$10 Dolphin Resort Fee Now Mandatory!

[DNBois]

My husband and I called the Dolphin and were able to take advantage of the $129 a night offer. When we made the reservation, we were told that if we would like we could have coffee/tea delivered to the room and make use of their fitness facilities for an extra fee. We are not interested in this and we were under the impression that this was an added option that we did not have to purchase. We were told that the $10 resort fee could be waived the day you arrive but know it has come to our attention that it is now mandatory. I called and found out that the room is still $129 with tax and that the $10 resort fee (per day) was, indeed, mandatory. They claim that they add that fee onto your hotel total as that fee is not taxed. As we all know, every penny counts, especially on a budget; that fee would add up to $80 and could be used for any number of things (including things that we would actually want to do and pay for). We will most likely keep our reservations there as the rate is phenomenal but we were very disappointed that this fee was not disclosed at all, never mind that it is mandatory. I will still fight to waive this fee at check-in;l wish me luck. Does anyone else have any problems with this or any other Dolphin/Swan issues they would like to vent?

 

[BrianD]

So it sounds like the general rule of thumb now with S/D is take your rate and add $10 to it. I really don't get it. Why not just raise the room rate by $10??? A hotel rate is deceptive enough as it is with the 11.5% tax rate that is tacked on.

 

[Trekker]

The only reason the $10 resort is not just added to the room rate is because it is not taxed at 11.5% like the room.

 

[JimC]

Hotels have moved to add-ons for energy surcharges, room safe rental fees, etc to hide price increases. It is not much different than the add-ons with rental cars. Your best strategy is to request that prices be quoted with all mandatory fees and taxes included. Some states have pursued the hotel chains on these, but they continue.

 

[dreamflight99]

Even though the resort states this is "mandatory", you are still able to "request" (upon check-in) this fee be "waived" in lieu of receiving the associated benefits (health club use, daily paper, coffee, phone use, etc.). It never hurts to try, and if nothing else...you receive all these added benefits for the price of the additional fee. I still find it difficult to believe ANY resort can FORCE you to pay for benefits you neither desire/use. The prices are still some of the BEST available for a Deluxe Resort in the HEART of the MAGIC!

 

[pewing]

Rage against the machine! You know what my 'plan' is for my upcoming trip? I'm going to drink the coffee and use the health club every day! The health club looks pretty nice...and then I can enjoy even more disney yummy magic

 

[BrianD]

Originally posted by Trekker
The only reason the $10 resort is not just added to the room rate is because it is not taxed at 11.5% like the room.

But to me, I'd rather have it added on the front end even if it's taxed. It just seems to be a kind of "bait and switch", especially for those who are very budget minded.

 

[pewing]

I don't think there is anything 'deceptive' here. They were very clear to me upfront about the fee. $139 for a room next door to Epcot...isn't too bad

 

[DNBois]

They seemed very clear in explaining that it was $139 a night to you but they quoted $129 a night to us. They only mentioned that for an additional fee of $10 (if we choose) we could make use of those above mentioned amenities. Two days later it is mandatory - it just irked me is all. Either way, you can't beat the deal for a deluxe resort; as usual, it is always the principle of the the thing, right?

 

[TLinden16]

My sisters have booked the $129 rate (one on a teacher rate, one on a government rate), and they were both told that the $10 fee was mandatory. Perhaps they have trained the reservation takers to say it's mandatory now, in hopes that people won't bother asking to have it waived when they check in. I know we won't use any of the features of that 10 fee (no gym, no coffee, local phone calls will be made on my cell phone, won't read a paper when we are getting ready to head out).

When we check in, we intend to ask to have the fee waived (we were told it could be waived during our initial contact, and were told later it was mandatory), and we'll see what happens, I guess.

Karen

 

[WolfpackFan]

Sheesh folks, it's only $10/day. Taking into consideration how much everything else at WDW costs, this is just a drop in the bucket. As far as it being deceptive, sounds to me like everyone knows about the charge so how is that deceptive? Personally, I plan on using the health club and the other benefits and won't think twice about the extra charge.

 

[JetMom]

"Only $10 a Day " adds up to $70 over the course of a week.

$70 is the amount my family paid for Breakfastasaurus at AK.

Having to cut that special meal out of our budget would have been a pretty big sacrifice for 3 DS's who don't drink coffee, read the paper, or use a health club.

 

[DNBois]

You go Jet Mom! WDW is expensive all around and to cut corners to save $70 bucks or so IS a big deal! You should not be forced to pay for something extra that you will not take advantage on but if others believe they can fork over an extra $70 instead of utilizing that money for something worthwhile, more power to you!

 

[The Pluto People]

We are staying at the Dolphin for the third time this June. We will gladly pay the resort fee - we just consider it part of the cost of the room. Do ANY of the the other EPCOT resorts offer rooms for $139 a night?

 

[Trekker]

I stay at the Swan and Dolphin quite often and have never minded the $10 additional - I just consider it part of the room charge, like so many others. I still cannot find an Epcot area resort for the same price.

one other thing that you get for that $10. is up to 60 minute local phone calls.

This is not 60 minutes a day - it is 60 minutes for any one phone call - I can plug my laptop in and dial up the internet and check e-mail, cruise the web, etc. and I will not get a surprise large $$$$ charge on my bill for phone use.

 

[pewing]

Originally posted by JetMom
"Only $10 a Day " adds up to $70 over the course of a week.

$70 is the amount my family paid for Breakfastasaurus at AK.

Having to cut that special meal out of our budget would have been a pretty big sacrifice for 3 DS's who don't drink coffee, read the paper, or use a health club.

Stay at the All Sports...and eat all you want.

We have stayed at two deluxes...and I'm so excited to find one at this price! Don't get me wrong...I search for good deals and stretch my dollars as far as I can, but...like I said even $139 for a delux resort next to Epcot...is a STEAL!;

And like I said...I enjoy morning coffee and I plan to use the health club (it looks great). If you don't want these features and the $10 bugs you...stay elsewhere. But...I wouldn't expect them to 'waive' a fee that is clearly stated to be mandatory.

 

[Dznefreek]

The only reason the $10 resort is not just added to the room rate is because it is not taxed at 11.5% like the room.

It is at the Wyndham Palace at WDW and I believe it is at most resorts.

 

[CarolMN]

I agree with Dznefreek. We were just at the Wyndham Palace and the resort fee was most definitely taxed. Not sure how the Swan/Dolphin could get away with not taxing it.

If the hotel tells you about the fee in advance, then you should pay it or stay somewhere else.

 

[Amapola]

We just stayed at the Swan over NYE and as I recall the fee ($8 for the first few days and then $10) did include the tax -- that is, it was broken down as so much for the fee and so much for the tax, adding up to the $8.

I wouldn't mind paying a resort fee if I were getting anything of value for it. But the coffee was undrinkable, horrible, the worst coffee I've ever tasted. We tried making it with water from our Brita filter bottle and it was still abominable. I think after the second or third day we didn't even bother anymore.

I don't care to read the paper on vacation, and I don't have time to use the health club. If I need to make a phone call, I'd rather pay a buck for it, as in other hotels, if and when I need it.

I agree the $129 rate is insanely great, and the location can't be beat, but I wasn't impressed at all by the hotel.

Just MHO!

Amapola

 

[TY31088]

I'm not happy with the resort fee they charge.
Do the WDW resorts charge a resort fee? I'm all for companies making a profit, I just don't like having it tacked on after I've been given a room rate.

I was NOT told up front.