When traveling to Walt Disney World, it’s easy to be seduced by the allure of staying at one of Disney’s resort hotels. Their immaculate theming, convenience, and inherent magic makes them feel as much a part of the vacation as the theme parks. And, for the nicest of these hotels, the atmosphere alone is worth a vacation. The only flaw, of course, is that they are rather pricey, with the deluxe resorts costing much more than comparable lodgings at other destinations.
But, what if I told you there were two resorts on Disney property that were not operated by The Walt Disney Company, yet still enjoyed many of the same perks and quirks of those Disney hotels? And what if I told you they offered deluxe-style lodgings at moderate-esque prices? Wouldn’t that be awesome?
Well, believe it or not, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin are these hotels.
Seen by some as convention destinations and by others as less magical accommodations than their Disney-run counterparts, these two resorts are arguably some of the best deals on property. The Disney-obsessed among you might be wary of bursting the bubble formed by staying at one of the World’s official hotels, but let me try to assuage those fears. Here are five reasons staying at the Swan and Dolphin can be one of the best decisions you’ll make on your trip.
1. They are deluxe resorts at moderate prices
Image: Starwood Hotels
The key difference between the Swan and Dolphin and the official Disney hotels is cost. Because of the majestic theming of places like the Polynesian Village Resort and Boardwalk Resort, Disney charges a rather significant markup on their per-night room rates.
The Swan and Dolphin, however, are priced more in line with Disney’s moderate hotels. Even including the resort and parking charges the Swan and Dolphin incurs (and don’t be surprised – these do exist), you can get a room for around $200 per night with planning, or even at the last minute if you’re lucky.
But, not only is the cost a great selling point, but you really do get great value for your money. The complex features several heated pools and whirlpools, water slides, watercraft rentals, tennis courts, a basketball court, two health clubs, a spa, and even character dining.
Because they are directly competing with Disney’s properties, but without having the Disney brand, the Swan and Dolphin keep having to up their game and offer more amenities for less money. The result is great value on your vacation.
2. They are in an amazing location
Image: Starwood Hotels
If you break Disney down into areas where guests can congregate, they break down like this: the four theme parks, the monorail circuit, Downtown Disney, and the Boardwalk/Yacht and Beach Club area. The goal when booking a resort is to be within walking distance of one of those areas or, at the very least, some transportation that isn’t a bus. Of course, for that reason, those lodgings are usually more expensive.
And, again, that’s one of the great benefits of the Swan and Dolphin. Located just across Crescent Lake from Epcot and a 10 minute stroll from Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Swan and Dolphin couldn’t be more well located unless they were on a monorail line.
The two resorts are within walking distance of two theme parks, a mini golf course, and dozens of restaurants. The atmosphere of the Boardwalk Resort is itself an attraction, and being a 5 minute walk away further adds value to the Swan and Dolphin’s location.
These resorts are located in one of the coolest, most energetic parts of Walt Disney World, and yet they cost a fraction of the price of their closest neighbors.
3. They have some truly incredible restaurants
Image: Starwood Hotels
The Swan and Dolphin complex has, arguably, the best selection of restaurants on Walt Disney Property. Its only equal would be the monorail circuit. However, if you take the restaurants at the Boardwalk Resort and Yacht and Beach Club into account, it’s not even close. If you add in the fact that Epcot’s World Showcase is only a 10-minute walk away, the debate starts to become laughable.
You could eat three meals a day, every day of your vacation, and still not eat at the same restaurant twice – all without taking a bus or taxi.
Within these hotels, you’ll find three of the finest restaurants on Disney property: Il Mulino, Shula’s,and Todd English’s bluezoo. Il Mulino, based in New York, has some of the best, most authentic Italian food in the state. Shula’s is as good a steak as you’ll find anywhere (and is much easier to get into than Le Cellier). Bluezoo is an inventive and special seafood spot, featuring one of the coolest bars at the resort.
Beyond those signature spots, the Swan and Dolphin host a handful of casual and quick serve options, including the Garden Grove, which hosts the aforementioned character meals. And, if those get boring, you’re only a short walk away from The Yachtsman, the Flying Fish Cafe, Via Napoli, the Brown Derby, or dozens of other options.
And, not only do the options expand exponentially during the Epcot Food and Wine Festival, but the Swan and Dolphin have their own food and wine event called the Food and Wine Classic.
If you are a foodie, the Swan and Dolphin are at the center of the Walt Disney World food universe.
4. You can earn and use reward points
Image: Starwood Hotels
I won’t be the first person to extoll the virtue of reward points, nor will I be the last, but when used properly, credit card reward programs can absolutely provide an incredible value to consumers. Disney’s hotels don’t accept any major reward points, but the Swan and Dolphin do – they’re part of the Starwood program and will accept Starwood points for use in reward stays. The benefits can be as simple as a room upgrade or as lavish as a few free nights at the resort.
Those points are earned via stays at other Starwood-affiliated hotels/airlines or through the use of a Starwood-sponsored credit card. However, there are dangers in credit card use, and only you know if it’s right for you.
That said, the great benefit of the Swan and Dolphin is that you will be rewarded for returning again and again, and if you’re a frequent business traveller, you may already have enough points to book a room for free.
5. You still get all the usual Disney amenities
Image: Starwood Hotels
The biggest fear among most travelers staying at non-Disney hotels is that they’ll miss out on some of the perks of an official resort stay – things like Extra Magic Hours and legitimate Disney bus and transportation service. And, at some non-Disney hotels, that is a real concern.
However, guests staying at the Swan and Dolphin don’t need to worry about that. If you stay at these hotels, you’ll get nearly all of the same benefits of those staying at an official Disney hotel.
First of all, Swan and Dolphin guests get official WDW transportation services. For the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World operates bus service to the hotels just as they would for any other official Disney resort. For Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, guests can either walk or take a Friendship boat launch – again, operated by Disney.
Guests also have access to Extra Magic Hours, allowing you the same amount of time in the parks as guests staying in the official Disney hotels. And, additionally, guests are allotted the same 60-day FastPass+ window as guests staying in the Disney hotels. You can even have packages delivered back to your room from the parks.
The main differences between the Swan and Dolphin and Disney’s hotels are the MagicBands. While Disney hotels offer them to guests for free, Swan and Dolphin guests must purchase theirs, and they do not include the option of adding charging privileges. Similarly, guests staying at the Swan and Dolphin don’t have access to Disney’s Magical Express, the free shuttle service from Orlando International Airport, nor can they purchase the Disney Dining Plan.
Now, of course, there are downsides to a stay at the Swan and Dolphin. Make no mistake, these are not the playfully-themed and eye-poppingly creative resorts designed by Walt Disney Imagineering. They are luxury hotels, yes, but they are far more pedestrian than the other Disney offerings. It’s hard to put a dollar amount on that difference, but if that matters to you, it’s certainly something to consider. While a stay at the Swan and Dolphin makes sense for the pocketbook, it may not make the same amount of sense for your soul – that part of you that feels amazed by the sight of a sweeping view of the African savannah or a perfect recreation of a northwestern mountain lodge. For some, that’s as much a part of the vacation as anything.
But, if you want a bang for your buck, there’s really none better at Walt Disney World than the Swan and the Dolphin. And, if you still miss that magic, well, the Boardwalk’s just a short walk away.
