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

[BlueFairy]

BlueFairy - YAH for you! Sounds like your going to be getting a great room! I was curious what category of room you had actually reserved when you made your reservation? I would love to have a room w/ either an Epcot view or a balcony since, like you, we will be traveling w/ a little one and therefore will also be spending a lot of time in our room (naps and early bedtimes). We also have requested a king bed and a crib but due to budget limitations only reserved a standard view. I'm guessing the only way we would get an upgrade to one of these is with a LOT of Pixie Dust!

We paid a discounted convention rate of $184 for a standard room. Since the other room categories weren't offered, I decided it couldn't hurt to ask. Also, I did join Starwood Preferred Guests and send them the member #. I simply noted the requests when we made our reservation, then e-mailed with the SPG# to reiterate those requests and explaining why, then called 1 week ahead and spoke to the front desk to confirm (and beg if needed!). It is interesting to me that the meeting organizers say the hotels are sold out that week. I just assumed that those rooms would be paid for by vacationers paying higher rates, but I guess not. Hopefully, I'm not getting my hopes up here.
And, best of luck to you! I'm sure you'll have a fabulous time regardless.

 

[red coyote]

Can someone help me? We are going to stay at the Dolphin in June and I was wondering if they have connecting rooms with a balcony. We are going with another family and would like connecting rooms but I also want a balcony room and do not know what to request.

 

[paras4ri]

Can someone help me? We are going to stay at the Dolphin in June and I was wondering if they have connecting rooms with a balcony. We are going with another family and would like connecting rooms but I also want a balcony room and do not know what to request.

Welcome to the DIS red coyote!!!!

The Dolphin does have connecting rooms and the ones in the wings have balconies. The wings have 9 floors. If you'd like both rooms to have their own balcony you'd need one of the lower floors of the wings because as you get higher only every other room has a balcony. You can see in the picture below, which is of the East wing.

 

[NancyIL]

We'd really like to go to WDW the first week of October this year and are considering the Swan or Dolphin. BUT, I've read in this loooooong thread more than a few times that Oct. is a big convention time for the Dolphin.

In your opinion, those with experience, is the convention thing something that will affect our stay enough that we should choose either different dates OR go to the Swan over the Dolphin OR just choose a different on-site resort? We can be pretty flexible with dates but want to go when it's warm enough to swim outside a lot.

We're looking at either the Dolphin or Swan, Caribbean Beach, Port Orleans Riverside or Coronado Springs all in a similar price range when park tickets are added. (We could do a value resort like Pop Century, too, but that's not my first choice over these other resorts!)

Opinions?

When the Gartner IT Expo is in town in October, their attendees stay at all of the Epcot resorts, plus Caribbean Beach, Coronado, and at least one All-Star. I think the 2006 convention is the first week in October - earlier than previous years.

 

[goofy64055]

I never saw an answer to the question about Tubbi's closing, temporarily or for good? Also, the frig issue, if you ask for one, is it actually a frig or do the just clean out the mini-bar and charge you? Also what is the charge?

 

[luvdmouse]

Tubbi's is closed right now. Supposedly it will reopen around 4/1 as Peekaboos, a similar family friendly spot.

 

[cindyfan]

I never saw an answer to the question about Tubbi's closing, temporarily or for good? Also, the frig issue, if you ask for one, is it actually a frig or do the just clean out the mini-bar and charge you? Also what is the charge?

So... if you use the mini-bar for your own things.... milk for the kids, etc...
Do they charge you??
I'd like to know about the fridge thing too.

 

[cindyfan]

We currently have ressies for Swan in June.
Can we pay the balance due ahead of time?
We have always done it this way at the Disney reosrts, so that it makes it a lot easier.
I assume they have card keys too......
And is there anything that can be charged to the room using the card key?

Re-posting these questions.... didn't see an answer....
Anyone know?

 

[BlueFairy]

Also, the frig issue, if you ask for one, is it actually a frig or do the just clean out the mini-bar and charge you? Also what is the charge?

I've never been there, but I'm told that if you request them to empty the minibar there is a $20 (per day or one-time?) charge for use. A separate fridge is $20/day. Or that you can place a sign on the minibar clearly stating that you didn't consume but only moved the minibar contents and then use if for free. That's what I've got to go on. I think we're going to try and take a cooler.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Not sure if you can prepay, I imagine you can. Someone will answer.

As for charging back to room key/card (yes, it is a card-key), you can not charge back from the parks or other Disney resorts, but you can for anything on the Swan/Dolphin property.

As for the minibar, I always call and notify them I am taking things out of the minibar, putting them on counter nearby, and using for my own pop, etc. They have never charged. I also put a note by the minibar, notifying the minibar person of such.

 

[#1hockeymom]

Yes, you can prepay your resort vacation costs at the Swan/Dolphin.


PS My favorite place to charge with my room key happens to be the pool bar/snack area! You can use your room key to charge at any of the Swan/Dolphin locations.

 

[jultomzach]

from my confirmation-
Room Description
2 QUEEN BEDS
TRADITIONAL NON-SMOKING, HEAVENLY BED, WATER VIEW, NEWLY RENOVATED, MINIBAR, THE RENOVATED ROOM IS 340 SQ FT AND FEATURES LIMITED VIEWS OF THE COURTYARD, CRESCENT LAKE AND THE SURROUNDING RESORT

from their email ad-
Book your stay NOW for August or September, 2006, and you'll enjoy rates starting as low as $129* per night - plus you'll receive a one-category room upgrade for free!

I just received this reservation confirmation but I requested a King Bed. When I called back reservations they told me king bed was only a request, would not show on my confirmation. I am a gold Starwoods member and although the $129 rate special, it was to include an upgrade. Is the King bed only a request? I really want a King bed.

 

[dtuleya]

Your upgrade is from a standard view to a water view. Has nothing to do with the bed arrangement. I wouldn't get too worried about it though - just ask again at check-in.

 

[jultomzach]

Thanks for the quick reply.. but when I looked at the reservation today it was for the Swan!! So I had to call back for the third time, first time they did not have my email correct so I never received a confirmation, then when I received the email confirmation they had my name spelled incorrectly (VERY incorrectly), and last call was because it was at the wrong hotel. Not a great start. (They did have all the correct information for my credit card and took one nights deposit at the time of the reservation!)

 

[TwingleMum]

Is it possible to have a view of MGM/TOT and EPCOT from the Dolphin ?? or do you get one or the other?? What are some of the must do's for kids?? Any special kid perks?? Will there be Dive In movies in April???? Can you find out whats showing in advance??? Thanks

 

[FINFAN]

On our last split stay, WL moved our luggage to the Dolphin. This trip we may do a split Dolphin/Poly. Will the Dolphin transfer our stuff, or do we need a cab?


Pam

 

[GoofyinNY]

Hi Everyone,

I'm so happy to say that we are finally heading back to the Dolphin!! Last year we did the Nick Hotel and the Poly. Nice, but we really missed the Swan/Dolphin. People always wonder if there is magic at the Swan & the Dolphin - well, my DH thinks there is more. I will tell you that last year we certainly did not encounter the gracious hospitality that we have always found at the Swan/Dolphin. All I can say we're heading home - woohoo!!!

 

[Kitty 34]

You S/D experts might be able to help me....or offer me words of comfort. :

Last week (on Tues) I called to check on the teacher's rate for the 2nd week in June (10th - 17th). The lady gave me the rate but I didn't book at the time because I thought maybe if I waited a little while it might go to the $129.

Today, I decided to call back and at least book the room at the regular teacher's rate and just hope that maybe later it would go down to the $129.

So I call. The guy says the rate still was $165 and asked if I was a Starwood member. I said yes....hoping that would at least give me an upgrade. After a moment he tells me there are NO more rooms that week at the teacher's rate!!!

I am SO bummed!!!! I really really wanted to stay at the Dolphin. This would have been my 4th trip down there in June. I can't believe all the rooms available last week got booked this week!

Should I wait and try calling again? Will they maybe add rooms? I figured all the teachers would be passing up June and going later in the summer at the good rates!

I would be going later but I already have my plane tickets.

Thanks for listening.

 

[Blondie]

Kitty, what about the Swan, did you check there?

 

[LWcalif]

After returning from our fantastic stay in September at the BC, I figured we wouldn't be heading back to the World for a while........well, thanks to this board posting that great discount at S/D we are heading back in August!

I booked the nurse rate of $129 with the 1 category upgrade at the Swan. I asked if the upgrade was to a water view and they said the upgrade from a std. room was a courtyard view. I rec'd the confirmation by mail that said courtyard view, but when I check my ressie on the spg website it says water view. Does anybody know what the deal is with this? Not that I really care about the view. We don't spend much time in the room anyway. Just wondering what to expect.

When we booked our std. rooms at the BC, the CM said there were two views to choose from, parking lot or courtyard. We requested courtyard and had a great location on a beautiful courtyard. So I assumed the Swan std. room would be either parking lot or courtyard. Is the one category upgrade different at the Swan vs. Dolphin?