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

[Dan Murphy]

A little late in the day, but Merry Whatever You Celebrate to all my friends on the Swan/Dolphin thread!

Thanks, and to you also, Patty!! And everyone here.

 

[jstbcuz]

I'm sorry if this has been asked 1000x before, but it was easier to ask, than search for it.
What is the easiest way to get things (water, soda, snacks) sent to the hotel? Do we have to be there to meet them or will the hotel charge?
Also, I read there is water in the room. If we want more we just have to go to the hotel desk and ask for more? No charge here?
Is there some place at the Swan to get Vit D milk? How big are the refrigerators? Will they hold a gallon of milk? More than one 1/2 gallon?
Someplace to grab a breakfast sandwich, or breakfast without having a sitdown reservation? I know the Boardwalk Bakery............anywhere else?
We leave Wed for our trip.

 

[SteveH]

SDRs policy has changed and if you have a service bring groceries they will hold them for you, but (and a big but) is they do not have refrigeration available so for that you would need to meet the driver. I don't recall finding milk in larger sizes at SDR but you can usually find quarts over the Disney Boardwalk’s Screen Door General Store. We used Amazon and had water delivered as well as other things. I don't drink coffee so my morning Diet Coke gets me going but the price at Disney don't.

You might be able to grab a breakfast sandwich at either Fuel (Dolphin) or Grounds (Swan). Others here can chime if they know or you can also text them. If you don't yet have the SDR Mobile App you want to get that. If you click on the I'm On Property then on Text Us! you'll get the info. Plus the app has the most up to date hours for the restaurants and other items.

Below is a pic of the fridge I'm not sure I'd try to put a gallon or half gallon in there but the half might fit.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I could use a bit of guidance on Swan Reserve or Dolphin for 3 nights in Feb. I am booked Reserve and have only sporadically been reading here (holidays ). I assumed they’d have their stuff fixed in a couple months but I’m freaked by some of the reviews (AC noise/ neighboring room noise/ fire alarms/ no real blankets). I just snagged Dolphin (for $145 less actually) and now I need to pick one. (I don’t care about the double beds, trip is just me & my adult sister).

So WWYD? Reserve or Dolphin?

 

[gottalovepluto]

Oh! Are the IT issues with reservations linking to MDE for day of G+ reservations happening to people at all Swolphin Complex hotels or just Reserve?

 

[CJN]

I'm sorry if this has been asked 1000x before, but it was easier to ask, than search for it.
What is the easiest way to get things (water, soda, snacks) sent to the hotel? Do we have to be there to meet them or will the hotel charge?
Also, I read there is water in the room. If we want more we just have to go to the hotel desk and ask for more? No charge here?
Is there some place at the Swan to get Vit D milk? How big are the refrigerators? Will they hold a gallon of milk? More than one 1/2 gallon?
Someplace to grab a breakfast sandwich, or breakfast without having a sitdown reservation? I know the Boardwalk Bakery............anywhere else?
We leave Wed for our trip.

Regarding getting more water - we made it a habit to stop at the desk every evening as we came back from the parks. They were always more than happy to give us water and would even ask how many we wanted. Because of not having our room serviced daily we also picked up toilet paper one time from them.

 

[Meglen]

I could use a bit of guidance on Swan Reserve or Dolphin for 3 nights in Feb. I am booked Reserve and have only sporadically been reading here (holidays ). I assumed they’d have their stuff fixed in a couple months but I’m freaked by some of the reviews (AC noise/ neighboring room noise/ fire alarms/ no real blankets). I just snagged Dolphin (for $145 less actually) and now I need to pick one. (I don’t care about the double beds, trip is just me & my adult sister).

So WWYD? Reserve or Dolphin?

If I had the option to save money and not stay at the reserve I would take it.

 

[DisneyFave]

Hello! This will be my first time staying at the Dolphin, and I've never been there. Would love to hear any tips for what to do with a toddler and a preschooler while my hubby is working!

We're there for a Sunday night (Feb 27) before moving over to the Poly for 4 nights on Monday afternoon. Hoping they can transfer our bags for us.

Was planning on walking the kiddos to Hollywood Studios on Monday morning but will cancel that if there's lots to do at/near the hotel!

 

[Eastern]

Regarding getting more water - we made it a habit to stop at the desk every evening as we came back from the parks. They were always more than happy to give us water and would even ask how many we wanted. Because of not having our room serviced daily we also picked up toilet paper one time from them.

Is there a charge for bottled water?

 

[empedocles]

Also, I read there is water in the room. If we want more we just have to go to the hotel desk and ask for more? No charge here?
Is there some place at the Swan to get Vit D milk? How big are the refrigerators? Will they hold a gallon of milk? More than one 1/2 gallon?
Someplace to grab a breakfast sandwich, or breakfast without having a sitdown reservation? I know the Boardwalk Bakery............anywhere else?
We leave Wed for our trip.

1. As already noted, you can get more water. You can ask at the front desk or ask one of the housekeepers in the hall. Water is included in the "resort fee", so no charge.
2. Someone posted a fridge pic. Half-gallon might fit in the door.
3. Quick-serve breakfast sandwiches are available at Fuel (D), Java (S), and possibly Grounds (SR). The ones at Java were pretty good.

 

[mdmost]

Hello! This will be my first time staying at the Dolphin, and I've never been there. Would love to hear any tips for what to do with a toddler and a preschooler while my hubby is working!

We're there for a Sunday night (Feb 27) before moving over to the Poly for 4 nights on Monday afternoon. Hoping they can transfer our bags for us.

Was planning on walking the kiddos to Hollywood Studios on Monday morning but will cancel that if there's lots to do at/near the hotel!

There are couple options on the property though I'm not sure how the weather will be around then. There's a playground near the pool area that's would be good for them. You could also do the Fantasia mini golf course right across the street. The beach area could be fun for them to play in. You could also take them on the Swan paddle boats. And of course, the pool if it's warm enough.

 

[Gitelfor]

Hello! This will be my first time staying at the Dolphin, and I've never been there. Would love to hear any tips for what to do with a toddler and a preschooler while my hubby is working!

We're there for a Sunday night (Feb 27) before moving over to the Poly for 4 nights on Monday afternoon. Hoping they can transfer our bags for us.

Was planning on walking the kiddos to Hollywood Studios on Monday morning but will cancel that if there's lots to do at/near the hotel!

You may want to take them for a round trip ride on a Friendship boat, which can be boarded from outside the back door of the Dolphin. The ride is very peaceful and will have Hollywood Studios on one end and EPCOT on the other. Just outside of the International Gateway entrance of EPCOT (just past the BC and Boardwalk) is a Skyliner stop. If they are not afraid of heights, that might be fun to take a ride and have a birds eye view of everything. The Yacht Club and Beach Club have free movies under the stars on their beach, with the schedule varying by date.

The Dolphin has had a s’mores roast in the evening, in the past, but I’m not sure if that is happening, since the pandemic.

 

[GoofyDad_4427]

I could use a bit of guidance on Swan Reserve or Dolphin for 3 nights in Feb. I am booked Reserve and have only sporadically been reading here (holidays ). I assumed they’d have their stuff fixed in a couple months but I’m freaked by some of the reviews (AC noise/ neighboring room noise/ fire alarms/ no real blankets). I just snagged Dolphin (for $145 less actually) and now I need to pick one. (I don’t care about the double beds, trip is just me & my adult sister).

So WWYD? Reserve or Dolphin?

I would pick the Dolphin if the price was the same, so to save $145 i would be thrilled to switch.

 

[Dan Murphy]

So WWYD? Reserve or Dolphin?

Dolphin. If Swan were a choice also, the Swan

Hello! This will be my first time staying at the Dolphin, and I've never been there. Would love to hear any tips for what to do with a toddler and a preschooler while my hubby is working!

We're there for a Sunday night (Feb 27) before moving over to the Poly for 4 nights on Monday afternoon. Hoping they can transfer our bags for us.

Was planning on walking the kiddos to Hollywood Studios on Monday morning but will cancel that if there's lots to do at/near the hotel!

Great advice above. I can't add to those but they are all good activities. Enjoy!!

PS: Next time do the Polynesian for 1 day, Dolphin for 4.

 

[DisneyFave]

PS: Next time do the Polynesian for 1 day,Dolphin for 4.

lol I think we might! I showed my husband (who knows nothing about Disney) pics of the Dolphin and he goes “Wow, that one’s even nicer than the other one we’re staying at!”

I neglected to mention it’s also a third of the cost!

 

[gottalovepluto]

If I had the option to save money and not stay at the reserve I would take it.

I would pick the Dolphin if the price was the same, so to save $145 i would be thrilled to switch.

Dolphin. If Swan were a choice also, the Swan

Thanks all! Dolphin it will be!

 

[Gitelfor]

Hello! This will be my first time staying at the Dolphin, and I've never been there.

We're there for a Sunday night (Feb 27) before moving over to the Poly for 4 nights on Monday afternoon. Hoping they can transfer our bags for us.

They should be able to transfer your bags to Poly. I suggest dropping the bags at the bell stand as early as possible in the morning. You can also request that your belongings being transferred be picked up from your room, but you never know how long it may take for the bags to be picked up. Don’t forget to keep out necessities you’ll need during the day, as the bags may not be received at the Poly till mid to late afternoon.

 

[Nala83]

Any idea why the Swan is blocked out for check in dates for November 24th-December 3rd? Neither point or cash stays are available. Dates after that have opened. We booked December 4th-11th, but we're hoping to arrive a day prior to that.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Any idea why the Swan is blocked out for check in dates for November 24th-December 3rd? Neither point or cash stays are available. Dates after that have opened. We booked December 4th-11th, but we're hoping to arrive a day prior to that.

Try looking at booking for the first half of your trip and then the second. One day in that 10 day period may not be avaialble so it is knocking out your whole 10 days. Play around with different arrival/departure dates.

 

[Marthasor]

I'm sorry if this has been asked 1000x before, but it was easier to ask, than search for it.
What is the easiest way to get things (water, soda, snacks) sent to the hotel? Do we have to be there to meet them or will the hotel charge?
Also, I read there is water in the room. If we want more we just have to go to the hotel desk and ask for more? No charge here?
Is there some place at the Swan to get Vit D milk? How big are the refrigerators? Will they hold a gallon of milk? More than one 1/2 gallon?
Someplace to grab a breakfast sandwich, or breakfast without having a sitdown reservation? I know the Boardwalk Bakery............anywhere else?
We leave Wed for our trip.

You can also order room service at the Swan. Not the cheapest option, but you can order through the app and they deliver it to you (like a take-out order, in a bag with utensils, etc.) in about 30 minutes.