Swan & Dolphon

[santo38035]

Does Disney own the Swan & Dolphin Resorts? Do Disney CM's run the day to day operations? I tried getting prices on the Disney Website for trip packages, but I dont see the hotels listed as options?

Any insights would be helpful!

 

[Crush Dude!]

Does Disney own the Swan & Dolphin Resorts? Do Disney CM's run the day to day operations? I tried getting prices on the Disney Website for trip packages, but I dont see the hotels listed as options?

Any insights would be helpful!

No they are not Disney owned, only thing Disney about them is where they are!

That said i belive they are great hotels with some amazing dining options :wave:

 

[santo38035]

No they are not Disney owned, only thing Disney about them is where they are!

That said i belive they are great hotels with some amazing dining options :wave:

Thanks! - I have friends coming for a first time visit to the World. Would you recommend these hotels for a first time visit? They have two little children 4 and 2. Would they be getting the Disney experience?

 

[Crush Dude!]

Thanks! - I have friends coming for a first time visit to the World. Would you recommend these hotels for a first time visit? They have two little children 4 and 2. Would they be getting the Disney experience?

For 1st timers i would not!

I would stick with a Disney hotel if they are staying on property, esp with kids!

 

[Juliaz3]

The hotels are owned by the Starwood company that runs Westin, Sheraton, W, and other hotels. My husband and I have stayed at the Swan or Dophin (prefer the Dolphin slightly) many times and love both.

I strongly disagree that they have "nothing" Disney about them and are not a good choice for a family on a first Disney visit. I don't think the previous posters have stayed at these hotels. The hotels are indeed Disney themed, although not to the extent that the actual Disney hotels are. Also, hotel guests get to participate in Extra Magic Hours just like other Disney hotel guests.

They feature excellent transportation options to the parks, including a boat that goes to Disney Studios and Epcot. They are within easy walking distance of the Boardwalk area. They have wonderful pools, good restaurants including a fabulous ice-cream shop, a game room, laundry facilities, etc. In fact, I'd rather stay there with my kids than in a hotel with 1,000 other children.

The way I describe the hotels is that they are more adult in nature, but there's plenty of Disney theme and enough kids for your own to find friends at the pool. I don't work for Starwood, we've just had wonderful stays at the Swan and Dolphin and I couldn't let the posts above stand uncorrected.

 

[DisneyJoe]

Swan and Dolphin do not participate in:

- Disney's Magical Express
- Disney Dining Plan
- and the ability to charge purchases to your hotel room while not on Swan/Dolphin property

They charge a resort fee.

 

[slappy magoo]

For 1st timers i would not!

I would stick with a Disney hotel if they are staying on property, esp with kids!

When you think about it, if this is the kids' first trip to WDW, they won't know what they're missing.

Swan and Dolphin have quite a lot going for them, but that "Disney magic," the whimsy in the themeing, isn't there. Not to mention (as others have) the fact that staying there will not get you access to Magical Express to/from the airport, no room delivery, no room charging, no dining plan, and if you have a car, there is a fee to park in their lot per day.

In exchange for those limitations, you're getting bigger rooms than most (all?) of the standard rooms in Disney-owned resorts, more comfortable beds and a great location for a much more affordable price (barring any sort of good promotion like Free Dining). Plus, Swan and Dolphin often offer very special pricing of their own for people who are teachers or government workers (maybe military, too?).

http://www.swandolphin.com/

 

[Crush Dude!]

Swan and Dolphin do not participate in:

- Disney's Magical Express
- Disney Dining Plan
- and the ability to charge purchases to your hotel room while not on Swan/Dolphin property

They charge a resort fee.

These reasons back up my initial response

 

[santo38035]

Thanks everyone for your input. My friend has opted to stay at the Boardwalk Villas. I appreciate all the candid responses!

Having no Magical Express and No Dining Plan option is a reason to stay second guess staying at the S&D over a Disney resort

 

[sbkline]

When saying that the Swan and Dolphin do not participate in the dining plan, does that mean that you can't get the dining plan at all if you stay at those hotels? Or does it simply mean that the restaraunts in those hotels do not participate in the dining plan?

Do the Disney run busses go to and from the Swan and Dolphin? My wife and I were just wondering some of these things the other day as we were reading about the Dophin in the latest Celebrations issue. I was thinking that I remembered seeing busses with "Swan and Dolphin" on the front, but I couldn't remember for sure. But even if they don't, I guess you could always just take the bus to the Boardwalk or Yacht/Beach Club and walk over to the Swan or Dolphin.

 

[Crush Dude!]

When saying that the Swan and Dolphin do not participate in the dining plan, does that mean that you can't get the dining plan at all if you stay at those hotels? Or does it simply mean that the restaraunts in those hotels do not participate in the dining plan?

Do the Disney run busses go to and from the Swan and Dolphin? My wife and I were just wondering some of these things the other day as we were reading about the Dophin in the latest Celebrations issue. I was thinking that I remembered seeing busses with "Swan and Dolphin" on the front, but I couldn't remember for sure. But even if they don't, I guess you could always just take the bus to the Boardwalk or Yacht/Beach Club and walk over to the Swan or Dolphin.

No you can't get any Dining plan at The Sean and Dolphin

And yes they do run buses :wave:

 

[LizC]

The Swan and Dolphin are great hotels! They are the best deal in Disney, in my opinion. You still get the extra magic hours and you SAVE MONEY. If you were to stay at a hotel of the same level that is owned by Disney it would be easily double. So even with the cost of a cab from the airport it is still worth it. Plus, you can't beat the location! The boardwalk, Epcot & Hollywood studios are all within walking distance. The bus service to MK and AK aren't as bad as places like Carribean Beach, again in my opinion.

No matter where you stay I am sure you and you're friends will have a great trip. Enjoy!

 

[epceddie]

They both look like great places to stay. The location is great and we're looking forward to visiting both on our next trip, but I REALLY dislike it when hotels charge a resort fee. I'm also not crazy about the fact that you have to pay for self-parking. I'd rather just pay a couple of more bucks a night than have to deal with nonsense like that when I'm on vacation.

 

[Lord Pheonix]

the way i felt it was like when i used to resort hop at night was it was more corperate, or "buisnessman" oriented. there were alot of people in 3piece suits, expensive gowns, things like that. although there were "touristy" tpe people there like me, the overall impression was that i had stumbled into a retreat for microsoft executives or something, not like when u walk into the poly, gf, or wl. those hotels are like, "aaaahhahhhhhh"

 

[sbkline]

The Swan and Dolphin are great hotels! They are the best deal in Disney, in my opinion. You still get the extra magic hours and you SAVE MONEY. If you were to stay at a hotel of the same level that is owned by Disney it would be easily double. So even with the cost of a cab from the airport it is still worth it. Plus, you can't beat the location! The boardwalk, Epcot & Hollywood studios are all within walking distance. The bus service to MK and AK aren't as bad as places like Carribean Beach, again in my opinion.

No matter where you stay I am sure you and you're friends will have a great trip. Enjoy!

How much does it cost to stay there? I looked at allears.net, but for some reason, they didn't have the price breakdowns for the Swan and Dolphin like they did the Disney Resorts.

I don't know about anyone else, but I kind of turn my nose up at these hotels since they aren't owned and operated by Disney. I know it sounds silly, and I guess it probably IS silly, but if I'm gonna stay on property, I want to stay at a Disney Hotel. Even though the Swan and Dolphin are closer to the Disney parks than some Disney hotels, I don't feel like they "count" as a Disney Hotel. I don't feel like I would be truly staying "on property", even though I am walking distance to Epcot and DHS. I just don't feel like they are "real" Disney resorts. Anyone else feel the same way?

 

[LizC]

The price of the hotel obvioulsy depends on when you are going. I have gotten deals as good as $119 a night. Also, they have AAA discounts and once we got a deal where we got a room for free. (sort of a buy one get one free). Look on thier website or call the Swan or Dolphin directly for prices.

As far as these hotels not having that "Disney Feeling", that is a personal preferance and it depends what says "Disney Feeling" to you. For me being close to the action is what I consider the Disney Feeling. If you are looking for Mouse shaped towel animals etc then the Swan and Dolphin probably aren't for you. But they have wonderful beds, better service (in my opinion) and great restaurants. Even a character breakfast at the swan. Plus, they have coffee bars in the am!

Whatever you decide I hope you have a wonderful trip filled with great Disney Magic! :wave:

 

[Juliaz3]

Swan and Dolphin have quite a lot going for them, but that "Disney magic," the whimsy in the themeing, isn't there. Not to mention (as others have) the fact that staying there will not get you access to Magical Express to/from the airport, no room delivery, no room charging, no dining plan, and if you have a car, there is a fee to park in their lot per day.

In exchange for those limitations...

It's all in what is important to each person. My husband and I don't need/use Disney Dining Plan, Magical Express, parking, charging Disney purchases to our room or having them delivered, etc. On the other hand, we appreciate the better-quality rooms and beds, fewer children in the pools, more adult-oriented restaurants, and enough theming to be aware we're in Disney World but not overwhelmed by "the Mouse". If we had children, I'd still choose the Swan or Dolphin because they do have Disney resort privileges (EMH), are in a great location, and we can always visit the Boardwalk area, or Poly or Contemporary to get that extra dose of Disney theming.

 

[luv]

Not owned by Disney. Bigger rooms and better pools than you'll get from Disney. All the comfort of a Disney "Deluxe" for the cost of a "moderate." Fantastic location. Check out the price difference between the Beach Club, Boardwalk and Dolphin.

I recommend them.

I don't take the bus and I don't care for dining plans, though. If you need the bus or you prefer the dining plans, obviously you'll want a WDW hotel.

 

[jody31]

We stay at the swan every year and it's our favourite hotel.The breakfast buffet is the same as other disney hotels,there's a disney shop and you can make disney dining reservations , so there are disney elements to the swan.epcot and DHS are both in walking distance and the boardwalk facilities are very useful ,so I'd personally recommend the swan