Swan and Dolphin dilemma.

[Huglife]

So here's my dilemma... I work for Starwood so I can get a room at the swan or dolphin for $69 a night plus 50% off all food and beverage at any of the restaurants. While this is an awesome deal. I'm afraid I'll miss out on some of the magic staying at a more "Disney" resort and getting the dining plan and eating at all the themed restaurants. Will I regret not spending the extra money to stay at a Disney resort? Thanks for any advice!

 

[Minthorne]

The location of Swan/Dolphin, for me, trumps any but the deluxe resorts at Disney. With what you save in room charge you could eat at all the Fanciest Disney Signature restaurants and still save money on your trip. On top of that the restaurants at the Swan/Dolphin are better than nearly all other on property.

Take the deal, you'll love it!!

 

[abeachchick]

I'd take that deal in a heartbeat. Location is excellent.
You can still eat at the the themed restaurants without the dining plan. I go often and never get it. You won't be missing anything without the dining plan.
And you can walk to Epcot!!

 

[Lord_Vader]

I would take that deal in a heartbeat, you are getting my favorite resort locations (BW/YC/BC/S-D) for $69 a night!

 

[awoogala]

That is an excellent deal! The only thing you "miss out on" at Swan/Dolphin is My magic band at the moment. (this may be a positive or a negative, depending on how you feel about them!)
But the deal is incredible, I would not pass that up, personally- and I love the EPCOT area!

 

[Tuvalu]

The dining plan is not a value plan. You can still dine in any Disney restaurant without it. Your resort room deal is WAAAY better!

 

[BuddyThomas]

The dining plan is not a value plan. You can still dine in any Disney restaurant without it. Your resort room deal is WAAAY better!

Take the deal! That's amazing. And Swan and Dolphin are both gorgeous resorts. You will not lose any magic. Plus, I think they both have those "Heavenly Beds" or some equivalent and they don't seem to have those at the "Disney" resorts.

 

[luv]

The dolphin for $69 is a great deal!!

You can still eat in the Disney restaurants, lol. You just won't have to keep track of credits, worry about where (or what) you can and can't eat on the plan. Call it the Emily Dining Plan if you need a name, lol. What you're saving on the hotel will more than pay for the food!

The Dolphin has decent places to eat, though, so if you have a few half-price meals there, you'll probably be glad. Nice pool complex, too!

 

[DizneyPryncess]

I'd take the deal! We stayed at the Dolphin in May for a few days before we went to the Boardwalk. We absolutely loved it, especially the pool area. I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything, mainly because your location puts you smack in between 2 Disney parks, and Fantasia Gardens. And you can still book any Disney restaurants you want. With the money you'll save on rooms, you can splurge on some really great restaurants!

 

[deanaandrich]

Take the deal. Some of the best restaurants in WDW are there. You aren't missing anything.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Take the deal! They always look nice, you just can't charge to the room, do magical express, or magic band but that wouldn't be a deal breaker for me.

 

[NolaTinkerBell]

This New Orleans girl will be there the 1st week of December. It's just 2 of us on this trip. We took the dining plan. With what we like to eat, the free dining works for us. I would take the deal because of the better beds. I like not having to watch my budget while I am on vacations. I would have a much higher food bill if I was paying out of pocket. Enjoy your trip. Hope you have liked New Orleans so far.

 

[Gabe1]

No. You are blessed with one of the finest resorts on property. Enjoy.

 

[PeoplemoverTTA]

I'd take the deal! We stayed at the Dolphin in May for a few days before we went to the Boardwalk. We absolutely loved it, especially the pool area. I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything, mainly because your location puts you smack in between 2 Disney parks, and Fantasia Gardens. And you can still book any Disney restaurants you want. With the money you'll save on rooms, you can splurge on some really great restaurants!

What did you think of the rooms at the Dolphin? I read some reviews on Trip Advisor that said they were a bit run down. I'm getting married there in July and we're considering staying at the Swan or Dolphin, and I'm soliciting as many recent reviews as I can get!

It's $100 less for the Swan & Dolphin versus Wilderness Lodge, and I love the idea of staying where our wedding is (on the beach at the Swan) and being able to walk to both Epcot and DHS (or take the boat). I'm just nervous that our room will look shabby, based on what I've read.

Any insight you can offer is much appreciated!

 

[twag1]

So here's my dilemma... I work for Starwood so I can get a room at the swan or dolphin for $69 a night plus 50% off all food and beverage at any of the restaurants. While this is an awesome deal. I'm afraid I'll miss out on some of the magic staying at a more "Disney" resort and getting the dining plan and eating at all the themed restaurants. Will I regret not spending the extra money to stay at a Disney resort? Thanks for any advice!

Another vote for your deal and agree with all of the above! Have stayed at both. Had a balcony at Swan overlooking the boat dock and the fountains. Tough to beat that. One thing to expand on....

We REALLY like the boat and/or walking option to EPCOT and the Studios. In particular, the EPCOT entrance directly into England is a real plus. Without exageration, you are only a few steps from transportation to being right in the middle of the park.

Also - our opinion here - the breakfast buffet at Fresh Mediterranean Market in the Dolphin is hands down better than the ones you'd get on the DP. And at half price - - done deal! Unless you REALLY need to see people dressed up like cartoon characters while you eat your Mickey waffle!

 

[twag1]

What did you think of the rooms at the Dolphin? I read some reviews on Trip Advisor that said they were a bit run down. I'm getting married there in July and we're considering staying at the Swan or Dolphin, and I'm soliciting as many recent reviews as I can get!

It's $100 less for the Swan & Dolphin versus Wilderness Lodge, and I love the idea of staying where our wedding is (on the beach at the Swan) and being able to walk to both Epcot and DHS (or take the boat). I'm just nervous that our room will look shabby, based on what I've read.

Any insight you can offer is much appreciated!

Stayed at Dolphin two years ago. We really liked the hotel. I would say that the rooms certainly are not new, but I would definately not use the term "shabby". You have more of a classic hotel here - not a "themed" property like you'd see elsewhere in the World. That may influence some opinions - you're not transported to some other time or place when you open your room door.

People have different standards - so opinions will vary. It was not the most opulent room I ever stayed in, but considering that I was in the middle of Disney World with easy park access and other advantages, I thought it was worth the money.

 

[DizneyPryncess]

What did you think of the rooms at the Dolphin? I read some reviews on Trip Advisor that said they were a bit run down. I'm getting married there in July and we're considering staying at the Swan or Dolphin, and I'm soliciting as many recent reviews as I can get!

It's $100 less for the Swan & Dolphin versus Wilderness Lodge, and I love the idea of staying where our wedding is (on the beach at the Swan) and being able to walk to both Epcot and DHS (or take the boat). I'm just nervous that our room will look shabby, based on what I've read.

Any insight you can offer is much appreciated!

I had no problems with the rooms at all. I don't remember too much about the insides, we were on the move pretty often. But I don't remember thinking anything negative about them, or feeling like they were run down. We were happy with everything there.

I stayed at Wilderness Lodge last November, and can't say anything bad about it there either. It's a pretty spectacular place. I prefer the location of Swan/Dolphin, as we love being near the Boardwalk and being able to walk to so many places. If you're getting married at the Swan, and like the location, I'd go with it. But if you decide on WL, you can't go wrong there either.

 

[luv]

I haven't been inside a room in several years and cannot speak to the condition of any of the rooms.

When I did stay there, the rooms were kept in typical Disney condition.

 

[WDWoptmist]

So here's my dilemma... I work for Starwood so I can get a room at the swan or dolphin for $69 a night plus 50% off all food and beverage at any of the restaurants. While this is an awesome deal. I'm afraid I'll miss out on some of the magic staying at a more "Disney" resort and getting the dining plan and eating at all the themed restaurants. Will I regret not spending the extra money to stay at a Disney resort? Thanks for any advice!

I get no such discount but we stay at the Dolphin almost every trip. Just let them know you want a resort view at the SPG member level or higher the view is awesome! You can see Epcot and the fireworks, the Boardwalk, Hollywood Studios and the fireworks from Fantasmic and the occasional explosion from Indy. But best of all you can walk/boat to HS and Epcot as well as the Boardwalk. If you don't take the deal just book it anyway and I'll stay for you haha have fun!

 

[Mukta]

Take the deal! That is an amazing price for the Epcot area. I stayed at the Dolphin in 2012 and it was fine.