Walt Disney World SWAN, DOLPHIN & SWAN RESERVE RESORTS Information & Questions

[Dan Murphy]

Do SPG Gold members receive any benefits at the Swan?

Possible upgraded room, welcome 'gift', 50% increase in points earned (I think it is still that way).

 

[MarBee]

Does anyone know how Garden Grove is billed on your credit card? Does it come up as a WDW charge or a Starwood charge?

Asking because Amex has an offer now- spend $300 at an SPG hotel and get $60 back. I wanted to see if this would count towards spending at the hotel or be billed to an outside restaurant.

 

[BlueFairy]

Does anyone know how Garden Grove is billed on your credit card? Does it come up as a WDW charge or a Starwood charge?

Asking because Amex has an offer now- spend $300 at an SPG hotel and get $60 back. I wanted to see if this would count towards spending at the hotel or be billed to an outside restaurant.

I’m sure it would be Starwood, but why chance it. Bill all resort/dining purchases to your room and then pay your room bill with the card. So simple.

 

[MarBee]

I’m sure it would be Starwood, but why chance it. Bill all resort/dining purchases to your room and then pay your room bill with the card. So simple.

Well I’m trying to get the offer on my card and on my husband’s. I guess I could always just settle by paying on two cards. Never thought I’d that before.
Thanks!

 

[JulieODC]

I just did a quick search of my cc history and on our last swan and dolphin trips in Feb 2017 and Jan 2018 all restaurant charges were in the hotel name (shows up as Westin swan or Sheraton dolphin), and not the individual restaurant.

 

[e mcduck]

yeah i had wondered if good old starwood gold late check out was honored here. when i booked it told me it would be.

 

[ImprovGal]

yeah i had wondered if good old starwood gold late check out was honored here. when i booked it told me it would be.

It is when they can accommodate. As an SPG plat, usually the latest they could give me was 1pm. I can only recall one time they were able to grant me later, and that was because the room they'd assigned me was coming out of service after my stay so it didn't need to be turned over for a new guest. Even then I don't think it was as late as 4pm. As a resort property, they are exempt from the 4pm benefit.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I'm gold (platinum for a few years) and I agree 1 PM is the latest I've ever been given.

yeah i had wondered if good old starwood gold late check out was honored here. when i booked it told me it would be.

It is when they can accommodate. As an SPG plat, usually the latest they could give me was 1pm. I can only recall one time they were able to grant me later, and that was because the room they'd assigned me was coming out of service after my stay so it didn't need to be turned over for a new guest. Even then I don't think it was as late as 4pm. As a resort property, they are exempt from the 4pm benefit.

 

[elfling8]

Tried to search the thread first but didn't come up with anything. It says the beds have "down cushioning" What does that mean exactly? Is there down in the bedding? Asking because down makes me really stuffy.

 

[SteveH]

Tried to search the thread first but didn't come up with anything. It says the beds have "down cushioning" What does that mean exactly? Is there down in the bedding? Asking because down makes me really stuffy.

It's part of used to be called the "Heavenly Bed". But you can request down free as I recall.

 

[Dave006]

Tried to search the thread first but didn't come up with anything. It says the beds have "down cushioning" What does that mean exactly? Is there down in the bedding? Asking because down makes me really stuffy.

The bed does not include "Down", you can request down pillows. Here is official description:

The best days begin after a restful night with great sleep. That is what you will get with the Heavenly® Bed from Westin Hotels & Resorts. Crafted with 6 layers of thick padding for plush comfort and a pillow top that provides cushioned comfort, the Heavenly Bed will rejuvenate you every night. This unique sleep experience has delighted guests at Westin Hotels & Resorts around the world for over 17 years.

HOW IT’S CONSTRUCTED

• Beautyrest® Pocketed Coil® springs provide unsurpassed motion separation.
• The Triton® Foundation features a PowerBeam™ construction known in the industry for its superior strength and is built to last.
• CertiPUR® certified for a safe, healthier home.

DETAILS YOU’LL APPRECIATE

• A 13-inch conforming pillow-top eliminates the need for flipping.
• Pocketed coil springs and multiple foam layers work together to provide a unique sleep experience.
• Medium to firm support level.

Dave

 

[Dan Murphy]

Tried to search the thread first but didn't come up with anything. It says the beds have "down cushioning" What does that mean exactly? Is there down in the bedding? Asking because down makes me really stuffy.

You can make special room requests, such as 'down free', with this link.

https://swandolphinconcierge.com/

 

[elfling8]

Thank you all. Sounds like I probably don't have to worry about the down, but did submit a down free request in the online concierge just in case. So excited for the trip!

 

[jennypenny]

UPDATE - I was able to call and book at the current rate (48000 starpoints) and keep the free night. 4 or 5 nights with resort view/balcony would have been 54000. I would highly recommend getting reservations booked before Aug. for anyone still on the fence about 2019.

Do you need to have the points already in your account to book next year? We haven't earned enough yet to book (going in August which burned most of our accumulated points). Marriott lets you book before you've earned the points but I wasn't sure if SPG does.

 

[spaceacewannabe]

You do need your hotel key. MB does not interact for EMH purposes. No voucher needed. I have no idea what that was, but none needed.

This MAY be changing. We had a CM give us a hard time at MK one morning and said we would need a special certificate for EMH since we were at the Swan. I investigated at the front desk...they had to call, but eventually this is going to be rolled back out (but no timeline yet, and the guy at the desk was NOT happy with the CM at MK).

Also, re: USB ports, ours didn't work very well. I would also say there are less than I really think there should be for the quality of the hotel (I think there were 2).

 

[greg9x]

This MAY be changing. We had a CM give us a hard time at MK one morning and said we would need a special certificate for EMH since we were at the Swan. I investigated at the front desk...they had to call, but eventually this is going to be rolled back out (but no timeline yet, and the guy at the desk was NOT happy with the CM at MK).

Hmm... Kinda weird they would be going back in technology... Should easily be able to check the band and see that you have an active stay at a qualified hotel. If you only have a ticket guess need secondary proof, but the room key cards were good enough back in the day for Disney hotels. Guess will inquire when we get there next month.[/QUOTE]

 

[spaceacewannabe]

Hmm... Kinda weird they would be going back in technology... Should easily be able to check the band and see that you have an active stay at a qualified hotel. If you only have a ticket guess need secondary proof, but the room key cards were good enough back in the day for Disney hotels. Guess will inquire when we get there next month.

[/QUOTE]

And they were good enough for all but that one CM at the MK. Don't know if they ever actually will roll it out, but after a few calls, the front desk clerk at the Swan confirmed that while the CM at MK was WAY overzealous and premature, she wasn't 100% wrong. She still wasn't very magical, though (and also tried to tell me that my park hopper was a gift card, to give some perspective on this CM...)

 

[greg9x]

And they were good enough for all but that one CM at the MK. Don't know if they ever actually will roll it out, but after a few calls, the front desk clerk at the Swan confirmed that while the CM at MK was WAY overzealous and premature, she wasn't 100% wrong. She still wasn't very magical, though (and also tried to tell me that my park hopper was a gift card, to give some perspective on this CM...)

Haha, yeah, get all levels of CM's...
Did think about it, and in these days of keeping hotel key cards, guess there could be some abuse of using/selling old cards to use for off site to get in to EMH. But stay date could be annotated on the key card instead of a separate voucher.

 

[Dave006]

The dates of the stay are printed on each of the Swan / Dolphin room key card along with the Primary guest's name. It is the same if you get a room key at a Disney resort. Yes, you can still ask for a key card at the front desk, what used to be know as the Key to the Kingdom Card.

Dave

 

[BlueFairy]

Do you need to have the points already in your account to book next year? We haven't earned enough yet to book (going in August which burned most of our accumulated points). Marriott lets you book before you've earned the points but I wasn't sure if SPG does.

In the past we have needed to have the points on our account to do it online. I have booked 1 night on points and a separate room on cash or all nights on cash in order to be sure we retained availability until we got points in our account. Then called later to have points applied. I find that SPG can do a lot more when you call, so I would call and ask to see if they’ll hold a points reservation without points.