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

[Dan Murphy]

Hey, Dan - I'll arrive on the 3rd! Maybe THIS year we'll see each other!

By the way, some of this new stuff is TOO high-tech for me. I just want to enjoy being at the parks without having to schedule every ride.

That would be awesome! I think we MUST plan to meet up, even if just a quick "hi!"!

Great idea! In my experience, if one wants to meet others - one needs to make plans in advance. While I have "run into" people at the parks, I missed "running into" Dan the past few years - and we were both staying at the Swan!

I'm also at the Swan!

I agree, we need to name a time and place (as we get closer to trip time) rather than leaving it to chance.

Sounds great to me. A Swan dis meet in the making. I think Ray will be there at that time also.

Woke up this morning to an email from the Dolphin telling me about my upcoming trip (we arrive next Tuesday).. I logged into my SPG account & discovered that, while we booked the lowest room category, the reservation says we are in a Deluxe Alcove room

EXCEPT.. I booked 3 nights w/ cash and the last night with points so I have two separate reservations.. the last night is still showing the standard room. Do you think they'll let me stay in the Deluxe Alcove room or make me move? Do you think they'll end up moving all 4 nights to the standard room instead? If so, do you think I should just check in & then mention it later instead of at check in?

I sooooo want & need this upgraded room (been a rough couple of years & it will be a great surprise for DH!)

That's great, Christine!!! I would think that, if they are not booked for that room the 4th night, that they would let you stay there. Just my thoughts. Super!!!!

 

[patty57]

Staying at the Dolphin in December..last time I stayed in 2011 I really enjoyed it.

I've read that Starwood restaurants have a 20% AAA discount..true? Applies to all restaurants..sit down and counter service?

They do have a AAA room discount rate, but I don't know what percentage it is. The non-signature restaurants also have the AAA discount, and I believe that is 20%.

 

[patty57]

Sounds great to me. A Swan dis meet in the making. I think Ray will be there at that time also.

That's great, Christine!!! I would think that, if they are not booked for that room the 4th night, that they would let you stay there. Just my thoughts. Super!!!!

All of this is making me incredibly envious. I have no trips planned. Have a great time!

 

[Elizaspride]

They do have a AAA room discount rate, but I don't know what percentage it is. The non-signature restaurants also have the AAA discount, and I believe that is 20%.

Thanks!

 

[RachelTori]

Sounds great to me. A Swan dis meet in the making. I think Ray will be there at that time also.

Yay!! It's been 5 or 6 years since I've seen Ray!

 

[NBCGal]

Has anyone noticed that it is getting difficult to book further out with the Swan & Dolphin? The past several years (we go annually) I've booked reservations anywhere from 6-8 months out and now when I'm checking availability, there are a lot of blocked dates. I realize they are convention resorts, but you'd think they wouldn't shut out WDW fans so often. If they are booking so many huge conventions that totally book both the Swan & Dolphin, the economy must be better now!

Also, we use AAA discounts and many times AAA rates are unavailable or the lowest rate available is lower than the AAA rate. One other thing I'm seeing is that the reservations are prepaid only. I don't like to prepay, especially if the reservation is non-refundable due to cancellation. I can't guarantee that something won't come up in that lengthy timeframe.

What are your thoughts on this? I want to stay at the Swan, it's our home away from home when we're at WDW, but this makes me want to consider booking at a Disney Resort and that's not like me!

 

[drgnfly30]

What are your dates? I randomly picked some days about 7 mths out and had no problem finding availability.

 

[NBCGal]

I was looking at 2/2 to 2/8, to avoid the the Marathon Events. Nothing available. Maybe its just my luck with the weeks I'm looking at?

 

[RaySharpton]

I am looking at arriving on the 4th. Maybe we will cross paths, Laura?

Hey, Dan - I'll arrive on the 3rd! Maybe THIS year we'll see each other!

By the way, some of this new stuff is TOO high-tech for me. I just want to enjoy being at the parks without having to schedule every ride.

That would be awesome! I think we MUST plan to meet up, even if just a quick "hi!"!

Sounds great to me. A Swan dis meet in the making. I think Ray will be there at that time also.

Yay!! It's been 5 or 6 years since I've seen Ray!

Let's have a DIS Swan Meet in December!!!!!!!!!

On one day last December, I saw Nancy in Epcot by chance watching the Canadian band, but then I didn't meet up with her again.

Dan and I got together with phone calls at WDW.

I invited Dan as a guest to the Tuesday DVC Holiday event inside Epcot and we met at on the Boardwalk in the evening to enjoy the Boardwalk entertainment. I don't know if they will be held on Tuesday in December, yet, but you welcome to come as my guests.

I would just love to see everyone. I'll be down there at the same time.

I don't know if you have heard of another Disney group called Tagrel, but they are meeting during that time. They are a wonderful group of people to get to know if you would like to visit their website. Here is the link to the meets. http://tagrel.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=47

I hope that we get to see each other if only for a meet and greet.

Let me know.

Ray

 

[SingingMom]

Bummer! We arrive at the Dolphin in January ! Would have loved to meet all of you !!

 

[bas71873]

Question. I have a rez at POFQ and Swan right now and I'm still trying to decide where to stay. My 60 day window for FP+ would open around October 1 (IF this whole thing starts to go live and I realize that's a big IF). So, if I schedule my FP+ attractions and then decide to drop my POFQ package and keep Swan and buy tickets from UT, would I loose all my FP+ reservations? I don't need to pay off my package 'til 10/16, so I was going to wait 'til then to decide which rez to keep, even though I think I've made up my mind to keep Swan. BUT, this FP+ and Magic Band thing may throw a wrench in my plans??

 

[Tess]

I was looking at 2/2 to 2/8, to avoid the the Marathon Events. Nothing available. Maybe its just my luck with the weeks I'm looking at?

I have found we have better luck calling directly. The website will often show no availability, but when we call the Swan/Dolphin Hotel(s) and get connected to reservations availability (even discounted) has not been a problem.

 

[RachelTori]

Let's have a DIS Swan Meet in December!!!!!!!!!

On one day last December, I saw Nancy in Epcot by chance watching the Canadian band, but then I didn't meet up with her again.

Dan and I got together with phone calls at WDW.

I invited Dan as a guest to the Tuesday DVC Holiday event inside Epcot and we met at on the Boardwalk in the evening to enjoy the Boardwalk entertainment. I don't know if they will be held on Tuesday in December, yet, but you welcome to come as my guests.

I would just love to see everyone. I'll be down there at the same time.

I don't know if you have heard of another Disney group called Tagrel, but they are meeting during that time. They are a wonderful group of people to get to know if you would like to visit their website. Here is the link to the meets. http://tagrel.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=47

I hope that we get to see each other if only for a meet and greet.

Let me know.

Ray

I hadn't checked the Tagrel site in ages!! I will check those links later today.

I missed the DVC Holiday event last year (we didn't arrive till 12/20).

Yes, we absolutely must plan to get together! I was already planning on meeting up with Diane (goofy4tink)! This is going to be fun!

 

[patty57]

Question. I have a rez at POFQ and Swan right now and I'm still trying to decide where to stay. My 60 day window for FP+ would open around October 1 (IF this whole thing starts to go live and I realize that's a big IF). So, if I schedule my FP+ attractions and then decide to drop my POFQ package and keep Swan and buy tickets from UT, would I loose all my FP+ reservations? I don't need to pay off my package 'til 10/16, so I was going to wait 'til then to decide which rez to keep, even though I think I've made up my mind to keep Swan. BUT, this FP+ and Magic Band thing may throw a wrench in my plans??

There are still so many questions surrounding the whole FP+ thing. I don't know if anyone definitively has that answer, although I have to admit I've been avoiding the entire topic until it actually comes online for real.

 

[bas71873]

There are still so many questions surrounding the whole FP+ thing. I don't know if anyone definitively has that answer, although I have to admit I've been avoiding the entire topic until it actually comes online for real.

That's what I figured, but I just don't want to miss out on it if staying at the Swan puts me in a "non Disney resort guest" category and therefore ineligible during this roll out/test phase. Based on what I'm reading about FP+, I'm not a huge fan simply because I don't want to be that scheduled on my vacation, BUT, if it's the only way that I'm going to be able to accomplish certain things, then I guess I'll have to get on board. I just wish we all had more information from the people really in the know. All this piece meal and speculation is driving me crazy.

 

[LovintheLodge]

I agree, Nancy! We don't even make more than a couple of ADRs. It ceases being a vacation if I have to plan every step! Lol

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

I couldn't agree more. We make a few ADRs as well. And I like the current fast pass system...but don't like the idea of scheduling rides at specific parks at specific times!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[drgnfly30]

I was looking at 2/2 to 2/8, to avoid the the Marathon Events. Nothing available. Maybe its just my luck with the weeks I'm looking at?

From the looks of it your problem is 2/3-2/4 (for Dolphin) and 2/3-2/5 (for Swan). No availablity on those specific dates. Maybe they have a convention going on. You could keep trying to see if something opens up. Or maybe a split stay?

 

[NBCGal]

I have found we have better luck calling directly. The website will often show no availability, but when we call the Swan/Dolphin Hotel(s) and get connected to reservations availability (even discounted) has not been a problem.

Thanks, Tess and to Drgnfly30 too. Persistence and flexibility are the key here. I'm overly anxious for a stay at WDW!

 

[NancyIL]

Let's have a DIS Swan Meet in December!!!!!!!!!

On one day last December, I saw Nancy in Epcot by chance watching the Canadian band, but then I didn't meet up with her again.

Dan and I got together with phone calls at WDW.

I invited Dan as a guest to the Tuesday DVC Holiday event inside Epcot and we met at on the Boardwalk in the evening to enjoy the Boardwalk entertainment. I don't know if they will be held on Tuesday in December, yet, but you welcome to come as my guests.

I would just love to see everyone. I'll be down there at the same time.

I don't know if you have heard of another Disney group called Tagrel, but they are meeting during that time. They are a wonderful group of people to get to know if you would like to visit their website. Here is the link to the meets. http://tagrel.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=47

I hope that we get to see each other if only for a meet and greet.

Let me know.

Ray

Ray, it will be GREAT to see you again! In addition to Tagrel's events, WDW Today is having their annual "Reunion" events: http://reunion.wdwtoday.com/ - and the DIS will have DISApalooza: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3124657

 

[RaySharpton]

Bummer! We arrive at the Dolphin in January ! Would have loved to meet all of you !!

I'm sorry that I won't get to see you in December, but I hope that you have a wonderful time in January.

I hadn't checked the Tagrel site in ages!! I will check those links later today.

I missed the DVC Holiday event last year (we didn't arrive till 12/20).

Yes, we absolutely must plan to get together! I was already planning on meeting up with Diane (goofy4tink)! This is going to be fun!

Oh, I hope that Diane can meet up with us, too.

Ray, it will be GREAT to see you again! In addition to Tagrel's events, WDW Today is having their annual "Reunion" events: http://reunion.wdwtoday.com/ - and the DIS will have DISApalooza: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3124657

That's right, Nancy. Thank you for the links. I hope that we get to see each other several times. I already have the Tag-O-Mania and ReUnion2013 tentatively scheduled. I know that they may change times as time gets closer. I am waiting for DISApalooza and R.A.D.P http://meets.radp.org/faq.htm to finalize their schedules. But I am really waiting to schedule our own little meet and greet just to maybe chat and get to know each other in person.

Anyone have any ideas about meeting up somewhere?

Maybe near the Disney Swan Resort, or on the Boardwalk in the evening to casually watch some of the entertainers?

Whatever we do will be fun and I am open to anything everyone comes up with.

I don't know how many of you are DVC members, but the DVC Merry Mixer Epcot was on Tuesdays from 3pm-5pm in early December inside Epcot and great for kids for all ages. You are all welcome to be my guests if they schedule it again this December if you are not a DVC member.