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

[Zuzu03]

Those desserts look delicious! Glad you enjoyed it!

They were, one of them was an amaretto mousse type of thing that was heavenly. It was nice too because even though the parks were pretty busy, GG was not busy at all and I think we could have gone again without an ADR on another night. I would definately recommend it!

 

[SingingMom]

They were, one of them was an amaretto mousse type of thing that was heavenly. It was nice too because even though the parks were pretty busy, GG was not busy at all and I think we could have gone again without an ADR on another night. I would definately recommend it!

We did the Cape May Seafood Buffet and were very underimpressed. I think we would have possibly enjoyed Garden Grove more.

We ADORED Il Mulino. Best tiramisu I've had in AGES!!! And DD and I KNOW our tiramisu!!

Seems like we did more eating at Swan/Dolphin this visit than in previous years. Hit FRESH for breakfast twice, Cabana Bar & Grill twice, Java Bar twice, and Il Mulino. All were very good!

 

[NancyIL]

We did the Cape May Seafood Buffet and were very underimpressed. I think we would have possibly enjoyed Garden Grove more.

We ADORED Il Mulino. Best tiramisu I've had in AGES!!! And DD and I KNOW our tiramisu!!

Seems like we did more eating at Swan/Dolphin this visit than in previous years. Hit FRESH for breakfast twice, Cabana Bar & Grill twice, Java Bar twice, and Il Mulino. All were very good!

Did you use a Restaurant.com gift certificate for Il Mulino - by any chance?

 

[DisneyPiPhi]

Just back from the Dolphin, where we stayed just one night for our anniversary weekend. We arrived about noon on Saturday and were able to check in that early, which really impressed me. Front desk staff was friendly and professional.

Our room was in the center (the triangle part) on the 16th floor - we had a great view of the Swan, Boardwalk, Hollywood Studios, etc. We could see our old house in Celebration, too! We loved the view and could have watched Fantasmic from our room.

We enjoyed walking to Epcot and used Disney transportation to go to and from MK for the Summer Nightastic Fireworks and dessert party. We had lunch at Garden Grove on Saturday and thought it was so-so; I had a caesar salad (good) and mac & cheese (very thin sauce - I think it was supposed to be baked for a final step and they skipped that step!!). Husband had the blackened shrimp sandwich and enjoyed it, but was bummed he couldn't substitute another side for fries.

We enjoyed walking around the Boardwalk for other meals: light dinner Saturday at Martha's Vineyard in the Beach Club, and breakfast Sunday at the Boardwalk Bakery.

Sunday after checkout we snagged a couch in the Cabana at the pool and hung out there for literally five hours. Angel was our server and he was phenomenal - we ate lunch and had a couple drinks throughout the afternoon, and everything was wonderful. Husband LOVED the beer selection, my daiquiri was very good, and all the food was tasty. (I had a kids meal with apple chips - so good!) The Cabana is shaded and very cool, and you can hang out all day in between swims.

Before leaving Sunday we walked to Kouzzina for dinner, which was also very, very good. We got right in with no ADR, the service was excellent, and the food was better than Spoodles was, especially in its final years. We had the fried cheese appetizer (delectable); I had the flank steak with the herb sauce and the husband had the whole yellow snapper. Both were great!

All in all, the Dolphin may be our new favorite Disney resort! The room was very comfortable, the pace (especially at the Cabana and the pool) was very relaxed, and you can't beat the location. We absolutely love the boardwalk, and having so many nearby dining options was fantastic. We'll be back!

 

[SingingMom]

Did you use a Restaurant.com gift certificate for Il Mulino - by any chance?

No, we paid top dollar. Found out a little too late about it - I didn't have time to read throught the website to see the offers and what joining entails before our trip. Maybe next time!

It was an expensive meal, but the same we would pretty much pay for a similiar restaurant in our NY/NJ/CT tri-state area.

 

[SingingMom]

!

All in all, the Dolphin may be our new favorite Disney resort! The room was very comfortable, the pace (especially at the Cabana and the pool) was very relaxed, and you can't beat the location. We absolutely love the boardwalk, and having so many nearby dining options was fantastic. We'll be back!

Happy Anniversary! I think you hit the nail on the head with your comments:
"the pace was very relaxed".... and "you can't beat the location"...

That's EXACTLY why we keep returning !! Glad you enjoyed it!

 

[Zuzu03]

Just back from the Dolphin, where we stayed just one night for our anniversary weekend. We arrived about noon on Saturday and were able to check in that early, which really impressed me. Front desk staff was friendly and professional.

Our room was in the center (the triangle part) on the 16th floor - we had a great view of the Swan, Boardwalk, Hollywood Studios, etc. We could see our old house in Celebration, too! We loved the view and could have watched Fantasmic from our room.

We enjoyed walking to Epcot and used Disney transportation to go to and from MK for the Summer Nightastic Fireworks and dessert party. We had lunch at Garden Grove on Saturday and thought it was so-so; I had a caesar salad (good) and mac & cheese (very thin sauce - I think it was supposed to be baked for a final step and they skipped that step!!). Husband had the blackened shrimp sandwich and enjoyed it, but was bummed he couldn't substitute another side for fries.

We enjoyed walking around the Boardwalk for other meals: light dinner Saturday at Martha's Vineyard in the Beach Club, and breakfast Sunday at the Boardwalk Bakery.

Sunday after checkout we snagged a couch in the Cabana at the pool and hung out there for literally five hours. Angel was our server and he was phenomenal - we ate lunch and had a couple drinks throughout the afternoon, and everything was wonderful. Husband LOVED the beer selection, my daiquiri was very good, and all the food was tasty. (I had a kids meal with apple chips - so good!) The Cabana is shaded and very cool, and you can hang out all day in between swims.

Before leaving Sunday we walked to Kouzzina for dinner, which was also very, very good. We got right in with no ADR, the service was excellent, and the food was better than Spoodles was, especially in its final years. We had the fried cheese appetizer (delectable); I had the flank steak with the herb sauce and the husband had the whole yellow snapper. Both were great!

All in all, the Dolphin may be our new favorite Disney resort! The room was very comfortable, the pace (especially at the Cabana and the pool) was very relaxed, and you can't beat the location. We absolutely love the boardwalk, and having so many nearby dining options was fantastic. We'll be back!

Happy Anniversary and glad you had an enjoyable weekend! The Dolphin is fabulous, isn't it?

 

[airhead]

I always hear a problem with the smell of the hallway from the S&D. has it been fixed?

there's only (not so good...) smells in the hallways when kitchen staff doesn't collect food carts(from room service)for 2 days ,or,in our not -so -good -experience, someone vomits in the hallway...
Otherwise,the hotel smells just fine.

 

[NancyIL]

No, we paid top dollar. Found out a little too late about it - I didn't have time to read throught the website to see the offers and what joining entails before our trip. Maybe next time!

It was an expensive meal, but the same we would pretty much pay for a similiar restaurant in our NY/NJ/CT tri-state area.

There's nothing to joining Restaurants.com - other than registering your e-mail. Today I ordered two more $25 gift certificates: one for the Garden Grove for dinner (I already had another that I'll use for breakfast), and one for House of Blues. Both were $2 each after the 80% off "PLATE" promo code. I also have a gift certificate for Il Mulino, so I'll have to try it on an upcoming stay.

 

[disneyaway]

There's nothing to joining Restaurants.com - other than registering your e-mail. Today I ordered two more $25 gift certificates: one for the Garden Grove for dinner (I already had another that I'll use for breakfast), and one for House of Blues. Both were $2 each after the 80% off "PLATE" promo code. I also have a gift certificate for Il Mulino, so I'll have to try it on an upcoming stay.

Can you use the certificates for breakfast? I was looking into them but I thought it said dinner only. If it's breakfast, I may have to look into it.

 

[susikayser]

Can you use the certificates for breakfast? I was looking into them but I thought it said dinner only. If it's breakfast, I may have to look into it.

Just ate at Garden Grove on Friday 7/16 for breakfast--I guess I didn't read the small print, as our server would not take our Restaurant.com $25 certificate--said after you purchase it, the site says "dinner only." I missed it somewhere! He did end up talking to his mgr. and taking it off, but only as we had other really big issues at breakfast. I feel bad as I had purchased 2 w/out realizing you can only use one per stay--then gave the other to a nice family we met on our 2nd to last night and told them to use it for a character breakfast before I knew the no breakfast rule--oops! Hope it somehow worked out for them...

 

[NancyIL]

Can you use the certificates for breakfast? I was looking into them but I thought it said dinner only. If it's breakfast, I may have to look into it.

The first one I bought at 70% off had no meal restrictions. The second one at 80% off is good for dinner only, but I'm willing to give it a try.

 

[Binoo]

I am trying to book 2 nights stay before my DCL trip. I searched so many website including SPG and I could not find any room available at Swan or Dolphin on Dec 2nd ( I will use spg pts to book another night Dec 3rd )The only website available is gtahotels and the rate is $202 + tax. Is it too good to be true? It is pre-paid booking and I can get instant confirmation. I just wonder how soon I can call the hotel to confirm the booking. I am afraid there will be no room for me when we arrive.

 

[jaci-h]

I have a question:

Is there some sort of locker or somewhere to put our suitcases at the Swan after we check out? Our flight doesn't leave until 6:30pm, so we thought we could spend time at MK on the last day catching up on anything we wanted to do over, and utilize the morning EMH.

Any thoughts or ideas?

 

[paras4ri]

I have a question:

Is there some sort of locker or somewhere to put our suitcases at the Swan after we check out? Our flight doesn't leave until 6:30pm, so we thought we could spend time at MK on the last day catching up on anything we wanted to do over, and utilize the morning EMH.

Any thoughts or ideas?

You can leave your luggage with Bell Services in the lobby.

 

[DisneyQueen1320]

After reading about the Cabana poolside food, I have a stupid question. Do you have to have an ADR or can you just walk up and request a sofa seat?

 

[DisneyPiPhi]

After reading about the Cabana poolside food, I have a stupid question. Do you have to have an ADR or can you just walk up and request a sofa seat?

We were there on a Sunday afternoon and it was NOT busy at all - we walked up, checked with the bartender that we could order food and drinks on the sofas, and then plunked down.

Being a lounge, I doubt they take reservations. The other two couch areas were not busy at all when we were there.

 

[DisneyQueen1320]

Oh I can't wait

 

[jnfr2424]

I have to bump this because someone is looking for help about staying at the S/D
BTW - I got a quick trip coming up next week to the DOLPHIN!! I am sooo excited ( this is the 3rd time this year alone!)

 

[MOM POPPINS]

Put me down for 3 trips this year also. March, May and going back in November which will be our 20th. trip since 2000!