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

[joanjett1976]

Just wanted to thank the friendly folks on the Swan & Dolphin thread (especially SingingMom!). Thanks to your advice, we spent a wonderful week long vacation at the Swan.

We were there Oct 26-Nov 1st and took full advantage of the resort's offerings. And yes that includes a few adult beverages

Great room with a balcony on the 7th floor overlooking the water and the Dolphin.

Outstanding meals at both Il Mulino and Bluezoo. Great Tiki drinks and appetizers at Cabana, relaxing and watching the sunset.

We walked to the Studios and Epcot and had mid day pool breaks almost every day.

Don,t think I'll be able stay anywhere other than Epcot resorts from now on!
If anyone has any questions - feel free to ask!

 

[2littlez'sandme]

DS and I will probably stay at the Dolphin for our next visit.
DH and I are Starwood members, would I receive an upgrade even if I booked my reservation thru Expedia? Would we be charged the resort fee, as well?

Love that we could earn Starpoints for 'skipping' housekeeping. This is good info to have!

 

[AggieTexan]

I thought I would bump this up for you two since I would also like the information.

From what I have gleaned reading the old thread and this new one, there are ground floor rooms at Dolphin. The higher floors afford the better views. Further, the "resort" view merely assures a view of some aspect of the "resort" but could encompass more. It is a pretty vague description.

That said, I am still unclear how the SPG card comes into play. We booked an AP rate and did a room add on for our friends. We have a king resort view room as well. Does being a Starwood member get you an automatic one cat upgrade if available? If so, does that mean our upgrade would be a patio/ balcony or is it a separate type of room, e.g., Park view?

Anyway, I hope someone is able and willing to help us out.

For all of us looking for information on the "resort view," here are some pictures that were posted on the photo thread.

The little pic under my name is a resort view room with balcony. Here is that pic regular size:

Here are some other resort view category rooms we've had:

 

[SingingMom]

Just wanted to thank the friendly folks on the Swan & Dolphin thread (especially SingingMom!). Thanks to your advice, we spent a wonderful week long vacation at the Swan.

We were there Oct 26-Nov 1st and took full advantage of the resort's offerings. And yes that includes a few adult beverages

Great room with a balcony on the 7th floor overlooking the water and the Dolphin.

Outstanding meals at both Il Mulino and Bluezoo. Great Tiki drinks and appetizers at Cabana, relaxing and watching the sunset.

We walked to the Studios and Epcot and had mid day pool breaks almost every day.

Don,t think I'll be able stay anywhere other than Epcot resorts from now on!
If anyone has any questions - feel free to ask!

Aww... I'm blushing!
I'm SO HAPPY you had a fabulous time!!!

 

[NancyIL]

DS and I will probably stay at the Dolphin for our next visit.
DH and I are Starwood members, would I receive an upgrade even if I booked my reservation thru Expedia? Would we be charged the resort fee, as well?

Love that we could earn Starpoints for 'skipping' housekeeping. This is good info to have!

I think only Platinum Starwood members (from what I read here) don't have to pay the resort fee. Upgrades are not automatic for all Starwood members.

 

[WUVmyDISNEY]

Thanks for finding those AggieTexan! That is just what I was looking for Getting more and more excited as the weeks pass!

 

[IWannaBeAMousketeer]

I created my own thread on "Resorts", but haven't gotten much response. After reading through some of this thread, this seems to be where all of the Swan & Dolphin experts hang out!

We are planning to stay 5 nights at the Swan and Dolphin this Jan. Right now I am booked using SPG Points in a Swan Deluxe Alcove room. I like the idea of the extra space, but I am concerned about the bedding situation. With a King Bed and sleeper sofa, I'm wondering if we would be happier in a smaller room with more real beds (2 Queens). Our DDs are 4 & 8, so maybe they would both fit on the sleeper sofa. Has anyone had experience with these rooms, specifically fitting 4 people. The "alcove" doesn't look like a huge value-add...there is only a table and chairs in there. What have others experienced with these rooms.

 

[NancyIL]

I created my own thread on "Resorts", but haven't gotten much response. After reading through some of this thread, this seems to be where all of the Swan & Dolphin experts hang out!

We are planning to stay 5 nights at the Swan and Dolphin this Jan. Right now I am booked using SPG Points in a Swan Deluxe Alcove room. I like the idea of the extra space, but I am concerned about the bedding situation. With a King Bed and sleeper sofa, I'm wondering if we would be happier in a smaller room with more real beds (2 Queens). Our DDs are 4 & 8, so maybe they would both fit on the sleeper sofa. Has anyone had experience with these rooms, specifically fitting 4 people. The "alcove" doesn't look like a huge value-add...there is only a table and chairs in there. What have others experienced with these rooms.

The sofabed in the Swan alcove room is not in the dining area - which is where the extra space is. While 2 children would fit on the sofabed, it's a pretty tight fit when the sofabed is open. I would get a standard room with 2 queen beds instead.

 

[disneyaway]

How comfortable are the sleeper sofa beds? We have an Swan alcove room booked for Feb for me, DH and DD4. We are staying for 5 nights. I am wondering if I should rethink to a standard 2 queen room instead. Has the extra room made a big difference to those that have stayed there?

 

[carcher]

does the dolphin have a refrigerator in the room?
how big are they?
Thanks?

 

[SingingMom]

does the dolphin have a refrigerator in the room?
how big are they?
Thanks?

Yes - the small hotel-size type

 

[NancyIL]

How comfortable are the sleeper sofa beds? We have an Swan alcove room booked for Feb for me, DH and DD4. We are staying for 5 nights. I am wondering if I should rethink to a standard 2 queen room instead. Has the extra room made a big difference to those that have stayed there?

My friend has stayed on the sofabed in my room at the Swan several times, and she thinks it is pretty comfy. They're not Heavenly Beds by any means - but a 4-year-old probably won't care.

 

[SingingMom]

My friend has stayed on the sofabed in my room at the Swan several times, and she thinks it is pretty comfy. They're not Heavenly Beds by any means - but a 4-year-old probably won't care.

I've wanted to stay in a king room, but can't justify our 17 DD on the sofabed for eight nights, when she KNOWS how wonderful the heavenly beds are! Now... if she were 4 years old.... Lol.....

 

[teacher31]

I am currently booked with free dining at POR for 9 nights. Yes, I got a great deal, but the more I think about it, the more I want to go back to the Dolphin! I have enough Starwood points for 2 5-day stays with the 1/2 off rack rate. It just isn't available yet past January. Anybody know when it will become available? I hope it will be a smidge less than the teacher rate and then I would be happy.

Does anybody have any other ideas for discounts?

 

[NancyIL]

I've wanted to stay in a king room, but can't justify our 17 DD on the sofabed for eight nights, when she KNOWS how wonderful the heavenly beds are! Now... if she were 4 years old.... Lol.....

There are 5 of us in my family. When my kids were younger and we stayed at a hotel, my two daughters shared a bed and my son (the youngest) was "floor boy"! He doesn't mind getting the sofabed at the Swan!

 

[SingingMom]

There are 5 of us in my family. When my kids were younger and we stayed at a hotel, my two daughters shared a bed and my son (the youngest) was "floor boy"! He doesn't mind getting the sofabed at the Swan!

That's funny!! We had two "floor boys" when I was a kid! My daughter doesn't realize how good she has it! I have a picture of her spread out on that heavenly bed like she's ready to sleep for a week!

 

[summersalt]

Oh my! Now I'm second guessing my decision of the executive suite. I booked a king 1 bedroom suite for me, DH and two teenage girls. It has a king sized sisco bed that I thought the girls could share. I'm wondering now if I should book two connecting rooms instead? Would they be more comfortable? Of course, we MUST have two bathrooms. We'd never make rope drop without them.

 

[duffy]

Checking into the Swan for 3 nights in just over 24 hours!!

 

[SingingMom]

Checking into the Swan for 3 nights in just over 24 hours!!

take me!!! take me!!!!
Have fun!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Have a great time, Duffy.