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

[bakerworld]

While most of the Disney perks like EMH and buses are included Magical Express and room key/park ticket combo are not. If your party is less than 3 than you probably want to look at a Mears shuttle for $21 one way or $34 roundtrip per person. If you have 3 or more in your party than a town car is probably the way to go!

less waiting - more direct

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

Do all rooms at the Swan have refrigerators? The SPG site makes it look like the standard rooms do not have mini-fridges. Thought I'd come here for a reliable answer...


thanks!

 

[lizabu]

Do all rooms at the Swan have refrigerators? The SPG site makes it look like the standard rooms do not have mini-fridges. Thought I'd come here for a reliable answer...

thanks!

They do all have fridges.

 

[LexiC123]

From the S/D Facebook page today...talk about a room with a view!

 

[mikegood2]

Do all rooms at the Swan have refrigerators? The SPG site makes it look like the standard rooms do not have mini-fridges. Thought I'd come here for a reliable answer...

thanks!

Some rooms even have more than one.

 

[patty57]

Lexi, that almost makes me want to join Facebook, but with two boys in college, I just don't want to know too much...

 

[melliej]

Just arrived this afternoon and my kids are already enjoying the new playground. Heavenly!

 

[askias]

We booked a car through the hotel for transport back and forth from the airport. Will report back next week on the experience.

 

[bakerworld]

Lexi, that almost makes me want to join Facebook, but with two boys in college, I just don't want to know too much...

You can 'hide' them

 

[patty57]

You can 'hide' them

Maybe I should break down and look into Facebook a little more. It seems like even businesses are putting good info there. I would enjoy checking out the Swan/Dolphin page.
I have a standard room booked at the Dolphin in May. What an upgrade that view would be!

 

[refinnej]

So we arrived at the Swan yesterday and we are not all that impressed with the service.

When we got here yesterday, DH and DS got out of the car and went to check in, leaving me and other DS in the car. I watched for the and moved the car up as space cleared out in the driveway. Finally after about 15-20 minutes they come out an DH is not happy. They were waiting in the Gold and Platinum line and were totally ignored by the staff. Finally they got checked in. When they came out and I opened the back of the car, not one person was even looking our way to help. DH got a cart and we both unloaded our car. Finally a valet came over as we were moving the cart to the door and offered help. Very frustrating.

Finally, last night after we were done with Epcot, we stopped at the front desk to ask about some luggage that SWA was going to drop off. Again, we waited in the Gold and Platinum line, one attendant was listening to another's conversation, glanced at us a few times, but as soon as someone came up in the other line, he rushed to check I'm in. Or question would have take
N 2 minutes to answer, but again we were ignored.

Hopefully things will run a little more smoothly today.

 

[teacher31]

There was talk about a pool refurbishment last summer that may occur this year. Did that ever occur or did that slowly die away? Going in May and looking forward to the grotto pool again.

 

[SingingMom]

There was talk about a pool refurbishment last summer that may occur this year. Did that ever occur or did that slowly die away? Going in May and looking forward to the grotto pool again.

Pool was fine in January. ;-)

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

 

[Mouseteacher]

So we arrived at the Swan yesterday and we are not all that impressed with the service.

When we got here yesterday, DH and DS got out of the car and went to check in, leaving me and other DS in the car. I watched for the and moved the car up as space cleared out in the driveway. Finally after about 15-20 minutes they come out an DH is not happy. They were waiting in the Gold and Platinum line and were totally ignored by the staff. Finally they got checked in. When they came out and I opened the back of the car, not one person was even looking our way to help. DH got a cart and we both unloaded our car. Finally a valet came over as we were moving the cart to the door and offered help. Very frustrating.

Finally, last night after we were done with Epcot, we stopped at the front desk to ask about some luggage that SWA was going to drop off. Again, we waited in the Gold and Platinum line, one attendant was listening to another's conversation, glanced at us a few times, but as soon as someone came up in the other line, he rushed to check I'm in. Or question would have take
N 2 minutes to answer, but again we were ignored.

Hopefully things will run a little more smoothly today.

I am sorry this has happened to you. We have stayed at the Swan many times. When the towncar we arrive in pulls in the front entrance, the valets have always been right there to see if we need assistance. Usually we decline because we each have only one suitcase. When our room has not been ready (we usually arrive at about 10:00 am), the bell service has been right there to store our suitcases and carry-ons.

I can't comment on check-in at the Gold spg line since I am not at that level. I am spg preferred level.

I hope service improves for you.

 

[SingingMom]

So we arrived at the Swan yesterday and we are not all that impressed with the service.

When we got here yesterday, DH and DS got out of the car and went to check in, leaving me and other DS in the car. I watched for the and moved the car up as space cleared out in the driveway. Finally after about 15-20 minutes they come out an DH is not happy. They were waiting in the Gold and Platinum line and were totally ignored by the staff. Finally they got checked in. When they came out and I opened the back of the car, not one person was even looking our way to help. DH got a cart and we both unloaded our car. Finally a valet came over as we were moving the cart to the door and offered help. Very frustrating.

Finally, last night after we were done with Epcot, we stopped at the front desk to ask about some luggage that SWA was going to drop off. Again, we waited in the Gold and Platinum line, one attendant was listening to another's conversation, glanced at us a few times, but as soon as someone came up in the other line, he rushed to check I'm in. Or question would have take
N 2 minutes to answer, but again we were ignored.

Hopefully things will run a little more smoothly today.

I am sorry you were not pleased with the service. We have not experienced this in our six stays at the Dolphin, but that doesn't mean things can always be perfect.

I hope the rest of your stay is more positive. If you feel things are not up to par, speak up. (Kindly, of course ;-) ). Nothing worse than an unpleasant experience putting a damper on your trip. The staff at the Swan-Dolphin are usually very helpful & accommodating. I hope you experience this during the rest of your stay!!

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

 

[mikegood2]

I'd say the only thing we weren't happy about at our stay at the Dolphin in 2011 was the valet service. They were incredibly busy so when or Town car arrived we had to wait at least a half hour to even get close enough hit to unload it. We had to find and get our cart, which we were find with, and I don't remember them ever asking if we needed any help, although they could have asked someone else in our party. Check in also seemed to take a long time because they were so busy and their computers we're acting up.

We also had a issue when we were waiting for our town car to take us to the airport. We had already checked out and had the valet holding our luggage for us. We returned a little early from HS because we needed to get a change of cloths for one of the kids, so we had all of our bags in a cart in the main lobby. One of the valets told us that we couldn't have the cart in the lobby while we waited, which was fine, but he asked it in a rude and condo sending way! It also probably didn't help that I was starting to come down with the worst cold I've had in years.

 

[vicb]

We are planning/hoping to stay at Dolphin the first week of May 2014 (so a little more than a year away). When can I expect to see deals on rooms on the S/D website? Right now the rates are higher than I paid for Easter week 2012. That trip was planned much closer to when the actual trip was and the lower rates were already posted.

This trip will be to celebrate DD's college graduation so we are very excited!! Have never been in May. Stayed just once at Dolphin and the "kids" were not with us so they have never stayed but I know they will love it.

Thanks for any tips on when to look for room rate deals>

 

[patty57]

Just saw on the All Ears Newsletter that the S/D resort fee is increasing on April 1st to $17 plus tax. Resort fee includes gym, internet, phone service and two bottles of water. I would prefer that we have an option to pay for the services if we use them instead of it being a mandatory fee.

 

[mikegood2]

Just saw on the All Ears Newsletter that the S/D resort fee is increasing on April 1st to $17 plus tax. Resort fee includes gym, internet, phone service and two bottles of water. I would prefer that we have an option to pay for the services if we use them instead of it being a mandatory fee.

First of all, even though I know its the beginning of a month, why would anyone start or announce something on April fools Day? I also wonder if people who booked before, but their stay is after April 1st are grandfathered into the $14 fee? And my final question is there a reason why the resort fee is a separate fee as opposed to just having it included into the room fee?

 

[RachelTori]

First of all, even though I know its the beginning of a month, why would anyone start or announce something on April fools Day? I also wonder if people who booked before, but their stay is after April 1st are grandfathered into the $14 fee? And my final question is there a reason why the resort fee is a separate fee as opposed to just having it included into the room fee?

Not sure about the April 1 date, but your existing reservation is safe -- they honor the rate you were quoted when your made your reservation, which is $14; no worries there.

I have no idea why they have chosen to have a "mandatory resort fee" as opposed to rolling it into the room rate. They brought the resort fee back several years ago at $10, then upped it to $12, then $14 and now I guess it will be $17.