Resort Thread Walt Disney World SWAN, DOLPHIN & SWAN RESERVE Resorts

[lizabu]

Some interesting news today. Now that the Starwood/Marriott merger has gone through you can link your rewards accounts. If you have Elite status in either program you get a status match. You can also transfer your points. 3 marriotts reward points equal one starpoint

http://www.marriott.com/marriott-rewards/connect-my-accounts.mi

 

[elle-jay]

Good news that Marriott points can now transfer to SPG points. Been waiting on news and booked my room at Dolphin. Anyone been to dolphin lately? Aren't they working on a refurb to update the double beds to queens? I thought I heard that somewhere?

 

[Tess]

Some interesting news today. Now that the Starwood/Marriott merger has gone through you can link your rewards accounts. If you have Elite status in either program you get a status match. You can also transfer your points. 3 marriotts reward points equal one starpoint

http://www.marriott.com/marriott-rewards/connect-my-accounts.mi

I just linked our accounts and we did see a sizeable increase in our points. SPG sent the email but I couldn't get the two accounts to link through it. I went to the Marriott account and it was instantaneous linking.

 

[kappyfamily]

Yes. You have to speak to in house reservations at the hotel. You can confirm the upgraded room for a fee prior to check in.

Fantastic thank you!

 

[Kelly25]

i just linked mine tonight and moved my Marriott points over to spg!!!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Thanks for posting this. Dh has 17k Marriott points so time to do something with them. I will have to wait until he gets back from a trip. I think his actual account is linked to his work email.

I see some more free nights for our Dec. trip when I start putting all these hotel points that he has in one place!

 

[lizabu]

Thanks for posting this. Dh has 17k Marriott points so time to do something with them. I will have to wait until he gets back from a trip. I think his actual account is linked to his work email.

I see some more free nights for our Dec. trip when I start putting all these hotel points that he has in one place!

If he has Gold with Marriott linking your accounts will give you Gold with SPG and if he has Platinum with Marriott he will have Platinum with SPG. And Platinum members can take advantage of breakfast and are entitled to upgrades.

 

[lizabu]

Good news that Marriott points can now transfer to SPG points. Been waiting on news and booked my room at Dolphin. Anyone been to dolphin lately? Aren't they working on a refurb to update the double beds to queens? I thought I heard that somewhere?

I hadn't heard that the bed types were going to change and there are some rooms that have already been renovated. I feel like if there had been a change to the bedding size we would have heard about it. As far as I know if you want 2 queens you should still continue to book the swan and if you're fine with 2 doubles you can book the dolphin.

 

[Airship Ariadne]

Can't wait to see if linking will be enough to add another night to our trip next Nov...cut another night from POFQ. Trip is an all points, no pay one for us...Disney Visa rewards for the POFQ and tickets and Starwood for Dolphin...only going to pay for food and travel out there.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

We are at the Dolphin now. Asked for & received a renovated room away from elevator. We are in a corner room where we can actually see some of fireworks from both HS & Epcot. Clear view of tower of terror. We are loving it. Enjoying proximity to 2 parks.

 

[Dan Murphy]

We are at the Dolphin now. Asked for & received a renovated room away from elevator. We are in a corner room where we can actually see some of fireworks from both HS & Epcot. Clear view of tower of terror. We are loving it. Enjoying proximity to 2 parks.

Hard to top that setup, Cyndi. Have a great trip!!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Enjoy your trip Cyndi!

Lizabu - thanks for that info. Now my points head is really spinning. I have to see if I can have dh transfer everything from his work e mail to our personal one. He is clueless about all this stuff and does not care.

But now I have even more questions about having the points go to his AA account or the Starwoods account.

With AA we were just able to get the 2 nights at the Swan that were sold out due to the conference and with a few weeks notice.

If you have the SPG account how many rooms do they set aside for free nights or nights with cash and points and how far ahead do you have to book it etc.
I am just trying to figure out the best place to put the points so I can get the best value and availability with a rather short planning time since we never know dh work schedule far in advance.

Thanks for any advice. I know on the flyertalk forums those people have the points down to a science.

And one more question - last time we were at the Garden Grove breakfast buffet they didnt have mickey waffles on the buffet but I saw a server bring them to the table next to us. Since adult ds is coming with us he is obsessed with mickey waffles. Last time he posted on facebook that he finally ate a waffle and his trip was complete (Yes Dan Murphy, this is one of the ds you met ages ago!), lol! So can you just ask for them or have to order them ala carte?

 

[lizabu]

Enjoy your trip Cyndi!

Lizabu - thanks for that info. Now my points head is really spinning. I have to see if I can have dh transfer everything from his work e mail to our personal one. He is clueless about all this stuff and does not care.

But now I have even more questions about having the points go to his AA account or the Starwoods account.

With AA we were just able to get the 2 nights at the Swan that were sold out due to the conference and with a few weeks notice.

If you have the SPG account how many rooms do they set aside for free nights or nights with cash and points and how far ahead do you have to book it etc.
I am just trying to figure out the best place to put the points so I can get the best value and availability with a rather short planning time since we never know dh work schedule far in advance.

Thanks for any advice. I know on the flyertalk forums those people have the points down to a science.

And one more question - last time we were at the Garden Grove breakfast buffet they didnt have mickey waffles on the buffet but I saw a server bring them to the table next to us. Since adult ds is coming with us he is obsessed with mickey waffles. Last time he posted on facebook that he finally ate a waffle and his trip was complete (Yes Dan Murphy, this is one of the ds you met ages ago!), lol! So can you just ask for them or have to order them ala carte?

If there is a standard room available you can book it on points. I don't think there are any rules about cash and points. Hotels offer that rate if they want to. It might be more likely for them to offer it if they aren't as busy.

 

[CalifLynn]

Not sure how helpful the points transfer is going to be (3 Marriott points = 1 SPQ point, so that would be 30K Marriott points for Dolphin and a whopping 48K for Swan) but excited about the Platinum perks. Is there a Club Level at either property?

 

[Dan Murphy]

. Is there a Club Level at either property?

No, they eliminated both a number of years ago.

 

[lizabu]

Not sure how helpful the points transfer is going to be (3 Marriott points = 1 SPQ point, so that would be 30K Marriott points for Dolphin and a whopping 48K for Swan) but excited about the Platinum perks. Is there a Club Level at either property?

While they don't have a club lounge as a Platinum member you are entitled to free internet. I read previously that they waive the resort fee for Platinum members because the resort fee includes the internet but you should ask to confirm that they're still doing this. You are entitled to an upgrade. You are also entitled to a Platinum welcome amenity. You can choose 500 points, breakfast or local welcome gift. I have no idea what the local welcome gift is but I have read that breakfast is in Fresh and it sounds good. I think if you check flyer talk they have a thread on swan and dolphin and a number of platinum members have posted about their experiences.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Hard to top that setup, Cyndi. Have a great trip!!

It was a great (albeit short) trip! We managed 3 parks each day on Friday & Saturday, in part due to proximity to HS & Epcot. Really liked the Dolphin. Managed to hit the pool too & DS enjoyed that. He also was super excited to see fireworks outside the window every night (we saw the ones at Epcot, were never in the room during HS fireworks)
All the employees were very nice & helpful. We would definitely stay there again!

 

[JulieODC]

What a pleasant surprise when I got the email about the Marriot points this weekend! My husband as 60,000+ to convert over, so we should be able to get a few more nights for free for our Feb trip! He's getting close to Platinum status too. We miss him while he's away, but it will be nice to get a fun family vacation from it!

 

[lhall7]

I just booked the Swan for Spring Break. Can't link it to MDE yet. It said it could take up to 24 hours. I have a few questions. Can I book all ADRs 180+10 with the Swan reservation once linked? Also, can I call and make payments like I do with Disney so I can have it paid off before we go? I really hope they offer a special promotion as my rate was pretty high.

 

[DLgal]

I have a room booked at the Dolphin that I booked more than a month ago. I used the TROOPS rate and have a base rate of $269.80. With taxes and fees, it came to $328.53 for the one night deposit. My original confirmation shows the rate breakdown as such.

The other day I logged into my SPG account to link my Marriott account. I took a look at my upcoming reservation and noticed that the total was higher than before. When I clicked in the rate breakdown, it now shows my nightly rate as $283.20 and my per night breakdown as $342.00. What the heck? Are they allowed to change the rate like that after I already paid a deposit? I called them about it and they couldn't answer what was going on so they had to forward it some customer care team directly at the hotel (since it was a special rate). I just got an email (a form email) saying I should hear from them in three days as to the status of the inquiry.

Has this ever happened to anyone? This is almost a $75 difference so it's not a huge deal, but just the thought that they have the power to do something like that seems pretty shady.