Dolphin / Swan Resorts

[todpatcam]

We currently have an Oct 2012 - 7 day trip booked for All-Star Sports Resort which we booked as a bounce back offer (25% off) before leaving last year.

We are looking into a possible alternative and staying at the Dolphin or Swan Resort.

What will we lose by switching; i.e. Magic Express, EMH, Disney theme decor, or park transportation?

The hotels look nice and we've not yet looked into price, not sure how much more it will be to switch. :shrug:

Any pros or cons would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!!

 

[scbb11Sketch]

Well, you certainly don't lose any park transportation. If anything, you gain options by having the great friendship boats that take you to DHS and EPCOT. And you still have all of the same buses.
You also don't lose the EMH. It is still a Disney resort so you get to participate in all extra hours events.
As far as Disney decor, I love sports more than most people in the world (Boiler up!) but I would take the classy Swan and Dolphin over the large plastic football helmets of the All Star Sports. Swan and Dolphin is a great resort. Some of the best beds I've been in at a hotel, and the pools are much nicer.
I'm not sure about Magic Express, but everything else should be enough to sway you toward the Swan and Dolphin. Prices are very reasonable for the quality, but that would be the only difference I could see.

 

[todpatcam]

Thanks scbb11Sketch - I'm actually wearing my Purdue shirt and waiting for the game to start tonight. I need to check on cost to see how much of a difference there is between All-Star Sports and Dolphin or Swan.

Is one better than the other between Dolphin and Swan?

 

[jackson2005]

You can not do the dining plan, that is one big thing you lose and I don't think you can get the magically express

 

[scbb11Sketch]

Thanks scbb11Sketch - I'm actually wearing my Purdue shirt and waiting for the game to start tonight.

Ugh, it was such a tough loss. I hate our strategy at the end of games. Stalling and running out the clock never works against elite teams.

The Swan and Dolphin both offer Extra Magic Hours, onsite Disney transportation, and free theme park parking, but not Magical Express or Disney Dining Plans. Both charge for hotel parking and have resort fees, which add up to about $30/night. You don't have to pay the parking fee if you don't have a car but have no choice on the resort fee, which is about $15/night.

I don't remember paying for parking. I think that either didn't exist a couple years ago, or we found a way to get out of it. The resort fees end up getting you things that you would have to pay for at other resorts anyways. It gets you wifi (which I guess is free now everywhere else anyways), some bottles of water, an in-room refrigerator and microwave, and prossibly some other things I'm forgetting.

Is one better than the other between Dolphin and Swan?

We've always been at the Dolphin. I don't think there's much of a difference other than the name and maybe a little of the theming. The Dolphin is a great hotel though, and our number one place to stay on property.