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

[BrownHP800]

Anyone stay at the Dolphin lately? Wondering how bad the construction is? Planning on staying there soon and a teeny bit worried. (Room rates are
super low even for Thanksgiving week! $211/per night for resort view and Balcony!)

Thanks!

We stayed there early October. Other than some landscaping being done, we didn't see or hear any construction.

 

[Babsy]

We stayed there early October. Other than some landscaping being done, we didn't see or hear any construction.

That is great to hear! Thank you.

 

[SA mom]

As for fees for roll away beds, they did waive the fee last time we were there because of special, very rare, circumstances. We were a party of 4 and we were placed in a king junior suite with a pull out. The way the room was configured, we could not open the couch. They brought 2 rollaway beds free of charge. It was a little crowded, but our daughters were more comfortable and the beds stand up against the wall during the day. Back in the good old days, they waived the rollaway fee and the resort fee for SPG memembers. No longer.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Well even though it seems like we just got back we booked our annual christmas trip for 12/12-12/17 at the Swan

Of course booking a room is always an adventure. And since last time we couldnt get the room for 2 days because of the Gartner conference and not even with dh ff miles I made sure to save the miles and they sure came in handy because of course the Swan is sold out on 12/14. Hmm, do I detect another busy day of conferences. No problem because if we survived the Gartner conference last month we will survive this too, lol!!

And I answered my own questions in the previous post. Somehow I seem to do that alot too, lol!!

Lately my thoughts are to just book the cheapest room since we really arent in the room all that much. I know they say you can get an upgrade if you are a starwoods member, Somehow we usually never get this, Does dh actually have to ask for this since he is the member??

Anyway we booked the Swan 12/ 12-13 and the Santa rate was not available. Then for the 14th we got the room with dh ff miles. Thank heavens for those because dh was already saying, - do we have to change hotels again (I guess he had a bad vision after changing 3 times in Oct, ) and then 12/15-16 they said they had the santa rate. We booked that but it doesnt seem like it was the right price. It seems like it was just the rate published on the web site. I have checked off lowest rate so I am not sure.

She also said the 40% off was only if you booked 2 rooms?? Not 1 room. I did try to put the dates in myself and nothing was available it said.

Well at least we are staying in one hotel this whole trip and already I have visions of walking by and smelling Chocolate Santa again.

 

[ckelly14]

Well even though it seems like we just got back we booked our annual christmas trip for 12/12-12/17 at the Swan

Of course booking a room is always an adventure. And since last time we couldnt get the room for 2 days because of the Gartner conference and not even with dh ff miles I made sure to save the miles and they sure came in handy because of course the Swan is sold out on 12/14. Hmm, do I detect another busy day of conferences. No problem because if we survived the Gartner conference last month we will survive this too, lol!!

And I answered my own questions in the previous post. Somehow I seem to do that alot too, lol!!

Lately my thoughts are to just book the cheapest room since we really arent in the room all that much. I know they say you can get an upgrade if you are a starwoods member, Somehow we usually never get this, Does dh actually have to ask for this since he is the member??

Anyway we booked the Swan 12/ 12-13 and the Santa rate was not available. Then for the 14th we got the room with dh ff miles. Thank heavens for those because dh was already saying, - do we have to change hotels again (I guess he had a bad vision after changing 3 times in Oct, ) and then 12/15-16 they said they had the santa rate. We booked that but it doesnt seem like it was the right price. It seems like it was just the rate published on the web site. I have checked off lowest rate so I am not sure.

She also said the 40% off was only if you booked 2 rooms?? Not 1 room. I did try to put the dates in myself and nothing was available it said.

Well at least we are staying in one hotel this whole trip and already I have visions of walking by and smelling Chocolate Santa again.

I too noticed the staff at the S&D can be a bit confused. I use it to my advantage- when I don't like what they say, I just call back a day later and get a different manager on the phone!

For example, I have been told for the last 3 years that I could not book a suite with Starpoints. I had to book a single room, then pay $200 extra/night to get the parlor part of the suite. I was told this again this year, but one time I called and they said they could book it for an extra 10,000 Starpoints.

Moral of the story- keep trying!

 

[Dan Murphy]

From email today, November 14, 2016

GET UP TO 10% OFF OUR
BEST AVAILABLE ROOM RATES!

Current available dates include:
November 25 and 26
December 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11 ,15, 16, 17, 18, 23 and 24

'Tis the season to plan your holiday travel! Experience

Disney magic with dazzling light displays, special Christmas theme

park events, holiday parades and more! Plus, as a guest of the Walt Disney World

Swan and Dolphin, your family will get the chance to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus

as they soak up some Florida sunshine before heading back to the

North Pole.

Or call: 1-888-828-8850 USE PROMO CODE: "SANTA"

​

 

[patty57]

My husband may be attending a conference in April over at the "other" park. For the heck of it, I looked at rooms for part of the week at the Swan/Dolphin, hoping to squeeze some days in. Rooms were pricey, and weirdly, the AAA rate was the same as the Standard rate, and the nurse's rate cost more than the Standard rate! Hmmm...guess I won't be booking anything unless that changes.

 

[RachelTori]

My husband may be attending a conference in April over at the "other" park. For the heck of it, I looked at rooms for part of the week at the Swan/Dolphin, hoping to squeeze some days in. Rooms were pricey, and weirdly, the AAA rate was the same as the Standard rate, and the nurse's rate cost more than the Standard rate! Hmmm...guess I won't be booking anything unless that changes.

I noticed that also - teacher rate was higher than standard rate for late March!

What I would do in your case is call them. I don't know if there's a glitch or maybe they would even have a decent non-published rate. I would even check sites like Expedia and Orbitz. Last time I checked, Swan/Dolphin were still willing to match any rate they could confirm online.

 

[patty57]

I noticed that also - teacher rate was higher than standard rate for late March!

What I would do in your case is call them. I don't know if there's a glitch or maybe they would even have a decent non-published rate. I would even check sites like Expedia and Orbitz. Last time I checked, Swan/Dolphin were still willing to match any rate they could confirm online.

I appreciate the thoughts. I'm just starting to poke around looking for things. I know the Swan/Dolphin site changes their prices pretty frequently, so will probably just keep an eye out for now. If I get serious about booking, then I will call if the "discounts" cost more than the regular rooms. My last stay in March at the Swan, I must have changed reservations five times as the prices changed. I would always say I was done looking, but I wasn't...it's an illness. Ultimately, I ended up with a great price though.

 

[WDWNY]

Weird question... lol but can you get mickey waffles at dolphin ?

 

[Disneytam]

From email today, November 14, 2016

GET UP TO 10% OFF OUR
BEST AVAILABLE ROOM RATES!

Current available dates include:
November 25 and 26
December 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11 ,15, 16, 17, 18, 23 and 24

'Tis the season to plan your holiday travel! Experience

Disney magic with dazzling light displays, special Christmas theme

park events, holiday parades and more! Plus, as a guest of the Walt Disney World

Swan and Dolphin, your family will get the chance to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus

as they soak up some Florida sunshine before heading back to the

North Pole.

Or call: 1-888-828-8850 USE PROMO CODE: "SANTA"

​

Thank you for this! I just called again and had our rate reduced again! We are now paying $179 a night for 2 nights before we move to the BWI for the rest of our trip. We don't drive so the parking fee doesn't bother us. We had planned on only staying one night but our first full Disney day is going to be very busy, ending with MVMCP so we will be out really late. This convinced me to book two nights and save a whole lot of money compared to what we will be paying at the BWI.

 

[1018scr]

We were at the Dolphin on Thursday and they had the boat dock closed for refurbishment. Does anyone know if that's reopened?

 

[dansdad]

We were at the Dolphin on Thursday and they had the boat dock closed for refurbishment. Does anyone know if that's reopened?

It opened back up on 11-12-16.

 

[1018scr]

It opened back up on 11-12-16.

Great! Thanks!!

 

[EEEBEE]

Looking for some help (I am sure this is somewhere in the thread but don't want to search for it), we have a short two night trip coming up in March and our planning our first stay at the Swan (thanks Marriott points!).

My brother in law has decided to join us on the trip so in the room it will be DH, DS(8), DS(5), BIL and me. He has offered to pay the upgrade difference so we can stay in one of the deluxe family rooms but looking on the website these do not look big enough for three adults and two kids. Is there a room size we should target where we can all fit comfortably but also won't break the bank? I should also add that a balcony is a MUST have!

 

[lizabu]

Looking for some help (I am sure this is somewhere in the thread but don't want to search for it), we have a short two night trip coming up in March and our planning our first stay at the Swan (thanks Marriott points!).

My brother in law has decided to join us on the trip so in the room it will be DH, DS(8), DS(5), BIL and me. He has offered to pay the upgrade difference so we can stay in one of the deluxe family rooms but looking on the website these do not look big enough for three adults and two kids. Is there a room size we should target where we can all fit comfortably but also won't break the bank? I should also add that a balcony is a MUST have!

The dolphin can accommodate 5 but the swan is maximum 4 guests to a room. Fire code. You would need 2 rooms.

 

[WalkingintheFog]

I just stayed at the Swan and as my Starwood membership gave me free Internet I asked why I was beingcharged a resort fee which was to give me free Internet?
-the guy responded by offering to waive the resort fee: great!$25 less! perfect!
-But my bill on check out has a $20 resort tax... that's in addition to the $22 room tax and the $20 parking fee (and a room fee of course).

what's up with that what's the difference in a resort tax and resort fee? Or did he just not waive it?

 

[Dan Murphy]

Combined sales and resort tax is 12.5%.

and a room fee of course).

Does it say 'room fee?'

 

[lizabu]

I just stayed at the Swan and as my Starwood membership gave me free Internet I asked why I was beingcharged a resort fee which was to give me free Internet?
-the guy responded by offering to waive the resort fee: great!$25 less! perfect!
-But my bill on check out has a $20 resort tax... that's in addition to the $22 room tax and the $20 parking fee (and a room fee of course).

what's up with that what's the difference in a resort tax and resort fee? Or did he just not waive it?

That sounds fishy. I would call SPG and complain

 

[WalkingintheFog]

Here is 1 day of my bill (all the days were the same, Saturday to Thursday):
Room Charge Restried..338.77
Room Tax......22.02
Resort Tax.....22.33
Parking Overnight - Self..20.00
Sales Tax..... 1.30

I don't know what it means by "Restried ", although I did google it.
first non-Disney resort I've paid for here, so wanted to be sure these weren't just standard taxes.

Dan Murphy, you mentioned Sales and Resort Tax, but is this legitimate on top of a room Tax?