Starwood Preferred Guests - Swan and Dolphin?

[ArielDreams]

Has anyone gotten any discounts/upgrades etc. for being a Starwood Preferred Guest at the Swan and Dolphin? We're trying to plan a trip in mid-November and want to go deluxe but don't want to spend too too much. We're Starwood Preferred Guest members though and we definitely rack up the points staying at other Sheratons! Anyway, I just wasn't sure if the Swan and Dolphin worked the same because they're kind of not quite entirely Sheraton/Westin, not quite Disney, you know?

 

[Rhonda]

We give them our Starwood number and we always get points for staying there! A few times, we have been upgraded because we are Starwood members. It depends on how full they are.

 

[Lzylitnin]

At the Swan, we were given a resort view with balcony, but had a standard room booked. They were having a convention or something, the hotel was full. I don't think they had any regular rooms left.

At the Dolphin, we were upgraded to concierge. It was a very nice surprise. This trip was an anniversary trip though, and we had noted that on the ressie. Don't know if that had anything to do with it or not.

 

[m_kasch]

Yes -- you can get all sorts of discounts at the S/D. If you have an AP, AAA, are a teacher or government employee, a nurse, or if you use the code from All Ears. You can also use your points to stay here, 10,000 points a night.

There is a thread on the forum (i think it is on page 2 right now...probably will get bumped up soon though) that is dediated to the Swan/Dolphin. There is lots of good info there. I would link to it but i'm not sure how...

 

[tjmw2727]

Yes, they are Starwood properties not WDW resorts that are on leased WDW property. So you get the perks of Starwood and WDW!!

You get points for stays and purchases and we have been upgraded a couple times as well. Of course an upgrade isn't guaranteed unless you have the super high SPG level

I have also used free night awards and the 50/50 cash and points for rooms but its a high category (level 5 IIRC) so they require quite a few points.

HTH
TJ

 

[zalansky]

We have stayed a few times and booked a standard view and always get upgraded to an Epcot view, sometimes with a balcony too. We have the Gold Starwood card because we have the starwood Amex.

 

[eebadeeba]

Stayed at the Swan on points two times. The first trip, we were at Starwoods highest level and were not upgraded, except for concierge level which was expected. (I don't remember how many nights at a Starwood before the trip). The next trip we were also at the highest level, having stayed over 300 nights the previous year and were upgraded to a room with a huge connecting living area, kitchen, dining, TV, fold out couch (not heavenly though), full bath and balconies (3 balconies total), but not Epcot view. We are going again next month, still at the highest level (expires in a few months), but haven't stayed at a Starwood this year, so we will see what happens.

 

[Poly Pal]

I believe the Swan and Dolphin have eliminated their "Club Level" (aka concierge lounge). The concierge in the lobby has been very helpful however and I received vouchers for continental breakfast.

I am Starwoood Platinum and was upgraded from a standard room at a convention rate at the Dolphin to a corner King with two balconies last May.

 

[zalansky]

Poly Pal - you're right, the club level is gone!

 

[Bill From PA]

I present my card at check-in and politely ask if there are any rooms with a good view available. I got a balcony at Swan once and never have we ended up with a view of the dumpster. Don't know if Starwood membership played a role or not. Other than free nights we earned and used on other vacations, the greatest benefit to the card is the separate Starwood desk to register on arrival in the event there is a long line at the desk for the general public.

Bill From PA

 

[TaraPA]

Ariel Dreams - I'd book quickly - I was trying for a few dates in Nov. back in July & both hotels were completely sold out...I ended up having to push the trip off til 11/29. I was flexible (and with 3 free nights on points I'd have gone anytime they told me!). So if your dates are set check today! We booked 3 nights free with Starwood points & paid $199 for the 4th night, that was the AAA discounted rate for that time. I don't even care if I have a view of the dumpster - but I guess from reading this it wouldn't hurt me to ask nicely at check-in if there are any upgrades availalbe. I'm only SPG Preferred, not Gold or Platinum, so I'll expect nothing & be overjoyed with anything! Someone said there was a separate check in for SPG members at Swan - is there also one at Dolphin - and is it just for SPG Gold & Platinum, or can Preferred use it as well?

 

[we1luv1dis]

We have stayed at the Dolphin many times and have always gotten an upgrade based on my SPG status. Becuase of my travel, I have been at the platinum SPG level for several years and I do think that level does help with the "level" of the upgrades. I have been able to book our last 6 trips or so using SPG points and have been upgraded to suites (one was actually more than 2 rooms and on the club level when it was still around), connecting rooms (which are great with our DD's) and even a balcony view of Epcot (and the fireworks) during Christmas week.

 

[ArielDreams]

Thanks guys! Those were some awesome responses. I'm not sure what level we are or how many points we have because mom handles all that, haha. I just know we stay in a Sheraton at least 4 or 5 times a year and haven't really used any of our points yet. I will have to get the parents moving on picking dates if they are booking fast then - i was surprised that mom (who claims to be done with disney for a while... yeah, right) said to me the other day that we might be able to plan a disney trip for november since dad and i have extra vacation days to use up by the end of the year. The pictures of the Swan and Dolphin look beautiful online, I hope we end up staying at one!