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

[ww52]

Our room looked a lot like the one in the 360 link, here's a screen grab:

Interesting - we expected to get what you are describing - in fact, when we got there the first thing I noticed was that there was no door to another room. At first I was disappointed until I realized what we had was even better (for us at least).

Was this at the very end of the hallway? Was in in the "Triangle" part of the Dolphin or in one of the wings? Looks like one of the wings from what I can gather. We were in the triangle - looking down we could see the "bowl" (and WOW - is there ever a lot of slime/gunk in them!)

So my theory is an alcove set up in the triangle (at the ends of the hallways) is what I described; that in the "wings" of the hotel is the traditional connecting room.

As I said - what we had is nowhere to be found on the website diagrams or pictures or 360s. If we ever went back with such a large group again, we said we want the exact same set up.

 

[jmly00]

Hi mrsdaly, would you mind the 10-passenger van information? Our party of 5 includes a 4 years old and a 2 years old will fly to MCO and I prefer not to bring my own carseats. It will be great that if that 10-passenger van could provide carseats. Thanks in advance.

Thanks for the review. Just curious... .. did you find the price to rent the car to be worth the hassle of renting? We usually can get a 10-passenger van roundtrip for around $110. (plus tip).

.

 

[pepperandchips]

Interesting - we expected to get what you are describing - in fact, when we got there the first thing I noticed was that there was no door to another room. At first I was disappointed until I realized what we had was even better (for us at least).

Was this at the very end of the hallway? Was in in the "Triangle" part of the Dolphin or in one of the wings? Looks like one of the wings from what I can gather. We were in the triangle - looking down we could see the "bowl" (and WOW - is there ever a lot of slime/gunk in them!)

So my theory is an alcove set up in the triangle (at the ends of the hallways) is what I described; that in the "wings" of the hotel is the traditional connecting room.

As I said - what we had is nowhere to be found on the website diagrams or pictures or 360s. If we ever went back with such a large group again, we said we want the exact same set up.

It's hard to explain where we were "the armpit of where a wing joins the triangle" is the best I could do and I am not sure how informative that is, so I put a red circle on this photo to show where our rooms were:



The Deluxe Alcove room was on the wall that's painted teal and the connecting double regular room was on the orange wing that is perpendicular to it.

From what you wrote, if one of the rooms was like a suite I wonder if you got a free upgrade to a different kind of family room - maybe the premium studio? Nevertheless what you had sounds amazing. Wish we'd gotten that kind of pixie dust!!!

 

[happymommy]

Depending on the rate you are eligible for, a one way Alamo or National rental from/to MCO to/from the Dolphin Alamo/National location can make sense.

I just checked out of curiosity, and for our dates next month, I could get a car (using Costco) for $41 one way from MCO to the Dolphin for one day. I'm tempted, but our stay is only 5 nights, and only me and DH, so we don't need lots of drinks or snacks, plus we get in in the afternoon, so we may or may not have a drink on the plane. And taking time to get the car and return it is just not going to happen, so we'll do Uber or Lyft instead.

 

[mikegood2]

It's hard to explain where we were "the armpit of where a wing joins the triangle" is the best I could do and I am not sure how informative that is, so I put a red circle on this photo to show where our rooms were:

View attachment 343769

The Deluxe Alcove room was on the wall that's painted teal and the connecting double regular room was on the orange wing that is perpendicular to it.

From what you wrote, if one of the rooms was like a suite I wonder if you got a free upgrade to a different kind of family room - maybe the premium studio? Nevertheless what you had sounds amazing. Wish we'd gotten that kind of pixie dust!!!

Interesting, I wonder it they've changes some of the names for the rooms or if different floors had different rooms types? On our first trip in 2011, we stayed in an Executive Suite, which was located at on the bottom floor at the end of the hall on the "the armpit of where a wing joins the triangle" . If you look at the 3 oval windows on the ground level our 'standard room" was located on the 3rd oval window that only partial shows in the photo. I stayed in the suite, which had a king sized bed and my brothers family stayed in the attacked/connecting "standard room". I put "standard room" in quotes, because it was anything but a standard room. It was a handicap accessible double bed room, had a kitchenette which is where we put my nieces crib, a walk in closet and had 2 or 3 mini fridges in it.

If know they have since been redone, but if anyone is interested, Here's a link showing the room from our trip in 2011. (had 3 post with photos on that page)
View from our room

 

[ww52]

Nevertheless what you had sounds amazing. Wish we'd gotten that kind of pixie dust!!!

I think we would have been very happy with what you had as well! (armpit and all!)

 

[GusGus16]

Last week I booked a "junior suite" with attached connecting room, which was described like the room ww52 stayed in. It should have a 1 king, 2 pullouts and 2 double beds. Hoping that is what we get!

 

[ww52]

Last week I booked a "junior suite" with attached connecting room, which was described like the room ww52 stayed in. It should have a 1 king, 2 pullouts and 2 double beds. Hoping that is what we get!

Understand though that our rooms were not connecting. They were across the hall from each other - with a third door that shut us off from the hallway (and created a private area.) Our room keys opened all three doors. As I said - the only (minor) inconvenience is we had to prop open the doors if we wanted to freely go from one room to the one across from it.

I think we've determined that the rooms in the triangle are like that.

 

[ww52]

Interesting, I wonder it they've changes some of the names for the rooms or if different floors had different rooms types?

I vote that one described by pepperandchips be known as the "Executive Armpit Suite".

 

[pepperandchips]

I vote that one described by pepperandchips be known as the "Executive Armpit Suite".

Oh gosh, this is why I can't have nice things!!!

It was a very clean and nice armpit though!

 

[mrsdaly]

Hi mrsdaly, would you mind the 10-passenger van information? Our party of 5 includes a 4 years old and a 2 years old will fly to MCO and I prefer not to bring my own carseats. It will be great that if that 10-passenger van could provide carseats. Thanks in advance.

tony Hinds, he definitely had at least 1 booster and 1 car seat. He also does a grocery stop if requested. aobh607@gmail.com

 

[ClapYourHands]

I think it will be 500 Marriott, but I'll be checking in in a couple weeks so I guess we will find out.

I’m at a non-swolphin Sheraton right now, and the offer on the card in the room says 500 SPG. Not sure if it’s just an old card or the change will happen after the website is linked or what. But thought I’d pass along.

 

[Tess]

I’m at a non-swolphin Sheraton right now, and the offer on the card in the room says 500 SPG. Not sure if it’s just an old card or the change will happen after the website is linked or what. But thought I’d pass along.

My husband is currently at a Marriott for a seminar--Detroit, not Orlando, and he was offered 500 points to go green. We are both Marriott and SPG (prior to conversion).

 

[happymommy]

I thought I had asked this, but I guess I neglected to do so.

We're staying at the Dolphin next month, first time I've ever booked it through Hotwire (got it for $79/night plus fees and tax, so under $500 for 5 nights, score).

DH is SPG Platinum, but since I booked through a 3rd party, SPG can't link his account to the stay. They said it's up to the hotel if they will honor any platinum status like room or suite upgrades, free continental breakfast, late checkout, that would apply if we booked direct (officially, we're not entitled to any, and I don't really expect any).

Has anyone booked through a 3rd party as platinum, and gotten any upgrades or breakfast (which honestly I doubt we'd use but maybe once or twice). We've gotten breakfast in the past I think, but it's been a while since staying here.

TIA

 

[1GoldenSun]

Also curious if you got any kind of room upgrades as a lifetime plat. I'm wondering if asking for a balcony upgrade on an upcoming 6 night trip will be successful. I'm not expecting a suite or anything (one can dream)

My husband is lifetime platinum and we've always gotten upgraded at least to a balcony and often with a nicer view than what we booked (we always book the most basic room/view). A couple times we were given a family suite, and for our last stay we were upgraded to what was referred to as a vice-presidential suite. That was fun!

However, I can't for the life of me figure out what this category of room was. I can't find anything actually called a "vice-presidential suite." At check-in we were told at first that we were being upgraded to a presidential suite, then he corrected himself and said that actually it was a "vice" presidential suite because it wouldn't have the extra bedroom.

It was in the triangle, at the end of a hallway. I don't remember what floor but I think it was close to the top. It was like @ww52 described, except we didn't have access to the other room across the hall from us in the "alcove." There was a bedroom with two full beds and a bath, with its own door to the hall. Then there was a very large living/dining room. At one end of this room was a sitting area with a couch and a couple chairs, and also at this end was a foyer with double doors leading to the hallway. In the middle of the room was a large rectangular dining table, and across from this was a butler's pantry/kitchen with a breakfast bar, open to the main room but which could be closed off with shutters. This kitchen was good-sized and had a full-sized fridge, stove, etc, but contained no dishes or cooking gear, so I assume it's more for catering. There was another door to the hallway from the kitchen. At the far end of the large room was a second seating area with a big L-shaped couch and big square ottoman. There was a large tv mounted on the wall at this end. A second bath was across from it. Also at this end was another door--the fourth entry/exit to the suite--that opened into the alcove. So if you went out this door, you did not exit into the main hallway, but into a little room from which you had to open another door to exit to the main hallway. There was another door in the alcove across from ours that we did not have entry to. We assumed that this might be the second bedroom referred to at check-in, and that if we had access to this room that would have made it the presidential suite, rather than "vice." However, I could have been wrong about that. It may be that the presidential suite is in a different location altogether rather than being the vice-presidential suite with an extra bedroom tacked on, and that across the hall was a mirror image of our suite.

We enjoyed our stay and it shouldn't matter what this category of room is generally called, but it's been driving me just a little bit crazy not knowing! There seems to be nothing like it in any of the room descriptions. Does anyone know what this room/suite is?

 

[1GoldenSun]

Actually I just found it. It is the presidential suite without the second bedroom, which is across the alcove. Funny, I couldn't find this before. I can't find any actual photographs--just a floor plan diagram--and there are some minor differences between this and where we actually stayed, but this is definitely it.

Anyway, sometimes the upgrades can be really awesome!

 

[amalone1013]

Has anyone booked through a 3rd party as platinum, and gotten any upgrades or breakfast (which honestly I doubt we'd use but maybe once or twice). We've gotten breakfast in the past I think, but it's been a while since staying here.

I've never been Platinum, just Preferred Guest... but once I booked with Chase UR points, which is usually seen as Expedia I think, for a one night stay, and we got upgraded as my status was noticed at check in. I can't remember if she saw it on the computer when putting my name in? Or because I have a SPG card. We got a resort view up in the triangle looking across at the Swan.

 

[CJK]

Looking forward to our first stay at the Dolphin, booked through Hotwire. I assume this means that we'll get the cheapest level of room. I am a SPG member, but the bottom level (have never redeemed). What are the chances of getting a room with balcony? Happy to pay upgrade at check-in. I'm afraid to get my hopes up!!

 

[SteveH]

I'm afraid to get my hopes up!!

First thing I'll says is don't get your hopes up for a free upgrade, I think that has ruined things for many that build up expectations. When you check in it doesn't hurt to ask if there are any room upgrades available, you're not likely to get a free upgrade but they may offer you a decent price and you can decide if it's worth it.

To me it's going to be interesting to see how much Marriott changes things at S/D. I am hopeful that we don't see a gradual change for the worse.

 

[CJK]

Thanks! I'm willing to pay for an upgrade, and just wondered if it's common for something to be available at a fairly reasonable price. I know 'reasonable' is subjective, but I wondered what other people's experiences have been in this regard.