Dolphin - king beds, views question, really awful reviews in Unofficial Guide?

[olive]

My husband, son and I are staying at the Dolphin as part of a split stay in the end of May. We have a resort view balcony room for now. I don't actually care about the balcony, but got the balcony room assuming the light would be better than just a window room (kind of like a balcony cabin instead of an oceanview on a ship). I hate dark rooms! We plan on going back to the room each afternoon so we will be actually in the room during part of each day; this was a successful tactic on our 2010 Disney trip.

When I inquired about a king bed room, I was told that there is no fold out couch in the king rooms and we would have to get a rollaway bed for our son (he's 3) for an additional $25 per night. The diagrams that I saw on the Swan/Dolphin thread here, though seem to indicate that there is a fold out couch. I much prefer a king bed, but I didn't want to have to get a rollaway so we stuck with the regular set up room. Does anyone know for sure about the couches? Sometimes the board has better information than the folks who answer the phones!

I saw the scary standard view pictures so we opted for a resort view. Now I am thinking about upgrading to a fireworks view or boardwalk view room. I haven't been able to find anything about the boardwalk view rooms on here. Has anyone had one? Do higher floors tend to have better views for fireworks, and lower floors for the boardwalk views? I think the boardwalk is such a beautiful area, so I am kind of leaning toward a BW view now but would love to see a pic.

I was skimming back through my unofficial guide and notices that the reader reviews on Dolphin are super harsh. They don't recommend staying at Dolphin at all, and gave it some terrible "grades" (D- for pool, F for food court, C+ for rooms...). I have read mostly positive reviews on here, though. Any sense of what is fueling these really negative reviews? I am not planning on changing resorts or anything, but just wondering? Would live some consolation that these are somehow all from oddly negative people rather than reflective of the general quality of the resort. I though the pool looked quite nice, and on paper the food options seem great and I thought that the rooms had all been recently renovated and are in good shape. We have only stayed at the Polynesian, GF and CR so far. My favorite rooms are at the CR - I don't expect the Dolphin rooms to be of that caliber, but not a C+ either...

Thanks so much in advance!

 

[wiserabbit]

Not sure about all the negative reviews - BUT for us......

We've stayed at the Swan and Dolphn and found both to be very nice (in comparison with CR and Poly). We always just chose resort view with balcony and were quite happy with that -

As for the pool area - no complaints there either - very nice pool "bar"/restaurant and plenty of lounges with towel service just as at CR,etc.

Food choices in the hotel for were plentiful - and the Boardwalk is just a quick walk away for more

Can't speak to the king bed/rollaway thing though - but hope this info helps....

 

[olive]

Thanks, wise rabbit! That's a helpful start. I was surprised when re-reading the Unofficial Guide because it said something like based on reader reviews, for the second year in a row Dolphin came in near the bottom of the barrel and they couldn't recommend it. This was a bit worrisome - we're pretty excited about trying a new place, and this hotel specifically. I couldn't think what would lead to so many negative reports. Your review is more in line with what I was expecting.

If anyone else can speak to the king bed room and views questions, that would be great!

 

[jungle1]

If anyone else can speak to the king bed room and views questions, that would be great!

I haven't stayed there yet, so can't speak definatively on the king bed with sleeper sofa. But, if you go out to the Sheraton website for the Walt Disney World Dolphin, under Guest Rooms, and choose traditional room, it says:

•Choice of 2 Double Beds or 1 King Bed + Sleeper Sofa

I'm booked in a king, and taking my two small children with me, and I'll be quite upset if I show up in a king bedroom without a sleeper sofa. Maybe I shouldn't be counting on what the website says...

 

[Missytara]

Thanks, wise rabbit! That's a helpful start. I was surprised when re-reading the Unofficial Guide because it said something like based on reader reviews, for the second year in a row Dolphin came in near the bottom of the barrel and they couldn't recommend it. This was a bit worrisome - we're pretty excited about trying a new place, and this hotel specifically. I couldn't think what would lead to so many negative reports. Your review is more in line with what I was expecting.

If anyone else can speak to the king bed room and views questions, that would be great!

You will find generally that the people that normally post have something to gripe about and didn't like their stay for one reason or another.

Those of us who had a great stay don't usually bother to post, because we figure everyone else must have had a really good stay too and no need to reiterate the obvious.

I had a friend who asked for a recommendation for a hotel for a weekend in Williamsburg, VA. I recommended the exact one my mom and I stay in every year.

She came home and absolutely bashed the place; you know why - she told them she wanted to pay cash for her room and then showed up 15 minutes after check-out time. Sadly, she doesn't travel much and didn't know how the whole thing worked. She even said she thought the woman at the front desk could see her packing the car and must have known they were only going to be a few more minutes.

Anyway, by the time I explained it to her, she looked very embarassed. She had apparently been on the internet all weekend bashing the place on every site she could find.

 

[TaraPA]

It's human nature to post negative cmoments & reviews much more often than positive ones. That's all I can guess!

I have zero complaints about The S/D. I'm about to have my 5th & 6th trips there starting on Sat. While I can't say that it's a guarantee that all king rooms have a sleeper sofa, I was under the impression that they all did. We have a king room attached to a Suite for next week & when I called & asked if that king room also had the sleeper sofa I was told that yes, all king rooms have one. So that's what I was told. I can try & confirm this while there & post back.

D grading for the pool area? Seriously? My family has stayed at value, mod & deluxed WDW resorts - and my kids BEG to stay at S/D - and for the pool area. It's their (and my) favorite of all the WDW resorts we've stayed in. It is a lovely area, you won't be disappointed.

Also S/D have customer service that for us, has been far superior to any WDW resort. If you aren't happy with your room for any reason, kindly let them know & they will do everything they can to make it right.

I'm not sure what exactly a "Boardwalk View" is, I've never seen that room category in the past. In my experience there's been Standard, Limited View, Resort View or Epcot Fireworks View (the last 2 categories also offering balconies in some). I've stayed in all categories & have seen The Boardwalk from both Resort View and Epcot Fireworks View.

Have fun!

 

[olive]

I spoke with someone at the Dolphin reservations line today. She explained that not all of the king rooms have sofa beds, though some do. Jungle 1 beware! She was able to check whether there would be any king rooms with sofa beds available for our stay, which leads me to believe they assign the rooms in advance? There were none. I ended up switching to a fireworks view because it was the same price. I gave up the balcony for the fireworks (none left with balconies); hopefully the windows are large!

FYI, she also explained the BW views are for Swan only.

I also requested bed rails for the second bed for our son. This doesn't seem to be a problem.

She also mentioned that she requested a high floor for us (without even being asked) for better view. Very nice!

We have always had positive experiences with the reservations folks there, so I was hoping that was a sign of good service once we check in. We will report back.

The negative unofficial guide reviews remain a mystery to me.

 

[JimmyV]

You will have no problem with light in your room. Indeed, you may find too much light (in the morning). The sun rises directly INTO the windows of the rooms that overlook EPCOT, which is what you have. If you leave your "heavy" drape open even an inch, you will wake up with the roosters!

 

[olive]

I will come prepared! I am one of those odd folks who uses a sleeping mask. Every light can be on in the room and I will be none the wiser. The 3 year old frequently has us up with the roosters, anyway, sunlight or no.

 

[jungle1]

I spoke with someone at the Dolphin reservations line today. She explained that not all of the king rooms have sofa beds, though some do. Jungle 1 beware! She was able to check whether there would be any king rooms with sofa beds available for our stay, which leads me to believe they assign the rooms in advance? There were none. I ended up switching to a fireworks view because it was the same price. I gave up the balcony for the fireworks (none left with balconies); hopefully the windows are large!

Thanks for the heads up. I just called and spoke with someone in reservations. I asked if the king rooms have a sofa bed and was told "They are supposed to..." She then took my name and confirmed I'm reserved in a king with sofa bed.

Got the feeling talking with her that there are at least some without a sofa bed, so it's probably best to call. It does look like they assign rooms in advance, which is interesting, but maybe with the many conventions they need to do it that way.

 

[Pink Mouse Ears]

Are you a Starwoods Preferred member? If not, go on the website and sign up. Its free. Then call and tell the Dolphin to note it on your reservation. We're members and have always gotten upgraded (no guarantees, I know... but lots of other members say the same.) We've booked the cheapest room each time and gotten a balcony with a view each time. Once a DHS (ToT) view and once a BW view (from the Dolphin...so I don't get why she said only the Swan had a BW view )

As for the reviews...last time we were there, the rooms were getting a bit outdated...not sure if they've been redone since. The bathroom area was small and definitely needed updating. But it was clean...and the beds are the best in WDW! So great after a day in the parks. The pool is really nice...don't get the D grade at all. Not overly themed, but has a slide and waterfall.

 

[olive]

Pink Mouse Ears - I think she meant that Boardwalk View as a booking category is only available at the Swan. Too bad, because I think the boardwalk is so pretty! I would enjoy a guaranteed boardwalk view, but I think proximity to counter service is probably better with our son.

And we will get plenty of theming and large bathroom time for the second half of our stay at the Polynesian! I'm sure our son will have a ball at the Dolphin pool, and we are looking forward to being abe to walk to and from Epcot and DHS. We may even walk through Epcot to get to the MK monorail rather than take the buses (We have had some bad bus experiences).

 

[The Hendies]

We had a King Room with a beautiful view of the trash receptacles, loading docks and construction! Did we care? Meh! The location is great for going to EPCOT and DHS, Boardwalk is right out your door, and the dining choices were excellent! We had a great time and kept the drapes closed! Have a great time!