Swan or Dolphin

[Jsme]

I have stayed at the Dolphin before but cannot remember the rules. Can you getin the parks early if you stay at one of these resorts? Do they have buses you can take? I remember the boats but can not remember about busing. Also I know their pool area is not real close. How far is it away from the resorts? We never went to the pool while we were there. Thanks!

 

[goofy4tink]

Yes, the S/D allow you to use the EMHs at the parks, just the same as the WDW resorts. And yes, there is bus transportation to all the parks at WDW from S/D. They share buses with Boardwalk and sometimes with YC/BC, but not always.
As far as the pool goes, that I can't tell you.

 

[cdpa4d]

I've stayed at the Dolphin and maybe staying at the Swan for our October trip.

The Grotto pool (main themed pool) is right in the middle of the two resorts. You do have to walk about 50 yards to get to it (maybe a little further from the Swan). Both resorts have very nice quiet pools just steps outside their doors.

One other note, the Dolphin rooms are only equiped with double beds. The Swan has queen sized beds. Also, the Swan has heavenly beds; which are very comfortable.

Here is a map to the Swan and Dolphin resort.

http://www.intercot.com/resorts/disney/maps/images/swandolphmap.jpg

 

[Caren]

While we're on the subject, do the Swan and Dolphin participate in Magical Express? And, if we rent a car, what's the parking situation there?

 

[Blondie]

No Magical Express for the S/D.

If you rent a car, the daily parking fee is $8.00. You can come and go as you please during the day, you'll only be charged once a day. When you check in tell them you have a rental car and they'll encrypt your room key card so that you can swipe it to lift the gate as you enter/exit the parking lot.

 

[ddoll]

Yes, they have busses. We always use the boats. They take you to MGM and Epcot. And of course, if you're already in Epcot, you can just take the monorail to MK.

We always have a rental car, so we normally drive to MK and AK. You pay to park at the resort, but not at the parks.

And the difference between the double beds at the Dolphin and the queen beds at the Swan is like an inch or 2. Not noticeable. Both hotels have Heavenly beds now.

The Swan is a smaller hotel, but the Dolphin has more things: spa, laundry, more restaurants, etc.

 

[DisneyFans4]

Both hotels are real nice but I prefer the Swan since it is quieter and more intimate. The amenities at the Dolpin are just a walk away so I don't mind it, except when I do laundry. I keep telling management at the Swan about my suggestion for a laundry room at the Swan so I'm hoping one day they will get one.

 

[Jsme]

We will have two chidlren with us. This will be a surprise trip for them. We have stayed at the Dolphin and can get a room there for a very good price however if we stay at the Swan we can get a better room for the same price. I am worried due to the weather though because we are thinking about going this weekend. I would hate to drive there and waste the money for it to raint he whole time.

 

[DisneyFans4]

I think the storm should be out of Florida by then but you never know, just keep a close eye on it. Are you driving or flying?

 

[cdpa4d]

We will have two chidlren with us. This will be a surprise trip for them. We have stayed at the Dolphin and can get a room there for a very good price however if we stay at the Swan we can get a better room for the same price. I am worried due to the weather though because we are thinking about going this weekend. I would hate to drive there and waste the money for it to raint he whole time.

Although I'm not sure what your dates are have you checked to see if you can get an Entertainment Card rate, AAA, etc?

Here is a link to the Swan and Dolphin reservation site where you can check for discounts. If you find a better rate than you were quoted before, just call the Swan and Dolphin directly and ask for reservations. They can match any rate.

https://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/dreamsres/sd.cfm#sd-main-special-book

 

[Jennasis]

At S/D we'll be bringing a car. Does the daily parking fee at the resort allow us to park for free at the MK/Ak etc?? I'd hate to pay $8 to park at the resort and then another fee to go to MK.

 

[DisneyFans4]

I never rent a car but depend on Disney transportation but I'm almost positive that parking in the parks is free. They will give you a paper to put in your windshield. Unfortunately, even though you are a guest of the hotel they charge a per day parking fee of $8.00 per day which I think stinks! If your a guest you shouldn't have to pay. You don't even have access to your keys!! One day while waiting for a cab to take us to Universal I saw outside a huge white locked box that contained everyone's car keys!!!!

 

[ddoll]

There is a daily parking fee at the Swan/Dolphin added to your hotel bill. They do not keep your keys. The only keys they have are for guests who have valet parked.

You show your room card at the parks and you are let into the parking lot for free.

 

[DisneyFans4]

ddoll-Thanks for the update. Wow! I can't believe that many people use the valet parking! I'll tell you, there were tons of keys in that box that I thought they were for the guests. I haven't rented a car since our second year in Disney. Where do those that bring their cars park? I just know how to enter when on the Disney bus and it always goes to the front and I assume those are the valet parkers. Do guests with cars go in another direction?

They do things different now...no more paper in the windshield. I guess people can make copies or who knows what. I guess showing a room key is good enough validation that your on Disney property.

 

[Blondie]

Even though we always rent a car, we never do any driving to the parks! The last thing I want to do is get in my car while on vacation. I want someone else to do the driving for me!

One of the great things about staying at the S/D (or any Epcot Resort) is the boat service to and from Epcot and MGM. It's a slow ride, and they're not as cool as they used to be (I don't know if their A/C's are on the fritz or what) but it's still a nice relaxing way to get to and from.

I don't remember why the S/D started the parking fee but I imagine many of the convention goers get reimbursed the daily fee so it's no skin off their nose. It's the vactioners like you and I that are out the money.

I wonder if the daily parking fee had anything to do with people parking in the S/D lot, then going to a park from there to avoid paying a parking charge. Where there's a will, there's a way!

 

[NancyIL]

I never rent a car but depend on Disney transportation but I'm almost positive that parking in the parks is free. They will give you a paper to put in your windshield. Unfortunately, even though you are a guest of the hotel they charge a per day parking fee of $8.00 per day which I think stinks! If your a guest you shouldn't have to pay. You don't even have access to your keys!! One day while waiting for a cab to take us to Universal I saw outside a huge white locked box that contained everyone's car keys!!!!

You saw the keys for cars that are valet parked. You can self-park and keep your keys.

 

[DisneyFans4]

Yes, the keys are locked in a huge white box by the desk outside of the hotel.

I still think the fair thing to do for hotel guests is charge half the amount for the daily parking fee. Maybe that is why they don't charge the $10 resort fee anymore because now they charge to park.

 

[NancyIL]

Before the Swan/Dolphin added the parking attendant and charged a fee, anyone could park there without being stopped by a hotel employee. The parking fee surely cuts down on non-guests parking there to avoid paying the fee at the parks.