NO upgrades Dolphin on Balcony if GoldStarwood?

[Ashley's mom]

Last year I booked a balcony room at the Dolphin. I didn't want upgraded out of my balcony (Am Starwood Gold status) and got club level privileges which was the PERFECT situation. This year I went to book my trip in a balcony and was told that they don't upgrade anymore if you book balcony rooms unless you are platinum level. Thus, its pointless to book balcony...since I was told that I could book standard and get upgraded (obviously upon availability) to balcony...but if I booked balcony I would not get any upgrade. What's up with that? True? I could book club level, but I frankly prefer having a balcony anyway...and its just my husband and I and we don't need a suite.....

Anyway, just wondering if my ressie person was mistaken, or if this "new policy" was true. Can't understand why I should pay extra and not get an upgrade....

By the way, I just LOVE the Dolphin...

Oh oh.....this year we're going in February. Is it too cold to use the pool at that time of year (feb 17-

Thanks so much....

 

[tjmw2727]

I talked with "anne" last week and got a similar but slightly different explanation. IIRC - you can upgrade to club level if available but must stay on the club floor - no balconies. They are not longer allowing people to stay on other floors with "club privlidged" as it was getting to crowded.

In the past we have been lucky enough to get a great balcony room with a view of Epcot as well as club privlidges. If I understood correctly this is no longer the case. Should I be lucky enough to get an upgrade I will have to choose between the balcony and the club level room.

TJ

 

[LiLPrincess]

Bummer!

If I had to choose between the two, I would also pick a balcony room. What would you reserve if you were hoping to be upgraded to a balcony room?

 

[Ashley's mom]

What would I chose? Well, the balcony was just heavenly. I had been in Room 8029 (good things happened on that balcony) and the balcony made all the difference for us...the Florida breezes, the sunshine, sitting out there for fireworks instead of pressing your face against the glass, a quiet place for my husband and I to go after munchkin was put to bed......ah! Heaven. BUT....then there are those Florida restaurant prices.....spending $10 on breakfast alone isn't out of the question per person and then the wait and the smiling at the waitress early in the morning and then the tip......well, I'm not a morning person....and then there is the free drinks up in the lounge all afternoon and the spread they put out in the evening often turned into dinner for us because we were just tired from walking all day and, well, the only meal we'd often have out that we had to pay for was LUNCH.....which isn't too bad.....so which would I pick? Damn. I don't know.

I guess it depends on whether I can whine my way into getting both....or pay with points to get both.....AND if I have a view that doesn't see the fireworks....well, then I guess I'd just pick club level instead....free food I guess.

 

[LiLPrincess]

Sorry, I wasn't clear.

What I meant to ask is what room is a step below the balcony?

Meaning, if Starwood upgrades members to a room one level above the one you reserved (and you want to be upgraded to a balcony), what room should I reserve?