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

[seidelhd]

I have a question about upgrades at Swan/Dolphin. My wife and I are going down to WDW the end of August for a long-weekend anniversary trip. We are leaving the kids at home with their aunts.

I'd like to book at Swan or Dolphin. We are both members of SPG but don't have any points in our accounts. As far as the chances of getting a complimentary upgrade, would it be more advantageous to make the reservation myself or to go through Dreams Unlimited, since they have a working relationship with the resorts?

[TaraPA]

Originally Posted by Beccabunny

Anyone have a pic of the standard view from the Swan? I'm hoping it's not as ugly as the view Tara had from the Dolphin.

ROFL that would be me with the awful standard Dolphin view room (definitely not the awesome view I had this past December, pic under my name). When we stayed at The Swan we got a free upgrade (we had been booked in standard) so I can't tell you what the real standard Swan view is!

[toledo13]

This may have been posted already, but maybe not. Since I re-did my room to look like the Swan (obsessed, I know)... I contacted the Swan to see what on earth that scent is in the lobby because I LOVE it. Well, a rep emailed me back and told me that it's Westin's White Tea, and it's available on the Westin website. Unfortunately, the cheapest of the fragrances are $25 (AH! ) so I just bid on Ebay for a 2.00 fragrance oil that is also White Tea. I'll let you know if it's the same-ish smell!!!

[TaraPA]

Very interesting toledo13!!

I have a tidbit of info for Sheraton properties - they have recently contracted with Yankee Candle to use a new fragrance called Petals in the Wind. They pump it through their air system so all areas of the hotel will have the same fragrance. I work for Yankee Candle, and we just got the jars of this in the store, in our soy line. It smells like fresh cut grass if you ask me!

I've never smelled the Westin White Tea scent!

[NancyIL]

Originally Posted by TaraPA

Very interesting toledo13!!

I have a tidbit of info for Sheraton properties - they have recently contracted with Yankee Candle to use a new fragrance called Petals in the Wind. They pump it through their air system so all areas of the hotel will have the same fragrance. I work for Yankee Candle, and we just got the jars of this in the store, in our soy line. It smells like fresh cut grass if you ask me!

I've never smelled the Westin White Tea scent!

Next time you're at WDW, walk through the Swan's lobby. That smell is White Tea.

[vicb]

Originally Posted by akp12

So after reading about half this entire forum thought i'd post a question that maybe was or wasnt asked or answered yet... sorry if its a repreat...

Looking to book a trip in Feb 2010 for the 13-21st (the weekend including presidents day) at the swan or dolphin for my parents, my husband and I... I am a teacher and want to use the teacher discount and was hoping it'd be somewhere under 150 a night - anyone have a clue as to what prices with the discount might be at this time of year? Also crowd levels? On dreamsunlimitedtravel they are not listing any 2010 prices yet, but on the swan and dolphin site I can only see full price... Any ideas?!?!?

Thanks

Hi. I just printed off the crowd calendar from another well know website tonight for Feb. 2010 since we too are hoping to go. I will list the crowd level for each day beginning with Feb. 13 ( you know they go 1 to 10 with 1 being the lowest)... so starting Feb. 13 8,7,7,7,6,6,5,7,5 I hope that makes sense.

I too hope there are some discount released for S/D. Since the disney hotels should be releasing their rates in mid-Aug hopefully S/D will soon follow. A fellow dis'er told me they got a good AAA rate for mid-Feb 2009 and booked it in the fall.

[vicb]

Have a question about connecting rooms... does anyone know if the connecting rooms will both have 2 beds or will one have a king and the other 2 beds?

[toledo13]

Originally Posted by TaraPA

Very interesting toledo13!!

I have a tidbit of info for Sheraton properties - they have recently contracted with Yankee Candle to use a new fragrance called Petals in the Wind. They pump it through their air system so all areas of the hotel will have the same fragrance. I work for Yankee Candle, and we just got the jars of this in the store, in our soy line. It smells like fresh cut grass if you ask me!

I've never smelled the Westin White Tea scent!

OOOOHHHH that gives me chills just thinking about it!!!!

[Ramsfan28]

Originally Posted by seidelhd

I have a question about upgrades at Swan/Dolphin. My wife and I are going down to WDW the end of August for a long-weekend anniversary trip. We are leaving the kids at home with their aunts.

I'd like to book at Swan or Dolphin. We are both members of SPG but don't have any points in our accounts. As far as the chances of getting a complimentary upgrade, would it be more advantageous to make the reservation myself or to go through Dreams Unlimited, since they have a working relationship with the resorts?

I would book the stay on-line at SPG.com - you will get the best rate there. Then I would email the hotel to let them know you are both SPG members - usually that will get you an upgrade.

[Ramsfan28]

Originally Posted by vicb

Have a question about connecting rooms... does anyone know if the connecting rooms will both have 2 beds or will one have a king and the other 2 beds?

Usually the connecting rooms have 1 king bed and 2 Queen beds. Of course it doesn't hurt to contact the hotel and ask for what you want.

[TaraPA]

Originally Posted by toledo13

OOOOHHHH that gives me chills just thinking about it!!!!

LOL are those good chills or bad ones???

[viluvsdisney]

when I called tonight I was happily surprised we got a good rate for end of Feb into 1st week of March with AAA.....yay!

[toledo13]

Originally Posted by tarapa

lol are those good chills or bad ones???

good!!!!

[JackTwo]

I'm a bit confused and trying to get some clarification about the current status of fridges being installed in the rooms in the Dolphin wing. As I understand it, the Swan rooms have fridges, but the Dolphin rooms don't. It is my understanding that Dolphin rooms only have mini bars and you have to pay $$$ for the hotel to clear the mini bars so you can use it as a fridge during your stay.

Several people have posted here recently claiming that the Dolphin now has fridges just like the Swan. I called the Dolphin yesterday to confirm and was told that the rooms still have the mini bars (instead of fridges like the Swan).

Can somebody clarify what the true status of fridges in Dolphin rooms is?

Thanks.

[SingingMom]

Originally Posted by JackTwo

I'm a bit confused and trying to get some clarification about the current status of fridges being installed in the rooms in the Dolphin wing. As I understand it, the Swan rooms have fridges, but the Dolphin rooms don't. It is my understanding that Dolphin rooms only have mini bars and you have to pay $$$ for the hotel to clear the mini bars so you can use it as a fridge during your stay.

Several people have posted here recently claiming that the Dolphin now has fridges just like the Swan. I called the Dolphin yesterday to confirm and was told that the rooms still have the mini bars (instead of fridges like the Swan).

Can somebody clarify what the true status of fridges in Dolphin rooms is?

Thanks.

We were just at the Dolphin from June 23 - July 1..... our room had a brand new fridge - with the warranty and instructions package still inside.
My parent's room, same floor, different wing, still had the minibar. I think they are in the process of changing them all over to fridges - but it has to take time - it's a BIG hotel!