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

[Dan Murphy]

How are you getting to the airport? The Swan/Dolphin aren't Disney-owned hotels and don't participate in Magical Express. Therefore, there is no resort airline check-in. You can leave your luggage with Bell Services until you are ready to go to the airport.

Airline check in and boarding passes can be done and printed at the resorts, but no transport to the airport as in ME. You are on your own for that as Nancy said.

 

[NancyIL]

Airline check in and boarding passes can be done and printed at the resorts, but no transport to the airport as in ME. You are on your own for that as Nancy said.

I think santa's surpriz was asking about checking their luggage from the Dolphin, and that can't be done. You can check-in for your flight and print boarding passes from any computer beginning 24 hours prior to flight time.

 

[SingingMom]

I think santa's surpriz was asking about checking their luggage from the Dolphin, and that can't be done. You can check-in for your flight and print boarding passes from any computer beginning 24 hours prior to flight time.

The kiosks in the lobby have most airlines, but not Jetblue (just in case anyone needs that) ... The Conceirge desk will check in and print boarding passes for you.

 

[santa's surpriz]

Thanks for the quick repiles, I have arranged my own transportation so that is not an issue. Last year I stayed at OKW, did NOT use Magical Express bc I had a rental car but was still able to use the resort check in and they checked my luggage. BC I was not on ME and used the service, I assumed it was not an exclusive ME perk. But now that I think about, OKW already had luggage going to the airport and may be that is why I it worked out so nicely. This year I need to cut back expenses so I decided to ditch the car for 10 days and rent one only for the days I need transportation, which is really only 1-2. Believe or not I calculated taxi fees and rental rates and it will be a savings to rent a car those days. (I found some great National rates thru my employer.I can get a midsize for about $35-40.) Back to my original topic, I will not have a car to store my luggage in before we leave. Does Bellhop have a secure location/system?

 

[SingingMom]

Back to my original topic, I will not have a car to store my luggage in before we leave. Does Bellhop have a secure location/system?

Oh yes, they will take care of that for you and it is in a locked location.

 

[santa's surpriz]

Oh yes, they will take care of that for you and it is in a locked location.

Sweet, thanks!

 

[dizcrazee]

Oh yes, they will take care of that for you and it is in a locked location.

How long will they store your luggage for you? I mean, if we check out in the morning around 9:00, will they store it for us until we leave the area at around 3:00 pm, or do we need to get it out by the normal check-out time?

Sorry if this is a dumb question, I've never had my luggage stored before.

 

[NancyIL]

How long will they store your luggage for you? I mean, if we check out in the morning around 9:00, will they store it for us until we leave the area at around 3:00 pm, or do we need to get it out by the normal check-out time?

Sorry if this is a dumb question, I've never had my luggage stored before.

It will be no problem to store your bags until later in the afternoon.

 

[SingingMom]

How long will they store your luggage for you? I mean, if we check out in the morning around 9:00, will they store it for us until we leave the area at around 3:00 pm, or do we need to get it out by the normal check-out time?

Sorry if this is a dumb question, I've never had my luggage stored before.

It will be no problem to store your bags until later in the afternoon.

Looks like Nancy took care of the answer for you! And, remember NO quesion is "dumb"! We're here to help each other!

 

[dizcrazee]

Thank you, Nancy and Singing Mom. This is good to know. We have a 700 mile drive, and we have been planning to drive straight through on the way home. Now I'm thinking we might check out one day early, have our luggage stored until the late afternoon, and then head up to around Gainesville to break up the drive a little. Those 700 mile drives are getting harder and harder on us, it seems.

 

[ccvb]

Thank you, Nancy and Singing Mom. This is good to know. We have a 700 mile drive, and we have been planning to drive straight through on the way home. Now I'm thinking we might check out one day early, have our luggage stored until the late afternoon, and then head up to around Gainesville to break up the drive a little. Those 700 mile drives are getting harder and harder on us, it seems.

Sometimes you can ask for a late check out which is 4 I think. We do this most times and have never been turned down. Good Luck!

 

[SingingMom]

Sometimes you can ask for a late check out which is 4 I think. We do this most times and have never been turned down. Good Luck!

That's true, too. I didn't think of that, as we always check out by noon to catch the limo back to the airport. We usually take the 3 pm flight home.

1115 miles in the car just doesn't sit well with me.

 

[Needafix]

I just checked my dates in July and got 113 at the Swan. I'm paying 149 right now with the teacher discount at the Dolphin, but I'm not sure if I should change over to the Swan or not. I LOVE the Dolphin, but for 8 nights, that's a decent savings! Has anyone used Expedia before and was everything okay?

I have used Expedia several times for hotels and flights (never S/D though) and I've never had a problem.


On another note, does anyone know why, even though I am subscribed to this thread it stops sending me messages? Do you have to post within a certain amount of days?

 

[Zuzu03]

I have used Expedia several times for hotels and flights (never S/D though) and I've never had a problem.


On another note, does anyone know why, even though I am subscribed to this thread it stops sending me messages? Do you have to post within a certain amount of days?

Thanks, Needafix! That window was really small because I checked back the next morning and the price was gone. It's okay, I've still got the teacher rate. Sometimes that happens to me too, if I don't post in a while, I don't get updates. Thanks again!

 

[Needafix]

Thanks, Needafix! That window was really small because I checked back the next morning and the price was gone. It's okay, I've still got the teacher rate. Sometimes that happens to me too, if I don't post in a while, I don't get updates. Thanks again!

Yep, that's the big problem I've found with all those sites, esp for flights. I will just go on there to check flights and find an AMAZING deal. If I click off just to think about it for a few minutes, I can never find another deal even close to the original one.

 

[tiggersmyguy]

Which restaurants at the Swan/Dolphin gave a AAA discount recently? Thanks to all!

 

[fairyfan]

I just got back from a week at the Swan yesterday and used the AAA discount at Picabu and Fresh (that was awesome). You have to have your card with you when you purchase - they write your number down. I think you get the discount at all the restaurants that are not signature restaurants like Blue Zoo, etc.

I adored the Swan/Dolphin complex. Everything was perfect. The beds are indeed heavenly, the staff was friendly, the pools, especially the grotto pool was awesome. I have read complaints that they grotto pool is cold - it's not now for sure. I'm very cold natured and it was perfect. It was in the mid to upper 90's last week in Orlando, so that may have warmed the pool up. Kids loved the pools and Fresh.

I've stayed at POFQ, CSR and AKL and loved the Swan so much more.

I'll be glad to answer any questions.

 

[pooh2001]

I read the Swan is getting mini-refrigerators in the rooms which guests can use for free.
Not the snack cooler, but real mini refrigerators.

Is the Dolphin also getting the real mini refrigerators ?

Thanks !

 

[SingingMom]

I read the Swan is getting mini-refrigerators in the rooms which guests can use for free.
Not the snack cooler, but real mini refrigerators.

Is the Dolphin also getting the real mini refrigerators ?

Thanks !

Last June, they were in the process of switching over to mini-fridges... (our room had one, my parents did not) I'm pretty sure they all have them now.

We will be there in just over a month!

 

[ms*mountaineer]

Is there an extra charge for Magical Express if I'm staying at Swan or Dolphin?

Looking forward to the report back on the mini-fridges!