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

[pooh2001]

just saying thanks to S/D fans

 

[lovingthemouse]

OMG - I can finally see us at the Dolphin next week.....can not wait!!!

 

[robinbutterfly]

Thanks for this thread.

Just finished another wonderful 10 night stay at the Swan. This is now our favorite WDW property by far. Already booking our next trip back in October! Looking forward to trying the S&D food festival for the first time.

The new SPG Platinum breakfast amenity is a real money saver, especially for longer stays.

Cheers,

What is the plainum breakfast?

 

[Tess]

OMG - I can finally see us at the Dolphin next week.....can not wait!!!

We will be there as well! Looking forward to our trip with too!

 

[Flews]

What is the plainum breakfast?

SPG Platinum guests can take the breakfast amenity in lieu of the usual 500 points per stay.

The breakfast is daily, a continental (juice, coffee, fruit, breads/muffins/danish, etc...), for 2 people registered to your room, at either Fresh in the Dolphin, or the buffet in the Gardon Grove at the Swan. You can also 'buy-up' to the full buffet for just $4.

We tried both restaurants and both were fine. We have 4 year-old-twins, so we really go for their benefit (MM waffles!) more than ours.

Cheers,

 

[LexiC123]

So jealous of all of you who are heading down to the S/D in the next few days. Be sure to report back with lots of pictures when you return!

 

[RachelTori]

DD and I had a fabulous Mothers Day weekend stay at the Dolphin. As always, the CMs there were wonderful!

According to the CMs, there is on-going renovation (as needed), but they are not changing the decor.

We were on the 8th floor (8184 West) with a view of the Causeway, Swan, and Boardwalk Villas. Our room was in great shape; the hallways on floor 8 in great shape too. The common areas, as always, very clean and inviting.

 

[LexiC123]

Great pics, RachelTori! Thanks for the update.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Very nice, Laura. Thanks.

And for all those leaving soon, have great trips.

 

[tinker625]

We just came back from WDW and stayed at BCV. Yes the pool is great, but since we've stayed at the Dolphin many times my kids missed it.
They love walking into the lobby. They have told me its so big and the smell they like.(?) We are going back this fall and staying here.
I was wondering though. They have added a surcharge to the food at PICABU last year. Is it still there or did they do away with it. It added alot of money to my breakfast.
Example: Total bill $ 49.41 , but a surcharge of $6.66(this is not a tip)
I did complain last year and they gave me a refillable cup.
PICABU is a cafetria . You get your food your self except for person beyond counter (sandwich, etc)
Even if you buy a cup of coffee a surcharge amount is added.

 

[Grumpy Grandma]

Laura great pictures. Glad you had such a wonderful Mothers Day weekend.

 

[RachelTori]

Great pics, RachelTori! Thanks for the update.

Very nice, Laura. Thanks.

And for all those leaving soon, have great trips.

Laura great pictures. Glad you had such a wonderful Mothers Day weekend.

My pleasure!

We just came back from WDW and stayed at BCV. Yes the pool is great, but since we've stayed at the Dolphin many times my kids missed it.
They love walking into the lobby. They have told me its so big and the smell they like.(?) We are going back this fall and staying here.
I was wondering though. They have added a surcharge to the food at PICABU last year. Is it still there or did they do away with it. It added alot of money to my breakfast.
Example: Total bill $ 49.41 , but a surcharge of $6.66(this is not a tip)
I did complain last year and they gave me a refillable cup.
PICABU is a cafetria . You get your food your self except for person beyond counter (sandwich, etc)
Even if you buy a cup of coffee a surcharge amount is added.

Picabu still charges a "Service Charge": 13%.

 

[melliej]

I posted this question a week or two ago, but think it got buried in the thread. Can anyone comment on the storage in the Swan vs Dolphin rooms?
It seems like there is more closet & drawer space in the Dolphin rooms from the pictures and floorplan that I have seen. We felt pretty limited in terms of storage during our last trip to the Swan. We loved the quietness and smaller size of the Swan, but I didn't like that we did not have enough space to unpack. Are the double beds that different from a queen (we sleep on a queen at home). Thoughts?

 

[LoriJune]

I posted this question a week or two ago, but think it got buried in the thread. Can anyone comment on the storage in the Swan vs Dolphin rooms?
It seems like there is more closet & drawer space in the Dolphin rooms from the pictures and floorplan that I have seen. We felt pretty limited in terms of storage during our last trip to the Swan. We loved the quietness and smaller size of the Swan, but I didn't like that we did not have enough space to unpack. Are the double beds that different from a queen (we sleep on a queen at home). Thoughts?

I would also like to know about the size of the Dolphin beds. Really hoping they are close to a queen, otherwise it's a dealbreaker...

 

[SingingMom]

I would also like to know about the size of the Dolphin beds. Really hoping they are close to a queen, otherwise it's a dealbreaker...

We have a queen at home and I truly don't notice THAT much of a difference in the Dolphin beds. They are bigger than a standard double, but not quite a queen. But they are VERY comfy!

 

[bas71873]

My pleasure!




Picabu still charges a "Service Charge": 13%.

Really??? That's insane! I'm putting Picabu on my list of places to avoid. Thx for the info.

 

[pooh2001]

Loved the pictures of the resort view room.
That is the level of room we have reserved.

In the past we either at a view of EPCOT or the Pool and AK in the distance.
But when I called the Dolphin about what our view could be, they said the water way most likely and the inner wings of the resort.
We have always been on the outer wings.
Maybe we will be closer to the elevator with our resort view.

 

[LexiC123]

I posted this question a week or two ago, but think it got buried in the thread. Can anyone comment on the storage in the Swan vs Dolphin rooms?
It seems like there is more closet & drawer space in the Dolphin rooms from the pictures and floorplan that I have seen. We felt pretty limited in terms of storage during our last trip to the Swan. We loved the quietness and smaller size of the Swan, but I didn't like that we did not have enough space to unpack. Are the double beds that different from a queen (we sleep on a queen at home). Thoughts?

We did an Swan/Dolphin split stay last fall and I had a chance to compare the rooms within a day of each other.

The drawer space in both resorts was identical: six large, deep drawers and a narrower, two-shelf cubby. If you have the two double beds, there is also the center nightstand, with a smaller (but fairly deep) drawer and lower shelf.

The Dolphin closets were much larger than the Swan's, probably twice the size. Housekeeping will provide you with as many extra hangers as you need...I think I asked for 20 or so extra, LOL.

The Dolphin also has a dedicated bar area - with the coffee and ice bucket on top, and the refrigerator below - whereas the Swan's coffee prep area is part of the outer sink vanity.

There was also a fairly large open space in between the closet wall and the dresser (in front of the door connecting to the adjoining room), where you can keep your luggage out on the luggage rack, to provide more storage space, if needed.

And to echo what Singing Mom said, we also didn't find much difference, size-wise, between the Dolphin's double bed and our queen bed at home.

I would love to post pics, but Photobucket is not cooperating with me this morning.

 

[tuckerkeys]

Last year, at my last stay at the dolphin, they were remodeling i think the 7th floor - it was totally empty. My husband and I were snooping around and the whole decor was completely different from the teal-blond wood-orange it is now....It was light cream and black with very light wood furniture, very ikea looking....Even the hallways were redone in this color scheme....i have yet to see ANY pictures of this new remodel, has anyone else seen it besides us or were we in the twilight zone????

 

[LexiC123]

Last year, at my last stay at the dolphin, they were remodeling i think the 7th floor - it was totally empty. My husband and I were snooping around and the whole decor was completely different from the teal-blond wood-orange it is now....It was light cream and black with very light wood furniture, very ikea looking....Even the hallways were redone in this color scheme....i have yet to see ANY pictures of this new remodel, has anyone else seen it besides us or were we in the twilight zone????

Ooooh...intriguing! Maybe you stumbled upon an alternate Dolphin universe!

It is strange that the remodel has been mentioned several times, but no one has actually stayed in such a room. I think we need to send a DISpy on a top secret mission to infiltrate the 7th floor and bring back photographic evidence!