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

[#1hockeymom]

I know the answer about the dive in movies! Well, I do, and I don't. Natalie and Chuckie are over swimming, and I asked them about their late night swim and meet up with our Disbug while doing laundry. Natalie told Denise that "My mom just spent almost 15 bucks on a in room movie and it just got over so we're swimming late", or something to that meaning. Thus, Dive In movie is free, in room movie 12.99 plus fees. Btw... on a few of those rainy nights it was worth every penny to keep everyone happy! Guess Who was a riot, as was Madagascar!

 

[Disbug]

I know the answer about the dive in movies! Well, I do, and I don't. Natalie and Chuckie are over swimming, and I asked them about their late night swim and meet up with our Disbug while doing laundry. Natalie told Denise that "My mom just spent almost 15 bucks on a in room movie and it just got over so we're swimming late", or something to that meaning. Thus, Dive In movie is free, in room movie 12.99 plus fees. Btw... on a few of those rainy nights it was worth every penny to keep everyone happy! Guess Who was a riot, as was Madagascar!

OHHHH! DUUHHH! They must have misunderstood what I asked them! I asked them if they were coming back from the Dive-In movie and what I thought they said was, "No. It was $15 so we came back later to swim." Hey! It was 3 AM! And to top it off, Danny gave me wrong directions back to my ROOM! Ackk! Apparently you guys on the 5th floor are able to cut over to the East wing using the Central Elevators from the 1st floor. But, you can't get there from here if you are on the 4th floor!

Sorry for the confusion everyone! I wish I could have gone to the movie, but thanks to my only packing 2 pairs of shorts for DD10... I had to do laundry every other night!

 

[Mad4Mickey]

Hi Kids!!

Mad4Mickey~Although I'm not Disbug...I do not think Denise will mind me posting in response. I prefer the Dolphin, but the Swan is just as lovely--and has some positives to note. The beds in the Swan are QUEEN, whereas the Dolphin has FULL size beds. Also, the Swan has the infamous "Hollywood Bath" (with a vanity and SINK) outside the interior bathroom. The Dolphin boasts a vanity (sans the sink) outside all interior bathrooms. Both have heavenly showers, (amazingly roomy due to the patented curved rod), and incredible amenities~! You will not be disappointed with either resort.

..DF99

not trying be a pest but what is a Heavenly Shower? my Dh is excited he loves a nice long hot shower now he is thinking it is one of those with the rain bar and all the little shower heads .

Anyone know ???

 

[Disbug]

not trying be a pest but what is a Heavenly Shower? my Dh is excited he loves a nice long hot shower now he is thinking it is one of those with the rain bar and all the little shower heads .

Anyone know ???

Here is a photo! What it is... it's a bumped out shower bar with a really good massaging shower head! No rain bar, alas! Maybe in future we'll have "suite showers" with the rain bars and room for a family of 4! LOL!

 

[Disbug]

Thanks Disbug ! What hotel do you like the best out of the 2 ? We had no idea and just chose Swan for no reason . Do they both have the Heavenly beds?

We are going to be there Oct 27-30 we are going there after the WL .I bet there will be no discounts during that time cause that is my luck .

Yes, as Lisa mentioned above, both resorts have the heavenly beds. But, honestly... I couldn't tell the difference in the size. If the Dolphin has only a double bed as opposed to a Queen... it is a LARGE DOUBLE! (And thank you, ever so gracious, Dreamflight for answering Mad4Mickey!)

I would suggest staying at the Swan first, to get the lay of the land so to speak. It is smaller (more intimate) and easier to find everything. My DD10 actually prefers the Swan...

After going to the Swan and then later to the Dolphin, I find that I like the Dolphin even more! My DD16 prefers the Dolphin, as well. It is just "kickier", has a lot of room to roam. (Notice I did NOT say run amuck, even though there are those out there that were thinking it! ) I really love the circus tent lobby at the Dolphin and all of the restaurants (esp. BLUE ZOO). But, at the Swan you have access to everything at the Dolphin and vice versa! The only drawback at the Dolphin that I see for some people, is that you can have a LONG walk to your room through all the corridors and this will intimidate some...

So go judge for yourself... and let us know what YOU think!

 

[gm]

We returned from the Swan end of July and we did not have that kind of shower curtain. It was the regular straight one. I wonder if it is certains rooms. Our room was resort view with balcony.

 

[Mad4Mickey]

Thanks ! you guys are the best . I told my husband that The Swan it is ! I wont be going till 10/25 I hope I dont bug you guys to much till then

 

[lovingthemouse]

Trust me, asking lots of questions is how we all learned about the Swan and Dolphin Hotels.
I am sure you'll have a wonderful time! Caroline

 

[NancyIL]

The studio I had at the Swan didn't have the curved shower rod, either. However, we ordered one from the Westin site for our kids' bathroom.

 

[QueenOfCelts]

Does anyone know what Instant Awards are offered at the Dolphin? Oh, and the number of points for them too?

Thanks!

 

[Elysiannn]

I'm going to the Dolphin for my very first time in ... 19 days!!!!

A few questions:
Does the Dolphin Deluxe rooms have shampoo, conditioner, toiletries in them? What is usually placed in the bathrooms?

Can one ask for early housekeeping? I'm at the parks first thing before they open but poop out about Noon - 2ish and go back to nap and swim. I'd love for the room to be done by then.

Is the pool open 24/7 for swimming?

Thanks in advance. I can't wait!!!! It's my birthday trip. Ely

 

[Nik's Mom]

Hi. Considering either Swan or dolphin for my next stay. Bus service is important to me. How is the bus service? We were considering staying at BC, but people have been very unhappy with the bus service there.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Nik's Mom - My husband and I stayed at the Swan in May and shared a bus with the BC/YC and BW and Dolphin. The bus service wasn't so great for us at that time. We only used it one time, one way to the MK(took the monorail to epcot to return) though, as we have had a bad time with the bus on a previous trip. We had a rental car & used that to get to AK.

My family stayed at the Swan last August and bus service was horrid. It took us almost 2 hours to get to the AK. I am NOT kidding. We stopped at the above resorts, the water parks, and maybe other places. It was nasty.

I enjoy the S/D for their location & convenience to Epcot & MGM, but if you plan on going to MK and AK it can be painful.

Now others have probably had different experiences, but those were ours and they were bad enough for me to only stay S/D during split stays with a MK resort.

Lives4Disney

 

[Nik's Mom]

I'm disappointed in hearing how bad bus transportation is. I really wanted an Epcot resort, but just can't stay there if the bus service is that bad. I guess we were spoiled by the great service at AKL. I figured all deluxe resorts would have the same service. It's too bad. I'd just rent a car, but there are so many of us that it's just easier to rely on WDW transportation. Thanks for the honest opinions though. I appreciate it.

 

[gm]

we were there last week of July and used the bus alot. They had set it up differently from last time we went. Now there is a Bus stop for Swan/dolphin and Boardwalk and a different one for Yacht/Beach club.

The only bad part which is understandable because Swan/Dolphin are not disney owned is that when we came back from Magic Kingdom, the bus would first stop at the Boardwalk and than the Swan/Dolphin even though these 2 resorts come first. We would see it pass by us and sadly wait to go drop people of at Boardwalk and then come right back again and drop the S/D people off. This happened everytime and one time they took a different route from Magic Kingdom that was much much longer near fort Wilderness to get to Boardwalk first. That street came out near downtown Disney. They must have just started this because last year the Swan/Dolphin were always the First stop!!

When picking us up for AK, they would stop at all 4 resorts but when leaving AK SD/Boardwalk again had their own bus and so did Y/B.

Hope that helps.

 

[Disbug]

Does anyone know what Instant Awards are offered at the Dolphin? Oh, and the number of points for them too?

Thanks!

Sorry, QueenofCelts! I have never used points for Instant Awards, but I imagine they would include in room movies, perhaps a massage, room service? I usually save my points for the room reservation or upgrade to CL level. Waving hi and hoping someone else who has done this can help!

 

[Disbug]

I'm going to the Dolphin for my very first time in ... 19 days!!!!

A few questions:
Does the Dolphin Deluxe rooms have shampoo, conditioner, toiletries in them? What is usually placed in the bathrooms?

Can one ask for early housekeeping? I'm at the parks first thing before they open but poop out about Noon - 2ish and go back to nap and swim. I'd love for the room to be done by then.

Is the pool open 24/7 for swimming?

Thanks in advance. I can't wait!!!! It's my birthday trip. Ely

Elysiann! The Dolphin has all the above in the toiletries dept. lol! Their signature oatmeal soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, shower cap, and vanity set, shoe shine kit, and mouthwash. This was for the 2 Bedroom Exec Suite. I think the regular rooms have soap, shampoo, conditioner, and lotion.

Some of the more VIP guests have reported having another brand of toiletries, which for the life of me I can't remember (Help, Dreamflight!)...

Early housekeeping can certainly be requested. I've done it myself.

The pool is open 24/7 sans lifeguard... Enjoy it. The night time swims are the MOST fun! lol

 

[QueenOfCelts]

Sorry, QueenofCelts! I have never used points for Instant Awards, but I imagine they would include in room movies, perhaps a massage, room service? I usually save my points for the room reservation or upgrade to CL level. Waving hi and hoping someone else who has done this can help!

Thanks DisBug! I appreciate your response.....now maybe I can offer up a bit of info. I called the Dolphin today and spoke with James at the front desk. When I asked about the Instant Awards, he immediately asked me what tier my membership was...apparently they offer different things depending on your membership level. He told me that Platinum members get most of their offerings for free and then he rattled off the room upgrades, health club access and late check out, etc. He did offer up that I can exchange points for room credits. 1500 points = $20 room credit.

Honestly, I am not sure if the guy understood what I was asking. I was always under the impression the Instant Awards were more along the lines of in-room movie rentals, massages and other stuff like that. I guess I will just have to ask when we check-in....and I will definitely report back here when we return.

 

[Disbug]

QueenofCelts! If you spoke to James, (re: "THE" JAMES) he is a VERY knowledgeable long-time employee of the Swan and Dolphin Resorts. With the Dolphin and Swan changing the $10 resort fee from including a list of amenities to a more "ala carte", pay for what you use type of plan, maybe the Instant Awards have followed suit? I hope you will let us know and thanks for the heads up!

 

[madge]

I'm disappointed in hearing how bad bus transportation is. I really wanted an Epcot resort, but just can't stay there if the bus service is that bad. I guess we were spoiled by the great service at AKL. I figured all deluxe resorts would have the same service. It's too bad. I'd just rent a car, but there are so many of us that it's just easier to rely on WDW transportation. Thanks for the honest opinions though. I appreciate it.

we rarely have bad bus service at the S/D. Of course, there have been a few exceptions....but other than an occasional sharing of the bus with the Boardwalk or having a longer-than-I'd-like wait...we've got no complaints!