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

[Luckybee]

I am having difficulties with my Dolphin reservation and MDE. I was able to link our reservations (3 rooms) without any issue, or so I thought.

In MDE, the Dolphin reservation numbers are all linked BUT my husband (in whose name the reservations were made) is linked in all three rooms. I was able to add one additional guest to each room, but that leaves two of our party of six without a room link Hence, when it is time to make FP+, two people will be ineligible since they are not linked to a reservation.

I have spoken to the MDE help desk who redirected me to The Dolphin. The Dolphin (after I submitted my request in writing) added all six of us to specific reservation numbers and felt that would trigger MDE to update with all six of us linked to the right reservation numbers. Unfortunately, that didn't happen.

A second call to Disney explaining the reservation changes and a second redirect to The Dolphin by MDE with instructions to tell them the reservations are not properly linked. Oy vey. . .

A second call to The Dolphin explaining MDE advice. The Dolphin says to call MDE and tell them to reset the hotel reservations section so I can re-link AND that I really should wait 24 hours to see if it corrects itself. . .I waited and it didn't correct. If it was as easy as a reset by Disney, one would think they would have done that already?

Should we take bets that on my third call to MDE I will be told that I have to call The Dolphin? My husband said I should conference call both and make them hash it out since it is their systems causing the frustration. I am so glad I began this process over 30 days before our 69 day FP+ window opens!

Anyone else have the multiple party/room issues set forth above AND get a positive resolution? Frankly, in May we made FP+, but only used them a few times for the headliners. Still, with six of us and the new 7DMT running (it opened the day we left in May), Soarin', etc. I want those FP+ for our group.

Tess

Your post sounds just like me a couple of months back. I literally was ready to tear out my hair going back and forth btwn Disney IT and the Dolphin.

We booked using Aeroplan points (Air Canada). Pretty simple booking , just 1 room for dh and I. When I went to link the ressie to mde it wouldn't add dh's name to the file. So I called Disney, who then had me calling, the dolphin, who then had me calling Disney, and back and forth we went for are you ready ....7 days.

It would get corrected, and then I'd go back on mde only to find that it had once again chgd. And of course I kept being told to check back in 24 hrs.....where it just got worse.

It was only when someone from IT finally took ownership of the problem, and promised to coordinate with the Dolphin that it got fixed.

In all seriousness I spoke to at least 10 different people between the 2 places and only 1 of them seemed to have the ability of fixing it. I know its a pita but just keep going till you find the person who can fix it. It might help telling them how frustrated you are. That's what it took for me to get someone to actually take charge and deal with the problem between THEM instead of me having to bounce back and forth like a ping pong ball.

 

[patty57]

It was only when someone from IT finally took ownership of the problem, and promised to coordinate with the Dolphin that it got fixed.

In all seriousness I spoke to at least 10 different people between the 2 places and only 1 of them seemed to have the ability of fixing it. I know its a pita but just keep going till you find the person who can fix it. It might help telling them how frustrated you are. That's what it took for me to get someone to actually take charge and deal with the problem between THEM instead of me having to bounce back and forth like a ping pong ball.

Same. Someone at Disney IT finally said "here is my email, and I will fix this." It was never completely fixed for me, but finally someone tried hard. I also ping ponged back and forth between the Dolphin and WDW IT until that happened.

 

[SA mom]

It is so weird how some people have so much trouble with linking their reservation and then some of us just click and go. I just don't understand.

 

[SingingMom]

It is so weird how some people have so much trouble with linking their reservation and then some of us just click and go. I just don't understand.

Mine looks like it worked right away, too. Added the reservation # from the Dolphin, then was asked for the names of guest two and three. I THINK we are set. Guess I'll know for sure when I get to 180 days out. Lol

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Tess]

Tess

Your post sounds just like me a couple of months back. I literally was ready to tear out my hair going back and forth btwn Disney IT and the Dolphin.

We booked using Aeroplan points (Air Canada). Pretty simple booking , just 1 room for dh and I. When I went to link the ressie to mde it wouldn't add dh's name to the file. So I called Disney, who then had me calling, the dolphin, who then had me calling Disney, and back and forth we went for are you ready ....7 days.

It would get corrected, and then I'd go back on mde only to find that it had once again chgd. And of course I kept being told to check back in 24 hrs.....where it just got worse.

It was only when someone from IT finally took ownership of the problem, and promised to coordinate with the Dolphin that it got fixed.

In all seriousness I spoke to at least 10 different people between the 2 places and only 1 of them seemed to have the ability of fixing it. I know its a pita but just keep going till you find the person who can fix it. It might help telling them how frustrated you are. That's what it took for me to get someone to actually take charge and deal with the problem between THEM instead of me having to bounce back and forth like a ping pong ball.

That's about how I feel right now as well--a ping pong ball. Once an issue has been raised, I am not sure why the Resort and Disney IT don't work out the problem rather than putting the guest in the middle. I am going to be calling back yet again since the "fix" didn't trigger the expected MDE "fix". The Dolphin did what it promised--added the guests' names to the reservations. Logically, it would seem it is now up to Disney to pull the information into my personal MDE account. Conversely, I fail to understand why Disney IT can't simply "reset" the hotel reservation portion and relink the reservation numbers.

Same. Someone at Disney IT finally said "here is my email, and I will fix this." It was never completely fixed for me, but finally someone tried hard. I also ping ponged back and forth between the Dolphin and WDW IT until that happened.

So far, no one has gone that far out of the way to help me. The IT folks have put me on interminable hold only to return and tell me they can't fix it until the Dolphin fixes the guest issue. Well. . .that has been fixed for a week now. One of the IT guys did tell me he could write a "request" but the fix could take two weeks. Guess it would have been time better spent than phoning back and forth between Dolphin and IT for two weeks.

It is so weird how some people have so much trouble with linking their reservation and then some of us just click and go. I just don't understand.

I thought mine was all set. The reservation numbers linked without an issue. It was when I looked at the details I realized all three room reservations would only allow me to add one guest to each since my husband was occupying the other adult space in all three rooms. I could only add two people to each room.

Mine looks like it worked right away, too. Added the reservation # from the Dolphin, then was asked for the names of guest two and three. I THINK we are set. Guess I'll know for sure when I get to 180 days out. Lol

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

I think our problem is primarily due to having three rooms booked all in my husband's name. Dolphin has added the other parties to the correct reservation number, but Disney continues to show my husband in all three rooms and we can't change MDE to reflect the correct parties for each room.

As I said, I had absolutely no problem linking, but sadly when linked I couldn't add the correct names to the reservations. I was able to put one other adult in each room, BUT there are two others in our group of six who have no room assignment through MDE. I refuse to link ticket media to the other non AP holders until this mess is straightened out. I have until July 20 to get it squared away so I can schedule FP+.

 

[SCPP]

Did you inquire at all about the potential for an upgrade in advance or was it just done for you. (Read on a different board some folks call a few weeks in advance and ask for it to be noted on their reservation). My husband is also platinum and we have two rooms booked in Sept. Would love a 2Br suite upgrade, assuming they aren't all booked by paying customers, and just wondering if there is anyway to improve our chances. My inlaws did not want a potential upgrade to an alcove room, via the suite night award bc they need separate beds, so don't them to think we don't want an upgrade at all dde04 Good to know the resort fee should be waived, as this has had conflicting information.

I travel in my profession around 200 nights a year.

With Starwood at 100 nights you are a assigned a personal ambassador that handles all my reservations, requests, upgrades and concierge request. I called my ambassador about 10 days prior to the stay and she handled everything contacted the hotel and making the request.

I saw on the website that my reservation has been upgraded about 72 hours before the stay so I knew we had struck gold.

We were in 717 , 719 and 720. East wing of the Swan facing into the center of the hotel. The room had 1 king in the 717, the suite portion was 719 and there 2 queens in Room 720.

I would have your husband reach either to the Platinum Desk, or if he one his ambassador. We are 8 out 8 over the year in suite upgrades. Hope you all also receive a nice room.

 

[hsmamato2]

Ok.... again a FP+ question ( I really really hate this new program,overcomplicates everything!)
anyway... I currently have my res, except for the last night,which I am waiting to book when I get the points - I haven't attempted any linking with MDE yet, I don't make dining res.,except for one, and I've already done that. (November)
My question is for tickets- I have some from UT- I know I have to input the tix into MDE to make FP+, do I have to input info about my stay at the Dolphin in order to make FP+? Since it's technically "offsite", if I don't bother linking the hotel with the MDE and tix, what does it mean for booking windows for rides? is it 30,or 60 days out? Is there a difference in Swan/Dolphin and say,any offsite hotel? I am sorry if the info is elsewhere, I can't find it and as I said,I dislike al this hassle in planning....

 

[patty57]

Yes, there is a difference. Swan & Dolphin get FP+ 60 days out...same as onsite.

 

[hsmamato2]

Yes, there is a difference. Swan & Dolphin get FP+ 60 days out...same as onsite.

Ok.... so S/D gets 60 days out, offsite gets 30? so I should link my hotel, right? I am a total newbie when it comes to FP+....

 

[patty57]

Ok.... so S/D gets 60 days out, offsite gets 30? so I should link my hotel, right? I am a total newbie when it comes to FP+....

If you want the ability to book FP+ 60 days out, you should link it. Do you have one room? I'm asking because if you have more than one room, it's important that the Swan & Dolphin have them listed with the people who are actually staying in them. Meaning, don't try and link two rooms listed under your name because there can be problems in MDE.

 

[norbert white]

Do any swanphin vets know of a grocery store that is easy to drive to from swanphin?

We will have a car and will want to pick up some cheap eats.

I saw a Publix which is 15 minutes away by car and that more driving time than I would prefer...

 

[Dan Murphy]

This may be of help...

http://allears.net/btp/grocery.htm

 

[norbert white]

That's a great list.

Does anyone know which ones are particularly close to the hotels?

 

[littlecindy]

we are staying at S&D in march 2015. my family has been to disney before and my mom has been several times. we stayed offsite in a house when we went the first time. my mom thinks we should definitely have a car when staying at S&D. what are your recommendations? the daily parking rate is $16+ and car rentals seem to be $54/day minimum. i'd like to save that cost. thoughts?

also, what is the best way to get from the airport to the S&D. if we rent a car, the ones from the airport seem to be much more expensive. am i right? we would be better off renting from the hotel? if we don't rent a car, then what is the cheapest way to get to S&D? i like the idea of a taxi/town car and a stop for groceries as someone else mentioned as my son has food allergies. how much does that typically run?

 

[vicb]

we are staying at S&D in march 2015. my family has been to disney before and my mom has been several times. we stayed offsite in a house when we went the first time. my mom thinks we should definitely have a car when staying at S&D. what are your recommendations? the daily parking rate is $16+ and car rentals seem to be $54/day minimum. i'd like to save that cost. thoughts?

also, what is the best way to get from the airport to the S&D. if we rent a car, the ones from the airport seem to be much more expensive. am i right? we would be better off renting from the hotel? if we don't rent a car, then what is the cheapest way to get to S&D? i like the idea of a taxi/town car and a stop for groceries as someone else mentioned as my son has food allergies. how much does that typically run?

We have never rented a car no matter which property we have stayed at and things have worked fine for us over the years. We have stayed Poly, BC, BWI, CSR and S/D.

Last month we used Tiffany Towncars for our Dolphin stay, round trip from the airport was $126 for 4 of us which is apx. $31 per person (plus tips). We did use the grocery stop to buy water bottles and breakfast food (we like to eat light in our hotel room to maximize morning time). I had packed napkins and plastic silverware from home. I know we saved a lot of money buying water and breakfast food, we only ate breakfast out on our last morning before going to the airport.

There might be other towncar services that cost a bit less, but we have used Tiffany many times with good results and the grocery stop is included. I think some services are priced lower but charge for the stop. We stopped at a Publix half way to the hotel. Since you only get 30 min. it helps to have a list ready to go.

Also, the transportation from the Dolphin worked very well for us in May. You can walk into the back of Epcot or take the boat, boat or walk to HS. We did not have trouble with the MK bus, one time it was full but another came in 5 min. and we still made it for the opening show and rope drop. We used a cab to eat at Cali Grill one night, just easier than buses. We also used a bus to go to TL, it stopped at BC and BWI before heading to TL, then I believe it stops at DTD before going back to S/D.

Good luck.

 

[littlecindy]

great info. thanks!

 

[Dan Murphy]

That's a great list.

Does anyone know which ones are particularly close to the hotels?

I recall going to a Walmart a few years ago, did not seem too far away from the resort. Having a car, they are all relatively closeby.

we are staying at S&D in march 2015. my family has been to disney before and my mom has been several times. we stayed offsite in a house when we went the first time. my mom thinks we should definitely have a car when staying at S&D. what are your recommendations? the daily parking rate is $16+ and car rentals seem to be $54/day minimum. i'd like to save that cost. thoughts?

also, what is the best way to get from the airport to the S&D. if we rent a car, the ones from the airport seem to be much more expensive. am i right? we would be better off renting from the hotel? if we don't rent a car, then what is the cheapest way to get to S&D? i like the idea of a taxi/town car and a stop for groceries as someone else mentioned as my son has food allergies. how much does that typically run?

I have had a car for all my trips to WDW except the last two trips, with the grandkids. LAst year we used Tiffany, excellent. This year we used the Swan's own limo service. They were a few dollars more but I know several of the drivers quite well (former bell services) and I felt I was starting my Swan experience as soon as we were met at MCo. Both services included a no additional charge grocery stop.

I really did not miss the car, or all the extra cost. We did use a cab twice on site during our visit last year, none this year.

 

[Tess]

At long last and after only 8-10 phone calls--our reservations are finally linked with the proper people in their respective rooms! A huge THANK YOU to Jenna from Dolphin Reservations who finally took the bull by the horns and contacted Disney directly to fix the issues.

Now to link the three non-passholder tickets to their owners and we will be good to go for FP+ in a month from today.

 

[Dan Murphy]

At long last and after only 8-10 phone calls--our reservations are finally linked with the proper people in their respective rooms! A huge THANK YOU to Jenna from Dolphin Reservations who finally took the bull by the horns and contacted Disney directly to fix the issues.

Now to link the three non-passholder tickets to their owners and we will be good to go for FP+ in a month from today.

 

[RachelTori]

At long last and after only 8-10 phone calls--our reservations are finally linked with the proper people in their respective rooms! A huge THANK YOU to Jenna from Dolphin Reservations who finally took the bull by the horns and contacted Disney directly to fix the issues.

Now to link the three non-passholder tickets to their owners and we will be good to go for FP+ in a month from today.

YAY!!!!! What a relief that has to be for you! I'm so glad to hear you finally got it resolved!