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

[blondietink]

Hi Swan and Dolphin fans.
We finally have accumulated over 40,000 Starwood points. How do I go about using them?

What is the best and easiest way to use the points?

Thanks very much for your help.



GO PACKERS!!!!!!:

You can go to the website, spg.com and log into your account, or sign up, and make a reservation that way. Or, if you want, you can just call Starwood onthe phone. I am not sure of the phone number, but it is listed at the top of the website, I believe.

 

[GinCar]

Can anyone direct me to a picture of the mugs?

I have searched the photo thread and have not been successful.

TIA

 

[Dan Murphy]

Hi Swan and Dolphin fans.
We finally have accumulated over 40,000 Starwood points. How do I go about using them?

What is the best and easiest way to use the points?

Thanks very much for your help.



GO PACKERS!!!!!!:

Bold and underline from me.

The best, IMO, is if you can ever get a cash plus points rate.

 

[LexiC123]

Can anyone direct me to a picture of the mugs?

I have searched the photo thread and have not been successful.

TIA

Here you go...I googled "Swan Dolphin mug" and found this image:

 

[GinCar]

Thanks for the mug pic!

 

[Ramsfan28]

You can go to the website, spg.com and log into your account, or sign up, and make a reservation that way. Or, if you want, you can just call Starwood onthe phone. I am not sure of the phone number, but it is listed at the top of the website, I believe.

I would ask and see how many nights 40K in points gets you. I do believe if you book 4 nights, you might be the 5th free on points.

I know the S&D are 10K/night but Starwood does throw in a free night after 4 or 5 nights I believe when using points.

 

[The Pluto People]

Hello! I hope all you wonderful Swan and Dolphin folks can help me. We are booked at the Dolphin in May 2011 after a very, very long absence from our most favorite hotel. We are returning to celebrate my 160 pound weight loss (yes, that's right, 160 lbs!) and we are very excited. Can anyone recommend a car service from the airport? We are four adults and would like to have a grocery stop on the way to the Dolphin. Thanks!

 

[LexiC123]

Hello! I hope all you wonderful Swan and Dolphin folks can help me. We are booked at the Dolphin in May 2011 after a very, very long absence from our most favorite hotel. We are returning to celebrate my 160 pound weight loss (yes, that's right, 160 lbs!) and we are very excited. Can anyone recommend a car service from the airport? We are four adults and would like to have a grocery stop on the way to the Dolphin. Thanks!

Wow, congratulations on the weight loss...that's an amazing accomplishment! And the Dolphin is a great place to celebrate.

I've had good experiences with Tiffany Town Car. The roundtrip rate for a town car with a 20 min grocery store stop is $109 plus tip. There's also a $5 coupon on their website. I would definitely recommend them.

If you need a bigger car, you can price that out on their website as well. I guess it depends how much luggage the four of you have.

 

[AggieTexan]

Hello! I hope all you wonderful Swan and Dolphin folks can help me. We are booked at the Dolphin in May 2011 after a very, very long absence from our most favorite hotel. We are returning to celebrate my 160 pound weight loss (yes, that's right, 160 lbs!) and we are very excited. Can anyone recommend a car service from the airport? We are four adults and would like to have a grocery stop on the way to the Dolphin. Thanks!

Congratulations on the weight loss. That's quite an accomplishment!

Wow, congratulations on the weight loss...that's an amazing accomplishment! And the Dolphin is a great place to celebrate.

I've had good experiences with Tiffany Town Car. The roundtrip rate for a town car with a 20 min grocery store stop is $109 plus tip. There's also a $5 coupon on their website. I would definitely recommend them.

If you need a bigger car, you can price that out on their website as well. I guess it depends how much luggage the four of you have.

We have made a reservation with Tiffany for our trip in June. The 3-leg trip (MCO to Dolphin with a grocery stop, Dolphin to Port Canaveral, and Port Canaveral to MCO) was $290 for the town car. It ended up being the most economical and stress-free thing for us.

 

[LexiC123]

Congratulations on the weight loss. That's quite an accomplishment!



We have made a reservation with Tiffany for our trip in June. The 3-leg trip (MCO to Dolphin with a grocery stop, Dolphin to Port Canaveral, and Port Canaveral to MCO) was $290 for the town car. It ended up being the most economical and stress-free thing for us.

Stress-free is the only way to go!

Have a great trip!

 

[lovingthemouse]

Congratulations on your weight loss - what a way to celebrate!!!
I second Tiffany Town Car as we have used them numerous times, always were very pleased.

 

[sewer]

A town car is the way to go! We've always used Mears but any of the "name brand" providers are fantastic, providing stops along your way to the resorts. Have fun.

 

[Ramsfan28]

Hello! I hope all you wonderful Swan and Dolphin folks can help me. We are booked at the Dolphin in May 2011 after a very, very long absence from our most favorite hotel. We are returning to celebrate my 160 pound weight loss (yes, that's right, 160 lbs!) and we are very excited. Can anyone recommend a car service from the airport? We are four adults and would like to have a grocery stop on the way to the Dolphin. Thanks!

You can book car service through the Concerige at the hotel.

You can just call the hotel directly or do it through the S&D website.

 

[Poppins2010]

I have another transportation related question. I have an early Segway tour booked at Epcot. I'm told I need to get a cab from the Dolphin to the front entrance of Epcot. Anyone know about how much that will cost? Thanks.
I'm a first timer, and this has been a great place for info!

 

[rie'smom]

I have another transportation related question. I have an early Segway tour booked at Epcot. I'm told I need to get a cab from the Dolphin to the front entrance of Epcot. Anyone know about how much that will cost? Thanks.
I'm a first timer, and this has been a great place for info!

Probably about $8-$10.

 

[Elissajoy]

I am so excited !!! I just booked a 7 night stay (July16-July23) at the Dolphin w/ the teacher rate. I got $199/night w/ resort view and balcony. Does that sound like the rate others are getting? I am a teacher, hoping I do not lose my job w/ all these terribly sad budget cuts.
Oh, and congrats to the poster from NJ who lost all that weight, you are so amazing !

 

[AggieTexan]

I am so excited !!! I just booked a 7 night stay (July16-July23) at the Dolphin w/ the teacher rate. I got $199/night w/ resort view and balcony. Does that sound like the rate others are getting? I am a teacher, hoping I do not lose my job w/ all these terribly sad budget cuts.
Oh, and congrats to the poster from NJ who lost all that weight, you are so amazing !

You have the exact same rate I do for the same type room!

 

[Obadiah Stane]

In May of last year we stayed at the Swan Dolphin and really enjoyed it. Great location for getting around at WDW.

 

[haPevraftr]

Ok, humor me, as I have WDW on the brain... awaiting an impending blizzard and can't help, but wish for warm weather. Note that the trip I am asking about is not until 2012, but it is for the two weeks surrounding Easter and I just want to make sure I get the resorts that I want, so I am planning ahead.

Last week I was able to book the Dolphin with a teacher rate for April 1-10, 2012 (Sun through the following Tues, including Easter weekend). I am considering adding one more night to the Dolphin and staying through Wed. I have never stayed there, but based on all of your recommendations and the location/convenience, it was my first pick for our stay (Me, DH, DD 8, and DS 5 at the time of travel). I am now in need of some ideas of where to stay to finish out the week. We will be heading home at the crack of dawn on Saturday. I am also wondering whether it is worth the money to add the extra night (Tues. night) at the Dolphin or will we be ready for a switch by then?

We have stayed at Pop, ASMo, POFQ, and have a trip planned for CSR for a weekend this April. We loved POFQ (and assume we will like CSR, also), but I don't want to spend that much over Easter week to add a moderate to the end of our stay. When we stayed at Pop and ASMo, the kids were little and we didn't have much experience with the resort. I remember liking them both, thinking that ASMo was louder than Pop, but don't remember many of the details.

Since I have never been to Dolphin, I am having a hard time imagining staying at a value immediately following a long stay at the Dolphin. Which value should I pick so that we are not "let down" after a great time at the Dolphin? Anyone have advice/experience on planning a Dolphin/Value split stay? I would love to hear your thoughts, so that I can take that into consideration when making my decision.

If it helps, I am thinking we will have 10 day Park Hoppers and will do the hopping while we are at Dolphin. I assume that we will probably just pick a park a day for the last couple days that we are at the value resort. We also have unused no expiration WPF&M tix that we will incorporate throughout the weeks.

 

[TaraPA]

haPevraftr - if you're going in April this year & then again next April - if it's within 12 months would you consider an Annual Pass? If you'll take both trips within 12 months it will be cheaper than a small pass for this year's trip plus a 10-day NE pass for next year. Just a thought.

Stuck here in PA in the snow & ice - everything's closed - and the worst is yet to come overnight & all day tomorrow. Dreaming of my Swan stay in 5 weeks & 4 days, and my Dolphin stay in 8 weeks & 1 day!!!

I honestly don't know if I could go to a value after being at S/D for a week - but I'm an admitted resort snob! I'm sure others here will have excellent advice for you.