Swan / Dolphin on Hotwire

[welovedis]

I have been checking this frequently and haven't seen the S or D come up for any of the dates I was thinking of going in July (16-20th). Has anyone had any luck with mid-July ressies?

TIA!

And thanks Jim for all you have done to help everyone here!

 

[Markiesgirl]

Can someone help me confirm I am seeing the Swan/Dolphin for my dates. I am nervous and need someone to hold my hand!

My dates are 10/23-10/29 The price is $81,4 stars and the ammenities are Resort, Rest.,Pool,Fitness center,Bus.center,golf nearby,Tennis nearby,Spa, and Laundy (this only shows when you click ammenities list).

THANK YOU so much!

 

[chris1gill]

Originally posted by Markiesgirl
Can someone help me confirm I am seeing the Swan/Dolphin for my dates. I am nervous and need someone to hold my hand!

My dates are 10/23-10/29 The price is $81,4 stars and the ammenities are Resort, Rest.,Pool,Fitness center,Bus.center,golf nearby,Tennis nearby,Spa, and Laundy (this only shows when you click ammenities list).

THANK YOU so much!

I'm definitely seeing what you're seeing!! Looks like the swan!

 

[onceuponadream]

Markiesgirl..I was nervous too so I bid the first 2 nights only first (the Swan didn't come up when I just bid the one night . After I realized that it was indeed the Swan I bid the last 10 nights...it made me feel better. Good luck and let us know when you secure your Swan ressie!!

 

[DeeCeeSW]

Does anyone have any idea if there is a big convention or event taking place during the week of September 20-27th? I am getting very depressed about not having the Swan or Dolphin come up for these dates!!!!!!!! All I get is the Hilton, not even the Wyndham! Nothing has changed since I started checking Hotwire last week. I am taking a short trip next month using Hilton points, so, of course, the Swan had come up for those dates!!!!!!!!!! If I knew there was something going on that week, I would accept not having the opportunity to stay at the S/D. Maybe I should call them directly and see if there's something going on??

 

[jtopicz1]

Sorry about how long it's taken me to respond to some of these posts, We've had some unexpected problems come up at work

Hopefully this will address most of the questions, If I miss yours just post again First off, I will be updating the hotel list to reflect what we should have known all along. If you look at my list, the ammenities I have listed for Dolphin can (and have) return a win at the Swan. I believe the ammenities I've listed for the Swan will only return the Swan however. I can only guess on the reason for this, but here it goes. I believe both the Swan and Dolphin participate with Hotwire on a local level, as well as Starwood (parent company corporate). What is likely happening is that Starwood is making inventory available at BOTH properties under the ammenities I have listed for Dolphin. On a local level, Swan lists themselves as noted on my list, as does Dolphin.

To sum this up....if you MUST have Dolphin, Hotwire may not be for you, as bidding for Dolphin could also yield Swan. Bidding using my lists' Swan ammenities however, you should still only receive Swan. I will update my list ASAP. Nothing has changes as far as the way Hotwire is listing these, I just need to update the list.

Debbie7452,
I still do not know for sure how to Identify the Wyndham, Gaylord or MOWC. I'm just hoping someone will send me the ammenities when they've won one of them. Sorry for the confusion.

mickeyx2,
I have never had a problem in well over 10 stays at various hotels getting two beds, however you are only gauranteed bedding for two. That being said, Orlando is a family markey, and two bed rooms are a huge majority.

w8ting4pooh,
You still have plenty of time They may have simply not released inventory yet.


sarha, reperino, disneybud and everyone else who got in: Congrats Hope your stay is great!

welovedis,
I don't belive anyone has reported any July wins yet. They may just be holding back inventory to estimate how well the hotel is selling conventionally.

Markiesgirl,
Your correct, that is the Swan!

kmr and momtotwinglesx4,
As you said, momtotwinglesx4, I believe availability is linked in someway to check-in date. We saw the same issue with late may/ early June stays.

Thanks again everyone! As always, I appreciatte it very much if you can post your wins as New Thread's on my board to help others and keep the info organized. I'll be updating the Hotel Lists again sometime this week!

Jim

 

[jtopicz1]

DeeCeeSW,
For whatever reason, they may just not have released inventory for September yet. I know September is slow season in Orlando, so I think you have a great chance that there will be availability eventually.

If it makes you feel better, you may want to reserve a cancellable backup somewhere just in case, but I think you'll turn up with success!

Jim

 

[chris1gill]

Jim,

That's a really interesting idea about why the Swan occasionally comes up as the Dolphin (Starwood vs. Local level marketing)... I guess I was very surprised when I received the Swan... I looked over the renovation pictures & now I'm pretty happy We'll walk across to see the lobby of the Dolphin & to see santa, it's a nice walk!

 

[mickeyx2]

Jim,
Just wanted to thank you SO very much for helping with all of my questions!! I got the Swan for 5-9 / 5-18. Another family that we're traveling with also were able to get the Swan for the same dates. Your instructions were perfect to the letter. Nothing varied.
I then called the Swan directly and let them know that we were a family of 4 and we needed 2 beds. She told me that would be guaranteed.
Again, thanks for your patience and all of the work you do for everyone here!!!
Jill

 

[jtopicz1]

chris1gill,
Remember also that you can use all the facilities at both Hotels. Everyone seems to have a preference, but both hotels have advantages that even them out. The Dolphins great lobby, for example, is balanced out by the Swans Westin Heavenly beds!

mickeyx2,
Glad everything worked out for you! I hate to tell anyone that they will DEFINATLY be able to get two beds if they bid on Hotwire, but you have a very good chance. Hotwire generally, as default, gives the most commonly available room type, which in Orlando is definatly a two-bedded room. Congrats on the rate!!


Jim

 

[momtotwinglesx4]

How likely is it that we'll be able to get connecting rooms if we get our rooms thru Hotwire? I'd hate to have dh and some of the kids on the 4th floor and me and the rest of the kids on the 10th floor or something

 

[jtopicz1]

It's really about as likely as if you booked conventionally. Certainly not a sure bet, but you have about as good of chance as anyone.

Jim

 

[jaysue]

Seems like sometimes the Swan/Dolphin only come up with a certain # of nights - looking at this post where someone got the rate for 5/9 to 5/18, I tried to get it from 5/16 to 5/18 or 5/15 to 5/18 and it did not come up. Sure enough when I plugged 5/9 to 5/18 the rate came up.

Kinda weird



Thanks
Jason

 

[jtopicz1]

I really believe it also has a lot to do with availability at the other hotels. Remember, Hotwire's task is to get customers the star level they want for the lowest $$$. Normal customers don't know what hotel they are bidding on. Therefore, a $69 Hilton is better than an $81 Swan to them. Therefore, I believe Swan/Dolphin only come up if Hilton and Wyndham's inventories are exhausted for a date within the stay.

It seems that Hotwire sells the cheapest rooms first. This is just a guess of course.

Jim

 

[jaysue]

That is an interesting view Jim - It rings of the truth and makes sense.....

thanks
Jason

 

[mickeyx2]

Jason,
Yes, that was me who got the 5-9 / 5-18 rate at the Swan. I've been playing with the dates for about a week now. We had to rearrange work schedules to be able to do this. We really needed the 10th thru the 18th but I just couldn't get it without adding the additional night of the 9th. I had tried every possible combination within those 10 days and just couldn't get it to work without that Friday night in there so we added another night! Good luck if your working within those dates too. I hope something will open up for you.

 

[BettyCv]

Some people here have indicated that they try for one night, and if it comes up with the hotel they want, then they bid on more nights. Will they have to change rooms during their stay?

BettyCv

 

[chris1gill]

Originally posted by BettyCv
Some people here have indicated that they try for one night, and if it comes up with the hotel they want, then they bid on more nights. Will they have to change rooms during their stay?

BettyCv

I actually wanted to comment on this... The last few posters have indicated that if they checked in on a certain day, they got their dates, but if they checked in the next day, the reservation was no longer available for them.... This might cause trouble to the people that are only booking one night & then going back to book the rest of their stay.... I just wanted to throw it out there, make sure you check Hotwire to see if the rest of your nights are still available before bidding on the one night....

BettCv, someone in fact had that happen, they bid on one night, got the dolphin, bid on the rest of the nights & got the Swan, so yes, it's possible....

Now I'm just curious why the Swan/Dolphin are making these low rates available... Are their hotel bookings down?

 

[sherry8253]

Hi Chris - We will be at the Swan over the Thanksgiving holiday weeked too. I was so excited to be able to stay there for $81 a night. We had reserved a room at AKL and with the AAA discount it was still over $2,000 for 8 nights. Wow what a savings - $1,400. Even if there are AP rates for then, we would probably have paid more for a moderate than we are paying for the Swan. Have a great trip!

 

[cressy]

We are just beside ourselves. After having success with our short trip next week(April 24-25-Dolphin @81.00) and feeling SO confident about the procedure you have so clearly described for us, Jim,I got the Dolphin again last night for June 10-15. The 8th and 9th were coming up with the same ammenities for 156.00.
We are sort of in a state of shock, it just seems too unbelievable. No more waiting and wondering when (and if) those AP rates are going to come out-we're booked at the Dolphin!!
Thank you thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you
This is less than we were quoted for a value resort!!!!
Fellow DISers-I hope you all can take advantage of this great opportunity while it exists. I was really really nervous about it, too, but realized from Jim's posts that he really has it down. Make sure the ammenities match exactly, and you follow his advice to the letter. Good luck!!
I do have to laughingly disagree with you, Jim, about the Dolphin's lobby being equal to the Swan's heavenly beds!! You can always walk over to the Dolphin and check out the lobby, but you can't walk over to the Swan and sleep in the heavenly beds!!!