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

[lissiesmum]

Another question...I have booked an Epcot fireworks room view with a balcony. If I joined the SPG rewards group, is there something better than this category to upgrade? And does the Dolphin have concierge services or club level like the deluxe resorts?

 

[NancyIL]

Thanks for the great news on the bus service. So to confirm, Swan always gets picked up first before Dolphin?

I think on the way back, we'd take the monorail to the Epcot entrance and leisurely walk back to the Dolphin, just for a change of pace. I'm planning on doing the park hopper this trip so it might be fun to stop at WS for some snacks along the way

Yes, the buses stop at the Swan before the Dolphin...at least they have whenever I've stayed there since 2000.

Just make sure Epcot is still open if you plan to walk through the park to get to the S/D! If you get to Epcot via monorail and the park is closed, there are NO buses to the Epcot resorts.

 

[Dan Murphy]

......the busses weren't shared with YC/BC or BW. I'm guessing they do this when they anticipate full busses. Or is it always that way coming back from MK or AK? The bus did go to The Swan first, The Dolphin second, on the way back.

I have been there when there was a bus to the Swan only, not even the Dolphin, to both, to both plus Y&BC, and then also to all those plus the BW. Even doing all of them, is is less then about a 10 minute loop.

....So to confirm, Swan always gets picked up first before Dolphin?

I think on the way back, we'd take the monorail to the Epcot entrance and leisurely walk back to the Dolphin, just for a change of pace. I'm planning on doing the park hopper this trip so it might be fun to stop at WS for some snacks along the way



Thanks for your response! Puts my mind at ease

Keep in mind that that is a LONG walk, and as Nancy said, make sure Epcot is open, or a cab will be your only choice, or a bus to DtD and back to the S/D.

 

[jnfr2424]

Another question...I have booked an Epcot fireworks room view with a balcony. If I joined the SPG rewards group, is there something better than this category to upgrade? And does the Dolphin have concierge services or club level like the deluxe resorts?

Unless someone has a different experience, it did not work for me but then again it might depend on what level of SPG you are.

 

[NancyIL]

Keep in mind that that is a LONG walk, and as Nancy said, make sure Epcot is open, or a cab will be your only choice, or a bus to DtD and back to the S/D.

There aren't buses from Downtown Disney to Epcot, so I'm thinking there aren't any in the reverse direction, either.

 

[Dan Murphy]

...And does the Dolphin have concierge services or club level like the deluxe resorts?

They used to but do not anymore. Gone for several years now.

 

[Dan Murphy]

There aren't buses from Downtown Disney to Epcot, so I'm thinking there aren't any in the reverse direction, either.

What was I thinking? What are the alternatives, cab?? Or if not too late, but still after Epcot closing, a bus to some other resort, then a bus to DtD and a bus from DtD to S/D?

 

[lissiesmum]

Thanks for the quick responses, you guys are always so great! We are never out late at the MK, so no worries about us getting stuck at the Epcot entrance

I was looking through the photo thread, and noticed some people on floats...do they have a few different kinds of flotation devices, do you have to rent them, if so, for how long and how much? THanks as always for being so helpful

 

[MOM POPPINS]

Recipe Club members receive 50% off our rack rate all year long. Plus, book a second room for family or friends for just $119*.

For reservations, please
call 1-888-828-8850
and ask for rate code: RECIPE

*Offer subject to availability

 

[R and C's momma]

I booked a standard room for June @ $152/night (as a pkg with our air, through Expedia) and our friends booked a standard room for the same time. Does anyone know if we can call them to get the second @ $119/night?

At 7 nights the difference is a considerable savings.

Thanks in advance!!
R & C's Momma

 

[MOM POPPINS]

You have a good deal at 152.00 I would say.. the 119.00 is for an extra room. What are your exact dates? I am showing a price of 159 for June 15 for 7 nights on their website.

 

[MOM POPPINS]

Plus, book a second room for family or friends for just $119*.

 

[R and C's momma]

We are going June 23 - 30.

I ended up calling them about the $119 for a second room since we are traveling (meeting) a family there for our trip, staying at the same hotel. Since we both booked through Expedia they couldn't give the second room the $119 rate. Oh well -- like stated above -- $152 is still a good rate. Can't wait for our trip!!

 

[SingingMom]

SingingMom - we tried twice to get the espresso martini. First time the bar was closed, the second time the espresso machine was broken. I did really enjoy their other drinks though.

For some reason, my email notification was not working for a few days and I am behind!
I am sorry to hear the espresso machine was broken! They better have that fixed by June.
Glad to hear you had a great stay!

For those of you who've used a towncar service on the way to the S/D, I was wondering if they go down to baggage claim and pick up your luggage for you, or do you have to get your bags yourself?

Our towncar driver is always waiting at the bottom of the stairs, next to the luggage carousel.. holding that fancy/shmancy card with our name on it.

 

[diskids2]

There's an interesting article in Gadling.com....I'd put in the link...but I can't seem to get it right. The article talks about the design of the swan and dolphin. Maybe someone else can post the link?
****************************
Walt Disney World hotels urban legend debunked
by Leigh Caldwell (RSS feed) on Mar 29th 2010 at 6:30PM

Even if you haven't stayed at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, you have seen the convention hotel complex if you have visited EPCOT. The postmodern resort designed by American architect Michael Graves is visible from several places in the park.

The triangular hotel with leaves painted on it is the Dolphin, and the rounded one with waves is the Swan. Which seems to be the opposite of what they should be, right?


And thus, a Disney urban legend was born. It says that when the iconic sculptures on top of the two hotels were hoisted into place, they were put on the wrong buildings, and the names of the hotels had to be changed.

At Yesterland.com, Werner Weiss aims to put the urban legend to rest once and for all. Weiss recounts a conversation with Disney historian Jim Korkis, who has first-hand knowledge of Graves' intent.

The real story, according to Korkis, is that the Dolphin hotel was raised up from the ocean bed by a volcano or earthquake, and the two dolphins on the roof were raised up with it. It's an island now, which accounts for the leaves on the building. The swans on the companion building stopped to look at this phenomenon and were turned to stone.

Weiss has many more details, but among the other gems from the interview was the idea that Graves, who then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner handpicked to design the hotels, didn't even like Disney. According to Korkis, Graves "freely admitted that seeing a four-foot mouse walking around in the parks was just 'wrong' as far as he was concerned."

 

[Needafix]

There's an interesting article in Gadling.com....I'd put in the link...but I can't seem to get it right. The article talks about the design of the swan and dolphin. Maybe someone else can post the link?
****************************
Walt Disney World hotels urban legend debunked
by Leigh Caldwell (RSS feed) on Mar 29th 2010 at 6:30PM

Even if you haven't stayed at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, you have seen the convention hotel complex if you have visited EPCOT. The postmodern resort designed by American architect Michael Graves is visible from several places in the park.

The triangular hotel with leaves painted on it is the Dolphin, and the rounded one with waves is the Swan. Which seems to be the opposite of what they should be, right?


And thus, a Disney urban legend was born. It says that when the iconic sculptures on top of the two hotels were hoisted into place, they were put on the wrong buildings, and the names of the hotels had to be changed.

At Yesterland.com, Werner Weiss aims to put the urban legend to rest once and for all. Weiss recounts a conversation with Disney historian Jim Korkis, who has first-hand knowledge of Graves' intent.

The real story, according to Korkis, is that the Dolphin hotel was raised up from the ocean bed by a volcano or earthquake, and the two dolphins on the roof were raised up with it. It's an island now, which accounts for the leaves on the building. The swans on the companion building stopped to look at this phenomenon and were turned to stone.

Weiss has many more details, but among the other gems from the interview was the idea that Graves, who then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner handpicked to design the hotels, didn't even like Disney. According to Korkis, Graves "freely admitted that seeing a four-foot mouse walking around in the parks was just 'wrong' as far as he was concerned."

Thanks - a bit weird, but interesting. I still want a definitive about the Dolphin and why it looks the way it does.

 

[Dan Murphy]

God find, diskids2.


http://www.gadling.com/2010/03/29/walt-disney-world-hotels-urban-legend-debunked/

and.........

http://www.yesterland.com/swandolphin.html

ETA, this link is really interesting.

 

[Needafix]

God find, diskids2.


http://www.gadling.com/2010/03/29/walt-disney-world-hotels-urban-legend-debunked/

and.........

http://www.yesterland.com/swandolphin.html

ETA, this link is really interesting.

Phew...thanks, now I can finally sleep at night. It was amazing how it seemed every cast member we talked to on our recent trip had a different story about the dolphins.

 

[SingingMom]

God find, diskids2.


[ .

Hey Dan, God's surfing the internet, now?

My DD always said, "I love resort, but they just DON'T look like DOLPHINS to me!"

 

[f15robyn]

"I love resort, but they just DON'T look like DOLPHINS to me!"

This was one of my favorite subjects, even prior to staying at the Dolphin for the first time last week.

We participate in a medieval recreation organization. This is how Dolphins were depicted in medieval heraldry:

http://www.sacred-texts.com/lcr/fsca/fsca70.htm

If you scroll down a bit, you'll see a dolphin "torqued", looking much like the status on the top of the Dolphin resort (and like Bernini's Fountain of Triton, which was the inspiration mentioned in the articles above). Dolphins began appearing like this on shields and crests as early as the 13th century.