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

[SingingMom]

Glad to hear the Cabana Bar should be checked out. I have it in my notes as another counter service option in addition to Picabu. I know the menu is probably limited but I think the grandkids would probably enjoy dining by the pool.

We enjoy the food at the Cabana Bar much better than Picabu! . Menu is pretty nice. Atmosphere can't be beat!

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

 

[luvmarypoppins]

We are thinking of staying at the Swan end of Sept.

We will be using dh ff miles. The only rooms available to use his miles with are standard view.

He is also a Starwoods member.

What would the chances of getting the one category upgrade be? Does he have to ask for this at check in?

Since we are booking through the airline, they only have a comment section online and I am thinking of noting his starwoods member number. Is this a good idea? My only request would be to be near an elevator due to my mobility issues.

We have stayed here before but so long ago. I think its a great location to be for the Food and Wine Festival.

Also its says you get 2 bottles of water? Is this correct? It would really help as I have about 6 pills to take each day and cant drink the unfiltered regular water etc.

TIA for any insights

 

[SingingMom]

We are thinking of staying at the Swan end of Sept.

We will be using dh ff miles. The only rooms available to use his miles with are standard view.

He is also a Starwoods member.

What would the chances of getting the one category upgrade be? Does he have to ask for this at check in?

Since we are booking through the airline, they only have a comment section online and I am thinking of noting his starwoods member number. Is this a good idea? My only request would be to be near an elevator due to my mobility issues.

We have stayed here before but so long ago. I think its a great location to be for the Food and Wine Festival.

Also its says you get 2 bottles of water? Is this correct? It would really help as I have about 6 pills to take each day and cant drink the unfiltered regular water etc.

TIA for any insights

I would call directly to request a room close to the elevator and make sure you explain it s for your mobility issues.
Your resort fee includes 2 bottles of water per day. There have been occasions when they were not left, but a quick call to housekeeping took care of it.
We have gotten room upgrades at check-in. It is on availability.

Enjoy your stay!

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

 

[bakerworld]

Just booked a SWVacation stay at Dolphin for 6 nights for the beginning of the F&W . We have APs already so the air and hotel, inclusive of the daily room charges for internet, etc., $100 credit and room upgrade is a bit under $1500. DH is already talking about the beds.

 

[lmminghe]

We are heading to the Swan for the first time in 10 days!! We have an 8:25 am ADR at Akerhaus which is before the park opens that day. My question is if we want to walk can we gain access through the World Showcase? If we take the boat where does that drop us off? TIA

 

[MOM POPPINS]

Boats to and from the International Gateway drop you off at the same place you would be walking to!

 

[Tess]

We are heading to the Swan for the first time in 10 days!! We have an 8:25 am ADR at Akerhaus which is before the park opens that day. My question is if we want to walk can we gain access through the World Showcase? If we take the boat where does that drop us off? TIA

You can gain access through the International Gateway. When you arrive at the gate, tell the security folks that you have an ADR. They will ask your name and provided it is on the list (or you can show your reservation sheet), they will admit you prior to your seating time. When we were there in May, a family arrived nearly an hour before their ADR AND to top it all off, their name wasn't on the list. Thankfully the Mom of the group had her handy dandy cell phone with Disney App and produced her reservation. The security people held them at the gate until one half hour before their reservation seating time and then admitted them.

The boats do run an hour before park opening, but it would probably be faster to walk depending upon your walking speed.

 

[lmminghe]

Thanks so much! I will definitely have all of my reservation numbers with me - thanks for the reminder! Glad to know that we can gain access through the International Gateway. We have always entered through the main entrance so I wanted to make sure.

 

[campbell95]

Hi everyone!

We will be staying at The Dolphin for the first time in just a few weeks!! I have a couple of questions, and hope you all can help.

First, we have TiW and AAA. Does the AAA discount cover alcohol the same way that TiW does?

Second, which is the fastest, easiest transportation from the airport to the hotel? A taxi or a town car? We have 5 year old twins, and will have their booster seats with us. We don't want a shuttle or bus because we don't want to have other stops, or wait around for it to load. We just want to hop in a car and go I'm leaning towards a taxi, but I've never tried to get one at an airport while also bringing along carseats/boosters, and I'm not sure how that would work.

Anyway, thanks any advice, and I'm looking forward to our stay! We usually stay at BWI or BC and love the Epcot area. We just could not turn down the deal we got on the Dolphin through travelocity!

 

[SRUAlmn]

Hey S & D fans! I am new to trying to figure out Travelocity and I wondered if anyone could help. If I put in Lake Buena Vista there are quite a few top secret hotels that are great deals! Some say free Disney shuttle and fitness center which might be the swan or dolphin? Does anyone know the details to determining which ones are the swan and dolphin? How many stars? What the rating out of 5 is? It looks like the dolphin's rating is 4/5. Help! We're thinking of taking a second trip this year, so a great deal might make or break the decision!

 

[bakerworld]

Thanks so much! I will definitely have all of my reservation numbers with me - thanks for the reminder! Glad to know that we can gain access through the International Gateway. We have always entered through the main entrance so I wanted to make sure.

We've been going to WDW since the 90's and just stayed in the Dolphin last year - we enjoyed it so much that we're returning for the Epcot F&W even tho we are part of the Disney Vacation Club. The Dolphin was so nice - great location, places to eat, staff and service. So looking forward to returning.

 

[CindyPA]

Hi everyone!

We will be staying at The Dolphin for the first time in just a few weeks!! I have a couple of questions, and hope you all can help.

First, we have TiW and AAA. Does the AAA discount cover alcohol the same way that TiW does?

Second, which is the fastest, easiest transportation from the airport to the hotel? A taxi or a town car? We have 5 year old twins, and will have their booster seats with us. We don't want a shuttle or bus because we don't want to have other stops, or wait around for it to load. We just want to hop in a car and go I'm leaning towards a taxi, but I've never tried to get one at an airport while also bringing along carseats/boosters, and I'm not sure how that would work.

Anyway, thanks any advice, and I'm looking forward to our stay! We usually stay at BWI or BC and love the Epcot area. We just could not turn down the deal we got on the Dolphin through travelocity!

Hello!

I can't answer for the TIW/AAA question... But I highly recommend Tiffany Towncar. You can book online and get a coupon... We paid $130 plus tip round trip for a family of five. If you are only 4 and can fit in a town car, the fee should be less. They were very prompt and professional. And will supply car/booster seats at no charge. My three year old needed a car seat and it was clean and safe. They will also stop at a grocery store at no charge for supplies if you like.

Have a great trip!

 

[CindyPA]

Hey S & D fans! I am new to trying to figure out Travelocity and I wondered if anyone could help. If I put in Lake Buena Vista there are quite a few top secret hotels that are great deals! Some say free Disney shuttle and fitness center which might be the swan or dolphin? Does anyone know the details to determining which ones are the swan and dolphin? How many stars? What the rating out of 5 is? It looks like the dolphin's rating is 4/5. Help! We're thinking of taking a second trip this year, so a great deal might make or break the decision!

I would be a little Leary booking thru Travelocity. Keep in mind any rates you see there do not include fees and taxes, and they typically don't give you that info until after you book. Call the Swan/Dolphin direct and see what rates they can offer. They give great discounts for AAA and AARP. And you can sign up for their SPG program online which also helps with rates/upgrades. Booking with Travelocity or any of the hotel filler websites typically do not get you the best rooms. Just my experience/opinion from having worked the hotel industry.

 

[SRUAlmn]

I would be a little Leary booking thru Travelocity. Keep in mind any rates you see there do not include fees and taxes, and they typically don't give you that info until after you book. Call the Swan/Dolphin direct and see what rates they can offer. They give great discounts for AAA and AARP. And you can sign up for their SPG program online which also helps with rates/upgrades. Booking with Travelocity or any of the hotel filler websites typically do not get you the best rooms. Just my experience/opinion from having worked the hotel industry.

Thank you so much! I did a little more digging after I posted and started noticing that! I'm a teacher, so the teacher rate is actually quite a bit less than the advertised travelocity rate. The surprise rate that I was thinking was the dolphin was $94/night, but I am not willing to take the risk! . I am a member of the SPG program and have quite a few points, but I don't like to redeem them at the dolphin since it doesn't seem like a very good value. Isn't it like 8,000 points per night or something!? Thanks again!

 

[NancyIL]

Thank you so much! I did a little more digging after I posted and started noticing that! I'm a teacher, so the teacher rate is actually quite a bit less than the advertised travelocity rate. The surprise rate that I was thinking was the dolphin was $94/night, but I am not willing to take the risk! . I am a member of the SPG program and have quite a few points, but I don't like to redeem them at the dolphin since it doesn't seem like a very good value. Isn't it like 8,000 points per night or something!? Thanks again!

A free night at the Swan or Dolphin requires 10,000 SPG points per night. Keep in mind that when you transfer 20,000 SPG points to an airline, Starwood gives you 5,000 bonus miles - which equals a free domestic ticket on some airlines. I definitely wouldn't use points when the room rate is heavily discounted.

 

[OKW Lover]

Just booked the Dolphin for the Swan/Dolphin Food Festival in October.

 

[campbell95]

Hello!

I can't answer for the TIW/AAA question... But I highly recommend Tiffany Towncar. You can book online and get a coupon... We paid $130 plus tip round trip for a family of five. If you are only 4 and can fit in a town car, the fee should be less. They were very prompt and professional. And will supply car/booster seats at no charge. My three year old needed a car seat and it was clean and safe. They will also stop at a grocery store at no charge for supplies if you like.

Have a great trip!

Oh, thank you! I didn't realize they would have car seats at no charge. I know they charge when you rent a car, so I was expecting the same thing. This definitely helps!

 

[SRUAlmn]

A free night at the Swan or Dolphin requires 10,000 SPG points per night. Keep in mind that when you transfer 20,000 SPG points to an airline, Starwood gives you 5,000 bonus miles - which equals a free domestic ticket on some airlines. I definitely wouldn't use points when the room rate is heavily discounted.

Thank you so much for your reply. We don't fly, so transferring the points to flights is something we'd rarely have a use for, but its great to know about!

 

[bakerworld]

Hi everyone!

We will be staying at The Dolphin for the first time in just a few weeks!! I have a couple of questions, and hope you all can help.

First, we have TiW and AAA. Does the AAA discount cover alcohol the same way that TiW does?

Second, which is the fastest, easiest transportation from the airport to the hotel? A taxi or a town car? We have 5 year old twins, and will have their booster seats with us. We don't want a shuttle or bus because we don't want to have other stops, or wait around for it to load. We just want to hop in a car and go I'm leaning towards a taxi, but I've never tried to get one at an airport while also bringing along carseats/boosters, and I'm not sure how that would work.

Anyway, thanks any advice, and I'm looking forward to our stay! We usually stay at BWI or BC and love the Epcot area. We just could not turn down the deal we got on the Dolphin through travelocity!

We use the TIW discount and the Mears shuttle = RT $68 for 2 adults with good results and we'll be using both again this year.

 

[luvallprincesses]

I am going to either apply for the Disney Visa or the Starwood AMEX. If I use it for all groceries, gas, etc over the course of a year, am I more likely to have more value on the Visa to spend towards park tickets or more points on the Amex to spend on hotel nights at the Dolphin? (We won't be accumulating other Starwood hotel stays throughout the year.). Now I use the USAir MC but am tired of being tied to USAir for flights, although I will certainly keep it for the yearly $99 companion flights in case it does end up being the best deal.