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

Disbug · Nov 23, 2003

SURPRISE! I'm back! But just for a few minutes.. whew! had to come back to Jacksonville from Orlando since DD2 was not feeling quite herself (I think she is cutting those 3 yr old molars a tad early!) DH was supposed to meet me in Daytona but water pump went out on his van in St. Augustine! SOOOO! I am back home long enough to post this, Wave HI! and skoot back down to Orlando! :wave2:

KelliR Came over to Gullivers to try to meet you! Sorry I was a little late and could not find you

(Next time!) *I had your "almost" mug to show you! They are being remade since the manufacturer left a line of text off!

Happy Sunday to all! Orlando is sunny and incredibly beautiful! We had a few "Disney Moments"... surprise encounter with Princess Aurora and Snow White at the International Gateway to
Epcot (that's the back entrance)... Had a great time on the Jungle Cruise with DD2! They have a really cool hydraulic jack type lift that scissors up and down and swivels 90 degrees! Very cool!

Had my first DOLE WHIP! YUM!

My DD15 says she must continue with homework, so I must run!
Hugs to the house!

:wave:

zurgswife · Nov 23, 2003

Vickivm where did you get the $99 rate.?

EpcotKilterFan · Nov 23, 2003

Hi ZW check here: $99 thread

Hi All... Just a lurker here, but I am now 2 weeks away from the Swan and have had a great Swan week and it is all thanks to the members of this board!

Here is my story (bear with me I am excited so I tend to get wordy)

Mom and I made our reservations wayyyyy back in April for Dec 8-18 at the $129 govt rate. Several weeks later is when they increased the rate (whew that was close). All summer and this fall I have been watching and calling for Points and Cash...no go for our time frame. So we just kept charging EVERYTHING to our SPG American Express, got a special deal for double points and was able to rack up some wonderful numbers.

So fast forward to this week, I was lurking on a question about SPG points. NancyIL posted the fact that if you use 40,000 points (4 nights free) you can get the fifth night free! I did not realize this, so we called and sure enough we have 5 of our 10 nights free :Pinkbounc

When we called we also asked about extending 2 more days (realized ...gee why go home on Thrusday when we do not have to be at work until Monday) and they did not have any govt rates available. That was ok, made reservations at Port Orleans Riverside at a great AP rate. Then I noticed today the post about the $99 rate. Those rates NEVER happen when I am going. So we just called the Swan, and they did not have any rooms for the beginning of our stay (the free nights were at the end) and he would not be able to do anything to our ressie because it was made through Starwood. So a call to Starwood. Spoke to a FABULOUS woman there. After a call to the Swan,..... we now have the first five nights free with points.... and the next five at $99!! :tongue:

So it never hurts to ask... we asked about the last 2 nights (we have those ressie at POR) She called them back and they have some!!!!!!!

So we are soooooo excited, we have 12 nights at the Swan from Dec 8-20 and paying $99 for 7!! :bounce:

It is going to be a long 2 weeks to wait!!

Debbie

Mouseteacher · Nov 23, 2003

WOW - good for you, EpcotKilterFan. That's why we are such S/D fanatics and named our sorority for the resorts!

:wave2:

Hi, Disbug! How I wish I could "just" zoom home and zoom back to and from WDW. Lucky you living nearby. Post on your return to fill us in. :wave2:

ozziewags · Nov 23, 2003

Wow, Debbie, great rate. Persistence pays off. You sound like lots of us, collecting points, calling Swan, calling Starwood, and on and on! Don't forget to request your view, room, whatever you want. Put it on your ressie, then call about 4-5 days ahead and request again.(or request upon arrival) You may be pleasantly surprised again! Have a wonderful time. :bounce:

ozziewags · Nov 23, 2003

VickiM.....I have heard that if your rollaway is for a child, there is no charge, but that has been quite a while ago. We were there last Christmas and my dh used the rollaway! And there was no charge, which I requested. Try calling and politely ask, telling them that you understood there would be no charge for a child using a rollaway. Let us know what they say.

jgates · Nov 23, 2003

Great job Debbie!!!! What a fantastic deal. :Pinkbounc

Winter has arrived......6 to 12 inches of snow in Mpls. Ice and sleet here. When we left Madison (after a visit to DS & Dcousin) this morning it was rain and closer to 50 there.

Mouseteacher · Nov 24, 2003

Hi, jgates-- saw your snowfall on the news! Please keep it there and not send it east to Boston. Thank you... too early for snow here.

ozzie, thanks for the clarification on the rollaway. I inquired about the rollaway on our Dolphin trip 2 years ago for DSs who can't share the dbl bed (both are just too tall). The quote was $25. However, I was just making an inquiry and didn't ask anything further. I was learning the starwood ropes, then, and was such a newbie at it!! :teeth:

ozziewags · Nov 24, 2003

Mouseteacher....no problem! Sometimes it just depends on who you talk to and what mood they are in! Who knows what the policy is today?! I also think it helps to have an SPG card and let them know when you inquire?! Like, "Hi, I am a Starwood Preferred Guest, and I have heard that the rollaway I requested is complimentary...."
Who knows?!

zurgswife · Nov 24, 2003

Thanks for the link...I found it last night and booked a room for my Dad and his wife during our Christmas stay...in hopes that my Step mother feels good enought to travel and visit us for a few days.....Here Chemo is still going back and forth good days and bad days...But I'm keeping my fingers crossed...what a better christma then with my dad and my family at WDW.....

Kapp · Nov 24, 2003

I am now officially an "Dolphin Convert"! We stayed there last week and LOVED it! Had a great room, incredible customer service and a super all-around time. In fact, we felt is was more customer oriented than our last 2 true Disney resorts!

We have already told all of our friends about what a great hotel it is!

Kapp

pooh31 · Nov 24, 2003

Two questions:
Which rooms are renovated at the Dolphin?
How many starwood points is it to upgrade from a standard room to Club level?

Kapp · Nov 24, 2003

I heard them say they were renovating the 8th floor now. We used 1,500 SPG points for Club Level through Starwood. They said they recently raised it to 1,500. Glad we used our points in advance as when we got there, all the CL rooms were gone due to a huge computer convention. We still got CL privs but got a renovated room with a balcony & view of Epcot!

Great hotel!

Kapp

MOM POPPINS · Nov 24, 2003

Kapp ~ Welcome Home

I am glad you enjoyed your stay at the Dolphin. You have now been converted like the rest of us. I am afraid our secret is out :teeth:

How was your renovated room ? We will be staying on CL in a Jr. suite, but I would love a renovated Jr. suite. I will see what I can do at check-in, but I will be happy either way. I will be at Disneyworld :hyper:

Happy Monday everyone :wave:

Kapp · Nov 24, 2003

was very nice. Cool, "Florida" colors with beautiful blond wood furniture. All wood and if you don't believe me, try lifting the stool/luggare holder...it's HEAVY!!!!! I stay in a lot of hotels for buisness and this one was very impressive. We all loved it. It was a haul from the East Wing to the CL for breakfast but worth it with the view of Epcot (we could even hear the music!) and the balcony. We had a light burned out and when I called, the credited our account $15! When we called a few days later because our remote needed new batteries, they credited us $50! I told them this was not necessary but they said that was their committment to their guests. VERY IMPRESSED with their customer service which was more "Disney" than some of the Disney resorts we stayed at.

Kapp

dreamflight99 · Nov 24, 2003

WOW...What an incredible time we all enjoyed!~The MAGIC is ALIVE and THRIVING in DISNEYLAND! Here's a few pics to share with all of you...

More to follow....

dorisdvu · Nov 24, 2003

I have a ressie for 2 standard rooms in March. I did request on my ressie connecting rooms. If not connecting, adjoining. Any ideas on what my chances are of getting connecting?