Empty mini-bar at the Dolphin?

[HoosierFantasia]

I thought I read somewhere that you can request to have the mini-bar emptied for the length of your stay and then can use the mini-bar for your own stuff. Was I dreaming?
If so, how much was it? $20 sticks in my head.
Is it cold enough for milk?
TIA,

BIll

 

[SeattleMark]

Yep, I just asked this question earlier. It's $20 for your stay and yes it's cold enough for milk.

 

[HoosierFantasia]

Thanks SeattleMark
I thought that was the case.
I wonder if there is enough space in there without emptying it for a 1/2 gallon of milk.

Bill

 

[jwfla422]

I don't think that'll fit with the other items but if you buy the smaller juicebox size you can spread them around the frig and since they don't have to be refrigerated you can bring a dozen or so and just put a few in there at a time and add more as you use the others. (since you might prefer cold milk --i know i do).

Hey Bill, looks like we'll be there at the same time!!

 

[bigsky]

We went recently. We stopped and got groceries and a cooler. It broke so we emptied everything out of our bar fridge and put our stuff in it. When we checked out, we just put all their stuff back in. We were never charged.

 

[bballmom56]

I thought I had read that on previous threads - that you can empty the mini bar yourself, use the fridge, and not be charged. It was suggested that you notify them in some way that you are doing this so they don't charge you for items from the fridge. Just keep all the stuff together and put it back when you leave.

 

[dreamflight99]

Originally posted by bballmom56
I thought I had read that on previous threads - that you can empty the mini bar yourself, use the fridge, and not be charged. It was suggested that you notify them in some way that you are doing this so they don't charge you for items from the fridge. Just keep all the stuff together and put it back when you leave.

100% CORRECT! Empty the mini-bar yourself...at no charge. Yes, I also noted it is more convenient to contact the room service manager, and have your name removed from the service roster (the "mini-bar" associates responsible for checking/refilling the fridge will knock each day if you do not do this!) by informing her/him of the "removal" of the contents. Assure this manager you do not intend to "consume" any of the contents, and will simply replace them prior to your departure. There is no fee associated with using the minibar for personal use. Also, please keep in mind an in-room fridge is "FREE" of charge if necessary for any medicinal purpose (to maintain the integrity of meds/prescriptions through a constant temp). Just ask at the desk or prior to arrival via email request. Hope this helps.

 

[kap10]

Do the deluxe resorts have mini bars that this would also apply to?

 

[spooers23]

Be very careful not all the mini-bars at the Swan and Dolphin are stay refrigerator cold. Most of them can not keep milk and dairy products cold enough from spoiling.

 

[Charleston Zurg]

We removed everyting from the fridge and then put it back when we left. We were not charged.

Off the subject, I graduated from ISU in 98. Lived on Center Street and was a waiter at Garfield's in the mall. We are leaving for Bloomington today, a 12 hour car ride. Going to the 500 with friends.

 

[HoosierFantasia]

Thanks for all the info. I think I might just empty it myself and see how that works. I will probably take a grocery sack to put all the stuff from the mini-bar into and hide in a suitcase so I I wont be tempted to eat it.

Jwfla422 - IF you see a bunch (21 people) all wearing personalized bright yellow or lime green shirts, thats likely us. Say hi!

Charleston Zurg - fellow Sycamore! Such a Small World.
As many times as I have eaten at Garfields (especially pre-Fridays coming to the mall) I probably would recognize you. Have a safe trip back to Indiana and enjoy the race. I hae money on Sam Hornish Jr.. I am not a big Penske fan but I think he has a good shot in this wide open field.

Bill

 

[jwfla422]

YOU BET!!!! We'll have our lime green bandana attached to dd's stroller...maybe we'll see you

 

[swilphil]

Originally posted by dreamflight99
Empty the mini-bar yourself...at no charge. Yes, I also noted it is more convenient to contact the room service manager, and have your name removed from the service roster (the "mini-bar" associates responsible for checking/refilling the fridge will knock each day if you do not do this!) by informing her/him of the "removal" of the contents. Assure this manager you do not intend to "consume" any of the contents, and will simply replace them prior to your departure. There is no fee associated with using the minibar for personal use.

Does anyone know if you can empty the mini-bar yourself at the Swan as well as the Dolphin. I'm going to get a small styrocooler, but would like to use the mini-bar for some items that I don't want to get soggy. Someone also posted that the mini-bar fridge in some rooms is not cold enough for dairy products. Has anyone had this problem at the Swan?

 

[#1hockeymom]

Like any hotel minifridge, it will be luck of the draw as to its coldness capability. Same rules for emptying out the fridge apply to both resorts. I highly recommend writing the note as to wear you stored the minibar items so they are easy to find by the minibar attendant. You're going to love your stay be it at the Swan, or the Dolphin!

 

[bballmom56]

Hi Sherri ~ We used the mini bar at the Swan, but I didn't empty it. I had asked at check in and the CM didn't seem too keen about the idea of me emptying it. I forgot Dreamflight's words of "contact the room service manager". DUH! I'll remember that for next time. But we still were able to put some small items in there. Ours did keep containers of chocolate milk sufficiently cold. We had purchased a stryofoam cooler at the grocery stop and that worked fine, too.

P.S. I PM'ed you about another topic (although I forgot which topic at this point )

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

We called room service and had them empty it for us and yes it was $20 - I think it was worth the price since a fridge rental was $10 per day. It saved us $50 and it was pretty cold.

I am a bit concerned to hear that some people are emptying the minifridge themselves and storing the items in a suitcase to put back before they leave - I don't think that is very considerate for the next guest that may want to actually buy something from the mini bar only to get a skunky beer or spoiled juice because the person before them emptied it out and stored it improperly - PLEASE if you empty the fridge out yourself call roomservice to pick the items up so that they can properly store the cold items.

 

[CarolA]

I would never try emptying the mini bar myself. At that point they have the right to charge you for EVERYTHING you have removed. I would make sure you get permission and the name of the person who gave you the OK. (Of course this could explain why the one time I tried something out of the Swan Mini bar it was so gross I had to go ask for a refund, it had been in and out of the mini bar 10 times!)

I can pretty much gurantee you that if you do this at ANY other hotel you are going to get charged. (I had a coworker try it!)

 

[swilphil]

I kind of feel odd about taking stuff out myself. Since we will have a styro cooler anyway, I can put all the big stuff in that, and then put the cheese, yogurt and deli meat in the minibar since it doesn't take up much room. If that isn't working out for us, I'll just pay the $20 to have it emptied for us.

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by Disneyglobegirl
We called room service and had them empty it for us and yes it was $20 - I think it was worth the price since a fridge rental was $10 per day. It saved us $50 and it was pretty cold.

I am a bit concerned to hear that some people are emptying the minifridge themselves and storing the items in a suitcase to put back before they leave - I don't think that is very considerate for the next guest that may want to actually buy something from the mini bar only to get a skunky beer or spoiled juice because the person before them emptied it out and stored it improperly - PLEASE if you empty the fridge out yourself call roomservice to pick the items up so that they can properly store the cold items.

ITA. I really don't like the idea of someone putting the mini bar stuff into their suitcases until they leave! Yucky! I read on these boards how some use their empty suitcases for dirty clothes and now we can just imagine the minibar stuff going into it now! I don't care if it is drinks that can spoil or candy that can't. The last place I want it before my kids eat or drink it is in someone's suitcase. Gross! Please let someone come in and take the minibar stuff out for you. I don't care if it costs $20. Do it!