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

[Julylady]

Thanks for the tip, Singing Mom. Can you PM me the name of the private hired car service that you recommend? I have never used one in the past because I am terrified that they won't show up at the hotel and we will miss our plane. But I do like the idea of door to door service with no stops.

Another question - Can you do airline checkin and get your boarding passes printed at the Swan?

Donna

 

[SingingMom]

Thanks for the tip, Singing Mom. Can you PM me the name of the private hired car service that you recommend? I have never used one in the past because I am terrified that they won't show up at the hotel and we will miss our plane. But I do like the idea of door to door service with no stops.

Another question - Can you do airline checkin and get your boarding passes printed at the Swan?

Donna

We always stay at the Dolphin, but I'm sure their Concierge services are the same. We fly JetBlue, and they are not available on the lobby kiosk, so the Concierge desk checked us in and printed our boarding passes. Very pleasant and accommodating.

 

[Needafix]

Singingmom - you have me drooling over that martini. It's on my list for first thing I'm doing when I check in on both trips. How close is the bar to the check-in desk?

 

[SingingMom]

Singingmom - you have me drooling over that martini. It's on my list for first thing I'm doing when I check in on both trips. How close is the bar to the check-in desk?

when you walk in the front doors, proceed forward.. lol ... check-in desk is to your left... then walk across the lobby and pass the center fountain, the Lobby bar is against the wall on the left. Remind them NOT to use a cream liquor - it has to be dark without cream to be a REAL espresso martini! ENJOY!

 

[GoofyinNY]

I thought the Dolphin renovations were complete, but I just read that some rooms have not been done. Are certain floors completed renovated?

 

[TaraPA]

I thought the Dolphin renovations were complete, but I just read that some rooms have not been done. Are certain floors completed renovated?

Our room last week was defintely not renovated yet. #7023 East Wing. I had thought I also saw that renovations had been completed, but somehow this room was not! It did have the upgrade to the fridge (as opposed to the filled mini bar in the past), but even the fridge was shoved into an unfinished wooden space under the counter. The wood was so rough I got a splinter one night brushing up against it!

It had the older bright peach & teal draperies & decor, worn carpet, older, somewhat worn tiles in the bathroom, older-style clunker TV, old thermostat, etc. Also - no Heavenly beds! We noticed the difference right away when we were moved to another room - #6077 East Wing. Much newer & cleaner, different drapes, carpet & decor. The colors are still teal & peach, but are much more muted.

Maybe our first room was actually renovated, but was on the 1st round of renovations a few years ago, and just needs to be refreshed again.

 

[SingingMom]

I thought the Dolphin renovations were complete, but I just read that some rooms have not been done. Are certain floors completed renovated?

Honestly, with the size of the property, I don't know that renovations are ever "completed". We have been there four years in a row and every trip there are rooms being renovated. Even this past June, when all the fridges were supposedly installed, my parents' room still had the mini-bar, and the fridge in our room still had the user manual taped inside.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Hi All:

I just booked a week stay at the Swan yesterday for October/Food and Wine festival. We have annual passes and thought we would wait for an AP discount, but saw a great AAA rate on line yesterday and just decided to book it. Last year was the first time we went to the F/W festival and by the time we booked, all the Boardwalk area resorts were filled to capacity. We are very excited about staying on the Boardwalk!

Some questions:

1. Has anybody ever stayed using the AAA Free Breakfast code? Does that include the breakfast buffet or just a voucher for $10 off your meal? Any details? Do not know that answer

2. Are all the rooms at the Swan recently renovated? Any areas to avoid? As far as I know, they are. And none that I am aware of.

3. I see that the laundry facilities are located at the Dolphin. Does the Swan have laundry service? Is it affordable? I think we are going to try to use carry ons only to avoid airline luggage fees.Laundry is in the Dolphin, do not know the costs.

4. For the past several trips, we have used Magical Express. I understand our options for transportation are Mears, private hire car, or taxi. Any pros or cons for one way over another? I have only rented a car.

5. Can you do online check in prior to arrival? If yes, does that hurt your chances for an upgrade? (I am a preferred guest member). Not that I am aware of. And if you can, yes, I would think it would probably eliminate an upgrade chance.

Anything else I need to know?

Donna

.

 

[paras4ri]

I did enjoy an espresso martini and made sure it was made with only clear liquors. The bar was hopping during the hockey game on Sunday afternoon.

When we checked in we were told that our room in the far west wing had just been renovated and it had the flat screen tv. When we looked across to the next "finger" of rooms we could see work being done on the 3rd floor. As others have said, it is such a large property that renovations and refreshes are always being done. We've seen several decors since our first stay in 2004 when it had the original beach theme.

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

Hi everyone! We're considering the Dolphin for October -- they have some great rates right now -- comes to about half of what we'd be looking at for BWI.

Question -- I'm pricing out rooms with king beds and all the results say under the description "Heavenly Bed" -- does that mean it would be a renovated room? (i.e., are the rooms that have been udpated with Heavenly beds the renovated rooms?)

Also, do you think it's worth it to go for resort view (vs. standard view) -- the difference is about $25/night.

 

[SingingMom]

Hi everyone! We're considering the Dolphin for October -- they have some great rates right now -- comes to about half of what we'd be looking at for BWI.

Question -- I'm pricing out rooms with king beds and all the results say under the description "Heavenly Bed" -- does that mean it would be a renovated room? (i.e., are the rooms that have been udpated with Heavenly beds the renovated rooms?)

Also, do you think it's worth it to go for resort view (vs. standard view) -- the difference is about $25/night.

In the four years we have been to the Dolphin, I don't think we've ever had a "renovated" room, but we've ALWAYS had a "Heavenly Bed"..

As for paying for an upgraded view - that depends on how much time you actually spend in the room looking at the view. If it's very important to you, then you probably should book it, as you can't be guarenteed of a check-in upgrade. We always just "take our chances". except on a cruise, where I MUST have a verandah or I'm not going.

 

[Mouseteacher]

Private hired car (town car, limo) means the ride is only for your party, so you have no extra stops like with Mears. It also means you can usually schedule a "grocery stop" if you'd like.

(...AND the driver is waiting for you, holding your name on the card... silly inside joke ... for some reason that just thrills me. it means VACATION HAS BEGUN! ...)

Me, too!! Gotta love that sign-holding driver. I feel like a celeb!!

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

In the four years we have been to the Dolphin, I don't think we've ever had a "renovated" room, but we've ALWAYS had a "Heavenly Bed"..

As for paying for an upgraded view - that depends on how much time you actually spend in the room looking at the view. If it's very important to you, then you probably should book it, as you can't be guarenteed of a check-in upgrade. We always just "take our chances". except on a cruise, where I MUST have a verandah or I'm not going.

Thanks! The Heavenly Bed is key to me . Thanks for the input about the view -- we don't spend alot of time in the room, but in looking at the sample view pics on their site I see both the ones under standard view are of the roof, which wouldn't be my first choice even for the little time we spend gazing.

 

[lissiesmum]

I sent you a message with the service we use...

$10 parking a day is in addition to the $10 resort fee.

Thanks for the info, I have it filed into my new 2011 trip planner!

I'm fairly certain anyone can go to the campfire/movies at night.

Sounds good. We really enjoy toasting smores and it's fun to just sit around the fire and relax

Just one note about requesting views....The Dolphin has paid categories for each view - standard, limited, resort & fireworks (might be more, not sure)... If you want it, pay for it LOL!! :

Yes, I would definitely pay for the view ahead of time to ensure that we would get the view. We actually spend a lot of time at the resort and in our room. DD gets tired in the parks after about half a day and she enjoys hanging out on the balcony and resting in our room. It's worth it for me to have a great view because we do spend a considerable amount of time there So there's actually a category called fireworks view? That's what I was hoping for! Thanks for the heads up!

 

[Sazzo'sMommy]

Do the Swan and Dolphin do anything fun for Easter?

 

[Needafix]

when you walk in the front doors, proceed forward.. lol ... check-in desk is to your left... then walk across the lobby and pass the center fountain, the Lobby bar is against the wall on the left. Remind them NOT to use a cream liquor - it has to be dark without cream to be a REAL espresso martini! ENJOY!

When we go to my parents time-share in Mexico, they always have a margarita waiting for everyone as they check in. I think the Dolphin needs to start having espresso martini's waiting for me when I check in.

Ok, game plan in July - friend heads directly to bar for two martini's while I check in.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Do the Swan and Dolphin do anything fun for Easter?

Maybe here??

http://www.facebook.com/swananddolphin

 

[Needafix]

I think Mears might even be cheaper, but I'm not sure. We always take town car... I'm the goof that loves the limo driver holding up my name on the piece of paper.

All right already!!! I don't even care what the price is any more I just need to see a limo driver holding my name on a piece of paper. Can you please PM me the name of the service you use.

 

[dolphins-54]

hi! My wife and I just booked a 4 night points stay in a deluxe room at the swan. DW is spg gold, so I was wondering if there were any suggestions for room location/view requests as we hope to be able to see the fireworks from our room if possible as traveling with our baby(6 months old at the time of trip) will probably limit our late night park excursions... Thank you all in advance for the answers and for all of the information in this thread!

 

[Dan Murphy]

hi! My wife and I just booked a 4 night points stay in a deluxe room at the swan. DW is spg gold, so I was wondering if there were any suggestions for room location/view requests as we hope to be able to see the fireworks from our room if possible as traveling with our baby(6 months old at the time of trip) will probably limit our late night park excursions... Thank you all in advance for the answers and for all of the information in this thread!

East wing, high up, Boardwalk view. Enjoy the trip.