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

[CarolinaBlue99]

When I booked last year on points, I had no issues. Used the number SPG gave me, linked reservation, booked FP's
I am booked for next March as well, so haven't booked dining/FP yet, but I did SM to have them add DS since I forgot him on the reservation. The reservation now shows all 3 of us.

Thanks! This is reassuring. What does SM mean (newbie here!)? We are looking forward to our trip - my husband and my first trip as adults and my 7-year-old daughter's first trip ever.

I'm grateful for this thread - loads of good info here!

 

[shoreward]

Has anyone else had this issue? I've booked the Swan on the SPG site using points for 3/3-3/9 (hooray!), then linked our reservation to MDE using the reservation number. All our names show on the reservation on MDE. Are we all set or do I need to contact Disney customer service to be sure we are ready to book Fast Passes on the first day of the 60 day window?

I'm planning on calling SPG tomorrow to inquire about adding a balcony to our reservation for 1k points per night (thanks for letting me know that's an option!), so should I also ask about whether we are linked to MDE? Could they even help me with that or is that a Disney issue? What's everyone's usual process when booking through the SPG site? Thanks for any advice! (First time poster, long time reader ...)

You can use this for any Swan inquiries/requests, except upgrading to balcony room with points:
http://www.swandolphin.com/feedback/special.html

You can contact Disney website support about MDE at
(407) 939-4357.

And, let me be the first to say

 

[Dan Murphy]

What does SM mean (newbie here!)?

I'm interested also. I would think Space or Splash Mountain, but does not seem to fit contextually here. If we find out, I will probably......

And welcome to the dis.

 

[kayteekt]

Hopefully, there are some experts out there who can help me with a technical SPG CC/Points Question

Long story, but we have Amex SPG card. Referred my mom and sis a few months ago.

My sis was only a few hundred points from 40k points (for 5 free nights, she wants for this fall). She thought she had spent enough but was a little short. She wants to secure a room now, being October is busy and fast approaching and doesn't really have time for her next statement to cut a month from now.

However, my mom has enough points. I suggested calling SPG and see if they could loan each other the points (my mom to her now and then vice-versa) OR my mom makes reservation now and then cancels a month from now when she picks up the reservation.

SPG suggested the second was risky and now that I think about it, it would mess up their FP since they would be within the 60 day window.

The suggestion from SPG was this...my mom makes the reservation, puts my sister's name on it. My sister has to change her address in the SPG systems to my mothers (for at least 30 days). And all should be fine.

My question is, is that sound advice?

Second question...she was planning on taking her MIL, so they were already going to have 5 in a room. So that would mean, there would be 4 adults + 2 kids "on the reservation." Would that work? Just thinking about FP and even EMH, I know the MIL will need to be on reservation correctly. Thoughts?

 

[shoreward]

Thanks! This is reassuring. What does SM mean (newbie here!)?

SM=send message?

 

[SnowChaser]

@kayteekt Someone else might have better answers for the work-around you are looking at. Another option though, would be for your sister to just purchase the points she needs to hit 40k: https://storefront.points.com/spg/en-US/buy

 

[kayteekt]

@kayteekt Someone else might have better answers for the work-around you are looking at. Another option though, would be for your sister to just purchase the points she needs to hit 40k: https://storefront.points.com/spg/en-US/buy

She actually needs 10,200 something. The 10k was part of the sign on for spending 5k in the first 6 months. She was less than $300 hundred from the 5k to get the bonus points. Thanks for the suggestion though!

 

[pepperandchips]

Just a heads up, I was able to book Labor Day weekend for $155 a night ($200 all in with Resort charge and taxes) at the Dolphin. Jumped on it for a quick getaway to enjoy the pool and the first days of F&W festival. Went directly through Starwood but similar rate available through Priceline and Orbitz if your affinity is there.

 

[mrsdaly]

She actually needs 10,200 something. The 10k was part of the sign on for spending 5k in the first 6 months. She was less than $300 hundred from the 5k to get the bonus points. Thanks for the suggestion though!

My experience with the SPG AmEx is that the bonus hit my account as soon as I made the spend - - it's only the regular spending that gets put on at the end of the statement cycle. I just double checked and that was definitely the case with the extra 10K this past go round.

 

[Yarbogash]

We are booked at Dolphin Dec 7-10. Considering adding the night of the 10th but looks like there's some kind of event starting there that day (price goes up, next few days blacked out for points). Anyone know how I can figure out what the event or convention is?
Last time I ran into this was at a resort in Vegas and the event turned out to be a high school basketball tournament; there were basketballs bouncing off the floors and walls 24/7. Not a good stay.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I'm interested also. I would think Space or Splash Mountain, but does not seem to fit contextually here. If we find out, I will probably......

And welcome to the dis.

Thanks! This is reassuring. What does SM mean (newbie here!)? We are looking forward to our trip - my husband and my first trip as adults and my 7-year-old daughter's first trip ever.

I'm grateful for this thread - loads of good info here!

Sorry SM=secure message. Once logged into credit card account or hotel website, you can usually send secure messages.
ETA AMEX does not have SM, but Chase does & have emailed/messaged Starwood also

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Hopefully, there are some experts out there who can help me with a technical SPG CC/Points Question

Long story, but we have Amex SPG card. Referred my mom and sis a few months ago.

My sis was only a few hundred points from 40k points (for 5 free nights, she wants for this fall). She thought she had spent enough but was a little short. She wants to secure a room now, being October is busy and fast approaching and doesn't really have time for her next statement to cut a month from now.

However, my mom has enough points. I suggested calling SPG and see if they could loan each other the points (my mom to her now and then vice-versa) OR my mom makes reservation now and then cancels a month from now when she picks up the reservation.

SPG suggested the second was risky and now that I think about it, it would mess up their FP since they would be within the 60 day window.

The suggestion from SPG was this...my mom makes the reservation, puts my sister's name on it. My sister has to change her address in the SPG systems to my mothers (for at least 30 days). And all should be fine.

My question is, is that sound advice?

Second question...she was planning on taking her MIL, so they were already going to have 5 in a room. So that would mean, there would be 4 adults + 2 kids "on the reservation." Would that work? Just thinking about FP and even EMH, I know the MIL will need to be on reservation correctly. Thoughts?

So 3 ways I can think of.
1. Your mom makes the reservation, has your sis on the ressie too. (You can add other adults). Your mom doesn't need to check in since your sister's name is on the reservation.
2. Both sister & mom join Marriott. You mom transfers enough points to her Marriott account. Then transfers from her Marriott account to sisters Marriott account. Sister transfers points from her Marriott to SPG. This cost $10 per transfer I believe (from Marriott account to Marriott account)
3. Sister changes her address to your mom's (or vice versa) as people living at the same address can transfer points. Then your mom can transfer enough points.

Disclaimer, I have not actually done any of these but researched it because my mom has 25k points she will give me & needed to know how to transfer them.

 

[kayteekt]

My experience with the SPG AmEx is that the bonus hit my account as soon as I made the spend - - it's only the regular spending that gets put on at the end of the statement cycle. I just double checked and that was definitely the case with the extra 10K this past go round.

Thanks! If that's the case that would work out well. She's going to spend what she needs to reach $5k for the bonus and we'll see if that works.

 

[kayteekt]

So 3 ways I can think of.
1. Your mom makes the reservation, has your sis on the ressie too. (You can add other adults). Your mom doesn't need to check in since your sister's name is on the reservation.
2. Both sister & mom join Marriott. You mom transfers enough points to her Marriott account. Then transfers from her Marriott account to sisters Marriott account. Sister transfers points from her Marriott to SPG. This cost $10 per transfer I believe (from Marriott account to Marriott account)
3. Sister changes her address to your mom's (or vice versa) as people living at the same address can transfer points. Then your mom can transfer enough points.

Disclaimer, I have not actually done any of these but researched it because my mom has 25k points she will give me & needed to know how to transfer them.

Thank you! I'll post back what works.

 

[RachelTori]

My husband transfers the number of SPG points I need from his account to mine online. We've never had any problems and it's never taken more than a couple days for the points to show up in my account.

kayteekt, perhaps your mom could transfer the needed points to your sister (and she could transfer points back to mom at a later date?)

 

[LYSE]

Does anyone know if the dolphin provides convertible cribs?

We are trying to avoid brining our own play yard/crib.

thanks

 

[kayteekt]

My husband transfers the number of SPG points I need from his account to mine online. We've never had any problems and it's never taken more than a couple days for the points to show up in my account.

kayteekt, perhaps your mom could transfer the needed points to your sister (and she could transfer points back to mom at a later date?)

This is what I originally thought, seemed simple enough. However, they were told they couldn't do that. Must be the address thing. Because they did say my sis needed to change her address to my moms for 30 days.

 

[LYSE]

This is what I originally thought, seemed simple enough. However, they were told they couldn't do that. Must be the address thing. Because they did say my sis needed to change her address to my moms for 30 days.

Yup..they gave my wife a hard time about xfering me points because she still had our PO Box on her account and I had our home.

We both had to submit proof we lived together.

 

[RachelTori]

Sorry to hear that it's dependent on address.

 

[kayteekt]

Side question @RachelTori and @LYSE. Sounds like both you and your spouse have an SPG acct.

I've wondered, if we could open an spg amex card for DH and earn credit on mine for sharing and earn the bonuses again on his.

I did get him a card on my acct, but I don't remember putting in his social or anything (although I very well might have, it's prob been a year and a half).

Didn't know if one of you, or someone else, had done this?