The **New** Swan and Dolphin Resort thread ~ September 2010 ~ Please read post #1

[denvergirl]

No but you can get upgraded rooms by using more points. 10000 pts is for the standard room, 11000 for a specialty room and 11500 for a specialty select room. The upgrade rooms work the same way...pay for 4 on points get the 5th night free.

Great info! When I booked our 7 night stay it was 60,000. I asked if it could be upgraded and she "charged" me 66,000 points. What is the difference between specialty and specialty select? We are gold members, is it possible to still get an upgrade on top of the specialty room? I think she said we'd be resort view with a balacony. . .

Thanks for the explanation!

 

[lizabu]

I get a little confused by the different levels but I'm pretty sure a specialty room is a room with a balcony and a specialty select is a room with a balcony and a preferred view. Gold members can ask if a gold upgrade is available or add it to a reservation as a request. If the hotel has the availability its a Starwood policy at all their hotels to give Gold members a preferred room. Usually that means the same type of room that you booked but with a preferred view etc. If the hotel isn't too full it could even mean being upgraded to a higher room category. You paid for the upgraded room (with points but still) so you are still entitled to a gold upgrade on top of that.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Patty, Liz, SM, thank you all.

 

[melliej]

I get a little confused by the different levels but I'm pretty sure a specialty room is a room with a balcony and a specialty select is a room with a balcony and a preferred view. Gold members can ask if a gold upgrade is available or add it to a reservation as a request. If the hotel has the availability its a Starwood policy at all their hotels to give Gold members a preferred room. Usually that means the same type of room that you booked but with a preferred view etc. If the hotel isn't too full it could even mean being upgraded to a higher room category. You paid for the upgraded room (with points but still) so you are still entitled to a gold upgrade on top of that.

We are using 11,000 points/night for a Swan Balcony Resort View Room (44,000 total for 5 nights).

DAN: thank you so much for your AAA info, you are a great help!

 

[denvergirl]

I get a little confused by the different levels but I'm pretty sure a specialty room is a room with a balcony and a specialty select is a room with a balcony and a preferred view. Gold members can ask if a gold upgrade is available or add it to a reservation as a request. If the hotel has the availability its a Starwood policy at all their hotels to give Gold members a preferred room. Usually that means the same type of room that you booked but with a preferred view etc. If the hotel isn't too full it could even mean being upgraded to a higher room category. You paid for the upgraded room (with points but still) so you are still entitled to a gold upgrade on top of that.

That's what I was hoping you'd say We do not go until November and I assume that it will all depend on the occupany rates. Crossing my fingers and toes for a firework view!!!

 

[autumnblue]

Speaking of restaurant.com does anyone know if the Giordano's certificates can be used for delivery? Been hooked on their pizza since first trying it in Chicago : )

Autumn

 

[Chrissyb8885]

ok ive spent WAY too long searching for this....I am trying to figure out what kind of room i would like to request at the dolphin. Is there a thread someone can refer me to that has specific room numbers and pros/cons of the east/west wing??? I know we definitely want a balcony. Is there an extra charge for the rooms with 2 balconies???

thanks in advance!
-Chrissy

 

[mydisneyobsession]

Speaking of restaurant.com does anyone know if the Giordano's certificates can be used for delivery? Been hooked on their pizza since first trying it in Chicago : )

Autumn

I actually called the restaurant yesterday to ask this very question. They said no. Dine in only.

 

[olive]

Thanks so much to all for the information on booking with points and different room types! For now we will book with the Superbowl rate (luckily we are NY residents) and then will consider switching to points closer to our travel dates if we hit the required number of points. Super helpful information on here. Looking forward to our next Swan/Dolphin stay!

 

[lizabu]

If you book at a paid rate at a starwood property you can upgrade using points but you have to wait until 5 days before or less. I think it's something like 1000 or 1500 points per night to go up a room category

 

[lovingthemouse]

Liza- can you please give me more info on upgrading before check-in? I have the Superbowl rate too - but would like more info about a possible room upgrade prior to checking in. Thanks.

 

[lizabu]

Sure. So I don't think all paid rates are eligible so you will have to check and see. The Swan & Dolphin are category 4 hotels so to upgrade 1 room category it's 1000 points per day and to upgrade 2 room categories it's 1500 points per day. And to upgrade to a suite it's 10000 points per day. You have to wait until 5 days or less before you check in to do it. I was able to find a chart about it https://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/account/starpoints/redeem/upgrades.html

I wasn't sure for certain what a specialty room is vs a specialty select so I googled it and found this "At the Swan, Specialty = Deluxe Balcony and Specialty Select = Studio. The Dolphin only offers Specialty, which also = Deluxe Balcony."
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/archive/t-722874.html

 

[pgianna]

Hello, I first want to apologize if this is a repeat question. I remember reading that there is a 20 % AAA discounts on some of the restaurants at the SWAN/Dolphin. Do anybody know exactly which ones, how about the counter services ones like the java bar, splash or picabu? Is there any detail on any website that would show this, I haven't seen one.

 

[Dan Murphy]

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=44127404&postcount=3399

 

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

Can anyone post who Dolphin uses for transportation to MCO airport? We are thinking of doing a split stay so will have MagicExpress to our first resort. I asked about this when booking our room & they said they have a service at the hotel we can schedule at check in. I didn't want to wait that long to get that detail taken care of. Thanks

 

[TaraPA]

I wasn't aware that S/D had any prefeered service for airport transportation. I'd be interested to hear who that is too.

I've used cabs (whatever was waiting outside) $65 one way to MCO, the Mears shuttle ($19 appx one way per person) or a town car service ($100 one way to MCO).

 

[RachelTori]

Can anyone post who Dolphin uses for transportation to MCO airport? We are thinking of doing a split stay so will have MagicExpress to our first resort. I asked about this when booking our room & they said they have a service at the hotel we can schedule at check in. I didn't want to wait that long to get that detail taken care of. Thanks

They were likely referring to Mears transportation (which is also the company that runs Magical Express). I have used Mears to and from Dolphin several times and never had any problems. I believe the cost was $21/pp one way or $36/pp round trip - but that may have changed recently. October 2011 is the last time I used their service.

You could also check into getting a limo - depending how many people, that can be more cost effective.

 

[pgianna]

Can anyone post who Dolphin uses for transportation to MCO airport? We are thinking of doing a split stay so will have MagicExpress to our first resort. I asked about this when booking our room & they said they have a service at the hotel we can schedule at check in. I didn't want to wait that long to get that detail taken care of. Thanks

I think the preferred car service is Mears. I wouldn't wait either, plus it will be more expensive. We use a car service (Happy Limo). I think they run about 65 for a lincoln continental. And if they are busy, they will upgrade you to a limo at no additional charge.
That is what they did for us. You should have seen the look on my kids' faces when it pulled up.

 

[wallawallakids]

Call the dolphin and ask. They were very nice in giving me transportation options. I ended up paying $165 for round trip town car service for 6 people.

 

[TaraPA]

I think the preferred car service is Mears. I wouldn't wait either, plus it will be more expensive.

Mears is the same price if booked in advance or booked the same day. There is a Mears kiosk there you can use to book directly if you'd like, I've done that before when I wasn't sure what I was doing until I got there (for the ride to MCO).

You can also book at their website now if you'd like.