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

[macrosswife]

I would say to get a SE view, you need higher up, maybe at least 5th floor or higher, east wing. Alcoves are only in the corners, east or west.

Thanks, Dan!
I went ahead and booked an Alcove room at the Swan. However, the reservationist would not allow me to request the east wing, a boardwalk view, and absolutely not a view of Epcot. He said that since they don't have those room categories, I couldn't request that.
I've never, ever had a hotel tell me that I couldn't request something! Certainly I've been told they couldn't guarantee a request, but never have I been flat out refused. I was quite speechless.
Is there a way to add that to my reservation online? Or is it one of those cases where I need to call back and hope I get someone different?
~Kimber

 

[Dan Murphy]

Thanks, Dan!
I went ahead and booked an Alcove room at the Swan. However, the reservationist would not allow me to request the east wing, a boardwalk view, and absolutely not a view of Epcot. He said that since they don't have those room categories, I couldn't request that.
I've never, ever had a hotel tell me that I couldn't request something! Certainly I've been told they couldn't guarantee a request, but never have I been flat out refused. I was quite speechless.
Is there a way to add that to my reservation online? Or is it one of those cases where I need to call back and hope I get someone different?
~Kimber

I would say it was this, Kimber.

 

[el_tigre]

Thanks, Dan!
I went ahead and booked an Alcove room at the Swan. However, the reservationist would not allow me to request the east wing, a boardwalk view, and absolutely not a view of Epcot. He said that since they don't have those room categories, I couldn't request that.
I've never, ever had a hotel tell me that I couldn't request something! Certainly I've been told they couldn't guarantee a request, but never have I been flat out refused. I was quite speechless.
Is there a way to add that to my reservation online? Or is it one of those cases where I need to call back and hope I get someone different?
~Kimber

Absolutely. Do you have a Starwood Preferred Guest number? If you don't have one, call Starwood (or go to SPG.com) and get one. You'll want one anyways to get points for your stay. Get your number linked to your reservation.

From there, go to your stay in your account profile and go to the link to change your reservation. Near the bottom of the next page, you can write in a request in the edit optional information section. You have a limited amount of space, but writing something like, "I request a king bed alcove w/ EPCOT view w/ balconies. Thx" should fit. Go to the next page to confirm and it should then be entered into your reservation.

Good luck!

 

[WishingMom]

Can anyone tell me if you can participate in the DDP if staying at the Swan & Dolphin?

Thanks

 

[TaraPA]

WishingMom, no you cannot get DDP when staying here.

How are the Alcove rooms booking categories set up? Because what they told her would apply to a regular room - you can't book a Standard category room & then request a resort view or Epcot view - those would be booking categories that woud have to be paid for. Maybe that's what the person she spoke to was thinking of. If the Alcove rooms have those same categories then they should have been offered at booking to chose from. If there are very few Alcove rooms, all booked in the same category, then you should be able to make a request.

 

[patty57]

No, you can't participate in the dining plan at the Swan and Dolphin.

 

[RachelTori]

Can anyone tell me if you can participate in the DDP if staying at the Swan & Dolphin?

Thanks

Sorry, no DDP, no Magical Express, and no charging to your room at the parks. Those are the ONLY disadvantages to staying at Swan/Dolphin.

 

[RachelTori]

Info/pricing is out for the Third Annual Swan Dolphin Food & Wine Classic (10/12 & 13/2012)!

http://swandolphinfoodandwineclassic.com/

Months ago I booked a room with the Teacher discount. I did the math several days ago, and found Package 2 (2 nights room for two and Causeway tickets both nights) saved us $90. I booked the package and spent the $90 savings on one of the seminars for DH and myself!

 

[SRUAlmn]

Sorry, no DDP, no Magical Express, and no charging to your room at the parks. Those are the ONLY disadvantages to staying at Swan/Dolphin.

Are you able to have your purchases sent to the resort? Thanks!

 

[LexiC123]

Are you able to have your purchases sent to the resort? Thanks!

Yes, that you can do. You can pick them up in the gift shop.

 

[SRUAlmn]

Yes, that you can do. You can pick them up in the gift shop.

YAY Thank you!!

 

[LexiC123]

YAY Thank you!!

Now you can shop til you drop...and have someone else do the heavy lifting for you, LOL!

 

[KDilly]

Sorry, no DDP, no Magical Express, and no charging to your room at the parks. Those are the ONLY disadvantages to staying at Swan/Dolphin.

It stinks that you lose these "perks"" though, they are my favorite resorts too

-KD

 

[lizabu]

WishingMom, no you cannot get DDP when staying here.

How are the Alcove rooms booking categories set up? Because what they told her would apply to a regular room - you can't book a Standard category room & then request a resort view or Epcot view - those would be booking categories that woud have to be paid for. Maybe that's what the person she spoke to was thinking of. If the Alcove rooms have those same categories then they should have been offered at booking to chose from. If there are very few Alcove rooms, all booked in the same category, then you should be able to make a request.

You can request absolutely anything you want. Doesn't mean you'll get it but you can request it. The agent shouldn't have refused to add her request. If the type of rooms she asked for don't actually exist which is what it sounds like he's saying fine but she should still be allowed to request whatever she wants.

 

[lizabu]

Thanks, Dan!
I went ahead and booked an Alcove room at the Swan. However, the reservationist would not allow me to request the east wing, a boardwalk view, and absolutely not a view of Epcot. He said that since they don't have those room categories, I couldn't request that.
I've never, ever had a hotel tell me that I couldn't request something! Certainly I've been told they couldn't guarantee a request, but never have I been flat out refused. I was quite speechless.
Is there a way to add that to my reservation online? Or is it one of those cases where I need to call back and hope I get someone different?
~Kimber

You can change your reservation online. There will be a link in your email and it takes you to their website. You enter your confirmation number and lst name and it gives you a chance to make a change.

 

[LexiC123]

It stinks that you lose these "perks"" though, they are my favorite resorts too

-KD

I guess it depends on whether you consider them perks or not.

DH and I have no interest in the DDP...we have good meals, but don't always eat 3 meals a day, and we don't plan our park days around what we're going to eat.

As far as ME goes, our stays at the S/D save us more than enough money to splurge on towncar service, which gets us to the hotel in half the time ME would...and that's with a grocery stop, to boot.

And not being able to charge to the room isn't a big deal for us, either. Carrying an extra credit or gift card, in addition to our room key, doesn't exactly weigh us down, LOL.

The bottom line is, it's costing us $1,024 (inclusive of all taxes and fees) for a week at the Swan in October...the least expensive room at the BC during the same week would run $2,734.

To me, that $1,710 savings is the biggest perk of all!

 

[macrosswife]

How are the Alcove rooms booking categories set up? Because what they told her would apply to a regular room - you can't book a Standard category room & then request a resort view or Epcot view - those would be booking categories that woud have to be paid for. Maybe that's what the person she spoke to was thinking of. If the Alcove rooms have those same categories then they should have been offered at booking to chose from. If there are very few Alcove rooms, all booked in the same category, then you should be able to make a request.

Hi, Tara!!
You can book a Deluxe Alcove or a Deluxe Alcove with Balcony. No choice of views. Otherwise, I would totally and completely agree with what you're saying.
In fact, what he told me was that because there are not any booking categories for those rooms (resort, pool, boardwalk) is the very reason he couldn't enter a view request.

Has anyone tried to put in a view request with their suite? It's the same type of booking situation...you can book a suite, but there's no view booking category.
~Kimber

 

[macrosswife]

You can request absolutely anything you want. Doesn't mean you'll get it but you can request it. The agent shouldn't have refused to add her request. If the type of rooms she asked for don't actually exist which is what it sounds like he's saying fine but she should still be allowed to request whatever she wants.

Yes! This is exactly what I thought!
Thanks!!!

~Kimber

 

[macrosswife]

Absolutely. Do you have a Starwood Preferred Guest number? If you don't have one, call Starwood (or go to SPG.com) and get one. You'll want one anyways to get points for your stay. Get your number linked to your reservation.

From there, go to your stay in your account profile and go to the link to change your reservation. Near the bottom of the next page, you can write in a request in the edit optional information section. You have a limited amount of space, but writing something like, "I request a king bed alcove w/ EPCOT view w/ balconies. Thx" should fit. Go to the next page to confirm and it should then be entered into your reservation.

Good luck!

Thanks!!
At the suggestion of so many people on this thread, I did join Starwood before I made the reservation!
I agree with you...if I'm going to spend the money, then I might as well get the points to use for another stay!!

I think I'll try calling again tomorrow, but will try this route if I meet with another dead end.
~Kimber

 

[macrosswife]

One more question...has anyone been able to find any of the Swan/Dolphin restaurants on restaurant.com recently? I went looking today and didn't see any of them...wasn't sure if that was because I'm looking in the wrong spot or if they aren't participating any more?

Thank you so much!!
~Kimber