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

[TaraPA]

Thanks for the link Dan, good to know even basic SPG is TWO points per dollar, not one like I thought.

 

[Rosanne]

Thanks to you both for replying. I'm glad it's two points and it looks like I will charge meals to room now . I'll probably take advantage of two days w/o housekeeping also for additional points.

 

[ImprovGal]

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).

Swan & Dolphin are excluded from the current double/triple points promotion.

Not everything that can be charged to the room earns starpoints. Food and beverage does, but merchandise doesn't. Taxes (either on the room or the food/beverage) don't earn starpoints either. I don't know about the parking or resort fees.

Note that when it comes to food and beverage purchases, you don't have to be staying at the resort in order to earn starpoints. As long as the purchase exceeds $10, you can submit the receipt to earn starpoints (but not stay credit).

If you reach Platinum level, one of the options for a checkin amenity is 500 points. Also, the resort fee is waived for Plats.

 

[atrumpet16]

We are staying at the Dolphin for 1 week, starting on Saturday, and were informed that it will cost $25 a day to have a crib in our room. I am so upset....that is terrible to charge for a crib. They must have changed policies because October 2010, that was not the case Can anyone confirm you actually pay?

 

[Dan Murphy]

Complimentary.

http://www.swandolphin.com/feedback/special.html

 

[mince]

If I book I stay at the Dolphin and purchase park tickets via Disney.com, how will our "keys" to the world be eligible for EMH? I'm obviously missing something?

 

[becky11]

When asked to show proof of staying in an on-site resort, you just show your Hotel room card. You'll need to get a card for each occupant when you check in. You have to carry both the room card and your tickets - they cannot be combined into one card.

 

[mince]

when asked to show proof of staying in an on-site resort, you just show your hotel room card. You'll need to get a card for each occupant when you check in. You have to carry both the room card and your tickets - they cannot be combined into one card.

thanks becky!

 

[rao363]

Considering Staying at the S/D, but I was a bit shocked of the price per night during October; it was $179 per night....that is a few dollars more than a moderate. Exactly what am I missing??? I do know that Disney's Magical Express isn't included but I can live with missing that to save a bunch of money!

 

[TaraPA]

$179 isn't a bad rate all all for S/D. Keep in mind S/D are Deluxe Resorts, so you're getting the ammenities of that, at the price of a mod.

Keep checking, S/D sometimes has rates as low as $149 for certain time periods.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Hidden Fees??....

Charges you will not have at a Disney resort, $14 resort fee, $15 parking fee (if you have a car), both fees are per day and are plus tax.

 

[Rosanne]

So... here's a question. When I booked at the Dolphin a few months ago I was told the parking was $11 a day. I expect they honor the fact that when I booked the resort fee was $12 a day, rather than the current $14 a day but I imagine since one doesn't specify parking at time of booking that I can expect to pay this increase in cost to park. Seems like a rather large jump for fees in such a short time. Combined cost of these fees was $23 back in late Nov/early Dec when I booked and now the combined fees are $29.... about a 25% increase

Mostly I think that's a really big increase in the parking fee... $11 to $15.

P.S. I enjoy the opening thread and it has a lot of good information but it still has the lower rates listed. Could it be that parking really is still $11 for self park for hotel guests?

 

[Dan Murphy]

So... here's a question. When I booked at the Dolphin a few months ago I was told the parking was $11 a day. I expect they honor the fact that when I booked the resort fee was $12 a day, rather than the current $14 a day but I imagine since one doesn't specify parking at time of booking that I can expect to pay this increase in cost to park. Seems like a rather large jump for fees in such a short time. Combined cost of these fees was $23 back in late Nov/early Dec when I booked and now the combined fees are $29.... about a 25% increase

Mostly I think that's a really big increase in the parking fee... $11 to $15.

P.S. I enjoy the opening thread and it has a lot of good information but it still has the lower rates listed. Could it be that parking really is still $11 for self park for hotel guests?

I agree. I am almost positive (from previous posts here) that they will honor lower resort fee, and charge the higher parking fee.

$15...

http://www.swandolphin.com/feedback/transportation.html

Both fees do seem quite high, but if they can get them, they will charge them.

 

[lizabu]

I booked when the resort fee was $12 and stayed when it was $14 and they charged me $12. They have to honor the rate they gave you in the confirmation email. Parking rates are never confirmed in your confirmation email so they can change them if they want to.

 

[SRUAlmn]

I'm convinced the Swan & Dolphin's business motto is "keep caling back until you talk to someone who knows what they're talking about" and it's really frustrating. Maybe it's due to our "complicated" booking, but I'm getting really frustrated.

Early in the day on New Year's Eve we called to get information about a suite. We spoke to a great CM who told us we could do the teacher rate on a suite and then add a stay connected rate room. I said we'd call back the next day after the family talked. Called back the next day, got someone else who said you can't combine two discounts. I explained that I spoke to someone else who gave me totals, explained the whole thing, etc.. Put me on hold to ask a manager, came back and said no. So, I called back the next day and asked again. Still no. I called back later that day and specifically asked, by name, for the original CM I spoke to on New Year's Eve who luckily was working that day, and got us all booked!

Now, on January 20 we were looking into the Better Tomorrows rate, so I curiously called and spoke to another very helpful CM who gave me a total that would save us $700 over the original rate. Only problem was that we couldn't afford to prepay at that time. Today, now that we can prepay, I called back to make the switch. I spoke to a CM who said they can't book that rate onsite, and I'd have to call Starwood. I called Starwood and spoke to the crankiest human being on earth who told me I had to book that rate through the hotel directly. Soooooooooooo....back on the phone with S&D I went. I got another new CM who said the Better Tomorrows rate would end up costing us more than our current one. I explained the CM I spoke to on January 20 and our conversation (in detail, glad I took good notes) and he put me on hold to talk to a manager. He came back and explained that when I called on Jan 20 the lowest daily rate for our suite was $538 and now it was $778 which is why it ended up being more. Helpful, finally, but what!?!? Is it really possible that the daily rate went up by $240 over the course of 2 weeks???


So I guess I'm wondering if A. This seems like a logical rate change, and B. Is it always this complicated to find someone there who knows what they're talking about, or is it just because we have sort of a complicated booking? Thanks for any feedback

 

[TaraPA]

How frustrating SRUAlmn! I have booked suites before at S/D and I will say that while what you experienced isn't the norm, suite bookings can be very difficult. There is only one department at S/D that does the suite bookings - and if you don't call them directly, you can get the run around like you did. I was told that they cannot book the suites at Westin/Sheraton/Starwood numbers, or by calling the S/D general reservations or direct hotel line. You also cannot pull up the suite ressie on SPG.com, and their live chat reps on that site also cannot give info on suites. I don't have the suite booking number on me right now, but I always deal with Paul there who is very helpful. I guess maybe because there are so few suites, and the configurations are all over the place, they have a special team devoted just to booking them.

As far as the rate - I've encountered the same thing at S/D. They base their discounts on "Best Available Daily Rates" - but their daily rates aren't set up seasonally like Disney - there's no value or peak season. I have no idea what they base this daily rate on, but it can vary 7 times in a week, as you've found out. One day a regular room can be $239 Best Daily Rate, the next day you check it's $299. It reminds me of how airfare varies!

You were smart to get everyone's names, because I actually don't think they were supposed to give you teacher rate and Stay Connected. I've never been able to get the Stay Connected rate in addition to a AAA rate or corporate rate. I've always been told rack rate on the 1st room only. Teacher/Gov't discount might work differently though, I'm neither, so I've never tried to book that. Has anyone else been able to stack 2 discounts together? If so, that's great!

You will love the room in the suite. We stayed in a 2BR ast year & it was so much larger than a 2BR villa onsite. Enjoy your stay!

 

[sewer]

The rates have gone up since I booked a few weeks ago, the only problem I have with that is.... I still have 5 months to wait 'till I go!!!

 

[patty57]

I booked connecting rooms in December for a trip in June. I got the nurse's discount on one room, and the stay connected discount on the other, so I was able to stack two discounts.

 

[Annie78]

Has anyone gotten a government rate recently? When I look online the entire calendar is blacked out.
Do I have to call to get the government employee rate?

Another discount question - how is eligibility for the senior discount ("Primetime Rate") determined? Does it have to be everyone in the room, at least one person per room, or just the person making the reservation? We may be traveling with grandparents next time, but we would want separate rooms.

 

[TaraPA]

I booked connecting rooms in December for a trip in June. I got the nurse's discount on one room, and the stay connected discount on the other, so I was able to stack two discounts.

Thanks that's great to know!