Just got Dolphin on Hotwire!

[palmtreegirl]

Back in August we tried Hotwire for the night before we check into our DVC and received the Dolphin. DH and I were talking yesterday and we both agreed that we wished we woud've done 2 night instead of just 1.

So I figured it wouldn't hurt to try for the extra night since you don't have to purchase till you see the choices. A choice came up for the same price as in August(111.00) with the same amenities and star rating so I crossed my fingers and purchased it and lucked out and got the Dolphin again!

It came up as a 4 star with Restaurants, swimming, fitness center, business center, golf, tennis and laundry icons listed, the rpice was 111.00. Both dates were for the end of Feb.

 

[Susiesnowflake]

Good for you!! How nice to have everything fall together like you wish. Have never stayed at the Dolphin...or Swan but I've been reading all kinds of positive posts. Have fun in Feb!!

 

[CDizney]

Palmtreegirl,

I have a question about using Hotwire. I put in the dates for my trip which is the beginning of January. The first hotel on the list had a "Customer Favorite" quote next to the box with a little thumbs up. It was a four star hotel matching the all amentities you wrote down but I noticed this hotel had a spa and you didn't mention a spa icon in your post. Do you think this is the Dolphin or Swan before I book it?

 

[Kimberle]

CONGRATULATIONS!!

I'm afraid to try "those" sites!

 

[iluvwdw_2002]

Correct if I am wrong all you WDW experts. But I believe the thumbs up resort with the Spa is the Swan. I would wait for confirmation before click the reserve button though.

Have a wonderful trip!!!

 

[EpcotBill]

I think the Customer Favorite with the spa might be the Wyndham Palace at Downtown Disney. I don't think the Swan or Dolphin have the spa icon.

 

[swilphil]

You will love the Dolphin. It's a great place!!

There have been several other threads about what exactly you need to look for to get the Dolphin. You can do a search to find them. There are also some websites that list the amenities given for different hotels. One is betterbidding.com

I think Epcot Bill is right. The Dolphin is not the hotel listed as a customer favorite, at least it wasn't a few weeks ago. I'm not sure how often those listings change.

 

[CarolA]

If the hotel is a Customer Fav read the comments. They sometimes give a LOT away. For example the Wyndam (which does have the SPA icon) normally has a comment that it is within walking distance of DTD.

However, I saw one yesterday that I think was the Swan with the SPA option. The reason I think it was the Swan was a comment on the beds with the white comforters which the heavenly beds have. My plans were not firm so I could not select it and try. It was also $112 and the Wyndam usually comes in the $76 range.

 

[palmtreegirl]

I have a question about using Hotwire. I put in the dates for my trip which is the beginning of January. The first hotel on the list had a "Customer Favorite" quote next to the box with a little thumbs up. It was a four star hotel matching the all amentities you wrote down but I noticed this hotel had a spa and you didn't mention a spa icon in your post. Do you think this is the Dolphin or Swan before I book it?

I just checked on this site- www.betterbidding.com and it said that the Swan comes up with the same amenities as the Dolphin. Hopefully someone can help who knows for sure, all I know is it's definitely not the Dolphin, it didn't have a spa icon or the customer favorite quote.

Also when I did mine I only checked the Walt Disney area only box.

I hope this helped, good luck!

Edited to add- I just found a post on BB that said the Swan did come up with a resort icon, what is the price that's coming up? Is it 111.00?

 

[palmtreegirl]

CDizney- I just went to Hotwire and put in some dates in jan and i think the one you mentioned came up, it had all the Dolphins icons plus the spa one. I read the customer feedback and it sure sounds like the Swan it said it "The hotel was very conveniently located to Walt Disney World. " and also said they loved the comforter cover, it made it look clean. The Swan has the heavenly beds with white comforter covers. The price that's listed on this one was 152.00 a night.

I wish I could tell you for sure what it was! Good luck!

 

[ScottOKW2K]

The one listed at $152 per night is most likely the Swan. This can be confirmed this way :

If you click on the customer feedback button, in addition to the SPA and RESORT icons, it also shows the LAUNDRY icon. This is usually associated with the Swan/Dolphin pair. BTW, the Dolphin - to my knowledge - has not shown up on Hotwire with a SPA or RESORT icon.

In addition, keeping the same dates where this hotel is shown as available, select PACKAGES on the top menu. Put in something as your departure city, and Orlando as your destination. When the hotel list comes up, select sort hotel results by star rating. This will list your available resorts, 4 star listed first, with HOTEL NAME and AMENITIES listed.

And you will see that the only one with Resort, Restaurants, Pools, Fitness Center, Business Center, Golf, Tennis, Spa, and (under detailed information) Laundry , is ......

Ta Da ------ The Walt Disney World Swan, A Westin Hotel !

 

[EpcotBill]

You're right Scott. I also searched it as a package and found the Swan with all those amenities. How about that, they added "spa" to the Swan.

 

[missdisney]

I'm very happy for you! I want to try hotwire but I am not that brave. I do have one question, what fees if any did you have to pay to hotwire?

Thanks

 

[iluvwdw_2002]

I also was wondering about fees. And do you have to pay the entire amount upfront? I have never used Hotwire, but if I can get the Swan or Dolphin for $152, I am will to take the chance, but just wanted to know what all is required in order to get the great rate.

Thanks!!

 

[palmtreegirl]

Originally posted by iluvwdw_2002
I also was wondering about fees. And do you have to pay the entire amount upfront? I have never used Hotwire, but if I can get the Swan or Dolphin for $152, I am will to take the chance, but just wanted to know what all is required in order to get the great rate.

Thanks!!

You have to pay the full amount upfront before you see the name of the hotel, you will see the star rating, icons and customer feedback first though. If you see the exact rating and icons listed on here in this thread or at betterbidding.com then it's most likely the Dolphin or Swan. Once you book there are no refunds, although hotwire does offer a travel insurance for a small fee.

Just make sure that it's the Dolphin or Swan, if you have any questions as to what hotels comes up after your search just post here for help first before you book it.

Good luck!

 

[palmtreegirl]

Originally posted by missdisney
I'm very happy for you! I want to try hotwire but I am not that brave. I do have one question, what fees if any did you have to pay to hotwire?

Thanks

I just had to pay the standard room tax per night. Total 131.95 per night.

The D & S may charge a $10 per night resort fee but people have reported getting the fee waived at request.