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

[Crazy Kanga]

I have just heard many say that they were mistakenly charged for things from the mini bar, and also my son is autistic and sometimes is impulsive and might slip up and get into it. Not to mention it would be nice to store things in if possible.

 

[Blondie]

We've never been charged for moving things around or removing them and replacing them prior to check out. It's never been a problem. Keep in mind that those little mini-bar fridges don't really keep things cold like you might prefer for a bottle of water or beer, they only chill the items in there ever so slightly.

An ice chest or a dorm sized fridge is better for keeping things nice and cold.

 

[Blondie]

I have just heard many say that they were mistakenly charged for things from the mini bar, and also my son is autistic and sometimes is impulsive and might slip up and get into it. Not to mention it would be nice to store things in if possible.

At the Dolphin you can check your daily tab right on the TV! During our last stay we noticed a mini-bar charge for a couple dollars on our tab and called down to have it removed. They did so, no questions asked!

The fridge is locked with a key, so your son would only able to open it if he has access to the key.

 

[LSUmom4kids]

We stayed at the SWan in 8/06 - paid for a lake room at a standard price - some promotion with dreams unlimited travel agent. When we checked in, we actually got upgraded to a resort view with a balcony! We are starwood preferred guest members and AAA members - I was sure to mention that I was a preferred plus spg member at checkin. That may have done it!

We chose not to use the mini frig. in the room - less temptation for the kids. We had an ice chest with wheels that I would roll to the ice machine every other morning to fill up. No big deal, plus it had more room for the gallon of milk that we will go through in a few days. Worked out great.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Thanks guys! Blondie, you made a good point about the mini bar temperature.

 

[paras4ri]

We always bring a cooler - much easier and more effective than using the mini-bar. We always decline the key to the mini-bar too....takes away any temptation for a $5.00 candy bar!

 

[BlueFairy]

Ok, we too were debating about WL vs. S/D. But I can't turn down that $125 rate. We will change if we get a free dining or other deep discount, but not until then.
We have stayed at Dolphin once before with DH and convention (last Feb with great success thanks to this thread).

What can I expect with a "standard" room at Swan? Particularly with view and location. We'd like a balcony so DD can nap and we can leave the room. Also, you can't get much better than the EPCOT view we had at Dolphin.

DH is SPG member, so I noted that with DU. Will that help?

Need bedrails for DD. She is a toddler. Too big for S/D cribs. Suggestions there?

Thanks!! (Trying to contain myself since DH has not given the final "GO" yet).

 

[LSUmom4kids]

I'd like to take advantage of the $125 & up rates for 8/06. I am an SPG member, as well as AAA, as well as govt. employee. I think the best rate I can get for a balcony is $224/night for 7 nights.

The Starwood Preferred Plus membership (affiliated with my AAA membership - it has it's own card) will automatically upgrade me - if it is available.

DH definitely wants a balcony. Do I book the sure thing or book the next best room and hope for a possible upgrade to a balcony at checkin? (DH will turn into grumpy if we don't get a balcony.)

Or could I book the balcony and because of my SPG preferred plus, get the rate for the room right below that category?

Or if I book the balcony, what would the auto. upgrade if available be? a Suite???

I checked at the Swan and they have no swan studio suites during our stay in 8/07. I was told the rate would have been $250/night and appears to have more room than a reg. room with a balcony.

I don't even know who to ask this question? Can anyone guide me - is this a Swan question, a SPG question, or ???????

 

[RachelTori]

I'd like to take advantage of the $125 & up rates for 8/06. I am an SPG member, as well as AAA, as well as govt. employee. I think the best rate I can get for a balcony is $224/night for 7 nights.

The Starwood Preferred Plus membership (affiliated with my AAA membership - it has it's own card) will automatically upgrade me - if it is available.

DH definitely wants a balcony. Do I book the sure thing or book the next best room and hope for a possible upgrade to a balcony at checkin? (DH will turn into grumpy if we don't get a balcony.)

Or could I book the balcony and because of my SPG preferred plus, get the rate for the room right below that category?

Or if I book the balcony, what would the auto. upgrade if available be? a Suite???

I checked at the Swan and they have no swan studio suites during our stay in 8/07. I was told the rate would have been $250/night and appears to have more room than a reg. room with a balcony.

I don't even know who to ask this question? Can anyone guide me - is this a Swan question, a SPG question, or ???????

If you have your heart set on a balcony, I would advise you to book it. Yes, they will upgrade - if available - but since balconies are limited, if it's very important to you, don't take a chance.

What I would also suggest is that from time to time, you call back and see if a suite has become available (unless they'd put your name on a waitlist, but I don't think they do that! )

HTH!

 

[goofy4tink]

Well, just home from our trip...stayed at the Swan. I was so hoping to like it as much as the Dolphin stay I had in Dec. But, that wasn't the case. We arrived late Thursday evening, around 9:30. I just wanted to get a bite to eat at Picabu, and go to bed. Well, their system went down, we couldn't get room keys, so dh had to stay behind in the room because they told us they would send someone up with the room keys and also, we didn't want to have someone have to go back to the room to let us in, since we didn't have keys. So, we had to get our food to go. No room keys by 11:30, so called down to tell them we would get them in the morning.
We returned to our room at about 3:30, to find it hadn't been made up yet. No big deal since housekeeping was right down the hall. We left the room at 4:15. My poor dh returned to the room around 10, wanting to go to bed since he felt yucky. The room still hadn't been made up! He did call down to get fresh towels, since we had just dropped ours in the tub, expecting fresh that day.
When we checked out, we left our luggage with bell services. My dd had left her carryon bag, with her electronics in it, on the top of the cart. Well, when we got it back, her bag was on the very bottom underneath all the other bags. As we were driving to Tampa, for my ds's wedding, she pulled out her Ipod, and the 'face' had a nice big crack in it....a luggage wheel much have hit it!!!
All in all, we just weren't impressed. The room was very small. It did have a balcony...faced the Dolphin, right above the entrance, on the 5th floor. I was really disappointed since I had told my dh how wonderful the Dolphin was. Looks like I'll be staying at the Dolphin in the future....sad to say.

 

[Bimmy56]

This August, we are staying 5 FREE nights at the Swan thanks to our SPG enrollment and SPG credit card. If you book 4 nights with points the 5th is free. It's a great deal so be sure and use it all you can!!

We also have stayed at the Dolphin during busy times when an upgrade was not available. Sometimes we've been upgraded and sometimes not, but it is not an automatic upgrade. I think it depends on whether the resort is full.

 

[LSUmom4kids]

Does this mean you would have to have at least 40,000 points on your SPG to get 4 nights free? I know you get 10,000 when you sign up for the American Express SPG card, but how did you get the other 30,000 points and how long did it take you to earn it?

We only have 4,800 points after staying 3 nights at San Antonio Westin and 9 nights at the WDW Swan. My guess is that our room rates must have been less expensive, because they give you 2 points for every dollar you spend.

Has anyone ever bought SPG points? Does it really make sense and do you save any money that way?

 

[BlueFairy]

Another SPG question - it has been 11 1/2 months since DH had any points added. I don't want to lose them in case we need to use them for upgrade in Sept. How can I keep them active? Buy more points? We don't have an SPG Amex. Also, can I flash the card at retailers to accrue, or must I accrue points only by charging at participating hotels or using the Amex?


SPG website says points can be purchased for $0.035 per point or $35 per 1000.


Also, do I understand that SPG members are eligible for room upgrades without points (if available, of course)? Or, would we need the 1000 points per night in order to upgrade?

Thanks!

 

[Nennie]

I just won a 2 night stay at the Swan and Dolphin and am so excited to check out the resort!! I'm a DVC member, so I usually stay at the Beach Club, but am thinking that if I really love the Swan and Dolphin, maybe I will start doing split stays between S/D and BC (and save my points by staying at SD on the weeeknds)!

I have a few questions for the regulars!

1. What mode of transportation do you recommend from the airport to S/D? We usually do ME to BC, so would Mears be our best bet?

2. Are S/D guests permitted to take part in EMH?

3. Since it's a free trip, I may not get a choice, but if I do, should I ask for Swan or Dolphin (it's just me and DH if this matters)?

Thanks so much, and I can't wait for my trip!

 

[LSUmom4kids]

Ok - tell us, how did you win this trip?

I've only stayed at the Swan - we liked it and want to stay there again this year.

The EMH DO apply - we did it last year only one time - our last night, me & 2 of our kids stayed till the MK closed at 1 a.m. We did waste valuable time at Small World ride (kind of a long ride) and the boys wanted to keep doing Indy Speedway over and over again! They were so tired of walking, we found an abandoned 2-kid stroller on the way to the exit and I pushed them (about 100 lbs. of weight!). It was really fun!

 

[Blondie]

I just won a 2 night stay at the Swan and Dolphin and am so excited to check out the resort!! I'm a DVC member, so I usually stay at the Beach Club, but am thinking that if I really love the Swan and Dolphin, maybe I will start doing split stays between S/D and BC (and save my points by staying at SD on the weeeknds)!

I have a few questions for the regulars!

1. What mode of transportation do you recommend from the airport to S/D? We usually do ME to BC, so would Mears be our best bet?

2. Are S/D guests permitted to take part in EMH?

3. Since it's a free trip, I may not get a choice, but if I do, should I ask for Swan or Dolphin (it's just me and DH if this matters)?

Thanks so much, and I can't wait for my trip!

Congrats on your win! I'd like details on how you won as well!

To answer your questions:

1. We have always rented a car for the duration of our stay. There's always the option of renting a car at the airport and returning it at the Dolphin. You can do the same for the return trip. I've never used Mears or a towncar service. Maybe someone else can chime in.

2. Yes on EMH! All you do is show your room key card and you're in!

3. When it is just me and DH, I prefer the Swan. It seems more elegant and perfect for couples, though it's just fine for families too! I prefer the Dolphin when we bring our boys along. It's the larger of the two, and the arcade & Picabu 24 hour buffeteria is just an elevator away!

Enjoy!

 

[T-i-double-g-err]

1. What mode of transportation do you recommend from the airport to S/D? We usually do ME to BC, so would Mears be our best bet?

We were at the Swan in December and used Sunray without a hitch. Someone waiting at baggage claim with a sign, and someone who picked us up from the Swan and back to MCO at the end of our trip.

 

[Nennie]

Thanks so much everyone!! I can't wait til my trip!

For those of you who asked how I won the trip, I won it here on the Disboards, by playing the WPASADI game! Check it out over on the community board! There is a new contest that was just announced today, and the prize is also a 3 day/2 night stay at the Swan and Dolphin! it's not too late to sign up to play if anyone is interested. Good Luck!!

Thanks again!!

 

[NancyIL]

Well, just home from our trip...stayed at the Swan. I was so hoping to like it as much as the Dolphin stay I had in Dec. But, that wasn't the case. We arrived late Thursday evening, around 9:30. I just wanted to get a bite to eat at Picabu, and go to bed. Well, their system went down, we couldn't get room keys, so dh had to stay behind in the room because they told us they would send someone up with the room keys and also, we didn't want to have someone have to go back to the room to let us in, since we didn't have keys. So, we had to get our food to go. No room keys by 11:30, so called down to tell them we would get them in the morning.
We returned to our room at about 3:30, to find it hadn't been made up yet. No big deal since housekeeping was right down the hall. We left the room at 4:15. My poor dh returned to the room around 10, wanting to go to bed since he felt yucky. The room still hadn't been made up! He did call down to get fresh towels, since we had just dropped ours in the tub, expecting fresh that day.
When we checked out, we left our luggage with bell services. My dd had left her carryon bag, with her electronics in it, on the top of the cart. Well, when we got it back, her bag was on the very bottom underneath all the other bags. As we were driving to Tampa, for my ds's wedding, she pulled out her Ipod, and the 'face' had a nice big crack in it....a luggage wheel much have hit it!!!
All in all, we just weren't impressed. The room was very small. It did have a balcony...faced the Dolphin, right above the entrance, on the 5th floor. I was really disappointed since I had told my dh how wonderful the Dolphin was. Looks like I'll be staying at the Dolphin in the future....sad to say.

I'm sorry you didn't care for the Swan. Not much you can do about the room size, but the customer service issues were inexcusable. Housekeeping does have a tendency to clean rooms later than I'd like, so I put in a request to have my room cleaned before noon so I can come back for an afternoon rest. A couple of days during my Dec. stay (9 days) the room wasn't made up when I returned mid-afternoon - so I called housekeeping to remind them.

I love both the Swan and Dolphin, but I give a slight preference to the Swan.

 

[Dobie]

Does this mean you would have to have at least 40,000 points on your SPG to get 4 nights free? I know you get 10,000 when you sign up for the American Express SPG card, but how did you get the other 30,000 points and how long did it take you to earn it?

We only have 4,800 points after staying 3 nights at San Antonio Westin and 9 nights at the WDW Swan. My guess is that our room rates must have been less expensive, because they give you 2 points for every dollar you spend.

Has anyone ever bought SPG points? Does it really make sense and do you save any money that way?

I put EVERYTHING I buy--groceries, gas, vacations, clothes, gifts, medical bills--on my SPG Amex card. Since I pay most of my bills online, the only checks I write are to my DD's school and music teacher. I check my balance faithfully on line twice a week and budget accordingly. On months when I don't buy a big ticket item, I put 1900-2300 per month on my card, which averages out to about 27000 points a year. I spent 17000 points last year, and am saving up for a trip to the Swan Spring of 2008--I am hoping to have 70000 points to spend!