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

[Dan Murphy]

I have attended two conventions at S/D, staying at both of them each once. I have also stayed at the Swan about eight or so times, additional, the Dolphin once additional. In my experience, I would say the Swan is much more laid back, less 'conventiony', less hustle bustle. In either case, when on the room floors or the rooms themselves, it is extremely quiet. I would say the mornings, with check-in/out, convention business, etc, if I had to pick a busier, noisier one, I would say the Dolphin. But then really, all resorts and hotels are at that time.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

I noticed you have stayed at many different hotels - which would you suggest for a family trip during Christmas time. Thanks.

Hi! Well, this is off topic for this thread, you can PM if you have further questions, but it really depends on your budget and also what activities you plan to do. My first instinct is to say the WL, because that theme is so beautiful for Christmas time. But if you plan to do Epcot more often, then stay at one of those resorst (BW, Y&BC, S/D.) Have a great trip!

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Thanks Blondie, Dan and and bluefairy for your input. I guess it is just a matter of perception, and getting lucky! I may just switch to the Swan, as I said, to be able to say I tried them both. Again, thanks for your input!

 

[Ronald Duck]

Does anyone know where I can get a discount for a suite in September at swan or dolphin?

Check this internal link for all you need to know about Swan and Dolphin Discounts:
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1284875

And as for Suite options you can go to the swandolphin.com website.

I booked a Swan Studio Suite (500 sq ft L-shaped room with 4 windows in 2 directions or 3 windows and a balcony) in August for $274 a night, Teacher's Rate.

 

[grammy520]

Hi I need all the help I can get. First I am planning a trip for my husband of 35 years ,First time for both in Disney,The swan and Dolphin really look nice . He loves a balcony. Which hotel shoud I choose. i read till my eyes crossed about both. What is the king corner turret balcony room?It sounds wonderful. how do I book this? We never had a honeymoon Kids are gone now so I want something special. Forgot to say this is a suprise.Thanks to all that can help me !!

 

[Blondie]

Check this internal link for all you need to know about Swan and Dolphin Discounts:
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1284875

And as for Suite options you can go to the swandolphin.com website.

I booked a Swan Studio Suite (500 sq ft L-shaped room with 4 windows in 2 directions or 3 windows and a balcony) in August for $274 a night, Teacher's Rate.

You will LOVE this suite!

We had a studio suite in May '06. Our windows faced the pool area, Expedition Everest, Tower of Terror/MGM and Blizzard Beach! The higher up you are the more you can see! If you haven't already seen the thread I started after our return (lots of photos), here it is:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1107841

 

[Blondie]

Hi I need all the help I can get. First I am planning a trip for my husband of 35 years ,First time for both in Disney,The swan and Dolphin really look nice . He loves a balcony. Which hotel shoud I choose. i read till my eyes crossed about both. What is the king corner turret balcony room?It sounds wonderful. how do I book this? We never had a honeymoon Kids are gone now so I want something special. Forgot to say this is a suprise.Thanks to all that can help me !!

How nice!

Since the Dolphin is the larger of the two resorts and therefore has more rooms, there are more rooms with balconies available.

 

[BlueFairy]

Hi I need all the help I can get. First I am planning a trip for my husband of 35 years ,First time for both in Disney,The swan and Dolphin really look nice . He loves a balcony. Which hotel shoud I choose. i read till my eyes crossed about both. What is the king corner turret balcony room?It sounds wonderful. how do I book this? We never had a honeymoon Kids are gone now so I want something special. Forgot to say this is a suprise.Thanks to all that can help me !!

If you view the Dolphin from above, there are arms that stick out toward the Swan. At the end of each arm (on either side of the hallway) are rooms which are regular king rooms (layout is like most hotel rooms you are familiar with and containing a desk, minibar and sofa). But they have 2 balconies. One is at the end of the room outside the sliding glass door. The other is kind of hidden across from the closet behind an extra door. This is a more private balcony which shares a wall with the stairwell, and is covered (unlike most other balconies at the Dolphin). Lower floors have palm trees in front of this second balcony. We were just at the top of those trees, I believe on the 4th floor. The other difference is that these rooms have 2 exterior walls, and therefore a whole extra wall of windows. So it is a sunny room. I don't know what room class this would be considered.
We requested corner king with an Epcot view, higher floor. We also joined Starwood Preferred Guest Program prior to arrival and noted the membership number with our room request.
Good luck and enjoy. This sounds like so much fun.

 

[Ronald Duck]

You will LOVE this suite!

We had a studio suite in May '06. Our windows faced the pool area, Expedition Everest, Tower of Terror/MGM and Blizzard Beach! The higher up you are the more you can see! If you haven't already seen the thread I started after our return (lots of photos), here it is:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1107841

I stumbled across your thread a while back, before we decided to book the Suite. Thanks for helping me re-discover it...what a NICE room!

I think there may be several slightly different configurations for the Studio Suites. The floor plan on the S/D website (and other pics I've seen) show the entry door opening directly into the "dining area", but it looks like your Suite might have been set up a little differently. Was the pic you took with the closets on the right taken in the bathroom doorway? And was the entry door down and to the left? Also, did you have three windows in the room with the dining table...2 regular and one porthole?

 

[paras4ri]

Hi I need all the help I can get. First I am planning a trip for my husband of 35 years ,First time for both in Disney,The swan and Dolphin really look nice . He loves a balcony. Which hotel shoud I choose. i read till my eyes crossed about both. What is the king corner turret balcony room?It sounds wonderful. how do I book this? We never had a honeymoon Kids are gone now so I want something special. Forgot to say this is a suprise.Thanks to all that can help me !!

We celebrated our 20th anniversary at the Dophin in September, and had a king corner turret room. It was maginifcent and I highly recommend one. We had 2 balconies...and views in 3 directions. I'll post some pictures for you tomorrow.

 

[Dobie]

I'm very confused about the SPG points.

I joined, and applied for the American Express card, which is supposed to give me 10,000 points. I only did it a few days ago, and I expect to see my account credited with the points soon. Am I correct in thinking that just getting the card will give me enough points for one free night at the Swan or Dolphin??

Also, apparently making my first purchase with the card will give me another 10,000 points? So, buying a drink at my local Starbucks, for example, and paying with my new card will get me enough points for another free night?

Seems too good to be true!

Next, I went to the spg.com website to see about booking a room for our chosen dates, early in Feb. 2008. My first choice, the Dolphin, says rooms are "from $356 a night". Where's the great prices I see everyone else getting, of $159, etc.? Then, when I clicked on the price, it tells me there are no rooms for my dates! Is it too early to try booking? Or are they really already all booked up! Should I panic because it's too late, or chill out and wait??

Relax!


SPG posts points once per month, at statement time. My AMEX statement closes every month around the 17th-19th.

The $159 per night is generally during hurricane season, or is a teacher rate. You have to call either SPG or the hotel directly for these discounts. Often, when booking a Starwood hotel, the webpage will tell me no availability, then if I call the hotel directly, I can easily get a room.

 

[knelson]

Hi! Well, this is off topic for this thread, you can PM if you have further questions, but it really depends on your budget and also what activities you plan to do. My first instinct is to say the WL, because that theme is so beautiful for Christmas time. But if you plan to do Epcot more often, then stay at one of those resorst (BW, Y&BC, S/D.) Have a great trip!

Thank you - as far as budget it was blown the day we booked so now it is just about making it perfect.

 

[duffy]

Thank you, Dobie, very much.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Hello Everyone: This may have been asked a thousand times, so bear with me. I'm thinking of booking either the Swan or Dolphin for marathon weekend, Jan 2008. Is one hotel a shorter walk from EPCoT. I'd like to be able to walk from the finish line back to my room, and after the marathon I want that walk to be as short as possible. Thanks.

 

[ozziewags]

Although both are the same distance from Epcot, the Dolphin may be a longer walk because it is a much larger hotel and sometimes the walk in the hotel seems to take forever, depending on where your room is.

 

[ozziewags]

Hi I need all the help I can get. First I am planning a trip for my husband of 35 years ,First time for both in Disney,The swan and Dolphin really look nice . He loves a balcony. Which hotel shoud I choose. i read till my eyes crossed about both. What is the king corner turret balcony room?It sounds wonderful. how do I book this? We never had a honeymoon Kids are gone now so I want something special. Forgot to say this is a suprise.Thanks to all that can help me !!

My husband and I had one of these rooms and I loved the sofa in the room and 2 balconies, but it was a looooong walk from the elevator. We have been married for 37 years and after walking in the parks, it was hard to make those last steps to the room. The views were awesome from the balcony. We used points and requested the king turret at check-in.

 

[knelson]

My husband and I had one of these rooms and I loved the sofa in the room and 2 balconies, but it was a looooong walk from the elevator. We have been married for 37 years and after walking in the parks, it was hard to make those last steps to the room. The views were awesome from the balcony. We used points and requested the king turret at check-in.

That sounds like the perfect room for us - I hope I can my AAA agent to get it set aside for me.

 

[Bichon Barb]

What Solphin restaurants to you guys recommend?

Has anyone been to the sushi bar? I'm thinking this would be a nice place to go if we are are still hungry after picking at the F&WF.

And what about Blue Zoo? Worth it? We'll probably Do either BZ, CG or FFC one night.

The first night we'll be flying in late, so we'll probably head to the pool and grab a sandwich and a beer at either Cabana Bar or Splash?

For b'fast, maybe we'll just grab some bagels somewhere. I don't even know if there is a fridge in the room for cream cheese, etc.?

 

[paras4ri]

My husband and I had one of these rooms and I loved the sofa in the room and 2 balconies, but it was a looooong walk from the elevator. We have been married for 37 years and after walking in the parks, it was hard to make those last steps to the room. The views were awesome from the balcony. We used points and requested the king turret at check-in.

Good point - the location of the room can be a distance from an elevator. We were in the east wing, but in the closer of the 2 "fingers" - we were right down the hall from the east elevators. Our balcony overlooked the large dolphin fountain and the walkway between the 2 hotels, and the boat dock and the Boardwalk.

 

[BlueFairy]

My husband and I had one of these rooms and I loved the sofa in the room and 2 balconies, but it was a looooong walk from the elevator. We have been married for 37 years and after walking in the parks, it was hard to make those last steps to the room. The views were awesome from the balcony. We used points and requested the king turret at check-in.

Yes, based on the layout, about 1/2 of these rooms are on the outside wings, and would have the longer walk. Not so with the other 1/2. But that is true of any of the rooms at the Dolphin, especially in these wings.


Bichon Barb - As for restaurants, we like Kimonos for sushi. And it is open late, though they start karaoke around 9. As for the pool bars, they close around 5pm. The Fountain might be open late for burgers, as they serve dinner.