New Dining Plan at Swan/Dolphin

[4forthemouse]

Sorry if this has already been posted - but I didn't see it. Did anyone else get the email about Swan Dolphins new meal plan?? I have never stayed here but now am tempted because I LOVE their location, and have been very interested in dining there but didn't want to spend the $$$ on those deluxe dinners! Here's the info:

" Be among the first to book our new dining package! Book a two night minimum stay, and for an additional $89 per adult / per day, (minimum two adults) enjoy breakfast and dinner (tax and gratuity included) in several of the resort's world-class restaurants.* From Todd English’s bluezoo, to Shula’s Steak House, Il Mulino New York Trattoria and others, delight in the award-winning dining options that the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort is known for.

Children age 12 and under receive complimentary breakfast and dinner when accompanied by a paying adult (one child per adult)."


Yippee! We do have children under 12, so with the gratuity included this looks like a very comparative deal to WDW's plan as far as value. I wouldn't want to have to eat at the resort all the time, but for a short trip this might be worth trying for us. I've really been wanting to check out Bluezoo.....

 

[TDC Nala]

It sounds like it would be advantageous for a short trip for anyone who didn't mind eating all their dinners at the Swolphin (their restaurants are better than the Disney ones in general - but they are really only convenient if you are staying there - which you have to do to participate - and plan to go back to the resort to eat dinner)

Is it $89 per day or $89 per night? That is an important distinction with the Disney plan. If it's per day, how do they determine what a day is? Does it include your check-in day? On a check-in day one would typically miss breakfast and possibly dinner also.

 

[Colleen27]

I was wondering about the day/night thing too.

Personally, I can't see us ever doing it because of the very limited selection and the fact that the Swolphin restaurant that appeals to me most (Kimonos) doesn't participate. I suspect a lot of Swolphin fans aren't going to be terribly thrilled either, to have a plan that is going to bring more children into what have been some of the only mostly adult restuarants on Disney property.

 

[TDC Nala]

Bluezoo has typically had quite a few children present when I've gone for dinner. I would just hope S/D having a dining plan doesn't affect the menus the way Disney's seem to have been affected.

But I think it's possible the Swolphin at least believes they may have been losing bookings because they didn't have a dining plan like Disney's.

 

[Wall-E1]

The price seems very high - $89 per person/per day. That's almost $180 per couple each day. That's more than double what the Disney dining plan charges.

 

[CrabbyPatty]

Interesting! If you could book a week's stay and then select the dining plan separately, i.e. maybe do 2 or 3 days, I think it woulld be good.

I know that some posters here have RAVED about how wonderful Shulas and Blue Zoo is, and if you have children under 12 that are pretty hearty eaters, getting basically 4 meals for $89 might be a good value (espeically if you have some hearty steak eaters who love a great steak at Shula's).

 

[Condorman]

The price is per night, and it's not a good deal. It specifically mentions that it's only good for their prix fixe menus, so you can be sure you won't be ordering the surf and turf at bluezoo or the porterhouse at Shula's. If the Swan/Dolphin or Starwood were so concerned about losing potential diners to Disney and the DDP, then maybe they should join the program altogether. I can assure you, they would be jam-packed every day of the year. Can you imagine? Kimono's, bluezoo, Shula's and Il Mulino added to the mix? Their success with the DDP would be a sure-thing. Maybe next year.

 

[4forthemouse]

Yep, it does say price is per night. I'm hoping someone who stays there soon will report on what types of foods are included on the menu. Also, I wonder if it's like WDW in that you have to buy it for your entire stay, or if you can choose to buy it for part of your stay. If anyone knows please share. Should also add, this must be a trial run since it is only available through 12/23/09.

 

[TDC Nala]

The price is per night, and it's not a good deal. It specifically mentions that it's only good for their prix fixe menus, so you can be sure you won't be ordering the surf and turf at bluezoo or the porterhouse at Shula's. If the Swan/Dolphin or Starwood were so concerned about losing potential diners to Disney and the DDP, then maybe they should join the program altogether. I can assure you, they would be jam-packed every day of the year. Can you imagine? Kimono's, bluezoo, Shula's and Il Mulino added to the mix? Their success with the DDP would be a sure-thing. Maybe next year.

My guess is that Disney made the DDP available only in its own resorts, and S/D doesn't have a choice in the matter.

 

[Condorman]

My guess is that Disney made the DDP available only in its own resorts, and S/D doesn't have a choice in the matter.

Oh, I'm sure that's exactly how it is, but that doesn't mean Disney shouldn't be open to the idea or that the S/D wouldn't benefit from it. How often, every year, do we wait while Disney negotiates with the non-Disney owned TS locations in Epcot and DTD to re-sign with the DDP? It's only because the restaurants at S/D reside within a Starwood property that probably puts them out of reach and out of the question. Now Starwood is suffering as a result and they're struggling with a ridiculous offer to compensate. Whatever. Cheaper to pay OOP and order exactly what you want than kowtow to some condensed menu.

 

[NancyIL]

The price seems very high - $89 per person/per day. That's almost $180 per couple each day. That's more than double what the Disney dining plan charges.

The Swan/Dolphin restaurants that serve dinner would probably use 2 TS credits if they were on the Disney Dining Plan, and the gratuity is included. Also - kids 12 and under eat free (one per adult) on the Swan/Dolphin plan, whereas on the DDP - kids ages 3-9 pay $10.99/pp.

 

[NancyIL]

Interesting! If you could book a week's stay and then select the dining plan separately, i.e. maybe do 2 or 3 days, I think it woulld be good.

I know that some posters here have RAVED about how wonderful Shulas and Blue Zoo is, and if you have children under 12 that are pretty hearty eaters, getting basically 4 meals for $89 might be a good value (espeically if you have some hearty steak eaters who love a great steak at Shula's).

The price is $89 per adult (minimum of two adults) - not $89 per night. That's $178 for 2 adults + 2 kids.

 

[CrabbyPatty]

Correct - it would be $89 for four meals / $178 for 8 meals (breakfast and dinner for two adults and two kids) with a minimum of 2 adults.

 

[NancyIL]

Correct - it would be $89 for four meals / $178 for 8 meals (breakfast and dinner for two adults and two kids) with a minimum of 2 adults.

Now I see what you meant!