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

[dreamflight99]

Fantasia Sam...That would be correct! 10,000 Pts will make for many upgrades... Enjoy!

 

[adisneyfan2]

I just posted a poll about favorite resort views from the Swan & Dolphin. Please stop by & vote! Thanks

 

[jgates]

Dreamflight- I committed!!!!! Last half of July 2004 - The Swan again!!!!!! I couldn't stand it any longer. If Kendra complains cause it's not the Dolphin I'll use her big brothers old fav saying - bite me! I haven't even dared to tell her yet or it will be the LONGEST 20 1/2 months of my life...........

Now I can work on getting the upgrade next year from Corporate level to Platinum so I have Club again for sure. So much easier with the diabetes to get something quickly to eat when I need it. Besides, as I mentioned - I AM A CLUB LEVEL ADDICT!!!!

RobMax - All I did was email spg on their web site (using the contact us area) and inquire about the availability for upgrades/discounts for stockholders and they sent me the info that is listed further back in the thread and upgraded me right away & responded to my email the next day. My new card is supposed to be arriving in a few weeks along with hard-copy info on the Corporate/Stockholder benefits.

Not quite as high up the ladder as Platinum but maybe easier to upgrade from there.

 

[Mouseteacher]

Mainebound

Way to go!!!

I'm very happy for you.

 

[dreamflight99]

CONGRATS MAINEBOUND on the GOLD UPGRADE! Way to go! Perseverence and tenacity truly PAY OFF in these situations. I'm so happy you obtained the upgrade. Welcome to the "second tier" of the SPG ladder!

adisneyfan2...I VOTED! I also replied to PP's hilarious post! LOL...

jgates...I KNEW YOU COULD DO THIS! Hooray for you!! I think DD will be thrilled just to be going, and not worry so much about the Dolphin over the Swan. Just tell her the Dolphin was FULL, and/or the Swan has some fun things and new rooms you wished to try! (The BITE ME is always a last resort! ). I TOO am a "CLA", and find I can no longer stay on a regular floor in ANY resort which offers Club Level services! It's like flying First Class on the airlines...I did this once, years ago, and have not flown coach since! I just can't get myself to reserve anything else. It's a SYNDROME of sorts, psychosomatic~LOL! It takes more WORK and EFFORT, but I guess I'm willing to go the extra mile to obtain what I want. I live by the adage: "Never settle for mediocrity" and also love Thoreau...."The funny thing about LIFE is, if you REFUSE TO SETTLE, You NEVER have to." (even though he ended this aphorism with a preposition! HeHe). Of course...where there's a WILL, there's a WAY! Just use some creative strategizing and delegating...and you're half-way there! Fun, Fun, Fun. Life is too brief to sell yourself short. Go for what you want...and if that's CLUB LEVEL at the DOLPHIN, SO BE IT! Shoot for the moon, at least if you miss~you'll still be among the STARS!

 

[montessori]

Hello!
I need help!
I mean I need psychiatric care.

A while ago, I realized I had forgotten to confirm my Boardwalk reservations with a deposit. I went nuts! We are talking about Veteran's Day weekend...The Food and Wine Festival, the art show, Soaps Weekend! I couldn't get a room at the Inn so I reserved The Swan, with the Teacher's discount. I reserved a resort view/ balcony room, it was more money but I really like a balcony. I feel kind of claustrophobic without being able to open a window or doors to the outside.
I asked Wendy at DU to keep checking the Boardwalk and, lo and behold, she got us a water view room with Florida resident discount. I felt a little torn. I had psyched myself up to trying the Swan. But, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Boardwalk.

Well, in the last few weeks, circumstances at home have changed drastically ($$$) and I almost canceled everything.
I can't bear to do that though!
I canceled the Boardwalk ressie. It was a pretty good deal but still more money than the Swan.
I switched the Swan ressie to a standard view room. I am scrimping and saving every which way, getting my vacation envelope filled with cash!

I got my Starwood card in the mail.
I have ZERO points.
Is there something I can do now to help ensure we get a room we will like? I'd really like a balcony and a room that has been recently renovated.
I read through the multitude of posts on here and I get confused.
I drive myself crazy, alternating between worrying that we'll get the worse room in the place, and rejoicing that we are even able to go to Disney World!
Any tips on helping make our weekend at the Swan a success will be greatly appreciated!

 

[dreamflight99]

JUST RELAX...YOU HAVE YOUR RESERVATIONS IN PLACE...A VERITABLE "ROOM AT THE INN"...WITH ONLY THE "DETAILS" REMAINING! First of all...congrats on keeping your plans in tact. I wish you a wonderful time at the Swan. Next...please FAX/EMAIL or CALL in your "requests" for a preferred view w/balcony. Most importantly, nicely Explain your "claustrophobia" (w/regards to a window room) to the associate at the Front desk upon check-in. Check-in as EARLY as possible, (First-come, First-serve), and ASK for an upgrade. Explain the details, and plead (if necessary). Tell them exactly what you have written here in your post (You've had to change plans more than once, and you are just thrilled to be at the SWAN and WDW, etc.!) Be honest and concise. Dreams come true every day at WDW & the DOLPHIN & SWAN. I hope all your dreams come true. Bring some extra pixie dust and a little more magic when you go...it never hurts! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

 

[montessori]

Thank you, Dreamflight!

Thank you so VERY much for your informative, encouraging, and uplifting response. You are so generous with your expertise and your time, I appreciate it and I know many others do too!
I'm better at communicating through words (can't you tell?) than I am in person. I hope I can convey my preferences at the Swan without coming off as pushy and demanding.
I feel much better having read your reply and I am excited and looking forward to our stay at the Swan!
Thanks again, Dreamflight!

 

[jgates]

If you don't end up with a balcony, I would suggest taking a nightly stroll over to the Boardwalk. Sit outside the bakery or along there somewhere and let the traffic flow by. It is sooooo relaxing and watching the people wander by is a blast.

Windows are nice and big so I doubt you will feel claustrophobic with the drapes open, even without a balcony.

 

[montessori]

Thanks for the reply, Jgates,
We really won't be in the room much. We do spend most of our non-park time at the Boardwalk whenever we go to DW.
I will do what I can to get a balcony but if I don't I won't get upset.
I am not truly claustrophobic, it's more an "obsessive/complulsive" kind of thing!
I like to open a window, especially first thing in the morning.
I like the comfort of A/C but, even here in HOT south Florida, my husband and I spend almost all of our time on our screened back porch. We just like fresh air.
We are looking forward to the Food and Wine Festival and the art show. It's a particularly good art show.
The weather should be a touch cooler that weekend too!

 

[adisneyfan2]

Are their CL rooms with balconies and resort views? Or is it balcony VS. CL? Wondering what to request for our first visit at the Dolphin.... Already got deluxe balcony under nurse/teacher rate, but interested in trying to upgrade to CL with SPG Gold. But now I'm confused, and wonder if this will mean giving up the balcony. (This is the vantage point from which we will probably have to view fireworks, etc. with our special needs son.) Any advice appreciated! (And thanks for all the help and advice so far!)

 

[RAV]

adisneyfan2- you may obtain CL priv. without being on that floor. We prefer to be on the lounge level but you don't have to stay on that floor.

 

[pigtail]

We will be staying at the Dolphin for the first time Dec 27 thru Jan 5. We have AP rate. Would love Epcot view. What floors/side of dolphin do we ask for to try to see Epcot from our room. Any particular room numbers? Thanks.

 

[pigtail]

We will be staying at the Dolphin for the first time Dec 27 thru Jan 5. We have AP rate. Would love Epcot view. What floors/side of dolphin do we ask for to try to see Epcot from our room. Any particular room numbers? Thanks.

 

[Mainebound]

I'm very curious about what kind of views you get on the Dolphin Club Level, too. From posts I've read, there seem to be no balconies on CL, but what about views? Even DF99, our expert, doesn't actually stay on the club level when she visits. The rooms are the same on CL or not. Are there really no great views from that level? Should we try to get CL privs but stay on a different level?

 

[Muffy]

I would like to know what I should request prior to arriving at the Dolphin? We have Plat. SPG so, of course, we are hoping for a Jr. Suite! But should I request a certain floor or just let them put us on the CL floor? This will be our first visit to the Dolphin! We leave in 61 days!

 

[dreamflight99]

Club level is designated as any room in the Central Tower on floors 12-14. The Club level lounge is also located on Floor 12. The central tower is the LARGE PYRAMID in the photos on the Dolphin page. I, personally, prefer the FAR EAST WING. It is more quiet, and I especially LOVE the view. The rooms are "unobstructed" on this end (Just as they are on the opposite Far West wing facing MGM), with the Spaceship Earth Globe easily visible through the windows and sliders. I also love to watch the storms approach (always from this area) and the activity of the friendship crafts as they pass to and from the resorts. I can see the YC, BC, BW, Epcot and the Fabulous illuminations fireworks show...and even some other resorts in the distance. I prefer the upper floors of this wing (anything above the 5th), which offer the best views of the WORLD. Since I am Platinum, I have Club Privs from ANY room/location in the Resort. So...the room type is all a matter of preference. I stay in a 2-room exec. suite, with no balconies. None of the suites have balconies, nor do the Club level rooms. It does not bother me at all...as I love the giant atrium windows in the rooms of this resort--and the astounding A/C system. I have stayed in several of the balcony rooms, and truly rarely used this feature (too many mosquitoes in the summer for moi!). If you would like various room #'s, I'll offer some--just ask. The far end of the wing is very popular, offering spectacular views of the Epcot area. The Corner King rooms offer a little of BOTH views. The Club level rooms offer views of both MGM & Epcot (when you are close to the window and look both directions). I just seem to find the Far East View serene, calming and centering...especially in the midst of all the MAGIC! Enjoy!

 

[montessori]

Just a few questions about my stay at the Swan,

Who do I ask for when I call?

Who do I address an email to?

Who do I fax a request to?

Why can't I stop worrying about this???

Thanks!!

 

[Muffy]

Thanks for all the great info, Deamflight99! The far east wing sound great to me! I will ask for it a few days before arrival. I also appreciate all the info on Plat. SPG! I can't wait to find out what perks we get with it! I am expecting an upgrade for sure and have fingers crossed for the far east wing!

Muffy

 

[dreamflight99]

Montessori...Go to the www.SwanDolphin.com website. Look for the Email for reservations. Send in your requests to the resort (Directly). The FAX number will be listed here as well.

Muffy...GREAT! Rooms 5017, 5019, 5021, and each subsequent floor above with similar numbers (MAKE SURE THEY "FACE" EPCOT...not inside towards MGM--which is across the halls from these rooms) are Fabulous. PLAT will get you just about everything at the Swan/Dolphin. The resort fee is "waived" and all the amenities are YOURS free of charge. You will be UPGRADED to the nicest room available (including a Jr. Suite if available/and desired), with CL privs automatically applied. You also will receive your choice of amenities upon check-in. I would list them...but you have to leave SOMETHING as a SURPRISE~!