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

[Music City Mama]

So... two questions.

1. My sister (who stayed at the Dolphin a few years ago) said that the Grotto pool was colder than the Disney Resort pools. We will be going in early April. Do you think this is just her perception or is the water not heated or not heated as much?

2. You know how if you call the "front desk" for Disney resorts you are not really getting the front desk but a central call center? When you call the number on the S/D website are you really getting the actual hotel site? I wanted to ask if they have bed rails or not but didn't know if I'd get the resort itself. Both of my daughters are swirling dirvishes and if they don't have bed rails I will bring them but I'd much rather not have to pack them.

TIA

I personally think the Grotto pool is colder (not freezing or anything). Not all of it, but if you're right by the waterfall, yes.

You do get the front desk when you call from your room.

We arrived around midnight to check in at the Dolphin. Since it was very late and the hotel was fully booked, we were given a pretty crappy room. The view was a roof top overlooking the service area. The toliet wouldn't not flush along with several other problems that I won't go into now. I went down to the front desk to see if there was ANYTHING else but no luck. The customer service person (Rebecca) said she would leave a message on my phone as soon as another room became available. She was very pleasant and professional and it was a pleasure working with her. The next morning, we wanted to make the 7:00 am rope drop at Magic Kingdom (and I'm so glad we did!). We missed all the crowds and did everything we wanted with no lines. Returned to the awful room around 2:00 and sure enough there was a message from Rebecca. She found us another room! . She went over and above!!!! We got a balcony with a lovely view of the pool area. It was just a few steps down the stairs to Picabu. I didn't expect this much of an upgrade but I was so happy to get it!

We eat at Picabu, Fresh, The Fountain and Bluezoo. The prices were high but I knew this before we left so I was prepared. The food was excellent! I was extremely pleased.

The pools were awesome and we spent most every afternoon here. Cabana bartendars are the best! Be sure to try the Blueberry beer next time you're there!
Yummy!!

I have stayed at many offsite places as well as the Wilderness Lodge, Pop Century, POFQ, the Beach Club and the Poly. I must say that the Dolphin has impressed me and I will definitely be back again! However, my next trip is with a bunch of teenagers so we're giving the family suite at ASM a try next.
When it's just me and the hubby, we're staying at the Dolphin and plan to give Shula's and Ill Mulino a go!

Glad you enjoyed your stay despite the rocky start!

 

[mydisneyobsession]

I just booked a stay at the Dolphin for Thanksgiving week of 2012, and I wanted to share that discounted rooms are available now for that week. It doesn't show up online, but you can call and ask for the "Allears 10" code - we got a limited view room for $159 per night, including Thanksgiving.

I hope that might help someone!

 

[SRUAlmn]

Just thought I'd bump this up a little and see if anyone was able to find an answer to my prior post (post #3180.) Thanks in advance

 

[jcb]

Just thought I'd bump this up a little and see if anyone was able to find an answer to my prior post (post #3180.) Thanks in advance

I'm not one of the experts on S/D as far as I'm concerned and so I may not understand your question, but I suggest you look at the photos in these threads or posts:

Executive suite: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=38647378

Grand suite: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=38758835&postcount=15 and http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=38758920&postcount=16

You might PM the posters to see if they will send you any other photos they have. Tara is a really nice person.

 

[lissiesmum]

Happy New Year everyone I haven't been on the dis for quite some time and our vacation is coming up soon. I will be traveling this time with my boyfriend and his son, along with my daughter Our first trip as a family!!! I was wondering if there are cots or rollaway beds, and if there is a nightly charge for this? And if yes, how comfortable are they?

Also thinking of possibly upgrading to a different room category. Is there a room with two beds plus a sofabed? I currently have resort view booked...thanks as always for your advice. DD and I can't wait to share our love of the Dolphin with the boys!

 

[Tuliplvr]

Hi- If I book a room at the Dolphin with a king bed, is it possible to get a rollaway and then bring a twin blow up mattress? Will both fit in the room?? My family just can't do two double beds. Thank you

 

[SRUAlmn]

Happy New Year everyone I haven't been on the dis for quite some time and our vacation is coming up soon. I will be traveling this time with my boyfriend and his son, along with my daughter Our first trip as a family!!! I was wondering if there are cots or rollaway beds, and if there is a nightly charge for this? And if yes, how comfortable are they?

Also thinking of possibly upgrading to a different room category. Is there a room with two beds plus a sofabed? I currently have resort view booked...thanks as always for your advice. DD and I can't wait to share our love of the Dolphin with the boys!

I believe the Dolphin has Premium Studios that have 2 double beds and a sleeper sofa, however, every time I've called (even 5-6 months in advance) they always seem to be booked. If you're going at a time that's not very popular you might have a better chance

 

[pooh2001]

We always get 2 double beds and we bring a twin areobed for our DD, who does not sleep with our DS. But the pillows on DS bed are divided between them.

We have not stayed at the Dolphin in 5 years.

I have read they now have flat screen TV's and real mini refrigerators in the rooms.
New (old) $10 daily fee includes 2 bottles of water and internet (by an ethernet cord connection), plus some free phone calls.

What does the refillable mug look like now ?
Did they update it like WDW did ?
New pictures on the mug ?
Does the mug now have handles ?

Still have towels to use at the Grotto pool ?

Picabu's (old Tubbies) still decent food ?

What about the ice cream shop ?

Disney gift shp still in the Dolphin?

thanks

 

[NancyIL]

We always get 2 double beds and we bring a twin areobed for our DD, who does not sleep with our DS. But the pillows on DS bed are divided between them.

We have not stayed at the Dolphin in 5 years.

I have read they now have flat screen TV's and real mini refrigerators in the rooms.
New (old) $10 daily fee includes 2 bottles of water and internet (by an ethernet cord connection), plus some free phone calls.

What does the refillable mug look like now ?
Did they update it like WDW did ?
New pictures on the mug ?
Does the mug now have handles ?

Still have towels to use at the Grotto pool ?

Picabu's (old Tubbies) still decent food ?

What about the ice cream shop ?

Disney gift shp still in the Dolphin?

thanks

The daily resort fee is now $12 plus tax.

 

[ImprovGal]

What does the refillable mug look like now ?
Did they update it like WDW did ?
New pictures on the mug ?
Does the mug now have handles ?

There are now 2 different refillable mugs at the resort. The old-style refillable mug has no handles and has pictures of the various Swan/Dolphin resort restaurant logos on it. That mug is now for cold beverages only (soft drinks and iced tea). There is a new refillable mug that is silvertone and says "java bar" on it and is for hot beverages only (coffee and tea at least.. I can't remember if hot chocolate is an option).

 

[livndisney]

The daily resort fee is now $12 plus tax.

Looks like it is 14.00 a night now:

"SERVICE PACKAGE of USD 14.00 Per Room / Per Night"

So that great prepaid rate of 139.00 ends up at almost 200.00 a nite after taxes, resort fee and parking.

 

[NancyIL]

Looks like it is 14.00 a night now:

"SERVICE PACKAGE of USD 14.00 Per Room / Per Night"

So that great prepaid rate of 139.00 ends up at almost 200.00 a nite after taxes, resort fee and parking.

I'm glad my April reservation was booked while it was still $12!

 

[Tuliplvr]

Can anyone comment on how the bus system is? Does it share with other hotels? Thank you

 

[OKW Lover]

Can anyone comment on how the bus system is? Does it share with other hotels? Thank you

The busses are no worse than any of the Disney hotels. Depending on the amount of people going to the parks sometimes the Swolphin has their own, sometimes they share with YC/BC/BW. Of course, you only need the bus to get to the MK and AK.

 

[Tuliplvr]

The busses are no worse than any of the Disney hotels. Depending on the amount of people going to the parks sometimes the Swolphin has their own, sometimes they share with YC/BC/BW. Of course, you only need the bus to get to the MK and AK.

Thank you. We I think are staying at the Dolphin.

Can anyone comment on the size of the double beds? When I called the Dolphin they said that they are 2 inches smaller than a queen,

 

[TaraPA]

Happy New Year everyone I haven't been on the dis for quite some time and our vacation is coming up soon. I will be traveling this time with my boyfriend and his son, along with my daughter Our first trip as a family!!! I was wondering if there are cots or rollaway beds, and if there is a nightly charge for this? And if yes, how comfortable are they?

Also thinking of possibly upgrading to a different room category. Is there a room with two beds plus a sofabed? I currently have resort view booked...thanks as always for your advice. DD and I can't wait to share our love of the Dolphin with the boys!

I would call the S/D Suite reservation line for the inquiry about a suite with 2 beds plus a sleeper sofa. There are Deluxe Alcove rooms, Premium Studios, Executive Suites, and on up. You can see the layouts on www.swandolphin.com, but most do not have 2 beds plus a sleeper sofa. Most have one bed plus a sleeper sofa, or just 2 beds. They DO have roll-aways for $25 a night, as long as the type of room you have can accomodate an extra person in the room.

I've found the layouts on the S/D website are not always 100% accurate - for example we booked a 2BR Executive Suite at The Swan, and according to that no Executive Suites there have the extra Murphy Bed. When we arrived, ours did have the Murphy Bed, plus the sleeper sofa, in the parlor room. So if you call & tell them exactly what you need, they can let you know what is available. Just the Parlor Room of an Executive Suite is HUGE, you could inquire about that. It would have a king Murphy bed, a double sleeper sofa, and plenty of room for a rollaway. We could have fit 3-4 roll-aways in the Parlor Room we had.

I personally could not handle a regular room with 2 beds, plus a rollaway or an air mattress, but many people do it. The rooms aren't all that big to begin with, in my opinion. We're a family that does spend some time in the room and with 2 growing teen boys, it's almost unbearable with 4 of us in there on top of each other! But to each their own, and that's fine.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[TaraPA]

Thank you. We I think are staying at the Dolphin.

Can anyone comment on the size of the double beds? When I called the Dolphin they said that they are 2 inches smaller than a queen,

Some of the best bus service I've had in WDW has been from Swan/Dolphin. I've never had an issue, or waited any longer than I did at a Disney Resort.

I have always sworn up & down the Doubles at Dolphin were really almost Queens. We sleep on a King at home & the beds at Dolphin aren't terribly smaller. Once you get in that Heavenly Bed you will forget about the size of the bed & be totally wrapped up in the comfort of it!!

I also just saw on the website when playing with dates that the resort fee is up to $14. Even with that, $250 a night is cheaper than any Disney Deluxe I can get, sometimes even cheaper than a Mod!

 

[OKW Lover]

Can anyone comment on the size of the double beds? When I called the Dolphin they said that they are 2 inches smaller than a queen,

According to Wiki there is more than a 2" difference.

 

[SRUAlmn]

There are now 2 different refillable mugs at the resort. The old-style refillable mug has no handles and has pictures of the various Swan/Dolphin resort restaurant logos on it. That mug is now for cold beverages only (soft drinks and iced tea). There is a new refillable mug that is silvertone and says "java bar" on it and is for hot beverages only (coffee and tea at least.. I can't remember if hot chocolate is an option).

Cool!!! Where can you purchase these? Does anyone have pictures? I was so sad when the Disney resorts stopped using resort specific mugs.

 

[SRUAlmn]

I've found the layouts on the S/D website are not always 100% accurate - for example we booked a 2BR Executive Suite at The Swan, and according to that no Executive Suites there have the extra Murphy Bed. When we arrived, ours did have the Murphy Bed, plus the sleeper sofa, in the parlor room. So if you call & tell them exactly what you need, they can let you know what is available.

This is SO true!! We went back and forth for weeks looking at layouts online and trying to find the best fit for our group. We finally chose a grand suite at the Swan because the layout online showed it having 3 balconies. When I called they said they only show that online because they have 1 or 2 that have balconies and you request one, but it's not guaranteed. The rest of the suites don't have ANY balconies. I felt a little annoyed and misled, and after 5 calls back and forth between the Swan & Dolphin and my family we finally decided on a grand suite at the Dolphin, no balcony. I was sad because we'll be celebrating my mom's retirement and having a balcony is really important to her, but for the space we needed there were no other options