There are several hotel options near EPCOT, including third party options: the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resorts. This trio presents an intriguing alternative to the trio of official resorts around Crescent Lake. Accordingly, we’re going to compare the Swolphin to Disney’s Beach Club Resort. (Updated April 16, 2025.)
The reason we’re comparing the Swan & Dolphin to just Beach Club is for the sake of simplicity. In our Rankings of ALL Walt Disney World Hotels from Worst to Best, we rank all of the Disney-owned Crescent Lake Resorts separately, and Beach Club is the only one that cracks the top 10.
That’s in part due to redundancy, if we’re being honest. Meaning that if Beach Club didn’t exist, Yacht Club would move up to fill its spot. If both didn’t exist, BoardWalk would move up. Similarly and perhaps confusingly, BoardWalk ranks higher than Yacht Club. It’s all about Beach Club being the most well-rounded and crowd-pleasing of the trio. But all three are exceptional resorts, and some guests will prefer Yacht Club or BoardWalk (or both!) over Beach Club.
Then there’s the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin, which now also includes the much newer Swan Reserve tower across the street. It’s easy to lump the Swan & Dolphin together, as their sister resorts just like the Yacht & Beach Club, but without any thematic daylight between them. While hardcore Swolphinophiles (it’s a thing) might be able to discern a difference, they’re indistinguishable to average guests.
However, Swan Reserve is much different the the OG Swolphin. This new tower is about as non-descript as possible, looking like an office in Scranton. Quite different from the post-modern pyramid next door! Inside, the guest rooms at the Swan Reserve are fantastic; they’re far better than even the updated rooms at the regular Swan & Dolphin. Amenities are a bit on the lighter side, but the hotel is an easy walk to the main Swolphin ‘campus’ (the pool is actually a shorter walk from the Swan Reserve than the main buildings, even though you have to cross the street.
Anyway, all of this is worth keeping in mind as we dig into the Swolphin vs. Disney’s #1 Resort at Crescent Lake comparison…
For many Walt Disney World fans, we know choosing a third party hotel is a non-starter. That’s fair, in which case maybe this comparison isn’t for you. But before you bounce, maybe it is. The Swan & Dolphin are within walking distance of EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, serviced by Friendship boats to both. The location is closer to parks than the majority of Disney-owned hotels.
Part of the Walt Disney World experience is staying in the “Disney Bubble,” these are firmly in that. Still, it’s not quite the same at the Swan & Dolphin. Even as partners with Walt Disney World that offer some on-site perks (Early Entry and Extended Evening Hours), they’re Marriott hotels that have plenty of differences from Disney-owned hotels.
The rooms aren’t themed. There aren’t nods to characters, Disney details or design, and that sort of thing. The vibe is different at the Swolphin, for better or worse. However, as on-site hotels that are within walking distance of two parks, it’s impossible to ignore the Swan & Dolphin. Especially given that they have their own distinct styles and aren’t just generic hotels that you could find anywhere in the United States.
With that aside out of the way, let’s get to the comparison of the Swan & Dolphin and Beach Club. As with our previous Walt Disney World ‘versus’ posts, we use 6 elements of two different resorts to determine which is “the best.”
Theme: Beach Club – For a lot of Disney fans, this is the threshold issue that’s difficult to get past. Beach Club has “Disney” theming, whereas the Swan & Dolphin do not. Or so the argument goes. Beach Club has a theme resulting from former Disney CEO Michael Eisner’s obsession with his childhood vacations in the seaside communities of the Northeast, with Beach Club’s theme meant to recreate the seaside resort cottages scattered around New England in the early 20th Century.
However, I’d argue that the Swan & Dolphin have themes resulting from former Disney CEO Michael Eisner’s obsession with architect Michael Graves and his striking and unique style. Let’s call it “Gravesitecture.” It’s a very distinct post-modern style that is quite polarizing. Love or hate it, these hotels are probably the pinnacle of Gravesitecture, and there’s nothing else quite like them in the world.
They blend postmodern and whimsical designs with contemporary design in a way that’s not thematically-rich, but arguably is not a whole lot different than Disney’s Contemporary Resort. I’d further argue that it’s very difficult to assert the Contemporary “feels” like Disney theming whereas the Swan & Dolphin do not. (Totally different than thinking the Contemporary looks nice whereas the Swan & Dolphin are ugly.)
With all of that said, when making a value judgment about theme, as we’re doing here, Beach Club wins handily. Aside from time travelers visiting from the year 1992, Gravesitecture appeals to about 3.37% of the population, and those folks probably still wear L.A. Lights and carry Walkmans. For whatever it’s worth, I am among that 3.37% of the population, but I nevertheless recognize that Michael Graves’ distinct style does not resonate with most people. It took a while for it to grow on me!
Rooms: It Depends – Once we get past that threshold issue of theme, this becomes a much tighter race. Following a major refurbishment of its 2,267 guest rooms, the Swan & Dolphin are feature sleek, modern design and excellent features. The “Heavenly” beds, in particular, are the best at Walt Disney World, and the bathrooms and furniture are similarly nice. There’s no pretense of theme beyond “modern,” but if you’re looking for quality, it’s tough to beat these guest rooms.
Beach Club likewise just finished a large refurbishment to its rooms, which restored some of their thematic flourishes in the process. Thanks to new Donald Duck details and a greater variety of textures and soft goods, the new rooms at the Beach Club now feel like Walt Disney World rooms. Not by a ton, but enough.
Honestly, it’s hard to crown a winner here because both new rooms (done as of 2025) are fresh and improvements over their predecessors. It really depends upon what you’re looking for. Disney doesn’t put the same emphasis on luxurious bedding, bathrooms, or other touches, meaning theme necessarily must be top-notch for it to hold its own against real world competitors. On the other hand, most rooms at the Swan & Dolphin lack balconies. (If this were a comparison to the Swan Reserve, it would win–those rooms are the best of the bunch.)
Dining: Swan & Dolphin – Both resorts have their upsides and downsides in terms of dining. The upside of the Swan & Dolphin are an impressive lineup of higher end restaurants and bars. As it does a lot of convention business and caters far less to families, the Swan & Dolphin do sophisticated and adult restaurant options really well and at more competitive price points than Disney-owned competitors. Not being on the Disney Dining Plan helps in this regard, too. On the other hand, family options and counter service dining are woefully poor at the Swan & Dolphin (The Fountain is overpriced and not that good).
Beach Club is similarly weak in terms of counter service options, with Hurricane Hanna’s being its strongest option…which isn’t really saying much. The upside to Beach Club is that it offers better mid-range and family options. In this case, we think it’s fair to include the Yacht Club restaurants, too, as we are including all restaurants at both Swan & Dolphin. Even with that in mind, Swan & Dolphin get a slight edge thanks to quantity and quality, particularly thanks to some of the top-rated restaurants in all of Orlando.
All Crescent Lake resorts should be rebuked for the district’s pathetic counter service choices. Additionally, and as we’ve mentioned before, the restaurants throughout Crescent Lake are so incredibly easy to access from one another that we don’t think dining is an outcome-determinative factor.
Transportation/Location: Push – With all Crescent Lake resorts, location is one of the biggest selling points. They are all easy to stumble back to after a day of Drinking Around the World at EPCOT, grazing around the world during the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, or drowning your sorrows after having spent a full day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Both within walking distance to EPCOT via the International Gateway and Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a big deal, and a huge advantage–but it’s one shared by all of these resorts. Beach Club is closer to EPCOT, whereas Swolphin is closer to DHS. Friendship boat service is also available from all of these resorts, so that’s another push. Unfortunately, bus service is poor at the Crescent Lake resorts, but once again, that’s a shared disadvantage.
Beach Club does offer easier access to the International Gateway Skyliner station, which offers access to Disney’s Hollywood Studios as well as 4 other resorts. We don’t recommend using this to get to DHS, though, as it’s inefficient.
Pools: Beach Club – Swan & Dolphin have some of the most underrated pools at Walt Disney World. However, even their very good pools that would rank highly as compared to most Walt Disney World resorts are surpassed by Stormalong Bay at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts.
We probably sound like a broken record at this point, but Stormalong Bay is the gold standard of Walt Disney World pools. This sprawling pool complex 3 acres in size with sand at the bottom, a lazy river, pleasant lounging space, and 230-foot water slide is in a league of its own. This is one of the best amenities in all of Walt Disney World.
Swan & Dolphin’s beautiful grotto pool with rock-work and a waterfall that overlooks a white sand beach is the second-best pool at the Crescent Lake resorts, and there are 4 other pools in addition to it. There are also poolside restaurants, kiddie pools, whirlpools, and more. Still, unless you are an adult who would prefer fewer kids around, this slate of pools cannot add up to Stormalong Bay.
Cost: Swan & Dolphin – If Disney details and themed design are the threshold issue for some diehard Walt Disney World fans making the Swan & Dolphin a non-starter, price is the threshold issue for others making Beach Club a non-starter.
On any given night of the year, rack rates at Beach Club are at least double the price of Swan & Dolphin. On many nights, that’s closer to 2.5 to 3x the cost. It would take Free Dining with 4 adults in a room at the Beach Club to begin bridging that gap, but even then, Swan & Dolphin offers better value. (With discounts, we’ve managed to book Swan & Dolphin for under $200/night.)
However, it is worth noting that this is not always the case. The Swolphin uses dynamic pricing, whereas Disney does not. This means that you might be able to book a room months in advance at Beach Club for 30% off during high occupancy dates. As that date draws nearer, hotels at Walt Disney World might sell out due to said discounting.
By contrast, once room inventory decreases at the Swolphin, prices start increasing dynamically. So instead of being $200/night and cheaper than the Beach Club, that room might skyrocket to over $500/night, making it more expensive than Beach Club. This works the same way in reverse for low-demand dates, hence those sub $200 prices in the first place. Point being, the Swan & Dolphin are generally much cheaper, but that’s highly variable based on whether demand is low or high.
Things that must be factored in if you’re considering the Swan & Dolphin are the resort fee. As regular readers of this blog know, I abhor resort fees and strongly recommend consumers fight back against them. With that said, even after factoring in all of these nickel-and-diming fees, the Swan & Dolphin are still usually much cheaper than Disney’s Beach Club Resort.
There’s also potentially parking if you have a rental car, which Walt Disney World no longer charges. Mears Connect (the paid replacement for Disney’s Magical Express) is offered to Swan & Dolphin and Beach Club, and it’s usually the most cost-effective option for parties of 3 or fewer. Bigger families should rent a car or use rideshare.
Verdict: It Depends – Total cop out, I know. If you’re a first-timer to Walt Disney World or taking a rite-of-passage family trip with small children, you should stay at Beach Club. That’s true even if it’s significantly more expensive–unless you’re on a tight budget and even the Swolphin is a splurge.
There’s something special about Beach Club, and it has certain Disney intangibles that are difficult to quantify. One of those “if you know, you know” type of things. And if you have kids, you probably know. As parents ourselves now, our family trips staying in the Crescent Lake area will be at Beach Club as opposed to the Swolphin.
It’s a similar story when we’ve used our DVC points in the past when it was just the two of us–our cost basis for staying at Beach Club was lower than paying out of pocket for Swan & Dolphin. (It’s a similar story if you’re renting DVC points to save money.) Conversely, if we had a big budget and money were no issue, we’d also choose Beach Club.
On the other hand, we’ve stayed at the Swolphin many times as a couple and loved it. These hotels are great options for honeymooners, solo travelers, adults-only trips, or even families who don’t need to be immersed in the “magic” of Walt Disney World 24/7. In fact, some parties might actually appreciate a reprieve from the Disney energy when retiring to their hotel for the evening.
Hardcore Disney fans might not be able to comprehend this or view it as a betrayal to the bubble. But not everyone is a diehard WDW fan! Beyond that, you could argue that the Swan & Dolphin’s exterior is garish (counterpoint: when you’re staying inside the hotel, you see it less than those at the Beach Club with views of the Swan & Dolphin) and it doesn’t have the same caliber of theme.
However, the difference between a ~$250/night resort (after fees) and a ~$450/night resort (after modest discounts) might be too significant to ignore. This could be particularly true for frequent travelers to non-Disney destinations, who earn and redeem Marriott rewards.
For most readers who do not view this as heresy, this probably will come down to pricing, theme/atmosphere & pool. If money is no object or if you’re one of those families of 4 traveling during Free Dining, Beach Club is a compelling option. For others, Swan & Dolphin do a “good enough” job with some semblance of theme–or at least Walt Disney World “bubble immersion.”
Staying at the Swolphin feels to me like staying at a Walt Disney World resort, and the significant amount of money saved helps me sleep easier at night. (Oh, and those Heavenly beds help, too.) This is a divisive topic among Walt Disney World fans, so your mileage may vary.
While we hope this post is helpful in offering a head-to-head comparison of the most crucial elements of each Walt Disney World resort experience, we know it’s not definitive or the final word for every guest. In addition to reading the comments before making your own decision, we suggest supplementing this with our full review of the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resorts and our Disney’s Beach Club Resort Review.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts
Is money the deciding factor for you, or is theme? Does Stormalong Bay provide enough value for you to help bridge the price gap? Is there another “exception” you can think of to make Beach Club the better pick? Are we missing a key variable that could, potentially tilt the scales in Beach Club’s favor? Do you agree or disagree with our picks? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!