OK, first of all, these properties are some of the neatest hotels around. If you have ever visited Disney World, you have surely seen these fantastic-looking landmarks, right next to Epcot’s Spaceship Earth icon (the giant “golf ball”).

They are definitely distinctive, to say the least. I have always thought that Michael Graves, the award-winning architect who designed the Swan and Dolphin, took his mission to design buildings that fit the “Disney magic” veerry seriously. =) Check out the pictures. These buildings are way cool. And pretty hard to miss!

I will admit that great design fascinates me, so I find the architecture of the Swan and Dolphin very appealing. And the interiors and grounds are lovely as well, in fact they rival any of the deluxe Disney properties with some of the nicest amenities available. BUT, how they look is, frankly, the least of the benefits of being a guest here.

Owned by Starwood (the parent company of the Sheraton and Westin hotels) the Walt Disney Swan and Dolphin resort is actually located on Disney property, and is a short walk or boat ride from Epcot and Hollywood Studios. It is a GREAT location! And as a guest, you also get access to Disney’s bus service to the other theme parks as well.

One of the nicest benefits of staying at the Swan and Dolphin is that guests, while not officially Disney resort guests, still enjoy those great Disney resort perks: in addition to the transportation and location, guests of the Swan and Dolphin can participate in the Extra Magic Hours program, get free parking at the theme parks, and can get package delivery from the parks to the hotel.

And then there are the beds. Oh my gosh………..

If you have ever stayed at a Westin property, you may be familiar with their “Heavenly Beds”: pillow top mattress, triple sheets, down blanket and comforter, and goose down/feather pillows….

Let me just say that after a long day at the Disney parks….the Heavenly Bed is an extremely accurate name!!

So why on earth, on a blog and website devoted to planning affordable Disney family vacations, am I talking about a couple of resort hotels that are obviously so luxurious??

Although in the “deluxe” category, these two hotels are less expensive than similar Disney-owned properties. And even better, they are well known for the frequent discounts for AAA members, Florida residents, seniors, government employees, members of the military, nurses, and teachers.

The reason we stayed here, is because we got a great deal MORE for our money than staying at an official Disney resort. But got the benefits of staying on a Disney resort. What’s not to love?

Disclosure

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