Location: Epcot Resort Area
WDW Park Planners Rating:
Resort Category: Deluxe Resort
The Swan and Dolphin Resorts are two separate properties located next to each other. They are Disney affiliate resorts but are not owned by Disney. The Swan is a Westin property, while the Dolphin is a Sheraton.
That means you can use points to stay at these properties, which is what we did! My husband and I stayed at the Dolphin hotel this past June when we visited Disney for a long weekend. Points don’t get you very far, but every bit helps, right? We used points for 2 of the 3 nights and also received a complimentary room upgrade to a suite.
What We Liked
We’re all about location when we go to Disney, and the Epcot resort area is by far our favorite. You’re either a quick boat ride or a 20-minute walk (depending on how tired your feet are) to Epcot AND Hollywood Studios. Having those options saves a ton of time, and honestly, we like walking around those areas! For Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, you’re a bus ride away and receive complimentary transportation on the Disney buses to those parks (which isn’t the case for all affiliate resorts).
The lobby of the Dolphin is awesome – it was recently renovated and is big and spacious. There’s a cool bar in the middle and a yummy little coffee shop that we went to a few times. Between the Swan and Dolphin, they offer tons of great dining options (4 signature restaurants, 5 casual spots, 5 lounge areas, and 3 quick service options). They even have an on-site character meal at the Swan – check out the Garden Grove restaurant which has characters every night for dinner as well as on the weekends for breakfast!
The pool area is shared between the two properties and is a great set up. It’s incredibly family friendly, with lots of games and activities for the kids!
Things to Note
One thing to note, especially if you’re traveling with a family, is that the Swan and Dolphin don’t have access to the Magical Express to/from the airport. This was actually okay for us since it was a quick weekend trip (and my husband doesn’t love the Magical Express like me), so we grabbed a Lyft and were at the hotel in 30 minutes. It cost about $30 each way, which isn’t too bad for us Chicagoans!
The Dolphin feels less “Disney” than an actual Disney resort. It’s a conference hotel, so as we were leaving on a Monday, there were tons of business people there walking around, which felt a little strange on vacation. The little touches of Disney that I love – all of the magical TV channels (WDW Today, Disney Must Dos with Stacy, etc.), the Disney shampoos and soaps and the towel characters on your bed (I still love when the maids do that!) – are not at the Dolphin. So, if any of those things are important to you, consider yourself warned!
The room itself was mediocre, especially considering we got upgraded to a suite. The room was spacious and the bathroom was really nice, but the room felt like they hadn’t done a very thorough job cleaning it. We’re barely in the room on our quick weekend trips, so the room wasn’t the end of the world, but, if you’re someone who spends more time in the hotel room you may want to reconsider.
WDW Park Planners Tip:
Spend an evening walking around the Boardwalk area – it’s extra magical at night! The Swan and Dolphin are super close to it, so be sure to make time to enjoy all the Boardwalk has to offer. Adults can visit the dueling piano bar Jellyrolls, while kids can enjoy the “street” entertainers such as magicians or musicians! Be sure to stop by Ample Creamery for some of the BEST ice cream – I’m obsessed!