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

[BrownHP800]

I have a question on parking for check in. Is there a certain parking area to park in while you check in or can you pull up near the door and park temporarily until you get your parking pass. I know valet is right by the door and I don't want to interfere with their operation. The only time we stayed here we were dropped off so I didn't pay attention if they have a temporary short term parking area. We will be arriving pretty early and I am sure our room won't be ready, we plan on walking over to Epcot for a few hours and then come back and hit the pool.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I have a question on parking for check in. Is there a certain parking area to park in while you check in or can you pull up near the door and park temporarily until you get your parking pass. I know valet is right by the door and I don't want to interfere with their operation. The only time we stayed here we were dropped off so I didn't pay attention if they have a temporary short term parking area. We will be arriving pretty early and I am sure our room won't be ready, we plan on walking over to Epcot for a few hours and then come back and hit the pool.

You will be able to park a little forward of the actual entrance for check-in purposes.


ETA...Approximately where the car are seen here.........

https://binged.it/2nox8EU

 

[123Dis4Me]

I have a question about luggage transfers with a split stay. I am staying at the Dolphin for two days, checking into a disney resort for two days (not sure which one yet, the Swan and Dolphin are booked for these two days) and then checking back into the dolphin for 3 days. Does anyone have experience on the easiest way to do this? Will the Dolphin transfer my luggage for me so I can be at the parks on my checkout day? And will the WDW resort transfer my luggage back for me? Thanks for any help and tips!

 

[Tess]

I have a question about luggage transfers with a split stay. I am staying at the Dolphin for two days, checking into a disney resort for two days (not sure which one yet, the Swan and Dolphin are booked for these two days) and then checking back into the dolphin for 3 days. Does anyone have experience on the easiest way to do this? Will the Dolphin transfer my luggage for me so I can be at the parks on my checkout day? And will the WDW resort transfer my luggage back for me? Thanks for any help and tips!

Yes, both ways. Take your luggage (or have it picked up in your room) to bell service. It will be transferred to the next resort. We have always taken our swim bag along with any other items we would need before the luggage might arrive and check in to our next hotel prior to heading to a park. That is just a personal preference. You could certainly leave the luggage with bell services for transfer and check in when you return from your park day. Be aware, the luggage may not arrive until after 3:00 p.m. Very easy process and we have not had any issues.

 

[123Dis4Me]

Yes, both ways. Take your luggage (or have it picked up in your room) to bell service. It will be transferred to the next resort. We have always taken our swim bag along with any other items we would need before the luggage might arrive and check in to our next hotel prior to heading to a park. That is just a personal preference. You could certainly leave the luggage with bell services for transfer and check in when you return from your park day. Be aware, the luggage may not arrive until after 3:00 p.m. Very easy process and we have not had any issues.

Thanks, at first I thought this would be a real hassle, but it seems like it should be a pretty smooth transition. I appreciate your help.

 

[tjmw2727]

Agree with Tess - we have done luggage transfers from the SD to a Disney resort and from a Disney resort although unlike you not on the same trip! Drop off at bell services and head out for the day and your bags will be at the WDW resort or back at the SD the same day but don't expect them until at least check in time. We just pack a day bag with essentials and either carry it with us or grab a locker.

 

[Tess]

Thanks, at first I thought this would be a real hassle, but it seems like it should be a pretty smooth transition. I appreciate your help.

Agree with Tess - we have done luggage transfers from the SD to a Disney resort and from a Disney resort although unlike you not on the same trip! Drop off at bell services and head out for the day and your bags will be at the WDW resort or back at the SD the same day but don't expect them until at least check in time. We just pack a day bag with essentials and either carry it with us or grab a locker.

I should have added, that our essentials/swim bag we leave with the next resort's bell services before heading to the park and retrieve it if we want to swim prior to luggage arrival. We have also packed up all nonessentials the night before check-out and sent the luggage to the next resort that evening. This insures that the luggage is at bell services waiting when our room is ready the next day.

 

[123Dis4Me]

I should have added, that our essentials/swim bag we leave with the next resort's bell services before heading to the park and retrieve it if we want to swim prior to luggage arrival. We have also packed up all nonessentials the night before check-out and sent the luggage to the next resort that evening. This insures that the luggage is at bell services waiting when our room is ready the next day.

Thanks, it is just my husband and me on this trip. I think/hope that we will be fine with just a little day pack on our check in/check out days!

 

[mrsdaly]

Thanks. I will keep checking.

I'm trying for the same thing... points stay for the last week in August. Hopefully the dates open up, if not, I might be going for a fall stay instead.

 

[kmc8826]

I am considering Dolphin for upcoming short August stay. It would be just myself and my 8 year old. No doubt this is a stupid question but I can't find the answer, so if it is clear point me the right direction!

I know we have to pay the $20 a day for parking at the hotel. My question is how bad is the parking? We will have a car, but first night arrive late (around midnight). Is it hard to find a place at different times? Is it open parking or a parking garage? The appeal for me to stay there is the price/points and location, but my D8 really hates to walk and also hates buses, so if the parking is far and/or a pain my thought is maybe I am better off on a Disney property where I can just park the car fairly close to the room (i.e. value or moderate).

Thanks!

 

[ckelly14]

I am considering Dolphin for upcoming short August stay. It would be just myself and my 8 year old. No doubt this is a stupid question but I can't find the answer, so if it is clear point me the right direction!

I know we have to pay the $20 a day for parking at the hotel. My question is how bad is the parking? We will have a car, but first night arrive late (around midnight). Is it hard to find a place at different times? Is it open parking or a parking garage? The appeal for me to stay there is the price/points and location, but my D8 really hates to walk and also hates buses, so if the parking is far and/or a pain my thought is maybe I am better off on a Disney property where I can just park the car fairly close to the room (i.e. value or moderate).

Thanks!

There is an open lot down the hill from the circle driveway where you can temporarily park to check in. It's not far, but you can be pretty far out if it's crowded. I would pay the extra $8 to valet if that's a concern for you rather than switching resorts. That said, you do need to consider the resort and parking fees when comparing the S&W to the disney resorts.

 

[123Dis4Me]

I'm trying for the same thing... points stay for the last week in August. Hopefully the dates open up, if not, I might be going for a fall stay instead.

I don't have much of an option, it is this August or next summer. I cannot wait that long! So, I will keep checking everyday, if I find that these dates open up I will post!

 

[RoyalJay]

We were there for four nights this past week and had a good time. I am Marriott Platinum (and thus SPG Plat). I chose the points at checkin because we were doing several breakfasts in the parks, but I was offered continental breakfast. We did eat at Fresh Mediterranean Market one morning and I thought the breakfast was great. We were given a renovated room, but I can't really say how much of an upgrade it was. We had a nice view of the beach and pool but were only on the second floor. The new room was very nice, but this was my first stay there so I can't say how it compared to old rooms. We had lunch at the Fountain and thought it was just so so. Beaches and Cream is a far better experience in our opinion.

Overall we liked the hotel and I used points so that is great. However, for us, it wasn't "Disney". It felt more like a Vegas hotel, which isn't a bad thing, but we've stayed at a lot of the Disney hotels and there's just something great about them for us. That said, being able to use points and stay on the Boardwalk is awesome, and I will surely be staying here again.

By the way, holy cow was it busy in the parks! We've been there enough that we managed just fine and had a blast, but I was surprised at just how many people were there.

 

[jwfla422]

What about parking for meals at the S/D restaurants? I know you can get a voucher for dining at Il Mulino at night, but is there a validated parking option for Fresh or Garden Grove for breakfast? (sorry if this has been asked just a lot of pages to flip through). We''d love to go there but just to difficult to get to with Disney transportation and since we have a car seems silly to take a Uber (but it's probably cheaper than parking, right?) Thanks!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Does anyone have any idea if the Swan/Dolphin will be included in the special late night EMH for the new Pandora at AK?

I am hoping they will as our trip will be at the end of May.

Also just read on another thread about someone looking for a room at the Dolphin end of April and the nurse rate was even higher than a disney moderate at that peak time, sadly I think people are right when commenting that the merge with Marriott is driving the prices up a lot and also with the renovation.

 

[mousegear]

Also just read on another thread about someone looking for a room at the Dolphin end of April and the nurse rate was even higher than a disney moderate at that peak time, sadly I think people are right when commenting that the merge with Marriott is driving the prices up a lot and also with the renovation.

I booked our trip two weeks ago and found that Dolphin/Swan didn't have room for the whole week we need (only certain dates) and room rates were really high despite we are going during the spring break. We've went last year during similar time and the room rates were lower. So we are doing split stay between Dolphin (using points) and AKL, and back to Dolphin (using points). However, just noticed this morning that the price came down a lot compare to few weeks ago. So depending on how the resort fills up, they might lower the price near the dates.

 

[Dan Murphy]

any idea if the Swan/Dolphin will be included in the special late night EMH for the new Pandora at AK?

Yes.

http://www.swandolphin.com/aboutus/extramagic.html

Pandora—The World of Avatar

As a guest of the Walt Disney World® Swan and Dolphin Resort you may explore Pandora—The World of Avatar beyond regular Park hours from 11 pm to 1 am nightly, May 27th to July 4th 2017. Only in Pandora—The World of Avatar, nightly Extra Magic Hours give your family extra time to fly on the back of a banshee, navigate a mystical river and walk under floating mountains.This benefit is in addition to the Extra Magic Hours already available to you at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Valid Theme Park admission and your Resort ID required.

 

[Dan Murphy]

room rates were really high despite we are going during the spring break.

I would think rates would be higher due to higher crowd levels?

 

[mousegear]

I would think rates would be higher due to higher crowd levels?

Two weeks ago, room rates started $280~340/night and now some nights are as low as $142. Although I booked using my SPG points, I was thinking that $142/night is cheaper than Disney Value even with resort fee.

 

[patty57]

Also just read on another thread about someone looking for a room at the Dolphin end of April and the nurse rate was even higher than a disney moderate at that peak time, sadly I think people are right when commenting that the merge with Marriott is driving the prices up a lot and also with the renovation.

I have looked at the nurse rate over a number of months for 2017. Each time I looked, the nurse rate was higher than the lowest member rate. The nurse discount seems to be over.