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

[Disbug]

RED, by any chance #1HM??

And what do I get for bonus points?

About the PS's through Concierge... I would let them book most. But some that are hard to get depends on the particular Concierge. I have not heard of Concierge at the Swan and Dolphin having better success at getting CRT for example, or Illuminations Cruises. When it gets close to booking time for our Sorority Breakfast, I may enlist the help of one of you to simul-call so we get the same time frame. Then we can link the tables to be in the same area.

 

[Mouseteacher]

Hey, Disbug -thanks for the help. That's my fanny pack - hot pink with a lime green ribbon on it!

 

[jgates]

Thank you!!! Wonderful. I even saw that in the image text but just kind of zoned out on it!!!

I don't care who I call to get my PS, so if concierge can do it easier for me I will take it. Can I call them when I am in the park and then call them back to verify? Or do I have to be in the room when I am calling.

And how about those princess breakfasts.......Do they get any of those? (We did Cindy's last time - it's not really that big of a deal for us but those Epcot ones might be nice.)

 

[Disbug]

Originally posted by KelliR
Whew ... y'all have been busy! I tried to rush through all 4 pages just to catch up.

I have an idea/suggestion. Since we would like to stay on the Resorts thread ... why don't we limit (I know a word we try to avoid) our posts to mostly S/D matters and start another thread on the community Board. Or just use Disbug's Sorority thread for all of our "other": discussions?

This is a valid point for us all, since we do love to keep up with each other's lives. There is no way we will abandon the FAQ but to keep it PURE I second KelliR's suggestion that we continue our social posts on the Sorority thread or a totally new one on the Community thread. THIS WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO THE FAQ our home away from home! What say you? I know I am the world's worst and would always stray off topic if I couldn't keep up with you all!

 

[madge]

I was in a nontraditional CL room so they weren't there.

duh.

neither was I, LOL....

there was definitely chocolate. did I mention that?

 

[Muffy]

Originally posted by Disbug
This is a valid point for us all, since we do love to keep up with each other's lives. There is no way we will abandon the FAQ but to keep it PURE I second KelliR's suggestion that we continue our social posts on the Sorority thread or a totally new one on the Community thread. THIS WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO THE FAQ our home away from home! What say you? I know I am the world's worst and would always stray off topic if I couldn't keep up with you all!

Disbug, I think that is a great idea to continue out social posts on the sorority thread. If that is not allowed then we can start a new thread on the CB. Of course this will be in addition to the FAQ thread (our home). Any other opinions?

Hockeymom, Yes, you can make a PS for Fresh by calling CRO. Excellent breakfest and very nice lunch. At lunch you can order off the menu or try the buffet. We prefered the breakfest buffet over the lunch buffet.

Waving to the room!

Muffy

 

[Mouseteacher]

I second the motion - posting on the sorority thread so we can continue to share our lives and our love of S/D. We can still answer questions here on all things S/D, too.

 

[dreamflight99]

Originally posted by jgates
This on-topic info I really would like a review on - not just to keep us on topic!!!

I have Club Level during my reservation, as I did last time - but last time I only made use of the lounge. Obviously we have discussed multiple times the breakfast items available, snacks in the evening, (all the fruit- nummy!!!) etc. But are there other items club level offers you? Perhaps DF or someone could give us (& me!) a slight review of what other items Club Level provides to the customer.

? Robes ?
? Turn-down ?
? Priority Seating (& how about those hard PS's like Princess Brkfsts?)
? Are we better off calling the concierge to try to get us things like that than to do it ourself?

Give us some insight on this DF!

HELLO! DF~HERE!! Just as Mouseteacher posted (and she's always ON 100%), You receive the following:

*ROBES

*TURN-DOWN (& feel free to request a few extra chocolate pineapples! MMMmmm)

*Priority Seating~YES!! The Concierge are FABULOUS for obtaining BETTER times, and seating. They can, for instance, obtain a reservation for you in the upscale FRENCH restaurant...during the illuminations show, NEXT to the WINDOW, and GUARANTEE it for you! Using Skilled Concierge is MUCH better than doing it yourself. Last summer, Thabo made Luau ressies for our party (16 including neighbors/friends) and obtained a seat in the FRONT of the stage! It was awesome.


mouseteacher~That suite gets SWEETER~LOOKING each time you post it! What a beautiful scene...take me AWAY! :

#1hockeymom~The RW LOST?!?

*NOTE: We can still "share" some of our lives and experiences here...just include some "on-topic" info (as we have done in the past). Trekker and the staff here truly do not mind (I believe) if we add a bit here and there, as long as we mostly stay "true-to-form" and do not cause too much confusion for NEW DISers logging on to ask questions/obtain information, or others looking for advice. It's always been the same, and we are VERY creative folks. Just look at the Photo~refresher course, where J slipped in the car pics (Very wise, indeed! LOL). It's similar to the Long Distance commercial, where the boy calls his father...but refuses to pay the P-2-P charge. So, when the operator asks his name, he anwers: Wehadababyitsaboy! Witty. So, ladies and gents...we are still here, connected by our love for these two wonderful resorts, WDW and of course, each other. We provide a lot of invaluable information here, and devote a considerable amount of time. If we tend to stray too far...I'm sure Trekker will let us know. He's always been our "guardian Angel Mod", and I'm grateful for his tolerance and understanding. After all, a "Moderator" moderates...by reading, warning us, etc. Please, enjoy this thread, as we have in the past. Remain On Topic, but interject bits and pieces of your life in here and there. It's what gives the thread a little HEARTBEAT. Otherwise...it would be lifeless.

*So...I am just taking a little break from cleaning my closet (one of my FAVORITE things to do in life), to take the time to reach out and touch base with a wonderful group of people I'm proud to refer to as my friends, my sisters.

TTFN...DF99

 

[Mouseteacher]

Thanks, DF. Your encouragement helped, as usual. I just didn't want us to do anything against the rules - I'm a teacher ya know and rules must be followed... . But we can heed your advice and proceed.

I am hoping that the S/D pixie dust works wonders this summer too and gets us a jr. suite at the Dolphin. I am feverishly saving points.

signing off - have a magical evening all
mouseteacher

 

[Piglette]

We're booked at the Dolphin over Spring Break. We're thinking a Junior Suite would be nice, and wondering just how very much it costs. We're currently booked with a government discount ($139 night!). Does anyone know? I tried to call Starwood and the hotel, but they can't give me a rate because they're all booked. I'm hoping something will open up or Dreams Unlimited will have something available.

Also, DreamRes does not show Jr. Suites as an option. Does anyone know if you can book Jr. Suites through them or through Dreams Unlimited?

And finally, can you use Starwood points to upgrade to a Jr. Suite? If so, how many points?

I *really* appreciate the help. We're going with our 10 month old baby, and I'm starting to panic that there's no place in the standard room where he won't be able to see us, meaning NO SLEEP for our family for 6 long nights The Jr Suites sound like just the answer.

 

[dreamflight99]

Welcome, Piglette~The Dolphin Jr.suite is FAB...and around $200 with the discount. Call the resort directly, and speak with a reservation specialist during the week. Ask to be placed on a "waitlist" for the upgrade or reservation to a JR. SUITE. I'm not sure what the points are (how many), as they may have increased slightly with the new year. Yes, you can definitely upgrade to the Jr. Suite using the points. So, for presumably less than $60 per eve, you'll have a LOT more ROOM...and PRICELESS PRIVACY! I recall traveling with a 10 month old. Calls for lots of planning, strategy and tolerance! Hope this helps.

TTFN...DF99

 

[Disbug]

Dreamflight, we would NEVER allow the FAQ to become dry and "Just the Facts, Ma'am"! However, it is VERY hard sometimes when you don't have anything to add to the FAQ but you do want to touch bases with everyone. Sometimes, when something really powerful happens in our lives, we drop the FAQ altogether to comfort our friends. And we get a few pages into it before we start adding things like, "Oh and The Lobby Bar Serves Limes with it's Coronas"!

This way we can keep the FAQ from going to 150 pages so quickly AND keep it so Crammed with Facts that we will endure with our strong reputation as the best FAQ thread on the boards! (Slightly prejudiced opinion, of course!) I am afraid like Zurgswife who posted that she is now lurking because she has no facts to add, that some of us will retreat into the background because of that...

So thanks for listening to my 2 cents and oh, yeah....

"The Lobby Bar at the Swan serves limes with it's Coronas!" LOL!

 

[madge]

I *really* appreciate the help. We're going with our 10 month old baby, and I'm starting to panic that there's no place in the standard room where he won't be able to see us, meaning NO SLEEP for our family for 6 long nights The Jr Suites sound like just the answer.

Piglette...ask your crib question here. someone will have an answer for you

what is the govt. rate for the Jr. Suite?

 

[Disbug]

To upgrade to a Jr. Suite is 10,000 SPG points. The Govt rate for a CL room OR a Dolphin Jr. Suite is $214.

 

[madge]

Originally posted by Disbug
To upgrade to a Jr. Suite is 10,000 SPG points. The Govt rate for a CL room OR a Dolphin Jr. Suite is $214.

who do you call to get that rate?? hmmm.....

is there a cash and points promo going on right now?

 

[BambiTamby]

Hi ya'll!

Our first stay at the Dolphin, was four years ago in a Junior Suite.

Very nice. Remembered that it had a wet bar area, mini-bar, a small type "kitchen" area with plenty of shelves for extras....
sodas, waters, snacks, etc.
Also, it had a HUGE bath area and a changing area by the closet.
Very private from the other room.

Nice to spread out after a long day....even at the start of the day.

Notice the door in the Junior Suite Pic?
Next stay, we got upgraded with a King room connected to a Junior Suite!
SWEET!

 

[Disbug]

The current cash and points promo ends March 31st, 2004. This was booked by someone this past December for a date before March 31st, so I know it is still being done. I do not know if you have to have booked before January 1st, 2004. I read the Swan and Dolphin are no longer participating in the Cash and Points promotion. But like anything "permanent" it only takes Marketing to turn it around if the rooms are not filling up adequately.

The Jr. Suites need to booked directly with the hotel (or maybe even with Starwood). If you call the central number for Westin Resorts they will not be able to help you. Try calling 1-800-227-1500.

 

[BambiTamby]

That's right, disbug!
That's the only number I've ever used to book our S/D rooms.

 

[madge]

Originally posted by Disbug
The current cash and points promo ends March 31st, 2004. This was booked by someone this past December for a date before March 31st, so I know it is still being done. I do not know if you have to have booked before January 1st, 2004. I read the Swan and Dolphin are no longer participating in the Cash and Points promotion. But like anything "permanent" it only takes Marketing to turn it around if the rooms are not filling up adequately.

The Jr. Suites need to booked directly with the hotel (or maybe even with Starwood). If you call the central number for Westin Resorts they will not be able to help you. Try calling 1-800-227-1500.

thanks! for the info AND the 800-number

 

[Piglette]

Okay, I think I'm going to have to start hanging out here. Less than an hour, and I already have answers to the questions I tried for hours to answer on my own. Thanks so much!

So, if you don't mind, I'll bother you with my other question (thanks for the encouragement, madge!)...

If we don't get the Jr Suite and are in a standard room, is there a place to put the crib where the baby will not be able to see us? Problem is, once he lays eyes on us, he simply *must* be picked up, no matter the time. When we stayed at WL, we put the Pack-N-Play in the bathroom counter area, and that worked out fine. Is there a similar place to put the crib, out of the line of sight, in the Dolphin standard rooms?

Thanks for the help. Glad to have found y'all. You're getting me very excited about our trip and first stay at S/D