Never thought I'd be asking about...

[Ariel Wanna-be]

...the Swan and Dolphin! They just have never have appealed to me personally (no offense, I know they've earned many die-hard fans!)

However, I recently added a day onto an AKL trip. The room/rate for the extra day is unavailable at AKL, so we'll hop to another resort for one night. The extra day will be spent entirely at Epcot/MGM (I mean "Disney Studios" ) so I'd like to stay in that area.

We *try* to stay at new places every trip, and we've already stayed at BC and YC. BW is out because, CLOWN SLIDE. That leaves the Swolphin.

Couple of questions:
1. Will Disney transfer my luggage from AKL?
2. Am I correct that I'll need to get an Uber to the airport because no ME?
3. Which is more convenient to transportation, the Swan or the Dolphin?

TIA!

 

[DLgal]

1. Maybe. My friend had Yacht Club transfer her luggage to the Dolphin last fall. But, they are practically adjacent, so maybe that is why they were willing to do it? Just ask, chances are, yes they will.

2. Yes, you will need to find your own transportation. We used Uber.

3. Each has its own bus station. They share buses. Buses stop at Dolphin first, then Swan. The boat dock for Epcot/Studios is located midway between the Swan and Dolphin. The Swan has a SLIGHT edge when walking because it's closer to the sidewalk that leads to Epcot/Studios. The Swan has queen beds, but Dolphin has only Full sized. That is the biggest difference.

 

[Anthony12345]

Definitely never appealed to me either-every time i`ve been in, i`ve found it soulless, and unfair though it undoubtedly is, ive often felt as if im sat in a conference centre surrounded by the Expense Account Brigade.

 

[DLgal]

Definitely never appealed to me either-every time i`ve been in, i`ve found it soulless, and unfair though it undoubtedly is, ive often felt as if im sat in a conference centre surrounded by the Expense Account Brigade.

This is how I felt at my one and only stay at Coronado Springs. Yacht Club too.

I don't "love" S/D, but I like them FAR more than all of the Disney moderates, which they compete with price wise.

 

[Anthony12345]

This is how I felt at my one and only stay at Coronado Springs. Yacht Club too.

I don't "love" S/D, but I like them FAR more than all of the Disney moderates, which they compete with price wise.

And yet the strange thing is, some of the deluxe resorts ive stayed at, although more costly than these places, definitely manage to avoid such a sterile corporate atmosphere-im thinking of the AK lodge especially

 

[DLgal]

And yet the strange thing is, some of the deluxe resorts ive stayed at, although more costly than these places, definitely manage to avoid such a sterile corporate atmosphere-im thinking of the AK lodge especially

AK Lodge isn't a convention resort, though. Yacht Club, Contemporary, Coronado, Boardwalk all host Conventions, same as Dolphin. You get the "suits" in the lobby/public areas at all those resorts.

 

[earfulofmagic]

MGM (I mean "Disney Studios"

I still write MGM on our planning itinerary

 

[tjmw2727]

...the Swan and Dolphin! They just have never have appealed to me personally (no offense, I know they've earned many die-hard fans!)

However, I recently added a day onto an AKL trip. The room/rate for the extra day is unavailable at AKL, so we'll hop to another resort for one night. The extra day will be spent entirely at Epcot/MGM (I mean "Disney Studios" ) so I'd like to stay in that area.

We *try* to stay at new places every trip, and we've already stayed at BC and YC. BW is out because, CLOWN SLIDE. That leaves the Swolphin.

Couple of questions:
1. Will Disney transfer my luggage from AKL?
2. Am I correct that I'll need to get an Uber to the airport because no ME?
3. Which is more convenient to transportation, the Swan or the Dolphin?

TIA!

1 Yes you can transfer luggage via bell services to and from S/D and WDW resorts - We have done it both ways with no issues.

2 Yes - uber or towncar or shared mears shuttle back to the airport, but you do save 30 mins on the pickup

3 IMHO its the same, the boat has a shared dock for transport to Epcot and Studios, each resort has it's own bus stop for AK and MK and the bus sometimes shares with boardwalk.

FWIW Dolphin is one of our favorite resorts, the pool is 2nd in our opinion to only BC, great restaurants, walk or boat to two parks and just a great location.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We've stayed at both the Swan and the Dolphin (and BWI - love the clown slide, LOL!) and we much prefer the Swan. It doesn't have the big convention-crowd feeling that the Dolphin has, plus you'll have queen beds instead of double. In terms of transportation, if you are only going to EP/DHS that day, the boat dock (which you would use for EP/DHS) is equidistant from Swan and Dolphin. You can also walk to both DHS and EP from there. As a PP stated, if you are going to walk, Swan gives you a slight edge to walk to both EP and DHS. Boat to DHS is great as Swan/Dolphin is the last stop on the way to DHS and first stop on the way back from DHS.

Are you planning on swimming that day? (It sounded as though you plan on being in the parks all day). If not, maybe reconsider BWI? It's a lovely resort, but, IMHO, if the price is better at Swan, I would definitely book it. Swan is our go-to if we can't get a good discount at BWI or BC.

Yes, take uber to MCO. We did this in January and it was less than $30 to get to MCO from the EP resort area.

 

[Ariel Wanna-be]

Awesome...thanks everyone! We'll give it a try! I think we'll Dolphin it this time, since we are only there for one night, and it's $40 less expensive.

 

[Ariel Wanna-be]

We've stayed at both the Swan and the Dolphin (and BWI - love the clown slide, LOL!) and we much prefer the Swan. It doesn't have the big convention-crowd feeling that the Dolphin has, plus you'll have queen beds instead of double. In terms of transportation, if you are only going to EP/DHS that day, the boat dock (which you would use for EP/DHS) is equidistant from Swan and Dolphin. You can also walk to both DHS and EP from there. As a PP stated, if you are going to walk, Swan gives you a slight edge to walk to both EP and DHS. Boat to DHS is great as Swan/Dolphin is the last stop on the way to DHS and first stop on the way back from DHS.

Are you planning on swimming that day? (It sounded as though you plan on being in the parks all day). If not, maybe reconsider BWI? It's a lovely resort, but, IMHO, if the price is better at Swan, I would definitely book it. Swan is our go-to if we can't get a good discount at BWI or BC.

Yes, take uber to MCO. We did this in January and it was less than $30 to get to MCO from the EP resort area.

No swimming that day....it's a commando-style park day. Plus, I can't swim in the BW pool because I will be eaten.

The Swan definitely seems to be the more appealing of the two, but I can get a couple more avocado margaritas if I stay at the Dolphin.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Awesome...thanks everyone! We'll give it a try! I think we'll Dolphin it this time, since we are only there for one night, and it's $40 less expensive.

Don't forget about the resort fee.

 

[Ariel Wanna-be]

Don't forget about the resort fee.

Yes, I saw that when I was booking it....it showed up as "service fee" and I had to dig around to see what that was about.

Also, I had gotten all excited because I saw they had a teacher rate....BUT the teacher rate was exactly the same as the regular rate.

Anyway, I don't want to complain, because it was still a pretty good price. Couple more questions:

1. How will this work with my Magic Band? I booked through Sheraton's site, so technically Disney isn't aware that I'll be staying at the Dolphin after I check out from AKL. Will my charging privileges continue to work?

2. Am I able to link this reservation to my MDE so that I can do online check-in?

Thanks!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Yes, I saw that when I was booking it....it showed up as "service fee" and I had to dig around to see what that was about.

Also, I had gotten all excited because I saw they had a teacher rate....BUT the teacher rate was exactly the same as the regular rate.

Anyway, I don't want to complain, because it was still a pretty good price. Couple more questions:

1. How will this work with my Magic Band? I booked through Sheraton's site, so technically Disney isn't aware that I'll be staying at the Dolphin after I check out from AKL. Will my charging privileges continue to work?

2. Am I able to link this reservation to my MDE so that I can do online check-in?

Thanks!

You won't be able to charge with your Magic Band once you check out of your Disney resort. You can use any tickets on your magic band and use FP, but that is all. And you can't do online check in at Dolphin.

 

[dansdad]

You won't be able to charge with your Magic Band once you check out of your Disney resort. You can use any tickets on your magic band and use FP, but that is all. And you can't do online check in at Dolphin.

Is this new? Our last couple trips we didn't fly home until around 10PM and we've been able to charge using our Magic Bands long after we've checked out. There was just another charge on our Credit Card later in the day from the resort we checked out of.

 

[JerseyJanice]

You can use the Magical Express if you are willing to go back to AKL to catch it. You'd also have to schlepp your luggage back there and check it yourself at the airport. Up to you whether it is worth the effort when Uber to the airport is fairly inexpensive.

I know somebody who did this for split stay between the Boardwalk and Swan. They were told at the BW that Magical Express is round trip, and it doesn't have to be taken the same days you check into or out of your Disney resort.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Regarding your Magic Band, you will need to call Disney and give them your hotel confirmation number. They will convert it into a number that Disney's system will accept. Enter that number into your MDE account and you'll be good to go.

I'm a total Swolphin convert. You get a deluxe resort experience for Disney's moderate price. The workers at the resort couldn't be any nicer or more helpful. The pool complex feels like a high end spa. If you have a AAA membership, use your card to get 20% off the casual restaurants there. The workers will be happy to give it to you.

I hope you enjoy your stay and trip overall.

 

[Ariel Wanna-be]

Regarding your Magic Band, you will need to call Disney and give them your hotel confirmation number. They will convert it into a number that Disney's system will accept. Enter that number into your MDE account and you'll be good to go.

Awesome! I called a few minutes ago, but they said they need at least 48 hours for the reservation to appear. I'll call back in a couple of days and take care of it. Thanks!

 

[loves to dive]

Awesome! I called a few minutes ago, but they said they need at least 48 hours for the reservation to appear. I'll call back in a couple of days and take care of it. Thanks!

You should receive a confirmation email from Dolphin. Just go into MDE about 24 hours after you book Dolphin and go to the link reservation button, put in the Dolphin confirmation #, a new page will appear asking which resort and Swan/Dolphin will be there. It will then link, you don't have to call. I do it myself every time. You will not be able to charge back to your room at the Dolphin if you have already checked out of AKL but you MBs will work to get you into the park. You will get a good old fashioned room key card for your room at Dolphin. There is a walkway between Dolphin and the YC, it's a little curvy but we always use it instead of walking over to the Swan and going through the BW to get to Epcot (we never take the boat to either Epcot or HS, just easier for us to walk.

 

[tjmw2727]

You can use the Magical Express if you are willing to go back to AKL to catch it. You'd also have to schlepp your luggage back there and check it yourself at the airport. Up to you whether it is worth the effort when Uber to the airport is fairly inexpensive.

I know somebody who did this for split stay between the Boardwalk and Swan. They were told at the BW that Magical Express is round trip, and it doesn't have to be taken the same days you check into or out of your Disney resort.

Unless something has changed I don't think this is correct. While you are entitled to a r/t DME trip and it doesn't have to be check in or check out day it does have to be During your resort stay, not before or after. We often split our stays between a Disney resort and the Dolphin and are only able to use DME one way, either to or from the Disney resort during the Disney resort portion.