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

[NancyIL]

I will be there 4/21-4/27.

Great, Dan! You can help me celebrate my birthday on the 22nd! I can be found at Off Kilter (Canada) that day from 2:30-8:00!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Great, Dan! You can help me celebrate my birthday on the 22nd! I can be found at Off Kilter (Canada) that day from 2:30-8:00!

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

There is a small alcove with 2 computers in the Dolphin lobby solely for airline check-in & printing boarding passes. It's very near the front desk & entrance.

DH just called, he checked in to The Dolphin today (kids & I don't leave til tomorrow) and we were booked in a standard corporate rate room. The hotel is booked to capacity so I wasn't expecting much, but I held my breath as I asked him what he saw when he looked out the windows. "Um, that ball Dane calls Epercot. The guy at the front desk said we'll see the fireworks from here." Hel-lo!! East wing Epcot Fireworks view with balcony!!!!

That's so awesome! I am *hoping* for a balcony or patio upgrade when I go in a couple of weeks but unfortunately, I am also staying on a corporate rate and I can't pay for an upgrade.

And just had to let you know that my kids call Epcot "Epercot" as well

 

[NancyIL]

Yes, Dan - Off Kilter plays at 2:30, 3:30, 5:30, 6:30, and 7:30! If British Invasion played that day (they're off) - I would go back and forth between the UK and Canada all afternoon and evening.

 

[Needafix]

Great, Dan! You can help me celebrate my birthday on the 22nd! I can be found at Off Kilter (Canada) that day from 2:30-8:00!

Too funny, that's how I plan on celebrating my b-day on the 22nd, but mine is in March!

 

[NancyIL]

Too funny, that's how I plan on celebrating my b-day on the 22nd, but mine is in March!

Great minds think alike!

 

[Mouseteacher]

Wow! I looked into them, and for $124 they will take us (8) to/from the airport?! That seems extremely reasonable! Plus, as you said, the 30 min. grocery stop! Has anyone else used them? If so, did you have a good experience?

We have used town car service for our past 4 trips. As was said, you pay by the vehicle not per person. We love the service and have never been disappointed. The driver is waiting for you when come down the escalator for your baggage. He helps and loads it in to the vehicle. We are at our resort in no time (no stops at other resorts). This trip last July we did do the grocery stop for the first time at a Publix.

I wouldn't go any other way now that we are used to town car service!

 

[SunBearLewis]

I noticed the S&D website has a deal for AAA members getting complimentary breakfast during each morning of their stay. I booked using the nurses rate, does anyone know if it's possible to get in on this too? That would be super awesome
I know disney doesn't let you 'double dip.' I was just curious if anyone had ever combined these two deals at S&D.

 

[Caitsmama]

I don't think so. When i just checked into a different offer and tried to put in for the government rate, it wouldn't let me do both..

 

[santa's surpriz]

I am have been lurking this thread for some time now, thanks for all great information. I am booked at the Dolphin 10/21-31, I usually stay on property so I have not encountered my dilemma yet since my trips are paid for in advance in cash...Will I be able to pay for my room in advance? I prefer only to use my credit card for incidentals that I can easily pay off rather than lumping an entire trip on it.

TIA!

 

[SingingMom]

We're booked for resort view with balcony and we can't wait to see where in the hotel our room is. I'm also looking forward to trying one of Singing Mom's favorite espresso martinis.

Gail - make sure you tell them NO CREAM when you order it - a TRUE espresso martini is made with clear liquors, but sometimes people throw in baileys or some other type of cream liquor. no, no, no!! NO CREAM!
Can't remember his name, but one of the bartendars in the Dolphin Lobby bar makes them FANTASTIC! ENJOY!

The Dolphin has Picabu - which is basically a 24-hour cafeteria. Prices are a bit higher than at WDW food courts, but you can save 20% if you're a AAA member.

.

I find the food better than the average "food court" choices, don't you?

Also, can someone clarify the pools to me? I know they each have their own lap pool, and i know the grotto pool is the shared "main" pool (is that closer to the dolphin btw?) but, what is the "Spring Pool"?? Can anyone share pics of the spring pool? Also, how is the hot tub situation? My MIL is big into having her quiet time and hot tub time! LOL

The Spring Pool is a round pool in between the Grotto Pool and the Dolphin's lap pool. Lounge chairs all around it.

Yes, Dan - Off Kilter plays at 2:30, 3:30, 5:30, 6:30, and 7:30! If British Invasion played that day (they're off) - I would go back and forth between the UK and Canada all afternoon and evening.

Like those legs, eh, Nancy? We enjoyed listening (and looking) at them too! lol

We have used town car service for our past 4 trips. As was said, you pay by the vehicle not per person. We love the service and have never been disappointed. The driver is waiting for you when come down the escalator for your baggage. He helps and loads it in to the vehicle. We are at our resort in no time (no stops at other resorts). This trip last July we did do the grocery stop for the first time at a Publix.

I wouldn't go any other way now that we are used to town car service!

I've said it before - nothing says "VACATION!" like the man in the suit waiting at the bottom of the escalator holding the card with our name! (Yes, I am a goof ) PM me if you would like the info of the service we use.

 

[paras4ri]

Like those legs, eh, Nancy? We enjoyed listening (and looking) at them too! lol

Thanks for the hint on the martini and for the about the legs! I like Off-Kilter too!

 

[Poohlovr]

I am have been lurking this thread for some time now, thanks for all great information. I am booked at the Dolphin 10/21-31, I usually stay on property so I have not encountered my dilemma yet since my trips are paid for in advance in cash...Will I be able to pay for my room in advance? I prefer only to use my credit card for incidentals that I can easily pay off rather than lumping an entire trip on it.

TIA!

Yes, you can call and pay for your room in advance.

 

[ImprovGal]

I noticed the S&D website has a deal for AAA members getting complimentary breakfast during each morning of their stay. I booked using the nurses rate, does anyone know if it's possible to get in on this too? That would be super awesome
I know disney doesn't let you 'double dip.' I was just curious if anyone had ever combined these two deals at S&D.

The AAA free breakfast deal is its own discount code. It's actually a different discount code from the regular AAA discount. Nurse's rate is its own unique discount code as well. The codes can't be combined. And sometimes you'll see wackiness where one code may be available, but the other isn't.

However, discount codes CAN usually be combined with Starwood promotions. For example, there's currently a promotion that just opened up for a free $100 Amazon gift certificate for every 2 stays at Westin properties. Now since the Swan is a Westin, I would think the promotion should apply to Swan stays. So, if I wanted to stay 3 nights at the Swolphin, I'd stay 1 night Swan, 1 night Dolphin, 1 night Swan to break it up into 3 separate stays (2 of which are Westin) and get my $100 Amazon gc.

 

[SunBearLewis]

that's what I figured. I was hoping being a AAA member was just an extra perk, like being a starwoods member, I thought that'd be waaaay to good.
thanks!

 

[diskids2]

We have used town car service for our past 4 trips. As was said, you pay by the vehicle not per person. We love the service and have never been disappointed. The driver is waiting for you when come down the escalator for your baggage. He helps and loads it in to the vehicle. We are at our resort in no time (no stops at other resorts). This trip last July we did do the grocery stop for the first time at a Publix.

I wouldn't go any other way now that we are used to town car service!

We have used car services in the past and last year we used ME because of our stay at CBR....I much prefer the town car service!

 

[Needafix]

Ok, you're all making me second guess my decision to even take ME to BC in March.

For those of you who have taken both ME and hired a car - would you pay the $124 +tip (5 of us getting in at 8:30pm only have 4 days at Disney) or take the ME for free. We don't need the grocery stop.

 

[NancyIL]

I find the food better than the average "food court" choices, don't you?....

Like those legs, eh, Nancy? We enjoyed listening (and looking) at them too! lol

It has been years since I've eaten at a WDW resort food court, so I can't compare their food to Picabu's. I just know that I DON'T like scrambled eggs at Picabu, so I rarely eat there.

Legs...what legs? I'm merely interested in Off Kilter for their MUSIC.

 

[NancyIL]

Ok, you're all making me second guess my decision to even take ME to BC in March.

For those of you who have taken both ME and hired a car - would you pay the $124 +tip (5 of us getting in at 8:30pm only have 4 days at Disney) or take the ME for free. We don't need the grocery stop.

I'm cheap, so I would use ME. I might be willing to pay for a towncar service (if I traveled with my family) if I arrived earlier in the day and had plans to hit the parks running. But for an 8:30 p.m. arrival - what's your hurry?

 

[haleofafamily]

Ok, you're all making me second guess my decision to even take ME to BC in March.

For those of you who have taken both ME and hired a car - would you pay the $124 +tip (5 of us getting in at 8:30pm only have 4 days at Disney) or take the ME for free. We don't need the grocery stop.

We used ME for our arrival (worked great) and then had the car service for our departure. Previously we had only used a car service. We will keep doing it this way. We were pleased, but we weren't in a hurry.
The bus stopped at another resort before ours and it went the long way (I'm assuming so people could get pictures going under WDW signage). We didn't think it made a lot of difference timewise with the car service.
On the way back though we didn't want to be picked up 2 or 3 hours before our flight so we used the car service.