NEW...DOLPHIN/SWAN..."questions and answers"...tips and hints!

[dahess]

Anyone have any advice on Dolphin Club Level Room Preference? Thanks!

 

[NancyIL]

Greetings, Swan/Dolphin fans! It's great to see a fresh new thread started.

Disnurse - you pics are great! What a view from your non-Disney resort!

I'm looking forward to going back to WDW, but I have just over 7 months to wait. Much too long! Good thing I'll be at Disneyland in 10 days to get my Disney theme park fix!

 

[Dallas_Lady]

DH and I enjoyed not carrying cash/credit cards/travelers cheques last vacation when we staye at POR- we just charged everything to our room and there was no need to worry about losing anything.

I think I want to take advantage of the teacher rate at the Swan for next June. Do charging priveleges extend to Swan guests? What, if any, other differences are there from Disney resorts?

Thanks!

 

[NancyIL]

Originally posted by Dallas_Lady
DH and I enjoyed not carrying cash/credit cards/travelers cheques last vacation when we staye at POR- we just charged everything to our room and there was no need to worry about losing anything.

I think I want to take advantage of the teacher rate at the Swan for next June. Do charging priveleges extend to Swan guests? What, if any, other differences are there from Disney resorts?

Thanks!

You can charge meals and merchandise purchases from the Swan and Dolphin to your room. You will need to bring a credit card with you to charge park purchases or meals.

 

[Athena]

DallasLady: You can only charge any purchases you make on the Swan/Dolphin property, not elsewhere at WDW. Not a bad trade-off, though, for such great teacher rates!

While reading the last thread, it took me a while to realize that the comments made about this "non-Disney" resort were *tongue-in-cheek*! We're heading there in June, and I can't wait! I'm trusting my friends here when they say we're going to have a great time, even though it's lacking in that "Disney magic"... (get it? Shhhh, we don't want too many others to discover our hidden gem!)

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

Hi, all!

I've been lurking for awhile and finally registered.

Thanks to the awesome Teacher Rate, we will be at the Swan in December (during holiday break with the other million visitors )

This will be our first trip since having children--two boys, 4 and 2. I can't wait to see their faces!!

We got so excited about going that we invited my parents--first time for both of them and my mom has been a lifelong Disney fan.

I'm sure I will be posting many questions soon!!!

 

[disnurse]

dahess- we stayed off clublevel but had cl access. We had a great room 18093 that had unobstructed views of mgm and epcot. The view was a comp upgrade, only standard views were available on the 2 cl floors so they found my a better view, that would be an understatement on their part.

 

[blanche]

hi, i was quoted a teachers rate for a standard room of 144. for both the beginning of october and the middle of july. does this seem a little high. i was expecting to hear 129. per night. thanks for your input.

 

[bigsis1970]

Just adding my name on this thread so i can keep up with it all ..

Looking forward to our SWAN stay June 16 - June 21st .. Michelle

 

[happytrails2u]

...enjoying all the photos that have been posted recently.

DF, the "Walt" headshot takes me back to the living room sofa in the home where I grew up and four skinny kids struggling for position (lol) on Sunday night for that special time that came but once a week.

I also remember, Mousteacher!
**************************************************

"For whatever we lose (like a you or a me) it's always ourselves we find in the sea."

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."

 

[Braque]

Hello, everyone

I need a bit of help in figuring the fastest transportation route from GF to S/D - particularly at peak time (i.e. after 7/4 fireworks - trying to avoid crowds). Can't bring our car to GF. I though about catching the monorail from GF to Epcot and walking back along the Boardwalk. Any other recommendations?

Hoping for a sweet upgrade this year

 

[dreamflight99]

csmommy...Your friends comments absolutely SHOCK me! To think they find the SWAN, a NON-DISNEY resort, to provide a better quality stay than the coveted Beach Club Concierge...AMAZING. I mean...Really. Just LOOK at the place! The LACK of DISNEY MAGIC is CLEARLY evident!

We all know the REAL truth. Without the FAB discounts, and the heavenly beds...we would all be INSIDE the REAL MAGIC...at the AUTHENTIC DISNEY-OWNED resorts. Bah..humbug! I think they just made these comments to you to see the look on your face. (JK...LOL).

jgates...a week already? Don't fret about the summer plans (or lack of). Sounds as if WONDER WOMAN has NOTHING on YOU! Why, here's a picture of you fine-tuning the "Techie~thing" so you're able to assist us in our quests to become MASTER PICTURE POSTING EXPERTS!

Thanks so much for all you do!

Hi, Nancy! So nice to see you posting here! Wow, I recall when you planned the Spring BD solo trip to DL. It's HERE already? Are you all packed and prepared. Hope you miss the "Juaning" at the airport. LOL. How long are you planning to stay there, and which prop. did you book?

Athena..."It's truly the BEST~KEPT secret in the WORLD!" Thanks for your understanding, and sense of humor. Truly...we (ahem), MEAN EVERY SINGLE WORD! Shhhh.....

JessetheCowgirl...WELCOME to the DIS, and our SWAN/DOLPHIN thread! I'm sure you'll be pleased with your choice, and your parents will have a MAGICAL time as well. I look forward to any/all questions you may have about these resorts. Enjoy!

disnurse...OKAY! "WHERE" did you find this one? Are you moonlighting? Eating lots of cheese lately? Anything we should know about?!

happytrails2u...you also? I have the CELL in my office (Tink over the fireworks and castle...for the opening of "The Wonderful World of Disney", which followed Marlin Perkins WILD KINGDOM! Remember how he used to swim in Tanks, yet make it appear he was swimming in the WILD? He would wrestle alligators, and dodge poisonous snakes? Why, CRIKEY...he was a veritable "Steve Irwin" :

Thanks for the laughs, Marlin!
Sunday eves were "special" back then. It was the one night of the week we would have "Ice Cream", and watch the Shows! Now, we are hooked on AMERICAN DREAMS! Yet, I still miss the elbowing and nudging with my other three Sibs on the DAVENPORT in the FRONT ROOM!

Braque...fastest way for me, would be to take the monorail to the MK, and hop the bus to the Swan/Dolphin. Less walking and time involved, and definitely LESS crowds. It's a fast/direct route. The T&TC would be "packed" around the 4th, and the walk back through Epcot would be more difficult than a Chinook making his way upstream in a Storm! (LOL). Hope this helps.

BTW...Delta has CHANGED our flights, which has "bungled" my plans for the rental vehicles! Now, I must rearrange and amend the ressies to accomodate this glitch. They better NOT change it again.

TTFN...Wishing everyone a WONDERFUL week!

 

[Mouseteacher]

Jesse Welcome - glad you aren't lurking anymore!

Bigsis1970 ~ A warm welcome... happy you joined us S/D fans and Disney fanatics.

Athena ~ DF started a thread on April Fools Day regarding the nonDisney Resorts of S/D - tongue in cheek as you said! However, this is just our secret among friends here!

disnurse ~ appropriate picture for you / I'd love to to see a teacher Minnie.

happytrails2you ~ I posted the same comment only now I know I'm dating myself.

 

[Braque]

Dreamflight -

Thanks for the tip - my concern, of course, with going back into the MK entrance after the 4th fireworks would be kind of like going into the 'eye of the storm' with everyone piling out. I'm afraid I'll lose my little ones. Go back to MK, really? You know I trust you guys . . .

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

Wow!! Thanks for the warm welcome.

My first question for you.

We will be arriving late (4:00ish) our first day at the Swan. Where would you recommend dinner??? I really want to get everyone in the Disney-mood, but also want to be at MK at park opening the next day.

Thanks!!
Our crew will include: me, DH, DS4, DS2, and my parents

First trip for our DS's and my parents.

 

[madge]

since you are arriving fairly early, I'd vote for getting a PS for dinner at Chef Mickey's--take the bus to the MK and ride the resort monorail around to the Contemporary--doesn't get much more "Disney" than that! If you want to stay near the S/D area, I'd look at Beaches & Cream at the Yacht and Beach Club or one of the restaurants at the Boardwalk. We love grabbing a slice of pizza at the Boardwalk pizza window and watching the crowds go by....it is hot in the late afternoon/early evening, though, and there aren't a lot of people around until 7-ish.

Of course, there's always Tubbi's for pizza (I'm sure there is a pizza place at the Swan, but we always go to Tubbi's) and then you could go over to the Boardwalk for dessert...

darn, now I'm hungry

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

I hadn't thought of going to a character meal. That might be just what we need!!

If we use disney tranportation (bus to MK, monorail to Contemporary), do we really need to allow an hour's travel time?? (as per the Unoffical Guide)

We are driving, so we could drive to MK.

Also, when people speak of riding the monorail "loop" just to sightsee, are they referring to the Poly, MK, Contempory, GF loop? And do you stay on the same monorail or have to transfer?

Told you I'd be having lots of questions. We have never stayed on-site before.

Thanks

 

[mareka]

HAven't stayed at the S/D yet but will in Sep. I love the area walking distance to EPCOT and MGM.

What is the pool area like?

What are the restaurants like?

We have concierge - What do you get with that?

#1 hockeymom - For a great character meal go to EPCOT - the LAnd It is a revolving restaurant and Chip Dale Mickey Pluto hang out there and spend a lot of time with each table. Lots of fun.

Braque - Take the momorail to EPCOT walk through to the World Showcase and the International GAteway.- Take the boat

Get Your Pal Mickey.
We just got back and have two of them. It was great, They interact with the parks and they play games and tell jokes.

They work away from the parks for the games so its a great investment.

GO Disney

 

[kmr]

A friend told me that the Swan & Dolphin offer shuttle service from the airport. Is this so? I have never heard of this. I checked Glo's site, but did not see anything there. Does anyone have any info on schedule and prices?

 

[#1hockeymom]

adding to KMR's post>> If there are shuttles, are they free? If they are free, I have another question. I have heard there is a rental car company on site. Can you rent a car from there?

We won't really need a car the first day, we'll be touring the parks with big smiles! We usually use the car for our typhoon lagoon afternoons or emergency athletic shoe purchases, but nothing else. We accidentally ate at the McDonalds off-site when we went to buy my son a new pair of shoes two years back, and the magic left in an instant! It was just for breakfast, but the rudeness of everyone, the actual meaness of the staff got to us very quickly.

Mareka>> Thanks for the information!

Debbie
PS yes, you can completely melt a pair of shoes walking through MGM on a hot day!