NEW...DOLPHIN/SWAN..."questions and answers"...tips and hints!

[christi]

Hi I am new to this thread although I have learnt a good deal about the Swan Dolphin from other threads. We have booked to go in October and I'm SO excited! The hotel sounds amazing!
Has anyone got any tips on what room I should request, there are 5 of us going dh, ds and 2 x dd. Also has anyone used Camp Dolphin? What can I expect?
Thanks a lot.

 

[Bell Family]

We will be staying at the Swan for the last night of our trip to WDW (Teacher's rate for 2 rooms - Mom is an educator). It will be my son's birthday the day we check in (daughter's will have been the day before). My parents have a Starwood card, but I do not think they have many points. We just received our temporary, so no points there.

What are the chances of getting a "view" upgrade? How and when do I make the request? Will a birthday help?

Thanks to you all for the help

 

[HauntedMansionFan]

Can anyone tell me anything about the Club Room level at the swan? Any pictures of the rooms or anything? I just book a Club Room, Concierege Level, located on the Royal Floors. Any help would be great!

 

[pewing]

Originally posted by Bell Family
We will be staying at the Swan for the last night of our trip to WDW (Teacher's rate for 2 rooms - Mom is an educator). It will be my son's birthday the day we check in (daughter's will have been the day before). My parents have a Starwood card, but I do not think they have many points. We just received our temporary, so no points there.

What are the chances of getting a "view" upgrade? How and when do I make the request? Will a birthday help?

Thanks to you all for the help

I would ask. I did...and I got an upgrade! I faxed a request to the Dolphin and asked for an upgraded view and got a great upgrade! I would definately mention the birthday and have your folks Starwood # on there too. Do you know if they are Gold members? That might be an extra push, but it couldn't hurt to ask

 

[jaygatz]

Thank you for your recent e-mail message concerning your Starwood Preferred
Guest account. We welcome this opportunity to assist you.

Upgrade Awards in Advance offer Starwood Preferred Guest members the ability to
use Starpoints to confirm an upgrade to a room type better than the one in which
they were originally confirmed prior to their arrival at the property. All
Upgrade Awards in advance are paperless to the member and to the property.
Upgrade Awards in Advance may be confirmed and ordered through a Starwood
Preferred Guest office only within 5 days of arrival on standard (pay)
reservations.

Upgrade Awards in Advance can also be combined with Preferred (free) Night Award
reservations. These upgrades are booked at the time the reservation is made. The
Starpoints costs for these upgrades are in addition standard Preferred (free)
Night Award costs and detailed below.

The number of Starpoints needed for a particular Upgrade Award is based on the
type of room to which the guest wishes to upgrade and the number of nights for
which the member wishes to upgrade and the number of nights for which the member
wishes to retain the upgraded room. The points needed-per room type and per
night-are as follows:

750 Starpoints per night Specialty 1 upgrade
1,250 Starpoints per night Specialty 2 upgrade
3,000 Starpoints per night Suite upgrade - Category 1 Hotel
4,000 Starpoints per night Suite upgrade - Category 2 Hotel
7,000 Starpoints per night Suite upgrade - Category 3 Hotel
10,000 Starpoints per night Suite upgrade - Category 4 Hotel
12,000 Starpoints per night Suite upgrade - Category 5 Hotel
16,000 Starpoints per night Suite upgrade - Category 6 Hotel


Please be advised also, complimentary room upgrades are upgrades to a Preferred
Room based upon availability. This upgrade is a benefit of the Gold Preferred
Level. A Preferred Room varies among the six Starwood brands. A Preferred Room
usually includes, but is not limited to, corner rooms, better views, or higher
floors. Starwood Preferred Guest Platinum Preferred members, receive an upgrade
to the best available room, including selected suites, at the time of check-in.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I hope this helps you...it really did nothing for me

 

[Debbie7452]

Hello to all S/D lovers!

It is a great day for me because I just discovered I have been "tagged"! Hurray!

Another important development is that my DS (4) just learned to ride a bike. Wow is he excited about this! So far he only has a scraped up knee to show for it. He rides great but has trouble with the STOPPING part of the equation.

DF- come on down to Houston! It's not so bad here...You already have a friend in town (me!).

 

[ozziewags]

jay........thanks for the informative post. There have been lots of questions about this lately. It is interesting that the email you got is the old point system. The SPG website posts a more current listing of points for upgrades, but the S/D must not be using it yet, according to the people that have used their points recently.
The following was copied from the SPG website:

Starpoints Required Options

1,000 Specialty 1 upgrade for Categories 1 - 4
*(this is for view, or balcony)

1,500 Specialty 2 upgrade for Categories 1 - 4
*(this is for club level)
S/D is a category 4 hotel

1,500 - 1750 Specialty 1 upgrade for Categories 5 - 6


2,500 - 2,750 Specialty 2 upgrade for Categories 5 - 6


3,000 Suite upgrade in a Category 1 hotel


4,000 Suite upgrade in a Category 2 hotel


7,000 Suite upgrade in a Category 3 hotel


10,000 Suite upgrade in a Category 4 hotel


12,000 - 16,000* Suite upgrade in a Category 5 hotel


20,000 - 25,000* Suite upgrade in a Category 6 hotel



Contact your Customer Contact Center to Redeem Starpoints for a Room Upgrade

 

[dreamflight99]

I "rely" upon these daily quips to maintain my "PIXIE DUST" levels! Anyone? Anyone? (Bueller....LOL).

Jay...LOL. Reads like "jibberish" to moi! Definitely difficult to discern. Thanks to OZZIE for deciphering this with her post! At least we can all be clear as to the PTS necessary for a desired upgrade. According to the website, the points necessary for these upgrades have "increased" greatly. I believe most persons have been charged 1250 per eve for the CL upgrade (recent reports).

christi...Dolphin Club is WONDERFUL! It has always been well-maintained and operated by caring counselors. DD truly enjoyed her time there in years past, and many have reported the same (of recent visits).

madge...I would definitely urge the acquisition of the SW AMEX CC. It may prove to be more beneficial to you (for the Swan/Dolphin) than the Disney Visa. Your room rate is astonishing ($69+), and sounds like a hotwire/orbitz, etc. promo. If so, please...call the resort directly and personally "inquire" as to the rules associated with this rate. Some of these rates are strictly for "standard" views, and can not be upgraded using points or cash. Also, no SPG points are accumulated while staying under some of these promo rates. It's a great idea to know the rules/parameters ahead of time, so you are not disappointed/shocked at check-in. If this rate is "upgradable", than...by all means, ASK for a complimentary upgrade prior to arrival. You may almost ALWAYS acquire a last-minute upgrade at check-in (using points/cash). ENJOY!

Debbie7452....Congrats on your TAG! And...also on your DS learning to ride a bike. These are the milestones which measure life/time. Take note, and a brief moment...to "soak it all inside".
The "stopping" part seems to affect us all of our lives...LOL. The most "common" collision is a "fender-bender" caused by someone having "trouble with the STOPPING part of the equation".
*Thanks for the warm welcome and invite! I'd only have to be there (Houston) for 18 months...maybe less. Then, on to CC or EAFB.

 

[jaygatz]

how'd you get that awesome rate???

(Thanks for raising this question, I needed to see my timer again )

 

[Muffy]

Did you use cash and points for the 69.00 room rate at S/D? Is it a secret or can you tell us about this rate?

Muffy

 

[dreamflight99]

Absolutely MAGICAL! "Nuff said. In respect your right to privacy...and to protecting your little slice of "heaven" inside the gates! I'm thrilled for you...and hope you are able to obtain everything you want with this ressie, and more. I've actually heard of some persons (staffers) paying $25 per eve. Wonderful PERKS of the trade. Enjoy!

 

[Muffy]

Sounds like you must know Mr. SwanDolphin! Congrats on the wonderful rate!

 

[madge]

I've actually heard of some persons (staffers) paying $25 per eve. Wonderful PERKS of the trade. Enjoy!

does anyone know if employees of airlines get any sort of discount at the S/D or other WDW resorts? My brother and his girlfriend are thinking of joining us, and I was curious if he can get a deal on a room--he works for Continental (but won't fly us to FL--doo doo head )

 

[disnurse]

Well just checking in from the dolphin, its fabulous here. As beader reports its pretty empty, at check in they told us it was near 100% but I think they all went home when we got here. The boardwalk is empty at night.
Dreamflight you are so correct regarding the wonders of clublevel here. We have had nothing but positive things so far. The weather is great.

 

[BCVNovember]

Question 1 - I read that there are WDW ticket desks at both the Swan and Dolphin. If I buy an AP before I get there (I'm in Ohio) I know I will only get a voucher, but can I turn in the voucher at these hotel's ticket desks, or would I have to go to the closest park's guest services to do that?

Question 2 - I have a reservation already made through WDTC. Can I make another reservation for the same dates at the Swan/Dolphin through an agent like Dreams Unlimited, or would I have to cancel the WDTC reservation first? I read DU's website and it appears they make reservations through CRO, right? And I also read that if WDTC sees multiple reservations for the same dates in their system, they will cancel the later made ones? Is that right?

Thanks!

 

[jaygatz]

ap vouchers necessitate that you go to a park to exchange them for a pass...it only took us five minutes to exchange 3 vouchers.

You can make another reservation...I've held many at one time...also, SD are not rented through disney's system

 

[Mouseteacher]

madge - a friend of mine is a flight attendant for American. She received an airline discount last year at the GF which included concierge. Please do check into this at Disney resorts.

Congrats on your terrific rate and for being in the right place at the right time. I feel lucky to qualify for the teacher rate and that the S/D offers this. Also, S/D has the cash and points program that is another deal for those collecting spg points.

Wow, disnurse, EMPTY? Lucky you. The World presents itself so differently when its attendance is down... not good for the business but wonderful for those of us who are lucky to visit at a time to experience this. I have been there twice where I experienced low attendance. I remember walking down Main St. in the MK with literally only a handful of people nearby and feeling like I owned the World! We took pictures to try to capture the moment.

 

[ozziewags]

Disnurse and Beader...........love getting your messages from the MAGIC........keep them coming. Beader....how was MGM? Love that park!

 

[madge]

madge - a friend of mine is a flight attendant for American. She received an airline discount last year at the GF which included concierge. Please do check into this at Disney resorts.

I definitely will let him know--thanks so much!

 

[Beader7]

Hello all!!
Tuesday we spent the day at MGM. The crowds were THERE!! Waited 1-1/2 hours for Rock and Roller Coaster. Was WELL worth it. I loved that ride!!! Fast Pass on TT, it seemed to take MORE dips than 5 years ago! The parade was awesome. Got to see all the caracters there, DD was sad she did not get a picture with Stich. Lilo was there instead. So we will be going back on Friday, I am sure. Great Movie
Ride still down. DD's were so sad they could not see the hand prints. Muppet show was different than last time also. It was really good. Ate at the Prime Time Cafe. We had the best time!! A group from england sat next to us and had us in stiches!! Pleasure Island in the Evening. DD's were sad there were little to NO teenagers there. It was actually pretty empty. Went to the Comedy Club, it was so funny!! Spent 3 hours in the Adventurers Club. I LOVE that place. I recommend to anyone to go there!! We loved it!!! Drove to Cocoa Beach today. Downtown Disney tonight. The DD's want to go to Planet Hollywood. Oh yes-Mama T is so great!!! My DH told here he is gonna miss the great coffee when we leave, so she packed a bag of 10 packages for him. She is such a happy person!!!!!

Animal Kingdom in the morning, then MGM in the evening for Fantasmic(?). The weather is still great. The crowds at the parks have picked up, but this hotel is empty. Wonder where all the people are? The lot is FULL of cars.

Shopping time now. Have not done much of that yet!!!!

Sandy