Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Hotels: a Little Comparison
Last week, I took a little break from the routine and got away for a little business trip with my husband that actually turned out to be far more fun than business, which was just what I had hoped. I took my Instagram followers along in my stories (which you can still find in my highlights under To-Go), and I shared some of the highlights of our hotel- The Disney Swan. If you know me at all, you know Disney is near the top of my favorite things list, and we do try to go as often as we can. Over the years, we’ve stayed at several of the Disney properties, but I honestly just didn’t know much about the Swan and Dolphin until this trip! So, I thought I’d share a little FYI for those of you in the same boat!
So, for starters, you should know that The Swan and Dolphin are sister hotels on Disney property with many Disney property perks, but are actually owned by Marriot, specifically the Swan being a Westin Hotel and the Dolphin being a Sheraton Hotel. And as a frequent Disney property visitor, I took note of some of the differences, and overall– I definitely approve! Both the hotels were beautifully decorated and apparently renovated in recent years. The Swan lobby was quiet and calm when we arrived and I assume that much of that was due to this being September in an off-peak season, however, since the Swan is a lot smaller than the Dolphin, it will definitely be a quieter hotel in general.
There is a Disney gift shop in the lobby, just like you find at other Disney resorts. And there is a newly opened coffee shop as well that sells pastries, some sandwiches, and of course, coffees and other drinks. Super cute, too!
You can get a quick breakfast here and eat it at the nearby tables or courtyards, or choose from several other restaurants within the Swan or the Dolphin just steps away.
As for the rooms, I thought they were great. They’re bigger than the Disney rooms we have stayed in before, including at the Deluxe resorts. Also, they feature the Westin signature Heavenly Bed, which is a very nice perk after long days at the parks! Also, Starbucks coffee and bottled water are provided in the room daily.
As far as the bathrooms, the Swan has double sinks, one being outside the main bath, whereas at the Dolphin, the sink is inside the main bath.
Another thing I loved about the Swan was the Westin signature scent! I know it sounds funny, but every time you walk into the hotel, it just smells amazing. It’s the same scent as the bath products provided in the room. They do sell them on their site HERE, and yes, I had to buy some. If you are a Westin frequent guest, you probably already know how great this smells!
Just out the back door and across a small land bridge is the Dolphin, which I definitely wanted to see as well!
Immediately, you can see that the lobby and overall feel of the Dolphin is just grander. I should note here that all the restaurants, spa, and pools are open to all guests of either of these hotels and are all in close proximity to each other.
Both of these hotels are host to many business travelers and they lack some of the whimsical Disney feel that appeals to kids, but make up for it in the cool design features that appeal to style addicts like me!
The Dolphin also has a coffee and sandwich shop in the lobby like the Swan, but with an added Froyo bar which sells the ever popular Dole Whip by the pound. Perfect for taking out to one of the 5 pools which were all beautiful!
The perfect place to chill out on Disney time!
There is also a gorgeous beach spot with hammocks!
One of the mornings we were there, we saw a wedding set up! So cute.
To give you a lay of the land, for those of you familiar with Disney’s Boardwalk and Yacht and Beach Club, those hotels are just a short walk away!
The Boardwalk is such a cute place to get something to eat or take a scenic walk. And the back entrance to EPCOT and the new Skyliner transportation system are just a few steps farther.
There is also Disney boat transportation just between the two hotels as well as the official Disney bus transportation. Just a note– the buses stop at the Swan first, so that could be an advantage to keep in mind.
Just a few more things to note: you can take advantage of Disney perks such as Extra Magic Hours and getting to choose your Fast Passes 60 days out rather than the 30 days for non-property guests. There is also character dining on site and the adorable Fantasia Mini Golf is also just a few steps away. One disadvantage to note for Disney fanatics…no free Magic Bands offered here like at the other resorts…just a basic room key to get you in the door! However, I think you can buy them and even perhaps activate old ones to use for your tickets, but I do not know the answer to that for sure!
As I mentioned, I loved this hotel and would definitely stay again! I’d love to hear what your favorite Disney resorts are and if you’ve stayed at the Swan or Dolphin as well!
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RAVPower Power Bank (love this!)
Calypso in the Country
September 17, 2019 @ 9:18 am
Yes, that Westin scent! My husband is a Starwoods points member so I know that scent well. I always bring home all the soaps and body lotions so I can have it at home. We have only been to Disney once but stayed at the Grand Floridian because my kids were little then and we wanted to be on the monorail. These properties look beautiful though and we would probably check them out if we ever do another Disney trip. Thanks for the comparison!
Shelley