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

[TinkerBe11]

So I am reading through all these posts and I am wondering if I got a good deal on my stay

I booked 2 resort view rooms with a balcony for 7 nights at the end of May. I booked with the special "pay full price for the first room and get the 2nd room for $119" but that is based on the standard room so my 2nd room was a bit more. I was also able to use my AAA membership and was quoted $3200 for both rooms for the week and I was told that includes all taxes and fees. Deal or no deal?

 

[TaraPA]

So I am reading through all these posts and I am wondering if I got a good deal on my stay

I booked 2 resort view rooms with a balcony for 7 nights at the end of May. I booked with the special "pay full price for the first room and get the 2nd room for $119" but that is based on the standard room so my 2nd room was a bit more. I was also able to use my AAA membership and was quoted $3200 for both rooms for the week and I was told that includes all taxes and fees. Deal or no deal?

That sounds like a deal to me (unless you can get a teacher, nurse or gov't discount)...even if we assume your 1st room was $250/nt, and the 2nd one $150/nt (you said it was a bit more than the $119 deal because of the view & balcony) - add in $10/day resort fee & taxes - that's $3308 for a week. I think you did great!

You can find standard rooms around $179-$219 with the AAA discount, but if you are booking resort view with balcony, it will be more.

 

[Mickey & Minnie Mom]

So I am reading through all these posts and I am wondering if I got a good deal on my stay

I booked 2 resort view rooms with a balcony for 7 nights at the end of May. I booked with the special "pay full price for the first room and get the 2nd room for $119" but that is based on the standard room so my 2nd room was a bit more. I was also able to use my AAA membership and was quoted $3200 for both rooms for the week and I was told that includes all taxes and fees. Deal or no deal?

I also booked the "second room at $119" deal for July, but was able to secure the first room with a AAA discount. My rate was $152 ... I got this rate from the AAA website. It is slightly higher through the Dolphin/Swan, but they were able to honor the lower rate ... it was just a few dollars but with staying nearly 2 weeks, it added up.

Did you call the Dolphin/Swan directly? I think that is your best bet. Not sure but the rates might be higher for May than July, but I still think you might be paying more than you need to. Check the AAA website to see what you can find out there before you call.

Good luck.

 

[Phlip]

I also booked the "second room at $119" deal for July, but was able to secure the first room with a AAA discount. My rate was $152 ... I got this rate from the AAA website. It is slightly higher through the Dolphin/Swan, but they were able to honor the lower rate ... it was just a few dollars but with staying nearly 2 weeks, it added up.

Did you call the Dolphin/Swan directly? I think that is your best bet. Not sure but the rates might be higher for May than July, but I still think you might be paying more than you need to. Check the AAA website to see what you can find out there before you call.

Good luck.

Ditto---I booked AAA rate for the first room $152 and the stay connected rate of 119.00 for the 2nd room. I called S&D direct.

 

[jnfr2424]

I'm getting conflicting reports on this - can you buy an AP at either Swan or Dolphin? Everyone is telling me no (which I assumed to be correct), yet 2 people are swearing to me they did get them there within the last year. I'm thinking maybe the renewed AP's- can that be done at S/D? I need to purchase a new one.

I was told I could not renew my AP and was directed to go to Guest Services in the parks and this was in November 2010

 

[Mackie Mouse]

I made a separate thread for this, but you S/D experts might give even better advice in this thread. The ubiquitous 180+10 ADR window will open up for next week, but I checked today and it seems that this may not be available for Swan/Dolphin guests. This bums me out! Is there a workaround, or will I just have to make one reservation at a time online at 6 AM for a whole week in order to get the ADR times I want at places like Le Celler?

 

[NancyIL]

I made a separate thread for this, but you S/D experts might give even better advice in this thread. The ubiquitous 180+10 ADR window will open up for next week, but I checked today and it seems that this may not be available for Swan/Dolphin guests. This bums me out! Is there a workaround, or will I just have to make one reservation at a time online at 6 AM for a whole week in order to get the ADR times I want at places like Le Celler?

There is no 10-day advantage if you stay at the Swan/Dolphin - sorry.

 

[Mackie Mouse]

I can live, since with the new online system each reservation should only take a minute or two in the morning to make. The only one I'm at all concerned about is LeCellier - nothing else we want to try this time will go super-quickly. I figure I can try that first on a daily basis and see what I get. The online system allows you to make more than one reservation so long as you cancel one of them ahead of time, yes? I could always nab Le Cellier for a date early in the trip, then cancel that reservation should I get it for a date I wanted more.

 

[NancyIL]

I can live, since with the new online system each reservation should only take a minute or two in the morning to make. The only one I'm at all concerned about is LeCellier - nothing else we want to try this time will go super-quickly. I figure I can try that first on a daily basis and see what I get. The online system allows you to make more than one reservation so long as you cancel one of them ahead of time, yes? I could always nab Le Cellier for a date early in the trip, then cancel that reservation should I get it for a date I wanted more.

That's what I did for Le Cellier - made a reservation several days in a row at the 180-day mark - then decided which one to keep and cancelled the rest.

 

[Mackie Mouse]

That's what I did for Le Cellier - made a reservation several days in a row at the 180-day mark - then decided which one to keep and cancelled the rest.

Nancy, will the online system let you make two dinner reservations on the same day, or make you cancel one if there's a conflict? As far as my research says I can keep two conflicting reservations as long as I cancel one of them eventually.

Hopefully you'll see me posting some cancellations here next week so a lucky DISer or two can take advantage

 

[Shock13]

Does anyone know if the Swan does anything special for birthdays? I would like to order a cake if that is a possibility.
Thanks.

 

[NancyIL]

Nancy, will the online system let you make two dinner reservations on the same day, or make you cancel one if there's a conflict? As far as my research says I can keep two conflicting reservations as long as I cancel one of them eventually.

I don't know how "smart" the online system is to detect multiple reservations for the same day/meal! Good luck!

 

[Mickey & Minnie Mom]

Does anyone know if the Swan does anything special for birthdays? I would like to order a cake if that is a possibility.
Thanks.

Not sure about cakes but if you go to the Swan & Dolphin website, go under "About Us" and there you will find VIP Concierge Services.

Log into that and it will pull up a list of services. One of them is In Room Gift Selections. Once you are there, there is a link at the top that will take you to lists of options for something special, running from unique adult drinks to fruit & candy to cookies & milk.

There is also a "form" you can fill out to contact the hotel and you can select the occasion and put in your own special instructions.

Hope that helps.

 

[Rafikifan]

Does anyone have an idea what the teacher's rate is for end of May or early June?

 

[jcb]

Nancy, will the online system let you make two dinner reservations on the same day, or make you cancel one if there's a conflict? As far as my research says I can keep two conflicting reservations as long as I cancel one of them eventually.

Hopefully you'll see me posting some cancellations here next week so a lucky DISer or two can take advantage

My experience has been that if you make a dining reservations for the same time period, you will be prompted to cancel the existing reservation before you can confirm the new one.

 

[Mickey & Minnie Mom]

Does anyone have an idea what the teacher's rate is for end of May or early June?

Quick check on Dreams Unlimited website says starting at $159 for Dolphin & $179 for Swan. Looks like it isn't available for that first weekend in June and following Mon/Tue.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I have made multiple, conflicting online dining reservations on the Disney website. When submitting the second one, it will let you know there is a conflict, but if you want both, it will let you have both, or more if that is the case.

 

[haPevraftr]

When I called the Dolphin to inquire about booking for April 2012 (Easter weeks), I asked when the teacher rates are typically posted. The CSR said November 2010 was when they were posted for 2011. The more I think about it, though, that sounds really late. Does anyone know if that truly was how late the teacher rates were released? Or did anyone get a reservation earlier than November with teacher rates for this spring?

I have a room reserved that I will not be able to keep (the current rate is $279 and more than I want to spend) unless I get a teacher rate, but I feel like I will need another reservation somewhere else (as a backup plan) if I have to wait until November. I am not comfortable with waiting until Nov. 2011 to book for Easter 2012.

Any insight would be helpful! Thanks

 

[AggieTexan]

When I called the Dolphin to inquire about booking for April 2012 (Easter weeks), I asked when the teacher rates are typically posted. The CSR said November 2010 was when they were posted for 2011. The more I think about it, though, that sounds really late. Does anyone know if that truly was how late the teacher rates were released? Or did anyone get a reservation earlier than November with teacher rates for this spring?

I have a room reserved that I will not be able to keep (the current rate is $279 and more than I want to spend) unless I get a teacher rate, but I feel like I will need another reservation somewhere else (as a backup plan) if I have to wait until November. I am not comfortable with waiting until Nov. 2011 to book for Easter 2012.

Any insight would be helpful! Thanks

I made my reservation using a teacher rate back in September. We're going this June.

 

[lovingthemouse]

Since I always use a teacher's rate - if my wish is to make ressies further in advance, I call and make them with the lowest rate at that time, and then continue to call each Fri to ask if the teacher rate is then available. We have been fortunate each time to get them.
Our teacher rate for the end of May is $159.