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

[Disbug]

Thanks for the "croissant" update! I'm going to have to try... ! I am spending the morning getting my PS's in order. Had a few changes to make (last minute, I hate it!) Everything looks like it is working out great!

Hello, #1 hockeymom and ozziewags. Good to see your posts. Very timely, too... as I was thinking about upgrading to a 64 MB card. Now it sounds too small!

Welcome and hello lurkers... You're right, this IS the best thread going! (Although, I am partical to the Wilderness Lodge thread as well!... Right, Kimmar?)

 

[Kapp]

Greetings all! We have never stayed at the Dolphin and are considering cashing in some of our SPG points to get an upgrade to CL for our November trip. My two girls eat like birds and my wife is picky about what she eats. I know what is listed on some of the sites as far as what food is available at the CL (Bagels, etc.) but could use some real world information. Maybe from someone that has been there recently or currently? Mainly thinking about breakfast and late afternoon/early evening.

THANKS SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!

KAPP

 

[#1hockeymom]

Breakfast is your basic continental breakfast. Obviously, chocolate croissants are included as we're all begging for some right now! There are various cereal choices, bagels and breads with toaster, many different kinds of fruit. Orange juice, apple, milk, and coffee/tea/hot water. Muffins and pastries end out the list. I am sure I am leaving some things off!

Remember Dolphin/Swan club level is different than the reg. Disney club level. It is not open all day, nor do you have the cordials available to you. In the evening there was a wine/beer honor bar, many soft drinks, various kinds of milk, and water for the beverages. There was always crudite, fruits (both peeled/cut and whole), and cheese and crackers. There was always one hot dish and there were things that were there one day, but not another. They had Cape Cod chips one day that my kids were crazy about. AHHH I forgot the cookies!

Basically, breakfast is very easy to do and quite a convenience at club level. The late afternoon/evening offerings should be concidered as a snack to get you towards dinner. We usually brought water from CL in the mornings for the parks, and pop in the evening to put in our room for later that night.

While not the offerings of Disney club levels, you also don't have that huge bill at the end of your stay! I am very glad we paid for this option during our June trip. Club level was also a nice escape from our room for both us, and the kids. I can't imagine all the snacks ds would have eaten in the parks just to get through the day had he not had the veggies and fruits to eat up in the concierge lounge. On the plus side. I don't think my children have eaten so many fruits and vegetables in a week as they did during our Swan stay! I never said what they could or couldn't have, they picked what they wanted and most of the time fruits and vegetables were included.

Since you stated your two daughters eat like birds, adding club level might be a good option. Rather than spending too much money for a sit down breakfast, they would be able to select items on their own on CL. Whatever you decide, you're going to have a great time on vacation! You're going to Disney World!

If you have more specific questions, please feel free to ask the board again!
Debbie

 

[marymrg]

After realizing that my SWA credit will expire before our trip next year, I booked flights for me and my DS(6) for Labor Day weekend. (he and I went last September.........just the two of us and had a blast) I've been thinking of doing this for almost 2 months and kept going back and forth over whether or not we should go. I should've booked with the 15% code but the rest of the family wasn't sure if they wanted to go back. DS(14) starts High School right after and most likely will make one of the soccer teams and didn't want to miss practices. DH is running short on vacation time and since he and DS will be going canoeing on a guys only trip in a few weeks, said it would be ok if I went. DD(13) said she would go if we can't get my sister to meet us there but would be perfectly happy spending her last weekend of freedom from school sleeping until noon at least! I have never seen a kid sleep so much.........must be getting a growth spurt soon.

So far, I have Annual Passes(expire our last day there -yeah - no hoppers to purchase) and car ressies(made those a long time ago, just in case and also have a National credit to use up from a previous trip that had a few glitches )


I just don't know where we're staying or where we're eating........but those details will be worked out soon enough. I am hoping that AP rates will be announced SOON. We will probably split our stay. We are also DVC members and might stay 2 of the nights at VWL or BCV. Of course, a night or two at the Swan is definitely in the running if the AP rates for the Poly don't materialize. My disney snob son wants to stay at a monorail resort!

Can you tell I'm excited?
MaryG

 

[ozziewags]

Not to throw another dilemma at you, but if you call SWA, you can ask to have that credit extended. But if you have AP's that are about to expire, I vote to go in Sept! That just gives you an extra trip! Yea.

 

[marymrg]

Thanks Ozzie.........but ssshhhhhhhhhhh, don't tell my DH
Actually, it is the AP's that my son and I have that determined when we could go. It will be my 4th trip and ds's 3rd so I think we've more than gotten our money's worth. Not bad considering we live so far away.

And really, my husband was thrilled for us. Hmmm?? LOL

 

[dreamflight99]

Bonjour!!!

Mouseteacher...you are the "sweetest", and I thank you for your kind comments. I'll be looking for your backpack & Ribbon!

The old Chef @ Cali Grill (George), opened his own restaurant on Sandlake Blvd. called "Seasons 52". It's purportedly phenomenal...and we plan to try it soon. He took a "lot" of his crew with him, and his place is now "THE" spot to "SEE & BE SEEN" in Orlando.

We played in MGM yesterday (RRC x2!), and enjoyed PS in the Brown Derby. DD and I began with the cobb app for 2, while DH ordered the Lobster Bisque. All was tremendously delicious. Next, the main course. For DH...Salmon w/sweet corn risotto. Good, but not as good as the planked salmon @ Artist Point. DD and I ordered the same thing, filet mignon w/lobster (surf & turf). This was not on the menu...but HIGHLY recommended. They were offering a special of two tails for $38, OR...a tail on the side of any selection for $11.99! The tail was already shelled (just the tail-end remained), and the tail was lightly roasted. The butter was lemon-infused! YUMMY!

For dessert...we ordered Cappacino's all around, with Grapefruit cake for moi, Bananas foster cheesecake for DH...and Creme Brulee for DD. As a treat...our waiter surprised us with a FREEBIE Chocolate flourless cake! I had lamented over the menu...and could not decide over my old standard--or the new chocolate addition. EACH of these was incredible! The Brown Derby is one of the BEST places for an incredible dining experience.

Oh...the chocolate croissants are BETTER than ever. They are more tender/flaky than I recall...with LOTS of dark chocolate drizzled all over the top! SINFULLY good. The cookies are still amazing. It's just hard to TOP this place.

Debbie...Thabo asked me to tell you "HELLO"! :wave"

Yes...PLAY is very serious work! We have three+ more weeks of "SERIOUS PLAY" here....LOL!!!

To all the "OlD LURKERS....NEW MEMBERS": WELCOME! Hope you are enjoying this thread. The regulars here are very "Special" folks...and help me through the months in "between" the MAGIC!
I'm proud to proclaim I'm ADDICTED to this thread and these posters.

TTFN....

P.S. The humidity is not too bad. I went running today, about 2:30 pm. 92 degrees...65% humidity. I hopped in the shower...inhaled some water...and I'm GOOD to GO!!

 

[kimmar067]

"memba" me??? Glad to see you are so enjoying yourself at WDW...give Mickey'n'Minnie {{{HUGS}}} for me!! Mebbe y'all can get to "Fishbones" on Sand Lake Road THIS year!!!

 

[lonegungirl]

Hey! Just checked my reservation details online, and I've been upgraded to balcony w/lake view! Yeah!

Still internally debating on club--I have enough points for most of the days but not sure if we'll use it as we plan to eat at the parks for most days and if we can get water and some fruit at the gym for breakfast...

Getting closer...!

 

[#1hockeymom]

marymrg>> Good for you! So glad you are able to work another trip in before everything goes crazy with the school year! I was really pushing for one AP, showing how it would help us, but secretly knowing I could push for extra trips if we had atleast one! Sounds like you're really going to get your money out of your AP! Have fun, whatever your resort decision is!

lonegungirl>> Yippee! I wonder if at check in, and if your room reservation stays the same, you could add club level onto just the end of or part of your trip? I know we were a lot less commando at the end, and tended to be around the resort more.

DF>> bonjour back at ya! Thank you for my message to Thabo! Your meal sounds absolutely sinful! Thank you for the "complete" descriptions! I am loving hearing all the news from the world. Like I have said before, its like I never left my vacation when I am reading the boards! Have fun "working" on the rest of your vacation!

Question>> IF I book Easter,(for us it is Good Friday through the next week), should I book the Dolphin at the lower rate, or the Swan. I am almost thinking about booking both, and cancelling one in Feb after I know how much of the Dolphin is completed. One more thing to throw into the idea. Club level>> Obviously we all know that MommaT and Thabo ARE what makes the club level so fantastic at the Swan. I would be booking a standard room, but it could very easily be upgraded as the months went by and I did more begging. This makes me sway towards the Swan. We treated the resort as one in the same, so building preference is purely due to cost savings, how much of the Dolphin is renovated, and people at CL. (I have also thrown out the idea to ds that we might take a few days at the end of the trip and go to shhhhhhh"the other parks" and do FOTL, staying onsite. I met dh for lunch today, and his only comment was "Get your job back in two weeks". Thanks in advance for any ideas.

disbug>> Remember to pack your detective garb!


Debbie

 

[Muffy]

DF, Your meal at Brown Derby sounds fantastic! We adore the Brown Derby and have dined there more times than I can count. The grapefruit cake with creamcheese frosting is one of our favorites but impossible to finish! I love tasting everything though! Thank you for the info on Seasons 52! I have it down on my tip sheet for things to do and see next time! I hope they still have the chocolate crossants at the Dolphin CL when we visit in Dec/Jan! Where are you running while at the Dolphin? I usually run on the Boardwalk early mornings when i wouldn't bother anyone. I know it must be brutal running later in the day but WORTH it! Good for you! Keep drinking water.

Hockeymom, Your DD sounds beautiful and your DS sounds talented! What more could a mom want? My DS is a Tufts grad and my DD is hoping to attend too! Easter at WDW sounds like alot of fun! I would book the Dolphin and hope for a upgrade as they have more rooms. If a renovated room is paramount than go with the Swan but I think the Dolphin will be 3/4 done by Easter. We LOVE the Dolphin and it's grand lobby complete with a piano player (evenings)! The Swan, of course, is a sure bet with renovations complete.

Disbug, have a safe trip to WDW! Give Mickey a smooch for me!

Muffy

 

[splashfamily]

I posted once or twice on this thread in the last 2 weeks. I am proud to say I an "hooked". After reading alot of different boards I find this one the best. Everyone is so informative and polite to one another.

I am glad it's summer and I have the time to read this every morning. And again in the afternnon...and again in the evening.

My DH keeps wondering what the heck I am doing

Keep up the great stories and reports. We were planning to come down and stay at the Dolphin on 8/19 for a week but DH work plans got swithched. Who knows we still might be down if things work out. DD and DS's are diappointed. We come down every year... maybe in the fall.

 

[diskids2]

Hi All! First time I'm posting on this thread, but rest assured it has provided me with tons of info. I am going to be a firstimer at the Dolphin, although not to WDW. Can you tell me how to track my reservation online. I do have a confirmation number, but did not book over the internet. I also gave them my Starwoods number.

Thanks!

 

[Kapp]

Thanks fgr all of the information on the Dolphin CL! We are so pumped to go and finding it very hard to keep it from our girls!

Have fun!

Kapp

 

[Disbug]

Check Reservations

~ diskids2~ Just put in your Last Name and confirmation number. You can also put in your Starwood Number if you like!

Good Morning Everyone! Still here... Still packing... Leaving in the morning!

 

[#1hockeymom]

~~edited~~
I didn't realize they had a piano player in the lobby of the Dolphin! I guess that shows you how late it was when we were finally wandering around! That would be a plus on the Dolphin side, as I love piano music!

Splash family>> I hope you still get your trip! I am a more recent poster to these threads, but I feel like I have found a home here! Nothing like the "squabbling" you see on some other threads.

Kapp>> Enjoy your trip! I think that is so cool that you're going to surprise your kids with this trip! Have fun!


TGIF!
Debbie

 

[kimmar067]

...have a WONDERFUL vaca....notice my countdown thingie is now GONE ! [loooooonnnnnnng story] Say "Hi" to DF99 and mouseteacher....

Caroline ~
How the "hay" are ya?? Enjoyin' the summer??

 

[dreamflight99]

Debbie....you're welcome! Thabo is definitely "SPECIAL"~part of the MAGIC of this place.

Muffy...around through the back parking lot...and down around all the resorts! It's a nice run...and I'm mostly in the thick grass (as I do NOT do asphalt/concrete)...LOL. The water certainly helps...especially BEFORE any outdoor activity around here.

Kimmar.... ...what happened? PM me when you have a chance...(or email).

Ate at Teppan again last eve. Had sushi as an app...main course: DH=steak & shrimp, DD=steak & chicken, MOI=steak & lobster with scallops/shrimp on the side!! I had to bring mine back in a container!
Yet, I could not pass on the temptation of ordering all three seafoods (when they are only $5-6 ala carte!).

Kaki Gori for dessert! Then...off to Disney Quest for some games and laughs.

Today marks our 17th wedding Anni! We are planning on something special...if not this eve~then tomorrow!

The MAGIC/FUN never ends....

TTFN....DF99

 

[lovingthemouse]

Happy 17th Anniversary DF

Hope your day was a wonderful one. We just celebrated our 17 this past April.

Kim- i am here, not lost yet! Still coaching summer school for another week, then sleeping late and swimming every day. Can't wait - really!

Hope you all have a great Saturday. Caroline

 

[marymrg]

Happy Anniversary DF! We just celebrated our 16th. Where does the time go?

Your meals sound scrumptious.
Mary