dolphin fears . . .

[x5x5x5x5x5]

Okay, so I've been reading reviews of the Dolphin on tripadvisor and must say I am a bit concerned. Boy, it sure sounds like it is not up to snuff. Can someone give me a recent experience? Good or bad, I'll take it because it is not our only choice. Thanks in advance.

 

[katallo]

We stayed there last year and it was undergoing renovations. I think you will have to see if they are completed. The rooms that weren't renovated did need a little help. We love the location of the Dolphin & Swan but the one thing that concerned us was the musty/moldy odor at both hotels (especially in the bathrooms).

 

[lovingthemouse]

Hi- try reading the Swan/Dolphin posting on this board. We have stayed there many times, and love it. Yes, some room renovations have been going on, but you should see what the finished rooms are like. Caroline

 

[Lives4Disney]

OK, we just stayed there the middle of August. I had never stayed at the Dolphin before. I am a WDW deluxe addict. I have stayed at all of them except BWI - and that will be next. (just so you know where I am coming from)

My 3 kids and I really did enjoy our Dolphin stay. The pool area was nicer than several WDW deluxes - much larger and many more pool type choices. Lush & tropical, too. Very pretty.

Our room (we stayed on the club floor) was very nice. A bit smaller than the deluxes, but nice and clean. I didn't notice any bad smells or anything yucky. (I stayed at the CR last Thanksgiving in a one bedroom MK view suite for $1200/night and it was GROSS. The Dolphin was immaculate compared to the black grout, dirty walls, stained furniture, etc in our CR 14th floor suite) The beds at the Dolphin are much nicer than any I have slept on at the Disney resorts.

The room service was wonderful. One night we ordered a pizza and some salads. They were delicious. Another night we ordered burgers and some yummy choc cake. I thought the food was better than the WDW deluxe room service food.

The location is terrific. The view we had was lovely. We looked out at the Swan and Boardwalk and the waterway to MGM. From our window we could see when our Friendship boat was coming and run down to catch it jsut in time.

The lounge staff at the S/D are very nice and personable.

I would stay there again, for sure. I just really like the Disney immersion you feel at the Disney resorts, though. I don't know what it is, but something intangable is missing at the S/D that the Disney resorts have. A certain charm or something. The S/D are great, too. Just different.

We had some kind of crummy service issues during our stay, nothing terrible, but still......We have had those kind of experiences at Disney resorts, too, though.

Don't worry. Some of those tripadvisor reports are over the top and some are just plain phony. The S/D are deluxe resorts in every way.

Lives4Disney

 

[even1]

x5,

We have stayed at the Dolphin many times and we LOVE it

Heavenly beds, beautiful rooms and views, great room service, late check out, great pools, great restaurants, and the list goes on!!

Don't be afraid to stay at the Dolphin. You'll love it too

 

[Blondie]

Another S/D fan here, in fact we're headed to the Dolphin in under two weeks now!

 

[ebyers]

Yes, i haved stayed at the Swan @ Dolphin. I thought the Swan was O.K. but the Dolphin never again. Outside restrooms flooded every day for a week!!!! Dirty carpeting everywhere,loud A/C in room,balcony door barley worked and on and on.........

 

[tiggersmom2]

I think the Dolphin has full beds as opposed to queen beds at the Swan. I hate full beds.

 

[swilphil]

All the Dolphin rooms are now renovated. They are in the Westin style with the Heavenly Beds and very nice decor. The beds are oversized doubles, one inch smaller than a queen sized bed. The Dolphin is great. I was a little concerned with the trip advisor reports, but I found the reviews on this board to be more up to date.

 

[ebyers]

Glad to hear the rooms have been renovated! All i can say is that I`ve stayed on WDW properties 12 times in last 3 years and the Dolphin was by far my least favorite! Although, all my other stays have been at deluxe`s so i be comparing apples to oranges. Or least it seems like it!!!

 

[TLinden16]

I stayed at the Dolphin in May and had a fantastic time! My room was clean, roomy, and spotless. The grounds were great. The choice of dining at the Dolphin and nearby resorts are second to none.

Karen

 

[webray]

Honestly the Dolphin/Swan are the best places to stay on disney property. The rooms are fantastic, the location is great and very convenient. The food/restaurant options are excellent because there are so many within minutes of these resorts. These resorts blow disney resorts out of the water. Also..the rooms are much cleaner than disney resorts.

Disney housekeeping has major issues..we stay on property a lot, and we have not been checked in to a 100% clean disney resort room in the past 5 years..lol. This is bad.

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

We have only stayed at Disney deluxe resorts or DVC and we LOVE the Dolphin. We have stayed there several times over the past 4 or 5 years. The rooms have been immaculate, the beds are now wonderful, great views, pool area is fabulous...what is not to like? I have always found the bathrooms in the lobby to be in perfect condition.The only negative I found in the past was the exterior carpeting needed to be replaced and it has been with the renovations they completed. Occasionally I noticed trays that were left by quests in the hallway that hadn't been picked up yet by sevice personnel but did not notice this last trip. I am extremely picky......ask darling family

 

[lyncruiser]

Stayed last month at the Dolphin for the first time. It was lovely. The room was fresh and clean, the beds, indeed, were heavenly. For the first time ever on Disney property, I had a great pillow without hauling mine from home. I'm sooo tired of requesting down pillows at Disney deluxe resorts and receiving the most pathetic feather bags.

The service was superb, much better than our experience at the Boardwalk. It was the kind of service that, frankly, I expect when I book a stay at a luxury resort. Day or night, when you call the service line, they immediately take care of whatever you need -- towels, a new remote for the TV, it didn't matter what.

We lost our remote and figured it may have been caught up in the sheets when the linens were changed. The staff immediately sent a new one up and gave us a $15 credit on the hotel bill for our trouble. Later, we found the first remote under the bed. Oops! Great example of their superb service, though!

We booked a standard view but with Starwood membership we were upgraded to a room with a lovely view of the Friendship boat dock and the Swan.

The grotto pool is superb, huge and meandering, great slide, fantastic waterfall -- perhaps only Stormalong Bay is nicer on all of Disney property. And, it was never crowded. The pool area also features a basketball court and table tennis, with equipment supplied. The kids enjoyed that. There is an arcade and a fitness center.

The bus service to Magic Kingdom was suprisingly efficient. And, of course the boats to Epcot and MGM were wonderful.

The array of restaurant options at the Dolphin/Swan and nearby at the other Epcot Resorts is by far the best on property.

As for lacking Disney magic, personally I don't get it. The Dolphin lobby is stunning. I love all the fountains and waterfalls. The decor is lively and fanciful. Yes, you have conventioneers -- but I like them better than tons of noisy kids running all over.

We very much enjoyed our stay. And, due to going in slow season, we had a rate similar to a Disney moderate. A Disney moderate versus the Swan/Dolphin. Hmmmm. Nothing hard about that decision!

 

[PrincessKitty]

We were there for weekends in October and December 2004 and we absolutely loved the Dolphin. No bad smells anywhere except the cigarette smoke coming from the bar at Blue Zoo. The beds were the most comfortable I've ever slept on. The grotto pool is lovely--I'm surprised I see so few comments about the pool on the DISboards. Everything was clean and fresh. There's a gazillion restaurants (OK, seven). The decor is fun in an over-the-top, festive way, and the location is superb. What's not to love??

 

[TDC Nala]

The only really serious housekeeping issue I have experienced at WDW was at the Dolphin. They moved me twice (the first time was to a smoking room, so they had to move me again) but I did get a room upgrade and a bunch of room credit. Wouldn't have gotten any of that from Disney, probably.

 

[Skroops]

Haven't stayed at Swan/Dolphin...but I LOVE LOVE LOVE the heavenly beds and showers...
Love the location of the Swan/Dolphin too, and we will probably stay there someday. Right now we are into a 2 room (DVC rental or cabin) sort of mode with our baby.
I don't think you'd regret that stay.

 

[johnsonet]

deleted

 

[even1]

Johnsonet,

We had the $99. rate too! We self parked for $7. a day but they have stopped charging the $10. resort fee so it only costs $118. per day tax and parking included!!!
That's AMAZING!!

Dolphin is really nice about upgrading you if there is availability. If you are hoping for a particular view be sure to ask. I have been upgraded almost every time I have stayed.

If you want a really fantastic meal, try Palio's. Every course was fantastic and the service was first rate.
We also loved Kimonos for tempura and sushi. We went early (5:30) and everything was delicious and so well presented.
Both of these restaurants are located in the Swan, just a lovely stroll across the walkway!

Be sure to check out everything this resort has to offer. I can't think of anything they will not provide.........

Please post when you get back and let us know how you liked it.

Have a wonderful time

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

I don't put much stock in the hotel review (especially WDW hotels/resorts) on TripAdvisor. I have read some and wondered if the writer was just trying to badmouth WDW.