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

[paras4ri]

Thanks for sharing your wonderful stay at the Swan! We love both the Swan and Dolphin and are anxiously awaiting our return in less than 3 weeks!

Can you tell us more about Pikabu? What did you have there, etc.

Thanks.

 

[happymommy]

Just got back from a week at the Dolphin. Personally, I thought the room we had in April at the Swan was a little "fresher", but the location at the Dolphin was great. We were on lobby level - had a nice view of Epcot fireworks nightly over the buildings (we weren't up high) and my DS was able to go to the store, Minnie's something or other, by himself.

Picabu was directly below us. It is open 24 hours. Ate there in the morning while doing laundry a couple of times. DS liked the bacon, and DD and I each had one biscuit with gravy (only about $3 each, so not bad). My friend fed her 4 boys there one evening - said the kids' meals at Gulliver's were much better than Picabu's but the kids didn't complain! BTW, she said Gulliver's had great kids meals for a good price, considering it's a more upscale restaurant. She said she had a quesadilla appetizer for about $6 and it was enough for her for dinner (we're not big eaters). Picabu's did have something that looked appealing - an entire rotisserie chicken with 3 large side dishes (I think it was 3) plus 4 big breadsticks for about $20. It's a family meal and looked like a nice idea for a big dinner. The side dishes looked good - mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, etc.... Some dishes looked gross - like the cold premade sandwiches. Breakfasts looked okay if you like eggs and stuff. You can also take back to the room - if you're tired. They had soft drinks, wines, and some sundries, but not a lot. The staff was SUPER friendly!

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Thanks for sharing your wonderful stay at the Swan! We love both the Swan and Dolphin and are anxiously awaiting our return in less than 3 weeks!

Can you tell us more about Pikabu? What did you have there, etc.

Thanks.

I only ate breakfast there, so I don't have a ton of info, but I had a waffle with Nutella (delicious! but how could Nutella ever be bad?) and bf had sausage and eggs which he said was good. We also got coffee there quite often which was always great (It's Starbucks brand reg and decaf) and one day we also got the Bakery made Pop Tart - which was really good. It's kind of like puff pastry but thinner two layers, with a fruit jam in the center - ours was blueberry - and sugar on top. Tasty. It was a really comfortable place- nicely decorated, not hectic, nice staff, etc. They had newspapers and park maps right there on a bookcase so you could just sit and relax with a cup of coffee before you headed out. They also sell these awesome gourmet chocolates "Forgiveness" is dark chocolate with lemon and citron and "Blush" is dark chocolate with cherries and something else. Each one has some property - like restores balance, energizes, relaxes or one even says enhances metabolism. One had lavender in it. Really interesting. Picabu also sells little convenience store merchandise like anbesol, soap, toothpaste, tylenol, etc. just in case. A good quick place.

 

[Blondie]

Here's the little convenience store area of Picabu's. They also sell a few things in the gift shop, but Picabu's has a better selection:

 

[Blondie]

This is what the menu at Picabu's looked like in May:

 

[T-i-double-g-err]

(It's Starbucks brand reg and decaf)

Thanks for the confirmation. I'll now be able to get my caffeine fix without resorting to NESCAFE...

 

[kimmar067]

...a-HEM.... , but Lisa needs to clean out her PM box.....

 

[happymommy]

That's the same menu - the biscuit and gravy must be for 2 of them - too much for most folks IMHO. It's really a godsend for those who need something late at night or early in the AM but really the room service was top notch - yes we know them well! Also, Kimono's will do take out (didn't need to know that did you - spent at least $300 last trip due to my DS who never eats much deciding that he needs sushi nightly).

 

[Trissy]

Just got back last night. 11 days and never again this time of year. People are right, the crowd levels are up. We are thinking February. Anyway, stayed at CSR 4 nights~Swan 1~CBR 5. We were supposed to stay at the Swan longer but just couldn't handle the smell or the dampness due to no fan in the room or bathroom. Our bathroom door stuck so bad that I thought my husband was holding it closed (playing a trick on me). The hotel was very nice, too bad about the room. We really would've loved to stay there longer (and they offered to move us to a different room), but I have read too many people complaining about the smell. We had a king size balcony room facing the courtyard -617.

 

[NancyIL]

Just got back last night. 11 days and never again this time of year. People are right, the crowd levels are up. We are thinking February. Anyway, stayed at CSR 4 nights~Swan 1~CBR 5. We were supposed to stay at the Swan longer but just couldn't handle the smell or the dampness due to no fan in the room or bathroom. Our bathroom door stuck so bad that I thought my husband was holding it closed (playing a trick on me). The hotel was very nice, too bad about the room. We really would've loved to stay there longer (and they offered to move us to a different room), but I have read too many people complaining about the smell. We had a king size balcony room facing the courtyard -617.

I have stayed at the Swan many times, and never had any problems with smell or mold. But then - I don't stay there in the summer. Sorry you didn't enjoy your room.

I don't know about the moderates, but there was no fan at the All Stars, either.

 

[kimmar067]

....I don't know about the moderates, but there was no fan at the All Stars, either....

...the AKL fans work GREAT.....

 

[kimmar067]

BTW ~ Mouseteacher, I cleaned out my PM box......

 

[Mouseteacher]

Kimmar~ I'll repeat that PM later...on my way for our family's unofficial end of summer cook out.

 

[kimmar067]

Kimmar~ I'll repeat that PM later...on my way for our family's unofficial end of summer cook out.

..... ....have a burger for ME.......

 

[ztam3]

for all you Dolphin Vets. The hubby and I will be arriving on Sunday November 26th around 2pm. Can anyone tell me if the Disney ticket counter inside the Dolphin will be open at this time? Or, will I have to purchase my tickets at the park? Thanks for any help you can offer. This will be our first stay at the Dolphin!
Tabitha

 

[Dan Murphy]

The Disney counter will be open. Enjoy your stay.

 

[kate]

Well heck, I hope someone can help me. Here we are at the Swan and I brought dd's report card with us so she would be able to show it to ??? and receive an ice cream for being such a good student . Now I can't remember where we are suppose to take the card. Does anyone know if this service is still in existance and where the "ice cream" place is located? From my notes (to myself) I assume it must have been in the Dolphin or Swan. Any ideas???

 

[NancyIL]

for all you Dolphin Vets. The hubby and I will be arriving on Sunday November 26th around 2pm. Can anyone tell me if the Disney ticket counter inside the Dolphin will be open at this time? Or, will I have to purchase my tickets at the park? Thanks for any help you can offer. This will be our first stay at the Dolphin!
Tabitha

You'll save money if you buy them ahead of time from a discounter such as www.ticketmania.com or www.undercovertourist.com. You'll save even more if you subscribe to the Mousesavers newsletter, because it has a link to additional discounts from those two ticket sellers: www.mousesavers.com

 

[dwheatl]

Well heck, I hope someone can help me. Here we are at the Swan and I brought dd's report card with us so she would be able to show it to ??? and receive an ice cream for being such a good student . Now I can't remember where we are suppose to take the card. Does anyone know if this service is still in existance and where the "ice cream" place is located? From my notes (to myself) I assume it must have been in the Dolphin or Swan. Any ideas???

Call down to the front desk. There is an ice cream window at the Fountain at the Dolphin (right near BlueZoo), but the only deal I heard about with the report card was a discounted room rate. Good luck, and congrats to your DD.

 

[luvdmouse]

Well heck, I hope someone can help me. Here we are at the Swan and I brought dd's report card with us so she would be able to show it to ??? and receive an ice cream for being such a good student . Now I can't remember where we are suppose to take the card. Does anyone know if this service is still in existance and where the "ice cream" place is located? From my notes (to myself) I assume it must have been in the Dolphin or Swan. Any ideas???

Last March we stayed at the Dolphin. Our kids brought their report cards and showed it to the front desk person at the Dolphin. They were given an A+ dolphin hat, a coupon for a free ice cream at the Dolphin fountain and I think a coupon for a free meal at any S/D hotel. We were pleasantly surprised. Good luck.