My family of 3 spent $300 a night at the Swan and Dolphin, and the affordable Disney resort is perfect for adults

Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin — comprised of the Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve hotels — is actually operated by Marriott.

That means you can accrue and use Marriott points when you stay here.

The pricing for all three hotels is the same in terms of Marriott points — they're all category-six properties, which range from 40,000 to 60,000 Marriott points a night. 

After driving down the always-backed-up I-4 from Jacksonville, check-in at the resort went smoothly.

Each of the hotel's lobbies is beautiful, with plenty of space to hang out if you arrive early before your room is ready.

There's a notable lack of Disney decor around the resort complex, but I appreciate that. After spending a full day at Magic Kingdom, the last thing I want to see is Mickey Mouse emblazoned on photographs in my room.

No matter which hotel I stay at of the three, most rooms offer stunning views of Epcot, Hollywood Studios, the Disney BoardWalk, or the resort pools. 

I always select the traditional room with a resort view. These rooms come with two double/queen beds or one king bed and a sofa bed.

During my most recent trip, I stayed at Disney's Swan Reserve and had a king bed, a large flat-screen TV, a mini-fridge, and a single-cup Keurig coffee maker. There was also a beautiful bathroom with a stand-up shower, a single vanity, and plenty of complimentary toiletries. 

Balconies are hard to get at these three hotels. Only a few rooms have them at both the Swan and the Dolphin, and the Swan Reserve doesn't have any rooms with balconies.

This is one downside to staying at this resort complex versus a Disney-owned hotel, like Yacht Club, where every room has a balcony.

There are five heated pools between the Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve that anyone staying on the resort property can use.

There's no pool-hopping allowed at other Disney resorts, but I love that I can bounce between pools at these hotels if one gets too busy or the vibe dies.

My favorite pool is actually at the Swan Reserve because it's secluded and offers a more adult atmosphere compared to the party-like grotto pool that's central to the Swan and Dolphin. 

I also love that the pool at the Swan Reserve comes with complimentary treats, like orange ice pops, which are passed out throughout the day.

The real perk of staying at the Swan and Dolphin hotels is the location. They're about a 15-minute walk from both Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

The Swan Reserve is set just across the street from the Swan and Dolphin, so it doesn't have as direct of a path to the theme parks, but the walk is still only about 20 minutes. 

When I don't feel like walking because it's hot or I'm tired at the end of the night, there are complimentary boat rides to and from both parks via the Disney Friendship Boats. These boats also stop at the BoardWalk and Disney's Yacht and Beach Club resorts. 

The boats take a little bit longer, but they're a nice service. If you want to get to the other parks, you can hop on a Disney bus. 

One of the many reasons I continue to stay at the Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve is that my family and I get a lot of the same benefits of staying at a Disney-owned hotel — without the hefty price. 

The benefits include transportation to the parks via bus or boat, 30 minutes of early theme-park entry, two hours of extended park time in the evenings, and free parking at Disney theme parks. 

One of my favorite parts about going to Disney World is being able to try so many different foods, and at the Swan and Dolphin Resort, there are 22 different restaurants and lounges. 

When I want a more casual dinner, I always go to the Il Mulino Lounge at the Swan, where I sit at the bar to get one of the restaurant's signature pizzas.

My favorite is the bianca, which comes loaded with ricotta cream, roasted garlic, feta and provolone cheeses, rosemary-infused olive oil, and fresh oregano. 

For a special occasion, I make my way to the newest restaurant in the hotel complex, Amare at the Swan Reserve. The Mediterranean-style restaurant boasts fresh seafood and hand-tossed flatbreads. 

I love the grilled mahi, which comes with Tuscan kale and cauliflower. The Amare flatbread is also a big hit with my family since it's topped with potatoes, bacon, and Gruyère cheese.

As a theme-park journalist, I've stayed at my fair share of hotels around the country, but I always come back to the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin.

My recent stay with my family of three ended up costing about $300 a night, but it was well worth the money. 

Overall, the location, amenities, and Marriott benefits make the Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve hotels some of my favorites at Disney World.