Swan/Dolphin 2010 Teacher Rate

[pooh2001]

Please call the S/D and ask for the rates.

I booked the teacher rate. a month ago, for Easter week 2010 and was able to get a standard (lowest value) room for $209 (plus 12.5% tax and $10 resort fee) - I thought that was OK for peak time to be at WDW.

Then I read this thread - what a deal we got !

When I called ther S/D directly they said NEW teacher rates wer out.
I was able to bump us to a resort view room with a new price of $194 (plus 12.5% tax and $10 resort fee) - $15 less expensive than before and a better room (from standard to resort view).

Thank you for all who post on this thread You are the best!

 

[teacher31]

I did that last year, but then when my reservation showed "government rate" and stated the credentials I had to produce at check-in, I got nervous & called their 800#. They booked me at the same rate under the "teacher" category and I canceled my online reservation. No worries when I checked-in!


(My worry was a "what if"!! What if the front desk has to reclassify the reservation when I check in and they say "sorry, no educator rates are available now"! )

Well, you stressed me out so much I called today and double checked. The person I spoke with seemed rather annoyed when I told her I wanted to make sure that government & teachers were the same. She said, "It's the same, but I'll change it anyway." She sent me a confirmation and it said teacher rate.

I do suspect that it is our uptightedness that makes us such good teachers, though! It just doesn't translate over to having a Disney obsession well!

 

[Mickey_Man]

Has anyone had any luck getting the teacher's rate for February vacation? DW & I are going Feb 15-20, and the best I can find is the AAA rate. The reservation line couldn't tell me if the teacher's rate wasn't available that week or already booked full.

 

[Mike2008]

I found this on mousesavers:

Certified school teachers and school support staff qualify for discounted rates at the Swan and Dolphin. These rates are not always offered and are frequently "blacked out" (unavailable) during peak periods, holidays, etc. Proper ID and/or most recent paycheck stub proving employment must be shown at check-in.

You must book these rates directly through the hotel at (888) 828-8850. Ask for rate code TEACH.

 

[Mickey_Man]

Just got off the phone with the Swan/Dolphin reservation line, and he said that he couldn't tell if the teacher's rate was in effect for that week because they have no availability so he couldn't book it for me. I told him that I already have a reservation with the AAA rate and wanted to see if he could apply the teacher's rate to my room instead. Here is the exchange we had (H for him, M for me):

H - "But sir, we have no rooms available".

M - "I already have a reservation. I would like to know if you can apply the teacher's rate to my existing reservation."

H - "But we have no rooms available."

M - "I understand that, but I don't need an additional room. I have a reservation under a different promotion already. Would you like my reservation number?"

H - "But it doesn't matter. There are no rooms available."

M - "So does this mean you cannot apply a new code to an existing reservation?"

H - "No sir. It means there are no rooms available to apply a code to."

M - "What about the room I already have reserved?"

H - "That doesn't matter. We wouldn't have a room for you to reserve at the teacher's rate."

M - "So are you telling me that we cannot get the teacher's rate, if it is available, because the hotel is already sold out?"

H - "Yes, sir. That is it."

My guess is that a sold out hotel does not need to offer the teacher's rate so it either isn't available or is already sold out. None the less, this was a bit frustrating. To make matters worse, he sounded like Sheldon from Big Bang Theory, so I felt like he was talking down to me! Anyway, we have a great rate on our flight and we did get the AAA rate, so no complaints.

 

[airhead]

Just got off the phone with the Swan/Dolphin reservation line, and he said that he couldn't tell if the teacher's rate was in effect for that week because they have no availability so he couldn't book it for me. I told him that I already have a reservation with the AAA rate and wanted to see if he could apply the teacher's rate to my room instead. Here is the exchange we had (H for him, M for me):

H - "But sir, we have no rooms available".

M - "I already have a reservation. I would like to know if you can apply the teacher's rate to my existing reservation."

H - "But we have no rooms available."

M - "I understand that, but I don't need an additional room. I have a reservation under a different promotion already. Would you like my reservation number?"

H - "But it doesn't matter. There are no rooms available."

M - "So does this mean you cannot apply a new code to an existing reservation?"

H - "No sir. It means there are no rooms available to apply a code to."

M - "What about the room I already have reserved?"

H - "That doesn't matter. We wouldn't have a room for you to reserve at the teacher's rate."

M - "So are you telling me that we cannot get the teacher's rate, if it is available, because the hotel is already sold out?"

H - "Yes, sir. That is it."

My guess is that a sold out hotel does not need to offer the teacher's rate so it either isn't available or is already sold out. None the less, this was a bit frustrating. To make matters worse, he sounded like Sheldon from Big Bang Theory, so I felt like he was talking down to me! Anyway, we have a great rate on our flight and we did get the AAA rate, so no complaints.

that must've been one frustrating conversation!LOL When I don't get any satisfaction with a reservationist,I say "bye-bye",hang up and call back later on in the day. I am also staying at the Dolphin next summer and was told back in August that there were no rooms available for my dates. Hotel was full. I called back the next and reserved 2 rooms at teacher rate.Don't give up!!

 

[Crazy4Disney72]

Can anyone tell me what exactly defines 'teacher or educational support staff'? I am the assistant teacher at a preschool for children with special needs, does that qualify? It's not a daycare center. I've already got our trip for next summer booked at a Windsor Hills condo, but I'm just thinking for future reference, I love the Epcot resort area.

 

[pooh2001]

Crazy4Disney72 - "I am the assistant teacher at a preschool for children with special needs, does that qualify?"

Does your pay check say "XYZ School" or have a ID with "XYZ School" on it and your name/picture ?
Then you do qualify and must bring a copy of your current pay check (can be the stub, not the actual check) and/or the school ID, when you check in - or you will be charged the outrageous standard room fee of $400 per night

My DH has a day job plus teaches one night a week at a local college (3 hours per week - 3 credit college class). His College teacher ID and a current pay check stub is what we bring with us. So when we go in April 2010 - we bring with us the March pay check stub and his College teacher ID.

 

[Crazy4Disney72]

Crazy4Disney72 - "I am the assistant teacher at a preschool for children with special needs, does that qualify?"

Does your pay check say "XYZ School" or have a ID with "XYZ School" on it and your name/picture ?
Then you do qualify and must bring a copy of your current pay check (can be the stub, not the actual check) and/or the school ID, when you check in - or you will be charged the outrageous standard room fee of $400 per night

My DH has a day job plus teaches one night a week at a local college (3 hours per week - 3 credit college class). His College teacher ID and a current pay check stub is what we bring with us. So when we go in April 2010 - we bring with us the March pay check stub and his College teacher ID.

No, my check does not, as the preschool is run by a national nonprofit organization for people with disabilities, they serve adults as well as children. I do have a work photo ID that says asst. teacher on it, I wonder if that would be good enough.

Thanks for the response!

 

[pooh2001]

No, my check does not, as the preschool is run by a national nonprofit organization for people with disabilities, they serve adults as well as children. I do have a work photo ID that says asst. teacher on it, I wonder if that would be good enough.

Thanks for the response!

Just call the S/D directly - not the 800 # - but the local #....
be honest and say you are an assistant teacher for a nonprofit school for people with disabilities and you have a school ID with your name & photo....ask if that will surfice for your ID... I bet it will.

Thank you for being a teacher which helps people with disabilities. God Bless.

 

[teacher31]

I found this on mousesavers:

Certified school teachers and school support staff qualify for discounted rates at the Swan and Dolphin. These rates are not always offered and are frequently "blacked out" (unavailable) during peak periods, holidays, etc. Proper ID and/or most recent paycheck stub proving employment must be shown at check-in.

You must book these rates directly through the hotel at (888) 828-8850. Ask for rate code TEACH.

Just an FYI - That code is expired. You can call and ask for the teacher discount and they will give it to you. If you ask for the TEACH code, they will tell you it's expired and not offer the teacher discount. My only issue with the Dolphin came last year when I had it booked at 179 and my friend got it for 129. I called and asked for that rate and the person said, "Well, I've got a 159." No, she has a 129 that I would like. "I see a 139." No, I want the 129. Miracle of miracles they had a $129. I believed then, and still do, if I had accepted the higher rate they would have left it there. Long story to say: Don't only go by codes. Ask if there is a teacher rate that is better.

 

[airhead]

Just an FYI - That code is expired. You can call and ask for the teacher discount and they will give it to you. If you ask for the TEACH code, they will tell you it's expired and not offer the teacher discount. My only issue with the Dolphin came last year when I had it booked at 179 and my friend got it for 129. I called and asked for that rate and the person said, "Well, I've got a 159." No, she has a 129 that I would like. "I see a 139." No, I want the 129. Miracle of miracles they had a $129. I believed then, and still do, if I had accepted the higher rate they would have left it there. Long story to say: Don't only go by codes. Ask if there is a teacher rate that is better.

Yup,you definitely have to keep calling!

 

[snowy76]

Related question - the last time DH and I booked the teacher rate, it was just the two of us in a king room. What's the max occupancy for S/D rooms with two beds? Hard to tell on Starwood's ressie site because it only asks for the number of adults.

 

[teacher31]

Related question - the last time DH and I booked the teacher rate, it was just the two of us in a king room. What's the max occupancy for S/D rooms with two beds? Hard to tell on Starwood's ressie site because it only asks for the number of adults.

This past Thanksgiving we spent a week with all 5 of us in one room: Me, DH, DD 16, DD 14, DS 13. We did bring an inflateable bed because I could not justify 25 per night for a roll away. It worked out perfectly to be honest. Lots of storage, not a crowded feel. I would suggest registering for SPG, though. We got a balcony upgrade! Was nice, but I definitely wouldn't pay for it. Was surprised how little we used it. Sorry. OT. Starting to sound like one of my students!

 

[tinkerbella1621]

id like to know more about the teach rate

 

[teacher31]

id like to know more about the teach rate

You can find out the rate by going onto the Swan & Dolphin site by clicking above. Then put in your dates. Where it says special codes, click on the down arrow and click government. It's the same as the teacher rate. Then see what the prices are. I usually book over the internet, but I do call and confirm that I'm a teacher, not a government employee. Same thing. Be aware that you will need to provide proof of your position when you check in, though. Hope this helped.