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

[TheCapellsMom]

Hi! This is the first time I am considering a Swan/Dolphin stay rather than a WDW resort- and I am feeling completely lost!

Can somebody please tell me what a C&P is? And are there any other hints for getting a good room deal?
Thanks!

 

[patty57]

C&P is Cash & Points...using your Starwood points and cash for a room. Swan/Dolphin usually has a good discount for AAA and some other groups, nurses, teachers etc. Go to their website and check under "special offers".

 

[TheCapellsMom]

Thanks, Patty57!!!

 

[Alabama Minnie]

magsmum: Glad I could help. Hope you get a better air price too. We usually drive down but I have seen some GREAT rates on Southwest this week for Orlando/MCO.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

Are they refurbing the Grotto pool? I heard there were problems.

 

[mikegood2]

Looks like our second stay at the SD is official! Today my brother booked an executive suite for the week of June 18th - 25th. Now the tough part, waiting.

 

[patty57]

FYI: Be sure and check the rates for your Dolphin/Swan reservations even after you book. Today the Epcot fireworks room (AAA rate) was the the same as the resort-view I had booked so I called and switched it. It was a great upgrade for our upcoming anniversary trip in February!

I have been checking every few days. Your post caused me to look yesterday. My AAA resort credit discount at the Dolphin dropped $9 a night! An extra $54 for me.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Hi everyone I have booked our first ever stay at the Dolphin as part of a split stay with Boardwalk CL celebrating my eldest daughter's high school graduation. I've been reading this thread from the beginning but have only reached page 63 so please forgive me if I'm asking about stuff that is obvious to all. We're staying the beginning of August and I got a AAA rate for a Deluxe Alcove room for $278.10 (before taxes, resort fees, etc). Does this seem reasonable? I thought that it sounded like there would be more room for everyone (3 teenage girls, 17, 16 & 16) as opposed to a regular room with 2 doubles and a rollaway. Can anyone tell me anymore about a deluxe alcove room? Are there many? Do some have nice views and others not so much? I appreciate any and all thoughts on the matter and once again ask for your forbearance regarding my missing 60 pages of reading

I don't have answers, mademluc, but maybe someone here will be able to help.

 

[magsmum]

magsmum: Glad I could help. Hope you get a better air price too. We usually drive down but I have seen some GREAT rates on Southwest this week for Orlando/MCO.

Airfare rates out of New England for that week are ridiculous. I thought I could get most of us rt on points, but only got 4 one way tickets and had to pay for the rest. Rates have been jumping around. We were flying out of an airport 1.5 hours away b/c of fares, but I have been able to rebook our flight down out of the airport closer to us.

 

[hoglund]

Can anyone recommend a good/cheap bakery near the Swan? We are travelling at the end of January, and were planning on going to the Main Street Bakery at the Magic Kingdom, or the Boardwalk Bakery, but it looks like both will be closed for refurbishment at the time that we're going to be there... We're not big breakfast people, so we'd just like to grab a fresh danish, croissant, etc. and get going in the morning.

Thanks!

 

[OKW Lover]

You can grab that kind of stuff right in the Swan lobby. Its actually a little nook on the left when you are on your way out towards the dock.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Danish, bagels, fruit, coffee, juice, etc are available at both; the Java Bar at the Swan and the Lobby Lounge at the Dolphin (not so much a bar in the AM). I much prefer the Java.

http://www.swandolphinrestaurants.com/javabar/index.html

http://www.swandolphinrestaurants.com/lobbylounge/index.html

Picabu might also be an option at the Dolphin.

And the redone Patisserie in Epcot will now be opening at 9 AM rather than 11 AM.

 

[LexiC123]

Can anyone recommend a good/cheap bakery near the Swan? We are travelling at the end of January, and were planning on going to the Main Street Bakery at the Magic Kingdom, or the Boardwalk Bakery, but it looks like both will be closed for refurbishment at the time that we're going to be there... We're not big breakfast people, so we'd just like to grab a fresh danish, croissant, etc. and get going in the morning.

Thanks!

You can grab a quick breakfast to go at Picabu, in the Dolphin, but I also read in the Disney Parks Blog that Tomorrowland Terrace will be serving breakfast while the Main Street Bakery is closed for renovations, and a temporary breakfast kiosk has been set up on the Boardwalk while the Boardwalk Bakery is closed.

In addition, the renovated Les Halles Bakery in the France pavillion in World Showcase will open early (9am) to accommodate guests looking for breakfast in Epcot.

 

[hoglund]

Thanks to everyone for their prompt replies on advice on bakeries.

I have a couple more questions...

1. Where is the best/closest place to go and get groceries?
2. Can we buy things at the parks and have them delivered to the hotel, or is that only for Disney owned hotels?

Thanks again!

 

[OKW Lover]

Depends on what groceries you need. The Screen Door shop right next door at Boardwalk has a limited selection as does the Hess Station across the road from the BW entrance. Both are easily walkable.

 

[mademluc]

I don't have answers, mademluc, but maybe someone here will be able to help.

Thanks Dan. I wish I could just find a little more information about the deluxe alcove rooms. What's the difference between them and a premium studio? Are there a lot of these types of room? Do most have king beds or dbls? If they're not that much bigger than a regular room maybe it would be smarter for us to just book that and get a rollaway. Or maybe bring our own aerobed, I didn't know they allowed that but that sounds great as well. I'm just so

 

[Dan Murphy]

Does this help at all?

http://www.swandolphin.com/accommodations/deluxe_alcove.html

http://www.swandolphin.com/accommodations/dolphin_premium.html

 

[mademluc]

Does this help at all?

http://www.swandolphin.com/accommodations/deluxe_alcove.html

http://www.swandolphin.com/accommodations/dolphin_premium.html

Yes, of course, but its the "configurations vary widely" that I was just wondering about. Also, "nestled in the corners with striking views" is intriguing. Does that mean there are no bad views in a deluxe alcove? So, if anyone out there has stayed at the Dolphin in a deluxe alcove could they share their experience?

 

[Dan Murphy]

Until someone answers, try searching this thread.........

Use this....

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=47187175&nojs=1#goto_threadsearch

Put in alcove.

You can also go to the first post on this thread and get the link to the prior S/D thread, and then from there the prior and I think maybe one more, to search those prior threads too.

 

[mikegood2]

Now that we have our rooms booked for June, I think I'm going to take others advice and check back periodicaly to see of we can get a better rate. I do have a few questions about that though. Also we booked an executive suite, so we can't check the rates online, we have to call.

1) When you call do you get prices like as a "new" person or do you say upfront that you have already booked a room, but want to check if prices have dropped?

2) How often do you call? Every few weeks, weekly or multiple times a week? I know it well very by person, but just curious what others do.

3) Is their any certain time or number that are better than other?

4) My brother booked, but I would probably be the one checking. If they quote a better price should Itry to get it changed or contact my brother, since its on his card, and have him change it (hoping he gets the same price)

Sorry if I rattled on too much, but would like others feedback.

Sent from my iPad mini using DISBoards