Great stays at the “Swafindawfin Hotel” (Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resorts)

Souvenir buttons and postcards are available from the front desk and or concierge desk.

This year we stayed at both the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resorts or what Toddler Son insists is “The Swafindawfin Hotel”. These twin hotels provide luxurious accommodations (Disney “Deluxe” level) usually at moderate prices. They have an amazing location between Hollywood Studios and EPCOT on Crescent Lake. 

The pyramid represents an island rising from the sea and the banana leaves represent a jungle at the base of the island

The Swans ride upon the sea (represented by the waves on the side of the building) as they watch the spectacle of the island rising across from them

Designed by famed architect Michael Graves in his signature highly geometric style they are meant to evoke the classic Florida and California grand Mediterranean style resorts of years past, recall historic funerary structures (really!) all cloaked in the abstract language of 1980’s post-modern architecture. Graves sought to provide an alternative to themed Disney architecture (which traditionally evokes a specific style, time and place) with the bold, oversized shapes, fountains, and sculpture that “tell” the story of a geologic event where an island emerged from the sea, launching renaissance dolphins into the air which delighted nearby swans who were so enchanted by the spectacle that they forever turned to “stone” at the sight. 

The renaissance dolphins dance in celebration of the new island rising from the sea

The swans are swimming in the sea (represented by the waves on the building)

A Renaissance Dolphin...they look like fish

In selecting dolphins and swans Graves was trying to find mascots for his design that were not in use as Disney characters. What Disney does say for example at the Grand Floridian is present a Victorian Seaside Resort at the turn of the 19th Century. What Graves was trying to do was to create an environment that is reminiscent of multiple experiences (The Beverly Hills Hotel, a monument, a tropical island, a geologic event like a a volcanic eruption). The overall effect of all of this is almost timeless, it “feels” like these things without actually being any one of them. Being architecture school graduates Mom and Dad here at the blog were very familiar with Michael Graves, post-modern architecture and how abstract architectural design concepts can have multiple overlapping inspirations.

These hotels are not everyone’s cup of tea but our family loves them, Teenage Son enjoys the luxury of the resort, Mom & Dad appreciate the architectural pedigree, and Toddler Son is really engaged by the oversized shapes, intense colors, and use of giant animal statues. The hotels are owned by the development firm that built EPCOT and run by Marriott while Disney owns the land underneath them. So while you still have access to Disney Transportation, extra magic hours, and are “on property” you are not staying at a Disney Resort and you are not issued Magic Bands or eligible for airport transportation. 

Swan Lobby

Dolphin escalator Lobby

Dolphin Rotunda- Main Lobby

Dolphin Fountain at the heart of Dolphin Rotunda

The Dolphin is the larger of the two and is essentially a Sheraton, it has a grand lobby, large convention center and several restaurants, of which we really love the Picabu Buffeteria. The Swan is quite a bit smaller and much more subdued lacking a cavernous rotunda lobby, it is a Westin Hotel. The Swan supposedly has “Heavenly Beds” but we did not really notice much of a difference. The rooms seemed nearly identical. 

Dolphin Room

Swan Room

The Swan does however have the Garden Grove restaurant which is built around a giant artificial tree which has character appearances at certain meals. The Swan prices the meals much lower than a Disney Character Meal, but know that they are run very differently. At the Garden Grove our experience was that only one character appears at a time, and they follow a strict schedule so if you are seated towards the end of the time period when they are done they leave. Disney will give you an 11:45 reservation for a character meal that ends at 12:00 and generally ensure that you will “meet” all of the characters. At the Swan if you are seated at 11:45 and the meal is over at 12:00 you will see whatever character is there for 15 minutes and then the characters will be gone. But the food was really good at least.

Garden Grove Restaurant 

Dolphin Arcade

Swan Hallway

Each of the resorts has their own pool and together they share a beautiful grotto pool. The pools are set adjacent to a picturesque beach where the boys enjoyed s’mores and a Swan Paddleboat ride. There is a connecting causeway between the resorts that is also the boat dock for transportation to Hollywood Studios and EPCOT (or you can walk there too). 

S’More please!

Transportation to Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom and the Water Parks is by regular Disney Transportation busses. You can also walk to the Fantasia Miniature Golf Course pretty easily. The Disney Beach & Yacht club resorts are a short walk away as is the wonderful “Boardwalk” of the Disney Boardwalk Resort. At night the causeway has a music and light show amongst the palm trees that was a very nice touch.

We loved our stays at the Swafindawfin and prefer the Dolphin, but only because the energy is a little more exciting and it’s closer to the restaurant we really like. We would definitely stay again, they are elegant resorts with many amenities in a fantastic location often for a significant discount over the neighboring Crescent Lake Disney Resorts.

Hollywood Studios Tower of Terror visible in the distance

Art on display in Swan Convention Center