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

[Tinkerbellie16]

Sorry to hear your Dolphin room was not up to par.

We stay at the Dolphin in 2007 and found the rooms to be top notch.
Could 3 years worn the rooms down that much ?

Maybe you should have asked for another room with a better lamp and cleaner rug ?

I asked for a balcony and they upgraded me to a balcony room without paying the extra $40/night. I liked that and the view of HS from my room but it was definitely a room that needed refurbishment. The carpet was extremely worn and some of furniture was old and the TV was not a flat screen. I certainly could have asked for another room but I liked the balcony and work was paying so the 'worn' look didn't bother me too much.

Don't be nervous one person's bad luck does not mean its going to be a total disaster. The location alone will not disappoint. It's your first trip to Disney and I am sure it will not be your last!
Try the Dolphin this time and if its not up to your standards there are plenty of other resorts to try out (trust me I 've stayed at every single one!!)

I certainly hope you didn't think I had 'bad luck'. Just giving my honest opinion for everyone else out there!

Honestly, I don't think the rooms are ever "done"... The place is just too big. I'm sure once they "finish" renovations, they just start right back again.

I do agree that the bathroom is small - even though we are just a family of 3, we have three bathrooms in our home, so it's hard to go back to just one when we are on vacation. That being said, we stagger our usage - DD and I shower at night, DH showers in the morning. I used the mirror by the coffeemaker for sunscreen application and the ever useless attempt to do something with long thick hair in the weather of Florida in June.

I think there has to be a better way to get to DTD than that bus ride! I am going to persue that in June.

I'm very surprised housekeeping was anxious to get you out of the room! I always call when we leave, so they WILL do the room, otherwise we find them in there when we are returning from a park, wanting to freshen up for dinner.

Sorry to hear you weren't totally blown away by your stay. Hope you still had a magical time.

I had a GREAT time! But I wasn't expecting much since work was paying. If I was paying, I would have been more vocal about the room. As it was, I got along fine and didn't really want to spend my time talking to them about the room. I told them once and they didn't fix anything and so I wasn't going to dwell on it.

Well, I knew I'd get some from my comments. But I'm not one to gloss over my reviews. I also said there were a lot of great things about the hotel. And EVERY hotel has pros and cons. And frankly, every ROOM has pros and cons.

For that poster that is worried about booking the Dolphin, don't worry! All the hotels are great and you picked the Dolphin for your own reasons. If you have any issues, just bring them up to the hotel staff.

Now if I could just bring that lobby scent back home with me....

 

[SingingMom]

Now if I could just bring that lobby scent back home with me....

But, the all important question.... did you have my all time favorite espresso martini at the Lobby Bar?!?!

 

[Dan Murphy]

........Now if I could just bring that lobby scent back home with me....

If staying at the Swan, White Tea....

http://www.westin-hotelsathome.com/category.aspx?ScentSystem

At the Dolphin, it is Welcoming Warmth.....

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/about/news/news_release_detail.html?obj_id=0900c7b9805a97ce

I can not locate where to purchase that. Maybe an email to SPG might work.

 

[haleofafamily]

I looked on the first page and didn't see this - how many people can stay in an executive suite?

Also will Disney transfer luggage from a Disney resort to the swan or dolphin?

 

[pooh2001]

Is the Dolphin redoing the rooms ? rehabs ?

new stuff ? Flat screen TV's ?

anything else new in the rooms since 2007 ?

 

[TaraPA]

The differences we noticed between our two rooms were minor - new carpet, new drapes, a much more neutral color palette & decor (still peach & teal but more subdued), flat screen TV & a different style thermostat. The room I had in 2006 was an old room, 2008 was a new room, and then got one of each in 2010!

 

[Poohlovr]

I looked on the first page and didn't see this - how many people can stay in an executive suite?

Also will Disney transfer luggage from a Disney resort to the swan or dolphin?

That depends- 1 or 2 bedroom suite? If one, will the connecting be the double or the king?

Here's the basics--in the parlor/living area-a king sico bed and a fold out sofa (so 4); double/double connectin-4; king connecting-2.

Luggage transfer-up to the Disney hotel you're transferring from. I've seen reports of them saying yes and no. Call your Disney resort and ask.

 

[sarahsmom73]

4 More Sleeps til' the Swan!!!!

 

[pooh2001]

The differences we noticed between our two rooms were minor - new carpet, new drapes, a much more neutral color palette & decor (still peach & teal but more subdued), flat screen TV & a different style thermostat. The room I had in 2006 was an old room, 2008 was a new room, and then got one of each in 2010!

Can you still set the new thermostat to the temperature you want ?

Also - are all the new rehab rooms getting the mini real refirgerators in the Dolphin ?

Maybe by June 2011 all the Dolphin rooms will be completly done with the new stuff

 

[diskids2]

I've read so many good reviews on this property, and now I'm nervous. We just booked our trip last night and chose the Dolphin. I wanted to go to the Parc Soleil but we are meeting family and that was the location THEY chose so to be close to them we are staying there.

This is our very first trip to Disney and I hope I'm not disappointed.

I have to chime in here as well....don't be nervous. I have stayed at the Dolphin many times and I LOVE IT! We actually found the rooms to be very clean, very new, and not at all worn down.

We LOVE the easy access to both EPCOT and DHS. And, the many restaurants along the boardwalk and in EPCOT.

I agree that the bus system leaves alot to be desired. I will mention that on some of our bus "runs" we did not stop at the other Epcot hotels...I think this depends on the day/time/amount of people...etc...but that is just my guess

I also agree that the bus to DTD is long, but it was long from any of the other WDW hotels we have stayed at as well.

Again, I really think you will enjoy the Dolphin...so have a great trip and let us know what you think when you get back!

 

[haleofafamily]

Well we are in! Just booked the executive suite with the amazing deal they have going on right now. It was only $20 more to stay in the suite than 2 rooms at a moderate. Can't wait to try out this amazing resort.

About the buses - on our trip that we stayed at the BWV we would get off the bus at the first Epcot resort it stopped at (not BC/YC) and then walk to BWV. We always beat the bus and found some shortcuts. Would this work while staying at S/D?

 

[Ramsfan28]

Well we are in! Just booked the executive suite with the amazing deal they have going on right now. It was only $20 more to stay in the suite than 2 rooms at a moderate. Can't wait to try out this amazing resort.

About the buses - on our trip that we stayed at the BWV we would get off the bus at the first Epcot resort it stopped at (not BC/YC) and then walk to BWV. We always beat the bus and found some shortcuts. Would this work while staying at S/D?

The Executive Suites are great and I am sure you will love your room, do you know if it is a 2 bedroom or a 1 bedroom?

 

[haleofafamily]

The Executive Suites are great and I am sure you will love your room, do you know if it is a 2 bedroom or a 1 bedroom?

1 bedroom with 2 double beds (sleeps 8).

 

[f15robyn]

Just 24 hours and we'll be at the Dolphin for the first time. Yay!!

 

[Poohlovr]

1 bedroom with 2 double beds (sleeps 8).

I love the executive suites. So roomy.

Just 24 hours and we'll be at the Dolphin for the first time. Yay!!

Have fun! I hope you enjoy the resort as much as we do!!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Prepare yourselves Swan and Dolphin Resorts. The Cheerleaders are comin' back!

 

[TaraPA]

Can you still set the new thermostat to the temperature you want ?

Also - are all the new rehab rooms getting the mini real refirgerators in the Dolphin ?

Maybe by June 2011 all the Dolphin rooms will be completly done with the new stuff

Yes it is still a digital thermostat that you can set to what you want.

All rooms I've had since 2008 had a fridge at The Dolphin whether it was a refurbed room or not, so I'm guessing maybe they switched the entire hotel over to mini fridges (as opposed to mini bars like they used to be).

 

[R and C's momma]

Real silly question -- but I am doing my OCD planning

When you say "mini fridge" -- those who have stayed at the Dolphin -- how big would you classify that?

I will be shipping a box of "pantry" items, but will also plan on using the one stop the town car shuttle offers to make at the grocery store for perishables. Since that stop will be made before we check in I'm curious how much room I can expect / anticipate that mini fridge to have (or hold).

TIA!!!

 

[TaraPA]

It's your classic "dorm size" fridge - in the door you can fit 20-oz bottles of soda (or on their sides inside the fridge) but I didn't try anything larger. It's about 2 feet high by 2 feet wide. We only kept our sodas & bottled waters in it. I'm sure others here can tell you other items they fit inside!

 

[Poly-Anna]

Is it safe to assume that all the premium studio suites at the Dolphin have been upgraded? Any comments?