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

[SRUAlmn]

I want a new refurbished room when we go this summer!
The Dolphin is fully booked - so what ever room we get it will be when we arrive on the last Saturday in June.
I hope it is a newly done room

We'll be leaving the day you arrive Enjoy your stay!

 

[MBELSANTI]

Hi guys,
I am down to 6 weeks before our magical trip to celebrate DS upcoming Eagle Scout Award. Thanks for answering all of my previous questions these last few months.

I have several more questions for all of you wonderful peeps.

* how are the food/snack offerings in the on site store Picabu? Since they will not allow Garden Grocer I checked out there personal pantry online and they pretty much only offered junk food. I was intersted in a package of bagels, some granola bars, bottle of milk, etc. I know that at a lot of the Disney resorts we've stayed at they have all of those options. Have any of you packed granola bars or bagels in carry on luggage and does the airlines allow this type of food? Would they allow peanut butter?

Are there any certain "views" to try to request for a standard room or is it a crap shoot for the "dumpster view"

Is it a far walk to get to the gas station/convenience store that is accross from Boardwalk Inn? I was trying to find this on google earth to get an idea.

thanks..I will probably have more but that is all I can think of for now.

 

[pooh2001]

I called the Dolphin - they said all the rooms were redone in 2011. the whole resort is completed.

I listened to the April 25th podcast - full show and could not find the S/D room descriptions. Did I listen to the correct podcast ?


As for views - Standard view can be anything. So I would request a nice standard view on your reservation. You may be pleasantly surprised

Lots of snacks in Picabu - milk, soda, chips, cookies, baked goods , almost anything you want to snack on. You can get a 20% off items in Picabu with an AAA card.
Also next door at the Marketplace in the BC - there are lots of 'grocery' items you can buy, including fruit.

I would send an item like peanut butter in a box to the Dolphin - or in you checked luggage - not a carry on item. On the box - addressed to the Dolphin - add on all sides of the box:
Hold for: NAME OF PERSON ON THE RESERVATION
Arrival date: MM-DD-YYYYY

 

[NancyIL]

I called the Dolphin - they said all the rooms were redone in 2011. the whole resort is completed.

I listened to the April 25th podcast - full show and could not find the S/D room descriptions. Did I listen to the correct podcast ?

I haven't seen a Dolphin room in awhile because I usually stay at the Swan. However, I returned from WDW 10 days ago, and my room at the Swan wasn't newly renovated.

 

[TaraPA]

I really think they are referring to the recent refurb that was done, not a new one. As of last year they were still in the process of that refurb (we had to change rooms mid-stay and the 1st room was and old one, the 2nd room was refurbed). I'm thinking maybe Pete had an older room last trip & wasn't aware that both hotels were in the middle of a huge reno.

 

[pgianna]

I stayed at the Swan last week and my room wasn't redone. What still confuses me a little is. If all the room have been redone in the Dolphin, why are all the pictures on their website of the old rooms. Why wouldn't they have pics of the new ones. Usually a hotel brags about a major renovation, there is no mention of it on their website. I wonder if they don't want all their guests wanting to stay at the dolphin and not the swan.

 

[pgianna]

I called the Dolphin - they said all the rooms were redone in 2011. the whole resort is completed.

I listened to the April 25th podcast - full show and could not find the S/D room descriptions. Did I listen to the correct podcast ?


As for views - Standard view can be anything. So I would request a nice standard view on your reservation. You may be pleasantly surprised

Lots of snacks in Picabu - milk, soda, chips, cookies, baked goods , almost anything you want to snack on. You can get a 20% off items in Picabu with an AAA card.
Also next door at the Marketplace in the BC - there are lots of 'grocery' items you can buy, including fruit.

I would send an item like peanut butter in a box to the Dolphin - or in you checked luggage - not a carry on item. On the box - addressed to the Dolphin - add on all sides of the box:
Hold for: NAME OF PERSON ON THE RESERVATION
Arrival date: MM-DD-YYYYY

yeah that is the correct show, its in the facebook to facebook segment about half way throught that segment.

 

[lizabu]

Hi guys,
I am down to 6 weeks before our magical trip to celebrate DS upcoming Eagle Scout Award. Thanks for answering all of my previous questions these last few months.

I have several more questions for all of you wonderful peeps.

* how are the food/snack offerings in the on site store Picabu? Since they will not allow Garden Grocer I checked out there personal pantry online and they pretty much only offered junk food. I was intersted in a package of bagels, some granola bars, bottle of milk, etc. I know that at a lot of the Disney resorts we've stayed at they have all of those options. Have any of you packed granola bars or bagels in carry on luggage and does the airlines allow this type of food? Would they allow peanut butter?

Are there any certain "views" to try to request for a standard room or is it a crap shoot for the "dumpster view"

Is it a far walk to get to the gas station/convenience store that is accross from Boardwalk Inn? I was trying to find this on google earth to get an idea.

thanks..I will probably have more but that is all I can think of for now.

Picabu has all of those types of things. They have individual serving sizes of peanut butter and nutella so you may not have to bring it from home.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We stayed at the Dolpin in Feb 2011 and the room was in excellent condition, everything looked and smelled new to me, super clean and in pristine shape

 

[SRUAlmn]

We stayed at the Dolpin in Feb 2011 and the room was in excellent condition, everything looked and smelled new to me, super clean and in pristine shape

Do you have any pictures of your room from that stay? Maybe that would help people determine whether it's new/new, or old/new

 

[2bliss]

Hi everyone, I apologize if this has been asked already. This August will be our first stay at the Dolphin, and I have read that some rooms are a far walk to the pool. Is there a certain room or section of the hotel that I can request to be closer. We now have a standard room booked. Should I request this at check in or prior to my stay. Thank you for your help!

 

[Dan Murphy]

The west end of the Dolphin is closer to the pool area.

 

[MBELSANTI]

Picabu has all of those types of things. They have individual serving sizes of peanut butter and nutella so you may not have to bring it from home.

Excellent, thank you! I was hoping this would be the case. I didn't want to worry about having to pack food since we will not be checking any luggage due to the fees


Also how do I add a request to the reservation. Should I email them or can I go into the reservation and add it under special requirements?
Thanks!

 

[peaches00]

Ok...I've decided. I think. We are going to dolphin at end of october and swtching portofino to may. We want to experience disney without the sweat factor. Just a couple questions. I read there is dj at pool. If I have a room close to the pool, will I hear the music? What time do boats start and stop? I read that crowd calender will be between 2 and 4...is that possible for 10/28-11/2? We have never gone when its below 7...does that still mean that rides like soarin will be short wait? Thanks for all the help. Very excited!

 

[TaraPA]

This is what I consider the renovated new decor:

Or is there an ever "newer" decor? I've had this decor in all but one of my rooms since 2008. Of course I don't have a pic of the old decor room, but it was more teal & peach with a beachy theme. I'll keep looking for one with that old decor. Or maybe here I've had an old room all these years, thinking it was a new one!

I found a pic (not digital) and the old decor bedspreads were bright teal & lime greem striped.

 

[lizabu]

Excellent, thank you! I was hoping this would be the case. I didn't want to worry about having to pack food since we will not be checking any luggage due to the fees


Also how do I add a request to the reservation. Should I email them or can I go into the reservation and add it under special requirements?
Thanks!

Either way will work

Ok...I've decided. I think. We are going to dolphin at end of october and swtching portofino to may. We want to experience disney without the sweat factor. Just a couple questions. I read there is dj at pool. If I have a room close to the pool, will I hear the music? What time do boats start and stop? I read that crowd calender will be between 2 and 4...is that possible for 10/28-11/2? We have never gone when its below 7...does that still mean that rides like soarin will be short wait? Thanks for all the help. Very excited!

The only time I saw a DJ was when there was some kind of special event going on. I'm assuming it was a dinner for one of the groups or conferences. They had tables and chairs set up and a buffet. I really don't think a DJ is an every day thing. I would think if you had your balcony door open you might hear music but if it was closed you probably won't hear much.

 

[NancyIL]

Ok...I've decided. I think. We are going to dolphin at end of october and swtching portofino to may. We want to experience disney without the sweat factor. Just a couple questions. I read there is dj at pool. If I have a room close to the pool, will I hear the music? What time do boats start and stop? I read that crowd calender will be between 2 and 4...is that possible for 10/28-11/2? We have never gone when its below 7...does that still mean that rides like soarin will be short wait? Thanks for all the help. Very excited!

October can still be quite a hot month, so be prepared for hot days and (hopefully) cooler nights.

 

[pgianna]

This is what I consider the renovated new decor:

Or is there an ever "newer" decor? I've had this decor in all but one of my rooms since 2008. Of course I don't have a pic of the old decor room, but it was more teal & peach with a beachy theme. I'll keep looking for one with that old decor. Or maybe here I've had an old room all these years, thinking it was a new one!

I found a pic (not digital) and the old decor bedspreads were bright teal & lime greem striped.

The furniture is definately not new, its looks the same as the old rooms, I would expect the furniture would all be new as well. I would be surprised if the rooms were redone but the old furniture was not replaced. That my opinion, maybe I am totally wrong.

 

[SRUAlmn]

TaraPA: When was that picture from?


I know someone has to have stayed recently! Where are you people, and where are your pictures??

 

[TaraPA]

TaraPA: When was that picture from?


I know someone has to have stayed recently! Where are you people, and where are your pictures??

That room pic I posted was from 5 weeks ago. Nancy was just there - did you have this same furniture & decor?

In the picture I posted that bedding, drapery, carpet, wall paint color & headboard art are definitely "updated" since the early 2000's when it was the old teal & peach beach theme, but maybe I've just been missing rooms with something even newer.