DISadvantages of staying at the Dolphin?

[Dave006]

This really upsets me and scares me

Why does this upset and scare you?

We haven’t booked yet for our 2024 trip and have had a hard time deciding between a moderate and a deluxe but we would absolutely want a rideshare in the am from our resort.
What is the reasoning for not allowing this?

They do allow a rideshare from your resort in the morning. All rideshares are allowed to pick-up guests from any resort. They just can't drop you off at another Disney resort near one of the Theme Parks unless you have a valid Advanced Dining Reservation (ADR).

Your rideshare should drop you off at the normal Theme Park drop-off location as clearly marked at each Theme Park. The only exception would be the Disney Minnie Van service which is authorized to use the Resort Bus loop at each park.

Dave

 

[maleficent55]

Why does this upset and scare you?

They do allow a rideshare from your resort in the morning. All rideshares are allowed to pick-up guests from any resort. They just can't drop you off at another Disney resort near one of the Theme Parks unless you have a valid Advanced Dining Reservation (ADR).

Your rideshare should drop you off at the normal Theme Park drop-off location as clearly marked at each Theme Park. The only exception would be the Disney Minnie Van service which is authorized to use the Resort Bus loop at each park.

Dave

Oh good! It scared me because the way that it was originally worded made it sound like early ride shares from resorts in the morning aren't allowed. Now I am understanding it's the drop off at other resorts from ride shares that isn't allowed (at least w/out an ADR). It scared and upset me to begin with because my husband is on prosthetics and we plan on mostly lyft vs Disney transportation as it'll be easier on his legs to not wait around for any length of time for shared transportation like the buses.

 

[Best Aunt]

Oh good! It scared me because the way that it was originally worded made it sound like early ride shares from resorts in the morning aren't allowed. Now I am understanding it's the drop off at other resorts from ride shares that isn't allowed (at least w/out an ADR). It scared and upset me to begin with because my husband is on prosthetics and we plan on mostly lyft vs Disney transportation as it'll be easier on his legs to not wait around for any length of time for shared transportation like the buses.

[In response to using Uber/Lyft a lot because spouse physically can't stand around waiting for any length of time for buses]:

Keep in mind that you can use Minnie Vans to/from Swan/Dolphin/Swan Reserve.

For transportation between Swan/Dolphin/Swan reserve and Magic Kingdom: Uber/Lyft will take you to Transportation and Ticket Center, and you have to stand around and wait for monorail or ferry boat from there. I think you would be standing once you're on ferry boat and may be standing on monorail. Minnie Van picks up and drops off directly at Magic Kingdom; Transportation & Ticket Center would not be involved.

For transportation between Swan/Dolphin/Swan Reserve and Animal Kingdom or Disney's Hollywood Studios: Uber/Lyft should be fine. You can do Minnie Van, but it costs more.

Obviously the boat is an option for transportation to/from DHS, but sometimes you have to stand around and wait what seems like a long time for it. And if I recall correctly, if you are at DHS and walk to the boat dock, it's a bit of a walk to get back to the Uber/Lyft pickup spot if you change your mind. If you are at Swan/Dolphin/Swan Reserve boat dock and change your mind, I don't think it's a long walk through the Swan to get an Uber/Lyft at the front of that hotel.

 

[Robbie Cottam]

Am I the only one that walk from the swan to the beach club to take the Disney bus ?

 

[Dave006]

Ah the Yacht Club is closer and is the first stop on the YC / BC bus stops when the buses are shared.

Dave

 

[weather_lady]

Sorry if I'm repeating prior posts (I didn't read them all), but the disadvantages for us were...
- no direct bus to MK, and bus service to both MK and AK is a little less frequent (e.g., every 25-30 minutes instead of every 10-15), than at Boardwalk or YC/BC. Of course, if that's an issue, you can always walk to those other resorts and take buses from there.
- double beds instead of queen-sized (my 6'-plus DH and son had their feet hanging off their beds)
- less interesting theming

Other than that, there were myriad pluses: easy communication with the hotel/housekeeping via the Marriott app, free bottled water, Starbucks coffee in the room, each access to HS/EPCOT, wonderful on-site dining that was easier to reserve than WDW-owned restaurants, beautiful pool that was far less crowded than we've typically found WDW hotel pools to be, ability to book a family suite with a AAA discount for the same price as a Disney moderate standard room, etc.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

Am I the only one that walk from the swan to the beach club to take the Disney bus ?

No definitely not. The way I think of staying at S/D is it's a toss up. We do a combo depending on the time of day/weather and how much we've already walked. If weather is super hot, we'll catch the S/D bus to TTC, most, not all times, the actual wait at the TTC is minimal and we enjoy the ferry/monorail over to MK. If we're fresh and it's nice out, we'll walk to YC/BC or BW and grab the disney bus. Either way you're walking a little bit really so it's just do we want to walk now or later or never

 

[Robbie Cottam]

No definitely not. The way I think of staying at S/D is it's a toss up. We do a combo depending on the time of day/weather and how much we've already walked. If weather is super hot, we'll catch the S/D bus to TTC, most, not all times, the actual wait at the TTC is minimal and we enjoy the ferry/monorail over to MK. If we're fresh and it's nice out, we'll walk to YC/BC or BW and grab the disney bus. Either way you're walking a little bit really so it's just do we want to walk now or later or never

sorry I forgot to add the disclaimer that my post was sarcasm .... ill do better next time, so there is no confusion (sarcasm added)

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

sorry I forgot to add the disclaimer that my post was sarcasm .... ill do better next time, so there is no confusion (sarcasm added)

Sorry- I def totally missed that lol

 

[maxiesmom]

Am I the only one that walk from the swan to the beach club to take the Disney bus ?

No. I have done it many times. And, it seems, a lot of people do! Though I'm planning on using Minnie Van service this time.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I have heard 2 different answers concerning the bus change. 1) Disney did not renew the contract during Covid at contract renewal time (Oct. 15, 2020). 2) due to a shortage of Bus drivers that still exists even today. 2) Tish Group switched to Mears to save money during Covid.

I discount answer 2 since they still have access to the Friendship boats to Epcot and HS.

Dave

Dollars to donuts access to the friendship boats is written into the 99 year lease. The value of the property’s use would decline materially without access to the boats.

 

[gottalovepluto]

This really upsets me and scares me

It’s the TTC, not the Underworld. You will be fine. There are always Minnie Vans if you want a rideshare to MK bus area and are staying at Disney or Swolphin.

 

[carlyannek]

It’s the TTC, not the Underworld. You will be fine. There are always Minnie Vans if you want a rideshare to MK bus area and are staying at Disney or Swolphin.

One thing I will say, the bus stop pickup at the TTC is in direct sunlight with zero umbrellas. Depending on what time of year you are visiting and how long you wait for the bus, it might feel like the underworld lol I'd just recommend doing the yacht club or boardwalk bus when doing MK

 

[tigertides]

I've stayed there 2x.

The walk to the Boardwalk is about 7min if you are speedy. Plentiful buses.

For Yacht club, you can navigate thru the expansive A/C'd massive Dolphin convention hall, pop out into the delivery/service loading dock, and it's a straight shot to the YC bus stop. I've done this when it's miserably hot.

Food options at Swolphin 100x better than any WDW Deluxe hotel IMO.

 

[maleficent55]

It’s the TTC, not the Underworld. You will be fine. There are always Minnie Vans if you want a rideshare to MK bus area and are staying at Disney or Swolphin.

This made me laugh! May not be the underworld, but extra stops/waits/standing/transferring to different modes of transporation is easy for me but not so much for my double leg amputee husband. Hence the fear! lol

 

[gottalovepluto]

This made me laugh! May not be the underworld, but extra stops/waits/standing/transferring to different modes of transporation is easy for me but not so much for my double leg amputee husband. Hence the fear! lol

I hear you there, I've got an ECV user in my crew. He far prefers MV to MK when staying Swolphin so we budget for it ahead of time and try to snag an accessible one nice and early for rope dropping (the accessible one can handle 2 ECVs/WCs, but they only have a few of them).

ETA: in case you need it here is the Minnie Van page with info on the Accessible Vans, prices run around $40

 

[Sweettears]

It’s a very minor point but matters to me. All of the WDW resorts play background music throughout the resorts. As you walk from BC and YC towards the Dolphin it stops all of a sudden. Doesn’t keep me from staying there depending on price but it is very noticeable to me and signals you’re leaving the bubble.

 

[maxiesmom]

I hear you there, I've got an ECV user in my crew. He far prefers MV to MK when staying Swolphin so we budget for it ahead of time and try to snag an accessible one nice and early for rope dropping (the accessible one can handle 2 ECVs/WCs, but they only have a few of them).

ETA: in case you need it here is the Minnie Van page with info on the Accessible Vans, prices run around $40

How early do you have to book an accessible van to make it for the extra morning hours?

 

[gottalovepluto]

How early do you have to book an accessible van to make it for the extra morning hours?

We did a little more than an hour before EE. Wanted enough time to walk to a Disney Resort for their bus or catch Swolphins bus to TTC if we couldn’t snag one. They start running at 6:30.

 

[TammyC]

Especially with Disneys new announcement over weekend with plans to combine more Resorts with more stop offs and pickups to “save” money for Disney .

I did not see this one - do you have a link or more info to share? Thanks!