The **New** Swan and Dolphin Resort thread ~ April 2012 ~ Please read post #1

[SomDayMyPrnceWillCom]

Thanks!!!

 

[Poppins2010]

Have you considered one of the Dolphin suites since you need two rooms? We had a grand suite which included 2 bedrooms, a living room with sleeper, a huge dining table, a wet bar area, and a third bathroom for the price per night of one water view room at the Beach Club! We had a teacher rate

Oooo...this is a cool idea. I was also looking at two rooms to afford my teenage son and his BFF a little privacy. Do you think the suite would give both parents and teens enough privacy? Is it cheaper than two rooms? I'm a teacher too... is it a good discount? (Sorry to pepper you with questions!)

 

[luvallprincesses]

Following up to the PP's questions...how do those deluxe rooms work on Starwoods Rewards points? I will shortly have enough points for redeeming 4 nights worth to get the 5th free. Can I pay the difference between a standard room and the deluxe room? It would be so great to bring extended family.

 

[SRUAlmn]

Oooo...this is a cool idea. I was also looking at two rooms to afford my teenage son and his BFF a little privacy. Do you think the suite would give both parents and teens enough privacy? Is it cheaper than two rooms? I'm a teacher too... is it a good discount? (Sorry to pepper you with questions!)

No problem!! What they did was give us a one bedroom suite with the teacher rate and then added the second bedroom with the Stay Connected rate. It came out to be about $600 per night with taxes and fees. I would say it offered a LOT of privacy because the bedrooms were on opposite sides of the suite and it was so nice to have the big living/dining/wet bar area and third bathroom. It's not cheaper than 2 standard rooms with the teacher rate, but the space you get is really equal to more than 3 rooms!! We loved it!!

 

[ImprovGal]

Ok, I see. Thanks for the quick reply. So if I book two rooms at that rate I would get $100 to spend at hotel. Can that be used at any of the restaurants or pool bar?

Why would someone not choose that if it was available over the regular AAA discount since the rate is the same?

I've booked the AAA rate before with the $50 resort credit. In practice, it appeared simply as a credit towards my total room folio so yes, it effectively offsets charges from any of the restaurants or bars.

As for your second question... because they don't know it's an option?

 

[vicb]

I've booked the AAA rate before with the $50 resort credit. In practice, it appeared simply as a credit towards my total room folio so yes, it effectively offsets charges from any of the restaurants or bars.

As for your second question... because they don't know it's an option?

Thanks. I think I'll book that and we didn't have a dinner planned for our arrival day yet so we will pick a spot at S/D to eat before heading out for the evening at emh Studios to take advantage of that credit.

 

[SA mom]

The deluxe alcove rooms at the Swan have a king bed and a sofa bed. While they are spacious, I'd much rather sleep on a Heavenly Bed than a sofa bed!

True, our then 10 year olds put the mattress on the floor and slept quite well. My sister-in-law slept on the roll away and it was a heavenly bed, very comfortable.

 

[SA mom]

Following up to the PP's questions...how do those deluxe rooms work on Starwoods Rewards points? I will shortly have enough points for redeeming 4 nights worth to get the 5th free. Can I pay the difference between a standard room and the deluxe room? It would be so great to bring extended family.

There is a slight difference in points ( I think it's 11,500 points per night for the deluxe alcove/family room versus 10,000 points per night for a standard room). You have to call SPG to book it directly. We've never been able to do it through the website. I'm not sure if you can do points and cash, but I seem to remember us booking it that way when we went in 2010 and then changed the reservation to points only as we accumulated more points.

 

[SingingMom]

Just want to give a quick shout out to the wonderful customer service at the Dolphin! JetBlue canceled our flight for tomorrow morning. So disappointed - as we had to cancel Afternoon Tea at the GF and the Wishes Dessert Party, too. The first flight they can put us on isnt until THURSDAY afternoon.

In the midst of the frustration of trying to find flights, etc, change driver pickups, kennel, and mail, I called the Dolphin reservations to see if we could possibly change our arrival and departure dates. Was greeted with the utmost politeness & professionalism, as usual. Not a problem - everything set! They will be waiting for us on Thursday and we can stay the original amount of nights. No worries..

Now... if only I can find a cancelation opening for that Wishes Dessert Party one night... LOL If not, guess that means we must return, yet again.

thanks for the prompt solution to my dilemma today, dear Dolphin Reservations!!

 

[NancyIL]

Just want to give a quick shout out to the wonderful customer service at the Dolphin! JetBlue canceled our flight for tomorrow morning. So disappointed - as we had to cancel Afternoon Tea at the GF and the Wishes Dessert Party, too. The first flight they can put us on isnt until THURSDAY afternoon.

In the midst of the frustration of trying to find flights, etc, change driver pickups, kennel, and mail, I called the Dolphin reservations to see if we could possibly change our arrival and departure dates. Was greeted with the utmost politeness & professionalism, as usual. Not a problem - everything set! They will be waiting for us on Thursday and we can stay the original amount of nights. No worries..

Now... if only I can find a cancelation opening for that Wishes Dessert Party one night... LOL If not, guess that means we must return, yet again.

thanks for the prompt solution to my dilemma today, dear Dolphin Reservations!!

I'm sorry you won't be able to fly to Orlando until Thursday, but at least the weather will be considerably warmer than it would've been today and tomorrow! That's great that the Dolphin was so accommodating.

 

[minnie-apple-mouse]

Has anyone heard how FP+ has been working at S&D. We arrive thurs and were wondering how fast they are gone each day-we have a number of days we will not enter until late afternoon.

Assuming all FP- will be gone, but hoping to hear some FP+ have been available later?

 

[lvdismagic]

Hi everyone. We leave in 11 days for our first stay at the Dolphin. This thread has been so helpful! I've read to page 62 and had to stop (these crazy kids want dinner ). Can someone please tell me what a lake view room means?
Thank you in advance!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Sounds great as always, S Mom. And like Nancy said, the next couple days are cold down there. Not as cold as here for sure, but still cold.

Enjoy when you get there.

 

[4ParkFamily]

I read something about a gift card on rest.com for Garden Grove rest. but when I type in the zip code nothing comes up. Do they still offer this discount? Also when I try to to get breakfast reservations on the WDW website only dinner reservations come up. Do they take reservations for breakfast?

 

[cgattis]

No, Garden Grove is no longer participating. I got notified that I have to choose something else for my $25 one I had bought, but I can't find anything else I can use. Was about to click on House of Blues when I realized it said $100 minimum . And I don't think you'll need a ressie at any time; we've never seen more than half a dozen tables filled in there. We like it, though, especially Mediterranean night. Never tried breakfast.

 

[vicb]

Good luck to SingingMom and everyone else trying to get down to WDW this week and these next couple of weeks with the weather challenges. I hope things work out for all.

I took the plunge this morning and booked my May stay at Dolphin with the AAA resort credit rate. It still is way less than the 30% off deal at BC/YC or BWI. I need two rooms and just can't pay those rates. I really liked the Dolphin when I stayed two years ago. The Epcot area is my fav and this will be a shorter trip than we usually take (4 days, 5 nights) so we don't want to be at a moderate. Dolphin is right in the action.

I'll keep watching for a rate drop but for now I'll take what I got.

 

[4ParkFamily]

We are going to be at Fantasia gardens to play golf on our non park day and it looks like we can just walk across the street and eat breakfast at Garden Grove before we play.

 

[dansdad]

Can someone please tell me what a lake view room means?

It means your room will have a view of the lake.

 

[SingingMom]

Thanks Nancy, Dan, & Vicb!

Really disappointed we aren't going to be arriving tomorrow, but with the bitter cold & the crazy delays at the airport, it might be better to wait the extra two days. At least we are able to add the two days to the end of the trip. Just feel bad about the Wishes Dessert Party because we do enjoy the reserved seats to watch the fireworks.

Jet Blue is flying again starting at 10 am - of course our original flight was 9 am! Timing is everything. Lol

Have an espresso martini waiting for me, please!! (Or glass of champagne, or Mai tai at the cabana bar.....LOLOLOL )

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[lvdismagic]

I love your positive attitude . I'll be arriving at the Dolphin on 1/18. The drinks sound wonderful! Never have had an expresso martini I hope you get into the dessert party!