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

[dreamflight99]

Originally posted by zurgswife
Dream thanks for your opinion....We are a family of six...2 adults and 4 kids under 12....I'm thinking that a Exec. suite probably is a fine fit. and wasn't sure of any extra amenities that might be different from the Exec suite....

We have the Exec suite booked so I probably will stick with it unless besides the table with chairs there is a huge difference that we might notice...

You should bge FINE & DANDY in the Exec suite! The only diff between the two is the table & chairs. Otherwise...they are the same. If dining is available in a suite...I prefer the full use of an adjacent pantry/kitchen. Yet, we continually set-up a microwave/fridge in our exec suite on the counter above the mini-bar (next to the sink). We sit the microwave atop the fridge/freezer. We thoroughly enjoy the convenience of these appliances, and I would strongly urge anyone spending a week or more at the Swan/Dolphin to do the same!

Originally posted by Samsmadreamflight99 - you say the west wing would be closest to the grotto pool etc.? Would the far west wing look onto EPCOT for a view of Illuminations. I'm having trouble orienting myself for some reason. I have requested room 9025. Does it have a balcony, and would it be in this far west wing. If not can you suggest some room numbers that have:

1. Smoking
2. View of Illuminations
3. Convenience to Pool/Laundry
4. Balcony

Asking a lot huh? But I do have points and am willing to use them for these requests.

You are currently reserved in the Far East Wing, Top floor (which is all smoking), w/o a balcony (if my schematics are correct!). The balcony would be rooms 9023, 9021, 9019, 9017, 9015 (Corner King balcony with the additional TURRET BALCONY). The view of illuminations will be phenomenal from these rooms. All of your requests are met in these above listed rooms, with the exception of #3. For this request, you will need the Far West Wing, outer rooms (end of Wing/hall) top floor. You MUST specifiy the Epcot View, or you will end up facing MGM. Your room location is great (just move to the left/right one room, for the balcony), and you can EASILY access the pool with some knowledge of the layout. I can give you the directions to the pool w/o ever entering the lobby, or seeing many people! LOL! We take the little-known routes through the property, as we are always "soaking" wet & eager to reach our suite!

Originally posted by 2002DisneyBride
Beds: 2 Queen Beds
Room Features: Club Room Non-Smoking, Concierge Level, Continental Brkfst, Evening Hors D'Oeuvres, Turndown Service, Whimsical Themed Room Loctated On Royal Beach Club Floors With Access To The Private Royal Beach Club Lounge.


Now I should be on the 12th floor with this, correct? Is there a particular room I should request?

Also, when I checked my ressies, the special requests that I spoke to the reservationist about (i.e. a remodled room with heavenly beds) they weren't listed... so should I wait and discuss it with them at checkin?

also can I prepay my hotel stay?

You definitely have a room reserved on one of the Club floors (12-14). Request a PARK VIEW, so you are not viewing the PARK-ING LOT(opposite side). Also, most of the time the "requests" do not appear on the reservation (SPG site). But, you should call to insure these are listed on the main/central reservation request. Yes, you may Pre-Pay your stay by phoning either reservations (directly) or the accounting offices of the resort (directly). These offices are open M-F.

disnurse~Congrats on the new laptop! I LOVE my Sony Vaio, and use it while on "location" all over the world! Wireless internet is awesome for the laptops, as it renders the device completely independent and accessible EVERYWHERE! Of course, DSL is the way to go for the FASTEST service. Six months free trial...is that AOL? You have been on my mind since the disaster news hit the West. Hope all is well for you and your family.

Mouseteacher...I agree w/Janet....are you SURE you don't need an XRAY? There are SO many bones in the foot...it's easier than we think to fracture one. Please, have this checked-out if the swelling has not subsided by tomorrow am.


Janet....WOW, nice upgrades (no extra $$?) and beautiful pics! DD has the DISNEY SMILE upon her face! She looks genuinely happy and comfy too. I'm so happy to read all went well, and thank you for posting the links to these beautiful pictures. Is Chaddie 100% recuperated?

Enjoy the weekend. Still saddened by the news of the tragedies in the two night clubs, and of the young transplant patient in Duke U. Hospital. I needed some release, and went via Limo to see "George Lopez" in concert last eve. We sat VIP in the front row...and DH & I laughed so hard my cheeks hurt. Nothing lifts the heart like uproarious, uncontrollable laughter! It was worth the while, and fabulously entertaining. TTFN...

 

[zurgswife]

Mouseteacher...as far as the foot...it is sometimes difficult to find some types of breaks....I had a fracture in my ankle and it took many extras and even an MRI to finally find the break...about 4 weeks of time...I was miserable the entire time...they used many types of braces trying to relieve the pain but it wasn't until I had a standard cast that things began to heal...

 

[disnurse]

dreamflight, t
hanks for the kind thoughts and words. This disaster has really hit rhode island hard. I can't stand to watch the TV anymore.
The internet services are both aol and earthlink for 6 months but I have cable modem at home and a dial-up that only services local RI number so I'm not sure if I want to bother loading up my new dell.

 

[csmommy]

disnurse would you PLEASE check you PM's!

 

[csmommy]

Oh, & I just read on another thread that the resorts now DO transfer you stuff from a Disney resort to the Swan! I am doing a chair dance, DH will be so happy, & everyone will get the resort they want!!!

We will do AKL the first 3 nights & the Swan the last 3 nights!

Any thoughts on upgrades, room info, checking in, etc... if your stuff is transfered over for you?

 

[dreamflight99]

LOL...I ALWAYS have had my luggage transferred to/from Disney resorts to the WDW Dolphin w/o adieu! I know I've read MANY posts regarding this issu...but I've transferred SO many times over the years, and no one has ever said "no" to my request. In fact, when we were at the Ole' Dixie Mansions (Oak Manor, my FAV) many years ago...the bellman came to the DOOR of our room to P/U our luggage, transporting it onto a cart...down the elevator, to a little golf-cart, then over to the Dolphin. It was in the Bellman's storage/holding room upon arrival/check-in to the Dolphin! I'm thrilled to read it's now part of the POLICY...so there are no discrepancies. (Happy, HAPPY DANCE!!).

Disnurse...DELL! Great system, as I'm using mine now! I upgraded my older (only three years, but hey...)Compaq this Christmas to the Dell Pent. IV, with the 22 inch flat digital screen. It's the Ultra Sharp model...and a fab way to view all of you and your posts! I'm very pleased with the Dell, and find the system incredibly advanced. I purchased the top of the line, with all the bells and whistles...so it will only take a few months (as opposed to the usual week) before it's obsolete! LOL!

zurgswife..."ouch", sounds VERY painful. Thank goodness you pursued this trouble, and found the culprit. I've heard the foot is very tricky too. My DS (RN) tells me this every time I twist/injure mine! DD fell, and suffered a "class three" strain to her ankle/ligaments. It remains "weak" and what Docs refer to as a "Trick ankle".

Hope you are feeling better today Mouseteacher. Please, let us know. We are all concerned about this fall, and your well-being. With all the Nurses on this thread...you're in GOOD HANDS!

csmommy...Happy Chair Dance, Indeed~! I wrote about the transfer above. Your luggage will be "held" awaiting your arrival. It's very smooth and trouble-free. Just keep all the "valuable" items in your personal possession. Everything else should be fine. As for upgrades and room info....just follow the advice of everyone on this thread. Janet just returned from a wonderful stay at the Swan, and she was humble (shy) in her request for upgrades...but received a beaut! I'm sure she is more than happy to offer details/assistance with regards to the process, room info, etc.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Hello Everyone. I have a question that I don't think has come up before. Has anyone transfered points from one hotel's program (in my case Hilton) to another (in my case Starwood). They matched DH's plat level already. He has ALOT of points with Hilton but we would rather stay at the Swan than DDHilton. Any thoughts? Thanks.

 

[Pkdcoastrs]

Great news again!

We called and we given a rate of $199 (Teachers rate)for a Swan Studio!!!! I saw the pictures of WDWIG and the remodeled rooms look AMAZING!!! Has anyone stayed in one of these yet? How are they compared to a normal room at the Swan or Dolphin?

What is the size comparison of a Swan Studio vs. Dolphin Junior suite?

EDIT: I was also wondering since we now have a SPG Gold card, what would the be the upgrade if we booked either a Swan Studio or a Dolphin Junior Suite? Would be get a bigger suite?


Will the Dolphin be finished being remodeled by July?

Thanks in advance lol!

Mike

 

[csmommy]

Originally posted by Disneycrazymom
Hello Everyone. I have a question that I don't think has come up before. Has anyone transfered points from one hotel's program (in my case Hilton) to another (in my case Starwood). They matched DH's plat level already. He has ALOT of points with Hilton but we would rather stay at the Swan than DDHilton. Any thoughts? Thanks.

I'm not really up on this, but I know it has been discussed here:
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=3086485#post3086485

If you can't find what your looking for ask, everyone is really nice & very knowledgable.

HTH

 

[RobMax]

They wouldn't transfer my points back when I changed plat, but I didn't press them on the issue. Let me know what you find out.

 

[Mitla96]

Here is a link to pictures of the Swan suites. I think these are old-don't see the Heavenly Beds

http://www.swandolphin.com/explore/rooms_suites.html

The best thing about all of these suites-if you click on Larger View, they all state "sensational views"!

 

[Mitla96]

I know this is off subject, but I wanted to share these pictures with my fellow Swan and Dolphinites. We went to Gatorland one morning and it was well worth the trip. You can definitely do Gatorland in 3-4 hours. Be sure to visit their web site to print out the $3/person discount.

Here are some pictures from our visit to Gatorland last week:

Alligator Wrestling Show

http://msnusers.com/corgifile/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=8

Feeling Hungry?

http://msnusers.com/corgifile/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=9

This is my very brave daughter. It cost $10 to do this (after the Alligator Wrestling Show), and we also bought a nicer than this professional picture for $10. His mouth was taped-my daughter said he felt "squishy and dry"

http://msnusers.com/corgifile/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=10


Gatorland is my favorite "Old Florida" attraction. It is actually quite educational and fun. Enjoy!

 

[KelliR]

Mitla96 ... thanks for those Gatorland photos! They brought back wonderful memories of MY first visit to Orlando ... I think it was in 1977?!?

I took my DD13 there about 8 years ago. We still talk about it! And now I think it is time for another visit with my DD5. You are right, it is a great place for a little "break" from all the Disney action! Thanks for the memories!

 

[WDW2000]

Dreamflight99 ....

I have a CL room booked at the Dolphin and had a few questions/concerns I was hoping you might be able to help me out.

It is really important to me to have a room with a nice view, and I know I'm setting myself up to be dissapointed since unlike other Disney resorts, there is no way to guarantee a good view at the Dolphin with the CL rooms. (I am a new starwood member w/no points) My question is are there CL rooms at the Dolphin with bad views?

I requested a SMOKING room, with 2 beds, w/ special request for "Heavenly Bed", and requested an Epcot view. Do you have any suggestions on improving my chances of getting a nice view? Was wondering if I should limit my requests to just the view, to better my chance. Also, what's the worse view I could get?

 

[Mouseteacher]

WDW2000 ~ I stayed on the CL floor - 12th floor and our view was poor. A good view was not a priority for us since we were hoping for a comp upgrade to CL which we got (we booked a standard room on the teacher rate). Just so you know, there are rooms with lousy views on this floor.

 

[Pkdcoastrs]

WDW2000,

We had a Club Room at the Dolphin last year!

We originally started off with a view of the front of the resort (parking lot side) but you don't actually see the parking lot, etc...because you are so high up! You actually see a lot of trees and all the way straight you see the Magic Kingdom and all the hotels near it! We liked this view but really wanted a view of the Swan/Epcot so we switched to the other side (and had to get a new floor).

To tell you the truth there is no "bad" view! You can't see EPCOT fully one way or another unless you have a room on one of the arms from the main structure which aren't "Club Level".

 

[Tigger Woods]

Does anyone know if there are patio rooms (or something similar) at the Dolphin? I have a 'resort and lake view' room booked, and since I have 2 young children, I don't care for a balcony. My wife and I are smokers, but never smoke in the room. I'm wondering if I'll be doing a lot of walking just to have a smoke.

 

[disnurse]

Can anyone help me with room locations for club level at the dolphin. Glad to hear both sides views are ok. Are there central elevators to CL, if so how much further are they to tubbies and the pool. Also wondering if the walk to the elevators is really long, etc. We are planning on upgrading to CL but now I'm not sure I want to give up pool view and balcony.

 

[dreamflight99]

Wow...Mitla, thanks for the PICS of the GATORS! Makes me yearn to make a stop there this summer. It certainly looks like a lot of fun.

Disneycrazymom...sorry to inform you, but SPG refuses to accept any point transfers from ANY program, outside of it's own. I certainly wish this were not the case, as I have oodles of others!

Hello, Mike! Great rate at the Swan (studio). LOL....Oh, how I WISH the Dolphin would "upgrade" from a Junior suite to a LARGER suite, but this is not the case. The largest upgrade available, usually only to Plat. SPG members (upon availability) is the Jr. Suite (from a standard ressie). I have to pay the AP rate for the Exec. suite, but still get free CL, and the resort fee is waived automatically! So, the extra PLAT PERKS are worth the $$ for the suite. I'm HOPING the renovation will be almost completed by July/August. Time will tell.

wdw2000...Your requests are all within reason. Your chances of obtaining a good view (Epcot) are fabulous, as the foundation has been laid. Most guests simply do NOT make requests for these things, and many are traveling on business, and could care less about the view. If the resort knows this is a PLEASURE vs. BUSINESS trip, they usually take extra measures to insure you enjoy a view, along with your other requests. I agree with pkdcoasters...There are truly no bad views (imoho) on CL, as the opposite side looks towards the CSR, MGM and the wilderness. You are so high up in the tower (12-14 stories), there are no BAD views on CLUB LEVEL! She's also right about the EPCOT VIEW...you will not be "facing" Epcot, so the view will be at an angle. But, everyone reports the view is FABULOUS! They can see illuminations and MGM when facing the Swan. I'm sure you will be very pleased with your accomodations. Make sure to STRESS the View as the most important aspect of your requests.

Mousteacher...are you feeling better?

Tigger Woods...YES, there are beautiful PATIO ROOMS on the bottom floor. The Patio has sliding door access, complete with two chairs and a table. The Patios are all surrounded by shrubs and landscaping, making them private and quiet. They are wonderful, and would suit your needs completely. Please, permit me to extend Kudos to you and your wife, for not smoking in the room. Your concern for the welfare of your two young children is clearly evident (the balcony hazard), and I applaud you for taking the extra measures to be able to smoke outside. I have family which do this too (even while at home), and I think it is so considerate and wonderful! You can still keep the "Resort/Lakeview" room reservation, just specify the GROUND FLOOR. You will be very pleased with these accomodations. Keep me apprised of your findings/plans.

 

[dreamflight99]

Originally posted by disnurse
Can anyone help me with room locations for club level at the dolphin. Glad to hear both sides views are ok. Are there central elevators to CL, if so how much further are they to tubbies and the pool. Also wondering if the walk to the elevators is really long, etc. We are planning on upgrading to CL but now I'm not sure I want to give up pool view and balcony.

Central Elevators are "right around the corner" from the buffeteria and the pool. The walk to the elevators is not long at all! Perhaps you could keep the pool view and balcony, and use points for the CL privs upon arrival/check-in at the Dolphin? I never stay ON CL, but ALWAYS have CL Privs! It IS feasible, and offers the BEST of both worlds! LOL. Enjoy!