Who's been to the Swan/Dolphin?

[Soupermom]

DH and I are teachers and we are thinking of taking advandage of the discounts at the Swan and Dolphin in March 2009. Based on rates for 2008, I think we could get a room for our family for $200/night. I have a few questions though...

I believe you can walk to Epcot, right? How do you get to the other parks?

Can you use the Magical Express?

How is the hotel in general? We've stayed at ASMovies and Pop on prior trips.

Does any one suggest one over the other (Swan vs. Dolphin)

Cast will include my family with DS11 and DD14, plus my Sis and BIL who may visit for a few days in another room. We spend most of our time at the parks and don't need many hotel frills. We were quite happy at POP actually, by Sis wants a little more fluff this time.

How are the restaurants?

Thanks for any comments you can share!

 

[sharonW]

Hi, I recommend Swan if you like something smaller.
You will need to walk to the Dolphin to dine, its a
short walk.
You can walk to Epcot or take a nice quiet boat
ride to epcot or studios. So convenient!
Cannot use Magical Express
Hotel in general is very nice. I never thought
I'd say that but after staying there I would
recommend it. Haven't been there in 5 yrs or
so. Rooms had just been renovated so they were great.
Ahhhhhhhh those heavenly beds are so comfy. Its really
a great resort. We got a $99 a nite rate over labor day!
That could not be beat!!
Never dined at any restaurants so no comment there.

You will need to take a bus to AK or MK.
Have fun planning!!

 

[westjones]

I believe you can walk to Epcot, right? How do you get to the other parks?

Can you use the Magical Express?

How is the hotel in general? We've stayed at ASMovies and Pop on prior trips.

Does any one suggest one over the other (Swan vs. Dolphin)

Cast will include my family with DS11 and DD14, plus my Sis and BIL who may visit for a few days in another room. We spend most of our time at the parks and don't need many hotel frills. We were quite happy at POP actually, by Sis wants a little more fluff this time.

How are the restaurants?

Thanks for any comments you can share!

You can walk to Epcot and MGM from the Swan & Dolphin or take the boats that stop there as well as Boardwalk and Beach Club. To go to the other parks there are Disney Buses, just like at a Disney resort.

I don't think you can use the Magical Express because those are only for Disney resorts (and these aren't Disney resorts, although they have some of the benefits of the Disney resorts).

The rooms are nice, and much more upscale than the value resorts at Disney, but they don't have the Disney icons like the value resorts (those are fun).

We prefer the Swan because they have these beds called "Heavenly Beds" that are VERY comfy. My DD still talks about those beds and wants to go back there some day.

We only ate at the Dolphin at the cafeteria (open 24 hours which worked out very good for us because we needed breakfast at 5:00 am on Christmas morning before driving home straight for 17 hours---that was a trip to remember).

It has more 'fluff' than the value resorts, but we love Pop and the whole Disney theming. We are Disney Vacation Club members, so we usually stay at Boardwalk or Beach Club, which are right next door. We only stayed at the Swan once because we got a $99 the week of Christmas there some promo, and then we stayed at the Dolphin once because we were on a Disney Cruise when a hurricane was coming and they docked early and bused all of us over to the Dolphin so the ship could go up the coast and wait out the hurricane--another trip to remember).

Your kids will like the pool, it was nice. There are probably pictures over at http://allearsnet.com if you look under resorts. I think they have pictures. You will like it there and it is really nice being able to walk to two parks (or take the little boat).

Have a great trip!
DJ

 

[madge]

Check out this thread for everything you've ever wanted to know about the Swan & Dolphin!

 

[zaza]

My husband and I stayed at the Dolphin in 2001 (also on teacher rate). We really liked it, especially being able to boat to Epcot and MGM. I've read some things about it since that make me think we won't go back (we've done WL since). First, you can't use Magic Express there. They charge a hefty daily parking fee (maybe $12, maybe $10) even if you are a hotel guest. They have locked minibars, not fridges. Since it was just the 2 of us, we had a king-bed room, but the Dolphin has double beds (I think the Swan has queens). We ate at the snack bar one night--it was pouring rain--and had good burgers, but that's the only meal we had there. It really is pretty and the location is great! We enjoyed walking to and around Boardwalk in the evenings. He loves Flying Fish so it was easy to get to our ADR there. We also liked to watch Illuminations from Boardwalk and we could see parts of Illuminations and Fantasmic from our room. Have fun whatever you decide!

 

[Soupermom]

thanks for the info thus far everyone! I'll go check out your link now, Madge.

 

[happymommy]

I stayed at the Swan once and the Dolphin once, both last year. I'm going back to the Dolphin this week
I preferred the Swan, as there were two sinks, and it was the smaller quieter part. But the Dolphin was great also - I am an SPG gold member so they gave me a room with TWO balconies, one HUGE.
Both have heavenly beds.
Room service is awsome - better than Disney resorts.
The TV is better than Disney resorts - I like to chill out at night with a movie on demand (first of all, Disney doesn't have these, second, they can be paused, FF, RW, and stuff like a video, so you could stop it at the end and watch again the next day as you have 24 hours) and room service for me and the kids. We can't do Disney for 18 hours or anything. We go often.
The beds are nicer than Disney resorts.
I don't think you could even compare them to the moderate or values, as they have exterior corridors, no room service, no movies on demand, no rollaways (?, but Dolphin does, not the Swan).
The walk to Epcot is pleasant, MGM is about a mile, I love to walk but when it's hot we take the boat. That is nice. I love Epcot the best, and so do the kids, so we have grown to LOVE the S/D.
My DS loves sushi - my DH is asian, and we had DS when we were living in Hawaii, so we pretty much know good sushi. They have Kimono's at the S/D, and last time I went (w/o DH) we carried it out to our room 4 nights in a row. It is very good! My friend that was there with me at the time went there and they brought kids' meals to her 4 boys from Gulliver's so that she could have sushi and the kids could have chicken strips. Very good service!
Keep in mind: Swan has two queen beds (or a king and a sofa sleeper) but the room itself is smaller and NO rollaways available. Dolphin has two double beds (or a king and a sofa sleeper) but you CAN get a rollaway. I get a king (I'm tall). I can't do a double; it's too short. I may bring an aerobed this trip as DH is coming for part of the time. I booked last minute (with starpoints) so the Swan was booked for my first night. That is fine - they are both great, and connected by a covered walkway.
Bus service is excellent.
PM me if you want any more info - We spent a lot of time there last year

 

[jojo14]

We got a $99 a nite rate over labor day!
That could not be beat!!


Hi there - quick question -How did you get that $99 rate?
Thanks!

 

[sharonW]

We got a $99 a nite rate over labor day!
That could not be beat!!


Hi there - quick question -How did you get that $99 rate?
Thanks!

Hello, It was on the mousesavers site. It was a good 5 yrs ago though. It was a special they offered over labor day. I think there may be specials
going right now. Check out the mousesaver site. I have recently seen the nightly rate 129/139 which is still a great deal for this resort. Good Luck!!

 

[Soupermom]

Thanks again gang...keep 'em coming!

I've pm'd you HappyMommy!

Does anyone recommend a specific room...I'm thinking at the Swan? Can you see Illuminations from there...or only from the Dolphin?

You guys and gals are great!