Dolphin questions . . .

[MrsPete]

After several weeks of reading, I have chosen THE DOLPHIN for our next Disney vacation. We want to stay in the Epcot area and I'm a teacher, so it was a natural choice. I really liked the YC/BC, but I can't justify the price difference.

I have a couple questions -- can anyone here answer them? Thanks in advance.

1. We would love-love-love to have one of the double-balcony end rooms, but we are a family of four. Is there any such thing as an end room with two doubles? If not, is it possible to reserve a connecting standard room for the kids?

2. Everyone seems to toss around the prices for standard rooms -- how much would this double-balcony room run (with a teacher discount)?

3. We have the SPG card, and my husband is trying to build up some points through at-work travel, but he doesn't travel too often. Is there a website or something where we can see what our piddly little points will get us?

4. How does the Grotto pool compare to Storm-along Bay? Does the Grotto pool have a slide? This is a very big deal to my two girls.

5. I understand that the Grotto pool may be closed for conventions some evenings. How often does this tend to happen? When it does happen, the lap pools are still open to other guests -- right?

6. We might be interested in adding on Club Level privledges (though we want to stay in a room with a balcony -- very big deal for DH). Much of what I've read about the Dolphin's Club level food, however, isnt' all that great. We're most interested in breakfast and drinks throughout the day. Should we do it or not? How much are we looking at spending per day to add Club privledges?

7. The Dolphin doesn't rent water mice, does it? My oldest is very much looking forward to piloting one herself. Can we walk over to the YC/BC and rent there? Do they have an all-week family plan similar to the one at Wilderness Lodge (which is all-you-want-to-drive for $200/week/family)? I think it might save us money.

8. Anything else we should know before we take the plunge?

Thanks in advance!

 

[judirain]

As for question # 3. You can find out about redeeming points on spg.com. I believe 1000 pts per night will get you club level and 1500 points upgrades the view. Its is 10,000 points for a free night or an upgrade to a suite. I have been told that you do not have to be on the club floor to get club privleges so you can have your balcony room and also get access to club.
Hope this helps you some.

 

[LoriZH]

I may be able to answer one or two...

Grotto Pool Rocks! It is not as big as Stormalong, but it does have a great slide, a bridge and a waterfall. It also has poolside service, GREAT FEATURE! As far as closing it, I was there for 6 nights in August and they had conventions left and right (a journalist one as I recall) they had private parties but they never had one by the pool, so most likely you'll luck out. Okay as far as Club Level, well, we stayed Contemporary Club Level and was a bit spoiled. Although the club level at the Dolphin was okay (missed some of the good pastries and they didn't have a HUGE selection of items) I personally didn't think it was worth the extra money (I did think so at the Contemporary) If you are interested in a limited amount of cereal, bread and pastry choices with juice and hot drinks then this is for you, I preferred the fresh fruit and the large selection of breads and pastries at the Contemporary. The Dolphin Club Level as I recall did have better afternoon selection (but we didn't get to take advantage of that too much) and plenty of warm drinks (there were no cold drinks when we would go, you needed cups with ice). So, I guess my answer to the Club Level would be in my case, no it was not worth the extra money.

Otherwise, the hotel was beautiful, the views spectacular, the bus service and boat service EXCELLENT, the pool and the staff WONDERFUL but housekeeping could have been better all in all I wouldn't hesitate to stay there again!

 

[jwfla422]

As far as getting a room on the end with the two balconies, that probably just depends on availability or if you'd be willing to pay for it. Not sure how much more it is.

When were there in December we got one however it only had the end balcony (torret balcony?) and not the balcony with the slider, so they are limited. But, it was an awesome room. The room next to it had a balcony and there was no connecting doors. (this was one of the reasons they gave me this room because I didn't want a connecting door). I don't know if the other rooms on the end of the wings have connecting doors or not. But, I'm sure the rooms next to them would probably not be standard rooms because they all have unobstructed views (whether of EPCOT or a resort/lake view). Many do have balconies.

The Dolphin doesn't have water mice, they have paddle boats. But, you can rent the water mice at the YC/BC. I don't know what kind of package deals they have. You may be able to call the YC or BC direct to find out.

The Dolphin is a great hotel, one of our very favorite. We usually stay in the S/D and occasionally alternate with the WL. We go to WDW a few times a year since we're AP holders and FL residents.

One thing I would recommend is if you can't get the double balcony see if you can get a room in the west wing. We stayed in the east wing the last time and the west wings 2x prior. I prefer the west wings (there are 2 east and 2 west wings) because it's a much quicker walk to the elevators plus you can take the elevator right down to Tubbi's without having to walk through half the hotel. The pool is also much closer to the west wings.

 

[Ashley's mom]

We stayed at the Dolphin in March. We followed the directions here on the board and enrolled with Starwood. I highly suggest that you sign up for the Starwood AMerican Express card. It is a card that you will certainly want to pay off every month - but it racks up the Starwood points. With the Starwood AM Express card your Starwood status is increased - I believe technically you are just upgraded to Preferred or something - BUT many people have called in and been upgraded to GOLD status with Starwood...so I'd attempt to if I were you. You are more likely to be upgraded and get a better view. Irregardless, as a Starwood member - and even with the Am Express Preferred status, you'll be ahead of alot of people....plus you'll be asking for a nice view. Alot of people at Dolphin are business men who don't care about a view of the Epcot ball....

I HIGHLY recommend the balcony rooms. WE were in Room 8029. I don't know what your financial situation is - and maybe you want to pay for an extra room - or how big your kids are - but I think the room is fine for 2 adults and 2 kids. I particularly liked being able to go out onto the balcony after my daughter went to bed at night. She's too young for us to leave her alone and so heck - we're on vacation - we need a little privacy once in a while or we get cranky...well, my husband sure does - so going out on the balcony is great....romantic, in fact....Is that the east or west wing - I don't know....but the view straight ahead was the big Epcot ball (how much more Disney a view is there?) - with a perfect view of the Illuminations fireworks, a look over to the left to see the boardwalk area - to the left you see Yacht/Beachclub...It is a room with 2 beds...we could have had the king room we originally reserved, but THIS room had the view we wanted. It was the Disney trip we dreamed of.....I'd been anxious that my husband would have a cow over a less than 5 star accomodation - since renovations are in the works - but frankly, I was completely satisfied with our room. The rooms are good sized....but the balcony with that Florida breeze and sunshine - drinking coffee out on the balcony, watching the fireworks out there at night and not having to smash my face against the glass like everyone else.....Oh, I loved the balcony. MAKE SURE MAKE SURE MAKE SURE they don't "upgrade" you out of your balcony. They DID try to upgrade us to club level - and the food up there is fine - not gourmet by any means - but it sure saved us alot of money on breakfasts and snacks.....and since we were STARWOOD GOLD STATUS we got to keep our balcony room AND have club level status so we could go eat in the club level - and yet KEEP our balcony which in my opinion is the best of all worlds. Even with just Starwood Am Express preferred status I'd still book the balcony room and then upon checkin maybe you'll get club privileges (I heard that was impossible, but when we got to the Dolphin they did it for us without us even asking) - and if you don't, I'd thank them for my balcony room (ASK FOR ROOM 8029 - it "only" has one balcony but it's the VIEW you want!) and ask if they'll give you those club level privs. I think your credit card application is your next important move to make - and then call to get your Starwood status upgraded..VERY IMPORTANT.

The Grotto pool is great. I personally like to relax on vacation. My husband and I don't like to feel overrun with screaming, crying kids knocking over my glass by the deck chair and splattering me with water running by so close to me....what can I say - I NEED MY VACATION.....that's the great thing about the Dolphin...its a businessmen type place...in a way - and I think it cuts down on the pool traffic. I DO have a child - and they are obviously allowed - and there WERE other kids there - it just wasn't crazy wild there. I highly recommend the slide at the Grotto pool. Not just for the kids either. My daughter NAGGED me into going down it - and my stuffy self finally gave in and I had the biggest time playing with her going down that slide. My husband was rather taken back by how much I enjoyed it. Stop by the towel distribution thing by the pool and put the life jackets on any little kiddies and then go up and down that slide til they pass out. It's great....and I was thrilled that it was so safe. You have to check it out. You'll feel comfortable about it. I'm pretty paranoid and I was fine with it. I ended up tiring out before her and I parked a lawn chair by the base of the steps and so there was a life guard at the top of the slide, at the bottom and me right in between.

ONE TIP: lay on your back going down with your arms straight over your head by your ears and FLY down that slide. It's too fun! (I'm 35....)

hmmm what else did you ask? You're making the right decision staying at the Dolphin...you get a great teacher discount - just call and ask reservations - and keep calling back afterward to see if you can improve your rate - my rate improved $32/ni 2 days before our trip....you can check AAA rate, Entertainment book rate - but I imagine the teacher rate beats them all......

Again, ask for room 8029. If you have any questions, feel free to IM me....I might not find this post again....

 

[MrsPete]

Lori -- Thanks for the info on the pool slide. As I said, we'll be spending quite a bit of time at the pool and the slide is a huge deal to my daughters.

JWFLA -- I understand that some of the end-rooms have one balcony and some have two, but I don't understand about not having a "slider." Does that mean you had a balcony but no door to reach it? You did have just one king-sized bed, right?

Sorry, I forgot the last poster's name -- Sounds like you loved room 8029! I will look into the credit card, but we already have a Discover that gives us cash back, so I'll have to see which is the better deal for us.

Was 8029 an end room with the extra-big balcony, or was it a plain balcony room? We really want the extra-big end room balcony AND two beds. I'm thinking we can't have both. Of course, a plain balcony room sounds fine -- we're just trying to figure out how to get the best possible room!

Thank you all for your help!