The **New** Swan and Dolphin Resort thread ~ April 2012 ~ Please read post #1

[CindyPA]

Posted this question last week but never saw an answer so I am going to post it again. When I look at rates on-line for the Dolphin they add a 5th person charge (an extra $25) for my 3rd child. When I check out will I be charged another $25 per day if we request a rollaway or is that 5th person charge the rollaway charge? Add those charges to the parking fee and the resort fee adds quite a bit to the original rate.

Hi,

Your best bet is to call their direct reservation line and ask. We have reservations for five in an alcove room and they are giving us a rollaway complimentary because they cannot guarantee me a two bedded room. They are not charging us for the fifth person. From my understanding, they don't charge children as extra... I believe that would only apply to five adults to a room. The agents at their reservation line are extremely helpful and accommodating. Another thing I think might help is to sign up for the SPG program online before you make a reservation. It will get you the best rates, especially if you also have AAA.

To answer your original question directly, you should not be charged both for five people and fora rollaway. Calling them directly will get you the best rate. Hope that helps!

 

[madelyn]

Hi,

Your best bet is to call their direct reservation line and ask. We have reservations for five in an alcove room and they are giving us a rollaway complimentary because they cannot guarantee me a two bedded room. They are not charging us for the fifth person. From my understanding, they don't charge children as extra... I believe that would only apply to five adults to a room. The agents at their reservation line are extremely helpful and accommodating. Another thing I think might help is to sign up for the SPG program online before you make a reservation. It will get you the best rates, especially if you also have AAA.

To answer your original question directly, you should not be charged both for five people and fora rollaway. Calling them directly will get you the best rate. Hope that helps!

Thanks! I thought it was weird that on-line I was being charged $25 more for my 3rd child even though it states that kids under 18 are free when staying with adults. We are members of SPG. Don't actually have a trip booked. Just trying to see if a summer trip is financially feasible (we are taking a Disney cruise at the end of the year). One of my kids has been asking to go back even though he already went in the summer and Sept of 2012! Wants to see the new Fantasyland...and when you say to call direct, are you saying the Starwood reservation line of the actual hotel?

 

[CindyPA]

Thanks! I thought it was weird that on-line I was being charged $25 more for my 3rd child even though it states that kids under 18 are free when staying with adults. We are members of SPG. Don't actually have a trip booked. Just trying to see if a summer trip is financially feasible (we are taking a Disney cruise at the end of the year). One of my kids has been asking to go back even though he already went in the summer and Sept of 2012! Wants to see the new Fantasyland...and when you say to call direct, are you saying the Starwood reservation line of the actual hotel?

Try calling 888-828-8850. That is the dedicated reservation line for the Swalphin. Thomas in particular has always been super helpful and friendly. We are going in June and I cannot wait! We stayed at BWI last year and just kept gravitating over to the Dolphin to eat. Thought it was so pretty and rates so much more reasonable, so we booked it for this year.

Good luck and hope your cruise is wonderful! That is something we would like to do one day when kids are a little older.

 

[bas71873]

BUT...the LOCATION alone makes it worth more then POFQ, don't you think?

That's what I'm trying to decide!!! I'm so wishy washy! The cheapskate in me says NO way

 

[SingingMom]

That's what I'm trying to decide!!! I'm so wishy washy! The cheapskate in me says NO way

You have to do what is right for your family and budget.

But.... Remember there is also a "value" placed on your time, too! I didn't like the busses for Port Orleans or the outside room entrances. We have now been at the Dolphin six times and won't stay anywhere else! The Friendship boats are so relaxing and we can also walk to Epcot, HS, and Boardwalk.

Hope you'll give the Dolphin a try!

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Dan Murphy]

.....and POFQ has ceiling fans (I must have air circulating when I sleep) and that would save me having to bring my foldaway fan along.....(

You can set the thermostat fan to hi, rather than auto, and it does produce a pretty significant wave of air throughout the room. If too breezy, you can set to med or lo.

 

[bas71873]

You have to do what is right for your family and budget.

But.... Remember there is also a "value" placed on your time, too! I didn't like the busses for Port Orleans or the outside room entrances. We have now been at the Dolphin six times and won't stay anywhere else! The Friendship boats are so relaxing and we can also walk to Epcot, HS, and Boardwalk.

Hope you'll give the Dolphin a try!

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

You can set the thermostat fan to hi, rather than auto, and it does produce a pretty significant wave of air throughout the room. If too breezy, you can set to med or lo.

Ya'll are killing me

 

[Dan Murphy]

Ya'll are killing me

And I heard the rooms are dusty at POFQ too.

 

[SingingMom]

And I heard the rooms are dusty at POFQ too.

...and that dragon in the pool would give me NIGHTMARES......... ;-)

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

Just booked the Swan for the 3 nights at the end of a week long split stay. How much is the transportation option that you can book through the concierge at swan for transportation to the airport? Is it more than booking through Mears? When I went on the Mears website the only option was for a private car-$67 for 4 people.

Also, we are transferring over from Yacht Club. Will they move our bags over or should we walk them over that morning?

Thanks for any advice you can give!

 

[NancyIL]

I returned from 8 nights at the Swan yesterday, and it was great- as always. I am very happy to be a GOLD Starwood member, because my "gold amenity" was free internet - saving me the $17 + tax/day resort fee. I don't like to pay for parking, but there's rarely a need for me to have a car for my entire stay - since I almost always fly. When I do rent a car for transportation between the airport and hotel, I rent from Alamo or National, and drop-off and/or pick-up the car at the Dolphin.

I spend more time at Epcot than the other parks, and I often end my day there. (That's because off Kilter usually plays 5 days/week - and I hear them whenever they play. ) I love being able to walk (or boat) back to the Swan at the end of the day. The few times I stayed elsewhere onsite (AKL/WL in 2009 and ASM in 2012) - I dreaded having to take the bus to go back to my resort.

 

[cgattis]

Also, we are transferring over from Yacht Club. Will they move our bags over or should we walk them over that morning?

You'll have to walk them over.

 

[cgattis]

When I do rent a car for transportation between the airport and hotel, I rent from Alamo or National, and drop-off and/or pick-up the car at the Dolphin.
.

We've stayed there twice now, but I've never noticed a rental car desk/area...where exactly is it? What kind of rates do you typically get? ( I know that can vary wildly...)

 

[MOM POPPINS]

You'll have to walk them over.

They will move your bags to Swan/Dolphin for you!

 

[NancyIL]

We've stayed there twice now, but I've never noticed a rental car desk/area...where exactly is it? What kind of rates do you typically get? ( I know that can vary wildly...)

National/Alamo are at the Dolphin - just off the rotunda near the Dolphin fountain. I can usually get a compact car from the airport to the Dolphin for ~ $50 or less, but it depends on when you book and when you travel.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I returned from 8 nights at the Swan yesterday, and it was great- as always. I am very happy to be a GOLD Starwood member, because my "gold amenity" was free internet - saving me the $17 + tax/day resort fee.....

Welcome home, Nancy.

I forgot to mention the same. With a choice of several gold amenities, the waiving of the resort fee was by far the best for me, 6 nights at $17 plus tax was about $108 savings.

 

[NancyIL]

Welcome home, Nancy.

I forgot to mention the same. With a choice of several gold amenities, the waiving of the resort fee was by far the best for me, 6 nights at $17 plus tax was about $108 savings.

Thanks, Dan. That gold amenity sure is a great perk! I hope to qualify for "lifetime gold" at the end of this year. Then I won't have to worry about staying 25 nights (or 20, if you have the Starwood Amex) per year at Starwood properties to requalify for Gold.

 

[tjmw2727]

Just booked the Swan for the 3 nights at the end of a week long split stay. How much is the transportation option that you can book through the concierge at swan for transportation to the airport? Is it more than booking through Mears? When I went on the Mears website the only option was for a private car-$67 for 4 people.

Also, we are transferring over from Yacht Club. Will they move our bags over or should we walk them over that morning?

Thanks for any advice you can give!

Yacht Club will send your bags to the Swan for you - I have done this many times both ways from a WDW resort to Swan/Dolphin and visa versa !!Don't expect them until at least check in time though!

Mears also has a shared shuttle service but for 4 people a private car or towncar service would be about the same and you have personal service.
Check a few of the companies recommended on the transportation board for recommendations on reliability and price. It may be worth it to just do a round trip for around 110/120 to the YC and then back from the Swan. Most companies also offer a free 30 minute grocery stop. We grab water, soda, snacks and fruit as well as beer & wine

 

[Crazy Kanga]

Hi old friends! I've been away for a few years now but am excited to say that after many resort changes(I should be on the RC thread) we have settled on The Dolphin for our late May trip! Yay!!!!!!!

 

[SingingMom]

Hi old friends! I've been away for a few years now but am excited to say that after many resort changes(I should be on the RC thread) we have settled on The Dolphin for our late May trip! Yay!!!!!!!

Woohoo!!! How ARE you?!?! Hope you and yours are well!!
Renee

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards