Walt Disney World SWAN, DOLPHIN & SWAN RESERVE RESORTS Information & Questions

[Kelly25]

How are the swan/dolphin buses to Disney Springs these days? we were hoping to go on arrival day (oct) and spend the afternoon/evening there but i dont want to be sitting on the buses forever to get there and back.

 

[Dan Murphy]

How are the swan/dolphin buses to Disney Springs these days? we were hoping to go on arrival day (oct) and spend the afternoon/evening there but i dont want to be sitting on the buses forever to get there and back.

They are as good, or bad, as from any of the other resorts on property. Generally aggravating.

 

[RachelTori]

They are as good, or bad, as from any of the other resorts on property. Generally aggravating.

Agreed, Dan! DS buses are notoriously the worst, no matter what resort!

 

[MarBee]

I have to take my reply back, Tess. As far as I know, AP discounts are still available. Not sure about DVC discounts on rooms, but there are DVC and TiW discounts at various S/D restaurants.

Can I combine discounts (I could do teacher or AP Discount) and Starwood points? I'm guessing that I can't but figured I'd ask just in case.

 

[lizabu]

Can I combine discounts (I could do teacher or AP Discount) and Starwood points? I'm guessing that I can't but figured I'd ask just in case.

You could do some nights on paid rates and some nights on points but you wouldn't be able to do a teacher rate and then apply points to make the rate lower. You could book a teacher rate and within 5 days of check in or less use points for a paid night upgrade. So for example at the Dolphin book a traditional room on the teacher rate. When you get close to your arrival date redeem 10,000 starpoints per night to upgrade to a suite. Or book the traditional room and redeem 1,000 starpoints per night to upgrade to deluxe balcony room. Swan would be 12,000 to go from traditional to suite. Traditional to deluxe balcony is 1,000 points each night. You have to call spg for paid night upgrades. It's possible that you might be able to also do it at check in but I'm not certain.

 

[RachelTori]

My excitement for this morning: I have (no, I HAD) a reservation for 2 nights, August 5-7, on cash+points at Swan. When I logged into my SPG account this morning, the reservation wasn't there. It was in my "Canceled Reservations".

Someone in their Accounting Department had sent an email to Reservations, requesting to cancel my reservation -- and they did! (They didn't give me my Starpoints back however!)

I had spoken to someone in Accounting several weeks ago, about a December reservation which had already been canceled, but deposit not yet credited. I'm still perplexed - and just a little bit upset - about this whole debacle, but I was able to get the reservation restored by calling SPG so all's well!

In the future, I'm going to check the status of my reservations much more often!!

 

[Tess]

My excitement for this morning: I have (no, I HAD) a reservation for 2 nights, August 5-7, on cash+points at Swan. When I logged into my SPG account this morning, the reservation wasn't there. It was in my "Canceled Reservations".

Someone in their Accounting Department had sent an email to Reservations, requesting to cancel my reservation -- and they did! (They didn't give me my Starpoints back however!)

I had spoken to someone in Accounting several weeks ago, about a December reservation which had already been canceled, but deposit not yet credited. I'm still perplexed - and just a little bit upset - about this whole debacle, but I was able to get the reservation restored by calling SPG so all's well!

In the future, I'm going to check the status of my reservations much more often!!

Good thing you checked since you are only a bit over one week away! Yikes! Sadly, if that had been Disney I bet you would have been SOL.

 

[Funholiday]

Uber black is able to pick up at the airport, but not the other Uber levels.

Any idea how much Uber Black runs to the Dolphin?

 

[Dan Murphy]

Any idea how much Uber Black runs to the Dolphin?

The app estimates $78-99.

 

[RachelTori]

Good thing you checked since you are only a bit over one week away! Yikes! Sadly, if that had been Disney I bet you would have been SOL.

No kidding, Tess!! I don't know why I even looked up the reservation -- something compelled me to do it!!

Thank goodness!

 

[butternut]

Are all the rooms in the Swan newly renovated? I found a deal on Trivago for a room in the Swan but I already held a renovated room in the Dolphin. The price from Trivago is a nice difference and cheaper then what I will be paying for the renovated room in the Dolphin. Both rooms included all the taxes and resort fee. I don't know what to do?

 

[Dan Murphy]

Are all the rooms in the Swan newly renovated?

Yes they are all complete.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Starting to think of an Oct. Food and Wine trip.

Does anyone know if the Gartner conference that is listed in October is the same one that is usually held in Dec?

Just wanting to make the best use of dh ff points and usually when they have that conference I cant get a room at the Swan for those dates but when I looked it up there was a room available for points so I am wondering???

Any info TIA.

 

[Tess]

Starting to think of an Oct. Food and Wine trip.

Does anyone know if the Gartner conference that is listed in October is the same one that is usually held in Dec?

Just wanting to make the best use of dh ff points and usually when they have that conference I cant get a room at the Swan for those dates but when I looked it up there was a room available for points so I am wondering???

Any info TIA.

I have no idea about a December Gartner conference, but the one in October has been going on for years and is HUGE. The attendees at that conference take up a vast number of hotel rooms at not only Swan/Dolphin but the other EPCOT resort hotels as well as MK loop hotels. We have been at the Dolphin just prior to the start of the convention/conference while the preparations are underway. It appears that this is the case this year as well--we will be there just before the start of the event. We were trying to add a night (mid-week) at either Swan or Dolphin but it was difficult to find a room that was reasonably priced. The traditional room at Dolphin was listed at nearly $500 per night--we said no thanks and opted for a discounted BWI room prior to our move to BWV.

Here is a picture of the makeshift dining facility set up to feed the attendees (in shifts):

 

[patty57]

No kidding, Tess!! I don't know why I even looked up the reservation -- something compelled me to do it!!

Thank goodness!

*Whew* Clearly the reservation gods were watching over you.

 

[MarBee]

Hello! I booked a few nights using SPG points at the Dolphin in June.
I want to link the reservation to my MDE. Before I even attempt this (and mess it up), I figured I'd consult the experts on here. Any instructions, advice, tips, etc?
Thanks in advance!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Tess - Thanks for sharing that picture. I might be rethinking my dates. I was only looking at those dates because I think the Chew is filming then and I know my one ds would love to be there then.

 

[ckelly14]

Hello! I booked a few nights using SPG points at the Dolphin in June.
I want to link the reservation to my MDE. Before I even attempt this (and mess it up), I figured I'd consult the experts on here. Any instructions, advice, tips, etc?
Thanks in advance!

You shouldn't have any problem- just make sure the correct number of people are on your Dolphin reservation. The reservation number you are looking for is a 9 digit number.

 

[Dave006]

You shouldn't have any problem- just make sure the correct number of people are on your Dolphin reservation. The reservation number you are looking for is a 9 digit number.

Actually, it is a 12 digit number that always starts with 4 for the Disney system. So if you get anything less than 12 digits and starting with a 4, just ask again until you get the correct confirmation number to use in the Disney system. This will allow you to reserve your FP+s on time.

Your FP+s are linked to your ticket media so the room is not really an issue unless you are getting them at the Dolphin when you arrive.

It may take 24-48 hours before the Dolphin system is linked to the Disney reservation system so give them time to get it linked before you call.

Dave

 

[MarBee]

Actually, it is a 12 digit number that always starts with 4 for the Disney system. So if you get anything less than 12 digits and starting with a 4, just ask again until you get the correct confirmation number to use in the Disney system. This will allow you to reserve your FP+s on time.

Your FP+s are linked to your ticket media so the room is not really an issue unless you are getting them at the Dolphin when you arrive.

It may take 24-48 hours before the Dolphin system is linked to the Disney reservation system so give them time to get it linked before you call.

Dave

I actually have an annual pass, so will that affect my fp+ days?