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

[jnfr2424]

Ok...I'm officially jealous of all of you!

The only thing that will make me feel better is the promise of full reports - with photos - when you all get back!

Deal!!!

But when your heading home we will be arriving or waiting too arrive!

Sorry had to give it back to you seriously thou, have a great trip.

LOL that is so true Mike and Thanks!

 

[Mom-2-2Princesses]

Hi everyone! Only 2 weeks till our first stay at the Dolphin! We are very excited, but I had one more question... We have reservations for the Spirit of Aloha show at the Poly, and I wondered if I could pick up my tickets anywhere at the Dolphin? Can the Dolphin Concierge print those for me? Or do I need to stop at Guest Services at the Int'l Gateway? Thanks in advance!

 

[jnfr2424]

Hi everyone! Only 2 weeks till our first stay at the Dolphin! We are very excited, but I had one more question... We have reservations for the Spirit of Aloha show at the Poly, and I wondered if I could pick up my tickets anywhere at the Dolphin? Can the Dolphin Concierge print those for me? Or do I need to stop at Guest Services at the Int'l Gateway? Thanks in advance!

Haven't done that show in a long time and when I did I had to get the tickets @ Poly but there is a Disney desk @ the Dolphin. you probably could get the tickets there. Have a great time!

 

[TinkerBe11]

The 2 balcony rooms are standard rooms (at least some of them), though some may be classified as Epcot or Park view instead of resort view. I lucked into one when I stayed there during a conference, and couldn't believe my good fortune. The 2nd balcony is huge! It was the top balcony room at the end of the wing closest to and overlooking Epcot. In my book, that has to be THE best standard room in the place. (Was that your room?) I felt a little guilty since I was just there by myself... but not TOO guilty to give it up.

I totally agree...it was by far one of the best rooms I have had, even better than some of the pricier Disney preferred rooms I have stayed in. I was located at the end of the east wing facing HWS. I paid for a resort room view with a balcony, but I still can't believe that a room like that would be "standard". That is why I asked if it was an alcove or special named room. It was so perfect BTW...I wouldn't given my room up either lol.

 

[McKelly]

I have read on the S/D website that they put a freeeze on your debit/credit card for the total amount of your stay plus 40% of "anticipated" incidentals. If I have prepaid the reservation, do they still put a hold on my credit card for the entire amount? They shouldn't, right? And does anybody know what their "anticipated amount" is? Thanks!

ETA: I spoke with reservations, but the girl didn't seem 100% certain. She said, they SHOULDN'T put a hold for the full reservation amount and she THINKS the hold is for $100.00.

Can anybody who has stayed recently confirm this?

 

[vital]

I have read on the S/D website that they put a freeeze on your debit/credit card for the total amount of your stay plus 40% of "anticipated" incidentals. If I have prepaid the reservation, do they still put a hold on my credit card for the entire amount? They shouldn't, right? And does anybody know what their "anticipated amount" is? Thanks!

ETA: I spoke with reservations, but the girl didn't seem 100% certain. She said, they SHOULDN'T put a hold for the full reservation amount and she THINKS the hold is for $100.00.

Can anybody who has stayed recently confirm this?

I was there last week. I didn't want to use my room key to charge things so there was no hold placed on my card. I believe the hold is used only if you plan on charging to your room so they'll be covered.

 

[Belle83]

I have read on the S/D website that they put a freeeze on your debit/credit card for the total amount of your stay plus 40% of "anticipated" incidentals. If I have prepaid the reservation, do they still put a hold on my credit card for the entire amount? They shouldn't, right? And does anybody know what their "anticipated amount" is? Thanks!

ETA: I spoke with reservations, but the girl didn't seem 100% certain. She said, they SHOULDN'T put a hold for the full reservation amount and she THINKS the hold is for $100.00.

Can anybody who has stayed recently confirm this?

I prepaid (through travelocity) so they put a $100 hold on my debit card. It was $100 because it was prepaid. This was just last week.

 

[McKelly]

I prepaid (through travelocity) so they put a $100 hold on my debit card. It was $100 because it was prepaid. This was just last week.

Thanks. I was thinking of using my debit card too, that's why I wanted to know how much of a hold would be put on there. I was reading on some other websites that people were charged the full amount even though they prepaid and that didn't sound right - must have been an error. But now the damage is done and my paranoia has set in. I think I will just use a credit card. Thanks for the help.

 

[jlcd]

Hi everyone! Only 2 weeks till our first stay at the Dolphin! We are very excited, but I had one more question... We have reservations for the Spirit of Aloha show at the Poly, and I wondered if I could pick up my tickets anywhere at the Dolphin? Can the Dolphin Concierge print those for me? Or do I need to stop at Guest Services at the Int'l Gateway? Thanks in advance!

Hi, we were just there in April and they could not print our Hoop De Doo tix for us. I went to Guest Services in the Magic Kingdom and had it done there. Whatever Guest Service desk is easiest for you to get to should work. Have a great trip!

 

[4orm]

We just changed out reservation to Oct 4-9 in a Swan deluxe alcove room. Can anyone please tell me about them? What kind of views do they have? Any area in particular I should request? I'd love to face the Boardwalk if there are any that do. And, of course, if you have pictures please post em!

 

[LexiC123]

We just changed out reservation to Oct 4-9 in a Swan deluxe alcove room. Can anyone please tell me about them? What kind of views do they have? Any area in particular I should request? I'd love to face the Boardwalk if there are any that do. And, of course, if you have pictures please post em!

I just linked to my pics of an alcove room on the S/D picture thread, here.

We were in Room 592, which was a deluxe alcove room in the west wing. The room had a balcony and a view of the Boardwalk/Y&BC area. If we had been on the other side of the hall, we would have had a resort view, looking towards the Dolphin and the Grotto pool area.

If you look on this Bing map, our room was just to the right of the Swan entrance rotunda, on the 5th floor.

There are also alcove rooms without balconies located on either end of the main part of the building. But with these rooms you run the risk of being assigned a room that overlooks the roof, or worse...the loading dock.

If the view is important to you, I would also request a room on a higher floor (5th floor or above), to avoid having the view blocked by the trees adjacent to the east wing.

I also want to mention that if you're not happy with your room assignment, by all means call down to the front desk and let them know. You're going during a busy time (Food & Wine), so I'm not sure how full the hotel will be, but I've found that they're usually really good about trying to accommodate your needs.

 

[4orm]

Awesome Lexi! Thanks so much!
We've staying in a very similar location but the Epcot ball wasn't visible as we were just a few rooms down from the elevator in the same wing. We could see fireworks from our balcony just over roof. I hope we get a similar view! Looks great!

 

[SingingMom]

Just checking in and catching up.... first time in FIVE years I'm not planning a June Dolphin stay but, don't be too sad for me - getting ready for a Bermuda cruise in a Royal Suite with a butler to celebrate our 25th anniversary!

I am so happy to see how many new people have tried the Dolphin/Swan and now see why all of us "oldtimers" love it so much!!

Glad you enjoyed your trips and to the ones about to go - have fun and have an espresso martini for me!!

 

[LexiC123]

Awesome Lexi! Thanks so much!
We've staying in a very similar location but the Epcot ball wasn't visible as we were just a few rooms down from the elevator in the same wing. We could see fireworks from our balcony just over roof. I hope we get a similar view! Looks great!

You're quite welcome! Keeping my fingers crossed that you get the view you're hoping for...

Just checking in and catching up.... first time in FIVE years I'm not planning a June Dolphin stay but, don't be too sad for me - getting ready for a Bermuda cruise in a Royal Suite with a butler to celebrate our 25th anniversary!

I am so happy to see how many new people have tried the Dolphin/Swan and now see why all of us "oldtimers" love it so much!!

Glad you enjoyed your trips and to the ones about to go - have fun and have an espresso martini for me!!

That cruise sounds wonderful. Happy Anniversary!

 

[Belle83]

I noticed that disney copyrighted the swan and dolphin logos. What exactly is the whole history behind the hotel? I know michael graves designed it, and I thought that was with disney (rather than just the design being approved by disney)? Why does disney offer all the perks to people staying at swan/dolphin and list the hotel on their website? Aren't there hotels in downtown disney that get extra magic hours now, too...why are those treated differently than swan/dolphin?

I'm just curious. I love the hotels, but they sure stick out when you are looking around at everything nearby.

 

[Dan Murphy]

http://www.mouseplanet.com/8152/Understanding_the_Swan_and_Dolphin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disney_World_Swan#History

Maybe something here also......

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=a91b69f6bd0a7737

 

[GinCar]

We returned Thursday night from our first ever Swan/Dolphin stay. It was just me and DH for an anniversary trip.

We stayed in the Dolphin, room 14134. It was a corner room, no balcony. We had views of MK (great fireworks view).
When the CM escorted us to our room, he seemed a little sad for us- he said "you know, you can switch rooms in a couple of days when we are not so booked."
It was odd, because we were thrilled with the view and room. I would have liked a balcony, but it was not worth moving for us.

I enjoyed the feel and smells of the Dolphin. We ate at Picabu a couple of times and thought it was great for counter service. We ate at The Fountain and found it a little disappointing with what we ordered (Ruebens).
We tried Garden Grove- the food was great, service was great, typical Disney pricing- $30.00 per person.

We spent LOTS of time at the pool and loved it. Even when it was packed over Memorial Day weekend, we always found a couple of loungers. The pool was my favorite part of the resort.

Great trip, great memories. When my family of five go again, we will consider this resort. (Our next trip is just four of us, so we will stay at POFQ.)

Thanks for all who contribute to this thread.

 

[TaraPA]

Thanks for the nice review GinCar!!!!!

 

[Music City Mama]

We returned Thursday night from our first ever Swan/Dolphin stay. It was just me and DH for an anniversary trip.

We stayed in the Dolphin, room 14134. It was a corner room, no balcony. We had views of MK (great fireworks view).
When the CM escorted us to our room, he seemed a little sad for us- he said "you know, you can switch rooms in a couple of days when we are not so booked."
It was odd, because we were thrilled with the view and room. I would have liked a balcony, but it was not worth moving for us.

I enjoyed the feel and smells of the Dolphin. We ate at Picabu a couple of times and thought it was great for counter service. We ate at The Fountain and found it a little disappointing with what we ordered (Ruebens).
We tried Garden Grove- the food was great, service was great, typical Disney pricing- $30.00 per person.

We spent LOTS of time at the pool and loved it. Even when it was packed over Memorial Day weekend, we always found a couple of loungers. The pool was my favorite part of the resort.

Great trip, great memories. When my family of five go again, we will consider this resort. (Our next trip is just four of us, so we will stay at POFQ.)

Thanks for all who contribute to this thread.

Glad you enjoyed it. We'll be there for our first visit in just a few days -- can't wait!

 

[ScotScroogeMcDuck]

Hi, I've got a query about the swan/dolphin I wondered if someone could help with - looking at their website they include high speed internet in the mandatory resort fee - does that inlcude wifi?

Thanks!