Swan / Dolphin on Hotwire

[jtopicz1]

Glad you were able to get in on this great deal as well!! I'm actually suprised that this even beats the CM rates!

Anyone who wishes to post their Hotwire success and/or attempts at the site I created is welcome to do so. It does not require registration (though it's appreciated), just jump on and post. It greatly assists others (especially visitors that didn't come from this thread) in making what is often their first Hotwire purchase.

I really appreciate all the thankful posts and emails I've gotten successful bidders. It's been a fun week meeting many DISers that I normally wouldn't have (I've posted for years, but usually only on the Universal boards!), and helping a lot of people get great deals! Hopefully this will continue for awhile to come!

Jim

 

[mickeyx2]

Hi again Jim,
Just pm'd you with one more question!! Thanks so very much for your time!

 

[jtopicz1]

onceuponadream,

You make the second person in 5 minutes!! Great Deals tonite.
http://www.swandolphin.com is the official site with GREAT pictures and info. Glad you were treated well by Reservations!!

Jim

 

[Tracie]

THANKS Jim!!!

I was a little scared to try HotWire so I put in my dates and got I think the Swan form the info on your site, but decided to try the first night only (Oct. 23) I got the Dolphin, still Happy! then I put in the other 3 nights (Oct. 24-27) and got the Swan! Way Happy!! My DSL are going for the F&WF and had the Swan for ENT Rate of $147.50. Now thanks to your info we have the Dolphin and the Swan for $81 pn. We have to change hotels after the first night, but I think we can handle that move!!

Thanks so much for your info and your site!

Tracie

P.S. I started a new thread on your site but couldn't post it? Do I need to wait a little bit after creating a user name?

 

[jtopicz1]

Glad you got in on this too. I'll definaltly be interested to hear which of the two you liked better

I've PM'd you with the site info.

Jim

 

[Tracie]

Thanks for the PM Jim, was able to post to your site. I am a Disney snob and never wanted to stay at the S/D, but my DSL really wanted to try the heavenly beds after my DH stayed at a Westin hotel in KC and raved about the beds! Now I am very excited about the S/D since I get to try both in one trip!

Again thank you for your help to all of us!
I am now off to see if I can save on my June stay at the HRH after our WDW stay!

Tracie

 

[jtopicz1]

Hehe.... I just stayed at the HRH and Portofino and LOVED them both. HRH was my favorite by far! Hotwire has plenty of availability on them so you should do well if you choose that route. You'll love the Hard Rock!

Jim

 

[maggiew]

Wow onceuponadream! Think of all the great stuff you can do with ALL that extra money you saved.

I am doing the $81/night happy dance too!

Maggie

 

[onceuponadream]

maggiew

When will you be at the Dolphin?? We will be at the Swan June 1-13. I have no idea what to expect there and am now going crazy researching and investigating...

 

[NHDisneyKid]

I'm so happy for everyone getting these great rates at the Dolphin, but I'm also sad that I can't get them for my dates, lol

I'm going May 1-4, but cannot get the Swan or Dolphin to come up AT ALL...not even for the more expensive rates...am I doing this correctly?

Jim, you're a saint for puting all this info together!! And thanks to anyone else that may have any tips for me...


Sarah

 

[jtopicz1]

Sarah,
I'll try to keep an eye on your dates as well. It seems like Hotwire has been updating their inventory in the early evening lately. You may still have a shot at it. I'll PM you if I come across any ideas. (It may also be worth it to try cutting a day of the beginning or end, sometimes this helps and you may be able to get a discounted rate through Dreams or the hotel for that one day.)

Jim

 

[jtopicz1]

onceuponadream,

You may wanna check out the Picture Forum here on the DIS. They got some great pictures of Swan / Dolphin that I'm sure will help get you ready

http://www.wdwinfo.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=512&thumb=1

Jim

 

[DeeCeeSW]

I commiserate with Sarah...I have been plugging in my September dates for over a week and all I get is the Hilton. Doesn't matter if a lop a day off the beginning or end of the vacation, I still get the Hilton. It's great that everybody is getting the Swan and the Dolphin, especially for Thanksgiving and Christmas (yes, there are even rooms for $81 for that time). I wonder if this is a sign that I am meant to keep my ressies at AKL?!

 

[NHDisneyKid]

Thanks Jim, I appreciate the help!!
I'd love to land the Dolphin...lopping off the first day of the weekend and only staying there the 2-4 would work perfectly well for me!!

DeeCee...isn't it exhausting?! lol
I'm going to take Jim's suggestion and check it out in the early evening, see if I can come up with anything....Good luck on your dates too! We're heading back in September, so let me know if you come up with any good results!


Sarah

 

[jtopicz1]

Heres another thought that I've been wondering about:

You never see the Hilton and Swan up at the same time, or the Dolphin and Swan, or any 4 stars together for that matter. I'm wondering if they switch them around so that only the cheapest 4* at the time shows? For example, maybe they exhaust Hilton and Wyndhams inventory, then put up Dolphin/Swan.

Just a thought, but it seems feasible.

BTW, I know for a FACT that Hotwire has access to BOTH the Swan and Dolphin the entire month of September, it's just a question of when and for how long they will become available for "Hotel Only" booking.

Jim

 

[DeeCeeSW]

I have tried every variation possible for the week of September 20-27th, and all I ever get is the Hilton. I will keep trying, though, as there is still plenty of time.

 

[NHDisneyKid]

That's the same time we're planning on going (softball tournament at the Wide World of Sports)...Sept 25-28!

Now, PLEASE let me know if you find anything!! And I'll definitely shoot you a message if I find cheap rates!


Sarah

 

[disneybud]

All,

This has been a great thread. Through Jim's info I can see that I can get $81 for Dolphin/Swan for my next trip in October 10/23 to 10/29. We arrive 10/22 but we can figure something out for that one night. Couple questions though and I guess I am looking for info from some people who have gotten their hotel through Hotwire before.. I see that they "Guarantee" double occupancy which is at least one queen bed and they "Request" Non Smoking. I have a family of four with a 3 yr old and 1 yr old. We need two beds in the room. A smoking room would not cut it for our family either? Has anyone had trouble getting a room with two beds in it or had trouble getting a non smoking room when using Hotwire?? I am so tempted to book at least part of my trip at Dolphin/Swan, but my wife will kill me if I end up in a Smoking Room with only one bed!! Any suggestions my friends or experiences to share???

THANKS AS ALWAYS!! And thank you Jim for starting such a great thread and providing us nuts such valuable info.

DISNEYBUD

 

[jtopicz1]

Believe it or not, the only hotel chain that will gaurantee your room type is Marriott (I believe that's the one). All others operate on the request basis no matter how you book (I've worked in CRO for Hilton - And this suprised me).

That said, these hotels want to win your business no matter how you book.

Hotwire, by default, reserves your room as a non-smoking room.

In all my stays around the country using Priceline/Hotiwre, the only time I've ever had a problem was getting a room with two double beds in downtown Washington DC on a busy summer weekend. Even then, the front desk guy (knowing we we're paying about 25% of what others were ) went out of his way to get us a room with two beds! Not only did he get us the room, he got us a huge corner room with a great view. Needless to say, in this example, we tipped him EXTREMELY well after, and he took excellent care of us throughout the stay!

Orlando is a family marked and two beds are the norm. If you wanted a single bed you MAY have trouble, but two double beds should be no problem.

As for requests, simply call the Swan/Dolphin, tell them you have a medical problem (Severe Allergies) and need a non-smoking room...I'm sure they'll accomodate you!

Hope that helps,
Jim

 

[jtopicz1]

Another funny Priceline/Hotwire story:

We went to Atlanta(Buckhead) for New Years Ever - 5 nights. We stayed at the Grand Hyatt thru a Priceline bid of $55. Upon arriving, this place was AMAZING. We went to check in and the front desk person said to the person checking in in front of us something along the lines of "Wow - $259 is the lowest rate I've seen on a peak Holiday. Great deal!". The friend I was traveling with and I just smiled.

Upon getting to the checkin desk we we're worried we would be stuck with one bed and a view of the dumpster with our rate. Not at all the case.... We we're asked (and granted) our preferences, and upgraded to a huge room on the 17th floor facing downtown. We we're treated like royalty the entire stay, even though we we're paying less than 20% of the $250-400 rates quoted on Expedia, Hyatt.com, etc!! Because of this experience, I have booked this hotel direct several times since.

Jim