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

[Robbi]

We've never had a problem unloading our car at the front entrance of either hotel. Sometimes we used the valet service and sometimes we self parked. If they're busy, pull up a little, take out the luggage and have someone stay with it, self park, and then check in. I've had to do that at other resorts.

 

[disneygrandma]

Thanks for the replies. So I guess the unloading part could depend on how busy they are at that moment. Although, I would think that Bell Services would want to get in on unloading the cars that would be going to Self Park.

As for the reviews on TripAdvisor, I don't pay any attention to the people posting for the first time. Instead, I look for the reviews from those who do a lot of traveling & have given a lot of reviews. I will also ignore those that have had a bad experience due to circumstances beyond the hotel's control. With all that being said, the Swan/Dolphin have had some pretty bad reviews. Unfortunately, many people don't distinguish which of the 2 hotels they've stayed in. So I'm still undecided.

One factor I'm now thinking about is the Magic Bands. It's uncertain what the situation will be when we get there the end of May. We will only be going to Epcot and the Studios those few days. I would hate having to miss out on some of the big rides because we didn't have the Magic Bands.

 

[SingingMom]

TripAdvisor is an odd animal IMHO. Lol Some people seem to LOVE a forum to complain! For every poor experience written about, there are so many happy clients that don't takes the time to write. (I am guilty of this myself) We have had six great stays at the Dolphin and are heading back next week. When we return, I will definitely post a GREAT review about our beloved Dolphin!!

 

[NancyIL]

I just looked at the Trip Advisor reviews, and the Swan and Dolphin are ranked approximately in the top 1/3 of hotels in Orlando. The Contemporary, Coronado Springs, Caribbean Beach, and All Stars are all ranked below it, and a number of Fairfield Inns and Hampton Inns are ranked ahead of it...so go figure! Many of the complaints are about the parking and resort fees. However, even with those charges, the Swan and Dolphin often cost considerably less than their Epcot resort neighbors.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

We're looking at going to Disney in June and it is showing "Sold Out." We're going for 8 days and are thinking of doing a split stay with Dolphin but when i enter shorter stays - still shows sold out. Maybe a conference booked???

Anyone have any suggestions? Maybe just keep trying....

Thank you
Joanne

 

[Robbi]

We're looking at going to Disney in June and it is showing "Sold Out." We're going for 8 days and are thinking of doing a split stay with Dolphin but when i enter shorter stays - still shows sold out. Maybe a conference booked???

Anyone have any suggestions? Maybe just keep trying....

Thank you
Joanne

Call them. Often there is availability- at least that's been what has happened for us. It's also easier to call if you have a discount because someimes the website won't take it but the hotel reservation's agents will.

 

[RachelTori]

We're looking at going to Disney in June and it is showing "Sold Out." We're going for 8 days and are thinking of doing a split stay with Dolphin but when i enter shorter stays - still shows sold out. Maybe a conference booked???

Anyone have any suggestions? Maybe just keep trying....

Thank you
Joanne

Yes, keep trying. Often times when a convention is scheduled, Swan & Dolphin will block out large numbers of rooms; then as the date draws near, they release rooms not booked by the conventioneers.

There are occasions when you won't get in no matter how often you check online or call, but more often than not availability will eventually show up!

 

[teacher31]

We're looking at going to Disney in June and it is showing "Sold Out." We're going for 8 days and are thinking of doing a split stay with Dolphin but when i enter shorter stays - still shows sold out. Maybe a conference booked??? Anyone have any suggestions? Maybe just keep trying.... Thank you Joanne

When in June are you going? Last year I tried for 11 months, yes ELEVEN, trying to snag the last two nights for our trip. It never happened. Turns out there was a Met Life convention and there was no way that was happening. Well, I booked 12 months out for this year, kept checking, and then I see two days the third week in June are sold out. Bet Met Life moved their convention.

While people are right to suggest you calling, after my experience I wouldn't hold your breath. We did a split stay and it was fine.

 

[ckelly14]

I usually go the first week in June and the Swan is always completely booked that week, even when I called 11 months out last July. However, I just looked now and the Swan has availability that week, but the Dolphin does not. keep trying.

You may consider a split stay to secure a magic band and pre-booking of FP+. Just a thought....

 

[Poppins2010]

Sorry if this has already be addressed (I haven't gotten through this whole thread yet... whew!)
Can I use Disney gift cards to pay for my stay at the Swan/Dolphin?

 

[RachelTori]

Sorry if this has already be addressed (I haven't gotten through this whole thread yet... whew!)
Can I use Disney gift cards to pay for my stay at the Swan/Dolphin?

Sorry, no. Swan and Dolphin are Starwood properties, not Disney-owned.

 

[nighttowll]

Thanks for the replies. So I guess the unloading part could depend on how busy they are at that moment.

This may be it. It was very busy when we checked in. I'm about 99% convinced that we only got our free upgrade because we checked in so late, and they had given all the rooms in our category away already. It definitely wasn't empty enough to upgrade us just because.

I've never stayed here before, so when they told us we had to move and couldn't checkin first, I didn't know to question them. We were in a hurry, only staying a few days, and didn't have a lot for just two people, so we just moved the car as requested to a parking spot. I would probably have stood my ground more if it had been the whole family for a longer stay. Nice to hear they don't do this always. It was inconvenient.

However overall, we were happy with our stay and would love to go back. Our room and bathroom were clean and nice, and I didn't have any major problems or issues with anything. I thought it was comparable to the AKL we stayed at in Sept. and loved that it cost less than a Disney value room.

FP+ testing worked well. The dolphin / swan had a separate pool, so no issues pulling last minute or making changes, and we didn't need to walk all the way back to the swan/ dolphin kiosk to make the changes, we could do it at any of the kiosks in the park. Overall, I'm still anti FP+, but the technical side of testing went fine. It will be interesting to see what they do in the future with this.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

When in June are you going? Last year I tried for 11 months, yes ELEVEN, trying to snag the last two nights for our trip. It never happened. Turns out there was a Met Life convention and there was no way that was happening. Well, I booked 12 months out for this year, kept checking, and then I see two days the third week in June are sold out. Bet Met Life moved their convention.

While people are right to suggest you calling, after my experience I wouldn't hold your breath. We did a split stay and it was fine.

Yep....the third week....2-3 days I think are sold out. I tried to work around it but its a Friday, Saturday & Sunday.

 

[lizabu]

Yep....the third week....2-3 days I think are sold out. I tried to work around it but its a Friday, Saturday & Sunday.

Maybe a split stay will work. Stay at the swan for part and dolphin for part. I just checked and the only dates sold out both places is June 22,23 and 24. If you need the third week in June the swan looks like they have availability up to Sat and then the dolphin has sat 21 available. What I would do is hold the dates you can at a cancellable rate and stalk the one night your missing from here to then. Worst case scenario you may have to find somewhere else for the Sunday night.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

Maybe a split stay will work. Stay at the swan for part and dolphin for part. I just checked and the only dates sold out both places is June 22,23 and 24. If you need the third week in June the swan looks like they have availability up to Sat and then the dolphin has sat 21 available. What I would do is hold the dates you can at a cancellable rate and stalk the one night your missing from here to then. Worst case scenario you may have to find somewhere else for the Sunday night.

Thank you...we are a family of 5 and I don't think the Swan can accomodate us. But I will keep that in mind...I'll keep trying. Right now I'm not sure we're going so I figured once I know for sure I'll check again. I don't want to hold up dates when we don't know what we're doing.

Thank you for your help.
Joanne

 

[SA mom]

Thank you...we are a family of 5 and I don't think the Swan can accomodate us. But I will keep that in mind...I'll keep trying. Right now I'm not sure we're going so I figured once I know for sure I'll check again. I don't want to hold up dates when we don't know what we're doing.

Thank you for your help.
Joanne

Swan and Dolphin have family rooms (used to be called Deluxe Alcove Rooms) that are really spacious and you can fit a roll away bed in there. We easily fit 3 adults and 2 kids at the Swan last time. We were very comfortable. And the roll away bed is a Heavenly Bed.

 

[SA mom]

Has anyone been able to book Be Our Guest lunch fastpasses at the kiosks?

 

[Dan Murphy]

See if this works for you.

https://beourguestlunch.disney.go.com

 

[SA mom]

See if this works for you.

https://beourguestlunch.disney.go.com

We are too far out to book. Does it work with SPG confirmation numbers, too?

 

[ckelly14]

We are too far out to book. Does it work with SPG confirmation numbers, too?

Don't think so...