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

[chell]

I sent an SOS to my "informant" at the S/D! It might be Monday morning before I get a report, however!

Thanks. I'll be keeping an eye out.

 

[pooh2001]

The Swan has real refrigerators - mini ones - that can keep milk cold - not the snack bar frigs.

Does the Dolphin have the real refrigerators - mini ones - that can keep milk cold too ?
I am hoping the Dolphin gets them too.

Thanks to anyone who knows!

 

[Dan Murphy]

It was posted here a week or so ago that the Dolphin is now getting, (probably does by now) the fridges.

 

[dmwang9]

Mouseteacher - we had the same "turndown service" at the Dolphin in the past, but not this year. (they even gave us fresh towels in the evenings)

When I stayed at the Swan the last week in June (just a few weeks ago ), there wasn't any turndown service. I really missed those chocolates -- not that there aren't plenty of other sources close by....

 

[ozziewags]

The gentleman was given a letter about the resort fee at check-in, so he made the long distance call - thinking it was included in the fee. The error was that he wasn't supposed to be charged the resort fee, so instead he was charged $60 for a 20-minute phonecall. That was clearly an error on the part of whoever gave him the letter. However, the phone charge was removed from his bill, and he wasn't charged the resort fee ...or the bread fee!

OK, just jumping in here, but I read that guy's post too. Why would he just buy a whole loaf of bread? And does Picabu sell whole loaves of bread? I know the S/D has fridges, but there were no toasters! Just curious. What do you suppose he put on that bread and where did he buy it!? Crazy people!
BTW, no big bottles of water as SM said. The Dolphin has real fridges now. It was just in time for our trip, so we could put bottles of water in it that had $2 tags on them!

 

[carmiedog]

OK, just jumping in here, but I read that guy's post too. Why would he just buy a whole loaf of bread? And does Picabu sell whole loaves of bread? I know the S/D has fridges, but there were no toasters! Just curious. What do you suppose he put on that bread and where did he buy it!? Crazy people!

We brought groceries with us for PBJs for the kids, but ran out of bread. We were at POR at the time; I can't remember exactly but I think the load there was $4-something. The day after I bought it, the kids decided to finish off the PB with just spoons so the stupid bread was never even opened.

 

[SingingMom]

It was posted here a week or so ago that the Dolphin is now getting, (probably does by now) the fridges.

Our room had the new fridge - June 23-July 1, but mom & dad's room still had the mini bar... Must take some time to switch over the entire hotel! (and yes, I checked to see if they just were "confused". LOL It really WAS a minibar... )

 

[kath1210]

We booked the Dolphin in May through Travelocity, and the resort fee was not included as part of the price. We were told at check-in that we could pay the fee and have the water, long-distance, etc. included, but we chose not to pay it for the couple of nights we were there.

 

[chell]

We booked the Dolphin in May through Travelocity, and the resort fee was not included as part of the price. We were told at check-in that we could pay the fee and have the water, long-distance, etc. included, but we chose not to pay it for the couple of nights we were there.

Thanks for letting us know another case where the fee isn't included.

I think I'd rather pay it and not worry. We'll probably have my dad stop and buy us some water so we won't need it but I'd rather be safe than sorry. We are staying 9 nights so it will add up but I think we may take a friend's laptop so the internet may come in handy as I may need to do some quick work stuff while there.

 

[kath1210]

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

 

[kath1210]

Thanks for letting us know another case where the fee isn't included.

I think I'd rather pay it and not worry. We'll probably have my dad stop and buy us some water so we won't need it but I'd rather be safe than sorry. We are staying 9 nights so it will add up but I think we may take a friend's laptop so the internet may come in handy as I may need to do some quick work stuff while there.

I was surprised that we had a choice, but we were only there for 2 nights with no need for the internet, so we decided to pass. I had to remind DH not to drink the water bottles, though.

 

[paras4ri]

When I stayed at the Swan the last week in June (just a few weeks ago ), there wasn't any turndown service. I really missed those chocolates -- not that there aren't plenty of other sources close by....

Just wondering if you or Singing Mom had specifically requested turndown service? Our last trip was 2007 and I remember calling to request the service - but in earlier trips it was automatic.

Thanks everyone for the heads-up that the tags are still on the "free" water bottles. I'll admit that would cause a puzzlement with me!

 

[SingingMom]

Thanks for letting us know another case where the fee isn't included.

I think I'd rather pay it and not worry. We'll probably have my dad stop and buy us some water so we won't need it but I'd rather be safe than sorry. We are staying 9 nights so it will add up but I think we may take a friend's laptop so the internet may come in handy as I may need to do some quick work stuff while there.

We usually ask the limo driver for a "grocery stop" before we get there - but last year was the first time the room wasn't ready and it was a hassle to have a case of water to give the bellman to hold with the rest of the luggage.. and this year, with the added luggage of mom & dad, it just seemed like too much. NEXT year I think I will do it again - we end up drinking a lot of water - and now that the Dolphin has the fridges, it is great.

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

TERRIFIC photos! THANKS for sharing!

Just wondering if you or Singing Mom had specifically requested turndown service? Our last trip was 2007 and I remember calling to request the service - but in earlier trips it was automatic.

Thanks everyone for the heads-up that the tags are still on the "free" water bottles. I'll admit that would cause a puzzlement with me!

...as long as it doesn't cause a "BICKERMENT"... (just love that word...)

No, we didn't specifically request the turndown service because it was automatic previous years - I just "assumed". You know where THAT gets you...

 

[Mouseteacher]

Turn down service when we had it was automatic and an unexpected surprise. I didn't think to request it on subsequent trips. I guess I thought we shouldn't be getting it...

We'll be checking in at the Swan in 17 days...now I am getting excited!

 

[FINFAN]

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

AWESOME slide show! We love the S/D too! We did not see the lemonade/teas area on our last visit though...where is it located? We have FD booked at CSR this December, but I also have the Dolphin booked...can you believe I am seriously considering giving up free dining? But the location and amenities are SO sweet at the S/D.....and we do have a few restaurants thaw we wanted to try that are NOT on the DDP...soooo, decisions, decisions...pluse the room rate for us is about $500 less overall to stay at the Dolphin...not enough to cover what FD saves, but that location during Christmas..., walk to 2 parks, well YOU know! .....your picture of the Boardwalkt Hot Dogs made me smile, we love it too....and the BW Bakery!


Pam

 

[ozziewags]

AWESOME slide show! We love the S/D too! We did not see the lemonade/teas area on our last visit though...where is it located? We have FD booked at CSR this December, but I also have the Dolphin booked...can you believe I am seriously considering giving up free dining? But the location and amenities are SO sweet at the S/D.....and we do have a few restaurants thaw we wanted to try that are NOT on the DDP...soooo, decisions, decisions...pluse the room rate for us is about $500 less overall to stay at the Dolphin...not enough to cover what FD saves, but that location during Christmas..., walk to 2 parks, well YOU know! .....your picture of the Boardwalkt Hot Dogs made me smile, we love it too....and the BW Bakery!


Pam

There is free dining in December? I thought it ended Oct. 3.

 

[teacher31]

Does anybody remember when they released the prices for this past year? Sorry as I am sure it's been asked a 1,000 times before but don't feel like searching. I'm hoping that they will be offering the 129 again for teachers. We're looking at May and it's 189 a night now. Huge difference when you are talking about a 9 night stay. Also, is the resort fee optional again now? I read above about somebody not having to pay it and would really like to get out of that as well since we don't need it. Thanks!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Great slide show, thanks for sharing.

 

[FINFAN]

ozziewags...we rec'd the "Goofy" code in April ( had to book by 5/23)for values w/CS FD or Mod's with DDP FD...dates were for October until 11/24 I think, but at the bottom of the promo it said to "call for more dates and offers thru 12/17" or something like that....so I did! Booked CSR arriving 12/17-27, FD for the whole time. Thing is, we have one who is an adult under WDW terms so $15 additional cost to rack rate on the room (Christmas rack rate )and our DS is not crazy about exterior doorways AT all... and DS currently has Finals on the 18th so getting there in time might be tricky, and pretty stressful. IF I can get DS to be allowed to take all his finals over the 16/17th, should be ok, but won't know until school starts. Luckily we have until early Nov to cancel penalty free.
I have seen some other FD promos posted about, so hopefully there will be some coming your way!
teacher31, not sure when the rates came out, but I would book your room and then have the rate adjusted if it is lower. As far as the resort fee, I asked to have it waived, but was told that was not an option when I booked, that was about 6 weeks ago maybe? I noticed one poster who was able to decline the fee had booked thru Expedia...maybe that alters things? We will need internet for some of the time...but not sure, so not really a deal breaker for us at all.

 

[kath1210]

Thanks, SingingMom, FINFAN and Dan Murphy - glad you enjoyed our photos.

AWESOME slide show! We love the S/D too! We did not see the lemonade/teas area on our last visit though...where is it located? We have FD booked at CSR this December, but I also have the Dolphin booked...can you believe I am seriously considering giving up free dining? But the location and amenities are SO sweet at the S/D.....and we do have a few restaurants thaw we wanted to try that are NOT on the DDP...soooo, decisions, decisions...pluse the room rate for us is about $500 less overall to stay at the Dolphin...not enough to cover what FD saves, but that location during Christmas..., walk to 2 parks, well YOU know! .....your picture of the Boardwalkt Hot Dogs made me smile, we love it too....and the BW Bakery!

Pam

The lemonade and tea was available right across from the check-in desk at the Swan. I did not see them at the Dolphin. Maybe they were there because it was so darn hot that week?

We also have 2 reservations in December - the Dolphin and Coronado Springs with a 40% off pincode. I am not sure which we will keep, either.