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

[marsh0013]

i just booked my stay at the swan for june 11-15 using the $119 rate!

amazing! a little bit less than my cast member friends and family rate at the pofq! so so excited! i see some familiar names (hi tara!). i'm going for my birthday (june 13).

question: does the swan provide shampoo and conditioner and body wash? or is it a combo shampoo/conditioner and bar of soap? just trying to figure out what i don't need to pack.

anything else i should know? i will have a mini fridge, i think i read.

 

[pooh2001]

The S/D are Starwood deluxe hotels - Sheraton and Westin - so yes they have bar soaps, one for hands, one for the bath - plus little bottles of shampoo, conditioner, hand lotion - and if you have forgotten anything , just call the front desk.

Starwood resorts are four star Diamond award rated by AAA.

Here is the SWAN Starwood web-site:
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1018

 

[abw]

This is kind of off-topic, but I don't know a better place to post this question: I am wondering about whether it's worth working really hard to collect Starpoints, and if it is, what are the best ways of doing so?

I'm guessing at least some of you are Gold or Platinum Preferred? SPG AmEx?

Thanks for any advice!

 

[TaraPA]

i just booked my stay at the swan for june 11-15 using the $119 rate!

amazing! a little bit less than my cast member friends and family rate at the pofq! so so excited! i see some familiar names (hi tara!). i'm going for my birthday (june 13).

question: does the swan provide shampoo and conditioner and body wash? or is it a combo shampoo/conditioner and bar of soap? just trying to figure out what i don't need to pack.

anything else i should know? i will have a mini fridge, i think i read.

MARCIA!!!!

I was just there in December yet can't remember if they had body wash. They used to have Bath & Body Works products - loved that! Now they use Shine by Bliss products. I know I had soap, lotion, shampoo & conditioner, but not positive on body wash.

The coffee packets in your room are Starbucks, I love that too.

Can't wait to read your trip report when you get back!

 

[kath1210]

Thanks! Do you happen to know the restaurants that are allowed? So far, it seems:

• Picabu
• Fountain

Any others?

If you ask at check-in, they will give you a list of the restaurants that give the AAA discount.

 

[pooh2001]

We have not been to the Dolphin since 2007 and had to pay $25 to have the not so cold mini-frig emptied our to use to cool our water bottles.

Now I have read the Swan has nice cold mini-refrigs

Does the Dolphin have them too ?

 

[SingingMom]

We have not been to the Dolphin since 2007 and had to pay $25 to have the not so cold mini-frig emptied our to use to cool our water bottles.

Now I have read the Swan has nice cold mini-refrigs

Does the Dolphin have them too ?

Our experience: - we filled our ice bucket once at night and once in the morning and stuck the water bottles in there - always replacing one when taking one, and they stayed really cool. I wouldn't pay the money to empty the mini-bar if all you are wanting to do is cool water bottles.

 

[DisLaw]

We have not been to the Dolphin since 2007 and had to pay $25 to have the not so cold mini-frig emptied our to use to cool our water bottles.

Now I have read the Swan has nice cold mini-refrigs

Does the Dolphin have them too ?

No unfortunatley! We ended up buying a cheap foam cooler at Walmart that we filled with ice each night to cool our drinks and we ended up throwing it out when we left. Much cheaper than paying for fridge rental or emptying the mini fridge.

I stayed at the Swan last September and it was so great to have the minifridge.

 

[pcarpenter]

This question has already been asked, but I didn't see a response. We've booked the "limited view" room at the Dolphin for our trip in August, but I'm wondering how we could go about getting a free room upgrade. For those who have gotten one, how did you do it? Did you call ahead of time, or ask at check-in?

 

[TaraPA]

This question has already been asked, but I didn't see a response. We've booked the "limited view" room at the Dolphin for our trip in August, but I'm wondering how we could go about getting a free room upgrade. For those who have gotten one, how did you do it? Did you call ahead of time, or ask at check-in?

If you are a Starwood member, you automatically get an upgrade if one is available, no need to even ask. I don't know their policy for non-Starwood members. Those of us on here that talk about our upgrades are 99.9% Starwood Preferred, Gold or Platinum members.

It's free & easy to sign-up - so there's no reason to check in & not be a Starwood member! I would think that since the majority of people staying there are members, there aren't a lot of complimentary upgrades available for non-members. But it never hurts to ask politely at check-in.

Gee how many times can you say "members" in 2 paragraphs?!?

 

[Dan Murphy]

We have not been to the Dolphin since 2007 and had to pay $25 to have the not so cold mini-frig emptied our to use to cool our water bottles.

Now I have read the Swan has nice cold mini-refrigs

Does the Dolphin have them too ?

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=28270138&postcount=3281

 

[teacher31]

Does anybody remember when they release the codes for next year? I'm thinking August, but not positive. Just need something to look forward to.

 

[chell]

I booked the Swan as well for 12/13 - 12/19. I liked the added vanity and mini-fridge. I have never stayed here before so I have a few questions if someone can answer! Are your park tickets attached to your room key as they are at the "official" dis resort hotels? How deep are the lap pools? Are there any reasonable on - site dining places? It seems that most of the restaurants are actually in the Dolphin. Since I booked a standard room with the special $159 rate, they said I would most likely be facing the front where the parking area is. How long of a walk to the Dolphin is it? I wish ME serviced the Swan/Dolphin. I would even be willing pay $20 per person for the service. That is the only dissapointing thing to me as we love the ME service. When booking, they told me that we could get discounted tickets for the parks right there in the lobby, cheaper than the gate price. Can anyone confirm that? How long of a walk to BW pizza? Love the swan boats--it reminds me of a ride from when I was a kid. The park was called Dutch Wonderland as it was in Lancaster PA and my sister and I got stuck and freaked out lol Anyway, what are the rates for those? I am excited to try out the Swan finally.Thanks!!

We arrive the day before you. Since there are two rental car counters at the Dolphin check into what kind of discounts you can get on two one-way rentals. Check out MouseSavers for any available discounts. As the time gets closer to the trip and if you happen to be leaving around the same time we are we could actually rent a van or large town car and split the fee if you would like - there will be 6 in my party, so we will have to have a large vehicle. We don't mind sharing.

Like Dan said, I've never heard of the discounted tickets.

Besides the restaurants at the Swan & Dolphin you are also close to the Boardwalk, Studios, Epcot, Yacht & Beach Clubs. You can choose from all those great restaurants too. Cape May Cafe is a great choice for dinner over at the Yacht Club! Even if you have non-seafood eaters in your family. I do not eat seafood but there was plenty of great food for me. The mac & cheese and the roasted chicken were awesome.

The Swan is a great place. This is a great thread with lots of lovely, extremely knowledgeable people. You will learn so much here.

 

[chell]

All this talk of using the AAA card makes me think I need to sign up for AAA again. I've not had it in a few years. I need to take a look to see how much we will be dining at the Swan or Dolphin to see if we will really use it. If you use it at Picabu is the discount for anything you buy or just the food items you could possibly consume in their area? Or can you get the discount on the larger items that you can take back to your room like the larger milks and such?

 

[SHammett]

Does anyone know if there are any connecting king rooms with standard 2 queens? We are in connecting rooms for an upcoming trip, but only need 3 beds. I thought it would be nice to have the sitting area.

 

[pooh2001]

We are booking the Swan for Easter weeks 2010. We have always stayed at the Dolphin. Please sell me all the positive aspects of the Swan.
I doubt there are any negative aspects

 

[SingingMom]

We are booking the Swan for Easter weeks 2010. We have always stayed at the Dolphin. Please sell me all the positive aspects of the Swan.
I doubt there are any negative aspects

The "negative" in my book is the tiny lobby. I'm a sucker for the Dolphin's big hussle and bussling lobby!

 

[Dan Murphy]

I prefer the more compact, intimate nature of the Swan, the Grove restaurant is there, the dual vanities are nice. Mainly the compactness of the Swan vs the sprawling of the Dolphin. Either is great though.

 

[lyndrajo3]

I thought it warrented a mention. A couple of my friends just returned from a one wek stay at the S&D-last week of May (yep just got back yesterday). Provided they are a a young twenty-something newlywed couple but they were unfortunate enough to have had $240ish dollars stollen from their room in one day. They aslo said that their neighbors also reported a decent amount of cash stollen from thier room too after houskeeping had cleaned--same day even. Now I know maybe it wasn't the housekeepers but with both rooms being locked when they left them and the rooms being cleaned and locked upon returning makes one wonder if it could be much other than housekeeping. Hummm.... Sounds like maybe someone is going to be questioned (or has been already--maybe even lost their job).

I think it's horrible. I know it could happen to anyone especially if you leave your money in your room. I just still feel horrible for them and thought I would remind anyone planning a trip to ANY of the resorts Anywhere--YES it can happen to you too--please take all your money and cards with you to the attractions. Do not leave them in your room.

Happy vacationing!

 

[Dan Murphy]

A good endorsement to use the in-room safes there, and at any resort/motel/hotel. I alway leave most of whatever cash I bring (mostly for cash tips) in the safe throughout my stay, taking a bit each day for that day/night. Sorry to hear that.