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Cindyrella
LIF Toddler
Member since 8/08 403 total posts
Name:
Cindy
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Questions about Disney Swan & Dolphin
I know they are disney affiliated but they arent 100% disney hotels....so what dont they offer that staying at the other resorts do??
Do they offer airport transportation?
Do you use the same disney transportation to the parks? (buses/monorails etc)
Anything else we would "miss out" on if staying there instead of a disney resort?
Anyone stay at either swan or dolphin I would love to hear your review and if one is better than the other. Also we have a toddler so any tips in regards to that would be great too. (being kid friendly, strollers and kid cargo etc)
thanks so much
Message edited 4/28/2013 3:42:10 PM.
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Posted 4/28/13 3:38 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: Questions about Disney Swan & Dolphin
I could be wrong but...
You don't get ME.
You do get bus service.
You don't get charging priviledges so you can't do the dining plain.
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| Posted 4/28/13 4:39 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Questions about Disney Swan & Dolphin
They share buses with the Yacht and Beach Club as well as the Boardwalk. Not sure about anything else. But I hear it's very nice, and the location can't be beat. They offer teacher discounts also if you are one.
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| Posted 4/28/13 4:45 PM |
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JennP
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 3986 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: Questions about Disney Swan & Dolphin
The PP are correct.
We were considering them but couldn't justify the extra cost of having to pay for airport transportation.
If we ever decided to rent a car I would definitely consider them again. Their locations are fantastic.
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| Posted 4/28/13 8:33 PM |
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Merf99
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 3380 total posts
Name:
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Re: Questions about Disney Swan & Dolphin
Just stayed there in feb. We loved it because of the location. Buses were fine. And we took the boat to hw studios and walked to epcot.
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| Posted 4/28/13 10:37 PM |
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my3bugs
Mom of 2 Boys
Member since 5/05 4381 total posts
Name:
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Re: Questions about Disney Swan & Dolphin
I stayed there over the summer. We definitely plan to stay there again. We go to disney quite often and had always stay on property before that trip. When we back a family of 5, our disney on property options became limited so we discovered these hotels. We opened up a Starwood Resorts Amex and had a free 7 day stay there last summer.
I would recommend the hotel. Not having the magical express option was fine. I thought it would stink but it was easy and I felt quicker! I hate when we get to disney and don't have our luggage and they take soooo long to get it to you. I like to unpack and start my trip right away. We had a car service pick us and up and bring us to and from the hotel. It was nice because we even stopped at a supermarket to pick up snacks and drinks for the week (also breakfast since we wanted to have early starts on our day we wanted to eat quickly in our room some days). We had all the options of the disney on property transportation and it worked out fine. We could walk on the Boardwalk at night. We used the buses, ferry and even walked home from Epcot. It was a perfect location and very nice hotel. My kids loved it and keep asking to go back to only that hotel when we go back to Disney (as a frame of reference we also have stayed in the Caribean Beach Hotel, Animal Kingdom and Wilderness Lodge)!!!
My boys took a bunch of pictures of the resort before we left so if you'd like to see pictures - FM me your email address and I can send you some.
Message edited 4/29/2013 8:17:00 AM.
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| Posted 4/29/13 8:11 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Questions about Disney Swan & Dolphin
I have to agree about the Magical Express. It seems to take forever. You board the bus, then wait for it to fill up. Then stop at other resorts to drop off people before you get to yours. It's nice to not have to drive, but renting a car is SO much quicker. Walk to the rental kiosk (I never use the counter) hop over to the garage, pick out a car, check out and go! Easy peasy!
P.S. you don't *have* to use Disney's luggage service IF you take the ME bus. I did that once, and never again. Didn't get our luggage until after midnight. You just collect it and bring it to the bus with you if you want. Just don't put the yellow tags on your luggage.
Message edited 4/29/2013 10:05:08 AM.
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| Posted 4/29/13 10:04 AM |
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Cindyrella
LIF Toddler
Member since 8/08 403 total posts
Name:
Cindy
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Re: Questions about Disney Swan & Dolphin
Posted by my3bugs
I stayed there over the summer. We definitely plan to stay there again. We go to disney quite often and had always stay on property before that trip. When we back a family of 5, our disney on property options became limited so we discovered these hotels. We opened up a Starwood Resorts Amex and had a free 7 day stay there last summer.
I would recommend the hotel. Not having the magical express option was fine. I thought it would stink but it was easy and I felt quicker! I hate when we get to disney and don't have our luggage and they take soooo long to get it to you. I like to unpack and start my trip right away. We had a car service pick us and up and bring us to and from the hotel. It was nice because we even stopped at a supermarket to pick up snacks and drinks for the week (also breakfast since we wanted to have early starts on our day we wanted to eat quickly in our room some days). We had all the options of the disney on property transportation and it worked out fine. We could walk on the Boardwalk at night. We used the buses, ferry and even walked home from Epcot. It was a perfect location and very nice hotel. My kids loved it and keep asking to go back to only that hotel when we go back to Disney (as a frame of reference we also have stayed in the Caribean Beach Hotel, Animal Kingdom and Wilderness Lodge)!!!
My boys took a bunch of pictures of the resort before we left so if you'd like to see pictures - FM me your email address and I can send you some.
Thanks so much for the info. Did you stay at the Swan or Dolphin? Is there any big difference between them?
I will fm my email - would love to see the pics - thanks!
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| Posted 4/30/13 12:27 PM |
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Cindyrella
LIF Toddler
Member since 8/08 403 total posts
Name:
Cindy
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Re: Questions about Disney Swan & Dolphin
Is not getting charging privileges really important (besides dining plan)? Its just a matter of having to pay for everything as we go but giving a credit card instead of my room key right?
Does the dining plan save you a lot of money or is it just for convenience? Is there even a way to calculate it - are the food prices posted anywhere for the restaurants?
thanks for all the replies
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| Posted 4/30/13 12:32 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Re: Questions about Disney Swan & Dolphin
Posted by Cindyrella
Is not getting charging privileges really important (besides dining plan)? Its just a matter of having to pay for everything as we go but giving a credit card instead of my room key right?
Does the dining plan save you a lot of money or is it just for convenience? Is there even a way to calculate it - are the food prices posted anywhere for the restaurants?
thanks for all the replies
All of the menus are posted on allearsnet.com. We have only done the dining plan once, when it was offered free. It doesn't make sense for us otherwise, as we don't routinely eat dessert, and don't do very many sit down character type meals.
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| Posted 4/30/13 1:01 PM |
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Hopsker
LIF Zygote
Member since 5/13 1 total post
Name:
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Re: Questions about Disney Swan & Dolphin
Posted by Cindyrella
I know they are disney affiliated but they arent 100% disney hotels....so what dont they offer that staying at the other resorts do??
Do they offer airport transportation?
Do you use the same disney transportation to the parks? (buses/monorails etc)
Anything else we would "miss out" on if staying there instead of a disney resort?
Anyone stay at either swan or dolphin I would love to hear your review and if one is better than the other. Also we have a toddler so any tips in regards to that would be great too. (being kid friendly, strollers and kid cargo etc)
thanks so much
I stayed at the Dolphin there this past March with my 3.5 year old DD. It was our first trip to Disney and our first vacation together (I am a single mother by choice). We stayed for 7 days/6 nites. It was great!! Not having stayed in Disney before, I can't compare it to other "Disney Properties", but I never felt that I was missing out on any Disney amenities. In fact, I really felt as if I was getting something more. It was nice to be able to escape "Disney" and relax in a "regular hotel" without the themes. Two items that I didn't bring that I wish I would have based on the age of my DD: a folding step stool so she could reach the sink (they do not have them, and would not provide for obvious liability reasons -- we used the trash can turned upside down to reach teh sink, and the bolster pillow to climb onto the rather high bed -- the beds were heavenly, BTW); we also needed a TV cable for the portable DVD player I brought so we could watch our DVDs that I was happy to have since there was no Disney Jr. in their Channel line-up. Otherwise, the room was clean, and nice, and as a Starwood member, you are entitled to some perks. The two hotels are connected by a pretty lighted (and sheltered) path. If using the Disney busses, you can get off at either stop as it was sometimes quicker to get off at the Swan and walk thru to the Dolphin. There were also PLENTY of restaurant choices -- casual and better. Poolside dining was also an option -- the pool was great -- it is shared by both Swan/Dolphin!! Access to Boardwalk was nice, and access to Epcot was in walking distance too. If you are bringing a stroller, be mindful that the busses require you to fold it up completely before boarding, and at nite time it gets pretty crowded. That was my only challenge. It is NOT a stop on the Monorail, but if you get a park-hopper pass for the parks, then you COULD wheel your stroller onto the Friendship ferry to Epcot, then walk around to the front of Epcot and hop on the Monorail to the parks. It sounds cumbersome, but it's an option, and at nite time, the busses took quite a while to get back to the hotel.
There was no "airport transportation" to/from the Dolphin/Swan, but we booked a Mears shuttle, which was FINE -- it cost about $35 bucks R/T for one adult. There is also a Mears shuttle desk at the hotel.
BTW -- we flew from MacArthur on SoutWest (and used a $100 coupon from the Entertainment book!). Flying in/out of MacArthur was so uncomplicated. :)
Bottom line, I would stay there again on my next visit -- can't wait!!
I am new to this board, but if you want more details, I'm happy to share -- photos, etc., and some tips on Disney Park tix. I guess you can FM? me, and it will show up in my e-mail box.
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| Posted 5/3/13 12:32 PM |
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JennP
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 3986 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: Questions about Disney Swan & Dolphin
Posted by Hopsker
Posted by Cindyrella
I know they are disney affiliated but they arent 100% disney hotels....so what dont they offer that staying at the other resorts do??
Do they offer airport transportation?
Do you use the same disney transportation to the parks? (buses/monorails etc)
Anything else we would "miss out" on if staying there instead of a disney resort?
Anyone stay at either swan or dolphin I would love to hear your review and if one is better than the other. Also we have a toddler so any tips in regards to that would be great too. (being kid friendly, strollers and kid cargo etc)
thanks so much
I stayed at the Dolphin there this past March with my 3.5 year old DD. It was our first trip to Disney and our first vacation together (I am a single mother by choice). We stayed for 7 days/6 nites. It was great!! Not having stayed in Disney before, I can't compare it to other "Disney Properties", but I never felt that I was missing out on any Disney amenities. In fact, I really felt as if I was getting something more. It was nice to be able to escape "Disney" and relax in a "regular hotel" without the themes. Two items that I didn't bring that I wish I would have based on the age of my DD: a folding step stool so she could reach the sink (they do not have them, and would not provide for obvious liability reasons -- we used the trash can turned upside down to reach teh sink, and the bolster pillow to climb onto the rather high bed -- the beds were heavenly, BTW); we also needed a TV cable for the portable DVD player I brought so we could watch our DVDs that I was happy to have since there was no Disney Jr. in their Channel line-up. Otherwise, the room was clean, and nice, and as a Starwood member, you are entitled to some perks. The two hotels are connected by a pretty lighted (and sheltered) path. If using the Disney busses, you can get off at either stop as it was sometimes quicker to get off at the Swan and walk thru to the Dolphin. There were also PLENTY of restaurant choices -- casual and better. Poolside dining was also an option -- the pool was great -- it is shared by both Swan/Dolphin!! Access to Boardwalk was nice, and access to Epcot was in walking distance too. If you are bringing a stroller, be mindful that the busses require you to fold it up completely before boarding, and at nite time it gets pretty crowded. That was my only challenge. It is NOT a stop on the Monorail, but if you get a park-hopper pass for the parks, then you COULD wheel your stroller onto the Friendship ferry to Epcot, then walk around to the front of Epcot and hop on the Monorail to the parks. It sounds cumbersome, but it's an option, and at nite time, the busses took quite a while to get back to the hotel.
There was no "airport transportation" to/from the Dolphin/Swan, but we booked a Mears shuttle, which was FINE -- it cost about $35 bucks R/T for one adult. There is also a Mears shuttle desk at the hotel.
BTW -- we flew from MacArthur on SoutWest (and used a $100 coupon from the Entertainment book!). Flying in/out of MacArthur was so uncomplicated. :)
Bottom line, I would stay there again on my next visit -- can't wait!!
I am new to this board, but if you want more details, I'm happy to share -- photos, etc., and some tips on Disney Park tix. I guess you can FM? me, and it will show up in my e-mail box.
Welcome to the boards and thank you so much for the detailed review!
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| Posted 5/6/13 5:55 PM |
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TheWhiteRabbit
Thru the rabbit hole!
Member since 7/06 4412 total posts
Name:
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Re: Questions about Disney Swan & Dolphin
We went and stayed at the Dolphin last month. We were able to walk to Epcot, but they also have a ferry if you don't want to walk. The bus service to all the other parks was quick & I have zero complaints about it. The restaurants in the hotel were pretty good. Overall, it seemed to need a little refreshing. It reminded me of an 90's holiday inn. I don't have anything to compare it to as far as staying in Disney and we planned nothing, we just went & 'winged it' and we had a great time. The hotel arranged for us to do a princess breakfast & we got our park hopper passes in the lobby. I read many people with all the planning & thought and reservations they put into the trip before, and that's awesome but we just didn't have the time.
Message edited 5/9/2013 9:45:39 AM.
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| Posted 5/9/13 8:41 AM |
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