s/d no discounts for teacher in late April, 2004

[KIS]

I am continuing an update after getting great advise from various boardusers on a s/d or FORiverside dilemma.

I just called the s/d and discovered that there are no discounted rates for teachers during the latter part of April. The woman at s/d even said there would not be ANY discounts at that time because there is a major conference to be housed there at that time.


So much for my dilemma. My family can't do $303 per night, which is the rate she quoted me over the telephone. So it's PORiverside.

Any suggestions how to get discounts for POR? Would you call it quits on S/D?

When do the deals come out anyway?

KIS

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by KIS
I Would you call it quits on S/D?

When do the deals come out anyway?

KIS

You wouldn't want to stay there at any price if the vast majority of the hotel was occupied with a conference.

 

[MrsPete]

Yeah, I can relate. After MUCH deliberation I had decided that we'd stay at the Dolphin for our summer trip, but when I called (waaaay ahead of time) I was told that the number of rooms available for my week was very limited and they were already gone. I tried the internet -- same story. I tried several times over the next weeks -- same story.

We ended up going to Wilderness Lodge with a great code price, and we could not have been any happier! I highly recommend it to anyone.

The Swan/Dolphin teacher rates are really great, but you have to be quick and lucky to get them. We will try again next time; perhaps we'll be luckier.

 

[lovingthemouse]

Here are 2 suggestions: as a teacher i have had to try and retry a number of times when we have gone - check on Fridays, when rooms have been re-entered back into their system, be persistent since you have time to plan ahead or check DreamUnlimited Res- we have had great success getting a teacher discount from them when it seemed there were none to be found at the hotel itself. We have been there during convention time too, really not that bad - a busy lobby at times, but their conventions were in rooms set away from major traffic. Caroline

 

[disnurse]

try boking with dreamsunllilmited, they have better availability from my own experiences

 

[Bill From PA]

Make your best deal for POR and keep trying S/D. I was told there were no discounted rooms for 3/5 - 3/13 when I wanted to move from the last week in Feb. I kept calling and ended up getting the three rooms I needed.

Bill From PA

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by lovingthemouse
We have been there during convention time too, really not that bad - a busy lobby at times, but their conventions were in rooms set away from major traffic. Caroline

Big conventions will have the Grotto pool closed off for private parties.

 

[KIS]

I called back about four hours later and the woman, a different one at s/d said that there was a room available for the teacher's discount during 4/24/04 for eight nights.

I did not question her, but took it, room only with the discount.

Meanwhile, I've read your responses. I'm not too sure about how the convention will effect us. I think we can cope with the busy lobby, but I'd like my daughter to have the time of her life in the pool. I think I will call the concierge or something and inquire further.

I am holding two reservations, then, at present. I hope that's decent. What I am waiting to do is see if there's any deals that emerge. We've also reserved the POriverside with WDW directly, room only. AAA is looking into a rate for me as well on the PORiverside, hopefully that will come through. The AAA agent got a quote from WDW and then when she called back to book it, she got some denial about the rate. She promised me she'd work on it tomorrow. The quote in question was $151 per night rather than $177 (including tax). AAA has no rates available yet for the S/D for late April. The direct reservation desk at s/d gave me a rate of teacher discount is $164, including tax and resort fee of $10 (what's up with that resort fee anyway?)

We'll see how the drama unfolds. If I get the best of both two option, which would you pick: dolphin, standard room at $154 or PORiverside at $151, including tax?

KIS

 

[Bill From PA]

There were lots of conventioneers the week we went last Nov. The pool was off-limits on 2 of our 8 nights, but other than that, no impact on us. I wouldn't let it stop me.

Bill From PA

 

[KIS]

That doesn't sound too bad. Thanks for sharing your experience.

I still think I will inquire at the resort. Perhaps there's a chance they have schedule of when the grotto won't be available. Then, I'll be sure to plan for five year old to be elsewhere at those times. The biggest potential conflict that I can see is when we take a break from the am parks and prior going out in the evening. You know, somewhere in the afternoon.

Do you recall about when during those two days the grotto was closed?

KIS

 

[Bill From PA]

Sun., Nov. 10 was the first time. I remember that becaust it was a record breaking 88 degrees and we left the parks because of the heat and they were setting up as we were leaving the pool around supper time. The other evening was sometime mid-week, don't remember the day. I think these events tend to be after dark, but don't hold me to that.

Bill From PA

 

[lopey]

I just made reservations at the dolphin for the week of 4/18/04 with the teacher's discount. I stayed there this past Feb. and about 1100 conventioners arrived the day before we arrived. To tell you the truth the only time we saw them was when we were at the pool. There were only a few people there and you could tell who they were because they were the ones wearing suits while we were wearing bathing suits. I do remember one late afternoon the Dolphin asked us if we could move to the other pool or to the beachside because they were setting up for a party (which was no problem) I really enjoy the Dolphin and can't to go again.

 

[YankeeFan51]

I followed the s/d link from this site to look at rates for April 2004, but the drop down menu only shows to 2003--is there another place I can look online for pricing with the Ent. Card discount?

 

[Bill From PA]

YankeeFan51,

Go to SWANDOLPHIN.COM or SPG.COM. Either should have dates a year into the future. One or the other is where I did my ressie, I forget which.

Bill From PA

 

[YankeeFan51]

Thanks!

 

[KIS]

Was that a typo? Are you going to stay at Dolphin or elsewhere this coming time in April?

Thank you for sharing your experience.

I am waivering on the Dolphin now also because I discovered that none of their restaurants are included on the Silver Plan. AND that the Silver plan could not be added to a teacher's discount rate at S/D

Where did you eat? Did you use that plan? If not, were the restaurants at S/D costly?

Karen

 

[airhead]

Is this going to be a problem for me next July?? No teacher discounts!!!! I sure hope not....


CJ

 

[Bill From PA]

airhead,

If you've got your dates picked, start trying to reserve through SWANDOLPHIN.COM or SPG.COM right now. Keep trying. I got my first choice in Feb. first time I tried. When I was forced to change dates because my college changed its Spring Break dates I was told that there were no discounted rooms available for that week. Two weeks later, I got the rooms at the Teacher's Rate.

Bill From PA

 

[KIS]

Dear Bob.

What's up with that constant flux in availability? I mean it's not like they have 999 rooms booked already and have to wait for some to open up. Even if they book percentages at the discount rate, I still can't understand that shifting.

As I already shared, I experienced a failure at 5 pm and then success at 8 pm. Crazy!!!!

KIS

 

[lovingthemouse]

In all honesty- i think that some reservationists know more than others - or i should say, are better informed than others. Being persistent can work for sure - we have done it a number of times and found success. Good luck. Caroline