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

[#1hockeymom]

I used the spg website for information on down values, then bought my pieces one by one elsewhere. The hardest item to find was a decent down blanket with a high thread count! I am happy with how our new bed linens have worked out, and the bedroom had needed a change.

Thanks for all the PD everyone!
Debbie

PS Charisma seems to have a good match for the down blanket.

 

[Pkdcoastrs]

WE ARE GOING TO WALT DISNEY WORLD!!!!

Wow....Ok...had to get that out! We just booked the Dolphin for $65.00 a night on Hotwire. We made sure the ammenities are matching and ended up getting it! We go down on August 11th until the 15th!!! It's a short trip, but ANY trip is better than NO trip at all! We didn't think we had the money, but when this offer can up, my parents could not pass it up!

I've never had this last time trip type thing happen before, so its weird to think in 11 days I'll be in Florida!

Now all I have to do is see if I deleted the Mousesavers Newsletter that had the 3-day hopper passes!

Mike

 

[Mouseteacher]

Congratulations, Mike !!!! I agree a short trip is better than no trip. Our 5 day/4 night trip was short but we weren't intending to go this summer and ---VOILA - thanks goes to spg Cash and Points promotion that made it all happen.

How lucky are you to get a terrific resort at an unbelievable rate! I LOVE the Swan/Dolphin. Please post on return all the details of your trip.

 

[Pkdcoastrs]

Hey!

We want to try to get one of the newly renovated rooms in the Dolphin. We hear they are up to the fourth floor or so, is this true? Can we email and nicely mention wanting to stay in one of the new rooms?

Mike

 

[Mouseteacher]

Yes, Mike do e mail. You will get a standard answer back - request received but not guaranteed. Then ask again at check-in, the worst case scenario is they'll say no. I don't believe the resorts are filled so the chances of meeting a request might be good. Good Luck, here's some PD for you **************************************************

 

[judirain]

Mouseteacher~ Thanks for the encouragement I keep telling myself "you are going to just ask" but I am sure I will chicken out I will let everyone know what happens. I did put in a request for a renovated room on the spg and swan/dolphin site and I plan on upgrading to club with points so hopefully I will not have to ask for anything.

 

[judirain]

Hockeymom ~ Does it feel "heavenly"? If you don't mind me asking how much did it cost you? I have a feeling I will be doing the same thing

 

[#1hockeymom]

judirain>>
sent you a pm!

Congrats on your stay pdcoasters! You'll love the Dolphin!

*waving to the room*

Debbie

 

[Mouseteacher]

If I could do it - so can you! You WILL get all that you want if you ask - I just know you will. The CMs are so nice and accomodating. They don't bite. LOL

On our trip last summer, I saw we were upgraded to CL on the spg website so I didn't have to ask anything in person, either. This year as I posted before, the CM quoted my original reservation which was a standard room. If I didn't say anyhting, that's what we would have been assigned. By humbly asking, we got the balcony which was all I wanted and got so much more. It made our stay sooooo magical. So, please, please don't chicken out.

Judirain, you could quite possibly receive CL as a comp upgrade and not have to use your points. We were upgraded to CL last summer on the 2 rooms I had booked - one for my family and one for my brother's family. Also, all rooms at the Swan are renovated (sorry can't remember if you're staying ar S or D).

 

[clutter]

True confessions, the heavenly beds don't inspire me. Probably my allergies to feathers....

Anyway, I'm leaning towards Dolphin (my dd's favorite animal right now). Is the Dolphin or the Swan more kid-friendly? We're more of a moderate type of family, and prefer food courts to sit-down restaurants.

Any advice???

 

[Mouseteacher]

clutter ~ Since you lean toward food courts and kid friendly, I'd go with the Dolphin. Tubbi's Buffeteria, the Dolphin Soda Fountain and much more is located right in the Dolphin. The Dolphin has a large fun lobby with a piano player in the early evening. The Dolphin is a tad closer to the grotto pool.

 

[clutter]

Thanks!!! Gonna try for reservations tonight.


Nope. AP rates are sold out for Columbus Day weekend. Plenty of other availability, though.

 

[luvdisney14]

I just went on the spg. site and put my requests on my reservation. How do I know if they upgrade my room? Do they send me an email because they wanted my email address.

 

[Mouseteacher]

luvdisney ~ Upgrades are usually done through the resort so I would e mail the S/D directly with your request. Use www.swandolphin.com - then click on Reservations and then on Special Requests. Or go to the bottom of the page and click on e mail. You will get back an e mail with a standard response "We have received your request but it is not guaranteed" or something like that. Don't be discouraged - ask again upon check-in.

To see if you were upgraded before arrival - check the spg site by clicking on "Check Your Reservation".

 

[anitad]

I arrive at the Swan for 3 nights beginning on August 6 (before our 7 day cruise on the Magic). I am a gold level spg member and called Starwood this morning to redeem points for the club level upgrade. I currently have a reservation at the govt. rate of $129 (this reservation was made in January, 2003) with an additional $25 per night charge for an extra adult. When starwood entered the upgrade into the system (point redemption), the rate changed to the current government rate! And, starwood told me that they can't manually override the system. The starwood rep. put me on hold (for 10 minutes) to check with her supervisor and came back on the line to tell me that I would have to call the hotel directly to work this out. I told her that I thought that customer service should be able to assist me and she transferred me to customer service. Customer service is supposed to call the Swan and get back to me. This phone call took almost 30 minutes this morning and while both people that I spoke to were very nice, the issue was not resolved at the corporate level. Last year when I called to redeem points for an upgrade at the swan things did not automatically happen. I called the 5 days out and was told there was nothing available. Then, I called back the next day, and the starwood rep. put me on hold, called the hotel (couldn't figure out why) and the points were redeemed and the upgrade awarded. Does this always happen, or is it me?? Has anyone else had to deal with the "change in rate" issue? Your thoughts are apprecieated. I will let you know how this is resolved.

 

[Dismom63]

We currently have a reservation for 8 nights Dlx. balcony room (think with resort view) @ teacher rate. Is that the best view ? Will we see illuminations, etc?
If I were to request an upgrade, would I dare to ask for a Jr. suite w/ balcony?
I feel like I am "milking: the system alittle but then again this is the frist time we haven't paid "rack rate" at WDW!
Never stayed @ the Dolphin so I really am unsure of what I want. Any suggestions would be great - just want our trip to be special. We have 2 teens who are very close to the age where things other than WDW are taking over their lives. My trips may be numbered!
Thanks
Sharon

 

[luvdisney14]

mouseteacher - thank you very much for the advice. I just went on the site and put in my special requests. Will let everyone know how I made out when we get. We are not leaving for swan for another week. thanks again.

 

[jmcross]

Question for #1 Hockey Mom:

I have followed your terrific advice and requested CL privileges(I have paid for CL) with a balcony on the highest floor. You said that the highest floor with a balcony is the 7th but the lady I talked to at the Swan said that there are balcony rooms on the 9th floor. Any idea where these balcony rooms on the 9th floor are? I would like a balcony room but I don't want to be looking at the parking lot or something worse!!

Thanks for your help!
Joanne

 

[#1hockeymom]

There is a row, and it must be the ninth(!) of balconies that faces the Dolphin. I always thought that those must be the "super" suites. Maybe they have regular rooms also! I was on the seventh floor, which is the highest you can be in the wings. We faced Epoct out our Balcony and the friendship launch/Dolphin out our side window since we were in the corner. Mouseteacher had the equivalent room (but a jr suite!!) across the hall, down one floor and was looking more inner resort than I was. Both views were lovely per her and my reports!

Perhaps someone else can shed more light on the middle/upper balcony area and what type of rooms they contain.

Dismom63>> I would request at the desk what view you would like, and I am sure they will try to do their best to accomodate you. The same with the jr. suite request.

clutter>> I'd also lean towards the Dolphin with smaller kids due to Tubbi's being on site.

Anitad and luvdisney14>> Have a lovely vacation! I see you are both almost ready to leave!

*waving to the room*
Debbie

 

[jmcross]

Thanks for the info!

Probably a dumb question here but could you see the Epcot Illuminations from your room? Ideally that's what I'm shooting for!

Thanks again!

Joanne