The **New** Swan and Dolphin Resort thread ~ April 2012 ~ Please read post #1

[bas71873]

Not sure about the April 1 date, but your existing reservation is safe -- they honor the rate you were quoted when your made your reservation, which is $14; no worries there.

I have no idea why they have chosen to have a "mandatory resort fee" as opposed to rolling it into the room rate. They brought the resort fee back several years ago at $10, then upped it to $12, then $14 and now I guess it will be $17.

And there is a parking fee too correct? I may have to run some numbers and switch over to POFQ if a decent room discount comes out.

 

[RachelTori]

And there is a parking fee too correct? I may have to run some numbers and switch over to POFQ if a decent room discount comes out.

Yes, there is a parking fee. I think it's $15 or $16 +tax? Not sure since I don't bring a car there!

 

[patty57]

And my final question is there a reason why the resort fee is a separate fee as opposed to just having it included into the room fee?

Who knows why they opt to do it this way. Personally, I would prefer it if they rolled the resort fee into the room price because I don't use the amenities they charge for...except maybe the water. As long as the rooms continue to be a good price with discounts that work for me, I'll continue to book there.

 

[Dan Murphy]

And there is a parking fee too correct? I may have to run some numbers and switch over to POFQ if a decent room discount comes out.

Parking is $15, $20 for valet, both plus tax.

http://www.swandolphin.com/feedback/transportation.html

 

[RachelTori]

Parking is $15, $20 for valet, both plus tax.

http://www.swandolphin.com/feedback/transportation.html

Thanks Dan! I thought $15+tax, but wasn't sure! I wonder if that will be going up soon too?

 

[OKW Lover]

Its simple marketing that leads them to have a separate resort fee. It makes the room rate look lower on first impression when you do a general search at all hotels in the area. Only once you look closer do you notice the extra fee.

In the Swolphin's defense, they are not the only hotels that do this.

 

[patty57]

Its simple marketing that leads them to have a separate resort fee. It makes the room rate look lower on first impression when you do a general search at all hotels in the area. Only once you look closer do you notice the extra fee.

In the Swolphin's defense, they are not the only hotels that do this.

This is absolutely true that many hotels charge a resort fee. People on the DIS who refuse to stay at the S/D often cite the resort fee as the reason they won't book there. Of course, the WDW resorts are doing the same thing, but they are rolling the fees into the room price. It's difficult to know whether it's a good marketing strategy or not. They must feel it works for them, or they wouldn't do it.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I just returned from a Las Vegas business trip a couple months ago, stayed at the Monte Carlo. $20 per day fee.

Others higher.


http://www.lasvegasdirect.com/las-vegas-hotel-resort-fees.html

 

[SingingMom]

This is absolutely true that many hotels charge a resort fee. People on the DIS who refuse to stay at the S/D often cite the resort fee as the reason they won't book there. Of course, the WDW resorts are doing the same thing, but they are rolling the fees into the room price. It's difficult to know whether it's a good marketing strategy or not. They must feel it works for them, or they wouldn't do it.

Right, Patty. Six of one, half dozen of another. They could up the room rate to include it, but choose not to.

Everyone has to do what is best for their family, but I have stayed at Port Orleans, and the Dolphin is so much nicer! The vibe is so "deluxe" and the location is fabulous.

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[catiesmom]

I know this has been asked but I've found conflicting info on this thread....anyone recently been able to have a Garden Grocer delivery accepted at the Swan? Thanks!

 

[photos_101]

Just a quick 'heads up' for you, if you are staying May 8-12. There is a big National school convention going on that week. Shouldn't be a problem as they hold conventions there all the time. But thought I would just let everyone know. Rooms for the schools are being booked at Swan/Dolphin/Yacht club.

If you will be there at that time, I may see you there!
We are booked at POP but will be spending alot of time at s/d for the convention with our DS.
Any excuse I can make for another vacation at Disney, it's a sickness, I tell you.

 

[Music City Mama]

We did a "stay-cation" here in Nashville a year or so ago and stayed at the Gaylord Opryland Resort. If I recall, both the resort and parking fees were about $18/each (not including tax). Whatever the nightly rate is at the S/D, I just automatically add an additional $30 in my head (and then figure in the 12.5% tax). Depending upon when you're going, it can be cheaper or more expensive than a moderate, but generally speaking, they're about the same. We're going back in November and we'll probably stay at a moderate just to do something different (I like to mix it up), but it's very hard for me not to be in the Epcot resorts area during the summer.

For those of you who have booked recently, I have a question:

I made my reservations by phone back in mid-January (for June). I had to make them through Starwood instead of the S/D because I was using cash & points for the first couple of nights. The next few nights are AAA and I made those at the same time and had the reservations linked. I had to pay a deposit (by phone) for each reservation (so, $60 for the cash/points, and whatever the AAA amount was for the second part). I received the confirmation emails that same day. I have never been charged those deposits on my credit card, though. I emailed Starwood and explained the situation and they assured me that my reservations are there, but some hotels just take longer to process the deposits. I has been 2 months, though. Is that weird or normal?

 

[RachelTori]

We did a "stay-cation" here in Nashville a year or so ago and stayed at the Gaylord Opryland Resort. If I recall, both the resort and parking fees were about $18/each (not including tax). Whatever the nightly rate is at the S/D, I just automatically add an additional $30 in my head (and then figure in the 12.5% tax). Depending upon when you're going, it can be cheaper or more expensive than a moderate, but generally speaking, they're about the same. We're going back in November and we'll probably stay at a moderate just to do something different (I like to mix it up), but it's very hard for me not to be in the Epcot resorts area during the summer.

For those of you who have booked recently, I have a question:

I made my reservations by phone back in mid-January (for June). I had to make them through Starwood instead of the S/D because I was using cash & points for the first couple of nights. The next few nights are AAA and I made those at the same time and had the reservations linked. I had to pay a deposit (by phone) for each reservation (so, $60 for the cash/points, and whatever the AAA amount was for the second part). I received the confirmation emails that same day. I have never been charged those deposits on my credit card, though. I emailed Starwood and explained the situation and they assured me that my reservations are there, but some hotels just take longer to process the deposits. I has been 2 months, though. Is that weird or normal?

I also have 2 Swan stays booked on Cash & Points. They show up on my spg account and I have also received email confirmations from the Swan. No deposit, but the points came out of my account immediately.

I did Cash & Points several years ago at Dolphin and no cash deposit was required - but again the points were taken immediately. (I figure that's our deposit! )

And come to think of it, I have also done several other cash & points stays at various Sheratons and Westins -- the cash wasn't charged until check-in.

 

[vicb]

We are planning/hoping to stay at Dolphin the first week of May 2014 (so a little more than a year away). When can I expect to see deals on rooms on the S/D website? Right now the rates are higher than I paid for Easter week 2012. That trip was planned much closer to when the actual trip was and the lower rates were already posted.

This trip will be to celebrate DD's college graduation so we are very excited!! Have never been in May. Stayed just once at Dolphin and the "kids" were not with us so they have never stayed but I know they will love it.

Thanks for any tips on when to look for room rate deals>

Anyone??

 

[Music City Mama]

I also have 2 Swan stays booked on Cash & Points. They show up on my spg account and I have also received email confirmations from the Swan. No deposit, but the points came out of my account immediately.

I did Cash & Points several years ago at Dolphin and no cash deposit was required - but again the points were taken immediately. (I figure that's our deposit! )

And come to think of it, I have also done several other cash & points stays at various Sheratons and Westins -- the cash wasn't charged until check-in.

When I made my reservations, the guy seemed to think at first that I would only need to make a deposit on the AAA nights, but then he said, "Oh, it looks like they're going to want $60 + tax for the C&P nights, too." On the email confirmation I received, it made it sound like it was going to charge the deposit, as well (like you said, the points have already been taken from my account). That aside, though, it still doesn't make sense that my credit card still hasn't been charged for the AAA nights. So odd. If it's not on my next credit card statement, I may call back. They're right there when I plug in my reservation, but it still makes me nervous for some reason (plus, I want to pay ahead on some of this!).

Anyone??

I think the soonest you'll probably see lower rates for next May will be around September (I have seen them that early for June). BUT, this year, it took until January for the rates to drop considerably -- so you may be looking at the first of year to see really good rates for next May -- start checking in September, though!

 

[RachelTori]

When I made my reservations, the guy seemed to think at first that I would only need to make a deposit on the AAA nights, but then he said, "Oh, it looks like they're going to want $60 + tax for the C&P nights, too." On the email confirmation I received, it made it sound like it was going to charge the deposit, as well (like you said, the points have already been taken from my account). That aside, though, it still doesn't make sense that my credit card still hasn't been charged for the AAA nights. So odd. If it's not on my next credit card statement, I may call back. They're right there when I plug in my reservation, but it still makes me nervous for some reason (plus, I want to pay ahead on some of this!).

The last online reservation I made (AAA rate), the deposit wasn't charged - even though the confirmation showed it would be charged. After about a month, I got nervous that my reservation would end of being canceled. I pulled up the reservation on the SPG site, clicked on the link to "make changes" to the reservation - didn't make any changes, just hit "save changes". That did the trick! Within a day, the deposit showed as "pending" on my Amex and came through a day or 2 after that! It's for my upcoming trip the end of April. (I also have no idea why the deposit wasn't charged. )

Maybe try that to see if it might trigger the deposit being charged.

 

[Music City Mama]

The last online reservation I made (AAA rate), the deposit wasn't charged - even though the confirmation showed it would be charged. After about a month, I got nervous that my reservation would end of being canceled. I pulled up the reservation on the SPG site, clicked on the link to "make changes" to the reservation - didn't make any changes, just hit "save changes". That did the trick! Within a day, the deposit showed as "pending" on my Amex and came through a day or 2 after that! It's for my upcoming trip the end of April. (I also have no idea why the deposit wasn't charged. )

Maybe try that to see if it might trigger the deposit being charged.

OK, gave it try -- we'll see if it works - thanks!

 

[RachelTori]

OK, gave it try -- we'll see if it works - thanks!

Let us know, OK?!

 

[ahutton]

We were at a neighboring resort a few weeks back and when I ordered from Garden Grocer the website indicated they were unable to deliver to Swan/Dolphin. The Hess station across the street has very reasonable prices on many things, and the Screen Door at Boardwalk had a decent selection too.

 

[vicb]

I think the soonest you'll probably see lower rates for next May will be around September (I have seen them that early for June). BUT, this year, it took until January for the rates to drop considerably -- so you may be looking at the first of year to see really good rates for next May -- start checking in September, though![/QUOTE]

Thank you. I've only stayed there once and it was planned with a much shorter time frame so wasn't sure what to expect.

We were at a neighboring resort a few weeks back and when I ordered from Garden Grocer the website indicated they were unable to deliver to Swan/Dolphin. The Hess station across the street has very reasonable prices on many things, and the Screen Door at Boardwalk had a decent selection too.

Last trip when we stayed at Dolphin, our flight came in very late and our towncar driver could not find an open grocery store for us (we tried 2) so we settled for the Hess and it was still a good deal compared to in park or resort prices. We bought water bottles by the case, yogurts, cookies, pretzels and donuts.