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

[Dan Murphy]

Is there any sort of dining plan I can do while staying at the Dolphin? Someone had mentioned an option for off property guests, but I cannot find anything on it...

S/D guests can not do Disney's dining plan. In the past, there was (is) a S/D plan, but it never made economic sense to me. At the moment, doing a Google search, I can't come up with anything on it. Maybe it is gone.

 

[pepperandchips]

@MarBee Disney was also testing a one day counter service plan at Magic Kingdom earlier this year, perhaps you are remembering that?

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...gic-kingdom-park-at-walt-disney-world-resort/

I am not sure if they are still offering this option as I have not been following news of it (wouldn't work with the way my family eats on vacation - we are almost never in the same park for two consecutive meals!)

Not sure if this tip would help as maybe you already know but for my first few WDW trips I was interested in the dining plan mainly for its pre-paid/convenience aspect. I don't like to bite my nails over money while I'm on vacation! So I looked at all the menus for the places we were planning to eat and basically made a "worst case scenario" budget (in case everyone ordered the most expensive items on the menu). I made sure I had the outside number in my savings account (but a lot of people will buy a Visa or AmEx gift card in their meal budget amount) so I could pay for all our meals. Of course I ended up with money leftover as we don't all order the maximum at each meal.

Hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[MarBee]

@MarBee Disney was also testing a one day counter service plan at Magic Kingdom earlier this year, perhaps you are remembering that?

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...gic-kingdom-park-at-walt-disney-world-resort/

I am not sure if they are still offering this option as I have not been following news of it (wouldn't work with the way my family eats on vacation - we are almost never in the same park for two consecutive meals!)

Not sure if this tip would help as maybe you already know but for my first few WDW trips I was interested in the dining plan mainly for its pre-paid/convenience aspect. I don't like to bite my nails over money while I'm on vacation! So I looked at all the menus for the places we were planning to eat and basically made a "worst case scenario" budget (in case everyone ordered the most expensive items on the menu). I made sure I had the outside number in my savings account (but a lot of people will buy a Visa or AmEx gift card in their meal budget amount) so I could pay for all our meals. Of course I ended up with money leftover as we don't all order the maximum at each meal.

Hope you have a wonderful trip!

Great tips! Thank you!

 

[SwanVT2]

I just saw a post on tripadvisor that says with marriott rewards membership guests get complimentary breakfast buffet? Has anyone heard about this?

 

[pillow]

I just saw a post on tripadvisor that says with marriott rewards membership guests get complimentary breakfast buffet? Has anyone heard about this?

You have to be at a certain level of membership to get it - Platinum I believe for SPG (and whatever the Marriott equivalent is), which requires a certain number of stays.

 

[mousegear]

You have to be at a certain level of membership to get it - Platinum I believe for SPG (and whatever the Marriott equivalent is), which requires a certain number of stays.

Yes, as platinum SPG members, you get free breakfast at Garden Grove or Fresh Mediterranean Market and also the resort fee waved.

 

[patty57]

I wasn't able to choose, I used the express deals, but with the info I had, I took an educated guess it was the Dolphin before I accepted the deal. The resort fee was a major indicator it was the Dolphin. It was a four star with a 7+ rating in the Bonnet Creek area with a resort fee of 28.13.Also, $86 is about 68% off their regular rate which is what the express deal said was the discount.

If you look at the info for the dolphin on the Priceline regular bookings it has the dolphin as a four star with 7.8 rating and a 28.13 resort fee.

Thank you for this! I just booked the Swan for $94 per night. Three nights in early December. I would have loved six nights, but will take what I can get. I also found a 5% Express Deal code on Retail Me Not, so taxes and fees included...three nights at the Swan $405.27. I'm thrilled!

 

[momto4obkids]

Your welcome! That's a great deal!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Thank you for this! I just booked the Swan for $94 per night. Three nights in early December. I would have loved six nights, but will take what I can get. I also found a 5% Express Deal code on Retail Me Not, so taxes and fees included...three nights at the Swan $405.27. I'm thrilled!

 

[ImprovGal]

Yes, as platinum SPG members, you get free breakfast at Garden Grove or Fresh Mediterranean Market and also the resort fee waved.

They no longer waive the resort fee for dog platinum. I was told they discount it, but don't waive ot.

 

[mc-hokie]

They no longer waive the resort fee for dog platinum. I was told they discount it, but don't waive ot.

gotta love autocorrect...I am spg platinum and they are waiving my resort fees when we check in on Easter Sunday.

 

[ImprovGal]

gotta love autocorrect...I am spg platinum and they are waiving my resort fees when we check in on Easter Sunday.

Lol.. was your reservation made before the policy change, or have they made yet another change? I was charged in january as spg platinum.

 

[mousegear]

Interesting.... because last time we stayed, they saved the resort charge. We will be there in less than three weeks, so will find out if they'll discount or wave the resort fee.

 

[mc-hokie]

Lol.. was your reservation made before the policy change, or have they made yet another change? I was charged in january as spg platinum.

Don't know when policy changed. I believe I made my reservation in September.

 

[SwanVT2]

I keep reading poor reviews on Tripadvisor of dirty rooms, mold (and urine?!) smells, ants, dirty hallways, etc. that is making me very apprehensive. Is this more the non-refurbished rooms? It is like there are two extremes on Tripadvisor for the Swan/Dolphin, great praise or abysmal. We loved Swan but have not stayed there since 2009. Please reassure me! We will be staying at the Dolphin next Feb. 2018.

 

[anita46]

We tried to think of any issues with our room during our visit in March at the Dolphin.
We couldn't think of one thing we had a concern over... all was good.
Stayed at the Swan several times too and never an issue there either.
I remember a room at the POLY that definitely had a mildew smell but never at any other hotels.
Enjoy your trip!

 

[mikegood2]

I keep reading poor reviews on Tripadvisor of dirty rooms, mold (and urine?!) smells, dirty hallways, etc. that is making me very apprehensive. Is this more the non-refurbished rooms? It is like there are two extremes on Tripadvisor for the Swan/Dolphin, great praise or abysmal. We loved Swan but have not stayed there since 2009. Please reassure me! We will be staying at the Dolphin next Feb. 2018.

I can understand why the TripAdvisor review are making you very apprehensive, but I wouldn't worry about it. I also made the mistake of reading Trip Adviser reviews before our first visited and It definitely had me questioning our decision. We stayed at the Dolphin, in Executive Suites, in 2011 and 2013 and couldn't have been happier with the rooms. Honestly, for our family of 5, based on the quality of the room and the price we got it for, I couldn't imagine a better value at any Disney resort. We would have booked another Executive Suite for our visit in June, but sadly because of the renovations, none were available

We ended up booking 2 rooms at the POP Century and I'm kinda going thru the second guessing right now. I've only stayed on site twice and I think our rooms spoiled us.

 

[mikeamizzle]

I keep reading poor reviews on Tripadvisor of dirty rooms, mold (and urine?!) smells, ants, dirty hallways, etc. that is making me very apprehensive. Is this more the non-refurbished rooms? It is like there are two extremes on Tripadvisor for the Swan/Dolphin, great praise or abysmal. We loved Swan but have not stayed there since 2009. Please reassure me! We will be staying at the Dolphin next Feb. 2018.

These issues are mainly related to the pre-refurbed rooms of which there are still a few left of at the Dolphin but they should be 100% completed I think before your trip in 2018. I've stayed in refurbished rooms in the Dolphin in December 2015 and in the Swan in November 2016 and had great experiences in each with no mildew issues at all. Had two fantastic stays and can confirm that the pre-refurbed room ( we were initially placed in one before requesting a new room in Dec 2015) that I did see in the Dolphin was completely warm down, smelled of mildew and was in desperate need of a deep clean. However, the new rooms are night and day better and have had no issues with cleanliness in either of our stays in the new rooms. I feel confident that you will be very happy with the updated rooms if these are your concerns (understandable based on the reviews of the few remaining old Dolphin rooms).

 

[Dan Murphy]

I keep reading poor reviews on Tripadvisor of dirty rooms, mold (and urine?!) smells, ants, dirty hallways, etc. that is making me very apprehensive. Is this more the non-refurbished rooms? It is like there are two extremes on Tripadvisor for the Swan/Dolphin, great praise or abysmal. We loved Swan but have not stayed there since 2009. Please reassure me! We will be staying at the Dolphin next Feb. 2018.

Anita, Mike and Mike said it well in their 3 replies here. Only addition I can add is that I have never had any concerns in our of my stays at S/D, in any rooms.

We tried to think of any issues with our room during our visit in March at the Dolphin.
We couldn't think of one thing we had a concern over... all was good.
Stayed at the Swan several times too and never an issue there either.
I remember a room at the POLY that definitely had a mildew smell but never at any other hotels.
Enjoy your trip!

I can understand why the TripAdvisor review are making you very apprehensive, but I wouldn't worry about it. I also made the mistake of reading Trip Adviser reviews before our first visited and It definitely had me questioning our decision. We stayed at the Dolphin, in Executive Suites, in 2011 and 2013 and couldn't have been happier with the rooms. Honestly, for our family of 5, based on the quality of the room and the price we got it for, I couldn't imagine a better value at any Disney resort. We would have booked another Executive Suite for our visit in June, but sadly because of the renovations, none were available

We ended up booking 2 rooms at the POP Century and I'm kinda going thru the second guessing right now. I've only stayed on site twice and I think our rooms spoiled us.

These issues are mainly related to the pre-refurbed rooms of which there are still a few left of at the Dolphin but they should be 100% completed I think before your trip in 2018. I've stayed in refurbished rooms in the Dolphin in December 2015 and in the Swan in November 2016 and had great experiences in each with no mildew issues at all. Had two fantastic stays and can confirm that the pre-refurbed room ( we were initially placed in one before requesting a new room in Dec 2015) that I did see in the Dolphin was completely warm down, smelled of mildew and was in desperate need of a deep clean. However, the new rooms are night and day better and have had no issues with cleanliness in either of our stays in the new rooms. I feel confident that you will be very happy with the updated rooms if these are your concerns (understandable based on the reviews of the few remaining old Dolphin rooms).

 

[SwanVT2]

These issues are mainly related to the pre-refurbed rooms of which there are still a few left of at the Dolphin but they should be 100% completed I think before your trip in 2018. I've stayed in refurbished rooms in the Dolphin in December 2015 and in the Swan in November 2016 and had great experiences in each with no mildew issues at all. Had two fantastic stays and can confirm that the pre-refurbed room ( we were initially placed in one before requesting a new room in Dec 2015) that I did see in the Dolphin was completely warm down, smelled of mildew and was in desperate need of a deep clean. However, the new rooms are night and day better and have had no issues with cleanliness in either of our stays in the new rooms. I feel confident that you will be very happy with the updated rooms if these are your concerns (understandable based on the reviews of the few remaining old Dolphin rooms).

Thank you for the detailed report.