would I hate the SWAN?

[MOMOFMNM]

I really love, loved and still do love the Poly soooo sooo much!!

But I am planning a trip and I could get the teacher rate at the Swan and stay concierge for less...or just get a standard room for even LESS...and my kids want to spend more time at EPCOT...and me at MGM next time...

ME is not with Swan, no room charges at the Swan at the parks anyway, and no dining plan either!! So really would it be worth it?? Would we really save more $$$? Would be be unhappy after being so spoiled at the Poly (with the new rooms and all??) I just don't know...Esp if we go during regular or peak season, it would save $$ right?? Even after getting a town car or limo?? I am not too worried about the dining but do love the room charging at Disney. I wish they gave the teacher rate all over WDW!!!

We have 5, would we have to rent a fold out bed for the other kid?? Or do they sleep five on a daybed or something??

TIA

just trying to work the #'s here

 

[Ladyhawke10]

The Swan is lovely...in fact, it might be a bit more luxurious than the Poly. The beds are extremely comfortable and there are all the amenities of the Disney deluxes available, plus daily paper and more restaurants nearby. The location is awesome, and the pool area is just as exciting at the Poly's--the pool has a big waterfall, a sand grotto, paddle boats, jacuzzi (which the Poly lacks, actually!) and both the Swan and Dolphin hotels are very nice. I don't think you'll miss the charging much considering all the money saved and the great surroundings the Swan has to offer. Honestly, I think the combination of services, location and comfort are fantastic at the Swan. I say go for it

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I suppose if you have your heart set on one thing....Personally, I like the idea of trying new places, especially when the new place is a five star resort. The beds are nicer than Disney's.

As for concierge, depends on your style. For us, standard was fine. We aren't in the room enough to make it worthwhile, kind of like the time we paid extra to rent a convertable car...and that was the trip we were off property. It just wasn't worth it for how little we used it. We paid for a room with a balcony one year, but hardly used it. The view from our 'standard', view room was actually looking towards the TOT, and we could still see the Epcot ball off to the side (just not front and center). To me, this view said, "You're in Disney" just as distinctly as the other room did, but maybe we were upgraded and just didn't know it. If your room was on the other side of the hotel, it would look towards the Dolphin and the pool area. So, if you can afford it, maybe you should splurge on something that you'll appreciate, but a standard room at the Swan is hardly slumming it.

We're also not that into using our room charge, but you can still use your room key to charge items at the Swan/Dolphin.

 

[Rella Bella]

Ahahhh!! The "Heavenly Bed"... they really call them that! And they are!! They are premium matteresses with feather beds & feather comforters and lots of wonderful feather pillows! (You can request firmer pillows.)
And there's a "Heavenly Shower" too (2 shower heads)... if you want a peek check out http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/index.html

If you do go sign up for "Starwood Preferred Guest Status" before you go... you can earn points toward free nights for your next stay.

I don't work for them honest!!! I just LOVE their beds! We stay at Westin when ever we can because of them!

 

[frazzled one]

I'm thinking about the Swan instead of a MK deluxe for our next trip, too - though our trip is pretty hypothetical at this point and you at least have a date in mind! A few questions cropped up as I was reading your post:

Does the Swan accommodate families of 5? It seems as if it would be a tight squeeze if they did, if rooms are 340 square feet and contain 2 queen beds.

Is ME guaranteed for next year - I thought it was an experimental thing? It's certainly popular and seems to be working well for most folks. But it wouldn't surprise me if there are Disney beancounters busily figuring out how much people would be willing to pay for it in the future...

You really, really sound like a Poly person! How much would your savings have to amount to in order for you to happily stay at the Swan?

Good luck figuring it all out!

 

[bicker]

We've stayed at the Swolphin a few times (at least twice in the Swan itself) and of course we've stayed at Disney's resorts. There IS a difference, and Disney is our choice as a result. The Swolphin is a wonderful hotel, and when we stayed there we were on business and it was actually BETTER for that than Disney's resorts are. However, I feel that that also is what makes the Swolphin not-as-good for vacation. It's just too detached from the magic for my tastes.

 

[lyncruiser]

We stayed at the Dolphin recently. Lovely resort. Great pool. However, the room was not very large. It didn't have a daybed so I don't know if they have rooms that accommodate 5. Perhaps, unlike Disney, they'll provide a rollaway for the fifth person? We didn't stay Club Level but I understand the service is not as nice or extensive as Disney's concierge.

I don't understand people who say it's not Disney enough. It's very fanciful and fun. The Dolphin Lobby is gorgeous. There is a pianist each evening. Perhaps it's a bit more adult than some Disney resorts, but we like that. Better to have a few conventioneers walking around than so many unsupervised kids running and screaming around the lobby -- which in our experience is a constant at places like WL. The Swan is the equal of any Disney deluxe and beats the values and moderates by a mile.

And, if you can walk out the door and get on a boat to MGM and Epcot (or even walk there), how much more Disney do you need? That beats getting on a bus from a value or moderate resort any day of the week!

With a teacher discount, you'll be very happy. I just don't know the answer about the 5 to a room question.

 

[Blondie]

How can you hate something that you haven't tried yet?

I say give it a whirl! The location, amenities, beach theming, great pool area, and restaurant choices make it a premier resort, IMHO.

Let us know which one you end up booking!

 

[MOMOFMNM]

the description on allears says if you have five, the third adult would have to rent a roll away bed for 25 dollars, however we have three small girls??? It does say it accomodates 5 whereas the Dolphin does not. I did love the Poly but to get to where we would spend most of our time next trip and save money, the swan might be it for us...I did like the prepaid dining plan for budget reasons and the room charges...we'll see...
anyone ever slept 5 there? Are there jr suites or other suites there avaliable just not at a teacher discount??

 

[Lives4Disney]

MOMOFMNM - I have stayed at both the Swan & Dolphin. We also have a family of 5. When my husband is with us, I bring an aero for my teenage son to sleep on. That works out just fine. The rooms are a LOT smaller than the Poly. I was shocked at how small, actually, on our first visit. We had to kind of rearrange furniture to fit the aero, but during the day we just stood it up and out of the way. You need to try it for yourself, but the next two times I visited it was not with our whole family - once with just my kids, and once just DH and I.

Here are some pros of the S/D. The location can't be beat - especially if you enjoy MGM and your kids Epcot. The pools are fabulous at the S/D. They are much larger and more fun than the Poly pools. The room service is great - better than WDW resorts. There are many great restaurants in the S/D and quick counter service at the Dolphin.

We have stayed only club level at the S & D. The bfast is great and I think better than some concierge bfasts at WDW resorts. The lounge closes right after bfast and doesn't reopen until 5 pm for appetizers (which are delicious and plentiful). I think they serve until 7 pm. There are no free alcohol drinks or fabulous pastried in the eve. The lounge closes at 8 pm. They don't do the same preplanning for you as WDW concierge, but there is a concierge desk in the lobby and once you check in you can take advantage of that.

The only cons for me were the small rooms and the fact that club level rooms do not have a balcony.

Happy planning!

Lives4Disney

 

[CamColt]

I have beena die hard Poly fan since I first stayed there when I was 14. When we decided on WDW for our honeymoon, I demanded we stay at the Poly.

I have since stayed at the Poly a few more times, and we have now stayed at the Swan 3 times. After my 3 visits to the Swan I have to say, I'm beginning to enjoy that area so much, that it's becoming a toss up between the 2. I will be styaing at the Dolphin for the first time in December.

I guess the moral of the story is even being a big time Poly fan, I was not at all disappointed in the Swan.

 

[NDAMomX2]

We've stayed at the Swan many times using the teachers' rate in the concierge level. The beds really are extremely comfortable and the breakfast in the morning is fine. The staff in the club level breakfast room are friendly. We've always had a view of the Studios from our room--could see Tower of Terror and Fantasmic at night. The opportunity to walk to EPCOT and the Studios is extremely convenient. The pool is lovely. We're planning a trip for June and are leaning towards Poly or CR (can't decide) but my DH is so fond of the Swan, he's trying to persuade me to go back there. The Swan rooms are larger than the Dolphin rooms and have a nice set up for the bathrooms.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Well as you can see from my tag the Poly is our favorite but the Swan is our 2nd favorite with the govt. discount. We are going to the Swan in nov.dec for dh conference. We can really live with the non charging and other stuff considering how much money we save on the room. I usually use that for food. My 3ds love the grotto pool and beach area. This time they will probably do basketball if we have some time. We really dont spend too much time in the room no matter where we stay. We are bringing our own aerobed this time to save the $25 per night roll away charge. Love those heavenly beds, oatmeal soap and turndown service. Also first stop for the bus and less walking up to the room compared to the dolphin. The swan is our 2nd favorite resort.

 

[Goofy4]

DW and I stayed at the Swan as a side-trip on business 7 or 8 years ago. We decided then that when we returned w/kids we would want to stay at a Disney-owned location. Room size being chief among the reasons, but also I think because we were both raised "Disney" and something didn't feel right.

 

[MOMOFMNM]

I have beena die hard Poly fan since I first stayed there when I was 14. When we decided on WDW for our honeymoon, I demanded we stay at the Poly.

I have since stayed at the Poly a few more times, and we have now stayed at the Swan 3 times. After my 3 visits to the Swan I have to say, I'm beginning to enjoy that area so much, that it's becoming a toss up between the 2. I will be styaing at the Dolphin for the first time in December.

I guess the moral of the story is even being a big time Poly fan, I was not at all disappointed in the Swan.

Thanks everyone!! I am just so afraid that we were all so SPOILED by the Poly and the new rooms that we would think anything less would stink!! Which is not true I am sure but you all know the feeling of trying to make everyone in the family happy!! My dh will sorely miss that HUGE flat screen and the sq footage is really not much less than Fiji at the Poly and I really want to go back soon and this may be one of the ways to do so!

Of course we all LOVE the MK but I was very very fond of MGM personally!! I love stage and movie and musical performances and RNRC was SWEET!!

We hardly saw ANY of EPCOT in one day, really...we missed A LOT of EPCOT and that was my kids favorite park!! I was suprised, I thought they'd love the MK with the CRT and all but they were more transfixed with EPCOT, darned those "smart kids." This is one reason why I am thinking of shifting to the EPCOT area because really the bus transportation to MGM and AK was not that great and even a monorail trip from the Poly is not SUPER fast, although fun and pretty quick!!

I guess if we get another trip before Sept 2006, I will consider the SWAN otherwise if I have to wait a whole other year, Poly will be our choice!!

I do think the Swan looks very gorgeous! The rooms look very modern and cozy...I only wish they did ME and dining...(although we have decided the dining plan is something we could do without actually...) I just do not like arguing with DH over spending money on food and when to eat and ETC...in all honesty, we had a hard time finding time to eat we had such wonderful FUN!!!

Next trip is at least a 7 nighter...no matter what!!!

 

[welovewdw]

We're trying the Swan in November for the first time - I'm excited! Especially with the $169 AP rate! Just dh & I are going this trip, but if it's nice, when we take the kids, we can actually get 2 rooms for less than a deluxe and it looks every bit as nice to me (if not a little more luxurious) - I love staying in park, but really prefer the deluxe resorts, so I'm hoping this is a good compromise so we can go and spend a little less on some trips.

 

[MOMOFMNM]

We're trying the Swan in November for the first time - I'm excited! Especially with the $169 AP rate! Just dh & I are going this trip, but if it's nice, when we take the kids, we can actually get 2 rooms for less than a deluxe and it looks every bit as nice to me (if not a little more luxurious) - I love staying in park, but really prefer the deluxe resorts, so I'm hoping this is a good compromise so we can go and spend a little less on some trips.

Wow you are so lucky you get to go so many times vs my one time a year...

please let us know how you like the SWAN!!