Dolphin-non-renovated rooms??

[dreamflight99]

Thank goodness, they removed the Valet charges! Especially due to the circumstances you mentioned. BUT, you definitely should have received CL privs AUTOMATICALLY....as a PLATINUM SPG PERK!!

I HOPE you plan to contact Starwood Customer service (located on the www.spg.com page) and alert them to the problems associated with this stay. Ask them to forward the information to the resort management on your behalf. In the VERY LEAST, they will reward you with some points.

Let me know if there is anything I can do to assist you with this matter. Also, keep me apprised as to the outcome/reply from guest services. You certainly know, (better than most), the BEST way to remedy problems with a property...is to ALERT them about the ones you've experienced! Hopefully, you'll have a happy ending with this one.

Enjoy your weekend! :goodivbes

TTFN...DF99

 

[dreamflight99]

Originally posted by floridagirrl2
Thanks DF99--we are almost out the door--we expect to have a wonderful weekend!

I'll be awaiting your posts when you return!!

TTFN...DF99

 

[Tikiman]

Thanks Dream,

SPG has been great when it comes to issues. We had some problems at a W hotel once that was not that big a deal but they gave us one nights stay points back (20,000 points) not that we needed more points but it was nice that they did.

Thanks again for the info and advise.

Aloha

Steve

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by floridagirrl2
DH and I are considering a quick weekend trip to Disney with a stay at the Dolphin at the nurse/teacher rate. I have read some recent negative reviews of the non-renovated rooms at the Dolphin (dirty, smelly, etc.).

I assume we will be given a non-renovated room for the low rate we will be paying. Will we be disappointed??

Hi,

I am not sure how recent those posts were but we just came back from a nine day stay at the Dolphin on Sept 19th and all of the rooms are done and they are working on the hallways. The new beds are truely out of this world.

 

[CarolA]

I would not worry about not gettng CL access. I found it VERY disappointing and if there was a business convention it was probably PACKED. (Starwood gives it to WAY too many people. For example everyone in my company gets it automatically!)

 

[dreamflight99]

Originally posted by CarolA
I would not worry about not gettng CL access. I found it VERY disappointing and if there was a business convention it was probably PACKED. (Starwood gives it to WAY too many people. For example everyone in my company gets it automatically!)

I was at the Dolphin for more than 5 weeks, with CL privs. Only ONCE did I see the lounge "packed" (more than Char could handle), and that was August 13 (CHARLEY), when people were abusing it. Otherwise, during all the other conventions (Tupperware, Shaklee, Price/Waterhouse, etc.), the lounge was NEVER crowded or packed, and everything (food/bevs) was kept well-stocked. I have ALWAYS been impressed with the Swan/Dolphin CL and Concierge staff, and tremendously enjoy the privs of the lounge. During all the conventions, it was imminently clear that all the persons attending DID NOT receive CL access. I know, because I usually take my food/bevs back to my suite. On my way across the property...many persons commented or questioned the source of my goodies. When I told them I visited CLUB LEVEL, most all remarked they did not receive such services with their reservation. You are fortunate, if your company provides CL for all associates.

Be sure to obtain CL access in the future Steve, and please say Hello to THABO, MAMA T and DENISE!! (Also...Charmaine!).

TTFN...DF99

 

[floridagirrl2]

We arrived yesterday at 3 PM and the Dolphin is awesome! We love the fact that there is 24 hour food and a large variety of restaurants to choose from.

Our room with kingsize bed has a mid-century modern beach theme--all aqua, blue, beige, and a rusty rose color, with aqua glass-fronted doors to all the cabinets and drawers, and blonde woods. Very light and festive. We have a view of the lagoon and swan boats.

The beds are indeed heavenly! Neither of us slept well last night, but I think it was the excitement of being at Disney that kept us awake!

We walked right into the Rose and Crown yesterday at 5 pm (without PS reservations) and had a delicious dinner. We walked around the World Showcase and, while there were lots of people there, the lines weren't bad at all--no more than 5 minutes waiting for anything.

Today we will hang out at the hotel, possibly buy athletic shoes at the outlet stores, and do some shopping over at the Magic Kingdom. Too hot (to me) to really "do" the parks until about 5 PM. When it cools off, we'll do the WS again and sample the food and wine (we were too full from the Rose and Crown to do much sampling last night).

Thanks again to everybody who responded to this thread. We are really happy we chose the Dolphin. We will be at the Pop Century for 3 nights at the end of this month (gotta do the Festival again!)

 

[dreamflight99]

Originally posted by floridagirrl2
We arrived yesterday at 3 PM and the Dolphin is awesome! We love the fact that there is 24 hour food and a large variety of restaurants to choose from.

Our room with kingsize bed has a mid-century modern beach theme--all aqua, blue, beige, and a rusty rose color, with aqua glass-fronted doors to all the cabinets and drawers, and blonde woods. Very light and festive. We have a view of the lagoon and swan boats.

The beds are indeed heavenly! Neither of us slept well last night, but I think it was the excitement of being at Disney that kept us awake!

We walked right into the Rose and Crown yesterday at 5 pm (without PS reservations) and had a delicious dinner. We walked around the World Showcase and, while there were lots of people there, the lines weren't bad at all--no more than 5 minutes waiting for anything.

Today we will hang out at the hotel, possibly buy athletic shoes at the outlet stores, and do some shopping over at the Magic Kingdom. Too hot (to me) to really "do" the parks until about 5 PM. When it cools off, we'll do the WS again and sample the food and wine (we were too full from the Rose and Crown to do much sampling last night).

Thanks again to everybody who responded to this thread. We are really happy we chose the Dolphin. We will be at the Pop Century for 3 nights at the end of this month (gotta do the Festival again!)

What a VIVID and COLORFUL description!! ~We also love the Rose & Crown! No lines?...HEAVENLY. I am in complete agreement with you about the HEAT, and parks. We never usually venture out until close to 5pm all summer. It's one of the reasons we choose to stay so long, (so we are able to relax, take it slowly, and experience all we wish to enjoy!). Hope your stay continues to be MAGICAL, and you have a FAB time!! Be sure to take-in the Boardwalk...and stroll around the promenade in the eve. It's always lively and fun! Thanks for posting!!

TTFN...DF99

 

[floridagirrl2]

Thanks, DF99. We arrived home from our weekend trip yesterday afternoon. As always, we had a magical time--definitely enhanced by staying at the Dolphin and being within walking distance of Epcot. We didn't use our car the entire weekend.

On Saturday, the Food & Wine Fest was much more crowded (as expected), but the crowds just made the experience more festive. We didn't go to Epcot until 6 PM (after spending a few hours at the MK) but had a blissful 3 hours sampling the food & wine. I had a glass of Moroccan white wine and a glass of Iron Horse Fairy Tale cuvee (a sparkling white wine that I chose for the name--luckily it turned out to be delicious).

The only tiny criticism I have of the Dolphin was that areas of the lobby were quite smoky. I think they must let people in the meeting rooms smoke, as those were the lobby areas that were smoky.

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by Tikiman
I would still like to maybe try the Swan but I will not return to the Dolphin. There are many who have loved the Dolphin but I am sorry to say I am not one of them.

Steve--Large conventions are going to block out rooms in the Swan and even some the Disney EPCOT area hotels. Prior to the opening of CSR S/D had more convention space than all the other Disney hotels COMBINED. If you stay at S/D during a large convention you won't be happy. S/D even closes the Grotto pool for some groups.

The POLY is unique in that it has almost no convention facilities. You'll never get that business feel that you might even get at GF.

 

[jwfla422]

Not to knock what LewisC just said but about 2 years ago we were walking by the beach of the YC/BC after coming back from Epcot and there was a huge party thingy going on for HP on the YC/BC beach with Disney characters dancing with HP employees and thier kids and all.

Pretty tough to explain to a 3 yr old that you can't see the characters here because it's a "closed" convention party for "other" people (that's right out in the open). If they were to have characters like that, they should have thought about having them out of sight or in a tent from passerbys. I didn't think this was right especially if we were staying at the YC/BC. You can flame me all you want but I was really suprised. Maybe this was a party for HP but it wasn't appropriate to have characters right there in WDW that children would see and not be allowed to meet. (while other children could)

That time just sticks in my mind that the Disney owned resorts can also be "corporate" and we certainly got a business "feel" that time, something we've never experienced at the S/D even with some of their big conventions.

 

[swilphil]

Originally posted by Lewisc
If you stay at S/D during a large convention you won't be happy. S/D even closes the Grotto pool for some groups.

I totally disagree with this statement. I think the Swan Dolphin does a great job of having most of the convention activities out of the main traffic areas. I don't even know where they hold their meetings, but it's never been in any of the areas where I've been. Plus many convention goers bring family members who are doing the parks just like we are. There are definitely far more park goers than people walking around in business attire. I've never understood why seeing a couple of people wearing a business suit could ruin a person's vacation anyway. Sometimes I think people just look for things to complain about. If the worst thing that happens to me on vacation is that I see someone wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase, than I'll thank God for a great trip.

During our stay at the Swan there were at least 3 conventions going on, and I only knew this because I asked people. They did close the quiet pool at the Swan one evening for a few hours but gave plenty of notice and set it up so others wouldn't even walk by. Stay at the swan, you'll love it.

 

[simonmunro]

edited because I spaced out!!! I've stayed at the Swan/Dolphin for over a decade and have never been bothered by the conventions.