Dolphin resort fee???

[Luv4Dis]

As I search for info about the dolphin I stumbled across a resort fee??? What's this about? Is this just for people that are parking a car at the resort???

Thanks!

 

[cmwade77]

Many hotels in tourist areas are now charging "resort fees". These are generally separate from parking fees and all guests pay these and some hotels charge per guest, some per room.

They claim these fees are to pay for your share of costs associated with using the amenities (which should be figured into the room costs).

On average these fees are usually around $20 per night, per room when charged by the room or $10 per night per guest.

I do not specifically know what the Dolphin Resort charges. At least with Disney owned resorts, the price quoted is what you pay, you don't get hit with extra charges when checking in. This is one of the reasons that I won't consider the Swan and Dolphin.

 

[Disney Fanatic 29]

I've stayed at the Dolphin thousands of times. I like the fact that it is close to HS and Epcot and I don't need to spend $300-400 a night like at BC or BW. The Swan and Dolphin both have a charge of $14 per night. It gives you internet access, two bottles of water, unlimited access to the health club, 60 min free local calls and 20 min free long distance calls. It's a waste of money but its mandatory.

 

[lililoo12]

parking a car is an additional fee to the resort fee. i think resort is 14 and parking is between 14 and 20 a night

 

[DisneyJanFeb2008]

We stayed at Swan last yr and there was a hefty fee...plus you don't get Magical Express and have to pay for your own airport transportation. So it's not as cheap as the room rate appears. I'd call to find out the daily fee they tack on...

 

[bookwormde]

Manditory resort fees are basically scams to make their posted prices look lower. I refuse to stay anywhere that uses them.

 

[patty57]

Even with the $14 resort fee and paying for transportation to the hotel, I'm still saving over $600 staying at the Dolphin this May. That's even after the 30% WDW discount offer. I don't bring a car, but there is a parking fee of (I think) $15/day.

 

[RMulieri]

MANY hotels do this now.Disney does it too, they just build theirs into the cost of the resort room..Same thing with parking.MANY resorts charge to park a car, Disney does too, again they build it into resort cost and charge everyone whether they bring a car or not.Those perks Disney gives aren't free, you just don't see them since they are built into the resort rate..Honestly, it doesn't bother me.Places like Washington DC and NYC I have seen nightly resort rates of $25 and parking rated of $30-40 per night.

 

[DisneyJanFeb2008]

You will absolutely still save at the swan/dolphin compared to beach club/boardwalk for example. Personally we missed the Disney magic and found it to be a standard hotel like for business (vs a vacation resort) but it was a good value for the location and cost.

Even with the $14 resort fee and paying for transportation to the hotel, I'm still saving over $600 staying at the Dolphin this May. That's even after the 30% WDW discount offer. I don't bring a car, but there is a parking fee of (I think) $15/day.

 

[patty57]

You will absolutely still save at the swan/dolphin compared to beach club/boardwalk for example. Personally we missed the Disney magic and found it to be a standard hotel like for business (vs a vacation resort) but it was a good value for the location and cost.

I was afraid that I would feel this way, but we stayed at the Swan this past June, and I loved the Swan/Dolphin resorts. Less magic? Probably...but a fantastic pool, pool bars that are much better than anything at any of the WDW resorts, and that fantastic Epcot location. I'm a Swan/Dolphin convert! The only way I would go back to BC or BW is by renting points.

 

[wdw4rfam]

Manditory resort fees are basically scams to make their posted prices look lower. I refuse to stay anywhere that uses them.

Same here. When I first looked at swan/dolphin, I thought, "wow, a deluxe at a moderate price." Then I added parking/resort fees, and realized that its just as high. I agree that it is a toal scam to add these fees, just to make their rates seem lower. When you think about adding $14 perday when you arrive for parking, then $14 resort fee, it doesn't sound like lot, unless you stay 10 days, and when you check-in are told you owe an extra $300. Then what...too late. I think they bank on the fact that people wont read the small print.

 

[patty57]

I know what you're saying about the "feel" of the resort fees. It kept me from booking at Swan/Dolphin for many years. This year, I'm staying at the Dolphin from May 2-8. Six nights. With AAA discount, it's $1103...all fees and taxes included. In addition, I'm getting a $50 resort credit as part of the AAA price. The BC for the same days costs $1986, including their spring discount. Even after I take off the $120 town car (which is including tip), I'm saving $763, and will have the $50 resort credit to use. I can look the other way at their resort fee for that kind of savings.

 

[cmwade77]

I know what you're saying about the "feel" of the resort fees. It kept me from booking at Swan/Dolphin for many years. This year, I'm staying at the Dolphin from May 2-8. Six nights. With AAA discount, it's $1103...all fees and taxes included. In addition, I'm getting a $50 resort credit as part of the AAA price. The BC for the same days costs $1986, including their spring discount. Even after I take off the $120 town car (which is including tip), I'm saving $763, and will have the $50 resort credit to use. I can look the other way at their resort fee for that kind of savings.

Admittedly, we are DVC members, so we see things differently; however, we are going at the end of May and are out of points, so we will be paying cash. We are blessed to know several Disneyland CMs, so we are able to get the friends and family discount.

So, even if we did go for BW or BC, it would be cheaper than Swan and Dolphin for us.

That being said, I still resent the idea of extra fees at check in and will often pay a little extra for a hotel that doesn't do stuff like that.

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

MANY hotels do this now.Disney does it too, they just build theirs into the cost of the resort room..Same thing with parking.MANY resorts charge to park a car, Disney does too, again they build it into resort cost and charge everyone whether they bring a car or not.Those perks Disney gives aren't free, you just don't see them since they are built into the resort rate..Honestly, it doesn't bother me.Places like Washington DC and NYC I have seen nightly resort rates of $25 and parking rated of $30-40 per night.

ITA! Most hotels on the strip in Las Vegas have resort fees. And good luck finding a city hotel that doesn't have parking fees. The S/D are great hotels for the rates, especially compared to their neighbors.

 

[DebbieB]

If you get a "free" room with Starwood points, you still have to pay the resort fee and parking.

 

[RMulieri]

Those of you that resent the resort and parking fees, you do know you are paying them at most resorts right??? Disney just builds it into the nightly room cost and charges everyone regardless of whether they use it or not.MANY hotels in MANY cities itemize them out now so that you see what you are paying.This not something radically new or limited to just Orlando Florida either

 

[Luv4Dis]

Well thanks everyone for commenting. My husband and I figured out that even though there is a daily resort fee....staying here is still the cheaper and more convent choice. I have stayed on wdw property close to 10 times. This time we are going w our 2 little ones(18mos and4 yr old). We loved the pics of the resort and LOVE the location. We can still take advantage of extra magic hrs and disney transportation....but for a lot less as many of you commented!!!

It's nice to see a place offer a discount for teachers ( me) and my husband gets a discount for tix through ibm) we are pleased that we are staying here for only a little more than the all stars

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

We use the teachers rate as well. You will love the Heavenly Beds. Both S/D are run by Starwood which owns Westin, Sheraton, etc. You should join spg, their guest program. We have gotten room upgrades a few times and earn points for stays. We have enough now for a few free nights.

The boat transportation to Epcot and DHS is very nice. Sometimes we get tired of it though and will walk to Epcot instead. The walk is faster than the boat. It is very nice to walk over to the Boardwalk in the evening too.

 

[cmwade77]

The fees do bother me, they should simply be included in the price quoted for the room.

Parking should be considered a part of doing business and shouldn't have charges, but I can at least see why that might not be included in the room price, as not everyone will have a car, but I think all fees that everyone pays should be in the room price.

 

[Jestocost]

Those of you that resent the resort and parking fees, you do know you are paying them at most resorts right??? Disney just builds it into the nightly room cost and charges everyone regardless of whether they use it or not.MANY hotels in MANY cities itemize them out now so that you see what you are paying.This not something radically new or limited to just Orlando Florida either

What difference does it make if they break it out but still require that it be paid? With a mandatory resort fee they are charging everybody regardless of whether they use the features or not too. The reason that hotels that charged these mandatory fees separated them out was not some altruistic effort at transparency; it was that at one time they could bury the fee in the small print and advertise what appeared to be a lower room rate. Now they have to be more up front about it than in the past in most cases. They also don't necessarily make it all that clear that parking is extra too.

Disney simply bundles many different things into the base room rate--airport transportation, health club, Internet (just recently), parking, etc.--and they advertise all of that.

That said, staying at the S/D will save money over a comparable Disney resort even when the extras are included. It's a different feel for a resort and some people actually prefer it over the Disney resorts. It's all a personal choice.