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

[lizabu]

Question... Does the dolphin have grills by the pool that guests can use? We stayed here last summer and I can't remember seeing any? Trying to budget for food this year and considering grilling out if that's an option. Thanks!!!!

No grills

 

[MiamiMere]

Bummer, thanks!

 

[SingingMom]

Last day for the S/D FP+ "testing". Singing Mom, or anyone else staying onsite, let us know if anything changes tomorrow. Have a great day today, and stop by the Cabana Bar for me! They have a drink with a star fruit that I really liked...among others.

Will let you know about FP+ tomorrow, if I find out! I do know that AK has no more regular FPs, but HS does. We are heading to EPCOT tomorrow.

Crowds have been fine, so we never even bothered with the new FP+. Today we watched our friend run in the marathon, then entered HS around 12:30 and only waited 15 mins for Toy Story Mania. Waits for ToT and RRC weren't bad, either.

Weather was cooler today. I am hoping it warms up again so I can enjoy a Mai tai at the Cabana Bar!

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

 

[patty57]

Will let you know about FP+ tomorrow, if I find out! I do know that AK has no more regular FPs, but HS does. We are heading to EPCOT tomorrow.

Crowds have been fine, so we never even bothered with the new FP+. Today we watched our friend run in the marathon, then entered HS around 12:30 and only waited 15 mins for Toy Story Mania. Waits for ToT and RRC weren't bad, either.

Weather was cooler today. I am hoping it warms up again so I can enjoy a Mai tai at the Cabana Bar!

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

Ooohh...mai tai. I like those too! I swear I must sound like I have a drinking problem when I talk about the Cabana Bar.
I just looked at the S/D website, and noticed that the blurb they had about FP+ testing is no longer on there. Wonder what that means?

 

[Judy from Boise]

Hey Singing, a question if you please ! Our plan is EE park in the am, and to use our FP+ when we hop in the evening . Can the CM at the am park help with PM reservations at a different park?I would feel better locking them in early, and changing if necessary once in the PM park.

 

[SingingMom]

Hey Singing, a question if you please ! Our plan is EE park in the am, and to use our FP+ when we hop in the evening . Can the CM at the am park help with PM reservations at a different park?I would feel better locking them in early, and changing if necessary once in the PM park.

I don't know for sure, but it seemed like they were only doing FP+ choices for that park. We were in EPCOT today and they still have the S&D table set up at the International Gateway

Also noticed a S&D table in Innovations with an area of terminals to access My Disney app. Maybe that is where you can get those OM reservations for another park?

Btw- lines very short today. Not too bad waits at all!

 

[SingingMom]

Ooohh...mai tai. I like those too! I swear I must sound like I have a drinking problem when I talk about the Cabana Bar. I just looked at the S/D website, and noticed that the blurb they had about FP+ testing is no longer on there. Wonder what that means?

Patty- considering I enjoyed a mimosa at the French bakery at 9:30 this morning in EPCOT and a margarita during the TWO HOUR wait to meet Elsa & Anna (only wait we had today), and NOW I am having that Mai tai poolside from the Cabana Bar, I am not the person to comment on your drinking. Lololol

Re: FP+ testing ending 1/12 - they still were available today. When I asked, the rep said that they will be available and they feel S&D guest will be included in Magic Bands in the future. Just passing along the conversation!

Also: for those in the past that had concerns over the rooms not being serviced until late in the day - if you are worried about that, just call guest services when you vacate the room to go to the parks. They have been wonderful about having our room completed each day! I love the Dolphin!!

 

[patty57]

Patty- considering I enjoyed a mimosa at the French bakery at 9:30 this morning in EPCOT and a margarita during the TWO HOUR wait to meet Elsa & Anna (only wait we had today), and NOW I am having that Mai tai poolside from the Cabana Bar, I am not the person to comment on your drinking. Lololol

Sounds like my kind of vacation!

 

[lvdismagic]

Patty- considering I enjoyed a mimosa at the French bakery at 9:30 this morning in EPCOT and a margarita during the TWO HOUR wait to meet Elsa & Anna (only wait we had today), and NOW I am having that Mai tai poolside from the Cabana Bar, I am not the person to comment on your drinking. Lololol Re: FP+ testing ending 1/12 - they still were available today. When I asked, the rep said that they will be available and they feel S&D guest will be included in Magic Bands in the future. Just passing along the conversation! Also: for those in the past that had concerns over the rooms not being serviced until late in the day - if you are worried about that, just call guest services when you vacate the room to go to the parks. They have been wonderful about having our room completed each day! I love the Dolphin!!

Love your idea for a mimosa and/or margarita while I wait for Ana & Elsa!

 

[vicb]

I made my Dolphin reservation with Sheraton not through Disney.... Do I need to link my reservation to MDE where my dining reservations are listed? I tried to link it online but it says it can't be located and I need to call Disney. I haven't purchased tickets yet but have used Undercover Tourist in the past and I assume I will need to link those to take advantage of whatever FP+ is offered to S/D guests. My trip is in May.

TIA

 

[lizabu]

I made my Dolphin reservation with Sheraton not through Disney.... Do I need to link my reservation to MDE where my dining reservations are listed? I tried to link it online but it says it can't be located and I need to call Disney. I haven't purchased tickets yet but have used Undercover Tourist in the past and I assume I will need to link those to take advantage of whatever FP+ is offered to S/D guests. My trip is in May. TIA

The reservation cannot be linked in MDE

 

[SA mom]

I made my Dolphin reservation with Sheraton not through Disney.... Do I need to link my reservation to MDE where my dining reservations are listed? I tried to link it online but it says it can't be located and I need to call Disney. I haven't purchased tickets yet but have used Undercover Tourist in the past and I assume I will need to link those to take advantage of whatever FP+ is offered to S/D guests. My trip is in May.

TIA

I had the same question for Disney Tech Support last week. I was told that S/D reservation could not be link at this time. However, your dining reservations should link. The cast member also told me they are hoping to have FP+ kiosks in the lobbies at some point in the future. Now, how long that will take is a different question.

 

[SA mom]

Pipe Dream Alert: My 13 year-old twins have been seeing the Magic Bands everywhere and want one so bad. I hope, I hope, I hope Disney comes out with them for Swan/Dolphin guests before the summer. I keep telling them it won't be available for us, but they still want one.

 

[vicb]

Ok, thanks for the quick responses.

All my dining reservations are showing on MDE so that is fine.

I am trying not to stress about the Magic Bands and FP+.

I need two rooms on this trip as our college aged kids (boy and girl) are going with us and we just don't want to do 4 adults in one room any more on our vacations. The trade off is we can't afford BWI or BC/YC even with the 30% deal those resorts are much more per night than Dolphin. We stayed Dolphin once before and really thought it was nice.

We stayed CSR once too when we needed two rooms and while it was a nice resort we really missed staying in the Epcot area, it is our favorite place to be.

I hope the FP+ is sorted out by the time we get there in May but since we are going during a somewhat "quiet" week it won't be that big of a deal I hope. If we have to make FP+ reservations the day of I could deal with that.

What I'm really hoping for is that darn 7 Dwarfs Mine Ride opens!!

 

[hsmamato2]

this seems like s dumb question,and I think I know the answer....but let me ask anyway I'm looking to stay at Dolphin, booking a 3rd party site to save a little $$ the option includes a 'twin room' suitable for 1-2 persons....from what I know, it's only a king bed, or doubles,right? another option is double,suitable for 1-2 persons.... must be a typo,right?

 

[lizabu]

this seems like s dumb question,and I think I know the answer....but let me ask anyway I'm looking to stay at Dolphin, booking a 3rd party site to save a little $$ the option includes a 'twin room' suitable for 1-2 persons....from what I know, it's only a king bed, or doubles,right? another option is double,suitable for 1-2 persons.... must be a typo,right?

I'm pretty sure the Dolphin is either a king or 2 doubles. I don't think they have any rooms with just 1 double bed.

 

[ckelly14]

I am trying not to stress about the Magic Bands and FP+.

I have a reservation at the Dolphin June 1-7, and I'm not worried about MB's or FP+. Why? Well, I booked a one day reservation at the BC prior to our stay (KIds wanted to check out Stormalong Bay anyway) to receive MB's and, perhaps, be able to pre-book FP+ the rest of our stay. There are other options if you don't want to spend money on a deluxe.

Food for thought...

 

[SA mom]

Here are a couple of questions for those that took part in FP+ testing:

1) Were you able to book FP+ for parades, fireworks, and Illuminations?

2) Were you able to book FP+ for lunch at Be Our Guest?

 

[ckelly14]

Here are a couple of questions for those that took part in FP+ testing: 1) Were you able to book FP+ for parades, fireworks, and Illuminations? 2) Were you able to book FP+ for lunch at Be Our Guest?

Be Our Guest Lunch FP+ is a separate system and not part of the normal FP + selection process. If requires an on-site reservation number to access, so hasn't been available to off site guests. Whether this will change in the future is anyone's guess...

 

[SingingMom]

Still here at the Dolphin - two more full days of vacation left before we return home Saturday! Pretty chilly today, tomorrow supposed to be a nippy 54!

FP+ still available for Swan/Dolphin guests. Table set up at Epcot international gateway again today. We picked a Soarin' and Mission Space FP+ . You can pick one from column A and two from column B. Test Track, Soarin' and Illuminations are all in column A, so you can only pick one. Lines are minimal this week, so except for Soarin', we haven't needed any FP.

I asked the CMs at the table if wristbands would be available in the future for Swan & Dolphin and he said "No. They chose not to be included." Now, I have heard a few versions if this, so I have no idea who has the right info! Lol. CM did say soon Swan & Dolphin guests will be able to choose their FP+ online prior to that day.

No paper FP at all now in MK & AK. Still a few stragglers in Epcot & HS.

Going to MK tomorrow. Will see if we can make FP+ for Wishes. Will let you know.

If weather warms up Friday, I may opt for a solo day at the Grotto Pool and Cabana Bar!

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