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

[ckelly14]

The Dolphin Studio and Alcove rooms have an extended area with a double pull out sofa, so you would still have a bedding problem (all doubles) although there is significantly more room. The swan alcove room may work for you as there is more room as well as 2 Queens. Book early!

Perhaps this is more than you want to spend, but for the last 8 years we have been staying at an Executive suite at the Dolphin. It has a King sized bed in the Parlor area and a 2 full sized beds in a separate room, and 2 full baths. We use Starwood points to pay for the standard room and they charge $200/night for the parlor portion. When I priced paying for the room with cash, the non-discounted price was about $475, but I have seen them under $400. Expensive, but comparable in price to a basic garden room at the BC.

Good luck. I always stay at the Swan or Dolphin, and I love it, but prices have been rising steadily over the last 8 years, especially when you consider the ridiculous resort fees. Not the bargain it used to be, unless you have a teacher or other discount.

 

[OKW Lover]

Does the Swan still have the white tea and aloe scent in the lobby? It is one of my favorite things and if it's not there anymore, I have to prepare myself mentally for our next trip.

Yes it does.

 

[Meghatron]

The Dolphin Studio and Alcove rooms have an extended area with a double pull out sofa, so you would still have a bedding problem (all doubles) although there is significantly more room. The swan alcove room may work for you as there is more room as well as 2 Queens. Book early!

Perhaps this is more than you want to spend, but for the last 8 years we have been staying at an Executive suite at the Dolphin. It has a King sized bed in the Parlor area and a 2 full sized beds in a separate room, and 2 full baths. We use Starwood points to pay for the standard room and they charge $200/night for the parlor portion. When I priced paying for the room with cash, the non-discounted price was about $475, but I have seen them under $400. Expensive, but comparable in price to a basic garden room at the BC.

Good luck. I always stay at the Swan or Dolphin, and I love it, but prices have been rising steadily over the last 8 years, especially when you consider the ridiculous resort fees. Not the bargain it used to be, unless you have a teacher or other discount.

So there are no Alcove rooms, at either the Swan or Dolphin, with a king and a pullout? This is why I don't trust the SPG booking site, it says that's an option but only by request, not confirmed. If it's not an option at all I'll have to figure something else out.

The executive suite sounds nice, and would be cheaper than a cash 1BD villa. I would be eligible for the teacher discount, assuming my employment status doesn't change between now and then. I assume I would have to call to price the suite? When are teacher discounts released? Are they year-round? I tried to book for next May and they want over $400/night for a standard room; I'm assuming that's just because 2015 hasn't really been released yet.

 

[klepton]

Is there any way to know what conventions are going on at the Swan/Dolphin and when? A month or so ago I tried to book Swan for June 6th-11th, but there was zero availability the night of June 10th. I just backed everything up one day. I was just curious as to what was going on that caused it to be sold out so far in advance?

 

[ckelly14]

So there are no Alcove rooms, at either the Swan or Dolphin, with a king and a pullout? This is why I don't trust the SPG booking site, it says that's an option but only by request, not confirmed. If it's not an option at all I'll have to figure something else out. The executive suite sounds nice, and would be cheaper than a cash 1BD villa. I would be eligible for the teacher discount, assuming my employment status doesn't change between now and then. I assume I would have to call to price the suite? When are teacher discounts released? Are they year-round? I tried to book for next May and they want over $400/night for a standard room; I'm assuming that's just because 2015 hasn't really been released yet.

Yes, there are alcove rooms with a king and a double. Kept thinking you needed two queens, sorry. My kids could never sleep together, they would kill each other! Cannot answer the other questions. Best just to call and ask. Rooms are usually released 12 months in advance.

Is there any way to know what conventions are going on at the Swan/Dolphin and when? A month or so ago I tried to book Swan for June 6th-11th, but there was zero availability the night of June 10th. I just backed everything up one day. I was just curious as to what was going on that caused it to be sold out so far in advance?

I go every year in the beginning of June and the Swan is always booked solid. Never found out why, but the Swan is a much smaller property then the Dolphin.

 

[SA mom]

So there are no Alcove rooms, at either the Swan or Dolphin, with a king and a pullout? This is why I don't trust the SPG booking site, it says that's an option but only by request, not confirmed. If it's not an option at all I'll have to figure something else out.

Yes, there are at the Swan. We stayed in one on our last trip and have another booked for the our trip in July. You have to call them.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Maybe someone can comment on this or if you have experienced this.

I am thinking of booking a room at the swan with dh ff miles.

Right now it says double run of the house room available.

If anyone has booked this what type of room did you get at check in.

We are thinking of March 18-23 so far.

 

[ckelly14]

Maybe someone can comment on this or if you have experienced this. I am thinking of booking a room at the swan with dh ff miles. Right now it says double run of the house room available. If anyone has booked this what type of room did you get at check in. We are thinking of March 18-23 so far.

I assume you will get whatever room is available with 2 double beds.

 

[Meghatron]

I assume you will get whatever room is available with 2 double beds.

But it's a room at the Swan, which has queen beds.

Sent from my Tricorder using DISBoards

 

[ckelly14]

But it's a room at the Swan, which has queen beds. Sent from my Tricorder using DISBoards

Maybe they mean 2 beds.

 

[lymah]

I recognized a small rate drop for my March stay at the Swan for my AAA discount today. I called and they changed it
Now if I could get excited about the theme park visits (in lieu of this FP+ change). It would be great if Disney wouldn't treat the Swan & Dolphin guests like 'red-headed step-children' and allow us to at least schedule fast passes before entering the park the day off. (even if it is allowing us to use the kiosks while waiting for rope drop)

 

[Tuffcookie]

I recognized a small rate drop for my March stay at the Swan for my AAA discount today. I called and they changed it
Now if I could get excited about the theme park visits (in lieu of this FP+ change). It would be great if Disney wouldn't treat the Swan & Dolphin guests like 'red-headed step-children' and allow us to at least schedule fast passes before entering the park the day off. (even if it is allowing us to use the kiosks while waiting for rope drop)

ITA!

 

[patty57]

People both here and easyWDW reporting that they have new FP+ icons and info in the MDE accounts that seem to be attached to ADRs. Seems as though they might be able to book FP+ ahead of time for offsite stays for vacations beginning in April. Great news for S/D fans who want the ability to prebook FP+ (like me), and be able to stay at the S/D.
Guess we'll see how this goes....

 

[disneybilly24]

Is there any way to know what conventions are going on at the Swan/Dolphin and when? A month or so ago I tried to book Swan for June 6th-11th, but there was zero availability the night of June 10th. I just backed everything up one day. I was just curious as to what was going on that caused it to be sold out so far in advance?

My company (Ernst & Young) actually just let us know that an annual internal convention is being held June 8-11 at the Swan. Maybe we caused the issue...

 

[klepton]

My company (Ernst & Young) actually just let us know that an annual internal convention is being held June 8-11 at the Swan. Maybe we caused the issue...

Possibly, but the issue was only on the 10th (possibly after the 10th too, I didn't check).

I guess I'm glad I made the reservation when I did.

 

[vicb]

People both here and easyWDW reporting that they have new FP+ icons and info in the MDE accounts that seem to be attached to ADRs. Seems as though they might be able to book FP+ ahead of time for offsite stays for vacations beginning in April. Great news for S/D fans who want the ability to prebook FP+ (like me), and be able to stay at the S/D.
Guess we'll see how this goes....

Not sure what this means? I looked at MDE and see the icon but don't see what that does since it asks if you have a Disney resort reservation which the S/D is not considered to be one, right?

But here's to hoping for something, I go May 5th.

 

[lizabu]

Not sure what this means? I looked at MDE and see the icon but don't see what that does since it asks if you have a Disney resort reservation which the S/D is not considered to be one, right? But here's to hoping for something, I go May 5th.

Maybe you have to have your tickets linked. Are your tickets linked? Have any ADRs?

 

[Meghatron]

Yes, tickets need to be linked, and for many people an ADR within the time frame of their planned offsite trip is triggering the notice of when they will be able to pre-book FP+. Booking starts this week for visits beginning in April.

Sent from my Tricorder using DISBoards

 

[vicb]

Maybe you have to have your tickets linked. Are your tickets linked? Have any ADRs?

I have ADR's every day of our visit, but I haven't bought my tickets yet. I usually buy from UT and was waiting until some of the kinks were worked out in terms of linking (which I have read are all fine). Now I'm debating if I want to add a water park feature or not to my park hoppers. My kids think they want to go to TL for half a day and it is cheaper if I add it to the ticket as opposed to buying a separate ticket at the park.

It is still less $ for us to stay at S/D than BC or BWI and we really want to be in the Epcot area for this trip so that is why we are risking not having advance FP+booking.

 

[ckelly14]

I have a split stay planned (BC day 1, 5 days Dolphin). Linking tickets is easy and you can always add water parks and more when you get there. Not sure when you are going, but increased pre-booking off-site availability will equal less same day FP choice. I would buy the tickets and link if I was you.