Dreams Unlimitted res at the Swan/Dolphin

[cinjam]

HI All - we already have reservations at a moderate for 2/3-9, but we found out that since DH is a government employee we get an excellent rate at Swan/Dolphin. When I called Swan/Dolphin they said they were solidily booked on 2/5 (I cannot move my dates). But, when I go to Dreams Unlimitted's site to reserve a room - they have one available for the dates I want!!!!

What's going on? I've never used a travel agent before - I've always felt more comfortable calling a hotel directly - I like having complete control . I know Dream's is a sponsor of this site - should I just use them?

 

[lsayd]

and also could only get res. through DreamsRes (also a Fed Gov employee discount). We had no problems going through DreamsRes. One thing to note about the Swan that we did not know about until we were there - smoking is permitted throughout all areas of the hotel (not sure if the same is true of the Dolphin, but I would imagine so since they are both owned by the same company). People were smoking throughout the lobby and there were ash trays everywhere. If cigarette smoke bothers you, you may want to think twice. We also found the service and cleanliness of this hotel was not up to Disney standards (we stayed at the Poly. before going over to the Swan this trip and the All Stars Music last year), but that may have been our experience. In the future we will stick with only Disney hotels if staying on site (just my opinion!). Have fun (I'm sure you will) wherever you decide to stay!

 

[Michelle]

Travel agencies regularly get blocks of rooms from hotels, and such is the case with Dreams. That's why you can't get the same rate when booking through the hotel directly, or sometimes the hotel shows as sold out. If Dreams shows the room as confirmed available at your rate, and you qualify for that rate, then you can definitely book through them with confidence.

 

[stringercapecod]

We also made our reservation through Dreamsunlimitedtravel for the same reason. Our dates were unavailable with the Teacher rate but booked with no problem with "Dreams..". We stayed at the Dolphin in July,2001 and are very much looking forward to going back Presidents week, 2003. I am a reformed smoker and bothered by cigarette smoke and did notice the ashtrays near the elevators (they were always clean with a Swan/Dolphin logo pressed into the sand), but never saw anyone smoking anywhere.

I was very pleased with the cleanliness of the hotel and room. It was far better than the Contemporary which I found to be very poor, (room service trays left in the hallways for days, halls and stairways were never cleaned or vacuumed).

The location of the Dolphin is great, and the staff was wonderful. I guess it's the luck of the draw no matter where you stay. Good luck in your decision.

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Have to agree with Isayd, Definately the swan is smokers paradise, we have not found this true at the dolphin, but last august at the swan my asthma was in high gear. When we asked about it at the front desk they said they have a larger convention adult polulation & foriegn visitors so they maintain a very loose atmosphere. They even have a smoking "coffee / bar" near the back entrance you may use to smoke in. I told her I really wished I had known cause no way would we of stayed there. They even sell cigars in the "bar" in case you need them. So if anyone is interested in this kinda thing check it out, this is your hotel! MKY

 

[simonmunro]

Isayd: Did you have one of the newly renovated rooms?

 

[disnurse]

we also used dreamsunlimited as spg was showing no availability. The reservation is in the dolphin computer and I can use my spg card for points so its the same as booking directly. Never had any problems with smoking at the swan or cleaning issues. DS and I are both smoke-sensitive asthmatics and were fine.

 

[gschmerl]

Last July I called the Swan/Dolphin and was told that not only weren't any discount rates available for our dates, but there were NO ROOMS at all!! Went to Dreams Unlimited, booked the five nights at the Dolphin with no problem, and got two of the nights at the teacher's rate. They are great!!

 

[MLAinVA]

We are trying the Swan at a gov't employee rate in March and booked through Dreams for club level room. Have those been through the renovation process? And what type of concierge services can we expect?

 

[cinjam]

Thank you all very much for your responses!

 

[Bill From PA]

Forgive me if this has been addressed, but would a teacher get the room for $129 + extras going through Dreams?


Bill From PA

 

[Misti]

Yes, the Teacher's rates are available through DreamsRES. You'd be entitled to the same benefits of working with DreamsRES, too.

 

[Toadi]

Dreams is the best! I am also a fed govt employee and used Dreams for our stay at the Dolphin .. very easy, accurate, efficient ... recommended them to my friend for her family's first trip to Disney World and she was Thrilled!

 

[lsayd]

and the bed and pillows were wonderful. The only problem we had was the great, white down top comforter and the blanket were more suited to Alaska than Florida! The room would start out cool when we went to sleep, but since the AC was triggered by a movement sensor, the room would become warm and we were "kicking" blankets off (we never used the top comforters). The rooms were nicely decorated, however, and again the beds and pillows were very comfortable.