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

[SRUAlmn]

A little trivia ... the Teacher's (and later Nurses) discount rate program came into existance after noticing that there were so many teachers who posted here on the DIS! After 9/11 we were looking at ways of expanding our leisure base and this was one of the "vertical" markets rate plans created then.

Love it!!! That makes me want to stay there even more because I feel valued

 

[SRUAlmn]

I just called to ask about the teacher rate and there is a premium studio available for our dates Need to talk to my family tonight and see what we decide. I have searched this thread and I don't really see much about these studios. On the phone he told me they were 700 sq ft and have 2 double beds and a sleeper which is perfect! Does anyone know what the view options are? Do they have balconies? Where in the resort are they located? Thanks everyone for being so patient with all my questions today

 

[Mazzy]

I just called to ask about the teacher rate and there is a premium studio available for our dates Need to talk to my family tonight and see what we decide. I have searched this thread and I don't really see much about these studios. On the phone he told me they were 700 sq ft and have 2 double beds and a sleeper which is perfect! Does anyone know what the view options are? Do they have balconies? Where in the resort are they located? Thanks everyone for being so patient with all my questions today

Found this on the studio rooms:
http://www.swandolphin.com/accommodations/dolphin_premium.html

Also a floorplan:
http://www.swandolphin.com/accommodations/images/D_Premium.gif

Theres a note on that first link saying: NOTE: Not all Rooms have Balconies. So I guess it's luck of the draw for a balcony. As for views and locations, you would be best ringing the hotel again as they could advise on this. From past experience, my daughter would prefer a rollaway bed to a sofa bed any day, but that's just been our experiences with sofa beds, as none of those she has slept on have had very good matresses or been very comfy, but we have never slept on one at the Dolphin, so can't say what they are like.

 

[lissiesmum]

I should know this...but I don't! Do S/D use the feather down Heavenly pillows or the alternative fill Heavenly pillows? I'm online & ready to bite the bullet & order some, but I don't know which ones they have there. I'd assume the alternative fill because so many people are allergic to down, but I'd hate to order the wrong ones!

Tara, I was wondering if you ever got an answer to this, and where you go to order the pillows? I have never slept so good as I did last week on those amazing pillows! I'd love to order a few for my own bed at home! I've had a neckache every night since I've returned!

 

[TaraPA]

Tara, I was wondering if you ever got an answer to this, and where you go to order the pillows? I have never slept so good as I did last week on those amazing pillows! I'd love to order a few for my own bed at home! I've had a neckache every night since I've returned!

No I didn't get an answer, I could just call Westin & ask! There's a huge price difference too - the hypo allergenic ones are $35 each, the feather down ones are $75 each! I was shopping at: http://www.westin-hotelsathome.com/productGroup.aspx?HypoAllergenicPillow

If anyone out there knows please let us know!

 

[TaraPA]

Ok so I saw they have a live chat with a Retail Concierge on their website - so I asked which pillows are used in their hotels - here is the reply:

"The pillows are placed on the bed with the feather and down pillows against the headboard, and the down alternative pillows in front of them. The long pillow in the very front is called the boudoir pillow. "


So I have absolutely no idea which ones I liked better! Maybe I should order one of each!

 

[NBCGal]

Tara, I was wondering if you ever got an answer to this, and where you go to order the pillows? I have never slept so good as I did last week on those amazing pillows! I'd love to order a few for my own bed at home! I've had a neckache every night since I've returned!

I have been allergic to feather pillows at other hotels, but never had a problem with the bed or pillows at the Swan. I would ask either before or when you check in to be certain.

 

[jlcd]

Back from our stay at the Dolphin the week before Easter. Aside from an issue with they day manager at check in we loved the hotel and location. We arrived early and our room was not ready, which I expected. We went to MK for a while and received a call when the room was ready. We went back around 3:30 and found we had been given the lovely loading dock view. This would have been OK since we did book a standard view, but the room smelled very musty. A musty room should never be acceptable, plus I have a child with Asthma. The day manager was rude and refused to move us. She said not one other room was available for the next 2 days. We were finally able to speak with another manager who admitted there was another room available overlooking the parking lot. Fine, I just wanted a clean, odor free room and should not have had to fight for that.
The "new" room did not smell at all and was clean and very comfortable. Plenty of storage and the beds and pillows were awesome! I need to order some of those pillows! The pool was gorgeous and we used it almost every afternoon. A few more pool chairs would have been nice, but we were there at a very busy time, so it is probably not an issue normally. We only ate at Picabu for sandwiches/salads and The Fountain and found them both to be just what we needed.
Loved the location and easy access to EPCOT, DS and the Boardwalk.
We would surely consider staying here again. I just hope we do not have to deal with that manager again.
Thanks for all the info and help on this thread!

 

[lissiesmum]

No I didn't get an answer, I could just call Westin & ask! There's a huge price difference too - the hypo allergenic ones are $35 each, the feather down ones are $75 each! I was shopping at: http://www.westin-hotelsathome.com/productGroup.aspx?HypoAllergenicPillow

If anyone out there knows please let us know!

Ok so I saw they have a live chat with a Retail Concierge on their website - so I asked which pillows are used in their hotels - here is the reply:

"The pillows are placed on the bed with the feather and down pillows against the headboard, and the down alternative pillows in front of them. The long pillow in the very front is called the boudoir pillow. "


So I have absolutely no idea which ones I liked better! Maybe I should order one of each!

Thanks for the link! And their reply is funny to me because I remember liking two of the pillows better on the bed and throwing the other ones aside...but can't remember which ones were closer to the headboard! LOL. I'm with you, maybe I'll order one of each to be safe! Did you have a boudoir pillow on your bed? We didn't have one on ours...let me know if you order them

 

[SingingMom]

We just got back yesterday and had a wonderful stay at the Dolphin!
There is so much more going on around the Dolphin, the lobby is just as beautiful with all the fountains, Thanks again to everyone on here who helped me plan this vacation...I'm really glad I ended up at the Dolphin and can't wait to go back next year! (and the chocolate martini from the bar and the Slushies from France in Epcot were absolutely amazing BTW! )

Just back from a week in San Antonio, so I am behind on my "reading"!

So happy you had a good time!!! You can now see what I mean about "people watching" in the Dolphin lobby with an espresso martini! Glad you liked the France 'slushies" too. lol

We loved the restaurants! I think they beat those "across the pond" hands down. We ate at Il Mulino, Bluezoo, Shula's on Easter and had a few lunches at Cabanas by the pool. All meals were fantastic and could not find a flaw with the service either. The buttermilk chicken caeser at Cabana's was fabulous! Drinks were a bit pricey (13.00 mojitos and 9.00 draft domestic beers) by the pool but we saw a number of people bringing their own coolers and they did not seem to have a problem.

My 'negative' thoughts - our room (11th flr West Building) was not once made up before 4pm. .

I'm glad you enjoyed the restaurants! As an "Italian Food Snob" , I thought Il Mulino was FABULOUS!

Just a suggestion for "next time", regarding the late housekeeping... I always call housekeeping when we leave early in the day - I let them know we are leaving the room & would like it cleaned early. They always honor the request. Sometimes I think they really appreicate the notification, so that they don't need to wait for people to vacate their room. I especially do it if we are heading to a waterpark, as we tend to do that early, then want to come back by 3pm and get ready for the evening with showers, etc.

 

[Mazzy]

Back from our stay at the Dolphin the week before Easter. Aside from an issue with they day manager at check in we loved the hotel and location. We arrived early and our room was not ready, which I expected. We went to MK for a while and received a call when the room was ready. We went back around 3:30 and found we had been given the lovely loading dock view. This would have been OK since we did book a standard view, but the room smelled very musty. A musty room should never be acceptable, plus I have a child with Asthma. The day manager was rude and refused to move us. She said not one other room was available for the next 2 days. We were finally able to speak with another manager who admitted there was another room available overlooking the parking lot. Fine, I just wanted a clean, odor free room and should not have had to fight for that.
The "new" room did not smell at all and was clean and very comfortable. Plenty of storage and the beds and pillows were awesome! I need to order some of those pillows! The pool was gorgeous and we used it almost every afternoon. A few more pool chairs would have been nice, but we were there at a very busy time, so it is probably not an issue normally. We only ate at Picabu for sandwiches/salads and The Fountain and found them both to be just what we needed.
Loved the location and easy access to EPCOT, DS and the Boardwalk.
We would surely consider staying here again. I just hope we do not have to deal with that manager again.
Thanks for all the info and help on this thread!

Sorry to hear you had a problem with the day manager, we have always found the staff at the Dolphin really friendly and accommodating, so hopefully it was a one off! Glad you enjoyed your stay and would consider going back, the Dolphin is our favourite out of all the properties we've stayed at at WDW, with French Quarter coming second, mainly for it's shady pool area.

 

[Mazzy]

Just a suggestion for "next time", regarding the late housekeeping... I always call housekeeping when we leave early in the day - I let them know we are leaving the room & would like it cleaned early. They always honor the request. Sometimes I think they really appreicate the notification, so that they don't need to wait for people to vacate their room. I especially do it if we are heading to a waterpark, as we tend to do that early, then want to come back by 3pm and get ready for the evening with showers, etc.

We always call housekeeping every morning as well, and our room has always been ready when we've come back from the parks in the afternoon.

 

[Sam345]

Oh my gosh. I posted a few days ago re: my excitement about the Dolphin being booked for months and then finally opening up for my dates next week. To recap, I am doing a split stay. My first 2 nights are at POP on a pin code (dirt cheap!) so I can get ME coming in and save some money. Then, as of this morning I was booked at Dolphin on a SPG rewards stay for my 3rd night and then the gov't rate of $159 the next 4 nights. I was really happy with that.

Well, I just checked the S/D website for fun this morning and they were running a sale where if you prepay, my last 4 nights are now listed at $129 standard rate!!! I called and they were able to change my reservation for me because I am still more than five days out. Moral of the story... even if your trip is set, it doesn't hurt to keep checking the website for Disney magic!!!

 

[Mazzy]

Oh my gosh. I posted a few days ago re: my excitement about the Dolphin being booked for months and then finally opening up for my dates next week. To recap, I am doing a split stay. My first 2 nights are at POP on a pin code (dirt cheap!) so I can get ME coming in and save some money. Then, as of this morning I was booked at Dolphin on a SPG rewards stay for my 3rd night and then the gov't rate of $159 the next 4 nights. I was really happy with that.

Well, I just checked the S/D website for fun this morning and they were running a sale where if you prepay, my last 4 nights are now listed at $129 standard rate!!! I called and they were able to change my reservation for me because I am still more than five days out. Moral of the story... even if your trip is set, it doesn't hurt to keep checking the website for Disney magic!!!

Well Done!! So pleased to hear that you managed to get booked in AND get such a great rate as well, that's amazing! Will this be your fist stay at the Dolphin?

 

[Sam345]

Well Done!! So pleased to hear that you managed to get booked in AND get such a great rate as well, that's amazing! Will this be your fist stay at the Dolphin?

Yes... I have stayed at the Swan twice, but it's my first time at the Dolphin I think I will love it... especially for this price! Even when I was at the Swan, I did much of my dining and shopping at the Dolphin.

 

[Mazzy]

Yes... I have stayed at the Swan twice, but it's my first time at the Dolphin I think I will love it... especially for this price! Even when I was at the Swan, I did much of my dining and shopping at the Dolphin.

We've never stayed at the Swan, but love the Dolphin for the convenience of having Picabu, Ice Cream counter, laundry and when the kids were younger, the kids club, all under the same roof. Hope you have a fantastic time, make sure you come back and tell us all about it!

 

[lovingthemouse]

Hey Dan Murphy - are you having a magical time?

 

[lvdis]

Thank you As for the teacher rate, I wish we could search that rate online. I'm trying to determine if AAA or teacher rate would be cheaper in July, but I'd hate to call and monopolize their time by having them search multiple room categories for each and then tell them I have to call back after I speak to my family

I just found this link for the teachers rate. http://swandolphin.com/offers/teachers/index.html
It looks like the special rate code used is TEACH1

 

[SRUAlmn]

I just found this link for the teachers rate. http://swandolphin.com/offers/teachers/index.html
It looks like the special rate code used is TEACH1

Oh my gosh!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!! You're awesome!!!!

 

[teacher31]

Oh my gosh!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!! You're awesome!!!!

I found that doesn't typically work. Try doing it and putting in the govt. rate. Then, call and change it over to the teacher rate. It's the same. Also, if you check it straight through the swananddolphin.com website you will get a different amount than if you go through starwood.com. And if you call, you'll get the best rate. Confusing huh?