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

[PrincessAtta]

A few years back I was making a reservation and going through a list of possible discounts and the agent stopped me at AAA saying that it's always the best discount outside of the govt/educator.

 

[mollygirl13]

We have already booked the Dolphin for $149/nt. with the educator discount for Dec. 18-24, but we are interested in another stay between Dec. 28-Jan. 1. The S/D reservation agent said that the week between Christmas and NYE is blacked out this year. (We have used it during this time frame in prior years.) Does anyone remember what the best rates were for the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve last year?

Thanks for any information about this time period and possible discounts!

We recently stayed at The Dolphin from December 30-January 4th. When we originally booked, we weren't able to book (it was blacked out) December 30-Jan 1st so we booked The Beach Club for the first few days of our trip and The Dolphin for the remainder. I kept checking online everyday for the S/D and it did eventually open up.


For some reason, those dates were blacked out but it did open up and we were able to switch over to The Dolphin using the Nurses Discount.

 

[TinkOhio]

Thanks for that news. I guess we had better do the same thing. Book a room somewhere else, just in case, and hope for the best.

 

[Meteora]

Thanks so much for the answers. We are so excited about our trip! Our only problem is fitting in everything we want to do in our short stay. Does anyone know what the typical pool hours for late March would be?

Also, in general, is it easiest to walk to DHS or to take a bus? We took the friendship launch last time, but it seemed to take forever. I remember the walk to Epcot being longer than we anticipated, to the point where we sort of wished we had just taken the bus. Of course, that might have been because it was around 1 am at night after our second day in a row of long park-hopping!

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

Does anyone have photos of the Swan deluxe alcove rooms with 2 queen beds instead of the king size?

We are deciding between that room and a standard view at WL.

Thanks for any and all help.

 

[SingingMom]

Thanks so much for the answers. We are so excited about our trip! Our only problem is fitting in everything we want to do in our short stay. Does anyone know what the typical pool hours for late March would be?

Also, in general, is it easiest to walk to DHS or to take a bus? We took the friendship launch last time, but it seemed to take forever. I remember the walk to Epcot being longer than we anticipated, to the point where we sort of wished we had just taken the bus. Of course, that might have been because it was around 1 am at night after our second day in a row of long park-hopping!

Pool hours are pretty "open ended" - the hours posted usually mean when the lifeguard is present to use the water slide. Otherwise, you may swim at your own risk.

DHS is on the Friendship Boat route, not a bus. We have found the boat much quicker than walking, as it is the first stop.

The boat ride to Epcot can sometimes be long, but so can that walk! We like to walk to Epcot along the Boardwalk in the morning if we want to stop at the Boardwalk Bakery, and we will walk back at night if we aren't too tired and there are still things happening on the Boardwalk. But, midday in the summer, that walk is BRUTAL!

 

[paras4ri]

Does anyone have photos of the Swan deluxe alcove rooms with 2 queen beds instead of the king size?

We are deciding between that room and a standard view at WL.

Thanks for any and all help.

I'm not sure that those rooms are available with double beds - since it already has a sleep sofa and I believe the room capacity is 3. Other experts will certainly chime in. The rooms are lovely.

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

The quote does say double/double not queen. That's my bad. And two chairs instead of the sofa.

 

[momof3lovebugs]

The quote does say double/double not queen. That's my bad. And two chairs instead of the sofa.

I am pretty sure the Dolphin has two doubles while the Swan has the two queens.....which is why the Dolphin may get aced out of the running for us....even w/a heavenly bed, a double is still a double and not a comfy option for us. We ideally want at least a queen and don't think subjecting my kids to the sofa sleeper ('cause really, has anyone EVER found a comfy sofa sleeper? )in a king room is fair when Mama and Daddy would be in the comfy heavenly bed.....

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

quote says:

Deluxe Alcove, Minibar, Heavenly Bed, Hotel Use Only, Non-smoking, Oversized Guest Room Is 500 Sq Ft With Optional King Ordouble/double Bedding With Two Lounge Chairs


I requested the 2 beds, but if we get the King, the boys can share and I'll take the sofa bed.

I was just hoping for photos of what the room looks like with the two beds. Everything I've seen has the King.

 

[SingingMom]

I am pretty sure the Dolphin has two doubles while the Swan has the two queens.....which is why the Dolphin may get aced out of the running for us....even w/a heavenly bed, a double is still a double and not a comfy option for us. We ideally want at least a queen and don't think subjecting my kids to the sofa sleeper ('cause really, has anyone EVER found a comfy sofa sleeper? )in a king room is fair when Mama and Daddy would be in the comfy heavenly bed.....

I love a King bed when we are on vacation, and DD is pretty good about taking a sofa bed if it is only for a few nights - but for 8 nights at the Dolphin, we can't do that to her - plus - it would be cruel to have her miss out on a HEAVENLY bed. LOL

fyi - the "double" at the Dolphin really is larger than a regular double - just slightly smaller than a queen, although we never really felt that it was. If you have kids - IMHO the Dolphin is more fun.

 

[NancyIL]

I love a King bed when we are on vacation, and DD is pretty good about taking a sofa bed if it is only for a few nights - but for 8 nights at the Dolphin, we can't do that to her - plus - it would be cruel to have her miss out on a HEAVENLY bed. LOL

fyi - the "double" at the Dolphin really is larger than a regular double - just slightly smaller than a queen, although we never really felt that it was. If you have kids - IMHO the Dolphin is more fun.

A friend stayed with me a few times at the Swan when I had a king bed room, and she thought the sofabed was very comfy. THEN she slept on a heavenly bed, and I don't know if she'll ever want to sleep on my sofabed again!

 

[Piper]

Hi, all!

I am retiring at the end of this school year and have another trip to WDW planned for Dec. 4-11 and I'm staying at the Dolphin again. This will be my third stay and I will be sharing it with my sister, BIL, 3 nephews and 1 neice-in-law. The best part is that my sister is treating us to the trip as a Christmas present!!

We were able to stay at the Dolphin for almost the same thing that 3 rooms at a value would cost.....using my Starwood points and the teacher discount! I can't wait to show the Dolphin to my family--especially my new neice who has never been to WDW.

The location is so good for me because I can just drive on the boats to get to DHS and Epcot.

Dan, loved the pictures. I just can't believe that I'll get to see it for myself this year!

 

[gemmybear83]

Were booked for the exact same dates as you piper! Look out fir some crazy Brits!!

The dolphin is now fully booked for those dates now (there is a baseball conference on 6-9th and I guess they have blocked out dates for that).

 

[Piper]

Were booked for the exact same dates as you piper! Look out fir some crazy Brits!!

The dolphin is now fully booked for those dates now (there is a baseball conference on 6-9th and I guess they have blocked out dates for that).

Great! Maybe we'll "bump into each other."

 

[SunBearLewis]

I've been scanning this thread trying to find the answer to this question but I can't, so if it's been asked already, my apologies in advance.
It seems like there are black out dates or limited number of rooms per discount code. We're thinking of an Oct trip, but probably won't book until summer. It seems like most people book really far in advance. Does booking closer to our trip date severely limit our chances of being able to use the nurse code? I know Oct is a less traveled time of year, but it looks like a lot of people are into using these discounts! (and they should be )

 

[PolyAddict]

I am pretty sure the Dolphin has two doubles while the Swan has the two queens.....which is why the Dolphin may get aced out of the running for us....even w/a heavenly bed, a double is still a double and not a comfy option for us. We ideally want at least a queen and don't think subjecting my kids to the sofa sleeper ('cause really, has anyone EVER found a comfy sofa sleeper? )in a king room is fair when Mama and Daddy would be in the comfy heavenly bed.....

My 2 teenage DD's slept on it at the Swan in 08 and i never heard a peep out of either one of them about it being uncomfortable. Then again when girls do sleepovers they practically sleep on the floor...

 

[NancyIL]

I've been scanning this thread trying to find the answer to this question but I can't, so if it's been asked already, my apologies in advance.
It seems like there are black out dates or limited number of rooms per discount code. We're thinking of an Oct trip, but probably won't book until summer. It seems like most people book really far in advance. Does booking closer to our trip date severely limit our chances of being able to use the nurse code? I know Oct is a less traveled time of year, but it looks like a lot of people are into using these discounts! (and they should be )

October is quite busy at WDW because of the Food & Wine Festival, and it's also a big convention month at the Swan and Dolphin. If your trip dates are during the Gartner IT Expo (Oct. 18-22, 2010), your chances of getting ANY room will be limited.

 

[Poohlovr]

I've been scanning this thread trying to find the answer to this question but I can't, so if it's been asked already, my apologies in advance.
It seems like there are black out dates or limited number of rooms per discount code. We're thinking of an Oct trip, but probably won't book until summer. It seems like most people book really far in advance. Does booking closer to our trip date severely limit our chances of being able to use the nurse code? I know Oct is a less traveled time of year, but it looks like a lot of people are into using these discounts! (and they should be )

I really would go ahead and try to book the room. If your plans change and you don't go, you can cancel.

 

[TaraPA]

I would definitely book the room now, as both The Swan & Dolphin are conference resorts & tend to sell out quickly. As someone else said, you can cancel without penaly right up until your trip. I'd do it now just for peace of mind!