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

[bear_mom]

Question about the refridgerators in the rooms at the Dolphin: I read somewhere that they aren't real refridgerators and they won't keep milk cold enough. Is this true/false?

I would like to know before we stop and buy milk for cereal in the mornings.

Emily

 

[LexiC123]

Question about the refridgerators in the rooms at the Dolphin: I read somewhere that they aren't real refridgerators and they won't keep milk cold enough. Is this true/false?

I would like to know before we stop and buy milk for cereal in the mornings.

Emily

False. We've kept half-and-half, yogurt and assorted beverages in them, and they were definitely cold.

 

[baler31]

Question about the refridgerators in the rooms at the Dolphin: I read somewhere that they aren't real refridgerators and they won't keep milk cold enough. Is this true/false?

I would like to know before we stop and buy milk for cereal in the mornings.

Emily

On our most recent S/D visit in Dec. we were with a group of 20 occupying 6 rooms. Out of the 6 only 3 of the rooms milk spoiled, so YMMV.

 

[Music City Mama]

Question about the refridgerators in the rooms at the Dolphin: I read somewhere that they aren't real refridgerators and they won't keep milk cold enough. Is this true/false?

I would like to know before we stop and buy milk for cereal in the mornings.

Emily

Before staying there, I read on here that if you kept the cabinet door (the fridge is in a cabinet) propped open ever so slightly, you shouldn't have any issues with keeping stuff cold. Don't know if it had anything to do with it, but it worked for us.

 

[lovingthemouse]

Just about to say the same thing about the cabinet doors. We kept them open all night and tried to during the day, but the mousekeepers often closed them.

 

[Dan Murphy]

No refrigerator problems here either. You may have to set the cool setting lower. It is located in fridge, on back wall.

 

[lizabu]

We had 2 rooms and I didn't know about the keeping the cupboard open thing. I had the fridges turned up all the way. The milk was cold but just not as cold as my fridge at home. I didn't have problems with anything spoiling.

 

[melliej]

Planning our trip this summer. In 2006 we stayed at AS Movies. Looking for a moderate resort. What are the benefits for staying at the Swan/Dolphin over the CBR? They seemed to be priced similarly. Thanks in advance.

Not sure if anyone has answered this and it has been years since I have been at a Moderate, but you can't beat the location of Swan/Dolphin. We love that you can walk to Epcot or the Studios. The actual rooms also seem much more luxurious than a moderate. They appear to have more space and I feel like the Moderate rooms have more of a "motel" type feel with the door opening to the outside. The Swan/Dolphin is considered a Deluxe property. Make sure you price your room through the Swan/Dolphin website as they might have better deals than the Disney site. Lastly, you can earn SPG points for stays at Swan/Dolphin that can be used for free nights at SPG properties (including Swan/Dolphin).

I would say that the only bummer for us is that you can't charge back to your room when at the parks, but I hope that will prevent us from excessive spending.

Also, if it matters to you, you won't be able to get free transportation to/from the airport via the Magical Express and you can't participate in the Dining Plan if you stay at Swan/Dolphin.

Hope this helps!

 

[SRUAlmn]

So I called yesterday to see what the price would be using the Better Tomorrows rate as compared to our teacher rate, and it would save us $800! The only problem is that it's prepaid. We'll be able to prepay in a couple months, but just now right now (right after Christmas expenses.) Does anyone know if the Better Tomorrows rate is one that is only offered for a certain number of rooms? If we wait until, say, March, is it likely that this rate won't be available anymore? Thanks!

 

[vicb]

So I called yesterday to see what the price would be using the Better Tomorrows rate as compared to our teacher rate, and it would save us $800! The only problem is that it's prepaid. We'll be able to prepay in a couple months, but just now right now (right after Christmas expenses.) Does anyone know if the Better Tomorrows rate is one that is only offered for a certain number of rooms? If we wait until, say, March, is it likely that this rate won't be available anymore? Thanks!

I have tried to use the Starwood search for Better Tomorrows rate and every time it comes up "null results". What the heck does that mean? It gives me the Dolphin as an option but won't accept rate plan including AAA.

OK, never mind. I went into the search a different way and there are no king bed rooms available for my dates and the 2 bed room rate is still $6 more per night than the AAA rate I booked months ago for Easter week. So I will stick with what I've got.

 

[twinkletoes919]

What is Better tomorrow ??

 

[vicb]

What is Better tomorrow ??

http://www.starwoodpromos.com/bettertomorrows/?IM=HP_SI_LP_BetterTomorrows

 

[lizabu]

So I called yesterday to see what the price would be using the Better Tomorrows rate as compared to our teacher rate, and it would save us $800! The only problem is that it's prepaid. We'll be able to prepay in a couple months, but just now right now (right after Christmas expenses.) Does anyone know if the Better Tomorrows rate is one that is only offered for a certain number of rooms? If we wait until, say, March, is it likely that this rate won't be available anymore? Thanks!

The better tomorrows rate is a rate that comes up at all Starwood properties. It will change. Basically you're paying the best available rate for the 1st night and getting 40% off the 2nd night and so on. The thing is that the Best available rate will change as the occupancy level at the hotel goes up. If you see a rate you like I would grab it as it's not guaranteed to be there tomorrow.

 

[lissiesmum]

Question about the refridgerators in the rooms at the Dolphin: I read somewhere that they aren't real refridgerators and they won't keep milk cold enough. Is this true/false?

I would like to know before we stop and buy milk for cereal in the mornings.

Emily

Hi Emily,

I stayed at the Dolphin last year, and although it was a "real" refrigerator, the fridge was not cold enough. Our milk, yogurt and cheeses went bad on our third day. We had the thermostat up as high as it could go...we are returning next month, and I will let you know if we have better luck this time, however, we will not be buying any dairy products, just in case

 

[lissiesmum]

Before staying there, I read on here that if you kept the cabinet door (the fridge is in a cabinet) propped open ever so slightly, you shouldn't have any issues with keeping stuff cold. Don't know if it had anything to do with it, but it worked for us.

we tried keeping the cabinet door open, but our stuff still spoiled

 

[Couchy]

I have stayed at the Dolphin 3 times and have never had a problem storing milk, and yogurt . Nothing has ever gone bad for me!

 

[baler31]

we tried keeping the cabinet door open, but our stuff still spoiled

Ditto, up all the way, door open. Still spoiled for 3 of our groups.

 

[Rosanne]

I am curious about starwood points and the SD. If it is 10000 points for one night at the Dolphin (plus fees). then how many points do you earn for, say, each night of a $169 night stay. Of course, in the end for the $169 a night it is more like $200 a night. Do the parking and resort fees count towards your points? I was just thinking if it was just 1 point per dollar that I would have to stay 50 nights to earn one free night and that just doesn't sound right.

TIA!

 

[TaraPA]

I'm pretty sure it's 1 dollar equals one point - maybe double at Gold or Platinum level. Anything charged to the room counts - parking, food, fees, etc. That's the norm for most entry-level hotel rewards systems. It's when they have promos or your status upgrades that the points really start to add up! DH travels weekly for work & although his company uses Marriott fairly exclusively, they few Westin/Sheraton stays he has each year is enough to get us to the 10,000 points level every year or two.

Keep in mind as well there are other Starwood properties you can use the points at for as little as 2000 points per night (category 1), and you can also use smaller points for promos at Swan/Dolphin or for a suite upgrade. There is currently a triple points promo going on but I didn't read the fine print wo see which hotels are included (S/D are usually not included).

 

[Dan Murphy]

2 points per dollar at basic level, 3 per dollar at gold or platinum. If I recall, it is on entire bill, less taxes.


http://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/account/member_benefits/benefits_landing.html