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

[Dan Murphy]

We'll be staying at either the Swan or the Dolphin in may (Visit Orlando is arranging the trip for us; haven't got the final details yet) We'll probably be getting in early, before the 3PM check-in. Will they hold our bags until then? We'll probably be on a tight schedule during the trip, and I assume we'll probably want to get into The Magic Kingdom (and onto Splash Mountain) pretty quickly that day.

Welcome to the dis, Blackthorne.

Yes, they will hold your bags. Have a great trip.

 

[hsmamato2]

yes they will hold your bags

 

[thenickster]

Can you Swan fans debunk the reputation that is evolving from the bad trip advisor reviews? Has anyone been there recently? I see this is a serious Disney group and I am just an occasional visitor!

 

[ckelly14]

Can you Swan fans debunk the reputation that is evolving from the bad trip advisor reviews? Has anyone been there recently? I see this is a serious Disney group and I am just an occasional visitor!

I've always been surprised at this. Previously, the rooms were a bit "beat up" from wear and tear but the renovations should solve that issue. It's a very nice hotel, on par with Disney deluxe, walking distance to the resorts with access to Disney transportation and many perks. Perhaps people are expecting "Disney Magic", whatever that is? Perhaps it's the corporate/convention feel to the place? My response would be "location, location, location"...

 

[patty57]

Can you Swan fans debunk the reputation that is evolving from the bad trip advisor reviews? Has anyone been there recently? I see this is a serious Disney group and I am just an occasional visitor!

I also replied to your POFQ vs Swan thread. I spent March 8, 9 & 10 at the Swan. Then I spent March 11, 12 & 13 at BCV. The Swan rooms were head and shoulders above the older, unrenovated BCV studio. I know a good number of posters responded to your thread telling you they liked the Swan. All I can say is I always take Tripadvisor reviews with a grain of salt.

 

[thenickster]

Thank you so much! will give it a shot and post how it was after....

 

[anita46]

We check in this weekend at the dolphin. Got an email from them saying check-in is at 3pm and they do not expect to have rooms ready before then.
Wondering if this is a generic email they always send?
If it is true, we were planning on arriving around noon. It's a Saturday so we weren't going to do the parks just then, thought we'd let the kids swim for a while, etc...
So my question is, is there a pool house or a place where we could change into our swimming suits if our room isn't ready?
TIA.

We got the same message last month too. We arrived at 11:30 and we were checked in right away...are you a Starwoods member? Not sure if that made a difference for us but it was quick and painless. We got our request for near the elevators too!

 

[goofyfigment]

Does anyone know if room 5039 at the dolphin is considered a suite?

 

[Okiechick80]

For Disney-owned resorts, you're right, they do want you to list each child, but if they are under 3, then they don't count them at all. My family could stay in a room withax occupancy of 4 - I just double-checked on MDE, and it let me do that at Pop. But I probably should call The Swan. I'm just scared they're going to tell me no, and we'd really rather have the Queen beds at the Swan! :'-(

So if anyone is interested, here's the information I got from emailing a conceirge earlier today! I'm thrilled!

"You will be able book a room for 5 people, as the infant will most likely need a crib. Our standard rooms will have 2 Queen beds, therefore obviously only sleeping 4, but if you are comfortable with having the infant in the bed with you, or you can request a crib in the room, then you can book the reservation for 5 people.

You will not need to add your son to the reservation, as he does not need to be listed on the room, nor does he need to be on the reservation for Disney as he will not need a ticket or Fastpass.

Please let me know if there is anything else I can assist you with and we look forward to seeing you soon!"

 

[rabidstoat]

Anybody know the latest price for the refillable mugs? Cold beverage only, if it makes a difference.

 

[kayteekt]

We got the same message last month too. We arrived at 11:30 and we were checked in right away...are you a Starwoods member? Not sure if that made a difference for us but it was quick and painless. We got our request for near the elevators too!

Thanks! Good to know, i thought the email sounded kind of generic. We are spg members, secretly hoping for an upgrade
We've never stayed at the Dolphin, is it so big I'll want to request a room near elevators?

 

[patty57]

So if anyone is interested, here's the information I got from emailing a conceirge earlier today! I'm thrilled!

"You will be able book a room for 5 people, as the infant will most likely need a crib. Our standard rooms will have 2 Queen beds, therefore obviously only sleeping 4, but if you are comfortable with having the infant in the bed with you, or you can request a crib in the room, then you can book the reservation for 5 people.

You will not need to add your son to the reservation, as he does not need to be listed on the room, nor does he need to be on the reservation for Disney as he will not need a ticket or Fastpass.

Please let me know if there is anything else I can assist you with and we look forward to seeing you soon!"

Thanks for posting this.

 

[hsmamato2]

Thanks! Good to know, i thought the email sounded kind of generic. We are spg members, secretly hoping for an upgrade
We've never stayed at the Dolphin, is it so big I'll want to request a room near elevators?

The email is generic..... and it never hurts to ask about rooms and placement..(very nicely of course) as most people checking in are spg members.... We've always had our room requests honored,and the front desk is usually quite helpful! (Dolphin,never stayed Swan...yet!) We usually check in earlier than 3 also.....

 

[tinkandonaldfans]

Is there a big event going on in sept or oc at this resort? I am looking for dates here in the uk for the swan or dolphin and can't find what we need as its all sold out. Wanted to see if anyone knew of a reason?

 

[BrownHP800]

I just booked a *free* 5 day stay at the Dolphin for next May. Technically the free means no real out of pocket expense so kind of free maybe?

I didn't realize that the Dolphin was a Starwood hotel. I was able to accumulate enough SPG points to get a 5 night stay. (5th night is free)

I am pretty stoked. We were planning on just staying off site in a cheap hotel now I think we will try this trip without renting a car. Shame the Dolphin doesn't use the Magical Express. We might try Uber for the first time on that trip.

 

[ckelly14]

Is there a big event going on in sept or oc at this resort? I am looking for dates here in the uk for the swan or dolphin and can't find what we need as its all sold out. Wanted to see if anyone knew of a reason?

I would call the resort. Often, large blocks of rooms are reserved for conventions and they are released later. I would guess that rooms will open up this summer.

 

[ckelly14]

I just booked a *free* 5 day stay at the Dolphin for next May. Technically the free means no real out of pocket expense so kind of free maybe?

I didn't realize that the Dolphin was a Starwood hotel. I was able to accumulate enough SPG points to get a 5 night stay. (5th night is free)

I am pretty stoked. We were planning on just staying off site in a cheap hotel now I think we will try this trip without renting a car. Shame the Dolphin doesn't use the Magical Express. We might try Uber for the first time on that trip.

I assume "free" will not include the resort fee or parking fee, but could be wrong.

I use Starpoints all the time, and just recently booked a week long stay in an executive suite the week before Christmas. for "free".

 

[Tess]

Is there a big event going on in sept or oc at this resort? I am looking for dates here in the uk for the swan or dolphin and can't find what we need as its all sold out. Wanted to see if anyone knew of a reason?

Food & Wine Festival begins in mid-September through mid-November this year. It is a huge draw and causes the EPCOT resorts to book early. I'm not sure if this conference is there this year (although it has been for many years)--Gartner Symposium utilizes both Swan/Dolphin as well as YC and BWI conference centers. This draws a boatload of people who are staying at all of the EPCOT resorts and often bring families with them. Gartner Symposium begins on October 16 - 20, 2016 with those who are responsible for setting up the event arriving earlier. There may well be another seminar/conference the first week of October--it seems to me that there has always been some type of large international conference that is based at YC during that time.

Have you tried calling the resort directly versus looking online? We have been successful going that route in the past. I know we are looking to add a night (10/5/16) for an early arrival prior to our BWV. Only the Swan had availability AND it was $500+ for one night! No thanks--but we will keep looking.

 

[BrownHP800]

I assume "free" will not include the resort fee or parking fee, but could be wrong.

True. I am hoping to be able to not have to rent a car so that would save 1 expense. I think if I charge the resort fee to my CapitalOne credit card I can erase those charges with my points. I hope anyway.

 

[Dan Murphy]

We've never stayed at the Dolphin, is it so big I'll want to request a room near elevators

The Dolphin is huge, that might be a good request. One of the several reasons I prefer the Swan.