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

[JerseyJanice]

Another tip I want to mention was the ease of making iced coffee with the Starbucks pods in the room. We measured bottled water in a cup--about 2/3 full--then filled the cup with ice and brewed into it.

Anything we asked housekeeping for, they gave us a bunch of, so we had plenty of coffee and bottled water at all times. I'm not a Starbucks fan at home because I don't buy much coffee out. I prefer to make my own. I enjoyed it so much at the Swan that I'm going to buy SBx in the supermarket next time I see it on sale.

 

[Dan Murphy]

So I am just back--not really, but I've been crazy busy since I came home.

We stayed at the Swan 10/1-10/9/16. Yes, Hurricane Matthew closed the parks for a day, 10/7. My family group consisted of nine people. We booked two regular resort rooms and one two-bedroom suite.

I can't express how thrilled I was with just about everything at the resort. It was easily the best aspect of our entire trip.

First off, it's drop-dead gorgeous--the rooms, the grounds, common area, pools, everywhere you look is sumptuously decorated. The rooms we had seemed huge, and so did the TVs, beds and towels. Towels at the Swan are about 90 times nicer than the towels at any Disney-owned resort. The Swan's are thick and big. All room amenities were A+ IMO. Coffee was pods of Starbucks in assorted kinds (Pikes Place and Breakfast Blend). The beds are truly Heavenly, and the sheets, duvet, and pillows are high quality and lush.

My sister is a smoker and she used the DS courtyard off the lobby. It's so pretty there, she said the nicest smoking section ever. LOL! It has a smaller version of the big Swan fountain in the lobby and picnic tables with umbrellas so she could smoke in the rain.

My older brother and his family had a suite which I believe was called an Executive Suite. It consisted of a large parlor adjoined to two resort rooms, one a king bed and the other 2 queens. It was breathtaking. My brother said it was nicer than the one they had at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. With the drapes open, the Causeway and the Dolphin were in full view. It's a beautiful sight any time of day and especially pretty at night IMO with the palms on the Causeway lit up. The place is so well kept. I thought it was immaculate.

We loved the pools and hot tubs too. My sister, sister-in-law and I got up early almost every morning and went for a soak in one or more of the hot tubs. Tip: They keep a cart full of extra beach towels in the Splash Terrace building next to the Swan pool. The pools on the Dolphin side don't technically open till 9:00 AM, but the Swan pool is open earlier for people who want to swim laps. Although lanes are not painted, the pool is a long rectangle. It is also filled with salt water so it's a bit warmer than the Grotto pool. There's a hot tub alongside it that we used most mornings of our stay.

We had good dining experiences at the resort. We ate lunch one day at Cabanas near the Dolphin. I can confirm that they discount the food (not drinks) 20% with your AAA card, and the wait staff is gracious about giving it. I loved my skirt steak sandwich there.

We used our AAA cards for 20% at Picabu and the Garden Grove. Garden Grove was excellent! We dined there on Friday, 10/7, the day that the parks were closed. Friday and Saturday, they serve a Seafood Sensation buffet, and we liked it better than Cape May Cafe. If the parks are open, it has characters too. The price before tax and tip is $36 per adult, which comes to $28.80 with AAA. In addition to high quality snow crab legs and prime rib at the buffet, they bring everyone a stuffed half Maine lobster that was very tasty. We really enjoyed the Phins and Feathers craft beer on tap there too.

The best feature of the entire resort is its staff. Every worker that we encountered had a smile and could not have been more welcoming and accommodating. The front desk, concierge, housekeeping, wait staff, pool staff--even security--super kind, friendly and looking to help you.

I was blown away by the awesomeness of the Swan, and the price was close to what we have paid for a moderate. I would recommend it without hesitation to anyone. I may start playing Powerball so I can daydream about living there. LOL!

Sounds like a super visit, Janice.

Dessert was similar to what they serve at Cape May Cafe--miniature tarts and cakes and such.

Most, if not all of the bakery items are made right next door ro the GG restaurant, about 20 feet away. They have large windows there at their bakery where you can watch the bakers and decorators at work. I watched one time while they were working on a huge wedding cake.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Well we are back from our trip to the Swan.

The first part was Oct. 17 and 18 at the Swan. Oh yes, give me a G A R T N E R. This is a shouting cheer because all we heard for 2 mornings from our room was blasting music, sigh, sigh and more sigh. I expected some stuff but poor ds3 had a bad cold and was miserable and wanted to sleep in one morning. The music was really annoying to say the least. There were huge signs up outside for the Swan and Dolphin, I guess so people would not be confused from the conference.

Our room was not ready at check in. The wheelchair we ordered was there. Of course I shared my dh computer issues, so we had to bring his computer to epcot with us because the room was not ready. The Swan does not have a dedicated locked separate cage area as dh calls it like the Yacht Club does, just a locked room. Oh and one night when walking back from the bus stop the outside door was open and there is a big sign in there that says Think Happy Thoughts, lol!!!

Our lst room was an upper floor inside view of the resort. We had a balcony which ds 3 sat out on sometimes. He loved the heavenly beds, pillows etc.

I manged to manuver the wheelchair around the gartner groups. Once we were going with the flow with them, at least we were not the salmon swimming upstream against them.

They did have these busses for them that just kept circling the Swan but somehow we never saw them pick up anyone from the conference. One time I counted 50 Gartner people in the lobby all at once. Dh and ds went down to the Java Bar twice. they said sometimes the area was crowded because right across from there where they usually set up Chocolate Santa they had a samsung virtual reality test area for free and people were crowding around that. I also noticed a big crowd in Il Mulino one night.

We took our luggage to the YC on the boat with no problem.

The 2nd part was just the split stay night of Friday 2lst. This room was really expensive. Ds and I were in AK, so dh went to check us in late at night after he picked up his computer from YC. He said the room was great. Um, no sorry dh,. I guess you and I dust dont have the same idea of a great room. The room had a connecting door. It was a semi handicapped room. Dh did not ask for this at all. I didnt see the view but dh said it was nice. I did see some palm trees briefly. The bathroom set up was strange and weird. It did not have a walk in shower but there were bars by the toilet and tub area. There was the sink in the bathroom but then there was some strange door setup and the other sink was on the other side of one door. I think it was folding type door. I didnt like this at all and believe me for the money we paid for that room I would have asked to been moved if we were not staying there more than one night.

We ate at the Garden Grove for the character breakfast buffet on Sat. and I have to say this is the lst time I was really disappointed with the meal and the character stuff itself, not that I was looking for the character stuff but in our area Goofy came by once and that was it. We told him to stop for another picture and he just flew by and Pluto never came to our table. If I had kids I would be upset about this. The food was also so so this time. Best thing was the cinnamon rolls. The danish tasted stale, the raspberries were mushy, our server was no where to be found. She forgot our butter twice. I started stacking up the dirty dishes on our table because she didnt come by often. At least they had mickey waffles on the buffet this time. First time they ran out of blueberries that dh wanted, but they got more. When we arrived I counted 35 people in the lobby waiting and they told dh the wait would be 15 minutes.

The only rude bus driver we had all eek was at the Swan our last day of course. She insisted to ds that I had to sit in the wheelchair and be pushed up the ramp. He said, no she just walks up the ramp etc. He said no other bus driver has said or asked that of her. She said its a rule, oh really???? Well of course I just walked up the ramp. When I got out she remarked something like oh, you do things the hard way, um, I really thought she was rude to say that to me too. No other driver ever commented to me like that.

We also had some dealings with the gift shop. Happy to report they stock halls cough crops, dayquil and vicks. Ds3 was a happy cold camper with all of that.
Then we went to pick up a package. It was actually 2 green slips so we thought it was 2 packages. Well it was almost 11 pm and the one pkg. was missing. They said the supervisor would be back shortly and the 2 women helping us were very sweet. They went to photocopy the one paper to try and track it down the next morning, but then ds said, lets look in this one big package and therw werw our missing items. We never knew the cm put everything in one bag after we walked out of the store in epcot. Mystery solved and they were all willing to help us even so late at night. Great customer service at the Swan.

Dh said he wants to write and ask someone to please consider getting a locked area of the storage room. Where would he address that and to whom??

So all in all the Swan is always a great place for us at a reasonable price for the most part, I just wouldnt want to go during the gartner time, but with dh work schedule, it couldnt be helped.

Sounds like a good trip, Mary, other than a few hassles due to the convention. I have been there during some big conventions, including the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings in 2006 and 2010. Those conventions are HUGE!! But other than seeing signs, banners and such here and there, never really a concern. Maybe Gartner is the exception. Glad you had a good trip overall, Mary.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Sounds like a super visit, Janice.

Most, if not all of the bakery items are made right next door ro the GG restaurant, about 20 feet away. They have large windows there at their bakery where you can watch the bakers and decorators at work. I watched one time while they were working on a huge wedding cake.

A well-dressed lady came out with a tray of "tropical fruit tarts" and gave them to people who came to the dessert section. The tropical fruit tarts were puff pastry shells filled with vanilla custard and topped with chopped fresh fruits. Had I not been so stuffed by then, I probably would have loved them.

The stuffed half-lobsters were great. Our party had 5 people, and our waiter brought us a platter with 5 lobster halves. I had melted butter for my crab legs, and enjoyed that with the half 1 1/4 lobster. Your table also gets a bowl filled with butter-flied and fried shrimp, calamari and hush puppies.

 

[Candycane83]

I'm hoping someone could answer my question here... would the hotel be able to refrigerate some groceries for me if I leave it with them at check in? I know Disney hotels do this but I'm not sure the Swan does...

 

[lizabu]

I'm hoping someone could answer my question here... would the hotel be able to refrigerate some groceries for me if I leave it with them at check in? I know Disney hotels do this but I'm not sure the Swan does...

I could be wrong but I don't think so. They have little fridges in each room but if your room is not ready they have a room that locks where they can store your bags. The resort is big enough that I have often found that my room was ready early. The once when we needed connecting rooms we had to wait. We had groceries and they just put our luggage and groceries and everything on one of those trolley cart things. It wasn't a long wait though.

 

[Tess]

I'm hoping someone could answer my question here... would the hotel be able to refrigerate some groceries for me if I leave it with them at check in? I know Disney hotels do this but I'm not sure the Swan does...

We have had them refrigerate items before--not an issue--just tell them you need certain items in the refrigerator. Both Swan and Dolphin have accommodated this request.

 

[Candycane83]

I could be wrong but I don't think so. They have little fridges in each room but if your room is not ready they have a room that locks where they can store your bags. The resort is big enough that I have often found that my room was ready early. The once when we needed connecting rooms we had to wait. We had groceries and they just put our luggage and groceries and everything on one of those trolley cart things. It wasn't a long wait though.

We have had them refrigerate items before--not an issue--just tell them you need certain items in the refrigerator. Both Swan and Dolphin have accommodated this request.

Thank you both for answering! I'm really happy to know they do! We're switching hotels that day and was concerned about the three hours between check out and check in!

 

[BlueFairy]

I'm hoping someone could answer my question here... would the hotel be able to refrigerate some groceries for me if I leave it with them at check in? I know Disney hotels do this but I'm not sure the Swan does...

They will give you a doubtful look if you talk to the valet. Go to the bell services desk with your stuff and ask really nicely. If the fridge is full, they can't do much. We had 1 insulated bag from Publix and they found room.

 

[hsmamato2]

I keep seeing rates at the swan for less than Dolphin lately...what's up with that? I thought the Swan was a higher level hotel....

 

[carlamouse]

I keep seeing rates at the swan for less than Dolphin lately...what's up with that? I thought the Swan was a higher level hotel....

The Dolphin is undergoing a huge room renovation right now, so they have less rooms available. If demand stays constant, and Dolphin room inventory is reduced, the price for Dolphin will probably rise above the Swan, where renovation is complete.

 

[Violet Parr]

Starwood Platinum breakfast benefit...good on room service?

 

[ImprovGal]

Starwood Platinum breakfast benefit...good on room service?

When I had chosen that amenity, I was offered the cold selections in Fresh or Garden Grove with option to buy up to the full buffet. I don't recall room service continental being offered, but I didn't ask either. I usually have short stays, so I take the 500 points instead.

 

[Kelly25]

We are thinking of making a quick trip to the dolphin in dec but we need one more night then they have available. does anyone know if we book the one night at the beginning at a disney hotel will we get magical express and magic bands?

 

[lizabu]

We are thinking of making a quick trip to the dolphin in dec but we need one more night then they have available. does anyone know if we book the one night at the beginning at a disney hotel will we get magical express and magic bands?

You will.

 

[Kelly25]

You will.

thanks!!

 

[shoreward]

We are thinking of making a quick trip to the dolphin in dec but we need one more night then they have available. does anyone know if we book the one night at the beginning at a disney hotel will we get magical express and magic bands?

You will be able to use Magical Express on days you have a confirmed reservation at a Disney resort. So, if the first night is at Disney resort, you can ride the ME from the airport and use the baggage delivery service. Once you move over to the Dolphin, ME will no longer be available for your use (nor will resort airport check-in). The MagicBands, however, will be yours to keep/use anytime in the future. Unfortunately, of course, they won't work at the Dolphin for room entry or charging back to your room in restaurants, shops, or parks.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Has anyone ever answered a post stay survey from the Swan? We got one but I havent opened the e mail yet. I think we actually got 2 since we stayed there twice with two different reservations during the last trip. Just wondering if they have a space for comments for improvement (dh wanting the locked cage area of the storage room) and compliments, sweet people in the gift shop.

And we are in the process of looking at a December trip since we have a better handle on dh work schedule. Of course as usual the dates I want are sold out and this time I cant even get them with dh ff miles, so I am looking at new dates. Maybe the 13-19.

 

[JerseyJanice]

I was hoping to get a survey, luvmary, so I could rave about how wonderful the staff was during our stay, but no dice.

The one improvement I would suggest is to add a recycling receptacle in the room. The two waste cans in the room were rather small, plus I felt guilty putting empty water and beer bottles in the trash. I'm used to recycling them at home.

 

[danjoan14]

Once you move over to the Dolphin, ME will no longer be available for your use (nor will resort airport check-in). The MagicBands, however, will be yours to keep/use anytime in the future. Unfortunately, of course, they won't work at the Dolphin for room entry or charging back to your room in restaurants, shops, or parks.

I really wish the Swan & Dolphin would deal with Disney to work this out and add the features while staying at their resorts. This would make it so much easier.