The *NEW* SWAN & DOLPHIN RESORT Thread ~ April 2009 ~ Please read Post #1!

[LexiC123]

I have a couple of questions, so please forgive me...

1. I'm getting conflicting information from several sources, but does anyone know if I can convert AMEX points into SPG points? I have about 17,500 SPG points and 25,000 AMEX points, I was wondering if I can score a couple of free nights at the Swan....

If that's not possible....
Looks like you can, but it would be based on availability. The conversion rate is 1000 Membership Rewards points = 333 SPG points. Your MR points would work out to 8,325 SPG points, giving you 25,825 total SPG points, more than enough for two free nights. And when I plugged the first two days of your stay into the SPG reservation page, there was availability at both resorts when staying on points.

2. Does anyone know what the actual rack rates are right now at the Swan and Dolphin? I saw on their website that they are offering half off of the rack rates with the redemption of 1,000 SPG points. Was wondering if it's worth it...
I think the rack rates are somewhere around $360/night, but I could be wrong. I do know that when I priced out the half off with 1,000 SPG points deal, it wasn't so great. You can do better with another plan. For example, rate code ZBT gives you 50% off every other night. That would work out to an average of $156.50 for the Swan, plus taxes and resort fees. The Dolphin is coming up as not available at all for your dates, but you can always call to double-check availability.

Presently, I have a reservation at the Wilderness Lodge from Aug. 16-22 and with AP discount I'm paying $165 a night. At first I was stoked to be staying at a Disney resort for the first time in my life, but I realized that I love the location of the Swan and Dolphin sooo much more.

I know that SPG is offering free nights with 10,000 points, but I would love to see what else is out there. Thanks so much for the help, can't wait to be there!

I hope you can work something out, because the S/D are awesome hotels and, as you said, the location can't be beat. The WL is beautiful, but we felt a little too removed from the action when we stayed there. Even though S/D aren't owned by Disney, we never once felt that we weren't completely immersed in the magic. And then there are the heavenly beds...

Plus, if you're a gold or platinum SPG member, you automatically get a room upgrade. What's not to like about that?

Best of luck with the reservations. Hope it works out for you.

 

[roydavid7771]

Thanks for the info Lexi, and I agree the Heavenly Beds rock!

I scored a really good deal at the Swan last year, paying something like $119 per night. I'm hopeful a deal like that comes along again!

 

[LexiC123]

Thanks for the info Lexi, and I agree the Heavenly Beds rock!

I scored a really good deal at the Swan last year, paying something like $119 per night. I'm hopeful a deal like that comes along again!

Last July they came out with an amazing $99/night rate for late summer. Let's hope history repeats itself!

 

[nancyc]

Does anyone know if Dolphin renovated all their rooms? I'll be there on 7/16 (can't wait!), booked a standard resort view room. Hoping it's a room that's been renovated.

Thanks in advance for the answers!

 

[Needafix]

You can order a cake from S/D that can be delivered to your room.

My grandson will be celebrating his birthday on our arrival day (less than 2 weeks ) and I asked about a cake for him.

I stopped asking when they told me they start at $75 plus fees and taxes and honestly, it didn't sound like it would be anything special.

Here's the response I got-

"our cakes start at $75 plus tax, delivery fee and inscription fee, this is the smallest cake that the Swan and Dolphin Resort offers which is a 10” cake, we do have larger cakes if needed. When ordering I will need to know the flavor of cake, flavor of icing and if you want something written on the cake. Please let us know if we can be of any further assistance."

Thanks for the info. Yeah, that's steep for me too. Just thought I'd ask since I saw many people were getting little cakes in the Disney resorts for around $30.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I'm just back....from 9 days in Wash DC and Annapolis...family wedding and vacation.

Missed checking in on this thread every so often. Thanks for everyone's reports and good info. And those who are going or are there now, have a great time!!!

 

[marsh0013]

anybody looking for a good rate for the summer? just got the recipe club email and it's as low as $129 a night in july and aug. too bad i need that for october!

July 8 - 13
from $159
Dolphin

July 17 - 18
from $149
Dolphin

July 23 - 27
from $149
Swan

July 23 - 27
from $129
Dolphin


August 6 - 8
from $149
Swan

August 6 - 8
from $159
Dolphin

August 12
from $149
Swan

August 12
from $159
Dolphin

August 13 - 19
from $149
Swan

August 13 - 19
from $129
Dolphin

 

[TaraPA]

Hi Marcia - it's Tara! Those are great rates! Hopefully someone on here will be able to take advantage of them.

When are you going in October? I'll be there on a girls trip 10/24-28 - let's meet up if you're there the same time!

 

[roydavid7771]

Thanks for the rates Marcia! I was hoping to see something closer to what I got last year which was around $119 a night in late August. Let me know if you see something like that!

By the way, I work in Bergen County!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Thanks for the rates Marcia! I was hoping to see something closer to what I got last year which was around $119 a night in late August. Let me know if you see something like that!

By the way, I work in Bergen County!

Sign up here for low rates via the Recipe Club.........

http://www.swandolphin.com/signup/

 

[anbouk]

SingingMom...I just so happened to think that you may be at WDW and sure enough you were posting live updates! Sounds like a wonderful stay you are having as always! Continued FUN!!! We will be there Labor Day weekend...can't come soon enough! (But I don't wish to rush my summer ) Have a safe trip back!

 

[LexiC123]

I received the email yesterday, too...and they definitely are great rates. The dates don't coincide with my trip, but I have the $116 rate I booked last year, so it's all good.

Still...if they wanted to come out with the $99 rate again, I sure wouldn't complain!

 

[Can'twaittogo]

My kids and I are arriving at the Swan tommorrow morning. Just one question, can they charge their i-pods in the room clock radio? Need to know if we should pack ours.

 

[LexiC123]

My kids and I are arriving at the Swan tommorrow morning. Just one question, can they charge their i-pods in the room clock radio? Need to know if we should pack ours.

Unless something has changed, I don't recall the clock radio having an ipod docking station. I brought my charger and plugged it into the outlet at the base of the lamp on the dresser/desk.

 

[marsh0013]

Hi Marcia - it's Tara! Those are great rates! Hopefully someone on here will be able to take advantage of them.

When are you going in October? I'll be there on a girls trip 10/24-28 - let's meet up if you're there the same time!

tara!!! hi!!! right now, i have the dolphin booked at the recipe rate of $149/night for oct 21-26. might switch to save some money if a good rate comes out for the disney values at that time. but staying so close to epcot for food & wine is so so so tempting!!! i just hate paying for transportation to/from airport too. we shall see.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I have a couple of questions, so please forgive me...

1. I'm getting conflicting information from several sources, but does anyone know if I can convert AMEX points into SPG points? I have about 17,500 SPG points and 25,000 AMEX points, I was wondering if I can score a couple of free nights at the Swan....

If that's not possible....

2. Does anyone know what the actual rack rates are right now at the Swan and Dolphin? I saw on their website that they are offering half off of the rack rates with the redemption of 1,000 SPG points. Was wondering if it's worth it...


Presently, I have a reservation at the Wilderness Lodge from Aug. 16-22 and with AP discount I'm paying $165 a night. At first I was stoked to be staying at a Disney resort for the first time in my life, but I realized that I love the location of the Swan and Dolphin sooo much more.

I know that SPG is offering free nights with 10,000 points, but I would love to see what else is out there. Thanks so much for the help, can't wait to be there!

I just booked Dec 23-26 with the SPG50 (50% off rack rate) code and my King traditional at the Dolphin is $175/night and that is 1,000/5 night stay, not per night.

Ok, now this will be our first stay at the Dolphin, what do I need to know that isn't on the first page?

Do all rooms have a fridge?

What is the resort like at Christmas?

Suzanne

 

[TaraPA]

Ok, now this will be our first stay at the Dolphin, what do I need to know that isn't on the first page?

Do all rooms have a fridge?

What is the resort like at Christmas?

Suzanne

Yes all rooms now have a dorm sized fridge. Even the rooms that have not been refurbed yet, have a fridge.

The Christmas tree in the Dolphin Lobby will take your breath away. Biggest tree I've ever seen!

About the iPod dock in the clock radio - I do not remember seeing that in either room we had in Feb/March (one was refurbed, one was not) - BUT I wasn't specifically looking for it.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Yes all rooms now have a dorm sized fridge. Even the rooms that have not been refurbed yet, have a fridge.

The Christmas tree in the Dolphin Lobby will take your breath away. Biggest tree I've ever seen!

About the iPod dock in the clock radio - I do not remember seeing that in either room we had in Feb/March (one was refurbed, one was not) - BUT I wasn't specifically looking for it.

Thank you Tara, I need to explore more about these resorts, we have always stayed in other Disney resorts, but with the SPG rate I thought we would give it a shot.

Suzanne

 

[TaraPA]

Does anyone know if Dolphin renovated all their rooms? I'll be there on 7/16 (can't wait!), booked a standard resort view room. Hoping it's a room that's been renovated.

Thanks in advance for the answers!

As of March 1st (our last stay there), all of the rooms had not been refurbed at The Dolphin. We had a split stay & our 1st room (Epcot Fireworks View with balcony) was not refurbed, our 2nd room (Resort View with balcony) had been.

 

[TaraPA]

Princess Suzanne - here is a pic of the tree in the Dolphin lobby...