The *NEW* SWAN & DOLPHIN RESORT Thread ~ April 2009 ~ Please read Post #1!

[TaraPA]

OOOOHHHH that gives me chills just thinking about it!!!!

LOL are those good chills or bad ones???

 

[viluvsdisney]

when I called tonight I was happily surprised we got a good rate for end of Feb into 1st week of March with AAA.....yay!

 

[toledo13]

lol are those good chills or bad ones???

good!!!!

 

[JackTwo]

I'm a bit confused and trying to get some clarification about the current status of fridges being installed in the rooms in the Dolphin wing. As I understand it, the Swan rooms have fridges, but the Dolphin rooms don't. It is my understanding that Dolphin rooms only have mini bars and you have to pay $$$ for the hotel to clear the mini bars so you can use it as a fridge during your stay.

Several people have posted here recently claiming that the Dolphin now has fridges just like the Swan. I called the Dolphin yesterday to confirm and was told that the rooms still have the mini bars (instead of fridges like the Swan).

Can somebody clarify what the true status of fridges in Dolphin rooms is?

Thanks.

 

[SingingMom]

I'm a bit confused and trying to get some clarification about the current status of fridges being installed in the rooms in the Dolphin wing. As I understand it, the Swan rooms have fridges, but the Dolphin rooms don't. It is my understanding that Dolphin rooms only have mini bars and you have to pay $$$ for the hotel to clear the mini bars so you can use it as a fridge during your stay.

Several people have posted here recently claiming that the Dolphin now has fridges just like the Swan. I called the Dolphin yesterday to confirm and was told that the rooms still have the mini bars (instead of fridges like the Swan).

Can somebody clarify what the true status of fridges in Dolphin rooms is?

Thanks.

We were just at the Dolphin from June 23 - July 1..... our room had a brand new fridge - with the warranty and instructions package still inside.
My parent's room, same floor, different wing, still had the minibar. I think they are in the process of changing them all over to fridges - but it has to take time - it's a BIG hotel!

 

[airhead]

The Dolphin will have a fridge in every room??? did I read that right???
That's always been the one thing I would change about the Dolphin. it never made sense to me that there was a min-bar instead of a little fridge. Now that's good news for us next summer!

 

[airhead]

Please click on this link to see a slideshow of our photos of the Dolphin and Swan from our May and June trips. We are in love with both hotels!!

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=zzymafc.bitby5f0&x=0&h=1&y=-n15i99&localeid=en_US

We LOVE the Dolphin! Thanks for posting these pictures. Can't wait for next summer!!

 

[vicb]

when I called tonight I was happily surprised we got a good rate for end of Feb into 1st week of March with AAA.....yay!

Do you mind sharing what you got? I have been looking on line and I only get "promo code not available". I assumed it was too early to book for that time frame. Did you call the hotel direct for just the SPG # ?

Usually the connecting rooms have 1 king bed and 2 Queen beds. Of course it doesn't hurt to contact the hotel and ask for what you want.

Thank you. That is actually what I was hoping for, kids get the 2 beds, adults the king. I know most hotels work that way but we recently stayed somewhere that both rooms were 2 doubles.

 

[annagirl]

Next time you're at WDW, walk through the Swan's lobby. That smell is White Tea.

Is that what it was? I thought it was fabreeze.

 

[annagirl]

I just got back and I have to say that I'm glad I didn't pay full price for staying here. We got a standard view room (read - looking at a rooftop) and I don't know what beds everyone had been talking about but ours felt just like regular hotel beds. And the bathroom was tiny!.

But, it was very clean, the service was excellent and the grotto pool was a lot of fun.

Next time I'm staying on real disney property.

The busses were very timely, tho. The longest wait we had was about 20 minutes for DTD. In fact, the morning we left must have been early hours for the magic kingdom because there was a MK bus every 5 minutes.

 

[Ramsfan28]

I just got back and I have to say that I'm glad I didn't pay full price for staying here. We got a standard view room (read - looking at a rooftop) and I don't know what beds everyone had been talking about but ours felt just like regular hotel beds. And the bathroom was tiny!.

But, it was very clean, the service was excellent and the grotto pool was a lot of fun.

Next time I'm staying on real disney property.

The busses were very timely, tho. The longest wait we had was about 20 minutes for DTD. In fact, the morning we left must have been early hours for the magic kingdom because there was a MK bus every 5 minutes.

You may have been in an older room - the beds at the Swan (and the Dolphin) are great IMHO. Since the Swan is a Westin property they have Westin's heavenly beds which I think are the best of any hotel chain.

 

[toledo13]

HURRAY!!!! Nordstrom has their Swan lobby scents on sale this weekend!!!!!


http://shop.nordstrom.com/SR?KeyWord=westin&CatID=6004676|At Home & Gifts&searchorigin=KeywordSearch




Still expensive, but cheaper!!

 

[SingingMom]

I just got back and I have to say that I'm glad I didn't pay full price for staying here. We got a standard view room (read - looking at a rooftop) and I don't know what beds everyone had been talking about but ours felt just like regular hotel beds. And the bathroom was tiny!.

But, it was very clean, the service was excellent and the grotto pool was a lot of fun.

Next time I'm staying on real disney property.

The busses were very timely, tho. The longest wait we had was about 20 minutes for DTD. In fact, the morning we left must have been early hours for the magic kingdom because there was a MK bus every 5 minutes.

Sorry you had a less than magical experience...
Are you an SPG member? Did you ask for an upgrade?

Do you prefer a firmer mattress? That might be the problem. These are on the smooshy side. We travel a lot and I have to say, the BEST bed we have ever had are when we stay at the Dolphin! (but we like a soft, feather bed type mattress)

 

[Pkdcoastrs]

I need to start this post off with a giant...

LOL

My family has gone to WDW and stayed at the Dolphin for a majority of our visits since 2001. Sometimes it was planned to stay at the Dolphin but sometimes it wasn't (not for bad reasons!!)... yet we at the last minute ended up staying there!

Well... it happened again! This trip includes a slight changing of participants, removing parents and inserting two friends. We had initially had a room booked at the Wilderness Lodge for four adults and one child, but once we found out that a fifth adult was coming plans HAD TO change!

Guess what resort is coming to the plate and will make this all work out??? Yup, the Dolphin it is!

We needed more room and the rates for a smaller suite/villa elsewhere doesn't make sense, but with TWO rooms at the discounted 'teachers' rate we will end up not spending more than our original reservation at the Wilderness Lodge!

I am excited to return like always, even better to show the resort to two people who have little or no visits to WDW!

Here we come!

 

[NancyIL]

Is that what it was? I thought it was fabreeze.

Febreeze?

I just got back and I have to say that I'm glad I didn't pay full price for staying here. We got a standard view room (read - looking at a rooftop) and I don't know what beds everyone had been talking about but ours felt just like regular hotel beds. And the bathroom was tiny!.

But, it was very clean, the service was excellent and the grotto pool was a lot of fun.

Next time I'm staying on real disney property.

The busses were very timely, tho. The longest wait we had was about 20 minutes for DTD. In fact, the morning we left must have been early hours for the magic kingdom because there was a MK bus every 5 minutes.

The bathrooms in the deluxe resorts on "real Disney property" have a toilet and tub in one room and a double sink outside - as I recall. The Swan has a sink inside the bathroom and another one outside - which I prefer. I'll stay on real Disney property in December at the Wilderness Lodge, due to a discounted group rate and a roommate to split the cost. I hope to like it a lot, especially since it will be holiday time, but I'll miss my beloved Swan.

 

[annagirl]

Sorry you had a less than magical experience...
Are you an SPG member? Did you ask for an upgrade?

Do you prefer a firmer mattress? That might be the problem. These are on the smooshy side. We travel a lot and I have to say, the BEST bed we have ever had are when we stay at the Dolphin! (but we like a soft, feather bed type mattress)

Well it wasn't a 'magical' experience but the hotel was still quite nice. These beds were not smooshy at all - I have a tempurpedic bed here at home and that is smooshy - this was just a regular mattress.

I am an SPG member but at the rate I got there was no upgrade. I guess when you get a cheap rate you get the cheap room.

But there was value in having the busses there - and the launch to Epcot. Like I said, the pool was great - DD loved the slide and the waterfall.

 

[MOM POPPINS]

I need to start this post off with a giant...

LOL

My family has gone to WDW and stayed at the Dolphin for a majority of our visits since 2001. Sometimes it was planned to stay at the Dolphin but sometimes it wasn't (not for bad reasons!!)... yet we at the last minute ended up staying there!

Well... it happened again! This trip includes a slight changing of participants, removing parents and inserting two friends. We had initially had a room booked at the Wilderness Lodge for four adults and one child, but once we found out that a fifth adult was coming plans HAD TO change!

Guess what resort is coming to the plate and will make this all work out??? Yup, the Dolphin it is!

We needed more room and the rates for a smaller suite/villa elsewhere doesn't make sense, but with TWO rooms at the discounted 'teachers' rate we will end up not spending more than our original reservation at the Wilderness Lodge!

I am excited to return like always, even better to show the resort to two people who have little or no visits to WDW!

Here we come!

When are you going? Have another great trip!

 

[MOM POPPINS]

Well it wasn't a 'magical' experience but the hotel was still quite nice. These beds were not smooshy at all - I have a tempurpedic bed here at home and that is smooshy - this was just a regular mattress.

I am an SPG member but at the rate I got there was no upgrade. I guess when you get a cheap rate you get the cheap room.

But there was value in having the busses there - and the launch to Epcot. Like I said, the pool was great - DD loved the slide and the waterfall.

Location, Location, Location it's one of the very best perks of the Swan/Dolphin resort. I think a nice view makes all the difference, at least for me it does.

 

[SideshowBob]

The Dolphin will have a fridge in every room??? did I read that right???
That's always been the one thing I would change about the Dolphin. it never made sense to me that there was a min-bar instead of a little fridge. Now that's good news for us next summer!

Yes... they have now been installed in all rooms at the Dolphin.

Hope that all have a great weekend!


SSB

 

[figment82]

when I called tonight I was happily surprised we got a good rate for end of Feb into 1st week of March with AAA.....yay!

The rate that comes up on the website is ~$223.20 for the cheapest room with the AAA discount for end of february into early march ($261.10 after taxes and fees)

If you don't mind me asking, was that around what you got? I want to book for April 2010, but not unless they offer the great rates they had for this year - here's hoping!