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

[ozziewags]

Hi all.....hope all your plans for the 'disney sorority party' are going well. Just popping in for a quick hi.

For all you teachers out there (and administrators!)...isn't May the craziest month of the year? So much going on!!! I just can't keep up. And now my ds (who graduates next Sat. from college) calls and tells me that he is bringing four friends home tomorrow for dinner then a Cardinals game and couldn't I have lasagna ready?! Know anywhere that caters lasagna?! Then they are all staying here before going back to school on Wed.

 

[madge]

I'm not sure....Lisa probably has the answer for you....but I thought that you could upgrade with points to CL or a balcony, that it was considered the same level of upgrade. you can always call back and double check!

I miss Cincinnati...all that yummy food

 

[bard721]

I am very interested in finding out more about this issue of using my points to upgrade to CL. I've been saving them for several years with the intention of using them next summer for the upgrade to CL. I'm going to be very unhappy if this turns out to be true.

 

[Disbug]

I'll chime in!

Redeem: Room Upgrades

Use your StarpointsSM for a room upgrade at any participating Starwood® hotel or resort. Arrange for an upgrade to a Specialty Room¹ or Suite² in advance of your stay or right when you arrive at the hotel. You may upgrade from any category of room with a Free Night award or a paid reservation.


Starpoints Required Options

1,000 Specialty 1 upgrade for Categories 1 - 4


1,500 Specialty 2 upgrade for Categories 1 - 4


10,000 Suite upgrade in a Category 4 hotel



Contact your Customer Contact Center to Redeem Starpoints for a Room Upgrade.

¹A Specialty Room is defined as a Club Room, Westin Guest Office, Corporate Club Room, Smart Room, or a room on a floor that may include Club Lounge Services or Concierge Services. In some resort locations, upgraded rooms will be based on preferred view or room style offered. Not available at all resorts.

²Based on hotel category. In some resort locations will be based on preferred view or room style offered. Not available at all resorts.

The Swan and Dolphin are Category 4 Hotels.... Hope this is helpful! Anyone else who has better or more recent info??

 

[gm]

wonder whats going on June 1,2,3 at the Swan/Dolphin. I have been waiting for these dates to open up since last January but they never did and they still are booked solid. We wanted to stay from 5/29 to 6/08 but the above dates are not available and I do not want to move elsewhere for those 3 dates so I still have not booked our upcoming trip

I will probably book something at the last minute with the help of my AP at the other Disney Resorts but I so really really want to stay at my home resort The Dolphin. I wish they would open up those dates. If all else fails(no AP Discount,rooms,etc), I can always use my points to stay Offsite but that is my last resort.

 

[ozziewags]

gm...have you tried Dreams Unlimited? I have heard they come through sometimes when noone else can!

 

[hightown]

Just a followup for Dreamflight and others who suggested my plan of action for trying for a balcony upgrade...

I e mailed last week and then followed up with a phone call today to reservations. Talked to a very nice CM, Terry. She said that with Gold membership, upgrade possibilities are determined at time of checkin. She asked what room level I was booked at now. Made it sound like only one level upgrade would be considered, ie if booked standards, upgrade to lake. Told her right now I have Resort view and she said then balcony upgrade would be considered at check in. Kept the conversation nice and friendly and added how much we're looking forward to getting there.

The good thing is the resort is showing availabiltiy in all levels of rooms for the entire stay. I'll check the morning I leave too to know that next level does show available.

Thanks for everyone's help and I'll post impressions/experiences when we get back....

Sharon

 

[marymrg]

Thought a lot of people here could use a good laugh. Has anyone seen the postings from "Miss Cleo"? I think she sounds a lot like Loubon.........or maybe it's the other way around LOL

 

[MOM POPPINS]

Well.... I decided to talk to DH last night about my plans for next May/June... I wanted to surprise him but decided to talk to him because of the "gay days" etc. He said we could GO We are going to suprise the kiddos, so its still hush hush around here!

I am not going to tell the girls until we pull-up the van at the Dolphin.. We will be arriving late at night and hopefully they will be fast asleep as we zoom across the state of Florida

Waving to the room

 

[dreamflight99]

Originally posted by hightown
Just a followup for Dreamflight and others who suggested my plan of action for trying for a balcony upgrade...

I e mailed last week and then followed up with a phone call today to reservations. Talked to a very nice CM, Terry. She said that with Gold membership, upgrade possibilities are determined at time of checkin. She asked what room level I was booked at now. Made it sound like only one level upgrade would be considered, ie if booked standards, upgrade to lake. Told her right now I have Resort view and she said then balcony upgrade would be considered at check in. Kept the conversation nice and friendly and added how much we're looking forward to getting there.

The good thing is the resort is showing availabiltiy in all levels of rooms for the entire stay. I'll check the morning I leave too to know that next level does show available.

Thanks for everyone's help and I'll post impressions/experiences when we get back....

Sharon

That's GREAT news! ~I'll keep the PIXIE DUST Flowing (~~*******~~) for you, and think POSITIVE THOUGHTS! I'm sure the BALCONY will happen!

marmrg~ A GOOD laugh is always welcomed and appreciated! Thanks or the heads-up!


MOM POPPINS~GREAT NEWS!! Now you can "SHARE" all the plans and excitement with your sweetie..and keep the "inside" secret from the kids! I'm sure you are more relieved, and excited about the TRIP. If your children are anything like our DD, they pay little attention to the "geographical area" as you are traveling. This is how we "surprised" DD with a Cruise last summer. She thought we were just leaving the Dolphin and driving to Key West. As we approached the ship, she thought we were "passing" it on the way to our destination. Then, I remarked how it was the "WONDER," etc., and how I would LOVE to take some pictures of it! As we approached the GUARD house, the guard stepped out and asked "who" would be sailing on the ship today? The look on DD's face when we answered, "all of us" (as DH produced passports) is absolutely PRICELESS! I wish you the same kind of experience, as you and DH pull up to the DOLPHIN!

*We are CONFIRMED! In the same Cat. 5 verandah Cabin we were in on the initial 7-night western cruise on the MAGIC in 2002! I am still hoping to receive a call for the waitlist 1 Bedroom Suite (Cat 2/3) but I'm sure I'm a ways down on the list. I am happy to be in the same cabin, on the same ship...all together, for DD's Graduation celebration. I'll be planning some special things along the way, and after the cruise...we head to ORLANDO, for the rest of the summer.

 

[Mouseteacher]

ozzie~ Did you say crazy????? !!!! add aggravating and frustrating to the list and that's where I'm at! I, too, feel overwhelmed. However, i keep thinking thoughts of S/D.

 

[Loubon]

Originally posted by marymrg
Thought a lot of people here could use a good laugh. Has anyone seen the postings from "Miss Cleo"? I think she sounds a lot of Loubon.........or maybe it's the other way around LOL

This is the only Miss Cleo I know.....(met her at the grotto pool)

<IMG height="350" SRC="http://www.filmup.com/posters/loc/500/cleopatra.jpg">

 

[dreamflight99]

***OH, LOU!! :rotl: **YOU'RE THE BEST... CLEO...BY THE POOL...W/OR W/O MARC ANTHONY? **SOMEONE WHOM LIKES THE "WHITE FLUFFY BOUNCING GUY" IS A FAN OF YOURS... **YOU COULD HAVE A CLUB! **AND BE IDOLIZED BY THE MASSES...:thewave: **OUCH...MY CHEEKS HURT... **TOO FUNNY! YOU ALREADY HAVE A "LOUBON" FAN CLUB.... **THIS IS WHERE YOU SAW CLEO-PATRA? GROTTO @ DISNEY....WOW! **ONCE KNEW A KITTY NAMED CLEO... **YOU BEAT THE BAND! THANKS...FOR THE LAUGH!!

TTFN...DF99

 

[KIS]

When we were there at the end of April, beginning of May, we only got our complimentary upgrade for a view, not the club level. I asked for it once we were getting the view upgrade settled, but they shook their head at that and I decided not to take it further.

KIS

by the way, on the trip boards, I've just wrote up our day 5, which includes our R&R at the Dolphin. It is really such a nice hotel. I can't believe that they have a teacher's discount. We couldn't afford it otherwise.

How do you guys all do it? How many times to you go down there and how do you afford it?

We just found out that a nearby Sheraton is a SPG hotel. I'm thinking that we might just have a get away weekend and use some of those points to coop a couple of times this next year.

 

[Loubon]

Originally posted by dreamflight99
**SOMEONE WHOM LIKES THE "WHITE FLUFFY BOUNCING GUY" IS A FAN OF YOURS...

DF Marsha

 

[KIS]

dreamflight99, mouseteacher, jgates and others,

I think I am a Dolphin enthusiast, not that I've stayed so many places. But, it's up there, isn't it, with all the places we checked out on our jaunts to some MK resorts for dining. My husband really liked the Dolphin. He thought the staff were genuinely nice and sincerely trying to help. He had lost his glasses and, even though they have yet to find them, he could tell they cared. We even got a call a couple of days after our trip because a pair of children's glasses were found at the pool where he thought he left them.

I learned that the staff get treated pretty well by the administration there. But, I was surprised to hear that employees could not use the pool. My guess is they fear it would look unprofessional. I think it's a shame. I bet they'd even be happier if they could use the facilities now and then. What do you guys think about that?

What's the rate these days? I booked our April trip back in July 2003, so the rate was $129. Now, it's about $149, right?

I plan to keep on writing trip installments, to give back so to speak. You might enjoy the R&R piece as we refer to the Dolphin. May be I did not sing it's praises, but it's all there -- Fresh, the slide, the beach, Club Dolphin, the turn down service. Sigh! I miss it already. Such luxury.

KIS

 

[dreamflight99]

Originally posted by KIS


How do you guys all do it? How many times to you go down there and how do you afford it?

This summer, I have "46" days reserved at the Dolphin in an Executive suite. This is after our visit to the Peabody Hotel, PBH for about a week (w/AP's to the parks), 10 eves in Disney's Vero Beach, and a few days down to Busch Gardens, across Alligator Alley and Key West! We LOVE our time at the Dolphin, as we have PAP's and just "mosey" along relaxing/enjoying life during our vacation.
Sometimes, we take-off for a day/two and visit Sea World, Celebation, Citywalk or just drive back to VERO to say "hello."
As for the "other" part of your question? "We WORK HARD, so we can PLAY HARDER!"

Kis, the staff are able to use "neighboing" facilities (YC/B/BW). I know of two associates whom use the gym at the YC on a daily basis, before taking a dive in the YC pool! They seem very pleased with this arrangement. They also have their own cafeteria, where they occasionally receive such treats as SNOW CRAB LEGS, PRIME RIB, etc.!

*I whole-heartedly agree about the "luxury" of the resort, which is sometimes (Okay, MANY times! ) underrated/overlooked. The amenities and conveniences available are astounding. The esthetics are absolutely profound. I still "thrill" at the very prospect of "pulling up the long drive" to the valet area each summer. I literally get "butterfies" as we approach the proximity, and the top of the resort comes into view. The excitement never wanes., and I never tire of this ritual. Each year I revisit the property, is just like the FIRST...as the feelings are always FRESH & NEW~! I feel a strong sense of connection to the property, and like a "kindred~spirit" it calls my name and beckons me to visit. Long ago, I admired it from afar. Now...it is like a summer HOME, a true friend.

LOU~I KNEW you would know whom I was referring to in my post! MARSHA!!

TTFN...DF99

P.S. WHERE IS EVERYBODY??!?

 

[paras4ri]

Originally posted by dreamflight99
P.S. WHERE IS EVERYBODY??!?

I've been working hard so I can play harder!!!!

I've been thinking of you DF and wondering how you've been feeling? I thought sent you a PM the other day but alas, it's disappeared without a trace.

 

[#1hockeymom]

I am working hard! I can't wait to play hard!

Update on SIL>> She's still in the hospital, and should be moving down a floor, SOON! Physical therapy has started, though it is now working on getting the boot thing on her leg so she can actually DO physical therapy. They are very happy that her skin seems to be living and not dying, so that is a good sign even if it does look like raw hamburger hit by a car. She has a titanium rod from her knee to her ankle. Her tibia was completely blown away, her fibula was mostly gone. She's with reality, but talks about the shooting almost in third person "When I was shot.... Wait.. I was shot?" She is on a lot of pain medication and they are trying to wean her off of the morphine drip. Thank you for your continued prayers for her quick recovery. (cross referenced to the concierge thread)

I have been quiet lately, but I've been thinking about you all! Big wave to everyone... and... I can't wait to sing that old Alice Cooper song..."Schools..... out.. for...summer!"

Debbie

 

[dreamflight99]

Originally posted by paras4ri
I've been working hard so I can play harder!!!!

I've been thinking of you DF and wondering how you've been feeling? I thought sent you a PM the other day but alas, it's disappeared without a trace.

Keep working...there's MAGIC at the end of the trail! I'm so sorry about my silly PM box...for some reason my "pop-up" function is not working, and my box is ALWAYS full! Thanks...for thinking of me!

#1Hockeymom~Wow...we may have quite a GATHERING at the S/D this July! Thanks for the update on your DSIL. I keep her in my prayers.

*School's out for summer! LOVE that tune...LOL.

TTFN...DF99

BIG WAVE to everyone else in the room!