The **New** Swan and Dolphin Resort thread ~ April 2012 ~ Please read post #1

[GreyStr0ke]

I just returned from a 2 night stay at the Dolphin. There were four of us in my party and we had a Family Room/Alcove Room booked. This was my second time staying at the Dolphin and I would definitely not hesitate to stay again and or recommend it. After having the larger room though I don't think I could go back to a standard room. It was nice having the sitting area as well as the wet bar. We were on the East side on the 8th floor with views of the Swan and Hollywood Studios.

We ate breakfast one morning at Fresh Mediterranean Cafe and the buffet was great but a little crowded. Love the antioxidant and the detox juice shots available.

We also laid out by the pool one morning before Epcot. The Cabana Bar makes some tasty and unique drinks. More specifically the Hula Mala and the White Tea Sangria were both extremely good and refreshing. However, the pools got quite busy and loud. Even the quiet lap pool.

My only complaint would be the buses. The day we arrived we wanted to go to Animal Kingdom. It took 30 minutes for an Animal Kingdom/Blizzard Beach to arrive after we had watched 2 Magic Kingdom and 2 DTD buses come through. When the Animal Kingdom bus did arrive there was another right behind it. When we left Animal Kingdom we took a taxi.

 

[michaelsr]

Woo hoo!!!! Thanks very much for posting this!!!

For anyone who hasn't seen this yet...
http://www.wdwmagic.com/other/mymagicplus/news/26mar2014-mymagic-fastpass-and-magicbands-to-be-available-to-offsite-day-guests-next-week.htm

and may I add...yay!

 

[vicb]

For anyone who hasn't seen this yet...
http://www.wdwmagic.com/other/mymagicplus/news/26mar2014-mymagic-fastpass-and-magicbands-to-be-available-to-offsite-day-guests-next-week.htm

and may I add...yay!

Someone on another thread shared this about an hour ago.... I am doing the happy dance 40 days out!

Thanks for passing this along to everyone here on this thread, such good news. I will gladly take my 30 days and use my RFID ticket!

 

[hsmamato2]

BEYOND excited..... just booked my 5 night stay with SPG points....SO excited!!!!!

 

[SA mom]

For anyone who hasn't seen this yet...
http://www.wdwmagic.com/other/mymagicplus/news/26mar2014-mymagic-fastpass-and-magicbands-to-be-available-to-offsite-day-guests-next-week.htm

and may I add...yay!

What great news! We go in July and one of my daughters really wants a magic band. I hope there will be a way to buy them ahead of arrival so that we can jazz up that band.

 

[lizabu]

I just returned from a 2 night stay at the Dolphin. There were four of us in my party and we had a Family Room/Alcove Room booked. This was my second time staying at the Dolphin and I would definitely not hesitate to stay again and or recommend it. After having the larger room though I don't think I could go back to a standard room. It was nice having the sitting area as well as the wet bar. We were on the East side on the 8th floor with views of the Swan and Hollywood Studios. We ate breakfast one morning at Fresh Mediterranean Cafe and the buffet was great but a little crowded. Love the antioxidant and the detox juice shots available. We also laid out by the pool one morning before Epcot. The Cabana Bar makes some tasty and unique drinks. More specifically the Hula Mala and the White Tea Sangria were both extremely good and refreshing. However, the pools got quite busy and loud. Even the quiet lap pool. My only complaint would be the buses. The day we arrived we wanted to go to Animal Kingdom. It took 30 minutes for an Animal Kingdom/Blizzard Beach to arrive after we had watched 2 Magic Kingdom and 2 DTD buses come through. When the Animal Kingdom bus did arrive there was another right behind it. When we left Animal Kingdom we took a taxi.

That was one weird thing I noticed. Busses come like this. Animal Kingdom, animal kingdom, downtown disney, magic kingdom, magic kingdom. Without fail whenever we were going to magic kingdom we would have just missed it and whenever we were going to animal kingdom I will have just missed that bus. Nothing worse than every bus except the one you want.

 

[ddesousa323]

Has anyone shipped things to the hotel in advance before? Debating ordering diapers and snacks from amazon and shipping.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Has anyone shipped things to the hotel in advance before? Debating ordering diapers and snacks from amazon and shipping.

I have a number of times. It used to be free but now they charge a fee. I forget what the amount was. Best to call so no surprises.

 

[patty57]

News is getting better and better...

http://www.wdwmagic.com/other/mymagicplus/news/28mar2014-walt-disney-world-swan-and-dolphin-resort-guests-to-be-able-to-make-advance-fastpass-reservations-from-next-week.htm

...with a tip of the cap to WEDWDW who always seems to see these thing first.

 

[michaelsr]

Great news. I wonder how MDE will know you are stating at the S&D? I have never been able to add my Dolphin reservation in MDE.

 

[patty57]

Great news. I wonder how MDE will know you are stating at the S&D? I have never been able to add my Dolphin reservation in MDE.

Hmmm...good question. I'm the farthest thing from an MDE expert. Maybe someone who is, will come along with an answer.

 

[wilma-bride]

Great news. I wonder how MDE will know you are stating at the S&D? I have never been able to add my Dolphin reservation in MDE.

Hmmm...good question. I'm the farthest thing from an MDE expert. Maybe someone who is, will come along with an answer.

My guess is that, since the ability exists, it will just be configured to allow you to enter your S&D reservation.

I have to laugh, though, because I had a conversation with a CM about making FP+ when staying at the S&D (one of those manning a S&D FP+ desk at Epcot) and asked whether, if I had an existing MagicBand (from a previous resort stay), I would be able to use that to enter the rides and use the FP+ made at the tables in the parks (since I assumed they would be linked to MDE) and was told categorically that guests at S&D would not be able to use MagicBands - ever! Guess he was wrong then

This was a different CM to the one who told all the guests waiting at IG to enter Epcot one morning that soon we would be able to make FP+ reservations up to one year in advance

 

[Dan Murphy]

FP+ is tied to your tickets, not your room. So I would say it would operate, at least to start with, like S/D is the same as offsite.

 

[patty57]

My guess is that, since the ability exists, it will just be configured to allow you to enter your S&D reservation.

I have to laugh, though, because I had a conversation with a CM about making FP+ when staying at the S&D (one of those manning a S&D FP+ desk at Epcot) and asked whether, if I had an existing MagicBand (from a previous resort stay), I would be able to use that to enter the rides and use the FP+ made at the tables in the parks (since I assumed they would be linked to MDE) and was told categorically that guests at S&D would not be able to use MagicBands - ever! Guess he was wrong then

This was a different CM to the one who told all the guests waiting at IG to enter Epcot one morning that soon we would be able to make FP+ reservations up to one year in advance

This, and all the other crazy, out-there info from CMs, makes me wonder. Does someone higher up actually tell them this stuff, or do they hear it as rumors? With all the secrecy surrounding the FP+ rollout, who knows how the CMs have gotten their info, and what the heck they have been told.

 

[wen8jr]

After reading this post, I went to MDE and was able to link my Starwood direct (points) reservation for the very first time! Before it would not work no matter what I done and the CM couldn't do it over the phone.

So, it looks like they have updated this capability.

We are excited!

 

[wilma-bride]

After reading this post, I went to MDE and was able to link my Starwood direct (points) reservation for the very first time! Before it would not work no matter what I done and the CM couldn't do it over the phone.

So, it looks like they have updated this capability.

We are excited!

Ooh, off to try that right now

 

[patty57]

FP+ is tied to your tickets, not your room. So I would say it would operate, at least to start with, like S/D is the same as offsite.

So how does that work, Dan? If you have a ticket linked, how does MDE know if you have a S/D reservation? How is the date that you can reserve triggered? Is it an ADR? I'm feeling very dense.

 

[wen8jr]

It all worked out great...it kept all of our FP+ choices after I cancelled my one night stay onsite...since we are already within the 60 day window.

I had originally booked this one night stay months ago when only onsite got FP+ and was waiting for the 30 day offsite rollout but now that we can book FP+ 60 days out I didn't really need the extra night at Key West and the hassle of changing resorts, so even better.

 

[sandycat]

This is my first post, I've lurking for awhile. I have reservations at the Dolphin for August because we got a great rate with the teacher discount. I was finally able to link the reservation to MDE today. I just tried it on whim and it worked. I had previously made ADRs and it's all there now.

 

[wen8jr]

So how does that work, Dan? If you have a ticket linked, how does MDE know if you have a S/D reservation? How is the date that you can reserve triggered? Is it an ADR? I'm feeling very dense.

If only linked to your ticket, you would be "offsite" and it would be the 30 day capability only - it would not know you are a S/D guest.

The MDE site is now letting you link your S/D reservation - put in your confirmation number for your reservation - and the timing of the FP+ window starts at 60 days, not 30. I just done this and it worked fine.