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

[Disneycrazymom]

Thank-you DreamFlight. I called today and was also told they can not accept points from another hotel chain. It makes perfect since that they do not allow it, as the points were earned and "paid for" at the other chain. I was just hopeful. That is ok, there are many very nice Hilton locations and DH will be just as happy to to going somewhere besides Disney for Spring Break. I am thinking about Hilton Head.

 

[Mouseteacher]

WDW2000 ~ Just for clarification, our view was okay if you looked straight out to the horizon - you could see the Contemporary. If you looked down we saw the roof of the convention center and a small service area. We were so high up that looking down didn't matter - we just looked out! Also, the Club Room had such a beautiful view - that was the time I enjoyed looking out the window was when I was there for my morning coffee and my fruit and English Muffin. It was a quiet time (early morning around 7:00 am) in the Club Room with few patrons. It was such a relaxing way to start the day and wait for my family to trickle down and join me.

DF ~ the foot is getting better slowly. I did manage to get a shoe on for the drive to school but changed into slippers that look like clogs. The nurse helped me by wrapping and icing my foot throughout the day. Fortunately, I could do a lot of desk work and didn't need to travel my building visting classrooms. That is what I like to do with most of my days - really seeing education at work and knowing my faculty and students really well. It felt odd not to be about the building - I felt a little isolated.

disnurse ~ I didn't find the walk to the elevators long at all. We used the pool every afternoon and I used the Central elevators which were very convienent. I must say that I always felt more comfortable wearing a bathing suit cover-up as I made my way through the resort to go back and forth to the pool. But that's just me!

 

[disnurse]

Mouseteacher how did you make out today. I'm sure you were on that foot an awful lot today, you may need an x-ray if its not any better.

 

[RobMax]

Gatorland looks much nicer than Dog Land!

 

[Mouseteacher]

Thanks, disnurse for the inquiry. I did pretty well today. I still have some swelling but no pain and I can walk fairly well albeit gingerly. My foot is black and blue. Yet, I can move toes and ankle in all directions. It's just going to take time, I guess.

Mitla ~ Gatorland - terrific. It reminded me of my childhood trips to visit my aunts in No. Miami Beach and we went to watch alligator wrestling - that was in the early 60s... er, I'm dating myself now!

 

[RobMax]

"Disney's success doomed under-capitalized attractions and pale imitations. From Chiefland to Davie, St. Augustine to Palmdale, commercial graveyards testify to a world of lost tourist attractions. Dog Land in Chiefland, Everglades Tropical Garden in Clewiston, Florida Reptile Land of Lawtey, and the Sarasota Reptile Farm failed to survive the 1970s, joining a much longer fraternity of vanished tourist attractions."

http://www.player.org/pub/flash/people/dogland.html

 

[sm4987]

I finally DID IT! Tonight we booked the Swan for 12 nights in June. I had been booked at CBR, because I love it, but decided with DH, that we really wanted to try the Swan/Dolphin on the teacher discount. We booked a standard room. I am too excited. We talked to SP and they said we could upgrade when we go. If we decided not to, I thought I'd ask how any of you who have stayed in a standard view room liked it? Also how did you liked the water view? I am hoping that I love it as much as you wonderful people on this board.

 

[RobMax]

Way to go SM!

I made the switch from CBR to S & D and will never switch back. You are gonna love it!

 

[dreamflight99]

Proving Once again..."LIFE is STRANGER THAN FICTION"! LOL...


Hooray, SM! You have made a wise decision. It's so difficult to beat the Teacher's Discount offered by this Deluxe resort! You will LOVE your choice, making it difficult to return to another Disney Resort. Be sure to fill out the email request form on the www.swandolphin.com website, and clearly state your upgrade requests (ie: deluxe room w/view, balcony, etc.). This certainly seems to improve the chances of an upgrade. Enjoy!

Mouseteacher...I am so happy to read you are slowly improving and feeling better. I too, am not one to be "kept-down", a characteristic which can be "exasperating" in some situations! LOL. Hope you become much more mobile as the week progresses. Keep your mind upbeat and active, and the body will follow. All this, and no pain killers...correct? (Although, an anti-inflammatory may prove beneficial in your case). You are indeed, a strong woman.

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[Braque]

Be sure to fill out the email request form on the www.swandolphin.com website, and clearly state your upgrade requests (ie: deluxe room w/view, balcony, etc.). This certainly seems to improve the chances of an upgrade. Enjoy!

Dreamflight -

I am sure that this has been asked and answered many times before - but . . . going down in late June - when do you fill out the request form for an upgrade?
ASAP?
Three weeks before arrival?
One week before arrival?

Does anyone have a courteous, humble and pre-written upgrade request text that has worked wonders in the past and that they would like to share here?

Thanks

 

[sm4987]

dreamflight99 and RobMax-thanks for the support. This has been a long process! We have been going back and forth since last November! When I saw the hotels while watching the fireworks from EPCOT, I just had this I must stay there feeling. Then the old it's not disney thing kicked in. I finally just said oh well. I can always do a Disney resort, I want to take advantage of this rate while we can. SO I booked through Dreams Unlimited.

I was wondering if we can make those changes and request to the room through the swan website or should it be done through dreams? I've never used an agency before, so any help would be appreciated.

 

[dreamflight99]

Braque...ASAP, would be my answer. The sooner the better. I would then call again about two-three weeks prior to your arrival date, to insure the requests are indeed noted on your reservation. I'm sure someone has some request text they would be willing to share. If not, just make it simple and specific. Something along the lines of:

"We are looking forward to our first stay at the beautiful WDW Dolphin/Swan. We would like to respectfully request consideration for a possible complimentary upgrade (based upon availability) to a deluxe room with a resort view, maybe perhaps even a balcony. This would most definitely make our vacation/trip more magical and memorable. Your time and understanding of our request is greatly appreciated. Thank you. Sincerely, the ___ Family."

Or...whatever your heart desires.


SM...Dreams is GREAT! They should be able to assist you with your requests for a complimentary upgrade, etc. I recall, years ago, seeing the Dolphin/Swan for the first time. I was overwhelmed with a feeling of "longing" to stay in such a Magical Fortress! Now...it's an annual pilgrimmage. Yet, still...I remain in the original state of "awe" each time I pull up to the front entrance and begin the adventure! I have never let go of "Imagination's hand", never released the child within my heart.

 

[Mouseteacher]

sm~ I'm sure you will love your stay at the S/D. The teacher rate is awesome for a deluxe resort. We stayed for the first time last August and we were hooked!!! The location is the BEST! The resort was fun and quite accomodating. We are looking forward to a return visit soon.

I would e mail a request about a month before and then just a gentle reminder about a week before arrival. Keep checking the spg site if you are a member (I can't remember if you said you were) and you may see a surprise change on your reservation.

 

[sm4987]

Mouseteacher and dreamflight99-thanks for all the information. Yes we are SPG members. We did talk to them and they said with the points we could get an upgrade while we are there. I am so excited. I'm not even going to tell my children of our final destination. I'll let them think we are going to CBR, and when we pull up at the Swan.....I can hear the squeals. Although I'm not sure who will be louder, the kids or ME

 

[Mitla96]

Sm4987-

One of the fun things about the Swan Dolphin is that you can see it from all over Epcot. Here is a view from the World Showcase:

http://msnusers.com/corgifile/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=6

Here is walking back from playing Fantasia Mini Golf:

http://msnusers.com/corgifile/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=17

Robmax-

Dogland sounds like it might have failed ANYWHERE! At least gators have something to do with Florida!

Mouseteacher-

I went to high school in North Miami-we used to go to Parrot Jungle and Monkey Jungle with all the out of town visitors

 

[RobMax]

Originally posted by dreamflight99

Proving Once again..."LIFE is STRANGER THAN FICTION"!

That is unless you read Tom Robbins!

 

[kathmzh]

Mitla, great pictures! love seeing them. We're going to the Swan in November for the first time and can't wait.
SM -- great idea, not telling the kids! Wish I could keep a secret like that!!Good luck accumulating points and getting that upgrade!

DF, Love your pix of other wonderful resorts, you certainly know your destinations.

 

[RobMax]

Originally posted by Mitla96
Robmax-Dogland sounds like it might have failed ANYWHERE! At least gators have something to do with Florida!

Ah yes. And those were the days of heavily sprayed hair, blue naugahide seats, and dad's arm -- when the car was in motion -- that seemed able to reach even the rear facing 3rd seat of our wood paneled Ford Granada.

 

[dreamflight99]

SM~What a cute mental picture you have painted! Arriving at the Swan, full of surprise and excitement! Definitely, my kind of entrance. Your children will be so shocked, as the Swan is SO different from CBR. We stayed at CBR, and enjoyed the theme and layout, Colors. Yet, it just pales in comparison to the Dolphin/Swan and Location (IMOHO)!

Mitla...thanks again for the lovely pictures. We could actually see the Dolphin from the Top of the Peabody resort (CL). It made me smile as I sipped some hot tea...knowing we would soon be checking-in there! Anticipation...is SO underestimated.

Glenn...TOM ROBBINS! LOL!! You are TOO funny! Dad's Long arm...reaching to the rear-facing seats...LOL! "ARE WE THERE YET?" LOL.

Kath...Yes, and I would enjoy being able to see/do all of the pics I post!

 

[Zoo Keeper]

Just wondering,

Does the Swan still have "Norman The Doorman" on their in hotel info channel? My DD loved that the last timw we were there.

Thanks