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

[hightown]

We were at the Dolphin 5/30-6/4. Stayed on points. So thought I'd post our experience.

When I booked on SPG.com, it said we had a resort room. At check in they were able to upgrade us to Resort view with balcony. Was on the MGM side and had a great view of the pool and MGM. Room 5-181.

We valet parked 4 nights and self parked one. I think they only charged us for one nights valet which was nice.

Disney transportation was fine. Came promptly. Always got a seat on the bus. Had to stand on the boat a couple of times but it was busy time and that's ok.

They had the dive-in movies on Saturday and showed Madagascar. It was fun. Before it started the staff got out all the tubes and put them in the pool for kids/guests. Nice way to spend an evening!

Ate at Pickabu once and had the Chimichanga. Don't ever get that. Pretty gross. Dolphin don't know mexican food!

The one bad point of the stay was the bathroom. It reeked of URINE (or maybe that's how FL mildew smells)! We called several times and they would spray the whole room down with air freshener. The smell would be masked but would come back every night and by morning, EWWW! Asked them to scrub down the bath but they didn't. I would have moved but really wanted that balcony so just made do.

Just wrote to Dolphin this morning asking them to please scub the bath down with bleach so the next guest doesn't remember their stay everytime they smell urine!

Other than the PU part, great stay and I really like this hotel.

 

[LSUmom4kids]

Yes, they are on Saturday nights only. The one they had last week when i was there started at 6:30 with a bonfire and games at the beach, and ended with the movie that started at 8:30. It was Mary Poppins that night and it was really neat. they do a good job with this, a lot of fun.

Questions about the "Dive-In" Movie at the Swan: (you will be able to tell that it's our first vacation at the Swan)

• So on Saturday around 6:15 or so, we should head to the beach area?

• Where exactly is the movie shown?

• Where is the "screen"?

• Does everyone get to use the innertubes, or are they just for kids? Should adults bring their own?

• Do you watch the movie from the water by the beach or in one of the pools?

• What about "munchies/snacks" while watching the movie?

• And, where to go if - by chance - one of the kids has to use the restroom between 6:15 and the end of the movie?

• Would this be a good place to watch a fireworks show on Sat. night? In an innertube floating, facing any specific place???

This sounds like fun! Thanks!!

 

[jeankeri]

The screen is in the Grotto Pool, they turn off the waterfall.
The movie doesn't tart 'till dusk- 8/8:30 ish depending on the sun (in summer).
They start a fire (in a large ceramic 'pit') about 6:30; you can but s'more fixings ($5.00 bag, makes 12).
You can see a bit of the Illuminations fireworks through the trees surrounding the pool, not a super view but they're there. The sound from the movie is loud, so unless you're watching for the fireworks, you won't hear them in the pool.
The pool provides lots of innertubes; adults can get one too. They start to hand them out around 7:30.
If you don't want to float in the pool you can watch from a lounge chair around the pool.
The restrooms behing the Grotto Pool are unavailable during the movie, but the Cabana restrooms are open.
HTH

 

[cindermom]

Does anybody know if the Dolphin has changed to their new refillable mugs yet? Should I bring my old ones next week in case they are not selling the new ones yet? I do not want to pack them unless they can be used.
Thanks. we can hardly wait to be there!!!

 

[Kaybee]

I have been asking the same question and have gotten no replies. I was there in May...13 to 21 and they were all sold out of the mugs. I would like to stay again in the fall but haven't been able to find out if they brought the mugs back or were discontiuing them altogether. I love those refillable mugs!

 

[Trissy]

Just wondering what type of toiletries are offered at the Swan?

 

[goofy 28]

Does anybody know if the Dolphin has changed to their new refillable mugs yet? Should I bring my old ones next week in case they are not selling the new ones yet? I do not want to pack them unless they can be used.
Thanks. we can hardly wait to be there!!!

i don't know what the old mugs looked like but they did have the refillable mugs there last week when i was there. they were black and brown with no handle and $10.00 a piece to purchase one. they had plenty of them also.

 

[jeankeri]

Parking question- When I stayed at the Dolphin the parking attendant at Animal Kingdom waved me through/ did not charge for parking when I showed him my room key. This is the only park I drove to/ parked at. Is this the official policy? I know on Mousesavers it says that you have to pay for parking at the parks when you stay at the Swan/Dolphin.

 

[goofy4tink]

I'll be at the Dolphin for the first time in Dec. I have a standard room booked. So....what type of area can I expect to be in, with what kind of view? And most importantly, am I going to have to leave bread crumbs as I walk to my room in order to find my way back to the lobby area? I've never had too much trouble finding my way at the 'official' WDW resorts but I've heard the Dolphin is huge...don't want to be wandering around, aimlessly, for days at a time!!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

we are staying at the doplhin in august i am a starwoods member but what does that actually do? I also was wondering about the toilertries?

 

[LSUmom4kids]

Parking question- When I stayed at the Dolphin the parking attendant at Animal Kingdom waved me through/ did not charge for parking when I showed him my room key. This is the only park I drove to/ parked at. Is this the official policy? I know on Mousesavers it says that you have to pay for parking at the parks when you stay at the Swan/Dolphin.

I need to know the answer to this question too!! This may make the AAA Diamond Parking Voucher a MOOT point if I can't park for free!!!

So if you are staying at the Swan/Dolphin, you have to pay to park at the hotel AND to park at the Parks?

ANYONE KNOW???

 

[susanc]

Hi, I was just at the Swan/Dolphin and paid for parking at the hotel...when I went to MK, Epcot & Animal Kingdom I was waved in for free to the parking lots upon showing my hotel card/key to the attendent.

 

[snels]

Hi,
Do we lose our Starwood points if there is inactivity on the account?

One more question: We have 15,000 points now. Would we be able to use them for a room upgrade (we usually stay 6 nights)?

Thanks for the help.

 

[6264EVER]

What are the parking fees at the Dolphin if you are staying in the hotel? I thought I read something about an $8 fee everytime you left the parking lot?????

 

[NancyIL]

What are the parking fees at the Dolphin if you are staying in the hotel? I thought I read something about an $8 fee everytime you left the parking lot?????

As a resort guest, you get in and out privileges for $8/day (not sure if tax is added to that). If someone parks in the lot and isn't a resort guest, they will pay $8 every time they leave the lot.

 

[Kaybee]

When you pull into the gated parking lot there is a machine where you swipe your room key which opens the gate. You are only charged $8 per day to come and go as many times as you want.

 

[jeankeri]

Re: Starwood points: If you have no activity in 12 months you forfeit the points. However- you do not need to stay in a Starwood hotle to keep your account active. You could eat at a Starwood hotel restaurant (check the website on-line to find one local to you), or if you have the Starwood Amex card it keeps your account active by earning points when you charge. As for room upgrades, that I do not know. I know the list of all point redemption is on the Starwood site. HTH

 

[jwfla422]

Regarding the parking...I think there's a lot of confusion as to what the $8 is for, whether it's to park at the resort or to park at one of the theme parks. I've seen this posted a few times on the boards.

$8 a day for self-parking at the HOTEL-the Swan or Dolphin
$14 a day for valet at the HOTEL-the Swan or Dolphin....oh, plus tax

NO CHARGE...FREE PARKING...at the Disney Theme Parks if you are a guest of the S/D

 

[AndyMcV]

...One more question: We have 15,000 points now. Would we be able to use them for a room upgrade (we usually stay 6 nights)?...

Hi snels

Check out the spg site regarding redeeming spg points.

With 15,000 points, I'd suggest getting a night free for 10,000 points or using 1,000 per night to drop the rack rate in half (depending on what the rate is that you currently have).

We've got about 30,000 points right now and will hopefully have 40,000 when we go next. That'll mean 5 free nights at the Swan or Dolphin for us (using the 5 for 4 option)! Whooo Hooo...

The Starwood Mastercard or AMEX really helps rack up the points too if you're interested.

A.

 

[FeeFeeWhite]

More info please....could someone tell me where I can find out what types of rooms are offered. This thread is kinda long and I can't find it. Thanks.

Also - What type of rate would be good for October during Food/Wine?

thanks again.....