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

[WolfpackFan]

Question 1) Can you purchase the UPH passes at the Dolphin and if you do can you have it on your room key or is it separate?

2) How flexible have you found them as far as dropping the first and last days off the UPH? Seems silly to pay for the first day when we won't arrive until 4-5 and the last day when we will leave around 6 in the morning.

Thanks.

 

[adisneyfan2]

I don't know if this is true all the time (since it seems like the more times you ask, the more answers you get!) BUT we were told LOS passes automatically include arrival and departure days. CM suggested considering purchasing separate UPH passes (NOT with room), then unused days wouldn't expire.

 

[dreamflight99]

adisneyfan2! The LOS passes begin on the day of check-in/arrival through the date of departure. I would either purchase the UPH pass, where the days do not expire.

I believe these can be charged to your room charge/key at the Dolphin. I have always used my AMEX and my Magic Kingdom Club card for the applicable discount. We bought our Annual Premium passes there this summer, w/o a problem We activated them upon entrance into Epcot through the international gateway.

 

[RobMax]

Well I have an issue I didn't think about. I need 2 booster seats. Do any of the companies you guys suggested allow 2?

 

[MOM POPPINS]

RobMax: We used your ride and were very pleased with their courteous and prompt service. We have used them twice and have been happy on both occasions. Now to answer your question. Yes we were able to get 2 seats for our little ones! On our first visit in 2000 we used Atlantis and were NOT pleased, but thats a whole other story. They tried to charge us more than the rate we were quoted. It was our first trip to WDW and did not get our vacation off to a good start. After having to dig through my bags and find the confirmation they accepted the price we were quoted. I have learned to carry a copy of the confirmation email with me, but not in my luggage, but in my husbands wallet. I have not encountered a problem since that time. Good Luck your almost there !

Happy Sunday all!~

 

[Debbie7452]

We did not need the last day of our UPH's that we purchased at the Dolphin Disney Desk and they just dropped off that day so we were not charged for it! I'm sure you could also drop the first day if you wished. This was a separate paper ticket from our room key.

 

[adisneyfan2]

Debbie7452, I wonder if you were lucky, dropping a day off your pass. We asked twice in the past, but without luck. Now we have APs as well, so don't worry about it anymore. When we bring someone without an AP along however, we buy PHP or UPH passes for a fixed number of days. That way if we don't use them all, at least it can be used up later.

 

[dreamflight99]

adisneyfan2...we now have the AP's (for years now), but way back--we too bought the UPH's. We wasted some days & $$$, as the CM's refused to "drop" the first/last (Travel time) days from the bill. I too would suggest to purchase tickets for a "specific # of days" to avoid ANY trouble. Tickets are costly enough, without added stress/worry. You are Fortunate to have contacted a nice CM willing to do this for you, Debbie!

 

[Debbie7452]

I'm getting confused about the tickets we bought. Remember this was our first Disney trip and we were a little dazed! When you refer to the UPH with a "specific number of days", are you talking about the Park Hopper passes (like 4 day PH you can buy at the Disney Store?).

What I remember is the CM asked me "when are you going to the parks?" We needed two days in a row. He then said "here is the pass you need". Maybe I did get the "specific number of days pass". I don't really know...

I totally relied on our very helpful CM to give us what we needed. I hope you can clear up my confusion so I will be more "with it" next summer for our trip. We didn't have time to use our UPH effectively at all. Our whole Disney experience was very rushed (just the opposite of DF's type of trip!). I plan to make up for it on the next visit. We run our own company though so it is hard to just get away without worries.

 

[emagirl]

Hi everyone, I just wanted to introduce myself. I've been reading all of these wonderful Swan & Dolphin threads all weekend and I'm amazed and the amount of information and detail you have all put into them!

I know I don't remember half of what I've read and I'll have to reread them.

The reason I came here is I've made ressies for the Swan for June 03 (I couldn't pass up the great government rate) and though my family and I have been to EDE often, we have never stayed at either the Swan of Dolphin.

I look forward to hearing of everyone's trips and tips from now till June and Thanks for all of the help you have already given me!

I have a quick question (the 1st of many, I'm sure).
I'm a bit confused about the Bell Services at these resorts. Do they not work the same as the WDW owned resorts or do you have to specifically request someone to bring your bags to your room (or else it is expected you are going to do it yourself)?
I've read so much it all is bluring at this point!

Thank you again and if you have any tips for me, I'd love to hear them!

 

[KelliR]

emagirl ... I thought that part about the bell services was confusing too. But I love the Dolphin and their bell men are great and work just like any other hotel. I guess you could take your own luggage up to your room if you want to do that ... but otherwise the procedure would be just like anywhere else. I have found the bellmen to be very helpful and informative and well worth any tip plus more!!!

 

[Mainebound]

Hi all,

I hope this is not too off-topic, as it relates to my stay at the Dolphin next spring...

After reading these boards, I came to believe that
1. Getting the SPG Amex results in an automatic SPG upgrade to Starwood "gold" status, regardless of how many nights you have stayed at a Starwood hotel, and
2. When you enroll in SPG program, you get a 50% off certificate good for one year at many Starwood hotels for a stay up to 5 nights.

Well, neither happened for me. No upgrade when I got the AMEX (I'm still just Starwood Preferred), and the certificate which I got in July expires in December. I just called SPG, spoke to "Lisa", who told me unequivocally that I am wrong on both counts. The ONLY way to get Gold status with SPG is to stay the 10 nights, and there was no promise of a one year certificate. If I don't use the one I have by December 31, it's gone.

I told Lisa that I had "friends" (folks on these boards) who had been upgraded to gold just by getting the Amex, and she told me "not to worry about what your friends are getting", and then told me to call AMEX to see if they were offering some deal to upgrade people. I called AMEX and was told by them that they do not upgrade SPG members.

So what do I do next? Give up?

Thanks for any info!

 

[Shelly]

Hanven't been here for awhile just checking in to see if there are nay new deals I should be aware of.

 

[Mouseteacher]

Mainebound -

I'd call back to starwood and hopefully get another rep.

I was a regular spg when I first applied. I hadn't applied for the starwood Amex card yet. After I received my Amex cc with # , I called spg and ask for the upgrade to gold (I followed the advice on these Boards that I saw back in July). I needed to give them my Amex cc #. The rep gave me my new gold spg #. I was upgraded although it took a while to show my gold status on the spg site. I also called the Dolphin to have them attach my gold # to my reservation.

Please try again and good luck.

 

[anitad]

I returned last Monday from a long weekend visit to the Swan. 5 days before checkin, I was told that I could upgrade my cash and points reservation to club level using my spg points. However, I must tell you that it was not easy. I was booked under 2 reservation numbers (1st. number for 1 night, 2nd number for the remaining 3 nights). when I called Starwood they told me that nothing was available for an upgrade for the first night, but to call back the following day (for nights 2-4) as there was availability. When I called back the next day, I was told that there was nothing available. I decided to call again the next morning. The service rep. told me that she would have to call the hotel directly. I waited while she called and when she returned she told me that it had been processed! I am glad that I kept at it!! We had a wonderful stay. I didn't want to be on 12 when we checked in because I wanted a renovated room. I was put on the 4th floor, newly renovated room with club access! It was great.

 

[NancyIL]

I started to post something from London last week -but my internet hour was up before I hit "submit reply"! We are enjoying our FREE stay at the lovely Prince de Galles hotel - thanks to Starwood points! Have to make this quick - before he internet goes dead again! I'll be home Saturday. TTFN!

 

[disnurse]

Anitad can you tell me how far in advance you upgraded( or tried to) I called the dolphin just to check on resie and they said wait untill check-in. I would be too worried that I wouldn't get it.
Question # 2- We are booked for standard room but have lots of spg points. What can we upgrade to besides clublevel and how many points will it be after CL 750/night

 

[Mainebound]

Mouseteacher --

Thanks for the advice. I did call SPG back, spoke to an awesome person named Juan. He had to put me on hold twice to check with his supervisor. He first said that my Amex had to be "platinum" but was not coming up as platinum. All SPG Amex cards say "platinum" but I don't think it means anything. Anyway, after checking again, he went ahead and upgraded me to Gold!

Persistence really pays!

 

[dreamflight99]

HELLO SHELLY! Glad you stopped by!

Debbie...UPH=UNLIMITED PARK HOPPER Passes with no designated DATES (these NEVER expire, and are for a certain # of days...3,5,7,etc.). PHP or LOS=dated tickets. These DO expire, and must be used on the designated days reflected upon the ticket/ticket info. Hope this helps. If you are unable to use the first/last days, etc. (Or due to rain, unexpected illness, etc.) the UPH is the BEST ticket to buy. You are able to use these days WHENEVER you wish...and can save the "left-over" days on tickets for your next visit!

emagirl...WELCOME! You'll LOVE the Swan. Congrats on your ressies for JUNE 2003! Now...just DREAM & PLAN. Enjoy~!

Mainebound...tsk, tsk. I only WISH you had the NAME of the associate @ SPG with whom you spoke. Unprofessional and totally unacceptable. PLEASE, go to www.spg.com and contact the CUSTOMER SERVICE department via EMAIL. Please, mail them ALL of your concerns, and add the contents of the conversation w/the SPG phone representative. Be concise and include details. I'm positive they'll be able to assist you with this matter. Let me know what transpires.

anitad...WOW! what a FABULOUS post! Thanks for the Monday-morning picker-upper~ . So happy to read you enjoyed the upgrades and newly renovated room. Are the "hallways" different (carpet?)

HELLO NANCY! I've been thinking of you over there in EUROPE! So glad you were able to drop in for a moment, and thrilled to read you are having FUN. Take care, stay safe, and keep smiling and enjoying the savoir faire! P.S. Have a safe trip home.

disnurse...the points vary from the 750 per eve to 1250 per eve. I believe the view/balcony can be obtained as an upgrade w/pts, as well as the CL. You usually can fax/email/call your request into the Swan/Dolphin several weeks in advance. Yet, Starwood prefers you call 5 days out from your intended arrival. Of course, you may ALSO obtain this at check-in.

TTFN...

 

[Fantasia Sam]

So guys if I transfer say 10,000 points to my spg which I can do from my normal UK Amex card I could request an upgrade through spg - would that be right?