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

[RobMax]

Originally posted by MOM POPPINS
RobMax: We were given 2 car seats from yourride, We needed 2 seats in December and September this year and were given them on both trips. Did you encounter a problem asking for 2 seats ? Yourride has vans for the same price as the town car and they are very comfortable with plenty of room!

Thanks MP - they told me they are charging $96 rather than $80 for the van. Still a fair deal. So tell me - what's a fair tip?

 

[MOM POPPINS]

RobMax: I was charged 80$ on both trips, plus I used the 5$ of coupon on their website, so really was charged 75. This was for a large white conversion van. I looked a their site and it still says 80 so I don't know about the 96. We usually tip 10 each way Your time is almost here, have a great trip!

 

[dreamflight99]

Welcome to the party! Haven't seen you in a while, and I know the T.G. trip is nearing. Will you be staying in the SWAN, in a renovated room? I loved your reference to COLUMBO (LOL-love that show). You are absolutely correct about the "omission" of the "details" when calling SPG. Just state you have an: AMEX PLATINUM ACCOUNT~Period. Hope all is great with you and "M" (And MM too!). Stop by more often...it's always a pleasure.

Mouseteacher...we are having LOTS of RAIN here in Calif. My mind drifts off to the Sunny Scene over the monitor, of the Dolphin Resort Bathed in the glorious Florida Summer! Ohhhh...just 7+ more months...and I'm BACK HOME AGAIN...LOL.

RobMax...follow MOM POPPINS advice, and check the internet site (print the coupon too!). If the price is listed as $80, this is what the fee should be. They should NOT inflate this for the use of an extra car seat. Hope you get this all planned and ready...you are REALLY close!

 

[Mouseteacher]

DF99

Our 2 day touch of warm weather has me longing for the sunny, hot days of WDW and the Dolphin. Everyone thinks I'm crazy because I like the hot weather. I dislike the thoughts of winter. The only time I enjoy it is if we get snow for the Christmas holidays. Ah well... we can keep the magic alive with our memories, our photos and our videos. Oh, and reading these posts helps, too!

 

[adisneyfan2]

Do any of you ever wear a lime green ribbon? December will be our 4th trip & I've yet to see even one. Just wondering... and debating about sporting one of my own this trip!

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

adisneyfan2--- You will be in luck this time! DIS-Con: A gathering of Friends will be taking place from Dec 4-8. And ALOT of the attendees will be staying at the Swan.

So check out the DIS-Con Board Here and see when the mini-meets are!

See ya there, I will be at the Swan from Dec 3-14.

Debbie

 

[dreamflight99]

Of course...we have no snow. So, we go to Lake Arrowhead for the magic of the frozen crystals! I lived in NY for a long time. I know the Winters in the East can "wear out their welcome" and make you LONG for the HEAT/SUN. Just keep dreaming of the sun, and the fun we all LOVE in WDW! (Hope the trip w/kids is progressing well, too.)

LIME GREEN RIBBONS...I actually SAW some this summer, (first time) and spoke with some DISers on the Monorail! I forget all the names of the folks, but recall their friendly nature and happy disposition. We had great fun chatting about the DIS & WDW. Hope you both have a GREAT TIME at the DIS-Con. Enjoy!

 

[RobMax]

Just have to make up twop exams for the Tuesday and Thursday I am out of town and I'm golden.

I remember DF mentioning her dinner at Shula's - we will be going there for sure. The Unofficial guide seems to give a thumbs down for all the other S&D resturants. The bias may be that very few people have rated the other resturants (thumbs up and down %'s are in whole numbers - making me think 10 or so people) or that Bob Sehlinger just doesn't likle the S&D (which I seem to catch from his writing in the lodging section).

Anyhooo...

How about you vets rating the other resturants....

Horrible = 1
OK = 4
Excellent = 7

Cabana Bar & Grill
Comment:
Coral Café
Comment:
Dolphin Fountain
Comment:
Garden Grove Café
Comment:
Gulliver's
Comment:
Kimonos
Comment:
Palio
Comment:
Shula's
Comment:
Splash Grill
Comment:
Splash Terrace
Comment:
Tubbi’s Buffeteria
Comment:

Thanks - Glenn

 

[disnurse]

Feel like an olympian!!! GOT GOLD.. Just emailed them and asked to be upgraded based on my spg am. express, reply back that they would look into it, need another plat. card for upgrade. Hit reply and told them we have 3 am. express cards(which we do) and viola, you are gold. I'm sure they never checked for card status as two of the cards are hubbies and wouldn't be in their system anyways.
So about this gold, should we wait until checkin and upgrade to clublevel. Does anyone know if you get a better upgrade, we have always gotten one with reg spg card.

 

[sofifi97]

DF99,
You were right! I heard back from SPG customer service today and they've reinstated all of my 798 points!!! Thanks so much for suggesting this to me... and to all the posters on this board who's posts have helped me make some sense of this awards program.
Next I'll xfer some Amex membership rewards to fatten up my SPG acct a bit, then I'll dig out my Plat Amex to upgrade to the SPG Gold status.
As usual, I have another question... I know I'll need 750 pts per night for 'CL priviledge' upgrade, but a balcony with a view sounds nice too!! So I also plan to add an additional 1250 pts per night in case they'll upgrade me to a balcony. Am I right to assume that it will cost me 2000 SPG pts per night if they can give me both? If anyone has any room suggestions at the Dolphin that would be great.

Again many heartfelt thanks!

sofifi97

 

[jgates]

RobMax -

My rating of:

Dolphin Fountain: 6 Very Good
Tubbis Buffeteria: 7 Excellent

Tubbis had such a variety and everything tasted consistently good. I loved the fruit cup and the pizza was great for DS. My fav sandwich was tuna salad! It's so nice to get something to make everyone happy - quickly and easily. No long sit down waits.

Unfortunately those were our only two visits. We were Club so ate breakfast at RBC at Swan, sometimes an evening snack meal there. Otherwise ate at parks and a couple trips to ESPN club cause it is SOOO close.

Next trip I would like to try Coral & Garden Grove.

 

[dreamflight99]

Hi Glenn...you are almost THERE!

Here's some poll answers from l'il ole MOI!

I remember DF mentioning her dinner at Shula's - we will be going there for sure.

Smart move...best steakhouse in the AREA, Bar none!

Cabana Bar & Grill~5
Comment: Good eats here, reasonable prices.

Coral Café~8-10
Comment:Absolutely the BEST in the house for sit-down, besides shula's. Try the breakfast buffet & character BF. You may also order off the menu anytime.

Dolphin Fountain~8
Comment:Best Caesar salad (Chicken) in the place. Incredible ice cream concoctions, and a 7-scoop wonder in a big bowl! Give it a whirl!

Garden Grove Café~5
Comment: good, quick fare.

Gulliver's~8-10
Comment:Try the Fri eve SEAFOOD buffet with the Snow Crab! OR the American buffet with the Prime Rib. Delicious.

Kimonos~8
Comment:Fabulous japanese food. Great/Fun Kareoke and sushi!

Palio~8
Comment: Excellent ambience and italian food. Try the fettucine, spaghetti or the lasagne. Yumm...

Shula's~12
Comment: From the service to the food...five star all the way.

Splash Grill~8
Comment: EXCELLENT chicken strips and burgers, also a chicken breast caesar salad too.

Splash Terrace~7
Comment:good quick fare

Tubbi’s Buffeteria~9
Comment:Amazingly good/reasonable PIZZA, T-bone steak and burgers. Also, just about anything else from Krispy Kreme's to Slush machines are in there! Great place, open 24-7.

 

[dreamflight99]

Originally posted by sofifi97
DF99,
You were right! I heard back from SPG customer service today and they've reinstated all of my 798 points!!! Thanks so much for suggesting this to me...

No problem! I'm so glad it all worked out for the best! As I've written a Gazillion times...(LOL), it NEVER hurts to ASK!

As for your question, I would wait to see if you are upgraded to a balcony upon request as a GOLD SPG member before paying with the points. It does not usually require 2000 pts per eve for a balcony w/CL. Since CL has no balconies, they usually do not charge more for one (if you are requesting CL privs.). Go for the GOLD level next, and see what transpires. You are certainly on a roll!

 

[gschmerl]

Glenn,
I give Palio very high marks. I ate there this past summer and loved the atmosphere and the service. The food was GREAT!

 

[WolfpackFan]

I am still somewhat confused as to what the various upgrade levels are at the Dolphin. When I booked I got the lowest level room ($129/night). I assume from the Dolphin ressie page that this is called Resort View. The person who took my ressie asked me if I wanted Water View as the next highest rate (I think $179/night). I said no. But looking at the Dolphin page, it doesn't mention Water View. The next upgrade there is Resort View with Balcony, then Club Level. So does this mean that when I register and then get my SPG Gold upgrade it will be to Resort View with balcony and not Club level? What I really wanted was Balcony and Club Level. Is this even possible? I guess to get to my overal concern I plan on accumulating enough points between now and June for one upgrade (based upon 750 points per night). How does this work in conjunction with my SPG Gold status? You have to admit this is kind of confusing. My wife is sitting here and I just told her what the rack rate for the room we're getting for $129 is and she couldn't believe it. Then when you throw in SPG Gold and even points, it's an unbelievable deal.

 

[adisneyfan2]

I have faithfully read all the posts here and am still a little confused myself. I paid for the upgrade to Balcony/resort view, but now I have SPG Gold and would like to upgrade to CL priveleges. It sounds like CL rooms don't have balconies, but I also understand you don't have to be on a CL floor to take advantage of CL. Please correct me if I'm mistaken, but this is as I understand it:

If I reserve a std room, SPG Gold upgrade could get me a balcony (deluxe) room, but I would need to use additional points to upgrade to CL.

If I reserve a deluxe (balcony/resort view) room, SPG could upgrade me to CL priveleges with no points.

Just to be sure, are balcony and resort views separate upgrades?

Just when I thought I had it all figured out, I'm more confused than ever!

Thanks for putting up with us S/D SPG newbies!!

 

[hookedup]

Okay - I spent a bunch of time with the res agent asking these very questions - of course sometimes you can ask different agents and get very different answers - but here is what I was told.
SPG "Gold" upgrade - not done until check in would be an upgrade to a better view or balcony room depending on availablity when you arrive
Using points to upgrade - I was told 750 per night gets you CL privies. This can be done 5 days ahead of time before you leave via the SPG desk. I had heard on this forum that you need 1250 for a specialty 2 upgrade for club but the agent told me that was not the case. Now maybe that means CL privies and not being on CL level?
Not sure - I guess we will have to report back after each time we go to let each other know what happened!

 

[adisneyfan2]

I'm going to follow your lead and do the same thing. I will call and ask the above questions too, and report back....

 

[opal]

We have never stayed at the Swan (or Dolphin) before. We have ressies for the Swan at the Govt. rate and also for POR w/AAA discount for our trip in Jan. We have stayed at POR before, not our favorite but when we booked, CBR was off-line for the food court rehab. If we do go with the moderate, we will probably switch to CBR now that they are taking reservations again.

We have stayed in BWI and do love the Epcot area.

Which resort should we go for?????

 

[dreamflight99]

The upgrade to a better view/balcony room is more frequently offered as a FREE UPGRADE than the CL privs. I too, am under the impression a CL upgrade costs 750 pts. per eve. Please, when a Dolphin/Swan hotel reservation associate quotes you this price/pts...PLEASE, WRITE DOWN HIS/HER NAME. Bring this with you to the front desk in case of ANY discrepancy. With the name, it's easily avoidable.

opal...this is entirely up to you. CBR has already opened the NEW renovated food court. I've heard nothing but positive things about this place. Yet...you are asking the SWAN/DOLPHIN lovers which place to stay? I would bet everyone of us would say the SWAN/DOLPHIN. If I had to choose between a deluxe and a mod...I'd go Deluxe every time!