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

[Lzylitnin]

I just received confirmation from Mr. Scott that this is being refunded. Thanks for the advice. I really do love the Swan and Dolphin, and am pleased that I received a response. I'm happy that I will be able to do business with them in the future. They are refunding my money.

 

[elainyaeq]

A great question that I wish I would've asked before we went! I (stupidly) filled up the water reservoir as much as I could (since I'm used to using a Keurig that just feeds water from the tank as you make coffee.) I put the cup under and began to brew and it just kept going and going and it overflowed the cup and kept going. Luckily I was standing right there! There's no way to turn it off, so I had to just unplug it and clean up the mess. So embarrassing!

Use the provided cup and only fill it with as much water as you want it to brew (if you want to put cream or sugar in, don't fill it all the way to the top with water.) It's going to brew exactly what you put in each time.

Thank you for the Tip!!

 

[kaceyisme]

Just an FYI, we had booked a standard room at the Swan for 8/17-8/25 using a AAA Discount for $161/night. We then learned that, since we booked, AAA added a bigger discount for stays of over 5 nights. I called the Swan and was able to change the reservation. Now we are paying about $143/night and getting a $50 resort credit:

http://deals.westin.com/Walt-Disney...8/so.htm?IM=PP_LHN_SOP_US_WI_1018&iATANumber=

I believe the offer is available for the Dolphin as well.

We are staying at the Dolphin 8/15 - 8/20 at an AAA discount with the $50 resort credit for $114.00 a night (standard room - not including taxes and resort fee).

 

[MOM POPPINS]

I have added information about the Dining Passport to the first post on this thread! Thanks Dan!

 

[olive]

We are staying at the Dolphin 8/15 - 8/20 at an AAA discount with the $50 resort credit for $114.00 a night (standard room - not including taxes and resort fee).

These are wonderful rates! Can't wait until they extend to 2013. When I checked for January, it's still over $200/night plus taxes and fees.

 

[olive]

Has anyone had any luck booking a Swan or Dolphin deluxe alcove or suite with SPG points? When I called SPG, they only offered a standard room (10,000/night) or a resort view room with balcony (11,000). We were thinking of getting the deluxe alcove for a little more space, but not if I can't use points.
Thanks!

The only other points rate that I know of is 20,000 pts/night for a suite. I don't know which kind of suite that is for, though. Perhaps someone else has better information? If it is for an alcove room, I don't think it makes sense in terms of points value, since I don't think those rooms are twice the size of a standard. We are currently booked in the resort view with points, but I would love to upgrade to a fireworks view, even if it means paying some amount per night in cash. By the way, keep in mind that if you pay for 4 nights with points, the 5th should be free (so 40,000 points for 5 nights in a standard room).

 

[kandb]

Wow, $114/night AAA with the $50 credit is a fantastic rate. We got a AAA rate of $127/night with the $50 credit for mid-Sept. If you don't mind me asking, when did you book the $114 rate? I have checked a few times to see if our rate went down but it's still $127/night. Have fun.

 

[hsmamato2]

question- are the resort credits worth much? pp is calculating his rate based on the credit, but I can't bring myself to do that when figuring rates...what can it be used for? is it literally like money to use at the restaurants? tell me more.....

 

[hsmamato2]

Wow, $114/night AAA with the $50 credit is a fantastic rate. We got a AAA rate of $127/night with the $50 credit for mid-Sept. If you don't mind me asking, when did you book the $114 rate? I have checked a few times to see if our rate went down but it's still $127/night. Have fun.

is that 50 credit per night,or per stay?

 

[RachelTori]

is that 50 credit per night,or per stay?

Per stay.

 

[RachelTori]

The resort credit can be used at the restaurants, lounges, spa -- maybe even the gift shops (but I'm not sure about that).

It's not very difficult to spend a $50 credit!

 

[kaceyisme]

Wow, $114/night AAA with the $50 credit is a fantastic rate. We got a AAA rate of $127/night with the $50 credit for mid-Sept. If you don't mind me asking, when did you book the $114 rate? I have checked a few times to see if our rate went down but it's still $127/night. Have fun.

I booked it in June. I linked my AAA account with Starwood (following the stellar advice from this thread) so maybe it is due to that? I don't know why I was able to secure such a great rate. I think for the Swan it was $128 a night for the same time period. By the way - I booked it online on the SPG website.

 

[diskids2]

To share rate info.....I am getting a rate of $224 with out fees with Starwoods Preferred. The gov't rate quote was 229...These are for standard view at the Swan. Dates March 21 - March 29...Spring break...Week Before Easter, etc.

I didn't think that was high at all.

We are Dolphin veterans, but know nothing of the swan except what I have learned from all of you. Can anyone tell me about the layout of the hotel floors....How many elevator banks, etc. Remember I am used to the larger Dolphin.

 

[NancyIL]

To share rate info.....I am getting a rate of $224 with out fees with Starwoods Preferred. The gov't rate quote was 229...These are for standard view at the Swan. Dates March 21 - March 29...Spring break...Week Before Easter, etc.

I didn't think that was high at all.

We are Dolphin veterans, but know nothing of the swan except what I have learned from all of you. Can anyone tell me about the layout of the hotel floors....How many elevator banks, etc. Remember I am used to the larger Dolphin.

The Swan is about half the size of the Dolphin, and there are east and west elevator banks. It's quite easy to get around the Swan.

 

[Dan Murphy]

.....We are Dolphin veterans, but know nothing of the swan except what I have learned from all of you. Can anyone tell me about the layout of the hotel floors....How many elevator banks, etc. Remember I am used to the larger Dolphin.

This may help, lots of details......

ftp://dolphin2.wdwdolphin.com/download/floordown/pdf/A-ovrhdmp.pdf

 

[hsmamato2]

so...it seems that some of these rates are about on par w/ the mods onsite.....so which is a better choice?

 

[SRUAlmn]

so...it seems that some of these rates are about on par w/ the mods onsite.....so which is a better choice?

It depends who you ask We stayed at the Dolphin in June for that exact reason and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I was with my mom and sister, and we enjoy convenience, luxury, and amenities so the S&D were an easy choice. I'm making a return trip with my husband in November, and he's all about FUN and having that "in your face" Disney feel. After much debate back and forth, he said he wanted to stay at the new AOA Little Mermaid rooms and I caved in ( ) since I had just stayed at the Dolphin in June (and because we'll only be there for 3 nights.) It was slightly cheaper (only about $30 per night,) but his main reason was that he wanted that Disney feel, and the Dolphin was sort of lacking that a little. Plus, he's one of those people that doesn't like to feel like he's paying for useless things, and he gets annoyed that we would've had to pay the resort fee and pay to park

Here was our PRO comparison list:
S&D
interior corridors
better beds
free coffee
earn SPG points & possible free upgrade
better amenities
better location
bell services
larger rooms

Value/Mod
don't share busses (the ones we were looking at)
more "Disney" feel
better food court (more choices, no service charge)
cheaper (room cost was slightly cheaper, but also no resort fee or parking fee)
can charge to your room at the parks
bigger gift shop (the ones we were looking at)

 

[NancyIL]

so...it seems that some of these rates are about on par w/ the mods onsite.....so which is a better choice?

The Swan/Dolphin win on location, location, location - plus the heavenly beds!

 

[kaceyisme]

so...it seems that some of these rates are about on par w/ the mods onsite.....so which is a better choice?

We have always stayed at the deluxe resorts - Poly and Contemporary - but prior to our DCL cruise in June, we stayed at the Swan for two nights because of the rising costs at the Disney hotels. I am now a convert! We are staying at the Dolphin for the first time in two weeks. I can't compare the Swan and Dolphin to the mods, but I can compare them to the deluxe hotels, and we were very pleasantly surprised with the Swan. Hopefully we will like the Dolphin just as well!

 

[Poohbug]

I have stayed at all the Mods and recently at the Dolphin.

I am looking forward to staying at the Dolphin again and not just because you can book a room for five people. The rooms are much nicer and bigger than the Mod rooms. The location cannot be beat, especially if you are an Epcot fan. I loved how close you are to the Boardwalk. Our view was incredible. Indoor corridors and restaurants don't seem like a big deal until you are caught in a downpour. The only thing I missed was the atmosphere. I kind of missed the beachyness of CB and the New Orleans fun of the French Quarter. But I did not miss it enough to book two rooms at those resorts. I have found a quick visit to walk the grounds and have a snack is perfectly adequate-then back to the Dolphin I go.