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

[SteveH]

@wishinon3stars it could be the case or just peak time for Spring break or both. I did find three conferences there; Valley Anesthesia March 5-8 2022, SEPC Southern Exposure March 3-4, 2022 and Gartner Data & Analytics Summit US March 14 – 17, 2022, all seemed to be small at 100-500 attendees. But very well could be others mixed in there that are not showing up.

 

[wishinon3stars]

@wishinon3stars it could be the case or just peak time for Spring break or both. I did find three conferences there; Valley Anesthesia March 5-8 2022, SEPC Southern Exposure March 3-4, 2022 and Gartner Data & Analytics Summit US March 14 – 17, 2022, all seemed to be small at 100-500 attendees. But very well could be others mixed in there that are not showing up.

Thank you

 

[sheri18]

@wishinon3stars it could be the case or just peak time for Spring break or both. I did find three conferences there; Valley Anesthesia March 5-8 2022, SEPC Southern Exposure March 3-4, 2022 and Gartner Data & Analytics Summit US March 14 – 17, 2022, all seemed to be small at 100-500 attendees. But very well could be others mixed in there that are not showing up.

How do you find the information about the conventions , we are going in 2 weeks and I’d like to check if there are any big conventions at that time. TIA

 

[mouschievous]

@pix13dust but keep in mind the price difference between the YC/BC/BW neighbors, quick check of a date in August shows YC at $542 and Swan at $177. Was there a problem with Mears during your visit, I don't recall?

Wow! For our dates, SDR is nearly the same rate as YC/BC/BW. In fact, our tickets+room at CBR is the same as the room at SDR.

 

[FireflyFi]

@TexanInTheMidwest let us know how it goes, just like the Disney resorts, house keeping is not up to par IMHO and it will be awhile before it is. My greatest fear is that Disney and others will try to either charge for daily service or it becomes the new norm.

There's been a lot of articles just recently about housekeeping not coming back to hotels, particularly for Hilton, and most outlets spun it as 'not making people pay for what they don't want', an idea that sounds like it comes verbatim from a press release...

This article gives a little more depth to the impact of such a change. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jul/05/overworked-underpaid-hotel-workers-employees#

Personally, I think it'll end up blowing up in the face of any decent hotel that tries to cut back. Complaints will start building up faster than the grime

 

[CeCe0906]

I booked in June for a 4 night stay at the Dolphin in the first week of August, total including resort fee taxes, etc was $918. So about $230/ night all in. I won't have a car, so no parking costs. At the time I booked, all the All star resort available were at or around that, and didn't have the convenience of walking to 2 parks, others were more.. This was for a standard King room, 2 people. I have park res at MK , AK, and HS, and fully intend to park hop to Epcot on MK and AK days, so I don't have to deal with bus lines in the evening when I'm dragging. I'm parkhopping back to MK on my last day to end with the fireworks, so will have to catch the bus then, but I like the thought of 2 busses to choose from YC or Boardwalk, well I guess 3 if you count Dolphin bus, but that requires getting to TTC first, and that seems to be a pain at park close.
I booked directly from the Dolphin.

 

[cgattis]

The Swan & Dolphin app says, "ready-made sandwiches" so if they are made to order, they aren't advertising it.

Understood. Just wondering if they even are made somewhere within the hotel so you MIGHT get one special made to order. You hear all this stuff about special allergy accommodations so I thought it was worth asking if anyone had experience with this.

 

[SteveH]

How do you find the information about the conventions , we are going in 2 weeks and I’d like to check if there are any big conventions at that time. TIA

This last time I started with a google search "orlando conventions dolphin april 2022" Google will show some Events for that month, then one of the other top hits is 10times.com (new to me) which shows the event and if you open it will show you have many are expected. You can have it show you all events, I'm not sure how accurate this listing is as I just found it.

Wow! For our dates, SDR is nearly the same rate as YC/BC/BW. In fact, our tickets+room at CBR is the same as the room at SDR.

Yes, S/D have used a pricing system the fluxuates based on capacity. Around December you can see $800/night in some cases for a room that might have been $190 during the slow times. For that reason booking in advance is beneficial.

 

[SteveH]

This article gives a little more depth to the impact of such a change. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jul/05/overworked-underpaid-hotel-workers-employees#

Personally, I think it'll end up blowing up in the face of any decent hotel that tries to cut back. Complaints will start building up faster than the grime

Thanks for sharing that link! The comment about the extra work due to build up of dirty is a good asessment, and like you said I think it will backfire. But the only way to bring it back is request it, and then stop staying at the hotel if they don't bring it back.

 

[Dan Murphy]

More Swan Reserve update

 

[mickey916]

More Swan Reserve update

Someone in the comments section of this article mentioned that Disney has clarified that Swan/Dolphin are part of early entry. I checked the WDW site and there is no update there. Can anyone else confirm this?

 

[Malfie Cent]

My family and I will be staying at the Dolphin in August for the first time. We plan on being in Epcot every night so with the park closing at 9 and being night owls we will need something to do for a few hours after. Are there areas outside the resort where we could sit and relax with a bottle of wine/cocktails. I'm not looking for a bar or lounge just an outdoor area for guests to bring their own stuff and be able to enjoy the night outside instead of being cooped up in our rooms.

 

[Meglen]

My family and I will be staying at the Dolphin in August for the first time. We plan on being in Epcot every night so with the park closing at 9 and being night owls we will need something to do for a few hours after. Are there areas outside the resort where we could sit and relax with a bottle of wine/cocktails. I'm not looking for a bar or lounge just an outdoor area for guests to bring their own stuff and be able to enjoy the night outside instead of being cooped up in our rooms.

Lots of benches around the boardwalk area. Also alot of grass to sit on over by the yacht club/beach club. Also benches on the beach areas of yc/bc

 

[ww52]

Yes, S/D have used a pricing system the fluxuates based on capacity. Around December you can see $800/night in some cases for a room that might have been $190 during the slow times. For that reason booking in advance is beneficial.

One other "tip" - after you book, periodically check / call to see if the rate may have come down.

I did that for our stay (booked in mid 2020 for the first week in july) and our rate came down almost $50 per room. Two alcove suites with connecting king ended up $600 all in including parking each versus the $680 we set as our deposits

Make sure if/when you call you get the actual S/D reservation desk and NOT the corporate Marriot etc place.

 

[ww52]

Are there areas outside the resort where we could sit and relax with a bottle of wine/cocktails

Great question - we've been at the S/D five times now and I can't say I noticed. Some rooms have balconies - some rooms are on the ground floor with chairs and a table. That might be the only option (and a good one at that).

I suppose the pool areas might be an option but they are likely closed and even if you try to sit there with you own beverages you might be told to move.

 

[Malfie Cent]

Lots of benches around the boardwalk area. Also alot of grass to sit on over by the yacht club/beach club. Also benches on the beach areas of yc/bc

Thanks. We'll probably venture over to the BC and sit at the boardwalk some nights but it will be nice to be as close to our rooms as possible. We usually stay at BC or BW but I've never went over to the Dolphin so wasn't sure if there are areas around that resort specifically.

 

[Malfie Cent]

Great question - we've been at the S/D five times now and I can't say I noticed. Some rooms have balconies - some rooms are on the ground floor with chairs and a table. That might be the only option (and a good one at that).

I suppose the pool areas might be an option but they are likely closed and even if you try to sit there with you own beverages you might be told to move.

When the kids were younger we would use the balconies at night but now we are all adults and probably won't fit LOL. I didn't even think about a ground floor room but maybe I'll request one. We'll have 2 rooms so if we get 2 next to eachother that might work nicely.
I also didn't want to be so close to other guests rooms just in case we were a little loud (without meaning to be) and disturb anyone.
I'm sure we will figure something out!

 

[Tess]

My family and I will be staying at the Dolphin in August for the first time. We plan on being in Epcot every night so with the park closing at 9 and being night owls we will need something to do for a few hours after. Are there areas outside the resort where we could sit and relax with a bottle of wine/cocktails. I'm not looking for a bar or lounge just an outdoor area for guests to bring their own stuff and be able to enjoy the night outside instead of being cooped up in our rooms.

We have always used the tables around the pool areas (lap pools at both) and never had a problem with security. We never ventured back into the grotto area.

At Swan, there are interior courtyard areas that are fitted with tables, sofas, chairs, etc. and are open to use as well. I know during the early stages of the Covid reopening, the one closest to Il Mulino was utilized for outdoor dining--not sure if that is still the case. That area is pictured here:


The door to Il Mulino is behind the Swan fountain on the right--this enters the bar area. The second courtyard is entered across the hall from this one and that door is out of frame to the left.

We have always enjoyed these areas although they are not covered in the event of rain.

We have also wandered over to the Boardwalk and grabbed a bench in front of Jelly Rolls. When it was open, the music from Jelly Rolls could be heard, but not overly loud and there was the view across the lake and Boardwalk area of YC/BC and BWI/BWV.

 

[Launchpad_Mcquack]

Some quick shot questions:

1. How is the internet at the Dolphin? Can you reliably watch something like youtube or make video calls?
2. Anyone know the average uber/lift cost from Orlando airport to Dolphin?
3. Is Fuel open 24hrs?

 

[Elsaspiritanimal]

We have always used the tables around the pool areas (lap pools at both) and never had a problem with security. We never ventured back into the grotto area.

At Swan, there are interior courtyard areas that are fitted with tables, sofas, chairs, etc. and are open to use as well. I know during the early stages of the Covid reopening, the one closest to Il Mulino was utilized for outdoor dining--not sure if that is still the case. That area is pictured here:
View attachment 589392

The door to Il Mulino is behind the Swan fountain on the right--this enters the bar area. The second courtyard is entered across the hall from this one and that door is out of frame to the left.

We have always enjoyed these areas although they are not covered in the event of rain.

We have also wandered over to the Boardwalk and grabbed a bench in front of Jelly Rolls. When it was open, the music from Jelly Rolls could be heard, but not overly loud and there was the view across the lake and Boardwalk area of YC/BC and BWI/BWV.

I agree - these courtyard areas are beautiful. The last couple of times I have stayed there (latest was March 2021) they had bistro lights hung in those areas so it was a wonderful place to chill with a cocktail and chat at night. Another option is to sit along the beach, and I have never had anyone shoo me away from the lounge chairs by the pools.