Just back from the Dolphin-please explain what the thrill is here? [Archive] - The DIS Discussion Forums

TigerLaw

07-12-2002, 03:44 PM

I just got back from a 5 day stay at the dolphin for my 30th bday, and I have to say, even if I got my cheap rate again ($126) you couldn't drag me back there! I honestly don't see what people like about this place!

A. The service was horrible (1. they screwed up the birthday surprise my girlfirend arranged upon arrival, so after setting it up for over 30 minutes, I never even got it! 2. they say they will take off the ridiculous resort fee, and never do and 3. they forget to make the wake up call we requested!)

B. restaurants - are you kidding? coral cafe-a joke! tubbi's - $9.00 for a hamburger-whatever!

c. hotel room - have you ever heard of a bathroom without a fan? an even bigger joke is we get "upgraded" to an epcot view room, but the window is so dirty that we could barely make out the fireworks!

Seriously folks, I would really like to hear someone tell me what I missed about this place. I have stayed the last two trips at CBR and that's where we'll be on our next trip to stay! last fall, I was one of the many crying about all the disney cutbacks, well let me tell all of you, a reduced disney moderate beats the dolphin any day of the week!

Jeanny

07-12-2002, 04:21 PM

TigerLaw
I am so sorry you had such a bad experience with the hotel. I'm sure it is due to all the cutbacks, but you're right, you're paying a lot of money for service you're not receiving. They should have done something to make up for messing up the birthday surprise.

Could you at least OPEN the window to see the fireworks?

We're staying at the CBR during Thanksgiving and I CAN'T WAIT. I am SO looking forward to it!

TigerLaw

07-12-2002, 04:34 PM

Jeanny,

Funny story about them messing up my birthday surprise - On our last day, I went down and complained to a manager (more about the wake up call than anything else-what if that had made us miss our flight home?) and she offered to get us a couple shirsts from the giftshop later that afternoon. so when it comes time for us to check out, its check in time for the national fedex sales conference and our mgr. is nowhere to be found and there is no record of my complaint or her offer. so about 30 minutes later she comes with a box where SHE picked the ONE shirt and a picture frame. when we get home, the shirt is in the wrong size and is almost too big to serve as pajamas!

Pkdcoastrs

07-12-2002, 04:35 PM

Hey,

Sorry to hear about all the mess-ups that occured! Last year our trip was totally different. But I guess like every other hotel , the place is never perfect.

Mike

Tinkbell

07-12-2002, 05:03 PM

Sorry you did not enjoy your stay. So, what was your birthday surprise supposed to be (if you don't mind me asking)? :D I hope your overall vacation was great. What did you think of the Dolphin transportation?

Jeanny

07-12-2002, 05:25 PM

OHMIGOD!! should we start calling it "TigerLaw" instead of "Murphy's Law"

So what WAS your birthday surprise? supposed to be?

Gemm01

07-12-2002, 07:27 PM

TigerLaw,

I'm with you. I can't for see what the appeal of this place is. My husband and I made a trip earlier this month to celebrate our 16th anniversary. We had the gov't discount. We were so unimpressed with this place that we got up after staying 1 night and made a reservation at the ASMu. We were much happier there.

Jennie

Blondie

07-12-2002, 07:39 PM

Wow, you really had a downer of a trip!

c. hotel room - have you ever heard of a bathroom without a fan?

Yep, I sure have! Renaissance-Philadelphia Aiport and the Holiday Inn Oceanfront-Virginia Beach just to name two.

Sorry your trip didn't turn out as you had hoped. One person's gold is another person's copper. We really enjoyed the Dolphin, had a beautiful balcony room that faced Epcot. We watched the fireworks from Illuminations nightly. We qualify for the government rate, and I'll take the Swan or Dolphin over one of the Disney moderates any old time.

I guess it's like the Polynesian. Even though it has a very loyal following, and one of the highest return guest rates, it just didn't "wow me" like I had hoped it would.

And none of the resorts are without a problem here or there, CBR was getting trashed in reviews not too long ago.

Hope your next trip is better.

*I hate my own typos!*

The Pluto People

07-12-2002, 08:27 PM

Sorry your stay was less than wonderful.:( We loved our stay at the Dolphin...we had a great room. I do agree that Tubbies was very pricey. Hope your next vacation is lots better!!:D

Uncle Mikey

07-12-2002, 09:02 PM

I'm sorry you had such a poor experience. We stayed over at the Swan and had the best trip ever. We had stayed previously at the Dixie Landings, Port Orleans and Caribbean Beach. The room and service at the Swan beat any of the Disney moderates. It was Disney that missed wake up calls and such for us. So we decided to try the Swan with the Teacher discount. We were wonderfully surprised. I hope your next trip is soon and wonderful for you.

JulesMom

07-12-2002, 09:17 PM

Sorry you had such a bad stay.

Before we joined DVC we had considered staying at Swan or Dolphin. I had heard such good things.

Jasmine13

07-13-2002, 11:26 AM

Gee, I am so sorry to hear about your lousy accommodations. I guess that is why I would prefer to stay at a WDW resort, as opposed to the Swan and Dolphin, even though I can get the teacher rate and it is so convenient to MGM and Epcot. We toured both on our last trip, to see if they might be something we would choose when we decided to stay onsite, but they were quickly vetoed. They just didn't hold a candle to the monorail resorts, the other Epcot resorts, or even the moderates for us.

You know, you could always exchange that shirt... just get ahold of WDW merchandising, and they will give you the address of where to send it, and will send you one in the appropriate size.

Sorry about the birthday surprise, too... what was it supposed to be, anyway?

DeeP

07-13-2002, 11:42 AM

You know, you could always exchange that shirt... just get ahold of WDW merchandising, and they will give you the address of where to send it, and will send you one in the appropriate size.
I don't think WDW merchandising would be able to help with merchandise from a S/D store. Maybe a call to S/D front desk would be able to help though.
That is a shame about your room, I can't get the discounted rates at S/D because I am not a teacher, govt worker or a RN, I do work for a hospital but it is for RNs only, I have wanted to try these resorts because I love the Epcot resort area but maybe I am not missing anything after all.

BibbidiBobbidiBOO

07-13-2002, 11:46 AM

The Swan and Dolphin has never appealed to us. Even with the good Gvt. rate, we chose a moderate over it several times! We just love the theming and extra touches at the WDW resorts:cool:.

Judy from Boise

07-13-2002, 01:19 PM

Location, Location, Location !:)
I Have to visit Epcot every day of my trip.......it is wonderful to be a quick walk away from the magic !

TigerLaw

07-13-2002, 02:23 PM

Sorry I didn't tell everyone what the surprise was supposed to be - my girlfriend ordered a group of b-day balloons (for over $50 dollars!)

I have to admit, we did love the location - but lets be honest here, the boardwalk has little to really do (as compared to say PI or citywalk (our favorite)) and no one really wants to walk from the swan or dolphin to epcot or MGM do they? (I know I get alll the walking in I could ever want in the parks!)

As far as dolphin transporation, I found it uneven. the boat service is OK I guess, but they are slow. As far as the bus service, I had one bus go swan--dolphin-boardwalk, one go straight to the park, and one go dolphin-YC/BC, and then back to the swan?

I remember a post on this board a while back asking something to the effect was the disney magic at the S/D and both my girlfriend and myself would answer a strong NO! it may sound stupid, but its the little disney things like having mickey give a wake up call that add up in my mind.

p.s. as a quick aside, we spent july 5th on the boardwalk, and after dinnr I just said as a joke let's go to epcot for ice cream in france and we did it! so location is cool too!

Peter Pirate

07-13-2002, 02:59 PM

...and nobody really wants to walk from the Swan and Dolphin to epcot or MGM do they?
Our family ALWAYS walks to the Parks & back unless (1) it's pouring or two the boat just happens to pull up as we're walking past the dock (and even then it's probably 50-50).

Many people, as evidenced here, think the S/D lack a certain Disney-quality to them...This is fine, but there are many of us who just don't see that. The location is all Disney all the time IMO. Further the Grotto Pool is among the best on Disney property, the restaurant choces are pretty good overall when the quality of Palio & Shula's are considered - Not to mention that the BW, & YC/BC are right around the corner. Don't forget the Character Caravan, Character dining & Disney programing on 35 channels on the tv!

Certainly the S/D are not for everyone but there is nothing inheirently wrong with them either. The AKL has its share of detractors and I think it's nearly perfect. The YC/BC would be relatively unattractive were it not for the location & SAB, IMO...So to each there own and allow others theirs, I say!

:cool: :cool: :bounce: :cool: :cool:

CernyJ

07-13-2002, 04:20 PM

I am sorry you had a bad experience. We enjoyed our stay at the Dolphin and truly liked the resort and the location.

VickiVM

07-13-2002, 07:37 PM

I may not be 100% accurate, but I believe in a recent survey, Starwood Resorts rated among the lowest in customer satisfaction while Marriot was rated highest. Never been to either Swan/Dolphin, but it seems people either love it or hate it...very few on the fence.

Shame on any resort that takes someone's money for a special occasion surprise and doesn't follow through as expected. If you don't have the staff or means (or competency) to execute something so personal, then don't commit. JMO.

Geoff_M

07-13-2002, 08:10 PM

As stated: Location, location, location. There are certainly better hotels in terms of theming and services at WDW, but the location along with the teacher's rate we get is hard to beat. We've stayed at PO, WL, and Dolphin. And we liked the Dolphin the best of the three in terms of total experience.

Jeanny

07-13-2002, 08:26 PM

Gee, Tigerlaw,,,, looks like they owe you A LOT more than that wrong size t-shirt and a picture frame.... I would have been all over that Manager and/or WHOEVER was on duty. She should have known better than to try a switch like that!!! They should have taken the money off of your bill also, or did they???
:smooth:

dreamflight99

07-14-2002, 10:23 AM

BUT...like the song goes: "WILD, WILD HORSES...COULDN'T DRAG ME AWAY." We PREFER & LOVE the WDW Dolphin. Will be there the end of this month for 26 eves...& "can't wait." Hope your future stays, wherever they may be, are magical!;) :cool:

gabylin

07-14-2002, 10:52 PM

Next year if I can swing another trip I would love to stay at an Epcot resort. Will the Swan and Dolphin let me see a room this summer when I visit to get an idea of what they are like???

dreamflight99

07-15-2002, 10:43 AM

Originally posted by gabylin
Next year if I can swing another trip I would love to stay at an Epcot resort. Will the Swan and Dolphin let me see a room this summer when I visit to get an idea of what they are like??? ABSOLUTELY! And they'll give you the keys with a SMILE too! I actually did this exact thing when contemplating staying at the Dolphin more than a decade ago. Please, stop by and do this...ask to see a corner king w/turret balcony and the view of Epcot. Post here after your experience, please. ;)

gabylin

07-16-2002, 12:12 AM

Thanks dreamflight!! I'll do that. Is the room you described in the Swan or Dolphin?? If I can only see one hotel which do you think is best to see?? Thanks ahead for your feedback.:D

Yachtman

07-17-2002, 11:38 AM

Hey Tigerlaw-Just how big is this shirt? It might be perfect for my mother-in-law. In which case I would be happy to take it off your hands.

threeboysmom

07-17-2002, 01:51 PM

I'd like to start off with saying that I've never stayed at either the Swan or Dolphin (they're too "high-rise" looking for me), but I am so amazed at the way people will jump on the mishaps that happen like they would NEVER have happened if only you stayed at a REAL WDW resort! Give me a break! I have read many reports of rooms being dirty or run down at WDW resorts, folks! It's not just happening at the Swan & Dolphin!! So the window was dirty....call housekeeping & have someone come up immediately and clean it with some Windex - problem solved. I'd rather have a "dirty" window overlooking Epcot fireworks than a spotless window at a Disney moderate that overlooks a walkway where people are constantly peering in on me (so then you keep the drapes closed so what's the point?!) Someone mentioned on this thread that Disney itself messed up on his wake-up calls (*gasp*). Again, not just an isolated problem at the Swan or Dolphin. Some of you act like Disney is perfect, & their rooms are totally spotless & beyond reproach, & that they could NEVER make a mistake! Disney is run by people, just like any other corporation, and people are not perfect. We forget things, we make mistakes, we mess things up, etc. It can happen to anyone staying at any resort.....

Please people - I love Disney just as much as you do, but we need to be realistic here :)

TigerLaw

07-17-2002, 03:37 PM

threeboysmom:

You bring up some interesting points. I freely admit all ofthis could have just as easily happened to me at CBR. I guess in the end I just had higher expectations for my first stay at a "deluxe" resort. That, plus I keep going back to the simple fact that I didn't feel the magic that I get at CBR. Again, that's just me. Given that this the resorts board, I do certainly think I am within my rights to tell everyone about my experience and hopefully both the good and the bad info will be helpful for others. Thanks.

p.s. as far as the windows go-they were dirty from the outside-I tried cleaning them as soon as I noticed the problem, and the night we tried to watch the fireworks was the only night we could (other plans plus only 10 pm epoct fireworks)

Cris

07-17-2002, 10:48 PM

Sorry about your stay. Though I must say that most hotel bathrooms don;t have fans, but they do have vents.

dreamflight99

07-17-2002, 11:18 PM

Originally posted by gabylin
Thanks dreamflight!! I'll do that. Is the room you described in the Swan or Dolphin?? If I can only see one hotel which do you think is best to see?? Thanks ahead for your feedback.:D Hi Linda!I was describing the DOLPHIN room. I prefer the Dolphin over the Swan, atmosphere & location have a LOT to do with it! Have fun looking...my first "peek" SOLD me!;)