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

[AggieTexan]

I have a question about the Swan/Dolphin...I'm not sure this is the right place for it, but I'm going to try anyway!

How did these non-Disney hotels come to be on-property in a prime location? Were they originally Disney-owned and operated, or have they always been run independently?

Thanks!

 

[ireland_nicole]

Yeah- I just changed up our Nov.2011 ressies to add a day- sure it's Thanksgiving weekend, but at $149/night (gotta love the nurses rate) I'm happy to have a hotel day We'll be arriving the 25th and will probably split our stay about 1/2 through for better proximity to DtD and because DD has been dying for beneigts at POFQ (plus, it'll b nice to try out the refurbed rooms lol.) Anyway, just wanted to say thanks again for those who do such a great job maintaining this thread- and look forward to keeping up with everyone elses trips while I wait for mine!

 

[summersalt]

Hi AggieTexan,

There is a really good article that explains this very question on allears.net.
I will try to post the link. Hopefully, it works.

http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2010/09/swan_dolphin_part_three.html

 

[AggieTexan]

Hi AggieTexan,

There is a really good article that explains this very question on allears.net.
I will try to post the link. Hopefully, it works.

http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2010/09/swan_dolphin_part_three.html

Thanks! That's a very interesting story!

 

[maserd]

In three days my & family and I will be arriving at the Dolphin for a long awaited vacation!! One last question - listed under the standard room amenities beside, hairdryer, mirror I noticed it listed bathrobe. I never noticed this before, is this something new, do you need to request a bathrobe? My own bathrobe is way too bulky to fit into a suitcase.

 

[Dominus]

I'm pleased to announce our first stay at the Dolphin is only 9 short months away.

 

[vital]

Hello everyone! I've been reading reviews on another site and have seen bad reviews over and over again. These were written about recent stays. My DS11 is dying to stay here and I was looking forward to it as well. Here are my concerns:

1. There seems to be a theme of musty smells and nasty rooms. I'm not expecting a penthouse suite, but I don't want to be in a stinking room either. I sneeze a lot whenever I'm around perfume (I guess my nurse nose is used to nasty smells) and don't want to sneeze my vacation away because too much air freshener was used trying to cover up a stench.

2. I also read several reviews stating their card was overcharged for this and that. People were also complaining about parking lots being full and the resort fee.

I'm FAR from high-mantenance, but this is a mother/son trip and I wanted to stay somewhere other than ASMo for a change. My other choice is POFQ. I really wanted to stay here because of the location and the nurse rate.

Also, other than bed size, is there really that much difference between the two hotels?

Can someone please convince me that these people were the exception and not the rule?

Thank you so much!

 

[tink7736]

We just returned today from a 7 nite stay at The Swan. We had no issues with moldy smells, and I am allergic to mold so it would have really affected me. I have read about people having issues with moldy smells. If I was placed in a room that had that issue, I would ask to be moved. They are more than accommodating there. Employees are very nice and professional.
We had no issues with parking, although the lot was pretty full when we arrived due to a convention.
There is a mandatory resort fee of 10.00 per nite. The rates there are so much less than a Disney deluxe that doesn't bother me. It does include 2 bottles of water daily which I do drink.
Had an excellent stay. Clean, comfortable, easy access to Epcot/DHS/Boardwalk, it's an amazing hotel.

 

[vital]

We just returned today from a 7 nite stay at The Swan. We had no issues with moldy smells, and I am allergic to mold so it would have really affected me. I have read about people having issues with moldy smells. If I was placed in a room that had that issue, I would ask to be moved. They are more than accommodating there. Employees are very nice and professional.
We had no issues with parking, although the lot was pretty full when we arrived due to a convention.
There is a mandatory resort fee of 10.00 per nite. The rates there are so much less than a Disney deluxe that doesn't bother me. It does include 2 bottles of water daily which I do drink.
Had an excellent stay. Clean, comfortable, easy access to Epcot/DHS/Boardwalk, it's an amazing hotel.

Thank you so much for your quick reply! Did you notice if they were doing renovations?

Looking forward to other's opinions as well!

 

[tink7736]

Didn't see any renovations. I had read prior to going that they were renovating the parking lot, didn't notice anything.
You will love it there. The pools are really nice, rooms are quiet, beds are super comfy. We prefer the Swan, seems quieter, we travel just the two of us, no kids. It is an extra walk to the buffeteria for a quick bite or drink at The Dolphin if that's a concern. Not really far, just not in the same building.

 

[Dan Murphy]

As to renovations, with the size of the resorts, I would say there are room renovations going on on a rather constant basis somewhere in the hotels.

 

[vital]

Thank y'all so much! I bit the bullet and booked 7 nights at the Dolphin! I asked the reservationist (is that a word?) about renovations and she said there were 3 more floors that needed to be completed.

 

[RaySharpton]

Hello everyone.

If anyone is interested in having a DIS Meet and Greet at the Dolphin Resort Lobby's Christmas Tree Lighting, I have set up a link below to the DIS Meet Forums below.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2583119

We haven't set a particular date or time, yet.

I have just requested ideas and when everyone might be available or what might be a good time and a good place to meet and greet.

And if you have any ideas for other meets, please suggest them at the link above or just start a new DIS meet that you would like.

Things may change as the time gets closer and that is O.K..

But it sure is fun to plan a DIS Meet and Greet.

I'll also have my computer at WDW at Pop Century and at the Dolphin Resort to keep updated with the thread.

While at WDW, if anyone would like photos of certain things while I am there, or just onsite answers to your questions, I will try to take photos or get answers for you and post them.

I have some of my park days and restaurant plans made, but I am still planning.

Eventually, I'll post what day I will be at what park or restaurant if you have specific requests and if I am at that particular place that day and can get an answer for you.

I know that sometimes I try to get online late at night after getting back from the parks and other times I may just be too tired to get online until an off day in the morning or a rainy day.

So I volunteer to be your online reporter and photographer although I am not very good at either of these jobs, I'll do my best.

I'll be at Pop Century Resort from November 29th to December 10th.

Then I'll be at the Dolphin Resort from December 11th to December 16th.

I can't wait to be at the Dolphin Resort. I am so excited. I just had to treat myself.

I'll also searching for the other DIS meets during my stay to see if I can make them.

I am also planning on attending many of the AllEars.Net Meet and Greets, too.

So just give me time to decide what my schedule of park days and what other resorts that I am going to visit to see holiday decorations. And you can be planning what questions and photos you would like me to answer and/or take .

Sound like fun?

Of course you can ask anything now about the two resorts that I will be staying at since I will actually be staying there everyday.

 

[rie'smom]

Hello everyone! I've been reading reviews on another site and have seen bad reviews over and over again. These were written about recent stays. My DS11 is dying to stay here and I was looking forward to it as well. Here are my concerns:

1. There seems to be a theme of musty smells and nasty rooms. I'm not expecting a penthouse suite, but I don't want to be in a stinking room either. I sneeze a lot whenever I'm around perfume (I guess my nurse nose is used to nasty smells) and don't want to sneeze my vacation away because too much air freshener was used trying to cover up a stench.

2. I also read several reviews stating their card was overcharged for this and that. People were also complaining about parking lots being full and the resort fee.

I'm FAR from high-mantenance, but this is a mother/son trip and I wanted to stay somewhere other than ASMo for a change. My other choice is POFQ. I really wanted to stay here because of the location and the nurse rate.

Also, other than bed size, is there really that much difference between the two hotels?

Can someone please convince me that these people were the exception and not the rule?

Thank you so much!

1. I am high maintenance and have never smelled musty rooms at the S/D. Don't ask me about the Poly though. My husband has horrible allergies-no problems. There's no way we'd return year after year. In fact, we're going back next month.

2. Once I did have an overcharge but it was fixed in 2 seconds when I went to the desk.
It has happened at Disney resorts as well- being charged for parking when we had no car, $3000 honor bar charges It was taken care of quickly at those resorts too.

Differences besides bed size:

Swan is smaller.
Dolphin has Picabu which my daughter loves.

 

[cinderella'smommy]

Hello---we are going to be at the Swan in early April, and I had a couple of questions about how the boat works to EPCOT.

1. Can you get in at rope drop from the International Gateway? Or do you have to be at the front of the park?

2. After Illuminations, how crowded are the boats for getting back to the Swan?

Thanks!
K.

 

[MOM POPPINS]

Yes you can rope drop at International Gateway.

The boats are not too bad of a wait, but we usally walk, it's a really easy walk back.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Hello---we are going to be at the Swan in early April, and I had a couple of questions about how the boat works to EPCOT.

1. Can you get in at rope drop from the International Gateway? Or do you have to be at the front of the park?

2. After Illuminations, how crowded are the boats for getting back to the Swan?

Thanks!
K.

Yes, you go by way of Int'l Gateway. Generally, a CM will bring people to near the fountain area and from there let the mobs loose.

The boats can be a bit crowded, obviously depending on the time you go. I have never had to wait for more than one boat. I do like to hang behind a bit, soaking up the post Illuminations' atmosphere, the music, the people watching, then get over to the boats before 10 PM, last boat time.

 

[ireland_nicole]

This may be the wrong thread, but hoping y'all might be able to answer a quick question- is there either a. guest relations at IG or b. a bus around to the front of Epcot from the s/d? I know it's probably a "dumb" question, but I'm just wondering about getting our tickets, as we won't be able to get them at check in like we previously did at Disney resorts, and we want to go to Epcot our first day.
TIA!

 

[MOM POPPINS]

Yes there is a Ticket counter at International Gateway!

 

[ireland_nicole]

Yes there is a Ticket counter at International Gateway!

Wow- that was fast, thank you so much! Do you know if it is a guest relations location? We need a gac, and you need guest relations for that- although we could go through Epcot and take care of it in FW if needed once we bought our tickets at IG.