Resort Thread Walt Disney World SWAN, DOLPHIN & SWAN RESERVE Resorts

[JimmyBean42]

I forgot I meant to track down those s’mores! Now I have a better reason, I’m gonna get something for my $50…

I was there last week and forgot the s'mores too! But honestly, have slugged my way back after splitting 20+ items at F&W definitely would not have had room for s'mores.

 

[Dan Murphy]

New things coming to S/D complex.

https://www.wdwmagic.com/resorts/wa...alt-disney-world-swan-and-dolphin-by-2026.htm

https://allears.net/2024/10/29/a-popular-disney-world-hotel-is-getting-a-massive-expansion/

https://www.travelpulse.com/news/ho...olphin-unveils-275-million-renovation-project

https://mickeyblog.com/2024/10/29/w...ort-announces-140-million-renovation-project/

 

[hedberg1661]

Bob, new things coming to S/D complex.

https://www.wdwmagic.com/resorts/wa...alt-disney-world-swan-and-dolphin-by-2026.htm

https://allears.net/2024/10/29/a-popular-disney-world-hotel-is-getting-a-massive-expansion/

https://www.travelpulse.com/news/ho...olphin-unveils-275-million-renovation-project

https://mickeyblog.com/2024/10/29/w...ort-announces-140-million-renovation-project/

Expansion for S&D sounds good. I have several trips (starting tomorrow) over the next 2 months. I will be interesting to see the early staging for this work.

 

[gottalovepluto]

New things coming to S/D complex.

https://www.wdwmagic.com/resorts/wa...alt-disney-world-swan-and-dolphin-by-2026.htm

https://allears.net/2024/10/29/a-popular-disney-world-hotel-is-getting-a-massive-expansion/

https://www.travelpulse.com/news/ho...olphin-unveils-275-million-renovation-project

https://mickeyblog.com/2024/10/29/w...ort-announces-140-million-renovation-project/

Finally official word on the Swan remodel!

Expansion for S&D sounds good. I have several trips (starting tomorrow) over the next 2 months. I will be interesting to see the early staging for this work.

Convention business must be good to build the convention area expansion! I'm wondering how bad/long the noise effect will be on Dolphin's guest rooms, that's going to be massive equipment for foundation and structure work. Once they're onto the inside work nbd obvs.

 

[Dave006]

Finally official word on the Swan remodel!

Also it looks like the Swan Resort room refresh is due to complete in 2024.

Dave

 

[Dan Murphy]

Additional link from the dis.

https://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/walt-disney-world-swan-dolphin-announces-huge-transformation/

 

[SteveH]

Well the expansion tells me that the convention business is definitely back and goes in hand with the reopening of the Car Rental counter. Hopefully, this might mean they move back to the Disney bus services soon too.

I do find it odd there was never an announcement about the Swan refurb, they toss it in now that it's nearing completion, it hints that the Dolphin rooms will get upgraded. However, the Allears post states, "upgrades to the Dolphin’s existing meeting spaces and Swan’s guest rooms." Which makes me wonder if the Dolphin is going to get the updates anytime soon. Its a lot of construction work get completed by Summer 2025.

 

[fly girl]

We were finally lucky enough to snag a hotel reservation for this upcoming Sun-Tu. (dd has a mini fall break)

Our go-to is Swan Reserve. Unfortunately the only rooms left were suites and I am not paying $920/night. Swan was priced out too, so we went with Dolphin which was still more than we normally like to pay, but we found a fair discount with work.

So, seeing it has been forever and a day since we stayed at Dolphin (due to double beds) can someone refresh my memory as to when it had their last refresh? Any room requests I should ask for? We put in for an upgrade through Bonvoy, but the choices given was very limited. Fingers crossed we will get a king with a sofa bed. Oh, that is another question, any know how comfortable the sofa beds are at Dolphin?

Thanks for any advice/suggestions.

 

[Dave006]

However, the Allears post states, "upgrades to the Dolphin’s existing meeting spaces and Swan’s guest rooms." Which makes me wonder if the Dolphin is going to get the updates anytime soon. Its a lot of construction work get completed by Summer 2025.

Yes all of the articles have various errors. The Meeting Space expansion at the Dolphin is not really scheduled to be complete until late 2026. Getting the Dolphin room remodel may or may not be done by Summer 2025.

The Swan room remodel has been stealth until 10/25. Almost exactly 6 months since the funding Tishman Group's refunding of the resort closed (May 10th).

Dave

 

[RickNJane]

maybe its just me, but I really hate to see a huge convention expansion. Our favorite home restart is BWV. From what I hear this will be one of the largest if not the largest convention complex on the east coast. This has gotta make the crowds and noise worse at the other crescent lake resorts. As not all the convention goers will be staying at S&D complex, this also has to impact traffic.

 

[Dave006]

So, seeing it has been forever and a day since we stayed at Dolphin (due to double beds) can someone refresh my memory as to when it had their last refresh?

Last update was in 2016 / 2017. So it is do for an update and that has just been announced a few days ago.

Oh, that is another question, any know how comfortable the sofa beds are at Dolphin?

For a child not bad but for 1-2 adults it is not quite as comfortable as even the double beds.

Dave

 

[Dan Murphy]

Oh, that is another question, any know how comfortable the sofa beds are at Dolphin?

All/most of the reviews I have read here, FG, regarding the sofa beds have been favorable. People have said thay are good, compared to 'normal' sofa beds.

Enjoy!!

 

[patty57]

maybe its just me, but I really hate to see a huge convention expansion. Our favorite home restart is BWV. From what I hear this will be one of the largest if not the largest convention complex on the east coast. This has gotta make the crowds and noise worse at the other crescent lake resorts. As not all the convention goers will be staying at S&D complex, this also has to impact traffic.

It's not just you. More and larger conventions are not a plus in my book.

 

[fly girl]

Last update was in 2016 / 2017. So it is do for an update and that has just been announced a few days ago.


For a child not bad but for 1-2 adults it is not quite as comfortable as even the double beds.

Dave

Oh, I was hoping the last refurb was after covid, boo (lol). As long as it is clean that's the main thing. We won't be in the room much anyway.

Sofa bed would be for my daughter who is almost 17. I can't share a double with my husband. Even though we are small people a double is pure misery - I need sleep space!!

All/most of the reviews I have read here, FG, regarding the sofa beds have been favorable. People have said thay are good, compared to 'normal' sofa beds.

Enjoy!!

Great! I am just too lazy to comb through 1.1K pages to see what has been said, lol. We have had some sofa bed doozies in hotels over the years, so it is nice to know it hasn't received nightmare reviews.

 

[JimmyBean42]

maybe its just me, but I really hate to see a huge convention expansion. Our favorite home restart is BWV. From what I hear this will be one of the largest if not the largest convention complex on the east coast. This has gotta make the crowds and noise worse at the other crescent lake resorts. As not all the convention goers will be staying at S&D complex, this also has to impact traffic.

There was a large convention there last week. There was a line from the front door of Jelly Rolls almost to the walkway to the bridge to S&W. Have never seen a line longer than 6 people or so for Jelly Rolls before. This was solid 50 person line at least. The lobby of the Dolphin was crazy for a few days but quickly died out on what must have been the last day of the conference. Only good thing I think of that can come out of the conference expansion is perhaps someone takes over the empty Big River Grille and brings in a new restaurant experience.

 

[gottalovepluto]

There was a large convention there last week. There was a line from the front door of Jelly Rolls almost to the walkway to the bridge to S&W. Have never seen a line longer than 6 people or so for Jelly Rolls before. This was solid 50 person line at least. The lobby of the Dolphin was crazy for a few days but quickly died out on what must have been the last day of the conference. Only good thing I think of that can come out of the conference expansion is perhaps someone takes over the empty Big River Grille and brings in a new restaurant experience.

Jelly Rolls is closing, suspect that was more the interest than conventioneers looking for a bar.

I don’t expect the conference expansion to have much of an effect on the amount of people looking for things to do in the BW area. The hotel is not expanding, just the facilities.

 

[Dave006]

Jelly Rolls is closing, suspect that was more the interest than conventioneers looking for a bar.

Not sure that anyone know Jellyrolls was closing last week so something else drove that long wait to get in. It was just announced yesterday as a "Rumor".

Dave

 

[JimmyBean42]

Jelly Rolls is closing, suspect that was more the interest than conventioneers looking for a bar.

I don’t expect the conference expansion to have much of an effect on the amount of people looking for things to do in the BW area. The hotel is not expanding, just the facilities.

Most still had their conference badges on, so most likely looking for a bar. Many spots in the Swolphin were rented out privately by companies, including BlueZoo. And trust me, these people at this conference don't have the Disney knowledge this board does to know about JR closing. I was at the conference in June that rented out Hollywood Studios w/ Maroon 5 playing, the comments in the lines would have had a lot cracking up, like people on the ride for ROTR looking at Kylo Ren and asking why Darth Vader got a new mask.

 

[Cfabar1]

I wish the Swan and Dolphin would expand their suite offerings in the remodels - that would be really helpful. The corner rooms aren't really enough, and the premium suites you have to call are likely prohibitively expensive...

We typically end up at SR for two reasons - the electric chargers, and the suites.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Did Swan remodel the bathrooms to walk-in showers?