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

[mmackeymouse]

Just wanted to give everyone a heads up that the Dolphin has a great "last minute" rate (although it is available through Oct 9th currently) of $109/nt for either a king or double-double room - its called the "starpick" rate.

I had booked a few days in Sept. under a Florida resident rate (for the same type of room - "limited view") and was able to cancel that ressie and get this rate instead...saving $50 bucks a night - which will help offset those resort and parking fees!

You can see the dates that have this "starpick" rate still available through the Starwood site starpicks.com, and according to their terms it can be used for stays from 1 to 14 days, HOWEVER (and this is a big however), it is a NON-refundable rate...so be sure about your dates before you book!!!

ETA: Sorry originally left out an "s" on the website, it is starpicks.com

Hey, I noticed that Dolphin is no longer on the Starpicks website. Is anyone familiar enough with it to say whether it comes and goes on that site.

Otherwise, I will just keep checking periodically.

 

[ImprovGal]

Hey, I noticed that Dolphin is no longer on the Starpicks website. Is anyone familiar enough with it to say whether it comes and goes on that site.

Otherwise, I will just keep checking periodically.

The Starpicks hotels change every week (and sometimes the Starpicks program takes a vacation). New Starpicks go up on Tuesdays and have to be booked by the end of day that Friday.

 

[llqool]

going to the Dolphin for the first time for my b-day/F & W fest in less than a month!!

i went back to the first page and looked, but didn't see this on there....do they have coffee makers in the rooms? We often bring our own, anyway, but if they do have them, I would probably not bring it.

 

[MOM POPPINS]

Yes they do have coffee makers!

 

[MOM POPPINS]

I added it to the first post.

 

[TaraPA]

Better than that - they have coffee makers with STARBUCKS coffee! Replenished every day!

This is a HUGE perk for me over any WDW Resort.

 

[llqool]

From the SPG/auto club site:
Join the award-winning Starwood Preferred Guest program and immediately enjoy Preferred Guest Plus® advantages including:

•Instant upgrade to a Preferred room at check-in*
•4pm late checkout*
•Two Starpoints® for every dollar spent

I originally signed up for Starwood through a AAA link. I am not sure if you can link an exisiting account but I would think you can.

Thanks for this tip!!! I had already signed up for the Starwood program, but I went on the AAA page and found the info on it:

Call 1-866-782-7737 to join Starwood Preferred Guest® or to upgrade your account today - simply mention enrollment code "AAA/CAA" to start enjoying the benefits now.

I called the number and they noted AAA on my account, but they said to just show my card at the desk to ask about the extra privileges. Apparently not all Starwood hotels participate. The Starwood person seemed confused...she thought I was trying to get a better rate (which I know won't happen, b/c I have a gov't rate plus the birthday celebration free night), but really I would just like the upgrade or the late check out or the double points! (not asking for much, am I? ) Don't know if any of this will pan out, but it's worth a try!

Thanks again!

 

[llqool]

Better than that - they have coffee makers with STARBUCKS coffee! Replenished every day!

whoo hoo!!! Hubby will be ecstatic!!!!!

and just to make sure....that *is* the Dolphin, right? Not just the Swan? B/c it does seem that the Swan has more perks than the Dolphin.....

 

[chell]

Thanks!




From the SPG/auto club site:
Join the award-winning Starwood Preferred Guest program and immediately enjoy Preferred Guest Plus® advantages including:

•Instant upgrade to a Preferred room at check-in*
•4pm late checkout*
•Two Starpoints® for every dollar spent

I originally signed up for Starwood through a AAA link. I am not sure if you can link an exisiting account but I would think you can. Just showing your AAA card may work as well. I would check your local AAA site or the magazine they send you with benefits listed (i.e free extra driver and car seat at Hertz with every rental, free upgraded Starwood membership, etc). Generally calling or e-mailing SPG works as well for things like this. It is definitely worth asking about.

I just noticed you're also from Michigan. Here's the link to the AAAMI site: http://ww2.aaa.com/scripts/WebObjec...age=PPLodging05&sessionRedirect=1251257093630

To get those perks you have to be a AAA member too? Does anyone know if you can just have them add your AAA # to your account and upgrade you to this? Sorry for not understanding. It's been a LONG week and my brain is fried at this point.

 

[dmwang9]

whoo hoo!!! Hubby will be ecstatic!!!!!

and just to make sure....that *is* the Dolphin, right? Not just the Swan? B/c it does seem that the Swan has more perks than the Dolphin.....

I haven't stayed at the Dolphin in two years, but when I last did, the in-room coffee was Starbucks.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

Do all king rooms at the Dolphin have the sleeper sofa?

We booked the Swan mostly because they have two queens versus two doubles in the double-bedded rooms. But I saw a room floorplan showing the sleeper sofa, and think that would work out better for our family.

Just want to be sure all king rooms have that sleeper sofa before I change our reservation.

Oh, and the Dolphin also has mini-fridges in all rooms, right?

Thanks!

 

[LWcalif]

Hello Swan/Dolphin fans - I just booked the Dolphin for our Sept. trip. Saw the $109 AAA offer, but I upgraded to the balcony room. Gotta have my balcony for my early am waiting for the family to get ready, and my late night quiet time.

What is the wing called that is closest to the BWI view on the water? We stayed there the first time, but I don't remember what it is called. TIA.

 

[DisneyCruiser2008]

Wow -- this is a great thread... I booked (rooms only) for a split stay in June 2010.... We booked the first 5 nights at Pop and the last 5 nights at AKL Club Level.... We can't afford AKL for all 10 nights, so we are trying to offset some of the cost. Now I am thinking maybe we should try to stay at the Swan or Dolphin instead of Pop? I am a speech therapist in the schools, so I should be eligible for the teacher discount... we are also AAA members and Starwood members... I know June 2010 is a ways off, but does anyone have an idea as to what would be the most cost effective way to book? Also, would there be any reason not to book now? Will the resort apply discounts as they come up like WDW resorts do? Oh -- and one more question -- will the Swan/Dolphin transfer our luggage to AKL for us? Thanks SO MUCH for all of your expertise!!

 

[Mouseteacher]

What is the wing called that is closest to the BWI view on the water? We stayed there the first time, but I don't remember what it is called. TIA.

At the Dolphin? It would be the farthest east wing - the wings are either east or west. They don't have a specific name. We stayed in this wing on our last stay at the Dolphin. It is the one closest to the YC and a dead center view of the BWI and Epcot. The higher the floor the better the view. A caution: it is a long walk to the elevator - didn't bother us because the view from the balcony was simply the best!

 

[seidelhd]

I'm posting from our room at the Dolphin right now.

I'll try to answer a couple of questions...
1. Yes, there is Starbucks coffee - we have Africa Kitamu and Fair Trade Decaf in our room.

2. We have a King bed room and it does have a sleeper sofa. I looked at several other rooms and they all did also.

I booked a AAA rate of $109.50/night and sent an email asking for an uograde since it was our Anniversary trip (11 years today). They upgraded us to the 18th floor with a great resort view. Unfortunately, the room was very moldy and running a dehumidifier did not help. So, we transferred rooms (looked at 4 others that were great but unsuitable for various reasons... loud neighbors in connecting room, no view, etc.).

We ended up in 8087 in the East wing. It has a balcony with a great resort/boardwalk view. It is the end of the building next to the stairwell, so the balcony is larger and a bit more private. I highly recommend this room or above/below it.

 

[llqool]

I booked a AAA rate of $109.50/night and sent an email asking for an uograde since it was our Anniversary trip (11 years today).

Who did you email to get the upgrade? Would you suggest doing it that way rather than asking in person at check-in? Were you asking about upgrades b/c of your special celebration, or b/c of the AAA?

Thanks!!!

 

[seidelhd]

Who did you email to get the upgrade? Would you suggest doing it that way rather than asking in person at check-in? Were you asking about upgrades b/c of your special celebration, or b/c of the AAA?

Thanks!!!

I received an email from the hotel a week or so before arrival, welcoming us to the Dolphin. I gave an email address and said to contact them with any requests that would make our stay more special, so I did. I also included the request in a special field when making the reservation. I got an email back a day later, telling me that they upgraded our room, so I did not have to ask at check-in.

 

[daisax]

How far in advance do they typically drop their prices? Am looking at the end of October, or in December, and prices seem quite high. Maybe there are a lot of conventions, or should I just bide my time and book at the last minute?

I'd probably choose a value over a moderate for this trip, because I don't think the difference between the two is that great, but I'd love to try the Swan/Dolphin if I can get it in the same ballpark price wise as a moderate. I think I'd be much more likely to relax in the room/resort there than at a Disney moderate or value.

 

[VickiVM]

For the 5th person (my son, 16 yrs), do you have to pay for a roll-a-way bed, or can we forgo the extra cost and bring an inflatable bed?

 

[elaine and the boys]

We only have four in our family, but since our two teenaged sons prefer not to sleep in the same bed, we always bring our aero bed.