Staying at the Swan & feeling bummed

[hmerritt]

I know this is so silly, but we are scheduled to stay at the Swan 7/7-14 and I am feeling bummed. We are getting a GREAT rate of $132 because I am going down for a convention, but feel like it won't be the best atmosphere for the kids first trip. I am also concerned about the 25-30 bus ride to WDW, having a special needs child. I've checked out all the other hotels and without doubling or tripling our hotel budget, cannot justify spending 1000 more on hotel. Someone make me feel better! lol~ Do these hotels never have specials?

Heather

UPDATE:
Ok- I guess that's solved
I was reading the posts under New-Swan info and called to book a refrigerator before the prices went up and they told me my reservation had been cancelled because there was no deposit, which I KNOW I made with a cc. Called all my cc companies and can't find it anywhere. With our recent move, it never dawned on me that it wasn't on my statements because everything was so crazy and they are SO rude at the Swan/Dolphin, they have no rooms available and told me to go out into the park. I am SO upset, Ps's already made, tix bought, everything ready. What if I hadn't called today and found out when I got down there?

Heather

UPDATE 6/14:

What a week! Thank you to everyone that responded. In a condensed version ~lol~ This is where we are now:

Went round and round with the Swan/Dolphin, remembered I had gotten an email from Starwood so that jogged everything that had happened, contacted them and it's no wander that the hotels have the attitude that they do. As one person put it, after everything this week I would NEVER give my money to them if they were the only resort on the property!! lol~ Disney was SO much nicer and gosh just gushing with apologies (and it's not even "their" hotel, but they did say they are supposed to be upheld to the same Disney standards) and help. SOooooooo, thanks to everyone we are going to get Annual Passes (figure that will wash if we return within the year) and got the AP rate at the Polynesian for the first four days, and THEN for the BEST part, one of the other people attending the convention could not go at the last minute, was too late for her to cancel and offered her studio villa at the BCV for $110 a night for the last three nights!!! I was like, OMG there is a reason. So although we went through pure H*** for two days trying to get this straightened out, it worked out for the best. It's so sad that my company is paying them SO much $ to hold this convention there, and they can't even treat the attendees with a little respect. I am VERY excited and much anticipating our upcoming trip.

Just wanted to let everyone know what was going on, I read another post about someone who also made ressies around the same time I did, they haven't cancelled hers as of two days ago, but she also couldn't find the charge on her cc bills. Makes me wander if they had a glitch in the computer during that first week of March. I will pursue this (not for the room anymore) but just to make myself feel better about their treatment.

Any good news about where we're staying now? lol~

Heather

 

[NancyIL]

While I can't guarantee that you'll love the Swan - I personally think the Swan/Dolphin is a great resort! Your kids will love the grotto pool and playground, and you'll enjoy the convenience of boat transportation to Epcot and MGM and being a stone's throw from the Boardwalk. I don't recall the bus ride to the MK taking 25-30 minutes, although the time depends on whether or not the bus also stops at the YC/BC and Boardwalk.

 

[Poohy]

I will be there from 7/6-7/14 also for a convention. I wonder if we are going for the same one? We are at the Dolphin. I think it is going to be so much fun wherever you stay. Email me and maybe we can talk about our trips and the convention.

Beth

 

[Geoff_M]

You'll be fine at the Swan. In the last three years we've stayed at PO (the original), WL, and last month stayed at the Dolphin. Of the three we liked the Dolphin the best over-all. You can't beat the location. Our experience with the bus ride to MK was more like 15 minutes. Times may vary with attendance, but they also adjust the size of the fleet on the roads with the additional ride load. We've had several special needs riders on the buses we've ridden on and the transportation staff do a good job with those passengers.

 

[Judgekw]

I stayed in the swan last August, do not be bummed. It is not perfect and it really doesn't feel very Disney. However, it is it a super fantastic location. If you don't like the swan you can be over to the boardwalk in a second. It is also so convienent to get to MGM and Epcot on the boats. Your kids will be so excited to be at Disney and kids love any hotel. The pool is really nice and Disney is always just fabulous with kids with special needs. I would definetly not worry about the bus ride. It is about the same from any of the resorts. Unless you are on the monirail it just takes a while to get to the Magic Kingdom, but don't forget you are really close to MGM and Epcot. My kids both love MGM and EPCOT and if you do a little research there is lots of fun things for kids at both parks. Epcot is always great because it is less crowded and less hectic.
I think if my kids had never been to Disney World they would like the Swan, just because it is big and it is fun to get on the elevators etc. Your kids will only notice a difference in my opinion from the Disney owned hotels if they have been before. Be excited you will have a great time and you got a great deal!

 

[hmerritt]

I was reading the posts under New-Swan info and called to book a refrigerator before the prices went up and they told me my reservation had been cancelled because there was no deposit, which I KNOW I made with a cc. Called all my cc companies and can't find it anywhere. With our recent move, it never dawned on me that it wasn't on my statements because everything was so crazy and they are SO rude at the Swan/Dolphin, they have no rooms available and told me to go out into the park. I am SO upset, Ps's already made, tix bought, everything ready. What if I hadn't called today and found out when I got down there?

Heather

 

[RhondaS]

Don't be bummed.

The Swan & Dolphin have a great pool, the absolute same Disney transportation (both bus and boat) that you'd get at any of Disney's Epcot resorts, and the location is great. The Disney Character Caravan stops at the Swan and the Dolphin, just like it stops at Disney's hotels (ask at the front desk for the schedule). Both the Swan & Dolphin have big Disney gift shops and Disney information desks.

The only Disney hotels that have Disney 'in your face' decorations are the All Stars. The moderates and deluxes are much more sublte, so I don't think there is really that much difference.

Relax, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised once you get there.

 

[donnamerry]

ya know, for not much more I believe you can get a standard room with a code discount at the Wilderness Lodge. Look at Mousesavers.com and check out the code discounts to use for your dates and call CRO for availability with that discount!
If you do stay at the Swan, having never stayed there, it is a pretty neat place. We walked thru there last summer and it's nice and oh, so very close to the Boardwalk which your children and you will love!

 

[NancyIL]

I'm sorry about your troubles at the Swan. There's certainly NO reason for them to be rude to you. Have you checked to see if your convention still has rooms blocked? At this point, you may not want to stay there even if you could. Good luck.

 

[manning]

hmerritt- Did you kick this upstairs to management, if not do so. And keep going higher.

Do you have a Starwood Preferred Card. If not get one by calling 1-888-625-4988 and press menu botton 0. They will give you a membership number over the phone. Sometimes they will try a little harder if you are a member. Also you may get an upgrade at check-in based upon availability.

Be nice, get out the honey. "Please help me!!" If you had a confrontation with someone there, apologize and say it hit you by surprise and you reacted badly and realize now that things like this can happen. Never mind if they started it.

You want them to feel sorry for you. Tell them what happened and that your special need child is heart broken. Your not lying.

Do you have a reservation number? They may need it to back track to see what happened. The reservation conversation may have been recorded, and if so, there would be a record of you giving your credit card number.

Get more honey.

Who is putting on the convention. Get in contact with them. They may do a lot of business with Starwood and/or the Swan. They may be able to pull some strings.

Get out the hankerchief and start crying. remember have them feel sorry for you. You are going to make it hard for them to say no. Whatever you do, don't tell them you will never stay there ever!!! Get rid of the vineger, we're trying to catch this fly.

Do you have a Disney Club card? You may get a room with a discount close to the 132 rate.

Call everyday,be pleasant, there are always cancellations. If they get to know you in a nice way and remember you, they may hold something before you call again. If you can, get the person's name and ask for them each time you call. They may not pass you over to them, but you want to deal with as few people as possible.

Try getting the dates one day at a time. Like disney, they may have a wait list if you have dates reserved. I found out a number of years ago that Disney waitlist clearance ran once a day, but if I called and had them check, it triggered the waitlist and I got the room. So ask them if they have a waitlist that works this way. I believe you are able to cancel 24 hours before arrival.

Try a travel agent, There have been times when I got something when I couldn't any other way. Be aware you most likely have to pay them a fee. Ask what they charge first.

Try AAA. They may have a block of rooms on hold. American Express use to do this with Disney. May still do. Also I think I saw somewhere where AAA has something going with Disney, maybe also with the Dolphin/Swan.

If you get something, have them read back the reservation and credit card number and if possible mail you a written confirmation.

Remember, "please, please help me!"

Try, try, try. Don't give up, you have until July 6 to get something.
And when you do, write a nice thank you letter.

Don't laugh folks. Most of the time it works. I rent full size cars and mostly get luxury. The secret? A box of candy at pick-up. It's a small office.


Anyone else out there have any ideas?

 

[Jen80370]

manning...you must be related to Dreamflight 99. If you haven't met on these boards yet...you need to. Check out the Starwood and Dolphin boards...your advice is quite similar. We go on and on about tending to our Dolphin Angels...letters that help them get raises...Mrs. Fields cookies, Salt Water Taffy from the Jersey Shore...they all help. When they feel special...they want you to feel special. I call it instant karma. It has helped me immeasurably with my upcoming stay at the Dolphin.

Nice to talk to you, by the way.

 

[manning]

Heather- How are you doing? Have you called yet?

 

[Ityldu]

We also swore we'd never stay at the Dolphin b/c it didn't look Disney and didn't think the kids would like it much. We ended up there b/c Disney was booked and we got a fantastic rate. We absolutely fell in love with the place and it's the kids favorite resort. The Grotto pool is amazing, our favorite of all the pools.

Now we make sure Dolphin is part of at least 1/2 of every trip to Disney.

As far as transportation, although we LOVE the monorail, that only makes transportation to one park easy. S/D give you easy access to 2 major parks.

I wouldn't feel bummed at all. I can't wait to get back there June 25.

 

[mat2672]

Heather, I know its probably too late to change plans now, but you can get good rates at disney hotels a lot of times. You have to be on the lookout though. In the future keep checking these boards. Trust me, when a good deal comes around it will be plastered on these boards instantly. You asked if the hotels ever have specials. The thing is that you have to catch the deals a couple months at least in advance. I hope it all works out for you.

 

[princess angel]

I wouldnt worry at all if I were you.
I have never stayed at the Swan, but I have stayed at the Yacht club and bwv many times. so I have visited the S/D many many times!
they are beauitful resorts with a wonderful grotto pool your kids will love!
the transportation is fantastic, who told you 25 - 30 minutes to the magic kingdom???!
no way. it is more like 10 - 15 minutes. and you can walk or take a boat to Epcot and mgm. the swan is one of the best resorts on property as far as location. that shouldnt be an issue at all!

just as an example - it takes 40 minutes to get to Epcot from the Grand floridian on the monorail! so if you are looking for convenience, you got it at the Swan/Dolphin.

it is a deluxe resort, dont sing the blues, you are going to have a great time!

Laura

 

[NancyIL]

The last thing Heather posted was that her reservation at the Swan had been cancelled, and there were no rooms available there for her travel dates. I don't know if she found accommodations at another resort or was able to find something else at the Swan after all.