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

[mrsdaly]

For those staying on points, the new SPG/Marriot reward categories have been released. It looks like the Swan & Dolphin will be category 6 after Aug 1.

The points difference is huge. I'm pretty devastated. I really thought they were going to try to keep consistencies, especially since the Dolphin already went up one category this year and Swan last year. Cash prices will probably be cheaper than using points.

 

[luvallprincesses]

The points difference is huge. I'm pretty devastated. I really thought they were going to try to keep consistencies, especially since the Dolphin already went up one category this year and Swan last year. Cash prices will probably be cheaper than using points.

This may be the end of me using the SPG AmEx. Swan/Dolphin was my main purpose/use and they just got major devaluation.

 

[MarBee]

This may be the end of me using the SPG AmEx. Swan/Dolphin was my main purpose/use and they just got major devaluation.

Agreed.
I’m also wondering what the “go green” initiative will consist of. If it’s a measly 500 Marriott points now a night for foregoing housekeeping, that will get me nowhere.

 

[e mcduck]

This may be the end of me using the SPG AmEx. Swan/Dolphin was my main purpose/use and they just got major devaluation.

i previously had both spg and a marriott card, but i just went ahead and got rid of spg right before my anniversary came up this year. kind of a bummer.

 

[Aussie RJ]

I have a 13 night stay at the dolphin booked over the Christmas and New Year period, I wanted to report to fellow first timers that I was able to book 180+10 ADR’s. Some mentioned previously that this was not an available perk for this resort..

 

[amalone1013]

I have a 13 night stay at the dolphin booked over the Christmas and New Year period, I wanted to report to fellow first timers that I was able to book 180+10 ADR’s. Some mentioned previously that this was not an available perk for this resort..

Glad it worked! It seems hit or miss... last September we did not get the +10... it was our honeymoon, so I booked a room at Pop for the same dates, within 10 minutes it had opened up all my ADR dates... then at the 180th day before the day after our trip would end, I cancelled Pop. If it hadn't been our honeymoon and we were splurging for some harder to get ADRs, I would have just booked day by day

 

[ckelly14]

SPG cardholders are really taking a hit. With the new valuation starting in August, points are worth about 0.5 cents at the S&D. Regular SPG card getting 2 points/dollar not a good return on spending.

I am still keeping my SPG business cards for now, which will get us the equivalent of 2 cents per dollar on gas/wireless/etc, but even then I think I can do better with other programs.

Kinda depressing...

 

[ww52]

Today is the latest estimate of the full service for the boats. Does anyone know if they are aperating to HS today?

 

[RachelTori]

I just read this email I received yesterday. 2019 will see "Off-Peak" and "Peak" added to the mix so our Category 6 Swan & Dolphin could be as low as 40,000 points/night (how often do you think dates will be classified "Off-Peak"? ) and as high as 60,000 points/night during "Peak".

"SEE OUR NEW FREE NIGHT AWARD CHART.
Our Free Night Award Chart takes effect starting in August—and it has something for everyone. Your next vacation might be closer than you think.

Best of all, there will be no blackout dates across all 6,500 participating hotels."

About the only part of this whole program that's acceptable to me is the "no blackout dates"!!!

 

[Dan Murphy]

how often do you think dates will be classified "Off-Peak"?

 

[RachelTori]

Oh, Dan!!!! You’re probably right (unfortunately).

 

[e mcduck]

60,000!!

 

[Aussie RJ]

Glad it worked! It seems hit or miss... last September we did not get the +10... it was our honeymoon, so I booked a room at Pop for the same dates, within 10 minutes it had opened up all my ADR dates... then at the 180th day before the day after our trip would end, I cancelled Pop. If it hadn't been our honeymoon and we were splurging for some harder to get ADRs, I would have just booked day by day

It would be good to work out what logic triggers this. It’s only software behind the scenes, it must be some combination of events which enable a true / false in the app or website.

 

[BlueFairy]

For those staying on points, the new SPG/Marriot reward categories have been released. It looks like the Swan & Dolphin will be category 6 after Aug 1.

I’m really glad I made all my 2018 Dolphin point reservations (October and December) before the point conversion info was released!

Y'all this is really disconcerting. Can someone help me understand -
We were ready to book for spring break 2019 and needed 48,000 SPG. But we were traveling and not successful getting it done online. So can I book between now and August and still be at 48,000 but after August it goes to 240,000 points (80,000 starpoints)? Or would I already be at 240,000 points because I'm booking 2019 dates?
And we were using the standard 5th night free promo. Is that going away?

I'm so aggravated because we've been going back and forth on this for months.
Thanks.

UPDATE - I was able to call and book at the current rate (48000 starpoints) and keep the free night. 4 or 5 nights with resort view/balcony would have been 54000. I would highly recommend getting reservations booked before Aug. for anyone still on the fence about 2019.

 

[RachelTori]

BlueFairy: I’m glad you were able to book now! Swolphin has always been good at Grandfathering (including the ever-increasing resort fee) so I always advise people to BOOK NOW!! You can always make changes later!

We have one month left before these changes are in effect so to anyone thinking they might stay at Swan or Dolphin later this year or in 2019 on points: BOOK NOW!! I’d even recommend that for a cash reservation. You can always cancel later!

 

[happ]

Y'all this is really disconcerting. Can someone help me understand -
We were ready to book for spring break 2019 and needed 48,000 SPG. But we were traveling and not successful getting it done online. So can I book between now and August and still be at 48,000 but after August it goes to 240,000 points (80,000 starpoints)? Or would I already be at 240,000 points because I'm booking 2019 dates?
And we were using the standard 5th night free promo. Is that going away?

I'm so aggravated because we've been going back and forth on this for months.
Thanks.

UPDATE - I was able to call and book at the current rate (48000 starpoints) and keep the free night. 4 or 5 nights with resort view/balcony would have been 54000. I would highly recommend getting reservations booked before Aug. for anyone still on the fence about 2019.

I just booked for 2019, too. Does it really take 24 hours to link the reservation to MDE?

 

[Dave006]

It really depends on the time of day when you make your reservation. If you complete the reservation before 9 AM, then most days it should be linked in the Disney system by 9 PM.

Note: it is up to 24 hours but really just overnight in almost all cases assuming the bac-kend systems are running correctly.

Dave

 

[happ]

It really depends on the time of day when you make your reservation. If you complete the reservation before 9 AM, then most days it should be linked in the Disney system by 9 PM.

Note: it is up to 24 hours but really just overnight in almost all cases assuming the bac-kend systems are running correctly.

Dave

Thanks. Now I have something to look forward to tomorrow. It's kind of silly, but I love all of the little steps involved in the planning.

 

[jtown9988]

Hi all experts,

I am new to this forum. I am thinking to book room for Swan / Dolphin. I saw in reservation website, Dolphin has option to choose fireworks view room. Does that guarantee I have a good view and quite room? Or I still need to request for quiet room, high floor, etc?

Also, on Tripadvisor, I read bad reviews regarding hearing the noise of garbage truck, or the boat in the room. I would want to avoid these rooms.

Your advice and experience is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[JerseyJanice]

@jtown9988 We stayed in a fireworks room at the Dolphin. No truck noise; I don’t think there is a road on that side of the building. I don’t recall any boat noise either, but I do remember having a nice view of the aerial fireworks from Illuminations from our balcony. We were on the fourth floor and normally prefer higher floors, but we got a free upgrade to that view and a balcony, so we weren’t complaining. LOL!

The only thing I didn’t like about the spot were the twisting hallways to/from the elevator. It was a ton of steps after full days of walking around the parks.

The resort itself is awesome. The pools, dining, common areas and nearby Boardwalk are all fabulous plus you’re walking or boating distance to two parks.