Swan/Dolphin question

[krystyana]

Please forgive me if this has been asked before but my search isn't working properly. I am curious about how tickets and early entry work with Swan and dolphin. Are the tickets on your room key as with other Disney resorts or are they separate? What do you need to show to go to extra magic hours? I had many stays to the world but have never stayed at swan/dolphin, but so I don't know much about what the differences are. I'm now eligible for discounts there so I really can't pass up those savings! Am I correct that you also can not purchase the dining plan if staying there? Just trying to get all my facts straight before I try to book! Thank you all in advance for the help!

 

[DisneyFans4]

I can't give you an answer about the dining plan since I never use it but I can tell you that your room key is separate from your park key unless that has changed. I always purchase my tickets online but I remember our first year staying at the Swan the cards were separate. The only charges you can put on your room key is for those facilities between the Swan and the Dolphin and not anywhere else.

 

[missummer]

If you are staying at the Swan/Dolphin, then no you can't purchase the Dining Plan. We are staying at the Swan, and the discount is well worth it, so missing out on the Dining Plan isn't that big of a deal to us.

 

[DisneyFans4]

Ditto here missummer...

 

[DisneyFans4]

Missummer---I just noticed that your leaving very shortly also!!!!

 

[krystyana]

Do you need both your ticket and room key to access extra magic hours?

 

[DisneyFans4]

They just need to see your room key for EMH.

 

[DisneyFans4]

Sorry about that last post as I was wrong. If your going to EMH in the morning you need both your ticket and room key. To get EMH in the evening, since your already in the park they just need to see your room key and they give you an arm band to wear.

 

[krystyana]

Thanks!

 

[missummer]

Disneyfan-
Looks like we will be there around the same time! I can't wait!

 

[ilovemytink]

Do either the Swan or Dolphin offer the refillable mugs that are at the other Disney resorts??? Also, is everything else the same as staying in a "Disney" resort except for Magical Express?
Thanks!!

 

[DisneyFans4]

They don't have the same exact mugs that the Disney resorts have but they do have a refillable mug which is sold in Picabus.

They don't participate in ME, the free dining plan and you can't charge things you buy in the parks to your room key. You can charge purchases made between the Swan and Dolphin to your room key. They also have package delivery which to me is important. Whatever you purchase in the parks or in Downtown Disney they will deliver to the gift shop.

 

[ilovemytink]

Okay. A few more questions, if you don't mind, since you look like a "Swan expert."

Having stayed "on Disney property" and at the Swan, is there really that much of a difference between the two besides having Magical Express??? (I mean, for what you save, you can certainly rent a car to drop you off and pick you up.)

It looks as though you can walk to Epcot and MGM, which would be a plus, especially at night after the parks close so you're not waiting in a long line for a bus. Is that true or do you really need to take the bus??

Are the prices for food and things in the gift shop comparable to the Disney resorts, or since this is a Windham hotel (that's right, isn't it??) are the prices much higher??? (Don't do DDP so that's not an issue.)

Are the rooms that much nicer than a Disney resort or about the same???

As far as tickets go, having the little room key/key to the world is nice because you only have to carry the one thing. Is that an issue when staying at the Swan? Do you have paper tickets or what?

Upon leaving the resort, can you check out at the hotel and get your boarding pass like at a Disney resort???

And lastly, if you check in at 9:00 a.m., will the Swan hold your luggage and issue your park tickets so you can go straight to the parks like the Disney resorts do?

Thanks so much!!!! I appreciate it!!!!

 

[DisneyFans4]

Well as you can see since after my first stay at the Swan it's the only place I will go to now. I have never felt more like I was in Disney until my stay here. I always get an Epcot view and every morning when I open my curtains there is Spaceship Earth. Watching Illuminations from our balcony is wonderful and we can also see Wishes in the distance but it's a very good view.

We always walk to Epcot because it's faster than the boat and it's not a long walk at all. We will take the boat if it's raining or just extremely hot but more so we take the boat back, not going, unless the boat just happens to come right up.

Food prices are comparable for being in Disney. Of course higher than at home but they are about the same.

I prefer the rooms at the Swan because of the beds alone! They have the Heavenly Beds and they truly are. Very comfortable and always clean. I also prefer the Swan since they have double queens which is what I need for my 2 sons.

Having separate tickets, one for my room and one for the park doesn't effect me since we are AP holders so I have 2 cards I have to carry anyway. I also have the DDE card which is separate itself so I'm actually carrying 3 cards.

Yes, they have express checkout and an airport kiosk to print boarding passes.

If you check in early they will hold your luggage in the back and call you when your room is ready so you can either go to the park or anything else you would like to do.

The service is impeccable and it's room service is great too. They are fast and the food arrives hot and they will accompany any allergy and other diet needs. We have used this many times when my DH and I want to go to either Blue Zoo or Shula's and the boys will eat in. I've used them many times after a long day in the park and getting back to the room and just not wanting to do anything but relax so we'll eat in. They even have late night service.

If there is anything I left out just let me know

 

[Laz]

I have to add that the boats to EPCOT and MGM are very handy.

If you drive to the parks, your parking is included.

In the parks or at Downtown Disney, you can not charge to your room or get packages deliviered.

The lobby has a WDW counter, but the hotel and rooms do not have Disney decorations.

I like the SWAN or DOLPHIN, esp when they have the great discounts!

 

[tkldisney]

Glad I saw this, we'll be staying there in about 23 days, so great info.

 

[ilovemytink]

Thanks for the information!!! That's great to know.

One more thing...........We've always made reservations on line at disneyworld.com where everything is included and check-in is a breeze. Can you make reservations on line for the Swan and have tickets and everything waiting for you when you check in or do you have to purchase everything separate??? I was thinking, since the 2008 rates are out and the rates are pretty good, that I would go ahead and reserve the room for next year and then get airfare separate and then get park tickets at The Disney Store because the prices there seem pretty good. We live in Texas and so we're not AP holders.

 

[DisneyFans4]

IIn the parks or at Downtown Disney, you can not charge to your room or get packages deliviered.
![/quote


Yes you can get packages delivered when you buy anything in the parks or Downtown. They will deliver it to the gift shop. I use this service all the time. You can't charge to your room but that's fine wit me because I have the Disney Visa and put my charges on that card.

 

[DisneyFans4]

Thanks for the information!!! That's great to know.

One more thing...........We've always made reservations on line at disneyworld.com where everything is included and check-in is a breeze. Can you make reservations on line for the Swan and have tickets and everything waiting for you when you check in or do you have to purchase everything separate??? I was thinking, since the 2008 rates are out and the rates are pretty good, that I would go ahead and reserve the room for next year and then get airfare separate and then get park tickets at The Disney Store because the prices there seem pretty good. We live in Texas and so we're not AP holders.

I always book my own trip and do everything separately because I can find better discounts. I buy my park tickets online and they are mailed to my home.

 

[ilovemytink]

You have been soooooo helpful!!!!!!!! Thanks so much!!!