Last updated on April 14th, 2024 at 07:52 pm
Considering a stay at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort?
A lot has been written about the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts and their differences and similarities, but its hard to find a comparison of the Swan and Dolphin Resorts vs staying at one of the on-property Disney-owned resorts.
And this is such an important consideration when trying to decide if which hotel is right for your Disney vacation!
Based upon my dozens of trips to Walt Disney World and stays at both the Swan and Dolphin and nearly all other on-property hotels, Iâve put together this guide to compare the pros and cons of staying at the Swan and Dolphin vs. one of the Walt Disney World resort hotels.
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin vs Disney Deluxe Resorts
On our latest visit, we split our trip between the Swan, Dolphin, and Disneyâs Yacht Club Resort. Staying at all three properties back-to-back in one week gave amazing perspective on the various perks each property offers, as well as their differences.
And while the Yacht Club is deluxe resort, on past trips weâve stayed at many of Disneyâs value and moderate resorts, as well. But for the purpose of this article, weâll stick to comparing the Swan and Dolphin to Disneyâs deluxe resorts, to keep it apples to apples.
Although they are not Disney-owned properties, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts both beautiful, amenity-packed hotels that offer the same kind of luxurious stay youâd expect from one of the Disney Deluxe Resorts.
They are the only two resorts on-property that are not owned by Disney. They are actually Marriott brand hotels, which is great news if you are a Marriott Bonvoy member and like to earn and redeem points on your stays. Just like how we always shoot to stay at one of the Marriott hotels near Disneyland when in California, I love that we are able to enjoy so many perks of a Disney vacation while still enjoying the benefits of being a Marriott rewards member when we visit Walt Disney World.
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts, along with Disneyâs Yacht Club Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, have one amazing thing in common. They are all located in the BoardWalk area of Walt Disney World. This puts them in easy walking distance to both Epcot and Disneyâs Hollywood Studios theme parks, as well of course to Disneyâs BoardWalk, a quarter-mile long waterfront promenade of restaurants, snack shops, stores, bars, and nightlife.
In addition, Disney provides free transportation via Friendship Boats to both parks from all five of these hotels.
We love being able to wander over to Disneyâs BoardWalk after a day in the park just to enjoy the lively atmosphere or to enjoy an ice cream cone or slice of pizza!
Some of the other perks of staying at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts that you would also enjoy at Disney Deluxe Resorts include complimentary transportation to the parks and Disney Springs, early theme park entry, an onsite Disney Planning Center, and complimentary parking at Disney theme parks (though not at the hotels themselves – go figure).
Between the Swan and Dolphin youâll find 23 restaurants, ranging from casual grab and go eateries to upscale restaurants, including the award-winning Bluezoo helmed by celebrity chef Todd English.
The resorts also share an amazing pool with waterslide and waterfall, and a sandy beach with a volleyball court and plenty of games, hammocks, and lounge chairs.
The Differences
Weâve talked about the pros, now letâs examine some of the cons. There are definitely some big perks of staying at Disney resorts that you just wonât find at the the Swan and Dolphin.
Like all the Disney Resort hotels, the Swan Dolphin offer complimentary transportation. We loved being able to take the boats to Epcot and Hollywood Studios, however youâll need to take a bus if going to the Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom.
One thing we did not realize until we learned it the hard way is that since these hotels are not Disney-owned properties, the bus service drops you further away. In fact, while the Disney buses drop you right at the gate when you go to Magic Kingdom, the Swan and Dolphin buses can only take you as far as the ticket and transportation center. This means youâll have to hop on the monorail or ferry to get to the park.
More annoyingly, at the end of the day youâll also need to venture back to this location (with the crowds!) to catch the bus back to your hotel.
Another difference is that you wonât be able to charge things to your room or use your park ticket or MagicBand as a room key.
A few other differences that can be a bummer when you stay at Walt Disney Worldâs Swan and Dolphin:
- Resort fee
- Parking fee (self-parking or valet)
- No refillable mugs available
- Most rooms do not have balconies
- Very little Disney theming
Comparison Table
Disney Deluxe Resorts
Here is a list of all the deluxe resorts at Walt Disney World.
- Disneyâs Beach Club Resort
- Disneyâs Yacht Club Resort
- Disneyâs BoardWalk Inn
- Disneyâs Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Disneyâs Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
- Disneyâs Polynesian Village
- Disneyâs Contemporary Resort
- Disneyâs Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Disneyâs Wilderness Lodge
- Disneyâs Old Key West Resort
- Disneyâs Riviera Resort
âș Be sure to also check out this guide to the Best Quick Service Disney Springs Restaurants.
Final Thoughts: Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin vs Disney Deluxe Resorts
With its elegant setting, sprawling grounds, and proximity to the BoardWalk, Epcot, and Disneyâs Hollywood Studios, the Swan and Dolphin Resorts at Walt Disney World offer lots of benefits for a price that is usually considerably less than a stay at nearby Disney Deluxe Resorts like Disneyâs Yacht Club Resort and the BoardWalk Villas. However, added expenses like resort fees and parking may offset some of those savings.
Marriott Bonvoy members may not mind quite as much, as youâll accrue points for your stay and any room charges!
If you are looking for accommodations that are more sophisticated, less âDisney,â but still have all the perks of staying near the parks, the Swan and Dolphin may just be for you!
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Get Away Today sells discount theme park tickets as well as vacation packages for both on-property and off-property hotels. They will even assist with all your Disney World vacation plans with their free concierge service!
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