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

[austinelsa]

on the heels of these bus convos, does anyone know how much an uber/lyft costs to get from SDR to either MK or AK? Seems like that might be the quickest way altho more $$

 

[Best Aunt]

on the heels of these bus convos, does anyone know how much an uber/lyft costs to get from SDR to either MK or AK? Seems like that might be the quickest way altho more $$

Remember that you can't take uber/lyft to MK. You can only take it to TTC (same as Swan/Dolphin bus).

You can open the uber and lyft apps, set up the pick up and drop off points you want, and look at pricing.

 

[Growin'upDisney]

Week right after Christmas is the busiest week of the year; I’ve done it twice!

Are you a group of 5 or 8? I’m not reading it clearly.

If you are going before NYE, I’d book as soon as you can. My DH is lifetime titanium (for what it’s worth, which isn’t much) with Marriott, but either way I always book directly through Marriott (other than one time I got a killer deal).

Either way, if you are going that week I’d get it all booked as soon as you can. And, pack patience. The 2 times we did that we planned a lot of non park stuff as well, as the parks were crazy busy. Fun but insane!

Thanks! We are a party of 8. We will definitely pack patience. Because we frequent DL there are many rides that are not a must because we can ride them at home. Mainly going for the “big” rides and the food and just being at WDW.

We are booking this evening and think we will just go through Marriott direct. Thanks!!!

 

[tink7736]

Thought I’d post picture taken this morning of the work going on at the Dolphin for anyone who’s interested.

Thanks for the update, we are heading there in a few weeks.

 

[Clemsonsarah]

I’ll be arriving in a week! I’ll be sure to update on the waterfall and balconies while there. If there’s anything else anyone wants an update about, let me know.

 

[ChipnDaleRule]

@ChipnDaleRule thanks! Does it appear they still removing the railings? Does it look like any new railings have gone up, I assume they are not removing the platforms - but curious if you can tell at all?

I didn’t see any railings going up. I saw a loy of outside painting going on and they seemed to be working on the balcony floors from what I could see.

 

[Dan Murphy]

AllEars just posted a Swan resort tour video. In it, Quincy shows a card she received with her room key that lists what the resort fee covers. I noticed that underneath wifi, it says that loyalty program guests will receive enhanced speed wifi. I wonder if that’s making up for the fact that Bonvoy members automatically get free wifi during their stay.

Here is that link to the tour and video I have not watched it yet, but it must be very complete, 50 minutes long!!

https://allears.net/2022/09/16/alle...ay-at-a-disney-hotel-disney-world-swan-hotel/

That was a really good video. Well worth the 50 minutes. Excellent. I will be watching the Dolphin and SR also. Thanks for the heads up, WoL.

 

[SteveH]

@ChipnDaleRule thanks for the info. Sounds like patching and painting, some of the photos I've seen looked like a fair amount of the edges were damaged when removing the railing. From what they told me when I texted them they made it sound like this process (at least one the first wing) would be done by Labor Day - clearly not even close.

 

[Threehearts]

I stayed at the Dolphin last week and received a letter describing the balcony work and how excited everyone is about this refurbishment. I found the memo somewhat patronizing. The part that really stood out to me though was when they suggested that if you ended up in one of the balcony-less balcony rooms and would like daytime privacy, you should close your curtains. What?!

My suggestion is to make sure you do not have one of those rooms(quite a few seemed to have a view toward at least the Boardwalk and partially Epcot). Imagine finding yourself in a room with no balcony, no view, workers outside your windows, and the room darkened by drawn drapes during daylight hours.

There would have been no reason to give me that letter if the hotel did not expect that some people would receive rooms under those conditions. I had requested a high floor, west wing on pool side, so averted the issue luckily.

My stay was very nice. Picabu prices have almost doubled in some areas so be aware of that. The pool area was lovely and calm. I walked to the Boardwalk for the bus to AK and MK which works well. I made the mistake of taking the Mears bus from the Dolphin to Disney Springs which was a huge mistake. Do not do this if anyone in your party has mobility issues or cannot tolerate hot sun beating down on them for the considerable walk to the entry area. Use Disney buses.

There was a dance competition(mostly adult ballroom Nationals) the whole week that I was at the hotel which in no way interfered with my enjoyment of the property.

 

[SteveH]

@Threehearts that does patronizing, I agree. Since they are not advertising at all, as least as far as I can find it's even worse I tried booking a balcony room for September and no mention of the construction, nothing on their website or Facebook. I wonder if anyone with a balcony is being contacted, I can only assume they are not charging balcony rates.

 

[Threehearts]

@Threehearts that does patronizing, I agree. Since they are not advertising at all, as least as far as I can find it's even worse I tried booking a balcony room for September and no mention of the construction, nothing on their website or Facebook. I wonder if anyone with a balcony is being contacted, I can only assume they are not charging balcony rates.

The front desk tucked the letter into other documents so I didn't even see it until two days later. No verbal mention of the letter or the condition of the balcony-no balcony, view-no view rooms at check-in.

I would not do automatic/pre-check in at this time. Better to go to the desk and ascertain the exact location of your assigned room.

Just to note, from the pool area or my far from construction room, I could hear absolutely no noise. I can't speak for rooms closer to the workers.

 

[ChipnDaleRule]

I stayed at the Dolphin last week and received a letter describing the balcony work and how excited everyone is about this refurbishment. I found the memo somewhat patronizing. The part that really stood out to me though was when they suggested that if you ended up in one of the balcony-less balcony rooms and would like daytime privacy, you should close your curtains. What?!

My suggestion is to make sure you do not have one of those rooms(quite a few seemed to have a view toward at least the Boardwalk and partially Epcot). Imagine finding yourself in a room with no balcony, no view, workers outside your windows, and the room darkened by drawn drapes during daylight hours.

There would have been no reason to give me that letter if the hotel did not expect that some people would receive rooms under those conditions. I had requested a high floor, west wing on pool side, so averted the issue luckily.

My stay was very nice. Picabu prices have almost doubled in some areas so be aware of that. The pool area was lovely and calm. I walked to the Boardwalk for the bus to AK and MK which works well. I made the mistake of taking the Mears bus from the Dolphin to Disney Springs which was a huge mistake. Do not do this if anyone in your party has mobility issues or cannot tolerate hot sun beating down on them for the considerable walk to the entry area. Use Disney buses.

There was a dance competition(mostly adult ballroom Nationals) the whole week that I was at the hotel which in no way interfered with my enjoyment of the property.

I definitely would not want to spend my vacation in one of those rooms. From what I could see the rooms had thick plastic sheeting over the doors plus men on the balconies doing their work. It looked noisy and dusty!

 

[tink7736]

I stayed at the Dolphin last week and received a letter describing the balcony work and how excited everyone is about this refurbishment. I found the memo somewhat patronizing. The part that really stood out to me though was when they suggested that if you ended up in one of the balcony-less balcony rooms and would like daytime privacy, you should close your curtains. What?!

My suggestion is to make sure you do not have one of those rooms(quite a few seemed to have a view toward at least the Boardwalk and partially Epcot). Imagine finding yourself in a room with no balcony, no view, workers outside your windows, and the room darkened by drawn drapes during daylight hours.

There would have been no reason to give me that letter if the hotel did not expect that some people would receive rooms under those conditions. I had requested a high floor, west wing on pool side, so averted the issue luckily.

My stay was very nice. Picabu prices have almost doubled in some areas so be aware of that. The pool area was lovely and calm. I walked to the Boardwalk for the bus to AK and MK which works well. I made the mistake of taking the Mears bus from the Dolphin to Disney Springs which was a huge mistake. Do not do this if anyone in your party has mobility issues or cannot tolerate hot sun beating down on them for the considerable walk to the entry area. Use Disney buses.

There was a dance competition(mostly adult ballroom Nationals) the whole week that I was at the hotel which in no way interfered with my enjoyment of the property.

Hello, did you notice if they started on The Swan balconies yet? I'm assuming they will complete The Dolphin first.

 

[wweazel]

Hello, did you notice if they started on The Swan balconies yet? I'm assuming they will complete The Dolphin first.

I was at the Swan Sunday - Wednesday this week. No balcony work being done

 

[ChipnDaleRule]

Hello, did you notice if they started on The Swan balconies yet? I'm assuming they will complete The Dolphin first.

I didn’t notice any balcony work. I was staying in room 785 and I did see one room opposite me that had been completely gutted and workmen inside it.

 

[maxiesmom]

on the heels of these bus convos, does anyone know how much an uber/lyft costs to get from SDR to either MK or AK? Seems like that might be the quickest way altho more $$

The bus from the Swan and Dolphin actually has as good as, if not better, location than the Disney buses. The drop off is very close to the park gates, and has the added bonus of seating and a roof. To get to the Magic Kingdom we walk to the Boardwalk bus stop.

 

[austinelsa]

The bus from the Swan and Dolphin actually has as good as, if not better, location than the Disney buses. The drop off is very close to the park gates, and has the added bonus of seating and a roof. To get to the Magic Kingdom we walk to the Boardwalk bus stop.

So wait, for MK you walk to the boardwalk? And for AK you use the SDR buses?

 

[Nursemanit]

Just finished my stay

1 Dont take the Mears bus to the springs - They won't let you enter Circ side by the bus so you have to walk to one of the middle garages and go up the stairs in the parking garage to go in through security. You walk have the length of the springs to get in. Lyft is worth it or a Disney bus

2 Yet again, false valet parking charges were on my bill- they will not take them off at the desk ( I have no car and they saw I used a limo) I have to file a dispute with the parking attendant and follow up with Coorperate.

They kept insisting that I had a guest which I did not. I also reminded them that no one should be able to charge to my room other than me. What a PIA

Follow up on #2 - the Dolphin management kept closing out the ticket I filed with Bonvoy saying that they had a receipt for the valet parking. I ( and the Bonvoy guy ) asked for a copy of the valet parking receipt and they would not provide it. I offered to send my limo (to and from receipts) to Bonvoy and they sent me a credit for the charge and tax. I don't know if they actually got the money from Dolphin or just did credit to me as I am unable to get a bill with the charge taken off.
I asked for a manager to call me from the Dolphin during this process and at no time after I left was I able to speak to anyone but registration on the phone. No request for a call back was fulfilled. The accounting department works only by email which went unanswered.

If you can, check your bill daily- do not take any " we will call you " as they will not call you back and there are no direct lines that work. Fix your issues onsite - I had to get to the airport so I could not wait.

I believe if I was not a 20-year Pt/Ti member of Marriott - I would have had to eat this false charge. I feel bad for a casual guest that does not have status.

 

[maxiesmom]

So wait, for MK you walk to the boardwalk? And for AK you use the SDR buses?

Yes.

 

[tink7736]

I was at the Swan Sunday - Wednesday this week. No balcony work being done

great thanks!!