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

[CyndiLouWho]

Yeah, I will miss the airline check in most of all i think. Magic express also nice as cab fare from airport to hotels is pretty high if i remember correctly. Don't know why more hotels don't do it, it is a great selling point if you ask me. It really is a tough call between location which Swan/Dolphin wins hands down or going to a Disney moderate where you get those perks but at a lesser location. Best of both worlds at Delux EPCOT area Disney but those are too expensive for this trip.

Uber worked great for us. $20 I think, less if it's your first Uber/Lyft ride and you find a coupon. This time, we are doing 1 night at a Disney property, taking Magical Express then transferring to Dolphin.

 

[CarolinaBlue99]

Uber worked great for us. $20 I think, less if it's your first Uber/Lyft ride and you find a coupon. This time, we are doing 1 night at a Disney property, taking Magical Express then transferring to Dolphin.

Speaking of Uber/Lyft, has anyone used it for quicker transport to MK or AK than relying on the buses (especially early when they aren't running as frequently)? Do Minnie Vans service the Swolphin? I'm hoping EMM will be offered on our MK day and would like to get there as efficiently as possible. (I know crowds are inevitable at WDW but we are not crowd people so I am doing all I can to avoid them.)

 

[chris benton]

Uber and Lyft are fantastic. highly recommend - especially if you are doing an EMM. No need to worry about any busses. No need to wake up early and hope the bus comes. Just take an uber to the Contemp for MK. You can practically order the car when you are leaving your room, and it'll be there when you get to the front door. Fantastic service, worth every penny. I wouldn't chance being late because of Disney transportation if you are paying for emm. No way. You want to be in line waiting to get in at 7:30 for emm.

 

[CarolinaBlue99]

Uber and Lyft are fantastic. highly recommend - especially if you are doing an EMM. No need to worry about any busses. No need to wake up early and hope the bus comes. Just take an uber to the Contemp for MK. You can practically order the car when you are leaving your room, and it'll be there when you get to the front door. Fantastic service, worth every penny. I wouldn't chance being late because of Disney transportation if you are paying for emm. No way. You want to be in line waiting to get in at 7:30 for emm.

Awesome, thanks! This is exactly what I wanted to hear. I'm planning MK on a Sunday so we've got a shot at EMM as long as they continue it! (*fingers crossed*)

 

[Dan Murphy]

Do Minnie Vans service the Swolphin?

No, at least not yet.

 

[Alabama Minnie]

What would the Uber/Taxi price be one-way to MCO from Swan/Dolphin?

 

[chris benton]

I was just quoted a price of a little under 30.00 for Uber, riding solo. Get the Uber app on your phone to get a quote for whatever your specific situation will be. Number of riders, type of car, etc.

For a "taxi" you'll have to compare different taxi services. From swan to mco, their rates can be found online. Other car services, as well.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

What would the Uber/Taxi price be one-way to MCO from Swan/Dolphin?

We paid around 20-25 but it does change based on time. Otoh we paid almost $40 for a taxi from airport to Dolphin. If you haven't signed up for Uber or Lyft, wait until a week or two before your trip and sign up then. You can usually find a code for free first ride or $20 off. Many drivers are both Lyft and Uber drivers, so there usually little difference. We used both.

 

[SwanDolphin]

That is correct, Tess. I did talk to a room scheduler when I was recently there. No unrenovated rooms will be placed in service. And all rooms, along with the lobby, will be complete by mid-September.

As usual, Mr. Murphy is spot on. The last batch of new rooms are coming back in waves on 9/7, 9/12 and the last ones on 9/17. It will be great to be at full inventory for the first time in a very long stretch! We are also adding some new "keys" so as of January 1st (if not before) our counts will be 756 Swan, 1,514 Dolphin for 2,270 total for the complex.

 

[Tess]

As usual, Mr. Murphy is spot on. The last batch of new rooms are coming back in waves on 9/7, 9/12 and the last ones on 9/17. It will be great to be at full inventory for the first time in a very long stretch! We are also adding some new "keys" so as of January 1st (if not before) our counts will be 756 Swan, 1,514 Dolphin for 2,270 total for the complex.

Thanks for the confirmation although I never doubted Dan's information.

 

[ww52]

Question re SPG points. What does a "free night" actual translate to?

I'm told a free night is 12,000 points or 16,000 points depending on the season.

Let's say the rate I am quoted is $200 per night, plus taxes and resort fees. And that this is during the 12,000 point season.

Does my free night include taxes and resort fees? Or just the $200?

 

[Alabama Minnie]

We paid around 20-25 but it does change based on time. Otoh we paid almost $40 for a taxi from airport to Dolphin. If you haven't signed up for Uber or Lyft, wait until a week or two before your trip and sign up then. You can usually find a code for free first ride or $20 off. Many drivers are both Lyft and Uber drivers, so there usually little difference. We used both.

Thanks for the info. We are planning a split-stay so we would only need it for our return to the airport. I think that sounds really reasonable.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Question re SPG points. What does a "free night" actual translate to?

I'm told a free night is 12,000 points or 16,000 points depending on the season.

Let's say the rate I am quoted is $200 per night, plus taxes and resort fees. And that this is during the 12,000 point season.

Does my free night include taxes and resort fees? Or just the $200?

Dolphin can be as low as 10k points. I have heard Swan can be 16k, but the dates I've checked it's always 12k. But the price will vary. It can be 10k points when the price is $200 or 350. For example, I just checked a random weekend in September, December & end of March. In September, Dolphin 156, Swan 207, 10 & 12k points respectively. In December, Dolphin 239, Swan 279. Still 10/12k points. In March, Dolphin 289, Swan 312, still 10 & 12k points respectively.

The Points do not include fees of 28.13 per night

 

[ww52]

Thanks CyndiLouWho -
Do the points include taxes?

EDIT - you said you checked both price and points needed. Could you tell me where you checked this?

 

[patty57]

Thanks CyndiLouWho -
Do the points include taxes?

WDIT - you said you checked both price and points needed. Could you tell me where you checked this?

You can look on the Swan & Dolphin website.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Thanks CyndiLouWho -
Do the points include taxes?

WDIT - you said you checked both price and points needed. Could you tell me where you checked this?

You can look on the Swan & Dolphin website.

Yes, I logged into my SPG account (starwoodhotels.com) and searched some random dates in Orlando with the above results. The $28.13 is $25 per night resort fee plus taxes.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I thought I'd ask here since others may have done a split stay with Swolphin before. I have a split stay next March, 1 night Poly followed by 3 nights Dolphin. Today is my 180 days for the Poly night. I am only able to book ADR for 1 night. The nights for Dolphin are not open yet.(Both res are in MDE) Will this be the same for FP+ also? I have to wait for each stay to be 180 or 60 days away?

 

[luvallprincesses]

I thought I'd ask here since others may have done a split stay with Swolphin before. I have a split stay next March, 1 night Poly followed by 3 nights Dolphin. Today is my 180 days for the Poly night. I am only able to book ADR for 1 night. The nights for Dolphin are not open yet.(Both res are in MDE) Will this be the same for FP+ also? I have to wait for each stay to be 180 or 60 days away?

ADRs you don't get the plus 10 but it won't be that way for Fastpasses. If both reservations are showing in MDE (with each guest name assigned in your Dolphin reservation) you'll be able to make your FP+ when 60 days opens for Poly.

 

[ww52]

I understood that the 28.13 was the resort fee plus taxes.

What I'm asking is if a free night with spg points includes the room taxes too, or if the points cover the room charge but not the taxes on the room charge.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I understood that the 28.13 was the resort fee plus taxes.

What I'm asking is if a free night with spg points includes the room taxes too, or if the points cover the room charge but not the taxes on the room charge.

The total charge you pay is 28.13 per night. That includes all the taxes and fees. There are no additional taxes.