The **New** Swan and Dolphin Resort thread ~ April 2012 ~ Please read post #1

[RachelTori]

Thank you! Duh - I didn't even look at the side of the page - I was focused on what they featured in the middle!!

Easy to overlook them since they don't look like "links"! I could have (should have! ) been more specific!

I hope you're able to find a good discount! Let us know!

 

[visual]

I think it reads "$60 less than our teacher rate".

Ahhhh...thanks

 

[lovingthemouse]

Thanks for the clarification Laura!!

 

[CindyPA]

Hello all...

I have a question.... We will be staying at the Dolphin this coming June. We stayed at BWI last summer and had KTTW cards. What do the tickets look like if I am not staying at a Disney owned resort? And where is the best place to buy them? I know the FP system looks like it may be changing and things may even change between now and June. But I was just wondering what the difference is now... TIA!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Welcome to the dis, Cindy.

The tickets will be the tyvek based 'paper' tickets with an image of one of the characters on it.

Scroll towards the bottom here...

http://allears.net/tix/tixpix10.htm

Best place to buy is probably Undercover Tourist.

http://www.undercovertourist.com/orlando/attractions/tickets.html

 

[SRUAlmn]

Best place to buy is probably Undercover Tourist.

http://www.undercovertourist.com/orlando/attractions/tickets.html

And you probably want to do so as soon as you're able. Last year they increased ticket prices in early June, and this year it was rumored that it might happen even earlier. Once the announcement happens that prices will be going up, Undercover Tourist gets FLOODED and shipping can take longer than usual. You don't want to run the risk of your tickets not arriving in time for your trip!

 

[CindyPA]

And you probably want to do so as soon as you're able. Last year they increased ticket prices in early June, and this year it was rumored that it might happen even earlier. Once the announcement happens that prices will be going up, Undercover Tourist gets FLOODED and shipping can take longer than usual. You don't want to run the risk of your tickets not arriving in time for your trip!

Thanks Dan and SRUAlmn!

Very helpful info!

One more thought...How big are the tickets? I have a lanyard with an ID holder that is credit card sized. Will they fit in it?

Thanks again!

 

[RachelTori]

And you probably want to do so as soon as you're able. Last year they increased ticket prices in early June, and this year it was rumored that it might happen even earlier. Once the announcement happens that prices will be going up, Undercover Tourist gets FLOODED and shipping can take longer than usual. You don't want to run the risk of your tickets not arriving in time for your trip!

Yes - great advice! The word has already started to spread that a price increase pre-June is a real possibility.

Thanks Dan and SRUAlmn!

Very helpful info!

One more thought...How big are the tickets? I have a lanyard with an ID holder that is credit card sized. Will they fit in it?

Thanks again!

Yes, the tickets are credit card-sized.

 

[mikegood2]

And you probably want to do so as soon as you're able. Last year they increased ticket prices in early June, and this year it was rumored that it might happen even earlier. Once the announcement happens that prices will be going up, Undercover Tourist gets FLOODED and shipping can take longer than usual. You don't want to run the risk of your tickets not arriving in time for your trip!

Yes - great advice! The word has already started to spread that a price increase pre-June is a real possibility.

Great advice for the majority of the time, but with Fast Pass+ possibly being introduced soon, right now might be the exception? FP+ will in some way be tied to the tickets (possible pin code?) and possibly require tickets to be purchased directly from Disney, leaving services like Undercover Tourist out in the cold? Maybe this is somehow tied into the rumors of pre-June price increases. If your happy with the current FP system and don't care about FP+ I'm sure its safe to go the UT route, but if you have any interest in FP+ you may want to wait.

In case you don't know about FP+ is, based on the rumors the user would be able to preselect online, up to 60 days in advance, 3-4 FP+ tickets a day per day. Beyond that not much is known yet and even that not set in stone.

We are going in mid-June and I personally hope the system isn't fully running by then, but want to keep the option open.

 

[SRUAlmn]

Great advice for the majority of the time, but with Fast Pass+ possibly being introduced soon, right now might be the exception? FP+ will in some way be tied to the tickets (possible pin code?) and possibly require tickets to be purchased directly from Disney, leaving services like Undercover Tourist out in the cold? Maybe this is somehow tied into the rumors of pre-June price increases. If your happy with the current FP system and don't care about FP+ I'm sure its safe to go the UT route, but if you have any interest in FP+ you may want to wait.

In case you don't know about FP+ is, based on the rumors the user would be able to preselect online, up to 60 days in advance, 3-4 FP+ tickets a day per day. Beyond that not much is known yet and even that not set in stone.

We are going in mid-June and I personally hope the system isn't fully running by then, but want to keep the option open.

VERY good point. I wasn't even thinking about your needing to have DISNEY purchased tickets to be able to reserve your FP+, I guess I just thought you could attach your FP reservations to your room reservation (even if it was only room only.)

 

[SingingMom]

VERY good point. I wasn't even thinking about your needing to have DISNEY purchased tickets to be able to reserve your FP+, I guess I just thought you could attach your FP reservations to your room reservation (even if it was only room only.)

When do you think we Dolphin/Swan patrons will know how FP+ works?

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[mikegood2]

VERY good point. I wasn't even thinking about your needing to have DISNEY purchased tickets to be able to reserve your FP+, I guess I just thought you could attach your FP reservations to your room reservation (even if it was only room only.)

They could be attached to the room reservations. Guess we won't know until it goes live, but I like leaving my options open.

When do you think we Dolphin/Swan patrons will know how FP+ works?

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

My guess is when everyone else does. There was a rumor that the Beach Club was supposed to be the first test resort in late February, but I haven't seen anything posted about it yet. I was hoping it would be up in running far enough in advance of our trip in June that we could make a more informed decision! Doesn't look like that will be the case.

 

[TaraPA]

VERY good point. I wasn't even thinking about your needing to have DISNEY purchased tickets to be able to reserve your FP+, I guess I just thought you could attach your FP reservations to your room reservation (even if it was only room only.)

They could be attached to the room reservations. Guess we won't know until it goes live, but I like leaving my options open.

We were in the test group for FP+ in December & it was tied to our room ressie, not tickets. I have an AP but the other party in my group had a regular ticket purchased thru UT. Not sure if it will always be like this, or if they are making changes!

A CM friend said they are testing right now only at AKL. We are staying there next week but haven't heard a word about it. I'm hoping I don't - I like it the old way. We ended up only using one of our FP+ options on the December trip, and we had pre-selected 6.

 

[Music City Mama]

After recent posts about SPG cash & points stays, I just wanted to mention that Starwood made changes just the other day for how much cash/points it costs now in all categories. For S/D, I was able to get my C&P nights at 4,000 points + $60 cash -- but effective for all bookings beginning 3/5, C&P at S/D is now 5,000 points + $75 cash. Just a heads-up.

As far as FP+, I'm thinking that it shouldn't matter where you purchase your tickets from as they're actually issued by Disney to third-party seller (UT, AAA, etc.). If FP+ will be tied to tickets, you should be able to enter the ticket number -- which is a number issued by Disney regardless of where you bought them. I think the bigger factor, as most of you have mentioned, will be where you're staying -- at least for the time being, while they're working out the testing.

 

[RachelTori]

After recent posts about SPG cash & points stays, I just wanted to mention that Starwood made changes just the other day for how much cash/points it costs now in all categories. For S/D, I was able to get my C&P nights at 4,000 points + $60 cash -- but effective for all bookings beginning 3/5, C&P at S/D is now 5,000 points + $75 cash. Just a heads-up.

Oh my!! Thanks for the heads-up. Glad I already booked my Cash & Points reservations for November. The increase to $75 doesn't bother me as much as the 5,000 points does -- I work hard to earn those extra 1,000 points!

As far as FP+, I'm thinking that it shouldn't matter where you purchase your tickets from as they're actually issued by Disney to third-party seller (UT, AAA, etc.). If FP+ will be tied to tickets, you should be able to enter the ticket number -- which is a number issued by Disney regardless of where you bought them. I think the bigger factor, as most of you have mentioned, will be where you're staying -- at least for the time being, while they're working out the testing.

This is what I think also. I hope we're both correct!

 

[lovingthemouse]

MusicCityMama - another happy traveler here who did book the points/cash rate a few months back. Thanks for the heads up though!!
Gee, 5 weeks from today!!! Hey Dan - looking forward to seeing you...

 

[SingingMom]

As far as FP+, I'm thinking that it shouldn't matter where you purchase your tickets from as they're actually issued by Disney to third-party seller (UT, AAA, etc.). If FP+ will be tied to tickets, you should be able to enter the ticket number -- which is a number issued by Disney regardless of where you bought them. I think the bigger factor, as most of you have mentioned, will be where you're staying -- at least for the time being, while they're working out the testing.

That makes sense! Guess we shall see!

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[mikegood2]

As far as FP+, I'm thinking that it shouldn't matter where you purchase your tickets from as they're actually issued by Disney to third-party seller (UT, AAA, etc.). If FP+ will be tied to tickets, you should be able to enter the ticket number -- which is a number issued by Disney regardless of where you bought them. I think the bigger factor, as most of you have mentioned, will be where you're staying -- at least for the time being, while they're working out the testing.

That does make sense and I hope your right. I have only purchased tickets once and that was when we arrived at the SD in 2011 so I'm not sure how ordering tickets in advance (Disney or third-party) worked.

The problem with FP+ right now is that so much of it is speculation. I based my previous comment on a post where someone stated that Disney didn't like the third party sellers and may use the new system as a way to steer people to buy direct from Disney. We arrive in mid-June and will probably stick with the traditional FP system. I'm just hoping that they still have a decent number of tickets attached thru traditional FP then.

 

[JustLikeMe]

Hi all,

I'm going to be in Orlando at the end of April, and thought I'd try and stop in at Disney for a few nights before flying back to England. The specific dates I'm looking at are checking in on Thursday 25th April, checking out on Monday 29th April.

My first choice would be the Swan or Dolphin, but although both hotels have availability for the first three nights, neither have availability for the final night, Sunday 28th April.

Is anyone aware of any events occurring that evening/following day that a certain number of rooms may be being held for? Or should I assume that the hotel is actually at capacity that night?

Essentially I'm hoping someone will tell me whether I should forget getting the full four night reservation at the Swan/Dolphin and just book elsewhere or a split stay, or should I hold out in the hope that rooms do become available for that final night?

Any advice is very much appreciated!

 

[SingingMom]

Hi all,

I'm going to be in Orlando at the end of April, and thought I'd try and stop in at Disney for a few nights before flying back to England. The specific dates I'm looking at are checking in on Thursday 25th April, checking out on Monday 29th April.

My first choice would be the Swan or Dolphin, but although both hotels have availability for the first three nights, neither have availability for the final night, Sunday 28th April.

Is anyone aware of any events occurring that evening/following day that a certain number of rooms may be being held for? Or should I assume that the hotel is actually at capacity that night?

Essentially I'm hoping someone will tell me whether I should forget getting the full four night reservation at the Swan/Dolphin and just book elsewhere or a split stay, or should I hold out in the hope that rooms do become available for that final night?

Any advice is very much appreciated!

Personally, I would make the split reservation and continue to keep checking for availability at the Swan/Dolphin, provided you can cancel without penalty if the extra night opens up. Good luck!

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards