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

[Pooh&OurHunny]

ENJOY.

Don't forget, when you sign up on restaurant.com, they will always email you the new codes as they come out.

Thank you so much

Do you know how long it takes to get the certificates in the mail?

 

[rie'smom]

Thanks rie'smom, we are planning on going to Disney next Thanksgiving. This will be our first time not going in the summer. We usually stay at the YC cause we have 2 adults and 3 kids so the day bed works great. I refuse to pay rack rate for the YC, but was hoping to get more than just a standard room at Swan or Dolphin. I was thinking a suite because I am a nurse and DH is a teacher. I figured maybe one of those discounts would apply and would be cheaper that YC rack rate. I love YC but man that would hurt to pay that much. We stayed at the Swan years ago when my boys were little, but a standard room would be really tight.

You're welcome! Have fun planning!!!

 

[PiperPizzaz]

Thank you so much

Do you know how long it takes to get the certificates in the mail?

I always print mine right out or you can print it later anytime. It will hold onto it for you. I don't know if they do 'real' certs.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Thank you so much

Do you know how long it takes to get the certificates in the mail?

I always print mine right out or you can print it later anytime. It will hold onto it for you. I don't know if they do 'real' certs.

As Piper said, you print them out right after your purchase, or anytime afterward. They are there until you use them. They do not mail. We just used one this week, for a local restaurant, purchased back in May of 2009. Printed it out before we left for the restaurant, it is now gone out of my account.


They are efficient. I received an email while we were still in the restaurant, to complete a survey, if I wanted to, on the restaurant, about 4 minutes after the waiter took the certificate from our table and processed it toward paying the bill. I did wait till we returned home to complete the survey, LOL.

 

[JToJerem]

Hello all! I have been following you all for about 2 months in preparation for our trip to the Dolphin in 2 weeks, and I must say your information posted has made for very interesting reading all the way from France. Thank you! I have a few questions to the experts: 1) As I'm using SPG free awards for my entire stay do I still have to pay the resort fee? 2) How far is it really to park and NOT use the valet service? I guess it's all relative but in terms of time would you say 5 - 10 mins or more to walk? 3) Does anyone have a suggestion as to which is better a Deluxe Alcove Room or Premium Studio keeping in mind 2 double beds necessary along with a balcony/view of epcot? If you have any suggestions as to specific room numbers that would be even more useful
Thanks all so much for any info.

 

[rw_hadley]

I heard there's a charge to park at the resort -- is this true?

Yes, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resorts charge for self-parking as well as valet parking. Self parking rate is $11 per day for resort guest and $12 per day for non guest per exit Valet is $16 per day

I was wondering how and when the parking fees are assessed? Do you have to pay each day at the lot? Or do you just let them know when you check in that you'll have a car you're parking?

TIA

 

[NancyIL]

I heard there's a charge to park at the resort -- is this true?

Yes, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resorts charge for self-parking as well as valet parking. Self parking rate is $11 per day for resort guest and $12 per day for non guest per exit Valet is $16 per day

I was wondering how and when the parking fees are assessed? Do you have to pay each day at the lot? Or do you just let them know when you check in that you'll have a car you're parking?

TIA

When you check-in, you'll be asked if you are parking a car, and the charge will be added to your bill. I believe the rate is $11 + 6.5% tax/day.

 

[NancyIL]

Hello all! I have been following you all for about 2 months in preparation for our trip to the Dolphin in 2 weeks, and I must say your information posted has made for very interesting reading all the way from France. Thank you! I have a few questions to the experts: 1) As I'm using SPG free awards for my entire stay do I still have to pay the resort fee? 2) How far is it really to park and NOT use the valet service? I guess it's all relative but in terms of time would you say 5 - 10 mins or more to walk? 3) Does anyone have a suggestion as to which is better a Deluxe Alcove Room or Premium Studio keeping in mind 2 double beds necessary along with a balcony/view of epcot? If you have any suggestions as to specific room numbers that would be even more useful
Thanks all so much for any info.

I can help you with one of your questions. When you book a room with SPG points, I think you still have to pay the $10.65/night resort fee. Plan on that, then be pleasantly surprised if I am wrong!

 

[jnfr2424]

I can help you with one of your questions. When you book a room with SPG points, I think you still have to pay the $10.65/night resort fee. Plan on that, then be pleasantly surprised if I am wrong!

You are correct as I just checked in for the weekend on free points and was advised about the resort fee

 

[ImprovGal]

So sorry to hear you weren't upgraded to a complimentary better view. I might have asked to speak to a manager, because unless it has changed, that member upgrade was always available to ALL members, not just Gold and above. Does anyone know if this has changed?

As Dan pointed out, Gold member benefits include upgrades to a "preferred" room and Platinum member benefits include upgrades to "best available room including standard select suites". Those base members who register via AAA (or have the AAA membership designation linked to their SPG membership) are at a level known as "Preferred Plus" and have the same upgrade benefit as Gold members. Please note that the definition of "preferred" room is very loose and wide open for interpretation.

As a Platinum member, I've found that my upgrades get pre-booked a couple of days or so before arrival and I'll see the change in room type on my online reservation. My recent stay at the Swan had an upgrade to a resort view room with balcony on the 4th floor but the resort was sold out during my stay so I was actually surprised to see an upgrade at all.

 

[ImprovGal]

I can help you with one of your questions. When you book a room with SPG points, I think you still have to pay the $10.65/night resort fee. Plan on that, then be pleasantly surprised if I am wrong!

Award rooms do get charged the $10/night resort fee ($10.65 including tax). However, if you are SPG Platinum, they waive the resort fee on any stay (but only for the room containing the Platinum member if you've got multiple rooms booked).

 

[atrumpet16]

We are having our first Dolphin stay in 2 weeks. So excited I have two questions for you guys...

1 - we've noticed that there is now a conference there 4 of our 7 days which wasn't there before. how will that affect us?

2 - our plan when we hit Epcot is to do Soarin right away with our 4 year old while the other parent takes the 18 month old on Nemo to wait Since we will be entering at the International gateway, how does that work? Is there a rope drop there as well? Will we have trouble getting to Soarin from there?

Thanks for the help!

 

[rie'smom]

We are having our first Dolphin stay in 2 weeks. So excited I have two questions for you guys...

1 - we've noticed that there is now a conference there 4 of our 7 days which wasn't there before. how will that affect us?

2 - our plan when we hit Epcot is to do Soarin right away with our 4 year old while the other parent takes the 18 month old on Nemo to wait Since we will be entering at the International gateway, how does that work? Is there a rope drop there as well? Will we have trouble getting to Soarin from there?

Thanks for the help!

Hi

1. The conference should have no effect except if you go to the coffee bar in the morning.

2. The rope drop at the International Gate usuall drops at the same time as the main rope drop. We usuall get a taxi though because those first few minutes make a BIG difference in riding Soarin'. It takes a few minutes more to reach Soarin' from the IG.

 

[summersalt]

I just noticed on my confirmation email that it says "lake view". Does this mean I may be able to see "Illuminations" from the room? The girls would love that!

 

[PaDisneyCouple]

We are having our first Dolphin stay in 2 weeks. So excited I have two questions for you guys...
2 - our plan when we hit Epcot is to do Soarin right away with our 4 year old while the other parent takes the 18 month old on Nemo to wait Since we will be entering at the International gateway, how does that work? Is there a rope drop there as well? Will we have trouble getting to Soarin from there?

Thanks for the help!

When we've stayed at the BC, including last year, we went through IG. I don't recall them opening it early, to account for the greater distance to the front of the park. What I do recall is that when we got to the Innoventions area, we were in a face off with all those coming from the front of the park. Both the IG and Main Gate guests were held, and then became as two mobs: 1 headed to Soarin', 1 headed to TT/MS. We experienced this on both Epcot days last fall. Neither side had any advantage.

Now, if you came through IG after park opening, you'd be behind anybody coming through the Main Gate at the same time.

 

[jnfr2424]

I just noticed on my confirmation email that it says "lake view". Does this mean I may be able to see "Illuminations" from the room? The girls would love that!

Maybe you might be facing Hollywood Studios instead of Epcot and you might not see Illuminations at all

 

[atrumpet16]

Thank you everyone for the help! We will just take the boat since we have two little ones and no car seats for a taxi. My plan right now is to hit Soarin first and then go over to Test Track. We'll see how it works But from everything I have read and researched, Soarin becomes a lot crazier a lot sooner than TT.

 

[atrumpet16]

Do we show our room keys when staying at SD for extra magic hours?

 

[ImprovGal]

Do we show our room keys when staying at SD for extra magic hours?

Yes, you show your SD room key at attractions for Extra Magic Hours.

 

[NancyIL]

Do we show our room keys when staying at SD for extra magic hours?

Everyone needs a room key for EMH - even kids.