Dolphin Bad Reviews

[Dislifer]

Uh-oh!!! We will be staying at the Dolphin over the Christmas vacation. It was hard to pass up with my teacher discount. I just read a few reviews on Trip Advisor and there were many people who were not impressed with the Dolphin! I know that it is not going to have Disney themes, etc. but the reviews talked about other issues, such as out dated rooms, not so clean, not getting maid service, etc. etc.

Sooooooooooo, does anyone have any useful advice for me regarding the Dolphin? Where/When to make a particular room request? Where to eat breakfasts, (dinners are already planned).
Any input/advice/suggestions would really be appreciated!!!
Thanks!

 

[airhead]

We'll be there in June. I hope things improve...

 

[rie'smom]

The Dolphin is a really nice hotel. It's as nice as the GF,Poly,or Yacht Club. We've stayed there numerous times and have never had a problem. That said, anyone staying in any hotel can experience a problem. Many times, the posters don't call the desk to inform them of a problem. If you read the boards, you'll find complaints about every hotel on Disney property.
As for breakfast, we always order room service but many people swear by the Picabu restaurant.
You'll love the Dolphin. I love the Swan more because of the queen sized beds as opposed to the doubles at the Dolphin but that's the only thing at the Dolphin that I don't love.

 

[queenmum2]

I always consider the Swan to be the "same" as the Dolphin...since they appear to be sister resorts. I've got friends who LOVE Disney, have the AP, go down several times a year by themselves AND with students (they are both teachers). Their prefered resort is the Swan. (When they go with students, of course they stay at the All-Stars). I think of them as "finicky" folks --enjoy fine dining, etc. So if they enjoy the Swan, it must be really good.

So - take that for whatever it's worth. Hopefully, i'm right about the Dolphin being similar in upkeep to the Swan.

If nothing else, know that it is right next to the Boardwalk which is one of our favorite things to take in when we go down to WDW. It is so beautiful, and a lovely place to take a stroll.

Tracie

 

[tjmw2727]

FWIW the Dolphin is our first choice when visiting Disney despite staying at almost every onsite WDW resort (except WL and the Grand). I love the resort and have always been treated wonderfully by all the staff. What can be more "Disney" then a room overlooking Epcot with a veiw of Illuminations or one overlooking the TOT?

The resorts were recently renovated and IMHO the heavenly beds are the most comfy and we love the B&BW toiletries much more than the mickey soap (sorry). As is the case anywhere, if your room has issues call them to the attention of houskeeping and or ask to be moved rather than do nothing and complain online when you get back. We had to be moved from a room at the Dolphin once (out of over a dozen stays) and they made it a very pleasant and easy move. Compared to an issue I had at the BWI with a leaking fridge the two experiences were night and day.

I haven't read the reviews on TA but we visit the Dolphin at least once a year and are returning in March.

We usually pick up some cold cereals and or bagels for breakfast in the room but we also enjoy Picabu as well as Fresh for breakfast. If you want a character meal Cape May is a very short walk for a fun buffet with characters in beach attire.

Join the SPG program (free) and you will earn points for your stay as well as the possibility of an upgrade.

TJ

 

[MiamiBeach]

I was at the Dolphin for two nights last week. We have stayed at the Yacht Club and the Swan in the past. While I love the lobby areas of the Disney deluxe hotels, the rooms are nothing special and you can't believe how comfortable the heavenly beds are at the Swan and Dolphin.

My room was immaculate and housekeeping did a lovely job both days. I enjoyed a really nice room service breakfast, a delicioius light supper at BlueZoo (chowder and salad), and a wonderful dinner at Il Mulino. Every staff member was wonderfully upbeat. It was a great stay.

 

[CamColt]

I have my 4th stay at the Dolphin coming up in a few days. I have also stayed at the Swan 3 times. I have no complaints about either. Everything has always been great, and I don't feel like I miss the magic staying there. Being able to walk to 2 parks is wonderful. And the views are usually great too. Seeing some Disney icons from my room really adds to the magic!

I usually find the CMs there to be just as freindly, if not more, than Disney CM's.

 

[Disneychix]

I haven't been to the Dolphon since 2005 but even back 2 years ago I found it very clean and we had an updated room with a flat screen tv. The heavenly beds are the best ever!
Enjoy your stay!

 

[NMAmy]

The Dolphin is always our resort of choice when we go to WDW. The location is great, we get fantastic deals and earn points toward future stays, we get automatic upgrades if available with our SPG card, the beds are the best, the service is wonderful--we love it. We stayed at the WL for a couple of days during our last trip, and we enjoyed it but were glad to get back "home" to the Dolphin.

 

[Robert P]

Stayed at the Dolphin 4 weeks ago. Great hotel, have stayed there many times in the past. (I find TA to be less than helpful, when I check them AFTER I have visited somewhere).

 

[Ali]

I love the Dolphin too, but the last time I was there, over Labor Day, I had to change rooms 3 times because the first 2 smelled horrible like MOLD. The second time the bellman called the front desk to have me changed into a different room, and I was put accross the hall from construction. I woke up each morning to get the newspaper outside the door to find construction crews sitting on it, standing around talking, waiting for 8 am to start working, which went on until 5 pm exactly.

Just be aware of the construction going on, call the front desk if you are unhappy with your room when you get there, and hope the boat is running because it wasn't the weekend we were there.

 

[tjmw2727]

snip
and hope the boat is running because it wasn't the weekend we were there.

Can you elaborate on this please, was it Labor Day 2007?. There are several friendship boats (not just one) and they are run by WDW not S/D. They serve Epcot and MGM along with the Dolphin, Swan, Boardwalk, Yacht Club and Beach club. Did you have to walk to Epcot and MGM or did they provide bus service?

My SIL owns DVC at the Boardwalk and part of her stay included Labor Day. I am pretty sure that if there was no transportation to two of the parks she would definately have mentioned it. I also read over at the transportation board often and wonder why it wasn't reported - 5 deluxe resorts with no park transportation over labor day and no complaints?

I can't imagine a stay at the Dolphin without boat service to MGM and Epcot. yikes

TJ

 

[Ali]

The boats were not running to the Swan/Dolphin because they were rehabbing the boat dock - unfortunately for me, I made the ressie the night before specifically to be onsite to use the boat transportation. They didn't tell me it wasn't running even though I made a comment about the ease of transportation. I spoke to the manager on duty the day we checked in and walked out to the dock to discover it wasn't running and she said there were letters in the rooms (NOT MINE) and I should have been advised abou the issue when I made the ressie with the hotel the night before. I was not hapy.

Yes, they added more bus transportation but we were advised to walk to the Boardwalk to use the boat. Saw many people walking very slowly back and forth. We were unhappy with this whole trip and will stay in the Swan next time instead of the dolphin until I know for certain the construction is done.

Can you elaborate on this please, was it Labor Day 2007?. There are several friendship boats (not just one) and they are run by WDW not S/D. They serve Epcot and MGM along with the Dolphin, Swan, Boardwalk, Yacht Club and Beach club. Did you have to walk to Epcot and MGM or did they provide bus service?

My SIL owns DVC at the Boardwalk and part of her stay included Labor Day. I am pretty sure that if there was no transportation to two of the parks she would definately have mentioned it. I also read over at the transportation board often and wonder why it wasn't reported - 5 deluxe resorts with no park transportation over labor day and no complaints?

I can't imagine a stay at the Dolphin without boat service to MGM and Epcot. yikes

TJ

 

[tjmw2727]

The boats were not running to the Swan/Dolphin because they were rehabbing the boat dock - unfortunately for me, I made the ressie the night before specifically to be onsite to use the boat transportation. They didn't tell me it wasn't running even though I made a comment about the ease of transportation. I spoke to the manager on duty the day we checked in and walked out to the dock to discover it wasn't running and she said there were letters in the rooms (NOT MINE) and I should have been advised abou the issue when I made the ressie with the hotel the night before. I was not hapy.

Yes, they added more bus transportation but we were advised to walk to the Boardwalk to use the boat. Saw many people walking very slowly back and forth. We were unhappy with this whole trip and will stay in the Swan next time instead of the dolphin until I know for certain the construction is done.

Gotcha - I couldn't figure that one out, sorry We usually walk to Epcot anyway but sometimes take the boat to MGM. Swan is much closer to the BW so it wouldn't have been as much as an inconvience.

FWIW I just visited Trip Advisor - 7 of the first 10 reports are favorable which to me is a good thing. I find folks quick to run and post negative reviews and not so quick to rave about a great stay.

TJ

 

[pooh2001]

The Dolphin is wonderful. Ditto all of the above posts

 

[Skroops]

We stayed at the Swan in September. The boat dock was closed when we arrived, but was back in service by the last couple of days of our trip.
We really enjoyed the Swan. The heavenly beds are awesome, and the service was freindly. If I got a good deal again, I woudn't hesitate to stay there again. Good luck!

 

[TeddyToo]

We love the Swan and stayed right around the time the boat docks closed. Epcot and the Boardwalk were a beautiful walk. The walk to MGM was too hot and long for us after a day in the sun. For breakfast, we loved the coffee bar in the Swan they have a berry/yogurt parfait which was excellent as well as fruit, cereal and bakery goods. Fresh and Picabu were great too but the parfait and a muffin hit the spot! We also loved the Fountain for a lighter dinner. We can't wait to go back. Our only negative was the bellman on our last day forgot he worked in customer service and was condescending. His tip reflected it as did my note to the Swan afterwards praising many of the staff.

 

[DisneyFans4]

I can't speak for the Dolphin but I have stayed at the Swan many times and each time it was perfect! I had more problems staying on Disney property and it's why after my very first stay at the Swan we keep going back for our family vacations.

Rooms have always been clean, maid service excellent and even the staff is great! A true deluxe hotel in my eyes.

My only suggestion is if at any time something isn't right then just call the front desk ASAP. I've NEVER had issues with mold or a smell in my room and if I did I would ask to be moved.

You will enjoy your stay.

 

[TaraPA]

Just back last night from the Dolphin. Wonderful stay, very minor complaints that didn't make an impact on the trip at all. We were in an older room with the most awful view (noisy construction, a roof & a service parking lot) but I got 3 nights of the stay free with points so I wasn't about to complain! The room did have a dampness to it - that was one complaint I read over & over on these boards. Supposedly it's because there are no fans in the shower area of the bathroom, which is correct. We got wet the 1st day on Splash Mountain, and as I packed up that clothing to leave 5 days later it was still damp, and had been hanging in the closet the whole time. Even with the AC cranked it always felt humid in the room. We weren't in the room other than to shower & sleep so it wasn't a big deal. The room was immaculate & housekeeping did a great job expcet that I think you need to call to request that soiled sheets be changed if you need that - DS7 had a terrible bloody nose during the night. I assumed that housekeeping would see the dirty pillows & sheets - it was very clearly visible - but they just made the bed back up. My fault for not calling down & specifically asking I guess. Great bath products (Bath & Body Works Coconut Lime Verbena I think) and Starbucks Coffee! I did notice that they replaced the bath products every day with new ones, but not the coffee. They left 3 pods (each makes 1 cup) the 1st day, and I drink coffee all day long, but left me none the next. Same thing after that, 3 pods were left every other or every 3rd day. I guess they thought I was hoarding it to take home! I could have called down for more I guess, it just wasn't a big deal. The hair dryer was a powerful one, in case any of you are curious! Didn't touch the iron but it was in the closet, with an ironing board. Lots of drawer & closet space in our room.

The location of the Dolphin would make up for any of these minor imperfections to me. The Friendship boats were incredible - we never waited more than 5 min. for one. Also the buses to AK & MK - again never more than 5 min. wait. Being able to stroll on the Boardwalk at night is a great benefit. The staff at the Dolphin was the best I encountered the whole trip. We only ate breakfast at Picabu 3 times, none of the other restaraunts, but we loved it. Great food & decent prices too. If you are a AAA member take your card, there is a 20% discount.

We stayed at the Swan a few yers ago & I much prefer the Dolphin with kids. More casual eating options, incredible pool area, and it just felt like there were more families there. I would stay here again even without the free nights with Starwood points!

 

[bavaria]

I have stayed at the Dolphin several times; it is a far better value than the Disney 'deluxe' resorts (which aren't quite so deluxe). I have had a few hiccups but the staff always dealt with them quickly and professionally.

As an aside, Trip Advisor reviews seem to have a very high ratio of whiners. I tend to take reviews there with a grain of salt.....