Anyone stay at the Swan or Dolphin?

[zarapipe]

I'm considering getting the starwood card because they have a bonus of 35k miles if you open by the end of this month. If DH and I both did it we could combine those and get our hotel stay free at one of those hotels (minus parking and the resort fee- boo).

For those that have stayed did you like it? The location seems great and the fact that you can book 60 days out for FP is awesome.

[ribollita]

Hmmmm now I'm intrigued too, lol.

Yes I've stayed at the Dolphin twice. I really like it. It's more of a convention feel hotel and clientele but the pool is amazing. The rooms are standard. To me the biggest downsides are lack of MDE (airport bus) and you have to pay for parking, I believe. No magic bands but we have them already.

ETA: both times I stayed there it was for work, so I didn't pay anything. What is the resort fee+parking total?

[lala]

Yes, we did in 2014. There is slightly less of the disney magic, so to speak, but the location and view from our room made up for it. 5 night free hotel in an alcove room was amazing. We LOVE staying in the boardwalk area, though.

We did not have a car and we had nights on either end at disney resorts, so we still had MDE.

To be honest, I'd prefer a disney resort over them BUT the 5 nights "free" is hard to beat and no other non-disney hotel has the access they do. So bottom line is, we enjoyed it and would do it again.

[zarapipe]

ribollita, self park is $18, valet is more. Resort fee is $25 I think. If we each got a card and combined points we would have enough for 7 nights at one of the hotels.

[zarapipe]

ribollita, we could also stay at the Sheraton Vistana or Lake Buena Vista for free

[ribollita]

Mar 22, 2016 8:02:10 GMT -5 zarapipe said:

ribollita, we could also stay at the Sheraton Vistana or Lake Buena Vista for free

But you wouldn't have buses to the parks and would have to pay $20/day for parking...

I would stay at the Dolphin or a DW hotel.

[lala]

I'd still choose the swan or dolphin over the ones outside of the park if I was doing Disney. The vistana resorts are supposed to be great, but I'd rather be in Disney.

Also, the Swan is one of the resorts that the points increased on March 1st if I'm not mistaken. Dolphin is still 10k a night but the swan might be 12 now? I'd go for the dolphin at that point because I don't think they're category 5 resorts.

[kpol]

We stayed (free with points) at the Dolphin for Food and Wine last year. We don't have kids so we don't mind it being more of a convention hotel. We're also Platinum members with them and got 4 free drink tickets to use at the bar on site which was very nice!

I'd would definitely stay again.

[bexporter]

I can attest that Vistana is great and obviously far more room than a normal hotel room.

I've never stayed on property, though, and I think it would be cool to be able to walk to Epcot.

I just signed up for this card yesterday so I'll have some SPG points to spend.

Do you think you can each sign up and then combine? Is that allowed? (I really don't know).

[zarapipe]

Mar 22, 2016 13:38:53 GMT -5 bexporter said:

I can attest that Vistana is great and obviously far more room than a normal hotel room.

I've never stayed on property, though, and I think it would be cool to be able to walk to Epcot.

I just signed up for this card yesterday so I'll have some SPG points to spend.

Do you think you can each sign up and then combine? Is that allowed? (I really don't know).

From what I've read you can if you are in the same household

[bexporter]

Good to know, thanks!

[lala]

Yes you can combine! That's how you maximize rewards.

[ribollita]

Bumping. Just received an email for $159 nights at the Dolphin 8/22-9/30.

Call 888.828.8850 and use rate code VALUE

dr.girlfriend this may be a good option for you. It's walkable to Hollywood Studios and Epcot

[dr.girlfriend]

Mar 24, 2016 12:10:18 GMT -5 ribollita said:

Bumping. Just received an email for $159 nights at the Dolphin 8/22-9/30.

Call 888.828.8850 and use rate code VALUE

dr.girlfriend this may be a good option for you. It's walkable to Hollywood Studios and Epcot

Thanks!  We ended up doing the Polynesian, my mom was pretty set on it, and the one thing my son loves that I forgot to mention is Lilo and Stitch! 

[gardengal]

Mar 24, 2016 20:56:50 GMT -5 dr.girlfriend said:

Mar 24, 2016 12:10:18 GMT -5 ribollita said:

Bumping. Just received an email for $159 nights at the Dolphin 8/22-9/30.

Call 888.828.8850 and use rate code VALUE

dr.girlfriend this may be a good option for you. It's walkable to Hollywood Studios and Epcot

Thanks!  We ended up doing the Polynesian, my mom was pretty set on it, and the one thing my son loves that I forgot to mention is Lilo and Stitch! 

FYI, my son found the lilo & stitch ride terrifying. Like, screaming out of his mind & I couldn't figure out how to leave. You may want to do research if it'd be ok for him so that when y'all pass by it, you can be prepared!

[dr.girlfriend]

Mar 24, 2016 21:14:01 GMT -5 gardengal said:

Mar 24, 2016 20:56:50 GMT -5 dr.girlfriend said:

Thanks!  We ended up doing the Polynesian, my mom was pretty set on it, and the one thing my son loves that I forgot to mention is Lilo and Stitch! 

FYI, my son found the lilo & stitch ride terrifying. Like, screaming out of his mind & I couldn't figure out how to leave. You may want to do research if it'd be ok for him so that when y'all pass by it, you can be prepared!

Oh, thanks, I didn't even realize there was a ride!  I just figured he'd like the luau and stuff at the Polynesian.  :-)  I plan to have him check out as many of the rides on YouTube in advance as possible.  He's still with grandma and grandpa for the rest of the week, so we'll start on Monday.  :-)

[gardengal]

Mar 24, 2016 21:25:07 GMT -5 dr.girlfriend said:

Mar 24, 2016 21:14:01 GMT -5 gardengal said:

FYI, my son found the lilo & stitch ride terrifying. Like, screaming out of his mind & I couldn't figure out how to leave. You may want to do research if it'd be ok for him so that when y'all pass by it, you can be prepared!

Oh, thanks, I didn't even realize there was a ride!  I just figured he'd like the luau and stuff at the Polynesian.  :-)  I plan to have him check out as many of the rides on YouTube in advance as possible.  He's still with grandma and grandpa for the rest of the week, so we'll start on Monday.  :-)

Yeah, I just wanted to give a heads up since you mentioned it was a favorite character. Its dark, there are weird noises, you're jostled around, etc. 

for or that matter, the bug ride at AK was also not great for my son. Water got sprayed on his face, it feels like a million bugs are rushing by you, etc. 

[lala]

Definitely do the character breakfast at ohanas then - lilo, stitch & Mickey.

[sent]

I stayed at Swan a long time ago for a convention and remember having a blast in the pool. I was also 21 so I'm sure that factored into my opinion haha.

I would price out "free" over the Disney resorts to make sure you are really getting your money/points worth. With the hefty parking and resort fees, it's not truly free and it might not be that much more to pay to get more of the magic-in-your-face-all-the-time feels.