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

[ski37]

Thank you!

Does anyone know which area/floor/category they started working on first?

I would rather book the Dolphin, so I think that I will risk it and request a newly renovated room.

I believe they have renovated high floors first.

 

[lizabu]

Right now I am thinking The Fountain for our arrival night. I think we will get in around 7 or 8 and might walk around the Boardwalk too. Where do you eat for breakfast? Dolphin/Swan or someplace else We have been to Disney several times, stayed on the Boardwalk and love the Captain's Grille but want to try something new that is in the area of the hotel. We like France for a quick breakfast too. Picabu seems like a good value and I think it was the Garden Grove that had a good menu. We might hit rope drop 1x throughout our trip. And if you return for lunch where do you like to eat? thanks

We like to be at the gates when the parks open. We have the driver stop at the grocery store on the way to the hotel and we buy some muffins and fruit and yogurt parfaits and cereal and eat in the room. There are mini fridges and lots of cupboard space.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Refillable mugs too?

Refillable mugs are available for purchase at Picabu. They can be refilled at the many locations that are indicated on the mug itself.

A poor picture I found online.

Right now I am thinking The Fountain for our arrival night. I think we will get in around 7 or 8 and might walk around the Boardwalk too. Where do you eat for breakfast? Dolphin/Swan or someplace else We have been to Disney several times, stayed on the Boardwalk and love the Captain's Grille but want to try something new that is in the area of the hotel. We like France for a quick breakfast too. Picabu seems like a good value and I think it was the Garden Grove that had a good menu. We might hit rope drop 1x throughout our trip. And if you return for lunch where do you like to eat? thanks

Fresh Mediterranean Market at the Dolphin is a great choice. Picabu is also good. For a bit more, Garden Grove at the Swan always works for us. Boardwalk Bakery for carry out (sit out on the Boardwalk itself) is nice. I have heard good things about Trattoria al Forno, but have not eaten there ourselves. Cape May and Captain's Grill over at Y&BC.

 

[danjoan14]

Refillable mugs are available for purchase at Picabu. They can be refilled at the many locations that are indicated on the mug itself.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Actually, I think every restaurant is on the mug, but not every restaurant does refills, such as Blue Zoo, Shula's and a few others.

 

[Heartheocean]

I have a split stay question that I'm hoping some of you frequent Swan/Dolphin visitors might be able to help with. How do FP+ reservations work with Swan/Dolphin stays? I am planning on a split stay beginning at the Dolphin and the moving to the AKL. If I purchase tickets separately and then associate them on my MDE account, will my FP+ booking window begin 60 days prior to my Dolphin check in day?

I guess what I'm trying to ask is if you have to book a Dolphin stay and park tickets on the WDW site as a package in order to get the FP+ 60 day window or if just having the Dolphin reservation plus tickets purchased separately (and both linked in my MDE) are enough to get the 60 day window.

Thanks!

 

[Tess]

I have a split stay question that I'm hoping some of you frequent Swan/Dolphin visitors might be able to help with. How do FP+ reservations work with Swan/Dolphin stays? I am planning on a split stay beginning at the Dolphin and the moving to the AKL. If I purchase tickets separately and then associate them on my MDE account, will my FP+ booking window begin 60 days prior to my Dolphin check in day?

I guess what I'm trying to ask is if you have to book a Dolphin stay and park tickets on the WDW site as a package in order to get the FP+ 60 day window or if just having the Dolphin reservation plus tickets purchased separately (and both linked in my MDE) are enough to get the 60 day window.

Thanks!

Swan and Dolphin guests are able to reserve FP+ 60 days in advance as well. Be sure all members of your party are on the reservation AND the reservation is linked in MDE and you are good to go.

 

[Heartheocean]

Swan and Dolphin guests are able to reserve FP+ 60 days in advance as well. Be sure all members of your party are on the reservation AND the reservation is linked in MDE and you are good to go.

Thanks. So if I make the reservation on the Starwood site will I be able to list all members of my party (including children) so that it will transfer correctly to MDE?

 

[Tess]

Thanks. So if I make the reservation on the Starwood site will I be able to list all members of my party (including children) so that it will transfer correctly to MDE?

You will need to telephone the Swan or Dolphin directly to list all party names, but you can certainly do that after you book on the SPG site. Be sure that you call the resort directly (reservations). It may take up to 48 hours for the reservation to link after all names are listed, but at other times the link works immediately.

 

[Clare Voince]

Does anyone know if the WIFI is good enough to stream netflix movies?

Kimmy Schmidt came out just before I went, and I watched about half the season while there. I had no troubles.

 

[BlueFairy]

Thanks. So if I make the reservation on the Starwood site will I be able to list all members of my party (including children) so that it will transfer correctly to MDE?

Tess is correct. But to emphasize - check MDE after you have it all set up to be sure. But well before your 60 day mark in case you need to get it straightened out. There have been reports of people getting to 60 days and finding that tickets were not all able to be linked. Plan ahead.

 

[Heartheocean]

Tess is correct. But to emphasize - check MDE after you have it all set up to be sure. But well before your 60 day mark in case you need to get it straightened out. There have been reports of people getting to 60 days and finding that tickets were not all able to be linked. Plan ahead.

Will do. Thank you!

 

[ckelly14]

Dan et al. Planning a birthday celebration in December this year and will be at the Swan. Was originally planning on dinner at the Chef's Domain at Citrico's followed by a wishes private cruise. We recently switch from the Poly to the Dolphin on points so I can afford all these special celebrations!

Now I'm thinking about a special dinner in the Epcot Resort Area (not the park- don't have hoppers) followed by an illuminations cruise. Any suggestions on a special dinner either at the S&D or surrounding resorts? Maybe a private dinning room?

 

[Dan Murphy]

http://www.swandolphinrestaurants.com/bluezoo/index.html

http://www.swandolphinrestaurants.com/shulas/index.html

http://www.swandolphinrestaurants.com/ilmulino/index.html

The three signature restaurants at S/D are all excellent, always top rated. Not inexpensive, but they are good. All 3 have private dining, not sure how large your group is.

Yachtsman Steakhouse at the Yacht Club is good also.

http://allears.net/dining/menu/yachtsman-steakhouse/dinner

Flying Fish at the Boardwalk is still closed.

 

[ckelly14]

http://www.swandolphinrestaurants.com/bluezoo/index.html

http://www.swandolphinrestaurants.com/shulas/index.html

http://www.swandolphinrestaurants.com/ilmulino/index.html

The three signature restaurants at S/D are all excellent, always top rated. Not inexpensive, but they are good. All 3 have private dining, not sure how large your group is.

Yachtsman Steakhouse at the Yacht Club is good also.

http://allears.net/dining/menu/yachtsman-steakhouse/dinner

Flying Fish at the Boardwalk is still closed.

Thank you. Might have to go with Blue Zoo.

 

[patty57]

Dan et al. Planning a birthday celebration in December this year and will be at the Swan. Was originally planning on dinner at the Chef's Domain at Citrico's followed by a wishes private cruise. We recently switch from the Poly to the Dolphin on points so I can afford all these special celebrations!

Now I'm thinking about a special dinner in the Epcot Resort Area (not the park- don't have hoppers) followed by an illuminations cruise. Any suggestions on a special dinner either at the S&D or surrounding resorts? Maybe a private dinning room?

I haven't done any private dining, so can't help you there. I'm wondering if the new incarnation of Flying Fish will have a chef's dinner? That could be fun. One caution about a December Illuminations Cruise...I did one with my elderly mom in December 2010. The coldest December in recent history. We absolutely froze, and had a hard time enjoying it. I would make sure you have some warm clothes just in case.

 

[ckelly14]

I haven't done any private dining, so can't help you there. I'm wondering if the new incarnation of Flying Fish will have a chef's dinner? That could be fun. One caution about a December Illuminations Cruise...I did one with my elderly mom in December 2010. The coldest December in recent history. We absolutely froze, and had a hard time enjoying it. I would make sure you have some warm clothes just in case.

Really didn't think about that; I assume a few cocktails will help.

 

[patty57]

Really didn't think about that; I assume a few cocktails will help.

Well of course.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I haven't done any private dining, so can't help you there. I'm wondering if the new incarnation of Flying Fish will have a chef's dinner? That could be fun. One caution about a December Illuminations Cruise...I did one with my elderly mom in December 2010. The coldest December in recent history. We absolutely froze, and had a hard time enjoying it. I would make sure you have some warm clothes just in case.

I can echo that, Patty. We did an Illuminations cruise in 1999, it was quite cold out on the water. They had blankets on board, but still cold. I was there during the 2010 cold snap, it was awful! No cruise that year, can't imagine how cold that would have been.

 

[DJFan88]

Yay, so happy I checked rates today based on people here doing it and it was $23 cheaper a night ×5 nights. And the girl changed it in like 2 minutes!