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

[tuckerkeys]

OK so, I have a friend who just returned from the swan & dolphin......( swan)

It was his 6th time there...

when I asked him if they were charging the new parking rate & how he felt about it he told me that he parked across the street at the mini golf place/tennis courts to avoid the fees...and his car remained there the whole trip. Here's the kicker.....The check-in person told him to do this to avoid the fee! Anyone else ever get this before or even do this? I have heard of complimentary parking before but never this....???

 

[vicb]

We stayed at the Dolphin over president's/mardi gras week this year and we had a 15th floor resort view for $260 a night with teacher discount including all fees. We could have paid $20.00 less per night with a standard view.

That is just about what I am paying for the same view, all fees for Easter Week this year. I don't qualify for any of the govt or teacher rates but got a AAA rate of $253, resort view, all fees included. I booked very early (like 9 months out), the price dropped once so I upgraded from limited view to resort view for basically same price. I am quite pleased with this rate compared to BC/YC and BWI rates for that holiday week.

Looking forward to my first Dolphin stay!!

 

[Rosanne]

OK so, I have a friend who just returned from the swan & dolphin......( swan)

It was his 6th time there...

when I asked him if they were charging the new parking rate & how he felt about it he told me that he parked across the street at the mini golf place/tennis courts to avoid the fees...and his car remained there the whole trip. Here's the kicker.....The check-in person told him to do this to avoid the fee! Anyone else ever get this before or even do this? I have heard of complimentary parking before but never this....???

I've never stayed there before (first trip coming up soon!) but it sounds so odd. I mean, I would LOVE to save the $$ on parking if this were truly and officially okay but I wonder if it was just one person giving advice that worked out for your friend but isn't really really okay. (I'm not saying it wasn't okay for your friend to follow his advice, just saying that I wonder if he was really supposed to give that advice).

 

[Kar44]

That is just about what I am paying for the same view, all fees for Easter Week this year. I don't qualify for any of the govt or teacher rates but got a AAA rate of $253, resort view, all fees included. I booked very early (like 9 months out), the price dropped once so I upgraded from limited view to resort view for basically same price. I am quite pleased with this rate compared to BC/YC and BWI rates for that holiday week.

Looking forward to my first Dolphin stay!!

That is a good rate! You really can't beat the rates they offer at peak times. Not to mention being in the Epcot area. We were a little nervous about switching to the Dolphin but we weren't disappointed. We loved the cabana bar. We are going back in November and trying the Swan. Enjoy your stay!

 

[MBELSANTI]

Hi all,

I am going to have my first stay at Swan this upcoming June. I got a AAA rate that was only $400(incl tax, resort fee) more than Pop Century perferred room rate. Plus a $50 resort credit. Can anyone tell me more about the Swan. From what I remember is it the resort that is right accross the road from the BWV clown pool? Is it closer to Epcot/BW than Dolphin? Has anyone had groceries delivered there?

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

106 Days from today we (me, DH and DS16) will be checking into the Swan. We are only staying 2 nights just to get a feel for the resort and hoping we will feel it. If that makes any sense. Haven't had my coffee yet.

 

[bear_mom]

45 DAYS!!!!

Tickets arrived yesterday, ordered from UT. Planning DVD came yesterday too.

Surprising dds with the 45 day countdown tonight.

Question: does anyone know what kind of coffee, specifically, they have in the rooms? I know it is Starbucks, but which one? Need to decide if I need to make sure we pick some up at the store if it isn't one of the dark roasts (gotta keep dh happy).

Emily

 

[olive]

Hi all,

I am going to have my first stay at Swan this upcoming June. I got a AAA rate that was only $400(incl tax, resort fee) more than Pop Century perferred room rate. Plus a $50 resort credit. Can anyone tell me more about the Swan. From what I remember is it the resort that is right accross the road from the BWV clown pool? Is it closer to Epcot/BW than Dolphin? Has anyone had groceries delivered there?

The Swan is just on the other side of the BW. The path to Hollywood studios is a bit closer to the Swan, as is the path to Epcot. We stayed in the Dolphin last May and had groceries delivered from Garden Grocer, but I read on here somewhere that Swan and Dolphin won't accept grocery deliveries anymore. Definitely look into that! Since I haven't stayed at Swan yet, someone else will have to provide more information on the hotel. I can say that between the two hotels, you have plenty of restaurant choices, and pools, as well. We loved the grotto pool in particular!

 

[TaraPA]

45 DAYS!!!!

Tickets arrived yesterday, ordered from UT. Planning DVD came yesterday too.

Surprising dds with the 45 day countdown tonight.

Question: does anyone know what kind of coffee, specifically, they have in the rooms? I know it is Starbucks, but which one? Need to decide if I need to make sure we pick some up at the store if it isn't one of the dark roasts (gotta keep dh happy).

Emily

I just took DH to the airport for a 2 week stay at Dolphin for work (can you say SPG POINTS YAHOO!) - I'll ask him once he's checked in. If he forgets, I'm heading down next week & will check for you.

Last time I was at S/D a year ago, I know the decaf was Fair Trade Blend Melange which is a bold coffee...I forget what the regular was - I want to say something African? I don't know if they offer different choices, or if they've changed the flavors since then.

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

45 DAYS!!!!

Tickets arrived yesterday, ordered from UT. Planning DVD came yesterday too.

Surprising dds with the 45 day countdown tonight.

Question: does anyone know what kind of coffee, specifically, they have in the rooms? I know it is Starbucks, but which one? Need to decide if I need to make sure we pick some up at the store if it isn't one of the dark roasts (gotta keep dh happy).

Emily

How exciting for you all especially your DDs when they find out. I would not be able to contain myself. Get the camera ready for the looks on their faces. Happy dance for you.

 

[LexiC123]

45 DAYS!!!!

Tickets arrived yesterday, ordered from UT. Planning DVD came yesterday too.

Surprising dds with the 45 day countdown tonight.

Question: does anyone know what kind of coffee, specifically, they have in the rooms? I know it is Starbucks, but which one? Need to decide if I need to make sure we pick some up at the store if it isn't one of the dark roasts (gotta keep dh happy).

Emily

My DH is a fan of strong coffee, and he liked this one:

 

[LexiC123]

I just took DH to the airport for a 2 week stay at Dolphin for work (can you say SPG POINTS YAHOO!) - I'll ask him once he's checked in. If he forgets, I'm heading down next week & will check for you.

Last time I was at S/D a year ago, I know the decaf was Fair Trade Blend Melange which is a bold coffee...I forget what the regular was - I want to say something African? I don't know if they offer different choices, or if they've changed the flavors since then.

Two weeks!! I want to work where he works. And yeah...that's a boatload of SPG points!

Lucky you, heading down next week. March must be the favorite month of the year in the TaraPA house!

 

[paras4ri]

I'll be there in 2 weeks but Tara will be there sooner. I don't remember what they've had on our previous stays but we are also dark roast fans and have always been happy with the choice in our room.

 

[NancyIL]

Hi all,

I am going to have my first stay at Swan this upcoming June. I got a AAA rate that was only $400(incl tax, resort fee) more than Pop Century perferred room rate. Plus a $50 resort credit. Can anyone tell me more about the Swan. From what I remember is it the resort that is right accross the road from the BWV clown pool? Is it closer to Epcot/BW than Dolphin? Has anyone had groceries delivered there?

The Swan is across the waterway from the BWI's clown pool, and that's why you cross over a bridge when walking from the Boardwalk to the Swan/Dolphin. Yes, the Boardwalk is closer to the Swan than to the Dolphin. I walk to Epcot via the Boardwalk, and I think it's a little bit faster to walk to Epcot from the Swan as well. Since the resort buses pick-up at the Swan before the Dolphin, you're more likely to get a seat in the morning - especially when going to the Magic Kingdom.

I LOVE the Swan, and I'll be there in 35 days for my almost-annual birthday trip!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Hi all,

I am going to have my first stay at Swan this upcoming June. I got a AAA rate that was only $400(incl tax, resort fee) more than Pop Century perferred room rate. Plus a $50 resort credit. Can anyone tell me more about the Swan. From what I remember is it the resort that is right accross the road from the BWV clown pool? Is it closer to Epcot/BW than Dolphin? Has anyone had groceries delivered there?

Yes, that is the one. It is slightly closer than the Dolphin, not a lot though.

 

[TaraPA]

My DH is a fan of strong coffee, and he liked this one:

THAT'S IT! I knew the word Africa was in it! Africa Kitamu. Love it!

Two weeks!! I want to work where he works. And yeah...that's a boatload of SPG points!

Lucky you, heading down next week. March must be the favorite month of the year in the TaraPA house!

I am sooo lucky, both last year & this year I got 2 trips to WDW in March. And each year one of the trips has been at the S/D!! DH said this conference is being moved to Vegas next year....bummer! He just called, he's mega grumpy, his flight was cancelled for mechanical reasons & he will now miss his connection. His checked bag was overweight but they didn't charge him the overage - at least that was a good thing. He's a Key Note speaker & of course didn't work on his speech earlier & now his laptop battery is about dead. The person aside of him on the flight (they made it to the runway before cancelling) spilled coffee on him. Let's hope this trip ends better than it starts!

 

[shmickdogs]

We leave a week from tomorrow for 3 nights at the Swan! The kids (6 and 8) are really excited.

We have dinner covered on Thursday and Friday, but any suggestions for Wednesday night? I realize this trip is more for the kids than us, so somewhere fun but with decent food? Doesn't necessarily have to have a show component...I also realize we might not be able to get reservations but just thought I would ask for suggestions...
Thanks!

 

[shmickdogs]

Ok, never mind, just made a reservation at Raglan Road, think the kids will love the music and dancing and DH will LOVE the food and beer!

 

[becky11]

We're registered for the Dolphin for W&D Half Marathon Weekend - 11/9-11/12!

 

[bear_mom]

My DH is a fan of strong coffee, and he liked this one:

Thanks, one less thing to worry about. Saved me buying two things: coffee and disposable cups.

Emily