Swan/dolphin-thanksgiving 2007

[sreed]

1st trip to disney with 3 kids and husband, last minute planning, no disney resort available except value, found Dolphin for $159/night, includes disney transportation and extra magic hours, we thought it would be better than moderate or value? help? we're 1st timers...

any tips appreciated--

 

[Atotty]

Wow....which value was available? My TA last week couldn't find anything but Yacht and Beach...so we're at the Dolphin, too, 1st time. We're a family of 5 so I guess she prob couldn't get two value rooms for less than the Dolphin deal.

Have you checked out this thread http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1567343

Lots of good info.

 

[sreed]

I Think All Stars Or Movies--found Dolphin On Expedia.com And Called The Hotel Directly To Book And Confirm Availability. Trying To Research Ticket Savings Too--any Tips On That?

 

[rie'smom]

The Swan and Dolphin are nicer than the WDW deluxes. Jump on that rate!!!! The hotels are super nice.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

We've stayed at the Swan many times, I think you got a great rate and I think you'll have a fantastic trip!! The kids will love the Grotto pool, and you'll love the boat transportation to MGM and Epcot. A perfect way to spend Thanksgiving!

 

[Mickiethepooh]

The Swan and Dolphin are fabulous locations and hotels and have the most comfortable beds on the property. While the staff is not Disney, they are great and you are surrounded by Disney so the feel is very much the same. you can easily access EPCOT and MGM and the Boardwalk area all without taking busses.
The Values do not in ANY WAY compare. The Swan and Dolphin are DELUXE hotels.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

We've stayed at the Swan many times, I think you got a great rate and I think you'll have a fantastic trip!! The kids will love the Grotto pool, and you'll love the boat transportation to MGM and Epcot. A perfect way to spend Thanksgiving!

 

[tortoni]

We got the same rate from the Dolphin for Thanksgiving and jumped on it. You can't beat the location and the Dolphin has great amenities. You can easily walk to the Boardwalk, Yacht or Beach and enjoy their lobbies and restaurants. You can also walk to Epcot and MGM or take the launch. We always stay there when the Yacht or Beach don't have discounts.

 

[DisneyFans4]

Jump on that rate for a deluxe stay at the Dolphin!

I'm a huge Swan fan and just love staying at this property. Everything is there to enjoy and the pool is huge and great!

The beds are the best I've ever slept in on disney property. DH and DS just returned from their stay at the BC as DH was on a business convention and said he couldn't sleep well in their bed and realized how much better the bed was at the Swan.

The service is impeccable and for that rate it can't be beat.

 

[Atotty]

I Think All Stars Or Movies--found Dolphin On Expedia.com And Called The Hotel Directly To Book And Confirm Availability. Trying To Research Ticket Savings Too--any Tips On That?

There's two ticket brokers that are really good. One is Undercover Tourist and the other is Maple Leaf. Maple Leaf, I think, used to be a dis sponsor.

Undercover Tourist is running a deal: buy a 4 day ticket and get 2 extra days free.

 

[sreed]

ok, so does anyone know how the Disney internal transportation compares from a value vs moderate vs deluxe--as far as the busses go, or more specifically the dolphin...we thought being closer in the park it would make a difference, better than staying in a value or is the bus transportation all the same? we could save money at a value but is it worth it? are we gaining anything with the busses by staying at the dolphin?--i know its great to be in walking distance to epcot and mgm...help!!

you've all been great!!

 

[SteveH]

We found the bus transportation to be great to/from the S/D during our trip, it was really a non-issue and the boats/walks to Epcot and MGM were great too.

 

[sreed]

does the transportation vary or getter better or worse depending on the type of resort you're in--or is it the same at all resorts inside disney? some blogs say that some resorts share buses and can cause great delays.

ps--anybody have info on going at Thanksgiving, pros and cons?

 

[Tiffany]

1st trip to disney with 3 kids and husband, last minute planning, no disney resort available except value, found Dolphin for $159/night, includes disney transportation and extra magic hours, we thought it would be better than moderate or value? help? we're 1st timers...

any tips appreciated--

The Swan/Dolphin area is great. You share transportation via bus to the MK and AK with the YC/BC and BWI and you can walk or take the Friendship boat to the ST or EC. $159 a night for a deluxe resort within walking distance two to of the major parks is a great rate. Over the years we have stayed at the S/D many times and have come to find their service to be above that of the Disney owned and operated deluxe resorts.

What is the same
1. Package delivery from the parks to your resort
2. Use of Disney transportation.
3. Access to EMHs

What you can't do
You room key can only be used for charging within the S/D complex. So you will need to carry your actual credit card with you.

You also cannot book transporation on DME or add on the DDP but those do not seem to be drawbacks for you.

Go and enjoy your great rate.

 

[DisneyFans4]

During our stay in August, as well as all our stays at the Swan, transportation has never been a problem. It's great to just be able to walk or take the boat to Epcot and MGM. We never waited more than 15 or 20 minutes for a bus to arrive. Many times we were lucky and as we got to the bus stop our bus would pull up. It's a matter of timing too because there have been times we would go to a bus stop and a bus would just be pulling away only to find out it was ours but we would just wait for the next one.

Of course this is just my opinion but based on the rate you got I would rather much stay at a deluxe than a value, especially an Epcot resort

 

[DisneyFans4]

does the transportation vary or getter better or worse depending on the type of resort you're in--or is it the same at all resorts inside disney? some blogs say that some resorts share buses and can cause great delays.

ps--anybody have info on going at Thanksgiving, pros and cons?

The bus is shared in this order, BW, Swan and then Dolphin.