Disney!

Have a wonderful trip!
Debbie

 

[CamColt]

Thanks Hockeymom. We are looking at the special AP deal where you book a standard room and get an upgrade to a "lake view".

 

[Muffy]

Don't forget to join www.starwood.com. You may get a comp upgrade with the free membership! Just make sure your membership number is on your reservation (if you make one) Then ask for a comp upgrade when you checkin or 3 days before arrival. You can either email or speak to the room controller at the Swan.

 

[Blondie]

Regarding "views" this was our lake view room from our balcony at the Swan, what you see is part of Crescent Lake and the white sandy beach area of the Grotto Pool area:

This was our resort/epcot view from our balcony at the Dolphin:

How can you not feel "Disney" when you look out at Spaceship Earth?

Both of these resorts are so beautiful during the night when everything is lit up! And as previously mentioned, you can't beat the location!

 

[CamColt]

Thanks for the pictures, Blondie. Those are great views!
Am I right in thinking that not all rooms have balconies?

 

[Mouseteacher]

camcolt ~ what everyone said and triple that!!! I was a Disney resort snob for many, many years - only a Disney resort for me. Then, I used the teacher rate at the Dolphin last summer (nervously) but I loved our stay so much so that we returned to the Swan this past week. It was an even more magical stay than last summer! We are sold on the S/D. We are in the middle of the magic - everywhere we looked was Disney. And, I agree with hockeymom, no problem getting a good chair at the pool.

You are right, not all rooms have a balcony.

In my view, the only difference is no Mickey wake-up call, no Mickey toiletries and inability to charge to your room when not in the resorts. Minor, very minor, differences. They even call their employees Cast Members. I saw on a door near the quiet pool a sign that said "Cast Members Only".

 

[CookieGVB]

Don't forget - if you still have a Disney Club card, you get 20% off dining at S/D (except Shula's and Palio). They also do the refillable mug thing at the Dolphin - good for refills at Tubbis.

 

[wld]

I think you get Disney magic and Swan magic, an unbeatable combination.

 

[CamColt]

Originally posted by CookieGVB
Don't forget - if you still have a Disney Club card, you get 20% off dining at S/D (except Shula's and Palio). They also do the refillable mug thing at the Dolphin - good for refills at Tubbis.

Wow! Thanks for the tip. I didnt realize that.
Ive read the menus for S/D restuarants, but are they all sit down? Im guessing Tubbies is counter service but are any of the others?

 

[swilphil]

There are many, many sit-down options at the Swan/Dolphin. Tubbi's is counter service--cafeteria style. We really liked the character dinner at the Swan. The buffet had many options and a seperate buffet area for the kids. The Dolphin has Shula's Steakhouse. Some say that's the best steak in all of Orlando. Also the Dolphin has a soda fountain that serves burgers. Check out swandolphin.com or the restaurant board for more info on the restaurants. Don't forget the Swan is right next door to the Boardwalk. Depending on where your room is, it may be a shorter walk to the Boardwalk than to the Dolphin.

 

[Disney's Deluxe Princess]

The location is wonderful. The hotel is very nice. However, to answer your question, I do think the resort lacks on theming. So for me, there is no "Disney magic" around the resort itself. Yes, you may see Epcot from your room, but that is not theming to me.

 

[csmommy]

I'm sure some of the posters on this thread have heard about my stay, so here it goes again.

Back in May we did a split stay at AKL & the Swan, saving the Swan's Club Level (what we thought would be the best) for last. AKL blew it out of the water.

I found the staff so very lacking , DH & I thought they were people that couldn't graduate(rejects as DS called them) from the Disney Intitute. The hotel hallways were not clean, trays from room service sat for more the 7 hours at a time. The front desk, & the hotel in general was very understaffed, & we saw very few families. We definately felt we were in a convention hotel, & felt a bit odd walking in from the pools with people dressed in suits, carrying briefcases/talking on cell-phones/using PDA's.

And lastly we did not feel any of the magic we felt at the warm, & very hospitable AKL.

The only good I can say about the Swan is the Club Level was wonderful when Theabo & Mama T were working there.

 

[jwfla422]

We've stayed at the Swan 5 times and the Dolphin 3 times, so you can say we've been pretty experienced with these resorts. If we've EVER encountered a problem it was minor and taken care of quickly and VERY efficiently and quite honestly it was only one time we had a small problem.

We have had the most amazing views of "WDW" from many of our rooms, just unbelievable...can't say that about ANY of the "WDW owned" resorts we've stayed in.

You're right in the middle of EVERYTHING!! The CMs are just great and very friendly!

Yes, we do see many convention goers but this does not bother me at all, everyone is usually very cordial and friendly. But, seldom do you see many young children running around screaming in the lobbies or down the halls (like in the WDW owned resorts). I don't mind that either

And, just to add, I have noticed some of the "WDW" resorts getting a little more "stuffy" and catering to "business" crowds. It was rather disappointing to my 4 yr old dd when she couldn't meet Pluto who was dancing on the beach at the YC/BC because he was entertaining at an "HP" dinner there.