StarwoodGuy: Walt Disney World Swan

After getting dropped off at Gatwick airport we made our way to the British Airway Club Europe Lounge. A great deal of the airport is under renovation so the lounge was packed. We stopped by briefly before heading to the plane on the direct flight to Orlando. I napped a little on the flight with a 2/4/2 Club World Business service on an older 777 with Business, Premium and Coach on the plane.

Upon landing in Orlando we grabbed in an Uber and made our way to the Walt Disney World Swan, a Westin property located in Disney World itself and considered a Disney property allowing for additional benefits. Fortunately the Swan and Dolphin are both classified as Disney properties though they are Starwood managed. Upon entering the two hotels it is clear that the Swan is a Westin and the Dolphin is a Sheraton, so if you have a preference keep that in mind, the Swan is definitely quieter. There is a separate Gold and Platinum line at check in which made a big difference at the busy resort saving us some time.

We opted for the breakfast as our platinum amenity and paid the extra $8.00 per person a day to have it upgraded to the full buffet which was very good and can be had at either the Swan's restaurant or the Dolphin's, but on Saturday and Sunday the Swan has a character breakfast so on the Sunday we made our way offer there to enjoy the company of Chip, Dale, and Pluto. The hotel had a very good gym, several pools shared between the two resorts, Swan paddle boats to take out on the river, and beach volleyball. Outdoor Disney movies were aired on the beach weather permitting along with smores and the pool bar was very good if a bit pricey.

One of the best things about the Swan/Dolphin location was the ability to walk to Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios or to take the boat service, though this service was slower then simply walking. The shuttle bus service to Downtown Disney, the Animal Kingdom, and to the Magic Kingdom itself was reliable but often quite crowded.

The fact that you could walk into Epcot for dinner or drinks if you had a Park Hopper Pass was a great feature, and the surrounding areas including Disney's Boardwalk Hotel and its great walkways along the river make for great spots for coffee or drinks without having to make the trek to Downtown Disney.

We had a great few days with friends in Disney and the Swan was a perfect hotel to explore everything Disney World has to offer especially the amazing new world of Pandora at Animal Kingdom.