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

[madelyn]

A little off topic here but we just did our first Disney cruise last month and it was beyond great!!!! Your son will love it I am sure-the teens have tons of stuff to do and pretty much roam the ship together. It was way different from parks but incredible experience in its own way. Being disconnected from the real world was wonderful.

Thank you! Looking forward to the cruise! The only bad thing about it is that it's making it hard to be able to afford a Disney trip this summer. But I guess there is always next year! I told the son that wants to go back to see the new Fantasyland is that there will be more and more changes so we can wait and hopefully ride the Dwarf coaster!

 

[Crazy Kanga]

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

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

Hi Renee! Today is Luke's 17th birthday. Remember when he was 12 and had a cruch on Dana LOL!

 

[RachelTori]

I am heading down to WDW tomorrow. Staying at OKW; checking in to Dolphin on May 1st! Can't wait to be back!!

Cabana Bar & Grill here we come!!

 

[Flews]

Thank you! Looking forward to the cruise! The only bad thing about it is that it's making it hard to be able to afford a Disney trip this summer. But I guess there is always next year! I told the son that wants to go back to see the new Fantasyland is that there will be more and more changes so we can wait and hopefully ride the Dwarf coaster!

We just did our first Disney cruise (out of Miami) a couple weeks ago and it was absolutely fantastic. We can't wait to do another. We followed the cruise with a week at WDW, and I have to say we weren't all that impressed with the new Fantastyland. There's still a lot of construction left though, including the roller coaster, so you certainly have more to look forward to down the road a bit.

Cheers,

 

[Dan Murphy]

I am heading down to WDW tomorrow. Staying at OKW; checking in to Dolphin on May 1st! Can't wait to be back!!

Cabana Bar & Grill here we come!!

Super!! Enjoy the trip, Laura.

 

[SingingMom]

Hi Renee! Today is Luke's 17th birthday. Remember when he was 12 and had a cruch on Dana LOL!

Happy Birthday Luke! Yes, I remember that! He was so cute! Dana is finishing up her sophomore year of college and getting ready to study in London for the fall semester. She is majoring in Theatre, minoring in European Studies, and hopes to work for Disney in casting, character entertainment, show production!

We were at the Dolphin in January and had a wonderful time with 80 degrees! Took an Adventures by Disney trip to London & Paris last May and going again with them to Germany in July.

Would love to meet up at the Swan/Dolphin again someday!

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

 

[patty57]

I am heading down to WDW tomorrow. Staying at OKW; checking in to Dolphin on May 1st! Can't wait to be back!!

Cabana Bar & Grill here we come!!

Also checking in to the Dolphin on May 1st, although late at night. Might just bump into you at the Cabana Bar on May 2nd though. Have a great trip.

 

[RachelTori]

Super!! Enjoy the trip, Laura.

Thanks, Dan!

Also checking in to the Dolphin on May 1st, although late at night. Might just bump into you at the Cabana Bar on May 2nd though. Have a great trip.

Sounds good! Safe travels and have a magical trip!

I'm heading to the ATL Airport Sheraton this evening. Catching the first flight to MCO tomorrow morning!

Thank you, members of the House and Senate, for wanting to get home this weekend without flight delays and coming up with a fix for the furloughs! I had faith that as soon as it started affecting YOU, you would find a quick solution!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Also checking in to the Dolphin on May 1st, although late at night. Might just bump into you at the Cabana Bar on May 2nd though. Have a great trip.

Wow, everyone is leaving!! That's great. Have a good trip, Patty.

 

[patty57]

Wow, everyone is leaving!! That's great. Have a good trip, Patty.

Dan, thanks much for the well wishes. I'm so happy and excited to be going to F&G with my best/oldest friend. It's going to be so much fun for a couple of old (and I mean old) buddies.
Laura, I didn't hear about the furlough fix. I'll have to check that out. I'm relieved too.

 

[RachelTori]

Dan, thanks much for the well wishes. I'm so happy and excited to be going to F&G with my best/oldest friend. It's going to be so much fun for a couple of old (and I mean old) buddies.
Laura, I didn't hear about the furlough fix. I'll have to check that out. I'm relieved too.

Nothing better than best friend time in WDW!!


Ironically, ATL airport - which had predicted unprecedented delays - wasn't too badly affected. From what I've heard, the NYC airports and LAX bore the brunt. Just glad it's fixed.....

.......and also happy that the TSA is still not allowing small knives on planes (that was to have gone into affect on Thursday). I don't know about anyone else, but I do NOT want to be traveling with people carrying knives!

 

[LBYC-19]

We

 

[LaurenT]

Also checking in to the Dolphin on May 1st, although late at night. Might just bump into you at the Cabana Bar on May 2nd though. Have a great trip.

We're checking in to the Swan May 1st! Just threw some clothes in the suitcase!
And I'm really looking forward to the Illuminations cruise .... Only bad thing about it is that it will be the end of our little getaway, we go home early Sunday morning. Oh well, it'll tide me over until I take DD10 in July!

 

[Fairy Floss]

We just returned from the Magic cruise and three days at the Dolphin. As always, everything was perfect. We stayed in our favorite area, poolside (west wing). We arrived early, left our luggage, went to the Studios and received a call at 1 pm that our room was ready.

FOOD: After coming from the cruise, we ate casual. Lunch, apps and dinner pool menu items are delicious (and reasonably priced); the hostess at one of the restaurants recommended it. The menu can change at 5 (one night was barbeque themed). There is a white sandwich board outside the gym indicating exactly when the pool area is closed (including basketball courts) due to conference events; this was very helpful. One night we ordered nachos and pizza from Picabu to eat on our balcony. There is music playing outside afternoon/early evening, it really quieted down at night. The room seemed soundproof it was so quiet. Bring your AAA card - there is a 20% discount for food and grocery items from Picabu and most restaurants (except signature ones). The leftover boxes won't fit in the fridge, zip loc bags helped. Fountain's ice cream was great.

After 20 years we learned something new. Even with late checkout on our final day, we had to leave our bags in bell services and went to the pool. This was the first time we used the gym facilities to shower. They had every toiletry imaginable along with fresh towels and disposable flip flops. We opted out of housekeeping for the SPG points and called for coffee and water which was promptly delivered. Wifi worked perfectly; there are plenty of outlets for charging.

TRANSPORTATION: We took the DCL bus to the Dolphin, and Tiffany towncar to MCO- highly recommend. It was the same price as Mears taxi a year ago ($65 before tip).Transportation to and from the parks was a breeze. Extra magic hours at the MK is always crowded, so toward the end of the fireworks, we started walking to the front of the park and got right on the first bus back to the Swan/Dolphin saving a lot of time. This MK bus stops at Boardwalk, Swan, then Dolphin. The flower and garden festival at Epcot was gorgeous. Hope this helps, especially with first timers to the Swan/Dolphin.
Joanne

Thanks for this
We will be there in 3 weeks and it will be our 1st time (to WDW and Dolphin) so information like this is very helpful

 

[SingingMom]

We're checking in to the Swan May 1st! Just threw some clothes in the suitcase!
And I'm really looking forward to the Illuminations cruise .... Only bad thing about it is that it will be the end of our little getaway, we go home early Sunday morning. Oh well, it'll tide me over until I take DD10 in July!

How do you arrange for the Illuminations Cruise? Thanks!

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

 

[vicki_c]

How do you arrange for the Illuminations Cruise? Thanks!

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

Call 407-WDW-PLAY.

 

[SingingMom]

Call 407-WDW-PLAY.

Thanks! Putting it on the "to do" list for our next visit!!

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

 

[patty57]

Thanks! Putting it on the "to do" list for our next visit!!

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

I booked it only a couple of months ago for May 4th. Don't necessarily listen to advice that you have to book 180 days out or you won't get one. Maybe I got lucky, or maybe they are more available than we all thought? In any case, I'm very much looking forward to sharing it with a boat full of people from the Dis.

 

[Epcotgal]

Is the walkway between the Swan and Dolphin covered at all? We're staying in the summer which means rain. If we are staying at the Swan and want to go to dinner at the Dolphin will we get soaked? Silly question I know but it's a gal thing

 

[dansdad]

Is the walkway between the Swan and Dolphin covered at all?

Nope.

If we are staying at the Swan and want to go to dinner at the Dolphin will we get soaked?

Not if you have an umbrella.