The **New** Swan and Dolphin Resort thread ~ September 2010 ~ Please read post #1

[NeilD]

Any recommendations for the best lounge/restaurant to watch a college football game at the resort? Florida vs. Alabama will be on during our visit, and this is a must see for a Bama fan.

Thanks!

I watched a couple of college games at the Cabana Bar. Numerous TV's there. These were day games. Nice to take a dip at half time. They usually stay open til about 10:00PM, I think. Depending on the crowd. The lobby bar should have the game on. A little small.

 

[GuardMusic]

We will be staying here for the first time 11/8-11/14. Being a true Disney-ite and having stayed at 12 WDW resorts (usually BCV or BWV), I have always despised S/D, as they are not true Disney hotels and are pretty much the ugliest things on property. So why are we staying here? BFF has a conference at the Dolphin. So I guess being on-property at S/D is better than anything off-property.

I'm sure we will have many questions in the coming weeks and I know this is the place for fast, correct answers! So let's get started:
- What the best airport transfers, likely towncar, here? I've relied on Magical Express for so long, I forget how to do anything else. (Oh how I will miss the luggage service!)
- Conference is at Dolphin & we will likely use Picabu a lot. However, the Swan has two sinks, is the location for resort package delivery, and is closer to BW. Which should we book?
- Does anyone know their cancellation policy? We might be able to get into DVC for a couple of days of the trip.
- Are they still doing the promotion to fore go housekeeping for a $5 restaurant voucher?

Anything else a WDW veteran-S/D newbie should know?

Thanks in advance!
Gayle

 

[Manda_Lizabeth]

We are starting to plan our Thanksgiving trip for 2012. I called today to find out about the teacher rate. We can get 2 rooms for $149 (sans taxes/fees) each. Does anyone know if that will just be the standard view/room? I am guessing so? anyone ever book with a teacher rate before? any chance at upgrades? I am also a Starwood member...nothing special as I don't travel to Starwood hotels much.

 

[Mouseteacher]

We are starting to plan our Thanksgiving trip for 2012. I called today to find out about the teacher rate. We can get 2 rooms for $149 (sans taxes/fees) each. Does anyone know if that will just be the standard view/room? I am guessing so? anyone ever book with a teacher rate before? any chance at upgrades? I am also a Starwood member...nothing special as I don't travel to Starwood hotels much.

I have always booked with the teacher rate at the s/d (standard room) and have been given an upgrade each time. I am a starwood preferred plus because I have the starwood AMEX card.

We do stay during the summer when I am guessing the ability to upgrade is easier than more busy times of year. If there is availability, they will probably upgrade.

 

[Manda_Lizabeth]

Thanks for the info!

 

[NancyIL]

We will be staying here for the first time 11/8-11/14. Being a true Disney-ite and having stayed at 12 WDW resorts (usually BCV or BWV), I have always despised S/D, as they are not true Disney hotels and are pretty much the ugliest things on property. So why are we staying here? BFF has a conference at the Dolphin. So I guess being on-property at S/D is better than anything off-property.

I'm sure we will have many questions in the coming weeks and I know this is the place for fast, correct answers! So let's get started:
- What the best airport transfers, likely towncar, here? I've relied on Magical Express for so long, I forget how to do anything else. (Oh how I will miss the luggage service!)
- Conference is at Dolphin & we will likely use Picabu a lot. However, the Swan has two sinks, is the location for resort package delivery, and is closer to BW. Which should we book?
- Does anyone know their cancellation policy? We might be able to get into DVC for a couple of days of the trip.
- Are they still doing the promotion to fore go housekeeping for a $5 restaurant voucher?

Anything else a WDW veteran-S/D newbie should know?

Thanks in advance!
Gayle

That's funny, because I've always thought the Swan and Dolphin were quite attractive, and the Contemporary and the Poly were the ugliest resorts on property!

My preference is for the Swan for the two sinks and proximity to the Boardwalk.

 

[Belle83]

We will be staying here for the first time 11/8-11/14. Being a true Disney-ite and having stayed at 12 WDW resorts (usually BCV or BWV), I have always despised S/D, as they are not true Disney hotels and are pretty much the ugliest things on property. So why are we staying here? BFF has a conference at the Dolphin. So I guess being on-property at S/D is better than anything off-property.

I'm sure we will have many questions in the coming weeks and I know this is the place for fast, correct answers! So let's get started:
- What the best airport transfers, likely towncar, here? I've relied on Magical Express for so long, I forget how to do anything else. (Oh how I will miss the luggage service!)
- Conference is at Dolphin & we will likely use Picabu a lot. However, the Swan has two sinks, is the location for resort package delivery, and is closer to BW. Which should we book?
- Does anyone know their cancellation policy? We might be able to get into DVC for a couple of days of the trip.
- Are they still doing the promotion to fore go housekeeping for a $5 restaurant voucher?

Anything else a WDW veteran-S/D newbie should know?

Thanks in advance!
Gayle

I don't think they are truly ugly, but I do think Disney missed the boat in approving the design. They are more Vegas-y, imo.

Anyway, to answer your questions....

In 2004, I used Mears to get to/from CBR (I think this was before Magical Express existed for the resorts..), I would use them again without hesitation.

If you really think you'll use Picabu a lot, stay at the Dolphin. I really did not care for Picabu, but Fountain (a table-service place) is more centrally located and is really close to the same price as Picabu (and has a lot of the same menu stuff as on the room service menus, if I remember correctly). If you want to be close to the BoardWalk, ask for an Epcot view room at either Swan or Dolphin (but know that the Epcot view rooms are furthest from Picabu and the grotto pool area).

In May, they still had the 'green' option to forego housekeeping.

 

[JimmyV]

Question for you guys. We are thinking about staying at the Dolphin for are next trip in April. When I called about rates the lady told me there was a basic, a resort view and room with a balcony. What are the differences? Is it worth the extra money to get a resort view or room with a balcony? Thanks for the help.

Is it worth the money? Only you can answer that. Don't know your rate or the upcharge. But I will say that balcony rooms facing the lake and Epcot are pretty sweet. The other factor to consider is that a "standard" room view can range anywhere from "decent" to "dumpsters and loading dock". If view is important and the price increase is something you are willing to pay, then taking the dumpster option out of play is something to consider.

 

[TaraPA]

That's funny, because I've always thought the Swan and Dolphin were quite attractive, and the Contemporary and the Poly were the ugliest resorts on property!

Ditto! I cringe when I see CR. I love the S/D architecture!

 

[NancyIL]

Ditto! I cringe when I see CR. I love the S/D architecture!

At least the Contemporary is more reasonably priced for a deluxe resort. It amazes me what some people are willing to pay at the Poly!

 

[cleophus12]

Is the Dolphin lobby scent still Coconut Lime Verbena or has it changed? We loved the smell--reminded us of Soarin'--the part over the water!

 

[diskids2]

Is the Dolphin lobby scent still Coconut Lime Verbena or has it changed? We loved the smell--reminded us of Soarin'--the part over the water!

I can't answer that, but I just had to comment. I had a bottle of the lotion from our last trip and I'm practically inhaling it....brings back memories!

 

[jjas]

We are planning a trip in May 2012 and today I found through the SPG website an offer for stay one night get the next night for 40% off.

If I book a Resort View with a balcony at the Dolphin I am paying $239 for the first night and $143 for the 2nd night.

Does that seem too high? If I book now I have to pay in advance so I wouldn't be able to wait and see if a better offer was available later.

What would you do? Book now or wait and see??

Thanks for the advice.
Janet

 

[Dan Murphy]

We are planning a trip in May 2012 and today I found through the SPG website an offer for stay one night get the next night for 40% off.

If I book a Resort View with a balcony at the Dolphin I am paying $239 for the first night and $143 for the 2nd night.

Does that seem too high? If I book now I have to pay in advance so I wouldn't be able to wait and see if a better offer was available later.

What would you do? Book now or wait and see??

Thanks for the advice.
Janet

Is $191 per night a good price?

 

[jjas]

Is $191 per night a good price?

That's what I was hoping someone could tell me. The last time we stayed there we stayed on points so I'm really uncertain what a good rate would be.

From what I've been able to read on this thread it seems like it is a little bit high - looks like some people are paying more in the $150 to $170 range.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks - Janet

 

[JimmyV]

That's a pretty good (but not "OMG!) rate to lock in that room. If you are Starwood Gold or better, you could go for standard and hope for an upgrade with no guarantee. That would drive the cost down. But if view is important, $190 per night is decent. Do a mock booking at the Boardwalk for a theme park view and see what that comes out to be. That might make $190 seem pretty darn good by comparison.

 

[jjas]

Do a mock booking at the Boardwalk for a theme park view and see what that comes out to be. That might make $190 seem pretty darn good by comparison.

I did already and you are right !!

It really amazes me that more people don't take advantage of the Swoplin. Best kept secret at Disney as far as I am concerned.

Ssshhh....don't tell anyone or we will have trouble getting rooms!!

Thanks.
Janet

 

[cleophus12]

I received so much help from this thread that I wanted to add my own notes about the Dolphin in the hopes that I might give someone else some of the help I received. So here goes. . . We were so pleasantly surprised with the Dolphin. We had never stayed there because we are admittedly Disney Resort hotel snobs, previously choosing to stay only at Disney-owned properties. But the banner ad on the Disboards convinced me to check them out, and we got a great deal. The only problem with the Sunsational Savings package was the fact that it had to be prepaid, and that always makes me a little nervous. One of the reasons we book Disney hotels is because of the liberal cancellation policy. Thankfully, we did not have to cancel and thoroughly enjoyed our six nights at the Dolphin. Our room was great: Epcot Fireworks view with Balcony, 5th floor (I had hoped for higher), “heavenly” beds (you will not find a more comfortable bed in all the World), big fluffy bath towels, a great pool complex with plenty of chairs, Starbucks coffee in the room, and an amazing location (the only way the location could be better is if the Dolphin were at the Beach Club). I had read some complaints about the conference atmosphere at the Dolphin, and there were conferences going on while we were there. The only time they bothered us was when they took over the lobby bar in the evenings. But we weren’t usually hanging out there at that time anyway—they were just loud when you came into the hotel. Also lots of smokers would congregate outside the exits and that was somewhat annoying when going in and out of the hotel. Otherwise, I have no complaints. Desk service and bell service were great. The pool staff was very friendly. Our room was always made up when we returned in the afternoon. We only ate at one of the hotel restaurants—Il Mulino—and thought it was quite good. We used a coupon from restaurant.com, so that made it even better! Husband did grab a burger at the Fountain and thought it was good, but expensive. Transportation to Epcot and DHS was not an issue. Boats were frequent, although hot, and we walked most of the time to those parks. Bus service to and from MK and AK were a little more problematic. Because we had to make several other stops, return from the MK was anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour. AK was also a long trip because of resort stops and a stop at BB—whether anyone wanted to go or not. We did have to wait almost 30 minutes for a bus at MK one hot afternoon, and when it finally came the driver took Yacht and Beach Club people too because they had also been waiting a while. That was the day it took one hour to get to the Dolphin because of all the resort stops. I would definitely stay at the Dolphin again. The hotel has the nicest amenities of any of the deluxe hotels and cannot be beat for the price. The Beach Club would have cost us nearly $2000 more, and although it is my favorite hotel, I would not pay that much more to stay there. I can find lots of things to do with that much money at WDW.

 

[macbitt]

We are planning a trip in May 2012 and today I found through the SPG website an offer for stay one night get the next night for 40% off.

If I book a Resort View with a balcony at the Dolphin I am paying $239 for the first night and $143 for the 2nd night.

Does that seem too high? If I book now I have to pay in advance so I wouldn't be able to wait and see if a better offer was available later.

What would you do? Book now or wait and see??

I'm watching prices for a February 2012 trip. Using the same 40% every other night code and with taxes and fees I'm at $200 per night for a standard room. Doable but you're right, not the better deals we're seeing for August right now.

A lot of that comes from it being so far in the future. No Starwood promotion goes beyond December 2011 right now. I'm planning to wait and see what general promotions come out and will check Dolphin rates once a week (or see someone post a deal here). If you budget and save for the $200 then any changes are good changes

 

[NancyIL]

The hotel has the nicest amenities of any of the deluxe hotels and cannot be beat for the price. The Beach Club would have cost us nearly $2000 more, and although it is my favorite hotel, I would not pay that much more to stay there. I can find lots of things to do with that much money at WDW.

Or - plan another trip to WDW!