Hotel Slim Pickins

[DfromATX]

I've been playing around with various dates and it seems like most of the hotels are booked up. When I plug in my dates, I get a few choices, but not many. Specifically, I was looking at the Swan (or Dolphin) and no matter what week I put in nothing was available and lots of other hotel choices were missing as well. I know The Swan is open because I was booked there for our trip a couple of weeks ago that we had to cancel.

I did random weeks in May, September, October, and November - nothing. Normally I'm an early bird and I book a year out, so maybe that's why I'm not used to seeing such slim pickins, but also we can't go passed December. Don't they normally have the calendar a year out? Just wondering what's up with that.

 

[nickys]

I've been playing around with various dates and it seems like most of the hotels are booked up. When I plug in my dates, I get a few choices, but not many. Specifically, I was looking at the Swan (or Dolphin) and no matter what week I put in nothing was available and lots of other hotel choices were missing as well. I know The Swan is open because I was booked there for our trip a couple of weeks ago that we had to cancel.

I did random weeks in May, September, October, and November - nothing. Normally I'm an early bird and I book a year out, so maybe that's why I'm not used to seeing such slim pickins, but also we can't go passed December. Don't they normally have the calendar a year out? Just wondering what's up with that.

Are you sure you weren’t searching for a special deal?

 

[DfromATX]

Are you sure you weren’t searching for a special deal?

Positive. I just went back and double checked. I plugged in the dates and for "all resorts" and selected "view rates." Only a handful came up. And then when I specifically selected The Swan, I got this message: "This room type is unavailable for the
dates, party size or offer selected." (It's just for two people and I tried various dates.) I must be doing something kooky, but I don't know what lol.

 

[DisneyJoe]

Try swandolphin.com?

 

[DfromATX]

Try swandolphin.com?

I bet I would have better luck contacting them. I'm pretty sure that's where I want to stay when we go again. Lower price, nice hotel, get the extra hour perk, and best of all - walking to Epcot.

Don't know if this interests anyone, but as I said, we were booked there for last week and had to cancel. So at one point, I was considering adding my adult son and his girlfriend to our room. The Swan does NOT charge any extra for adding two people to the room; however, Disney does. (I want to say it was about $400.) Just an interesting observation I thought.

The other annoying thing about booking there was when I had to cancel our trip, I couldn't do it online. I had to call to do it and we all know how long that takes these days.

 

[FeelsSoGoodToBeBad]

$400 to add two people? Is this for a regular room? Maybe they were trying to add theme park tix to the reservation and not just a stay? That just seems insane to me!

 

[DfromATX]

$400 to add two people? Is this for a regular room? Maybe they were trying to add theme park tix to the reservation and not just a stay? That just seems insane to me!

I went back to my records to look and I was incorrect. It was $270 to add them. And that was just for a standard room, no tickets, just adding them to the same room we were in. When I called the hotel directly, there was no charge to add them, but I was afraid if I didn't do it through Disney, we'd have trouble with them getting into the park early/late, etc. But, we ended up not going anyway, so...

 

[FeelsSoGoodToBeBad]

I went back to my records to look and I was incorrect. It was $270 to add them. And that was just for a standard room, no tickets, just adding them to the same room we were in. When I called the hotel directly, there was no charge to add them, but I was afraid if I didn't do it through Disney, we'd have trouble with them getting into the park early/late, etc. But, we ended up not going anyway, so...

First of all, I'm sorry you couldn't go. That sucks.

And I'm glad to know it wasn't $400, but $270 still seems steep to me. Then again, I can sometimes be cheap, so....

ETA: I re-read your post and it looks like you were adding two ppl for an entire week, so I suppose $270 isn't awful, especially by TWDC standards.

 

[DfromATX]

First of all, I'm sorry you couldn't go. That sucks.

And I'm glad to know it wasn't $400, but $270 still seems steep to me. Then again, I can sometimes be cheap, so....

ETA: I re-read your post and it looks like you were adding two ppl for an entire week, so I suppose $270 isn't awful, especially by TWDC standards.

Thank you, my MIL fell and broke her hip. She’s fine now, but at that time we didn’t know so we decided it best to cancel. And something tells me Disney will always be there. We’ll go again soon.

Well, it was only for 4 nights, but my son thought the $270 extra was a lot. It’s funny how frugal kids can be when it’s their own money!

 

[Horizons '83]

I've been playing around with various dates and it seems like most of the hotels are booked up. When I plug in my dates, I get a few choices, but not many. Specifically, I was looking at the Swan (or Dolphin) and no matter what week I put in nothing was available and lots of other hotel choices were missing as well. I know The Swan is open because I was booked there for our trip a couple of weeks ago that we had to cancel.

I did random weeks in May, September, October, and November - nothing. Normally I'm an early bird and I book a year out, so maybe that's why I'm not used to seeing such slim pickins, but also we can't go passed December. Don't they normally have the calendar a year out? Just wondering what's up with that.

If you're flexible on dates, I find searching by the month to be really helpful when the Dolphin/Swan/Reserve. It also pays to check a few times a day. I was able to get a pretty good deal (relatively speaking haha) on a weekend next month that hasn't been available for a long time just by checking like a mad man a couple times a day.

 

[NelleBelle]

We were able to find rooms at the dolphin for July if you’re wanting to go in the high heat of summer

 

[DfromATX]

We were able to find rooms at the dolphin for July if you’re wanting to go in the high heat of summer

No.... we went once during July 4. It was so hot and so crowded. I swore never again! Since our kids are grown, my husband and I went by ourselves for our first time last February. The weather was absolutely fantastic! He complained that it was too cold to swim (we're Texans), but it was warm enough to wear shorts! So long story short, we may compromise and go sometime from March thru May, hoping it won't be too crowded. I was also really hoping to catch one of the Epcot festivals because I've never been to one (and that's also why I'm so interested in the Swan or Dolphin).

 

[Raxel7851]

We thoroughly enjoy the Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot. Between the different foods to enjoy, the Garden and Flower part is amazing. I’m pretty sure it will be going on when you plan on going. The dates this year are March 2 to July 4th.

 

[DfromATX]

We thoroughly enjoy the Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot. Between the different foods to enjoy, the Garden and Flower part is amazing. I’m pretty sure it will be going on when you plan on going. The dates this year are March 2 to July 4th.

That's the one I'd like to go to the most! I saw the list of performers for this year. Do you know how soon they put the list out? I'd like to try to go when Rick Springfield performs. It seems like he's a regular.

 

[Tiggerish]

That's the one I'd like to go to the most! I saw the list of performers for this year. Do you know how soon they put the list out? I'd like to try to go when Rick Springfield performs. It seems like he's a regular.

He is, but if you remember him from the 80s, don't go--it'll just rip your dreams apart. Rick is borderline skeevy now. Or if you do go, turn away from the stage and just listen to the music.

 

[DfromATX]

He is, but if you remember him from the 80s, don't go--it'll just rip your dreams apart. Rick is borderline skeevy now. Or if you do go, turn away from the stage and just listen to the music.

Oh no... why do you say that? What happened? I know he's gotta be in his 70's now.

 

[Raxel7851]

That's the one I'd like to go to the most! I saw the list of performers for this year. Do you know how soon they put the list out? I'd like to try to go when Rick Springfield performs. It seems like he's a regular.

The schedule of performers is listed on the WDW website.

 

[DfromATX]

The schedule of performers is listed on the WDW website.

Yes, but do you know how soon they put it out? What do most people do who want to see a particular performer? I'm so used to booking a year in advance and I know the schedule isn't out that quick - or is it?

 

[Raxel7851]

Yes, but do you know how soon they put it out? What do most people do who want to see a particular performer? I'm so used to booking a year in advance and I know the schedule isn't out that quick - or is it?

I just checked the WDW website about 30 minutes ago and the performers and dates were listed.

 

[DfromATX]

I just checked the WDW website about 30 minutes ago and the performers and dates were listed.

Yes, thank you, it is, but I'm asking how soon before the festival do they usually put the schedule out? 6 months in advance? Or just a few months? I've never gone before so I have no idea.