NEW-STARWOOD PREFERRED GUEST-Questions/Answers

[disneygals]

Jaygatz...WOW...thanks for the link, now I can waste more hours online.

Vivienne

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by jaygatz
AMEX is offering up to 6000 bonus pts in their latest offer with the Starwood card. Though many have gotten gold with this card (including me), it is only supposed to afford you a one tier bump: from SPG to SPG Preferred (corporate level), SPG Preferred to SPG Gold. If you like the AMEX, it is a great way to build points. I would advise using points to upgrade to a jr. suite--1500/night and hope to be comped CL--JMHO. A good place to learn about SPG privileges is at www.flyertalk.com then look for the Starwood thread. There is a customer service guy/manager on that thread that answers questions.

i am a frequent poster on www.flyertalk.com please remember that this is not a Disney board these people are very frequent travellers and will help you in whatever way they can but please remember to familiarize yourself with the Terms of Service. Also every question about the SPG AMEX has been asked. USE THE SEARCH function or people on that board will jump down your back for asking the same questions over and over. It's an invaluable source of information but remember that board has a very different purpose than the DISBOARDS so please be respectful they are not just SWAN/DOLPHIN stayers, these people (including me) are very frequent travellers and stay at SPG hotels all over the world.

 

[Kapp]

Need some advice. We are staying at the Dolphin in November for 7 nights (2 adults & 2 kids) using the Teacher's rate of $129 for a standard room. We are a Starwood PG Gold member and already have enough for the 1,000 a night upgrade. Will this upgrade get us CL privs?

We might be able to get the 1,500 a night for the next level of upgrade. What will this get us? A Suite?

What would some pro advice be? Keep the 1,000 a night and hope for a suite upgrade or should we try getting the 1,500 a night? And, is the CL privs automatic with a Suite upgrade or is that a whole different issue?

Thanks for all of the help!

Kapp

 

[jaygatz]

Forgive me if I misunderstand the reasoning behind your post, but are you afraid that someone from the Disboard will not "act" appropriately on Flyertalk? Maybe I got up on the wrong side of the bed today, but your post is just crass. I mean, cme on just because you are a frequent traveller that stays all over the world, are you better than me, or anyone else on this board? Why did you post that? It makes no sense to me.

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by jaygatz
Forgive me if I misunderstand the reasoning behind your post, but are you afraid that someone from the Disboard will not "act" appropriately on Flyertalk? Maybe I got up on the wrong side of the bed today, but your post is just crass. I mean, cme on just because you are a frequent traveller that stays all over the world, are you better than me, or anyone else on this board? Why did you post that? It makes no sense to me.

All I am saying is that other posters on FlyerTalk WILL jump down your back if you don't search first. Go ahead ask whatever you want but be forwarned when the people on that board jump down your back for asking a question that has been asked over and over.

Maybe they are tired of travelling, but every year about this time the board is over run with the pushy vacation travellers asking questions that could be easily answered by using the search function.

No one is saying not to post but just be warned they do lash out at people who don't read first.

I see that someone has already headed over to flyertalk and asked a question without searching. See the response they got

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum74/HTML/007181.html

If you are looking for Disney specific info search the words - SWAN, DOLPHIN, and DISNEY in the Starwood forum. fRankly the people here on DIS have more info on the SWAN/DOLPHIN than anyone on FT.

PS - I am not the respondent. I post under the same name on Flyertalk

 

[jaygatz]

every year about this time the board is over run with the pushy vacation travellers asking questions that could be easily answered by using the search function

You know, you cloak your comments in mild speech, but you don't seem to be a very nice or helpful person. Why is a vacation traveller "pushy" for asking a question. Maybe you can pass rudeness off and excuse it because a person is tired, but my mother taught me better than that.

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by jaygatz
You know, you cloak your comments in mild speech, but you don't seem to be a very nice or helpful person. Why is a vacation traveller "pushy" for asking a question. Maybe you can pass rudeness off and excuse it because a person is tired, but my mother taught me better than that.

I am being helpful, I am warning you that if you aren't respectful to these people on this board they will be rude back. Many who post on FT are cynical business travellers. It is obvious by my example that they will snap back. They are considered "pushy" vacation travellers because they have entered someone else "home" and didn't bother to read up and understand the forums. Personally if someone has a question about the SWAN/DOLPHIN I would refer them to the disboards because I woiuld say that people here are much more knowledgable on the subject.

 

[Kapp]

cynical professional travellers don't worry or bother me. Especially since I am posting on a public board that is not "their's" .

And, I would venture to say that I travel more than most of those "experts".

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by Kapp
And, I would venture to say that I travel more than most of those "experts".

I welcome to hear how much you travel in an average year.

 

[Kapp]

just drop this childish banter. We are all working toward great, fun and STRESS FREE vacationing and trying to help one another out. How about it everyone?!?!??!?!?!

Kapp

PS- Over 175 days a year on average. And, the question I posted on the other site was not answered in the 'search'.

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by Kapp
Over 175 days a year on average.

you should definitly reassess your travel patterns if you are staying a 175 nights in hotels and can't scrounge up 10K in SPG points. You should be swimming in points if that is the case. If you really do spend that many nights in hotels you would be Platinum with SPG and you could call the Platinum SPG Concierge and they could arrange your upgrade complimentary. I am Platinum (stayed over 60 nights at SPG and over 60 nights at Hilton-Diamond) and I just call the elite lines and they are always more than accomodating to my requests since I am such a frequent guest of their chains.

Personally I would call the hotel directly and ask them your points question.

 

[Mouseteacher]

I have always found this thread to be extremely helpful with advice and the experience of others. I also enjoy sharing my experiences, too. This thread has always been friendly, respectful and a wealth of info. People are willing to read posts and be supportive of one's questions. These last posts have taken an uncomfortable turn. IMHO.

 

[MOM POPPINS]

I agree 100% with you Mouseteacher!

 

[Kapp]

You all have ALWAYS been such a major help with our WDW plans! We are down to 6 months exactly from tomorrow but have been seriously looking at a quick summer trip with the Fairtale Packages! VERY tempting!

 

[Mouseteacher]

kapp ~ I've lost sight of what you need advice on. Question away and I'm sure we all can try to help.

I am tempted by the spg cash and points for a quick 4 day 3 night stay at the Swan!

 

[Kapp]

I do not usually stay at Starwood hotels but I do already have 7,000 points and the Gold SPG. We (2 adults and 2 kids) are going to the Dolphin in mid-November for 7 nights. I am trying to figure out if I should just rest on already having the 1,000 points a night for the Specialty 1 upgrade (which is the Club Level Priv.s?) or should I try and get the 1,500 points a night for the Specialty 2 upgrade (is that the Jr. Suite?). We have never stayed at the Dolphin or used SPG points for upgrades and need some advice. We, of course, want the best room possible but don't want to just hope and pray for an upgrade on-site (we are not gamblers by nature!). Since it is going to be for 7 days, we were thinking that the space of a Jr. Suite would be nice.

Thanks so much, in advance, for any and all help!

Have a great day!

Kapp

 

[Mouseteacher]

kapp ~ I would go for the specialty 2 upgrade with points if you can. I believe you can receive a comp upgrade to CL by asking. Of course, it all depends on what is important to you - room/view or CL. I think with gold status you should not have a problem receiving some type of complimentary upgrade.

We received CL comps for 2 rooms I booked (one for my family and one for DBrother's family) with teacher rate last summer. I had no points but I was gold.

I have since accumulated a good # of points from my stay last August and using AMEX cc this past year. Thus, my temptation to do cash and points. This is what starwood hopes you will do - return and spend more $. They've hooked me and even more by their willingness to give me a comp upgrade. I have no problem returning and giving them more business. Great marketing tool.

 

[Kapp]

I'll see if we can get up to that level. If we can't and just have the 1,000 a night, is that just the Club Level? Do they ever upgrade to a Jr. Suite? Or, if you only have enough points for part of the stay, would they let you have the rest of the stay? And, do they react better to the Gold SPG over the basic Preferred?

Sorry for all the questions but I just want to make sure I 've done everything I can do make this trip incredible for my wife and 2 girls.

Thanks, again!

 

[CarnotaurDad]

Hi Kapp,

I checked with Starwood and this is what I was told (please note that I have found that differrent agents will tell different information):

Specialty 1: Club level, deluxe room. No guarantee view.

Specialty 2: Deluxe room, guarantee resort view (Epcot) w/ balcony. Club Level priviliges. Not a suite.

Hopefully that helps. Best of luck!

 

[Kapp]

Greatly appreciated! One more (for now at least!), what makes a room Deluxe? Is the view the only thing better?

On another subject, I called the other week to ask about the renovations at the Dolphin. They said that the entire hotel would be done early next room and than I can request a renovated room (based on availability). Any ideas of what floors/wings/units that have already been done or how far along they are?

Best wishes!