Walt Disney World SWAN, DOLPHIN & SWAN RESERVE RESORTS Information & Questions

[Lewisc]

We should have known there are issues when S/D stopped contracting with Disney for bus service.

edited to add I don't see Shades of Green on the list.

 

[Gitelfor]

Chatted with a cast member and confirmed.View attachment 587110

Is it possible that the resorts not owned by Disney are being charged a fee to be included in the early entry? I believe that Disney might be losing some EP resorts guests to the Swan and Dolphin, due to the cost savings, but still benefiting from the same great location. So, some of those Disney perks included with a Swan or Dolphin stay are being taken away, to discourage bookings at the Swan and Dolphin.

 

[orangecuse]

We are considering a stay at the Dolphin in mid December of this year because all the other moderates and deluxes are so expensive, and I’m not very hopeful that there will be any good discounts coming. We’ve never stayed there before, and I was just wondering if there are any differences between this resort and other wdw deluxe resorts that I’m unaware of. I’ve read the following:

-ME is not included
-60 days plus length of stay for ADR bookings is not available (have to come back each day to book more ADRs)
-Daily resort fee
-Non-Disney buses to MK, AK & DS
-May not be included in the early park entry

Am I missing anything or is any of this incorrect? I just want to know what I’m agreeing to before I decide to stay there. TIA!

You get 60+ length of stay for ADRs. We just booked ours for August.

 

[orangecuse]

Does Swan/Dolphin still have boat service to the parks?

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

You get 60+ length of stay for ADRs. We just booked ours for August.

Ok, great! I actually called the Dolphin hotel and asked about that and the person who answered the phone told me there was no 60+ length of stay for ADRs, so I’m glad to hear he was wrong.

 

[Meglen]

Does Swan/Dolphin still have boat service to the parks?

yes, so maybe mears was cheaper for marriot instead of disney for busses

 

[jhlmendez]

Swan and Dolphin are not on the early entry list.

that sucks. booked through costco for late oct. with boo bash tix. Between this, ever increasing capacity, post anniversary crowds, and potential lack of fast pass I'm starting to wonder if I made a big mistake. One of the reasons for picking S&D was assumption that they would be included in whatever magic hours replacement was eventually implemented (though I can't recall if it was specifically stated in the advertising I saw).

Will S&D get early fast pass reservation access if/when that returns? Didn't really question that when I booked but am now. Might need to check other options.

 

[bigorsmall]

I'm not going to change my reservation for now, but need to make a backup plan.

 

[georgina]

We are considering a stay at the Dolphin in mid December of this year because all the other moderates and deluxes are so expensive, and I’m not very hopeful that there will be any good discounts coming. We’ve never stayed there before, and I was just wondering if there are any differences between this resort and other wdw deluxe resorts that I’m unaware of. I’ve read the following:

-ME is not included
-60 days plus length of stay for ADR bookings is not available (have to come back each day to book more ADRs)
-Daily resort fee
-Non-Disney buses to MK, AK & DS
-May not be included in the early park entry/extra evening hours?

Am I missing anything or is any of this incorrect? I just want to know what I’m agreeing to before I decide to stay there. TIA!

Can't charge your disney parks meals and souvenirs back to your room.

 

[georgina]

Will S&D get early fast pass reservation access if/when that returns? Didn't really question that when I booked but am now. Might need to check other options.

I don't think anyone here knows, I am wondering if the free parking at the parks for S/D guests will continue.

 

[Meglen]

I don't think anyone here knows, I am wondering if the free parking at the parks for S/D guests will continue.

oof.. yea I really hope they jsut forgot.. if Swan/dolphin lose all the perks.. its gonna stink

 

[katyjeka]

I just called Swan and was told that Disney has not completed updating the hotels. Who knows maybe she was just telling me what she knew I wanted to hear!!! I have a reservation for the Dolphin in December but have also made one at AK Lodge(for a lot more money) just in case!!!

 

[patty57]

No early entry for S&D, but the hotels out by Disney Springs get it? That stinks, and it feels punitive on Disney's part. I guess we can forget about the late hours for deluxe resorts as well.
Or, hopefully, the list isn't complete and Swan & Dolphin will end up on it.

 

[carlosalonsor]

We just got back from the Dolphin. I was traveling with my two college age daughters, so we were looking for a little bit of extra space. I booked the "1 king bed, sofabed, premium deluxe suite, limited view" which ended up having an incredible view of Tower of Terror. There was plenty of space to spread out. In addition to the separate bedroom with a king size bed and desk, there was a large living area with a queen sofabed, chair, and dining table and chairs for 4. It was a beautiful room.

Video of the room:

I did the online check in through Marriott, but never got a text/key/alert, so I checked in through the regular line.

We walked to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios and park hopped to the Magic Kingdom. Returning from the MK, we took the bus to the Boardwalk and walked to the Dolphin. Since we had a car, we drove to Animal Kingdom to get there early. We did use Dolphin transportation to get to Disney Springs and it was a Mears bus that had seating like the Magical Express...very nice.

There was NO housekeeping service at all, but we asked for water bottles every day. I mean, if we're paying the resort fee, the least we can get was some water, right?

The night before we checked out, a very large group of teens, probably high school age, checked into the resort and made their presence known. I'm a high school teacher and have a very high tolerance to teenagers and children, in general, but this group was the most ill-behaved group I've ever experienced. (I've been at Disney/Dolphin with cheerleaders, dancers, band kids, and Brazilian chanting 15 year olds and they are angels compared to this brood.) The group was noisy, slamming doors and running up and down the hallways. Bless any regular guests in the hotel right now.

At 11:15, the fire alarm was pulled and an announcement was going off in the hotel about having to evacuate the building. The evacuation process was not good and the stairwells were full, complicated by the large number of children who thought the fire alarm was fun. I wonder how someone with mobility issues would leave the building in a fire emergency. We were on the west side, but walked around to the front of the building, thinking that it would be a better place to get information about when it was safe to re-enter the building. We were not outside for long, but no information was provided about the alarm, whether it was a false alarm, fire in a kitchen, etc...I really think that a mass text message or sign should have been posted to notify people about the situation.

In all, I love the Dolphin, but am looking forward to the return of housekeeping, especially for longer stays and am disappointed by the lack of communication during and after the building had to be evacuated.

We were on Dolphin from 20th to the 29th.
I remember the fire alarm and evacuation on the 27th I believe, and agree, it was a total chaos.
Our stay was very pleasant, we had a balcony room on the second floor viewing Epcot, loved the fireworks testing almost every night. Our room had a connecting door which wasn't an issue until the Beta Club convention arrived around the 26th and the loud neighbours, slamming doors, yelling, singing, and running started at every hour every day.

 

[pix13dust]

Checked into the Dolphin today. I was worried about our room catagory, traditional, 2 double beds , no view BUT it’s great. And has 2 areas to get ready at- comes in handy when traveling with 2 teenagers. However- damn this hotel is PACKED! It’s tough just getting through the lobby!

 

[GreyStr0ke]

Does anyone know ho long these cheer groups gonna be there for? Thinking of going up next week to use my pass before it expires, but might have to pay mouse prices to avoid the groups.

 

[Dug720]

Checked into the Dolphin today. I was worried about our room catagory, traditional, 2 double beds , no view BUT it’s great. And has 2 areas to get ready at- comes in handy when traveling with 2 teenagers. However- damn this hotel is PACKED! It’s tough just getting through the lobby!
View attachment 587397

There's a beauty pageant thing going on now. A college friend has a daughter in it.

 

[Dug720]

Does anyone know ho long these cheer groups gonna be there for? Thinking of going up next week to use my pass before it expires, but might have to pay mouse prices to avoid the groups.

This is a beauty pageant thing.

 

[pix13dust]

This is a beauty pageant thing.

Beauty pageant is at the swan, huge dance competition at the Dolphin

 

[SteveH]

Beauty Pageant, Dance Competition, next it will be Cheer leading, PopWarner Football and the bazillion Brazillions so much for the quiet S/D Defiantly time for Disney to open more of their resorts up.