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

[MOM POPPINS]

I wished I knew the answer to your question! When it's posted I will add it to the first post. We have not stayed at the Swan and Dolphin over Thanksgiving week. I would think that everything special, Santa.. decorations etc. happens after Thanksgiving!

We decided to add a few nights at the Dolphin before our September trip to the Beach Club. So after many years of not staying at the Dolphin we will be there in September!!!

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

Also, has anyone stayed recently? The trip advisor reviews are pretty terrible, and many people comment it was nice but has gone down hill I always take reviews with a grain of salt...

 

[winterwhite]

Also, has anyone stayed recently? The trip advisor reviews are pretty terrible, and many people comment it was nice but has gone down hill I always take reviews with a grain of salt...

We toured it in september last year and it looked fine.

It's a regular sheraton, really. I do think that in comparison to the disney owned properties you get at the same rate, I felt the Swolphin was nicer.

however, I generally feel that anything above about $150/nt is too much for any of the disney hotels with the possible exception of monorail resorts. I feel all the disney properties the rooms and beds are too small for what they're charging. So you might take my opinion with a grain of salt but I think $130/nt to stay at the Dolphin and walk to Epcot/DHS is a very nice thing.

I do think they're getting out of control with the resort fees/parking fees/etc fees, but that is happening with all the hotels that are not disney properties.

 

[mikegood2]

Also, has anyone stayed recently? The trip advisor reviews are pretty terrible, and many people comment it was nice but has gone down hill I always take reviews with a grain of salt...

We just stayed at the Dolphin in June and also styled in June 2011! The rooms were very nice and clean and staff were friendly. Based on the location and the suite options available I think we would hard for us to stay anywhere else on property.

Personally I stay away from reading reviews on Trip Advisor, ever since I read some of there reviews about the Swan Dolphin three years ago. I'm not saying that they arn't true, but I have trouble believing some of the things written there, or truthfully many sites on the web. Some of there negative reviews, which were the first reviews of the SD I ever read, made me nervous about or stay. This thread made me feel much better about our decision to stay at the Dolphin, but I was still nervous up until the time we showed up.

 

[winterwhite]

Personally I stay away from reading reviews on Trip Advisor, ever since I read some of there reviews about the Swan Dolphin three years ago. I'm not saying that they arn't true, but I have trouble believing some of the things written there, or truthfully many sites on the web.

I have found that reviews of ANYTHING in the disney area to be taken with a grain of salt. Nothing makes people expect more than "the once in a lifetime trip to disney world."

 

[RachelTori]

How much is the service charge at Picabu? I have read both 13% and 20%....which is it?
Thanks!

The Service Charge is 13% -- but you can get a 20% discount with AAA.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

The Service Charge is 13% -- but you can get a 20% discount with AAA.

Thanks! How does the food compare to typical Disney counter service? It seems a bit pricey on the menus I have seen.

 

[LovintheLodge]

The Service Charge is 13% -- but you can get a 20% discount with AAA.

I don't understand why there would be a 'service' charge here?

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Dan Murphy]

Also, has anyone stayed recently? The trip advisor reviews are pretty terrible, and many people comment it was nice but has gone down hill I always take reviews with a grain of salt...

I stay there, once or twice a year, most recently in April. As nice as ever.

 

[SingingMom]

Stayed in January, will be there again this coming January. We really love the location and the feel of the Dolphin. I tend to read Trip Advisor with an open mind. So many seem to use it as a complaint department.

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

I don't understand why there would be a 'service' charge here?

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

I think because they bus your table when you are done. Starwood likes to have lots of extra fees in general.

 

[RachelTori]

Thanks! How does the food compare to typical Disney counter service? It seems a bit pricey on the menus I have seen.

The food is decent - I'd say comparable to Disney CS's. I have never had breakfast there (Fresh is my choice for that! ) - they do serve Starbucks coffee though!

They have a good selection of grab-and-go type sandwiches/salads and a nice selection of made-to-order food.

They charge the 13% even when you take the food to go. It's never been an issue for me though. I've always had courteous service and edible food!

 

[LovintheLodge]

The food is decent - I'd say comparable to Disney CS's. I have never had breakfast there (Fresh is my choice for that! ) - they do serve Starbucks coffee though!

They have a good selection of grab-and-go type sandwiches/salads and a nice selection of made-to-order food.

They charge the 13% even when you take the food to go. It's never been an issue for me though. I've always had courteous service and edible food!

You beat me to my next question (i.e. if they charge when taking food out). Thanks RachelTori!

Kerry

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[RachelTori]

You beat me to my next question (i.e. if they charge when taking food out). Thanks RachelTori!

Kerry

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

You're welcome! I figured that was an important point to make!

We've taken many a meal "to go" to our room!

 

[mikegood2]

I have found that reviews of ANYTHING in the disney area to be taken with a grain of salt. Nothing makes people expect more than "the once in a lifetime trip to disney world."

Agree! When we went 3 years ago I was the one who found the SD for us, I was the fifth wheel with my brothers family . Until we got there some of those reviews had me worried. It was my brother and SIL took their daughters and I didn't want our hotel choice to "ruin" our trip.

 

[swebb0310]

So, I am looking at the Swan/Dolphin for a long weekend because they have a teacher rate that's 149, or 169 per night. I was wondering a couple of things.
1. Which would you choose, Swan or Dolphin?
2. Is the teacher rate worth it? or is there a better option, like AAA?

Thanks!

 

[SingingMom]

So, I am looking at the Swan/Dolphin for a long weekend because they have a teacher rate that's 149, or 169 per night. I was wondering a couple of things.
1. Which would you choose, Swan or Dolphin?
2. Is the teacher rate worth it? or is there a better option, like AAA?

Thanks!

You can read through all these pages and get that many different opinions! Lol
We choose the Dolphin because it is busier and bigger. The Cabana Bar area is lots of fun, the restaurant choices are terrific and the location is perfect! We like to sit in the big lobby and people watch! But, there will be just as many who will choose the Swan! Either one is terrific!

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[luvallprincesses]

So, I am looking at the Swan/Dolphin for a long weekend because they have a teacher rate that's 149, or 169 per night. I was wondering a couple of things.
1. Which would you choose, Swan or Dolphin?
2. Is the teacher rate worth it? or is there a better option, like AAA?

Thanks!

We are choosing the dolphin with 2 kids because: (1) Picabu CS restaurant, (2) laundry, and (3) usually a little cheaper. Would prefer the queen beds at Swan to the doubles at Dolphin, but the other 3 reasons outweigh for the extra inch of bed. But since you are only doing a weekend, those 3 might not matter to you. I have a teacher rate held right now, but am aware AAA might end up better. I hear to keep calling weekly to see if the rate has dropped.

 

[patty57]

2. Is the teacher rate worth it? or is there a better option, like AAA?

Just click on Special Offers on the S/D website and you can find out the AAA rate to see if it's better.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I stay at the Swan most trips. I have stayed at the Dolphin twice. I prefer the smaller, quieter, more compact layout of the Swan, Dolphin is too big and spread out. I generally do visit the Dolphin every day, usually for some meal, whether Picabu, Fresh or the Fountain. The Garden Grove in the Swan is a nice buffet restaurant, also character meals. The pool area is equidistant from both resorts, lying at one end of the property between the two. If you might be doing laundry often, Dolphin does have the laundry facility.

The Cabana Bar on the Dolphin side and the Splash Terrace on the Swan side make for nice relaxing with light meal and/or drinks.

Regardless which you stay at, both are only yards from each other, so getting back and forth is but literally a couple minutes walk time. And if raining, the walk area has a covered section also.

This linked aerial gives you a pretty good idea of the layout. You can zoom in/out, rotate, etc.

http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=nq...vY2FsU2NvdXRUYXNrJTI0JTI0MiUyMiUzQW51bGwlN0Q=