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

[Emm]

Single cup, large. Starbucks coffee.

Thanks! I was thinking of bringing my own coffee (hence the question about the size) but if it is Starbucks maybe I won't have to. Can you (or anyone) tell me if it is a fairly dark roast (French, Italian, etc.) or a medium light roast? I favor the darker roasts. (Actually, I favor latte, but it would be too much to ask for a latte machine in the rooms. )

 

[SingingMom]

That's awesome, you sound just like us! DD would have graduated next year, but that darn so-and-so skipped a grade and is graduating THIS year (I am so NOT ready!!!). I offered to bring her to Europe (we had a quick trip to France and Spain last year) for her graduation but she insisted on going to Disney! What show did your daughter do this year? We just finished up Disney's Alice in Wonderland - DD was tall Alice!

DD was the Assistant Director and in the ensemble of "Kiss Me, Kate" this year. She was Assistant Director for the fall drama production of "The Taming of the Shrew" and has decided she is majoring in Theatre with a concentration in Directing. Lots of jobs there.

Our next trip to the Dolphin I would like to not even worry about the parks every day. Just enjoy the beautiful resort!

 

[Zuzu03]

DD was the Assistant Director and in the ensemble of "Kiss Me, Kate" this year. She was Assistant Director for the fall drama production of "The Taming of the Shrew" and has decided she is majoring in Theatre with a concentration in Directing. Lots of jobs there.

Our next trip to the Dolphin I would like to not even worry about the parks every day. Just enjoy the beautiful resort!

Good for her! I received my B.A. in Theatre with a concentration in acting from the University of Vermont. Everyone with whom I graduated is working in the industry in some way or another. I went on to get my M.A. in French so I could teach and now I'm directing and teaching at my daughter's school! If she loves it, she should totally do it! For a small state, we have some amazing talent and Vermont is really supportive of the arts. And it's cool, almost every time I turn on the television I see one of my friends from UVM in ads - he's currently in the one for AT & T where he changes his ticket to make the train on which he has spotted the girl of his dreams. It's pretty awesome - he's a local boy from Northfield, Vermont! I'm glad she's pursuing her passion!!! Sorry, now back to the Swan Dolphin discussion.

 

[Zuzu03]

DD was the Assistant Director and in the ensemble of "Kiss Me, Kate" this year. She was Assistant Director for the fall drama production of "The Taming of the Shrew" and has decided she is majoring in Theatre with a concentration in Directing. Lots of jobs there.

Our next trip to the Dolphin I would like to not even worry about the parks every day. Just enjoy the beautiful resort!

Good for her! She should totally go for it. I received a B.A. in Theatre with a concentration in acting from the University of Vermont and everyone with whom I graduated is working in the industry in one way or another. I went on to get my M.A. in French so I could teach and now I teach and direct at my daughter's school. I love it! For a small state Vermont has some amazing talent and is really supportive of the arts. Almost every time I turn on the television I see one of my buddies in an ad. His latest is the AT&T commercial where he changes his train ticket using his mobile so he can make the train on which he's spotted the girl of his dreams - his wife is "Denise" from the Taco Bell ads. Jay's a local boy from Northfield, Vermont, right over the hill from us my students are inspired by him (and some a bit gaga over him). So I'm really glad she's pursuing her passion!!

Now, back to Swan/Dolphin discussion! I totally agree that now we are more into enjoying the resorts and staying away from the crowds!

 

[NancyIL]

DD was the Assistant Director and in the ensemble of "Kiss Me, Kate" this year. She was Assistant Director for the fall drama production of "The Taming of the Shrew" and has decided she is majoring in Theatre with a concentration in Directing. Lots of jobs there.

Our next trip to the Dolphin I would like to not even worry about the parks every day. Just enjoy the beautiful resort!

I was in "Kiss Me, Kate" in summer theater when I was 16! (I won't tell you how long ago THAT was!) I LOVE that musical!!!

My two daughters (22 and 25) and I are flying to Paris on June 16 for 3 nights, then to London for 3 nights, and then we're going on a 12-night British Isles cruise! I've been promising them a mother/daughter Europe trip for a number of years.

 

[Zuzu03]

I was in "Kiss Me, Kate" in summer theater when I was 16! (I won't tell you how long ago THAT was!) I LOVE that musical!!!

My two daughters (22 and 25) and I are flying to Paris on June 16 for 3 nights, then to London for 3 nights, and then we're going on a 12-night British Isles cruise! I've been promising them a mother/daughter Europe trip for a number of years.

Kiss Me, Kate is a great show, I agree. My students are on a Disney kick right now (gee, I wonder where they get THAT from) and they want to do Beauty and the Beast next year - I'm not even THINKING about next year's shows yet!

That's very cool you're doing a mother/daughter European trip. Leave lots of room for souvenirs!

 

[airhead]

We'll try to leave the place in one piece after our trip in June.
(...can't say that I'll save any espresso martinis for ya, however.... )

Save me just one! Ever since you mentioned these drinks,I've been dyin' to try it!!

 

[SingingMom]

I was in "Kiss Me, Kate" in summer theater when I was 16! (I won't tell you how long ago THAT was!) I LOVE that musical!!!

My two daughters (22 and 25) and I are flying to Paris on June 16 for 3 nights, then to London for 3 nights, and then we're going on a 12-night British Isles cruise! I've been promising them a mother/daughter Europe trip for a number of years.

What a hoot, Nancy! What part did you play?
And ...What a trip of a lifetime!!! PLEASE let me know all about it. You can PM me when you get back!! DD wants very much to see Paris & London. I am squeemish about going so far away, but I don't want to send DD and DH without me. I am the planner/coordinator/keeper of all.... they might not know how to get back home without me.

Good for her! She should totally go for it. I received a B.A. in Theatre with a concentration in acting from the University of Vermont and everyone with whom I graduated is working in the industry in one way or another. I went on to get my M.A. in French so I could teach and now I teach and direct at my daughter's school. I love it! For a small state Vermont has some amazing talent and is really supportive of the arts. Almost every time I turn on the television I see one of my buddies in an ad. His latest is the AT&T commercial where he changes his train ticket using his mobile so he can make the train on which he's spotted the girl of his dreams - his wife is "Denise" from the Taco Bell ads. Jay's a local boy from Northfield, Vermont, right over the hill from us my students are inspired by him (and some a bit gaga over him). So I'm really glad she's pursuing her passion!!

Now, back to Swan/Dolphin discussion! I totally agree that now we are more into enjoying the resorts and staying away from the crowds!

Zuzu- now that is cool! I feel a little better about her career choice, now. It really is her "passion". She's not strong on the performing end, but her organizational skills and "eye" are excellent, so I think she'll succeed - AND we do live a stones throw from "The Great White Way"...

Save me just one! Ever since you mentioned these drinks,I've been dyin' to try it!!

Oh... okay... I'll save you ONE....

 

[NancyIL]

What a hoot, Nancy! What part did you play?
And ...What a trip of a lifetime!!! PLEASE let me know all about it. You can PM me when you get back!! DD wants very much to see Paris & London. I am squeemish about going so far away, but I don't want to send DD and DH without me. I am the planner/coordinator/keeper of all.... they might not know how to get back home without me.

I was in the chorus, although I might've auditioned for Bianca. The director had two daughters, and each got one of the leading female roles! They WERE really good, I must say!

My girls have been to Europe before, but not to Ireland or Scotland - where we'll go on the cruise. My oldest also spent a semester in Italy when she was a sophomore in college, and she did a lot of traveling then.

Now is the time to visit Europe - with the weak euro and pound. Hopefully it will still be that way when you go next summer!

 

[SingingMom]

I was in the chorus, although I might've auditioned for Bianca. The director had two daughters, and each got one of the leading female roles! They WERE really good, I must say!

My girls have been to Europe before, but not to Ireland or Scotland - where we'll go on the cruise. My oldest also spent a semester in Italy when she was a sophomore in college, and she did a lot of traveling then.

Now is the time to visit Europe - with the weak euro and pound. Hopefully it will still be that way when you go next summer!

My daughter had one singing line: "Package for Miss Lois Lane"... LOL But she was Assistant Director and worked her tail off. We were very proud of her!

The university she is looking at offers a semester in England at Wroxton College - and they have a working relationship with the Royal Shakespearean Theater, so she is really wanting to go!

Me? The World Showcase in Epcot really does satisfy me.

 

[SondraC]

Can anyone please tell me how deep is the grotto pool?

Thanks!

 

[SingingMom]

Can anyone please tell me how deep is the grotto pool?

Thanks!

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/Resorts/SwanDolphin/recreation.htm#pool

 

[Zuzu03]

My daughter had one singing line: "Package for Miss Lois Lane"... LOL But she was Assistant Director and worked her tail off. We were very proud of her!

The university she is looking at offers a semester in England at Wroxton College - and they have a working relationship with the Royal Shakespearean Theater, so she is really wanting to go!

Me? The World Showcase in Epcot really does satisfy me.

That is so cool! She'll do GREAT. What was so nice about our theatre program at UVM was that even though I was a performance concentrator I still had to do coursework in lighting, scene design, costume design, theatre history and criticism and directing. One of my fave profs (he's gone now, cancer took him from us) used to say, "If you're an actor, you may not work. But if you can hang and focus a light, use a screw gun and sew a straight line, you'll work. It's not show art, folks, it's show business." We all were very well prepared to get out and work!

 

[lovingthemouse]

Just a few more days. I did want to ask, I know I should go back and read, are there now small frigs in the Dolphin rooms? Thanks.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Have a great time, Caroline. Sorry we did not meet up a few weeks ago, but with all those kids, you had your hands full.

As far as I know, small fridges in both Swan and Dolphin.

 

[SondraC]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/Resorts/SwanDolphin/recreation.htm#pool

Thanks!

 

[chimommy]

I have always stayed at the swan and dolphin during my disney trips... first went there when I was 10yrs old. We have always had a wonderful time! We recently booked an executive suite at the dolphin for our upcoming trip in sept. SO for whatever reason I started reading reviews and trip advisor and they have me concerned... lots of people saying their rooms were dirty, things broken and that the hotel is just going down hill. Just wondering who has stayed there lately and what their experience was...? I've started looking into maybe staying at either the beach club or boardwalk. Thanks!

 

[ckelly14]

Made my reservation for the Swan a few months back. Was suprised to see that there were no suites available for the first week in December. I always thought the time between thanksgiving and Christmas was slightly off-peak, but it seems very crowded. Also recently considered buying points for a suite at a DVC, but most we were interested in were already booked for that date.

Is there anything going on I should know about for these dates?

Also, it looks like we can book dining reservations for the whole trip (+10 days) 180 days from the first day of our arrival. Has anyone done this? Does the calander magically open days available when you put in your reservation number?

 

[Lorettla]

I stayed at the Dolphin last week for five nights and there is absolutely nothing wrong with the hotel or the rooms! I have been staying at either the Swan or Dolphin twice a year for about the last fifteen years and have seen no decline in anything.

 

[SingingMom]

I have always stayed at the swan and dolphin during my disney trips... first went there when I was 10yrs old. We have always had a wonderful time! We recently booked an executive suite at the dolphin for our upcoming trip in sept. SO for whatever reason I started reading reviews and trip advisor and they have me concerned... lots of people saying their rooms were dirty, things broken and that the hotel is just going down hill. Just wondering who has stayed there lately and what their experience was...? I've started looking into maybe staying at either the beach club or boardwalk. Thanks!

We are heading down for our FIFTH year in a row... we have NEVER experienced ANY of those things. As for "going down hill" - each year we've been there they have been revamping one area or another. The most beautiful renovation in recent years is the Cabana Bar area. Just lovely!

In my own experience, I have found that people in general will write a review when they are angry or have something to complain about more so than when they are pleased and want to rave over how great something is.

I'm not saying that reviews should be ignored, but I think you have to keep the "complainer-type personallity" in mind when you read them. You ultimately have to choose for yourself what is best for you and your family.

I must sound very goofy to my family and friends at this point - DH says the Dolphin could hire me as their
"Good Will Ambassador", because I "sing their praises" to all we meet. But, truly - I am so very happy with the resort - the entire package: LOCATION, accomodations, and the EXCELLENT customer service.

My advice is to take some time to read through this thread. I think we are an "honest bunch" Ask any questions you may have and we will HONESTLY answer them! Good Luck!