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

[lorilclevelandrn]

Does Swan hold a security deposit for incidentals? I had a random $100 on my card; however, my room was paid n full through PL.

 

[SteveH]

@lorilclevelandrn I'm pretty sure they do, most hotels do. There is usually some info about the holds when you check in. If you're then a quick call to the Front Desk should confirm it.

 

[amalone1013]

Does every king room have a sofa bed?

 

[Tess]

Does every king room have a sofa bed?

I can't speak to every single one since I haven't slept in all of them, but every one I have had did have the pull out sleeper sofa.

 

[pepperandchips]

Paging @tzeitel

 

[lisafab]

Hi, not sure if anyone can help answer this but I’ll ask! We’ve just booked two nights at the Dolphin during our trip this September for proximity to DHS. I chose the Summer Promotion rate so I had the option to cancel but also because it says “One room category upgrade to be extended at time of booking with this promotion.” My booking still says “traditional, 2 double, no view” and I’m not sure whether I should expect an upgrade? I’ve emailed but no response and was thinking I’ll ask at check in but I may have considered paying for an upgrade and don’t want to if it’s already included if that makes sense?

 

[Dan Murphy]

I’ve emailed but no response

How long ago did you email and whom did you email....S/D, Marriott, 3rd party?

 

[lisafab]

I emailed on Saturday via the Marriott website. To be honest I’m not sure it was the correct way to email.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I emailed on Saturday via the Marriott website. To be honest I’m not sure it was the correct way to email.

I would contact S/D directly. And/or use the Concierge link/Room requests

https://swandolphin.com/contact.html
https://swandolphinconcierge.com/

 

[lisafab]

Great, thanks.

 

[MinnieMe89]

I've read of success stories on some S/D reviews about negotiating away the resort fees for S/D. Anyone have any insight into how someone managed that?

 

[tzeitel]

Paging @tzeitel

LOL! Thanks!

 

[SteveH]

I've read of success stories on some S/D reviews about negotiating away the resort fees for S/D. Anyone have any insight into how someone managed that?

I can't think of the anytime somebody has gotten out of the Daily Resort fee at S/D. If the fail to serve, maybe a day or two. Such as when they've closed the main pool for a rental group, but that's about it.

Beyond that, I know if you book with Costco it's built into the price.

 

[JJ2017]

I've read of success stories on some S/D reviews about negotiating away the resort fees for S/D. Anyone have any insight into how someone managed that?

Marriott status sometimes reduces the fee, but I have asked "innocently" each time we have booked if the fee was waived based on a certain status and have always been told no, just reduced.

 

[jennypenny]

Same here.

Has anyone priced out Disney rooms for 2020 yet? Yikes. I think they are overestimating the popularity of Star Wars, but whatever. I'm not paying those prices. I've booked the Swan for all of my upcoming visits and couldn't be happier. (except about those cabana prices, but I'll try to talk them down when the time comes)

 

[scheddj]

Just an FYI for anyone who is looking to book and is a Costco member - they're currently doing free double upgrades to Balcony Resort View rooms. I was able to call and modify my September/October trip to get this double upgrade at the Dolphin.

Do you have to have booked using Costco travel?

 

[SteveH]

Has anyone priced out Disney rooms for 2020 yet? Yikes. I think they are overestimating the popularity of Star Wars, but whatever. I'm not paying those prices. I've booked the Swan for all of my upcoming visits and couldn't be happier. (except about those cabana prices, but I'll try to talk them down when the time comes)

We finally confirmed our Feb 2020 trip, we're going to POFQ. Partially to mix it up a bit, but the prices for S/D during that time are crazy and have been high since they released the dates. While still possible we'd switch it's now very unlikely. I think Pete is right on the last post cast, I think Disney has over played their hand a bit on prices, summer was a shock to them and they had to offer up free dining to get people to go, and I think Fall will be the same. Just without free dining. I think S/D is trying to cash in a bit, but I also feel the changes that Marriott made have taken away some great deals that were common with SPG.

 

[Dave006]

I've read of success stories on some S/D reviews about negotiating away the resort fees for S/D. Anyone have any insight into how someone managed that?

This has not worked since the late 90s when you could waive the fee at check-in if you did not want the free USA/Today newspaper, Free phone calls, etc...

The resort fees are clearly identified and are only "waived" for customer recovery purposes on a case by case basis. Such as issues with your room, pool access or other items that the S/D should have already address before you the "Guest" was impacted and only for the number of days the guest is impacted.

Dave

 

[jennypenny]

We finally confirmed our Feb 2020 trip, we're going to POFQ. Partially to mix it up a bit, but the prices for S/D during that time are crazy and have been high since they released the dates. While still possible we'd switch it's now very unlikely. I think Pete is right on the last post cast, I think Disney has over played their hand a bit on prices, summer was a shock to them and they had to offer up free dining to get people to go, and I think Fall will be the same. Just without free dining. I think S/D is trying to cash in a bit, but I also feel the changes that Marriott made have taken away some great deals that were common with SPG.

That's interesting that Feb prices were so high. I was comparing April prices. I wonder if conventions can skew prices certain times of the year. I know when booking our trip next week, S/D was totally booked up for a while but I was able to book a Beach Club Villa 1bd for less than $500/night (we went with the beach club for next week). I think there are rooms available now but not when we were trying to book.

I'll have to listen to the podcast. We're used to Disney raising their prices a little every year but this year is crazy. I'm so glad we bought annual passes back in April and can use the Swan after next week's trip. I agree that they may have gone too far. We're their target audience, and can afford to pay those prices, but are choosing not to (and we've been going at least 2x/year for the last 20 years).

 

[SteveH]

@jennypenny yes I think the Dolphin for my week showed spotty availability. Once the conference registration ends it may free up some rooms, but not sure I want to wait that long.

I wasn't shocked by the price increase personally, last year Disneyland had a pretty large one, though not as large as the 2015 hike. The last Disneyland and Disney World Podcasts Pete talked about the price hikes for APs. We've got Disneyland in July and then WDW in February, after that I will be a few years (probably) before we go back. Not just because of the prices, but we like other vacations too, and I think Disney is pushing the greed factor a bit far.