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

[Usty]

@Usty - I'm not surprised at all that SDR isn't included (thank you for confirming), and honestly it make sense. This is one of the perks that Disney implemented that makes sense for those paying Disney's exorbitant prices as it doesn't cost Disney a dime.. sort of throwing them a bone. I still don't fully understand how SDR got into the mix of Disney Deluxe Hotels for the Extended Evening Theme Park Hours benefit. Between that, the restraunt deal and the busing I can't figure out the relationship between Disney & SDR - can't tell if it's pure pay for benefits or if there is more or less now.

Oh I definitely agree it makes sense...the only reason I thought there was a chance was because of the perks you cited that are there.

 

[jlundeen]

I suppose the original agreement was put in place to treat Swan/Dolphin just like Disney owned properties because they were built right inside the Disney bubble, and not separated - that would have really been confusing for folks. Since S/D/R were priced so much less - but added in so many other fees but still a bargain - made a difference when the Disney resorts had more Disney theming - now many, especially the other Crescent Lake ones, look pretty much like any other chain high end resort, but with stratospheric prices... S/D/R are just starting to catch up.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Something I learned this morning, the Dolphin does not qualify for the additional reservations Disney is now holding back at certain restaurants for on-site guests.

What is this?

 

[SteveH]

@Dan Murphy Announced October 20th Disney Resort Guests to Have Access to Additional Dining Reservations

 

[Dan Murphy]

@Dan Murphy Announced October 20th Disney Resort Guests to Have Access to Additional Dining Reservations

Interesting. Thanks, Steve. As you said a few posts up, makes $ense for Disney. If the restaurants are currently full, makes sense for them to drive business to their resorts in order to get special dining treatment, and it costs them $0.

 

[CeeCee101]

Just FYI, like others did online Marriott checkin today and it did drop my reservation off MDE, had to go re-add it

 

[mwmom]

Just FYI, like others did online Marriott checkin today and it did drop my reservation off MDE, had to go re-add it

Did you just use your confirmation number from the email, or did you have to talk to someone to get it done?

 

[SteveH]

@CeeCee101 do you think there is any correlation between online check in and being dropped or just coincidence?

 

[CeeCee101]

I think there is a connection because it has happened to others on this board. It dropped off my whole Swan reservation and I know others on this board have had the same thing happen. Just add the reservation back in online. Weird thing though is we were originally 5 nights at Swan and 2 at Contemporary. I changed it a couple months ago to 4 at Swan and 3 at CR and Marriott did not change the reservation number and when I added it back today it added back the original dates. Not sure if that will create issues, but will find out tomorrow when we physically check into Swan. Can’t believe it’s actually here, we started planning this 6+ months ago. Haven’t been back in 13 years. Fly out early a.m. tomorrow.

 

[CeeCee101]

Just go to the Disney.go or whatever it is and add it back in there.

 

[SteveH]

@CeeCee101 thanks for sharing, and hope you have a great trip!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Just FYI, like others did online Marriott checkin today and it did drop my reservation off MDE, had to go re-add it

Checked in with them in person for a two room res at SR and one of the reservations dropped off Secured Guardians earlier in the morning prior to check in just to make sure I didn’t end up with issues as GOTG was a priority.

 

[Dan Murphy]

More ticket price increases

https://www.wdwmagic.com/other/tick...d-annual-passes-while-sales-remain-paused.htm

Date based tickets for some time. Now park based also.

https://www.wdwmagic.com/other/magi...-for-single-day-disney-world-park-tickets.htm

 

[Bozni]

I'm titanium and I agree - very hard to get decent upgrades and even harder to get "suite nights" lately. I often get upgraded but at most it's to a limited resort view and never with a balcony. I was Platinum last year and had more luck at Dolphin but that has to do with crowd levels. Now that they are harder to book in general the upgrades are smaller and more rare as well. I also rarely get the late check-out. They say "noon" and only once did I get until 2pm. Everywhere else I stay with them I can get 4pm. And yes, I had the same issue with the breakfast vouchers not being honored at SR - and I've never been given the option at SR of redeeming them for room service either. So things seem to be changing for the "worse" as far as Bonvoy perks - I'm still grateful to be able to stay there on points though compared to what I'd pay at the other Epcot deluxe resorts!

Can you provide some detail on exactly how the breakfast vouchers work for Platinum/Titanium? Thanks!

• Are they physical vouchers issued at check-in?
• Do they have a dollar value, or are they good for 1 "meal"?
• Can they be used for room service?

 

[jmw1975]

Random question... I have a reservation at the Dolphin for April break 2023. I booked a standard, no view, no balcony room. My 8-year-old son is obsessed with numbers and whenever we stay at a hotel, he wants to be on as high a floor as possible. When I told him the Dolphin has 27 stories his head nearly exploded. He will be celebrating his 9th birthday during the trip and I'd love to make his birthday by requesting as high a floor as possible. With a standard, no view reservation, are there any rooms on upper floors within the triangle? Or are all the no-view rooms on lower floors? We honestly don't care about view - parking lots and rooftops are fine since we don't spend much time looking out the window. I did request "high floor" when I booked. Is there other language I could use when making a request to try to get a high floor?

 

[Scalemaster34]

No

Random question... I have a reservation at the Dolphin for April break 2023. I booked a standard, no view, no balcony room. My 8-year-old son is obsessed with numbers and whenever we stay at a hotel, he wants to be on as high a floor as possible. When I told him the Dolphin has 27 stories his head nearly exploded. He will be celebrating his 9th birthday during the trip and I'd love to make his birthday by requesting as high a floor as possible. With a standard, no view reservation, are there any rooms on upper floors within the triangle? Or are all the no-view rooms on lower floors? We honestly don't care about view - parking lots and rooftops are fine since we don't spend much time looking out the window. I did request "high floor" when I booked. Is there other language I could use when making a request to try to get a high floor?

I know it's 27 stories high... but the top 8 or 9 windows in the triangular peak, are not guest room floors. And I think many of the suites occupy the upper floors. In fact, I think there are only twelve guest room floors.

Generally I get a notification about my upcoming stay, a few days before arrival. At that point I use the app to chat with the front desk about any request.

 

[stinkpickle]

Random question... I have a reservation at the Dolphin for April break 2023. I booked a standard, no view, no balcony room. My 8-year-old son is obsessed with numbers and whenever we stay at a hotel, he wants to be on as high a floor as possible. When I told him the Dolphin has 27 stories his head nearly exploded. He will be celebrating his 9th birthday during the trip and I'd love to make his birthday by requesting as high a floor as possible. With a standard, no view reservation, are there any rooms on upper floors within the triangle? Or are all the no-view rooms on lower floors? We honestly don't care about view - parking lots and rooftops are fine since we don't spend much time looking out the window. I did request "high floor" when I booked. Is there other language I could use when making a request to try to get a high floor?

Two weeks ago, we were at the end of the hallway (8th floor, which I believe was the top floor on the wings), and I booked a "no view" room, but we had great views of the pools, Swan Reserve, ToT, etc. I don't know if we got upgraded, or not, but if that was actually a "no view" room, I'll take that any day.

 

[Scalemaster34]

Two weeks ago, we were at the end of the hallway (8th floor, which I believe was the top floor on the wings), and I booked a "no view" room, but we had great views of the pools, Swan Reserve, ToT, etc. I don't know if we got upgraded, or not, but if that was actually a "no view" room, I'll take that any day.

Yeah it's hard to call any room a no view....

At either resort, a parking lot view, is also a Theme Park view - Swan it's DHS at Dolphin it's MK. But a lower room would limit these, which is why I too request a "high floor". Sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn't. In Sept we got a room on the 3rd floor that was right at tree canopy level. In Oct we got room 1238 at Swan and it had a great view of the Dolphin with MK Fireworks behind it (long way away, but still impressive). We were at the end of the hall... of course only two rooms away from the elevator as there aren't many rooms on the 12th floor.

 

[mickey916]

We requested "high floor" at the Swan and got third floor in May...not really what I'd call "high". I asked at the desk if our room was on a high floor as she was processing our keys and she said "yes"...hmmmm I guess anything above ground level is considered high. It was fine however as we spent very little time in the room and we didn't hear anyone above us.

 

[jlundeen]

I'm requesting high floor because I use a scooter, and it's murder trying to get on an elevator that has already stopped and picked up people of several higher floors....