DOLPHIN: I pd for a balcony but they put me in CLUB, but I WANTED Balcony-none left

[Ashley's mom]

What now? I just argued with my husband this morning - don't know why I'm so stressed - anyway - I called the Dolphin to see what kind of room I had been assigned to since I'm arriving tomorrow. They put me in club level. I didn't want club level. I'd asked for and paid extra for a balcony room - now the front desk guy says there are no balconies left, but he could put me in a non balcony room with an epcot view. Heck, I could have paid $50 less a night for that had I wanted a non balcony room. I know Club level is nice, but what the heck. If I pay for balcony I want a balcony - and since they "thought" they were being nice by upgrading me to club (or did they????) now there are no balcony rooms left - let alone a balcony room with a GREAT VIEW like I'd wanted in the first place. I just don't understand it. My PLAN (never make plans right?) was to get a good view and a balcony room - had wanted to see Illuminations and Epcot and then get club privs - since I'm Gold Starwood - but no, no balcony, no view. What do I do? I have used up all my *****iness on my husband and have no reserve left - lost my mind at this point too. Leaving tomorrow for the Dolphin....help

 

[CarolA]

Call the Dolphin and tell them that since you Paid extra for a balcony that you either want a balcony or your extra money.

 

[Puffy2]

Relax. You have a much better deal with club level than you do with balcony room!

In the grand scheme of things, the balcony is no big deal.

I just got back from the BWV - had requested a room on the top floors, guess what we got? Bottom level. No balcony. No view. and we had a blast anyway. Sometimes we stress over the littlest things that really make no difference at all (I know, I know - you have been dreaming of sipping your coffee or watching fireworks, or what ever, on that balcony, but really it isn't that big of a deal. AND if they are willing to put you on club level in exchange - GO FOR IT, sip your coffee in the lounge, enjoy the breakfast and evening food items, take cookies back to the room and enjoy!!!!)

 

[Gillian]

If you paid for a balcony, they should get you one. It can be a big deal to some people. I have a small child. I need a place to escape. Some people feel closed in. It doesn't matter why, but since you paid for it, they should do something for you.

Paying for a balcony room at the Dolphin is not the same as a view request at a Disney resort. It would be like paying for water view at the Yacht club and facing the parking lot. Or shurbs or anything that isn't the water view you paid for.

And if you are Starwood gold & get club access anyway (not exactly sure from your post how that works) then moving you to club level doesn't do anything for you.

I hope it works out for you! Does the Swan have the kind of room you want?

 

[BrianD]

I agree, if you specifically reserved, not just requested, a balcony room, then you should be able to get a balcony room, or the Dolphin should at least be able to do something special for you. Contact their guest services and see if there's something they can do for you.

 

[dahess]

Maybe the Swan has balcony's available.

 

[CrzyforPiglet]

First - please take a couple of deep breaths!! It will all work out one way or another. Things change all the time, maybe by the time you arrive a balcony room will have opened up but if it hasn't the hotel cannot make more rooms so it would be time to start thinking of a back up plan. Is the view important? If so, then when you arrive at check-in tell them that's what you want. Then be sure that you get a cut rate for not having a balcony and if they put you on club and seem like that's your comp remind them that you coudl have gotten those privies anyway!! Like Puffy2 said sometimes things work out better than the way we plan them - I should know I do it all the time. The worst thing you can do is let it spoil your vacation b/c then the only person who will be upset is you. I hope it all works out in the end - keep your fingers crossed.

 

[Luv2Roam]

the hotel cannot make more rooms

If she requested and paid for it, they should honor it, flat out. If these rooms were not available at the time she booked, and they told her so, that would be different.
Luckily you found out now, rather than at check-in. THAT would REALLY tick me off and be an ugly start to a magical vacation.

 

[CrzyforPiglet]

Originally posted by Luv2Roam
If she requested and paid for it, they should honor it, flat out. If these rooms were not available at the time she booked, and they told her so, that would be different.

I totally agree!! I'm just wondering if the Dolphin didn't do like airlines do and oversold that room thinking that there would be a cancellation. DON'T KNOW - JUST SPECULATING!! Have you ever been at the airline counter when your seat has been given away? - I have and it didn't matter how much I needed to fly home, how angry I could've gotten, or how much stress I was caused - I wasn't getting a seat end of story (not really but ya know). I guess that was my point hoping that the OP wouldn't get even more stressed at check-in by having a good back-up plan. Ultimately we don't know why there isn't a room available - maybe someone got really sick and had to stay an extra night, maybe one of the rooms got broken pipes - who knows! I still wish the OP all the best and will be sending pixie dust her way for a magical vacation.

 

[poohbear7]

The club floor is an upgrade with AP it's $217.50 reg. rate $435
Balconey room is $202.50 reg rate $405.

If you paid for balcony you should receive a balcony room.
I believe you can see Illumination fireworks from the club lounge.

 

[disnurse]

ashleys mom- try and relax. Dolphin frontdesk is very friendly and accommodating. You will probally get your balcony room, i'm sure someone eles that has one would want clublevel and they can move them.SPG thought they were doing you a favor just think maybe after all this aggrevation they'll still give you cl privileges too

 

[flynnmnstr]

Not sure what room I have yet but if I get a balcony I will trade you for the club level.

I heard the club level is great. Is there anyway you can get a room with a view of Epcot from the club level? I agree with the above posts; the front desk is great and they will work it out.

Just relax and have a good time! I will see you there.

 

[Ashley's mom]

Well, I just finished cleaning the house and am finally done packing....we leave for the airport at 8:30 - arriving in Orlando at 3:55...so in 13 hours I will be somewhere WARM! Woo HOO!
I'm going to be okay with Club if I get that - (foot stomping)...One might think that someone with Gold Starwood status who paid for a balcony would GET a balcony. They wouldn't have sold me a balcony unless there was a balcony available at the time - and I find it hard to believe that there are so many people who are higher up the "food chain" than me with Gold status who paid for a balcony....

I think it is more likely that they were overlooking the fact that I would get the club privs and thought they were doing me a favor by putting me up on club....

You know, I know that they charge more for club level - BUT, if you were to try to upgrade with POINTS it costs more to get that balcony room....so the far better deal would be to get the balcony AND the club privs as I see it -

I'm just hoping they fix it - hopefully in (it's currently 2:30 a.m.) about 15 hours I'll be checking out the hordevours in the club lounge after my flight tomorrow. Ahhhh! I am looking forward to dethawing after this long cold winter.

Thanks for commiserating and ranting with me everyone....you all are too sweet.

On a different note: If you are the praying type please send up a prayer for me and my dh. We've been having some difficulty getting along for awhile and I am hoping this vacation helps us remember each other again....life can be so busy and I was rearended in a car accident awhile back and I've been in some pain so I've been pretty impatient for awhile....

I'm looking forward to that time out on the balcony with my Dh after our chatterbox 5 year old passes out from all that walking at the parks......

Hugs to you all!

Kristi

 

[Gillian]

sending some prayers & pixie dust! Although you're probably out the door by now. Have a wonderful trip & enjoy that balcony!!

Please let us know how it went when you get back.

 

[Trekker]

My understanding is that you have to be platinum level at SPG to get club level at the S&D. If this is true getting the upgrade to club level far out weighs the lose of the balcony.