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

[CJN]

Hi there! I feel like I’ve seen this before but can’t find it. Is there extremely dynamic pricing (as in their algorithm seems off). We have stayed for several years at Swan and Dolphin, either over Christmas or immediately following. We book the same room type etc. I called today to secure this year at Christmas, and the rate was more than double what we paid this year at Christmas. It was so far off I asked for a manager to ensure we were talking about the same room type. She actually told me over and over that Christmas week was expensive (despite the fact that I continued to explain I was comparing my prices to the same week of the year, apples to apples, not reacting to the price of Christmas week, my reaction was to the 200% price tag year over year.

I had to drop the call for a meeting and will just try again in a few weeks, but it really seemed like an error. Any experience with pricing that doesn’t align at all?

I expect an increase each year but this wasn’t any normal increase curve.
Thanks for any insight.

Last fall when I was pricing rooms for our upcoming March trip the rate was chokingly high, especially as compared to the previous year over Thanksgiving week. Since those are two different times of the year it’s an apples to oranges, but still. We usually book senior discount rate and that wasn’t offered at the time either. I went ahead and booked for the date and room that we wanted and kept watch. The price did eventually start coming down and I kept rebooking at every drop, eventually ending up pretty satisfied with what we got.

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

@DisneyHomework Can I ask what you paid for Christmas week 2019 so I have an idea of what to expect. Thanks

 

[jennypenny]

I wonder if S/D will raise their rates because Disney's have gone up so much. We got Swan 2Q rooms for Easter week for almost half of what Disney was asking for other hotel rooms at BW & Y/B (with discounts).

 

[Candycane83]

Hi there! I feel like I’ve seen this before but can’t find it. Is there extremely dynamic pricing (as in their algorithm seems off). We have stayed for several years at Swan and Dolphin, either over Christmas or immediately following. We book the same room type etc. I called today to secure this year at Christmas, and the rate was more than double what we paid this year at Christmas. It was so far off I asked for a manager to ensure we were talking about the same room type. She actually told me over and over that Christmas week was expensive (despite the fact that I continued to explain I was comparing my prices to the same week of the year, apples to apples, not reacting to the price of Christmas week, my reaction was to the 200% price tag year over year.

I had to drop the call for a meeting and will just try again in a few weeks, but it really seemed like an error. Any experience with pricing that doesn’t align at all?

I expect an increase each year but this wasn’t any normal increase curve.
Thanks for any insight.

I booked Dolphin for Christmas this year and thought it was high but I haven’t stayed in Swan and Dolphin for more than 3 years so I wasn’t sure. It is half what Disney is asking for as rack rate on deluxe resorts so I just jumped and booked. I will keep checking to see if prices go down or if Disney has any discounts later.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Tickets now on sale for the 2020 Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic

https://www.wdwmagic.com/resorts/wa...-world-swan-and-dolphin-food-wine-classic.htm
https://swandolphinfoodandwineclassic.com/

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[SMRT-1]

I'm sure some of it is just normal price increases over time, but I have to wonder how much the switch to Marriott management has to do with these crazy high direct prices.

On our last trip in 2016, when it was still Starwood, we booked a room at the Swan directly because the Starwood member rates were better than most we found (it was significantly cheaper to book direct than it was to book through Disney). However, when pricing our trip for this year, we were shocked to see that the direct rates from Marriott were nearly double what they were in 2016, and it was now actually cheaper to book a package through Disney (although still much more expensive than we have come to expect from the Swan).

Fortunately for for us, Costco now has Swan/Dolphin packages, so we got a balcony room for less than we paid for a standard room in 2016, and for half of what Marriott was quoting directly.

 

[Belle1962]

Noise from the boats? Can you hear the boats from rooms at the Swan? I’m booked there for May in a standard room but will upgrade to “resort view” if necessary. We plan on being the “sleep in go to parks later” people and doing the DAH MK and AK so will want sleep in the mornings.

 

[SamFaniam]

Noise from the boats? Can you hear the boats from rooms at the Swan? I’m booked there for May in a standard room but will upgrade to “resort view” if necessary. We plan on being the “sleep in go to parks later” people and doing the DAH MK and AK so will want sleep in the mornings.

I think a standard room would be your best option. The resort view may face toward the BW/YB/Epcot area, and that's where the boat channel is. That being said, I have never heard the boat horn from inside the hotels at the Epcot area.

 

[Belle1962]

Thank you.

 

[TinkOhio]

Does anyone know the pricing and beverage selections available for the refillable mugs from Picabu's? I did find some mug information on page 5 of this thread and through the search function, but not that. Also, are they similar to the mugs at the Disney owned resorts? Thanks for any help!

 

[Breezzy]

Has anyone used the suite benefits lately? Are they still doing the 90 day fast pass program and what category of room qualifies? Thinking of upgrading our room for our 4th of July trip.

I have an alcove room in March and booked club level fast passes for most days.

 

[happ]

Noise from the boats? Can you hear the boats from rooms at the Swan? I’m booked there for May in a standard room but will upgrade to “resort view” if necessary. We plan on being the “sleep in go to parks later” people and doing the DAH MK and AK so will want sleep in the mornings.

At the Dolphin, I had a balcony room facing the water and could hear the boats. It was an issue for me on the night before the half-marathon when I was trying to go to sleep early. However, the view from my room was amazing!

 

[SamFaniam]

Does anyone know the pricing and beverage selections available for the refillable mugs from Picabu's? I did find some mug information on page 5 of this thread and through the search function, but not that. Also, are they similar to the mugs at the Disney owned resorts? Thanks for any help!

On page 5 of the resort activities, they discuss it, but no prices or options.

https://www.swandolphin.com/pdf/Resort_Report.pdf

 

[shoreward]

Does anyone know the pricing and beverage selections available for the refillable mugs from Picabu's? I did find some mug information on page 5 of this thread and through the search function, but not that. Also, are they similar to the mugs at the Disney owned resorts? Thanks for any help!

The cost was about $15, last year, according to a DISer’s trip report of May 2019.

 

[TinkOhio]

Thank you

 

[Jazz dude]

I booked an alcove room and the CM I spoke to at the hotel said it did qualify. Guess I'll find out in a couple of weeks when it is time for me to make my fastpasses!

We are staying in a alcove suite next month. Was not aware of extra benefits in staying in that room type other then a bigger room. Can you expand on the benefits? Thanks

 

[Dan Murphy]

We are staying in a alcove suite next month. Was not aware of extra benefits in staying in that room type other then a bigger room. Can you expand on the benefits? Thanks

About midway down this page.

https://magicguides.com/club-level-disney-world/

 

[ckelly14]

We are staying in a alcove suite next month. Was not aware of extra benefits in staying in that room type other then a bigger room. Can you expand on the benefits? Thanks

Just to be clear, Dan is directing you to the extra fast pass section, which is available if you are staying in an Alcove. There are no other benefits like a dedicated lounge with food and drink or pre-trip concierge as you would get in a Disney club level room.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Just to be clear, Dan is directing you to the extra fast pass section, which is available if you are staying in an Alcove. There are no other benefits like a dedicated lounge with food and drink or pre-trip concierge as you would get in a Disney club level room.

Very correct, ckelly. There is now club/concierge level at S/D. There was in the past but gone for probably 15 years now. And yes, the only item on that linked page that is valid for S/D with certain rooms is the fastpass benefit.

 

[april8986]

Any idea why the Swan would be much cheaper ($258 vs $429) than the Dolphin October of 2020? I usually stay at the Swan because of the extra sink. Thanks in advance.