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

[jaw62901]

I currently have a reservation for 8 night Dec 26 to Jan 3 at Swan for a Club Level Room with a King Size Bed. However for about $40 a night more I can upgrade to a Jr. Suite on the Club Level. This will be my major vacation for the year and want to stay in as much luxury as possible. If it is on the Club level, does that mean I have conceirge services as well.

I will be going by myself if that makes a difference.

Any information would be great.

Thanks,

 

[dreamflight99]

Thanks for the MUSIC radio link! Now, I'll be dreaming more vividly about WDW each day.

Thanks for the info about the POINTS, Jay. I believe some have been charged 1250 per upgrade to CL. OOPS....not good. Surely hope they are remibursed/credited.

Yes, mouseteacher. Especially with the airfare rates I saw on DELTA today! RT from LAX to MCO, $215.00! WOW...that's as LOW as I've ever seen it. Amazing bargain.

Jason...YES, you will have Concierge services! That's a GREAT deal for a Jr. suite. What a Luxury and TREAT you are giving yourself. I certainly agree with your philosophy...and love to take care of "moi" also! Hope you have a wonderful time, and the planning is one of the BEST parts of the journey. Enjoy.

 

[Muffy]

Thanks DF! Yes, I did inform DS to request the resort fee be waivered because of Plat. SPG. They will be there at 2:00pm today! I know they will LOVE the Dolphin and the corner king with double balconies! Tonight they have reservations for Emerils new restaurant, Tchoup Chop at the RPR for 9:00pm. They are thrilled to be dinning at this new restaurant! I read some wonderful reviews on the Universal trip report board here on the DIS. It may be worth checking out for those planning WDW trips. You WILL need a rental car to get there though.

I'm going to checkout the music radio link! Thanks!

Muffy

 

[jaw62901]

I called Swan this morning and am now being told that I could upgrade my Club Level with a King size bed Dec 26 to Jan 3 to a Jr. Suite, not for the $40 a night more that I was told last night , but for $65 more per night. I got my club level room for $209.06 and the Jr. Suite would be $275. I really want to stay in luxury, but is the extra $65 really worth it.

Any feed back would be great.

Thanks

 

[KelliR]

jaw62901 ... since you will be by yourself, I really don't think you will need the suite. IMHO since the suites do not have balconies, they are not my favorite. I would much prefer a King with a balcony. And then I would spend that extra money per night at some nice restaurants ... Shula's one night, Kimono's another night ... you get the picture!

 

[madge]

Yes, mouseteacher. Especially with the airfare rates I saw on DELTA today! RT from LAX to MCO, $215.00! WOW...that's as LOW as I've ever seen it. Amazing bargain

:::stomping feet like a two-year-old:::

that is NOT fair. it is cheaper to fly from LAX to Orlando that it is from Kentucky.....

 

[kmr]

Have you tried Southwest? That is the only airline we fly now. We go out of Providence, but my bother lives in Manchester, NH and uses them out of there with great success.

They are almost always on time, inexpensive, and have a great frequent flyer program. I know they have early morning direct flights out of RI - you can check Manchester on www.iflyswa.com. It's really simple to do on-line.

Good luck - I hope you are able to make the trip down this summer.

 

[madge]

Have you tried Southwest? That is the only airline we fly now. We go out of Providence, but my bother lives in Manchester, NH and uses them out of there with great success.

I love SWA....they haven't released dates past Sept 8 yet and the rates for the summer are pitiful nothing less than $183 (before all the fees) on any airline. Fall is sometimes cheaper, so I am still hopeful....if it doesn't come down then we'll just make the 13 hour drive instead

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I just applied and was approved for the Starwood Amex, does that automatically get me gold level status? anyone know for sure? I should have plenty of points earned for a specialty 1 upgrade (from balcony to Club, hopefully keeping the balcony and getting priv. ) I just wasn't sure if I get the bump to gold or not.

 

[bigsis1970]

Hi madge, Thanks so much for the information .. I have good riders as well and the assortment of games, books on tape, coloring things , CD's and Players.. I won't be traveling at off times however.. My trip from Mco will be leaving around noonish and then traveling back from KY around 10 .. i will have some traffic to fight I am sure... Michelle

 

[madge]

I won't be traveling at off times however.. My trip from Mco will be leaving around noonish and then traveling back from KY around 10 .. i will have some traffic to fight I am sure...

leaving around noon will put you in Atlanta at the end of evening rush....that might get ugly. I'd be prepared to bribe the kids, LOL One thing we do in Atlanta is use the HOV (carpool) lane, it seems to go more smoothly when we do that. Of course, your return trip puts you in Atlanta at rush hour, too...at least you know what to expect ahead of time.

Are you from Orlando? I don't know if you'll think Atlanta is all that bad after dealing with the long, skinny parking lot AKA I-4

have a safe trip!

 

[dreamflight99]

Originally posted by KelliR
jaw62901 ... since you will be by yourself, I really don't think you will need the suite. IMHO since the suites do not have balconies, they are not my favorite. I would much prefer a King with a balcony. And then I would spend that extra money per night at some nice restaurants ... Shula's one night, Kimono's another night ... you get the picture!

Right you ARE, Kelli! I have to agree here, Jason, and urge you to take the nice KING, w/Balcony on Club level. Since you are already on CL, the suite would only offer more room, etc. The King is a large room, with a spacious "feel". Now, the price has exceeded practicality...(this is a SIGN), then just relax and keep the wonderful ressies you currently hold. If you wish, you can always "ASK" to be upgraded to a Jr. Suite (if one's available) upon your arrival at the resort. You NEVER know unless you ask. The associate you speak with may be filled with Holiday spirit, and oblige!

Muffy...please, let me know what they "say" about the Dolphin accomodations after they have checked-in, etc. We always dine in Emeril's in U.C.W., and have ressies there again for this summer. I am interested in their review of Emeril's new restaurant in the RPR. Thanks for all the updates & info!

madge...don't feel badly about the $$ of the airfare. They are so difficult to figure-out. I've seen them for less from SF-MCO. The $215.00 will not benefit us, (we fly FC), as we bought tickets last fall. At least you have the "option" of driving down! I can assure you, these low rates from LAX-MCO have me wanting to take a quip hop there this weekend, solo, just to buy a turkey leg and ride splash mountain! (LOL). Yes...call SPG and tell them you are "a platinum American Express card holder"...PERIOD. You do not have to say you are a Starwood AMEX card holder, etc. Just say "Platinum". This should give you GOLD status.

 

[kmr]

She's been trying to talk herself into a summer trip and a couple of pages back was talking about not being able to find an inexpensive non-stop flight. I was hoping to steer her towards SW to help make her dream come true!

I know SW schedule for the fall isn't out yet. I love them, but they do make planning a little difficult sometimes!

Good luck to you, too!

 

[AllieBrooke]

I hear your frustrations with airfare too! In April I could've bought roundtrip tickets for our September trip on any number of airlines from PDX (OR) to MCO for about $200. My DH thought it was too soon to buy, so I didn't -- and now the fares are up to $365!! I'm kicking myself now and keeping my fingers crossed they'll come back down!

 

[madge]

Madge - Nope I meant Mouseteacher -
She's been trying to talk herself into a summer trip and a couple of pages back was talking about not being able to find an inexpensive non-stop flight. I was hoping to steer her towards SW to help make her dream come true!



---->LOL, my mistake. I've been called the wrong name more than once this week on the DIS

 

[RobMax]

Is it time yet..

 

[Mouseteacher]

kmr ~ Thanks for the advice. I did go onto SW website over the weekend and found a non-stop to mco. I believe the cost was $350 rt for two with what they call a promotional rate. I'm still wavering on the final decision to go or not. Don't know ehat's holding me back .

DF ~ that is a terrific rate from the west coast! I don't understand what the airlines are trying to do by eliminating the early morning non-stop to mco (arrival was always around 10:15 a perfect time). Those flights seemed to always be filled. We traveled last August (the last week) which is considered a slower time (we averted the Labor Day weekend crowds) and our Delta flight was filled both coming and going. Go figure. I believe they are not helping to revive their industry by making travel inconvenient, long and expensive for what you get. JMHO

 

[jaw62901]

I was wondering how conceirge service works at the Swan. I Will they contact me before I arrive Dec 26 to see if I need any reservations made for anything. I have never stayed at a place with this type of service so I really don't know what to expect.

Thanks,

 

[happytrails2u]

Originally posted by RobMax
Is it time yet..

I was just pondering the same question Rob Max, as we're a week behind you. Seems the closer you are, the longer the wait!

I would also keep the CL w/king room, Jaw, unless, as Dreamflight suggests, you are able to obtain a complimentary upgrade to the Jr. Suite. There are a "few" Jr. Suites at the Swan that do have balconies but these are not located on the CL floor. Ours was on the third floor (corner of the building, Boardwalk side, facing the Dolphin) and it was not inconvenient, per se, to take the elevator to the CL level. I'd be happy to email/pm four such room numbers, if you're interested.

I've also heard good things about SW and JetBlue - two of the few that are still solvent!

 

[dreamflight99]

Originally posted by Mouseteacher

I don't understand what the airlines are trying to do by eliminating the early morning non-stop to mco (arrival was always around 10:15 a perfect time). Those flights seemed to always be filled.

Boy...you & me, both! I WAS initially set to leave LAX @ 7:50 am, and arrive in MCO @ 2:55 pm. NOW....they have eliminated the early flight completely, and changed the time to 10:15 am, arriving in MCO about 5:30pm! Ridiculous! By the time we reach the Peabody, the evening DUCK march will be over, and CLUB LEVEL will be closed! ARGH~! Frustrating. AND...to add to this, I was intending to take a CAB to an alternate rental car facility to P/U the navigator the day we arrive. Well, they close at 5 pm...so, we have to grab an Emerald Aisle @ MCO upon arrival. I was forced to "modify" the Navigator ressie, which increased the cost (as prices change according to availability). Amazing...domino effect! LOL.

Jet Blue...GREAT AIRLINE!

As for the AP rates, well...nothing to shout about. My DS looked into visiting the Contemporary, and wanted Tower Club--just below us. The rates were normally $415.00 per eve. With the new AP discount...they were $345.00! Still a bit "steep" for her, especially when she reminded me she can receive the "Nurses" discount at the Dolphin...and stay for nearly THREE eves (CL too) for the price of ONE at the CR. I agree...it's tough to argue this point. Although, we stay all over the place, and certainly pay a variety of prices. Yet, we receive a variety of experiences as well. She just kept telling me, that for $200 (The approx diff per eve), she could buy a LOT of FUN! LOL.

 

[Piper]

I just received this notice from DU after I asked them to add my son's name to my reservation:


Hi Piper, Just to let you know that there is a $25.00 plus 11 1/2 % tax for the extra adult in the room. I will pass on the addition to the room. Please note this will mean the room will not be paid in full. I will pass on the Starwoods # to the hotel. The new total is $1030.26 for your records.
Have a Magical Day!

Bob Varley- Dreams Unlimited Travel Specialist



Have you ever heard of them charging extra for 2 adults in a room? I think something is very wrong here! ! ! I hope DU hasn't created a big mess for me to unravel! ! ! ! I was trying to do the right thing by having them add my son--I think I have created a headache! ! !