Anyone have Swan and Dolphin tips/answers to questions?

[MickeyLuv'r]

I will tentatively be traveling to the Swan and Dolphin resort the second week of august. Does anybody have any tips or recommendations for this resort? We were looking at other deluxe resorts but at the price point we found for this package we just couldn't beat it. I do have a few miscellaneous questions...

1- I have read about the third-party buses, how is the walk to Yacht or Boardwalk to catch their busses?
2- Does Swan and Dolphin get resort TV? (WDW Today, Must do Disney?)
3- Any other cons I should know about to this resort?
4A- Is staying at S&D better than say a value resort?

4B-Are the few perks you get S&D worth losing the true Disney feel?
5- Anything else I should know?


Thank you in advanced for your hopefully helpful information!!!

1. not sure. We walk to Epcot/Hs and drive to AK/MK.
2. not sure
3. No room charge in the parks. They do not take Disney gift cards as payment. They are part of Marriott though, so you can get Marriott Rewards. There is also - or was- a AAA discount at S/D dining. (Should also include SR.)
4A. YES! The pool is much better for one. You also get amenities like room service dining as an option.
4B. That's a matter of opinion. They are not officially WDW hotels. If you have predetermined they won't feel like WDW, then yeah, you will likely be able to find ways to notice they aren't officially Disney. If you go with positive attitude, then all three are very nice hotels.

If you really want to stay at a Disney owned hotel though, it might not matter how nice they are. If that's where your heart is...

My most recent stay was at the Swan Reserve. Had a great stay. It wasn't very long, but staff was friendly. The hotel is very new, so everything in our room was super clean.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Dolphin’s snack bar/convenience store (I forget the name) has frozen yogurt machines………and one is Dole Whip.

Fuel. And it is indeed one of the best resort snack bar / convenience store.

More stuff to know:

Swan/Dolphin/Reserve all share amenities. You can use any of their pools or whirlpools. Tho, most of the amenities are in the Dolphin: Gym, spa, laundromat, 24 hour cafeteria [Pikabu] (tho sometimes it's not 24 hours... don't know why). Swan is more 'luxe', but I prefer the Dolphin to be closer to the amenities. The Dolphin's huge lobby is now a giant lounge. Check it out if you're at the Swan.

Swan may have a Disney M&G breakfast back by the time you go in The Grove.. or not.

 

[JusticeDisney]

We have stayed at the Dolphin many times in the past and have always loved it. That said, it is a totally different resort nowadays. It is probably the least “Disney-feeling” resort anywhere on property. In fact, it almost has a Vegas type of feel to it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s s beautiful place, but like I said, it doesn‘t make you feel like you are at WDW (of course, depending on your perspective, that might be a plus). One last thing I will mention about the walk to the YC/BC or Boardwalk for the buses, while it’s true that the walk there is not all that bad, the walk back after a long day at the parks will feel like you are walking a marathon. All in all, we much prefer the BC and that is where we now stay, although I acknowledge that we certainly have to pay quite a bit more to do so.