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

[Mouseteacher]

At our stays at both the Swan and Dolphin, we purchased breakfast at the bar area. Usually we had croissants, juice and coffee. Most times, we brought it back to our room. Other times, we sat at the tables in the Swan lobby near the bar or at a comfy couch area in the Dolphin to eat before heading out to the parks.

We are up early and this service was available early usually by 7:00 am. We prefer a quick breakfast because we want to be in the parks early before the heat of the day (our trips are in July or August).

 

[Lives4Disney]

At our stays at both the Swan and Dolphin, we purchased breakfast at the bar area. Usually we had croissants, juice and coffee. Most times, we brought it back to our room. Other times, we sat at the tables in the Swan lobby near the bar or at a comfy couch area in the Dolphin to eat before heading out to the parks.

We are up early and this service was available early usually by 7:00 am. We prefer a quick breakfast because we want to be in the parks early before the heat of the day (our trips are in July or August).

thanks. It's good to know there is a nice easy grab & go just in case DD10 and I are up and ready to roll nice and early! DD7 wants to stay at home with grandma (which is so flattering to grandma and kind of nice for DD10 and me!) so we will have an easier time getting ourselves up and going and moving in the morning. Hoping to finally see some parks at opening.

Mouseteacher, do you happen to know what the Swan's "Traditional" views would be of? I don't want to look at a parking lot. I love a view of the Dolphin, boat dock etc. Not sure what that is called - maybe 'resort" view. I have been spoiled by beautiful WDW resort views. Since we're SPG members, does that mean anything as far as upgrades or preferred rooms? I usually book what I want, but this is a business trip and being expensed, so what I want is not an option.

Lives4Disney

 

[Fredd's Girl]

We are deciding between WL and Dolphin for our February trip. I have read about the motion sensored A/C. DH is very concerned about keeping our room cool for sleeping, can you give us any tips, or insights into how the A/C has affected your stays at the Dolphin?
Thanks!

 

[Mouseteacher]

thanks. It's good to know there is a nice easy grab & go just in case DD10 and I are up and ready to roll nice and early! DD7 wants to stay at home with grandma (which is so flattering to grandma and kind of nice for DD10 and me!) so we will have an easier time getting ourselves up and going and moving in the morning. Hoping to finally see some parks at opening.

Mouseteacher, do you happen to know what the Swan's "Traditional" views would be of? I don't want to look at a parking lot. I love a view of the Dolphin, boat dock etc. Not sure what that is called - maybe 'resort" view. I have been spoiled by beautiful WDW resort views. Since we're SPG members, does that mean anything as far as upgrades or preferred rooms? I usually book what I want, but this is a business trip and being expensed, so what I want is not an option.

Lives4Disney

I have always booked a standard (traditional)room on the teacher rate. I do connect my spg # and pay with my starwood AMEX card. I have always received an upgrade. Our last stay at the Dolphin we received a balcony room - east wing with a beautiful view of Epcot. Our stay at the Swan got us a jr. suite with a view of the Dolphin / boat docks / bridge connecting to BW. Our first stay at the Dolphin was in 2002 and we were upgraded to CL (which existed then). The view was lousy. However, we were thrilled to be upgraded to CL (had never stayed on CL) that the view was no problem. We weren't in our room that much anyway.

Traditional views at the Swan - hmmmm. A parking lot view may also have a view of the back of BWI and the canal that connects to MGM. There is a wing that faces the quiet pool that may not have a park view but the view of the pool is lovely. I am really not sure of where in the resort there may be bad views.

I would say use your spg# by connecting to your reservation. Send an e mail to the Swan asking for an upgrade (don't be specific) about a week before your arrival. Mention your spg#. Then, ask again upon check in.

Good luck...I loved my stays at the S/D and I, too, was a diehard WDW resort fan. But, the rates and location of the S/D are terrific.

 

[Hieatt]

We booked a 2 BR Exec. Suite for our annual after Christmas trip and, per my my request, the agent said she was able to secure a suite on the ground floor for us, which she told me actually had a walk-out patio. Has anyone ever stayed in or personally witnessed an Exec. Suite on ground level? Did it have a door to the outside?? Not that I don't believe the agent, but reservation agents have been known to mix up their facts from time-to-time... and if I didn't get the patio, I would much rather be up high with a view. Any comments appreciated...

 

[Blondie]

We booked a 2 BR Exec. Suite for our annual after Christmas trip and, per my my request, the agent said she was able to secure a suite on the ground floor for us, which she told me actually had a walk-out patio. Has anyone ever stayed in or personally witnessed an Exec. Suite on ground level? Did it have a door to the outside?? Not that I don't believe the agent, but reservation agents have been known to mix up their facts from time-to-time... and if I didn't get the patio, I would much rather be up high with a view. Any comments appreciated...

I'm not sure about suites on the ground level, but if there are, it would probably look like the lower level of rooms you see here in this photo below with sliders that open up to a patio:

 

[Blondie]

We are deciding between WL and Dolphin for our February trip. I have read about the motion sensored A/C. DH is very concerned about keeping our room cool for sleeping, can you give us any tips, or insights into how the A/C has affected your stays at the Dolphin?
Thanks!

Without getting engineering involved, one way is to buy a balloon and sit it near the A/C sensor (tie it to a chair or whatever.) I've heard that the balloon floats around ever so slightly and tricks the sensor into thinking someone is in the room and moving around, forcing the A/C to run.

In any event, in the many S/D stays we've enjoyed, we've never had a problem with the A/C and the room getting too warm or stuffy during the night.

 

[SingingMom]

Without getting engineering involved, one way is to buy a balloon and sit it near the A/C sensor (tie it to a chair or whatever.) I've heard that the balloon floats around ever so slightly and tricks the sensor into thinking someone is in the room and moving around, forcing the A/C to run.

In any event, in the many S/D stays we've enjoyed, we've never had a problem with the A/C and the room getting too warm or stuffy during the night.

We didn't realize there was a sensor... and we found it DID get stuffy in the middle of the night. I will try the balloon this June!

 

[we1luv1dis]

Just my two cents' worth: I just came back from 3 nights at the Dolphin, as I was there for a Business Convention -- Hotel has a huge convention facility -- and then my family came down and we stayed at the Saratoga Springs Resort for the past 6 nights.

Here's my one concern about a family stay at the Dolphin: I would most definitely first find out whether the Hotel was hosting a conference, as for the 3 days that I was there, our conference, which was huge, pretty much over-ran the Hotel, mainly the beautiful Lobby and restaurant areas. This is a conference that annually alternates between Orlando (always the Dolphin) and Las Vegas, so I have been to 3 at the Dolphin. Each time I have felt bad for families staying there who had to fight their way thru the many conference attendees just to get to the elevators or out of the Hotel.

So, in summary, great Hotel with nice views and excellent proximity to Epcot and the Boardwalk, but I would most definitely avoid this Hotel when a conference is going on. Hope this helps, and would be curious to hear from some tourists who have happened to stay during such a time.

We have stayed at the Dolphin several times while there were conferences going and have not had a problem. We have stayed over Xmas into New Years when the hotel was sold out and not had any issues with the hotel (although crowds in the parks is a totally different subject at that time of the year!!!).

 

[we1luv1dis]

Too bad I love being "pampered" when I'm on vacation!

We loved the Club floor and were sorry to see it go. I would bet if you looked back about 50 pages in this thread you would see that it caused a big stink when they closed it down. We had it on our Dec 2005 stay and if I recall correctly it was closed sometime in the 1st quarter of 2006. What a shame.

Starwood, please bring it back!!!!

 

[we1luv1dis]

We didn't realize there was a sensor... and we found it DID get stuffy in the middle of the night. I will try the balloon this June!

Keep searching in these resort threads because I do believe there is an override to the system. It is something like if you push the up and down arrows at the sametime the display changes and it might trigger the override.

 

[SingingMom]

Keep searching in these resort threads because I do believe there is an override to the system. It is something like if you push the up and down arrows at the sametime the display changes and it might trigger the override.

THANK YOU! I will try that.... because I am ALWAYS warm at night, even in the winter (!) and I definitely could tell the air kept going off. I LOVED the Dolphin, except for that feature!

 

[DISshopkeeper]

I copied this from the DIS somewhere...

HOW TO BYPASS Thermostat SENSOR

"On the thermostat push the power button and the down arrow (that adjusts the temp) at the exact same time. If you do this correctly there will be the letters "bp" where the temp numbers usually are. You are now bypassing the sensors in the room. You can then set the temp to whatever you want and it keeps the room that cold whether you are in it or not. You might have to do this once a day as the thermostat tends to go back to sensor mode after 24 hours."

 

[SingingMom]

I copied this from the DIS somewhere...

HOW TO BYPASS Thermostat SENSOR

"On the thermostat push the power button and the down arrow (that adjusts the temp) at the exact same time. If you do this correctly there will be the letters "bp" where the temp numbers usually are. You are now bypassing the sensors in the room. You can then set the temp to whatever you want and it keeps the room that cold whether you are in it or not. You might have to do this once a day as the thermostat tends to go back to sensor mode after 24 hours."

Thank you SO much, Dorothy!! Just printed it out and will put it in my vacation folder.... we will be returning to the Dolphin in June! yippee!

 

[Fredd's Girl]

Those are awesome tips on the A/C! Thanks everyone!!

 

[Harambe]

I copied this from the DIS somewhere...

HOW TO BYPASS Thermostat SENSOR

"On the thermostat push the power button and the down arrow (that adjusts the temp) at the exact same time. If you do this correctly there will be the letters "bp" where the temp numbers usually are. You are now bypassing the sensors in the room. You can then set the temp to whatever you want and it keeps the room that cold whether you are in it or not. You might have to do this once a day as the thermostat tends to go back to sensor mode after 24 hours."

Is this true for the Swan as well?

 

[Blondie]

I would assume so, I believe the units/sensors are identical.

 

[warriorboy648]

Can I bring floats to use in the grotto pool? Are there lifeguards at this pool? I have 5 kids and any extra eyes are a big help.
Thanks!!

 

[SingingMom]

Can I bring floats to use in the grotto pool? Are there lifeguards at this pool? I have 5 kids and any extra eyes are a big help.
Thanks!!

You can rent or "buy" the inner tubes available at the pool, so I'm assuming you probably can bring your own. There is a guard at the top of the slide, but not many that I can remember to actually be keeping a watch on children in the regular areas of the pool.

 

[Blondie]

double post!