Horrible stay at the Dolphin!!!!!

[dreamflight99]

Amberly, I was not attacking you or your experience at the Dolphin. I apologize if you misinterpreted my post. I certainly empathize with you. By emphasizing with quotes, I was merely pointing out features you may have been unaware of, (which possibly could have nixed many of the problems you experienced). I asked about your child, (theme park reference), as your disruptive experiences also negatively affected his stay (I presume). PLEASE, include this reference in your letter to management.

I still believe you should contact Shula's with the date you patronized the establishment. This is a very upscale steakhouse. They should be made aware of "any/all" problems. Send a copy of your bill, and explain the symptoms. Address it to the attention of the Restaurant Manager.

Also, (And I reiterate), please write/send a letter to the Dolphin Resort Manager as well. No one should be this unhappy with a 2-day stay, especially after expending the amount of money you did. I hope you keep us apprised of your progress, and let us know if the Resort/Restaurant responds accordingly.

As for the problems you experienced being associated with a "Non-Disney" resort, or "conference" property, as some others suggested...I just can't buy it. I have read too many complaints on these boards from guests who have patronized ALL the Disney Resorts. It happens to the BEST of us, at the BEST properties. Problems at Disney, or any other resorts are not isolated incidents. They occur to all factions, in all resorts.

 

[kidzmom3]

I think its good to hear about peoples difficulties. It can help us all plan a better vacation for ourselves if we know of a problem someone else experienced. I have only been travelling with my children for 2 years and still feel like an inexperienced traveller. Through these boards I feel that I am getting a little savier and a not so niave. Thanks to everyone for sharing, good and bad stories.

 

[DeeP]

I have to agree with Vderon.....you can not say a single negative word about Swan/Dolphin here without getting attacked. It is so silly because although Swan/Dolphin are nice hotels they are far from perfect. I have often wondered if Swan/Dolphin would continue to have such a cheerleading section if they discontinued the discounted rates that they offer. I do not recall a great fondness/cheerleading section etc for these hotels until they did start offering discounts. Until the discounts started for Swan/Dolphin these resorts were very rarely mentioned on this board! Don't get me wrong, I like the location of Swan/Dolphin and the discounts are great but let's not make them out to be holier than thou! I too would have been very upset with the treatment that Amberly received during her stay, this is not the kind of treatment a customer in a deluxe hotel should ever receive. What happened to basic customer service, let alone superior customer service that one should receive from a 4 or 5 star hotel! I spend a minimum of 30 days per year at WDW resorts and have never received such sub standard customer service at any of the WDW resorts as Amberly did at the Dolphin and I have certainly never paid as much for a single long distance phone call and I call long distance from my WDW resort at least once a day!

 

[Amberly303]

Thanks guys for your understanding on how my family, and I felt.
And yes i was attacked by a few people( names i wont point out.......just go back and read the first few posts). But i know if they had such a bad experience they would be posting about it as I did.
As for the phone bill, i did question that. After i left the hotel , i was furious about the charge. So I called back to the hotel and asked about this. They said that was the charge for 3 calls. So i asked for the numbers and how many minutes . The first 2 were for 1 minute, and the 3rd was for 4 minutes. Now that i think about it I WILL be calling there tomorrow and will question them about this again.
As for the Dolphin,yes i do believe it has gone down hill drastically. I was there 2 yrs ago and it was wonderful........no complaints at all. But this time.........big difference.
Im just so glad ........some of you can understand the way i feel. I felt very attacked after I first posted. But like i said before I just wanted to share what happened so no one else has to have a ruined stay at such a expensive hotel............make sure you ask alot of questions before you book with a hotel.
And, as for the money we spent, that was for everything ..........the room, food, gifts, game room,etc.

 

[jaguar9748]

I'm with Jon - we've had some problems at Disney resorts, but the company has always "gone the distance" to make it better for us. One trip we had a housekeeping supervisor at Coronado Springs threaten to evict us - turns out he had the wrong room. Disney gave us a free 2-night stay at Coronado this past fall. In the fall, CRO cancelled our Christmas reservation at WLV because they stated they did not receive our deposit. They recognized their error and made it right for us - at the same resort, at the same price at the same time. We've had so many wonderful CM's help us celebrate birthdays, graduations, and so on throughout the years. Even with the cutbacks after 9/11, Disney still gets an A in customer service. Amberley - definitely call the Dolphin and talk to the general manager personally and be sure to notify Starwood as well. I guarantee you that they do not want unhappy customers - especially since you are a repeat customer.

 

[raidermatt]

Just curious, how did you end up with a $250 bill at Shula's, with two adults and a child? We plan to eat there on our upcoming trip, and I know its expensive, but $250 seems pretty steep? Hopefully, that included tip? Did you have wine and/or cocktails?

Thanks...

We also learned about hotel phone charges the hard way. I think it was a Westin where we were charged a similar rate to yours (both are Starwood...).

But otherwise, we've received good service at Starwoods, though we've never stayed at the Swan or Dolphin.

 

[Amberly303]

lol! Yes it did include the tip. We got the $80.00 Lobster. A steak dinner(i forget what cut of steak), salads, and 2 appetizers. Also my husband had 4 beers, and 2 vegetables.
Good Luck on your stay, and have fun.

 

[Tinkbell]

Sorry to hear that you did not enjoy your stay. I hope you can gain some satisfaction from contacting managers, etc. Good luck to you and thanks for making us aware of possible problems.

 

[smjj]

When you use a pre-paid phone card, you still are using their phone aren't you. How do you excape their surcharges while using a phone card? Do you ask for an outside line or use a pay phone??smjj

 

[Dizpro]

Holy cow!!!! I had no idea there were restaurants at WDW that steep(except Victoria's and Albert's)

Stilll...........I keep hearing how the rooms at Swan/Dolphin are discounted...so if you have one meal at $250...a couple others for $50-100 ,drop a $100 at the game room...I'm still confused how you can spend $1700 for 2 nights there?

(The menu I found listed for Shulas' has entres in the $18-$32 range with a 48 oz Porterhouse Steak for $65-I guess for a family of 4 to chow down on )

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by smjj
When you use a pre-paid phone card, you still are using their phone aren't you. How do you excape their surcharges while using a phone card? Do you ask for an outside line or use a pay phone??smjj

Hi smjj,

My experiance with phone cards has been this.

Most hotels charge you a fee just to use the phone. Example .75 or $1.00. They then also charge you for the call. Usually outrageous rates.

If you use a phone card you just pay the .75 or $1.00 fee because the phone cards usually have a 1-800 that you are calling.

Just be carefully to confirm what the fee is because is can vary greatly from hotel to hotel. I know the AKL was .75 back in Sept of 2001.

 

[Amberly303]

Yes it was $80.00 for the Lobster..........it was huge! 4-5 pds I think. As for my room being discounted it wasnt. ALso, trust me, it's not hard to drop that much money when i have a husband, and son like mine.......lol
We spent alot of money in the gift shops to bring back gifts for family members .

 

[Amberly303]

Dizpro..........just to let you know. When you order a steak thats all you get. You pay for all your side separately. I thought that was sorta strange but thats how this Restaurant works. I just thought i would let you know so you have no surprises.

 

[Dizpro]

Appetizers,salads,veggies,and desserts are all priced seperately..and seem to be in the $4-$7 range EACH!

 

[seashoreCM]

If you have stomach cramps you should fast for awhile, namely until the cramps are completely gone plus four more hours. One long illness and a Disney meal plan loses its value, also you can never get your money's worth out of a Disney meal plan without great danger of putting on unwanted weight.

Find out how much anything (phones, room service, etc.) costs before trying to use it.

If you felt that the service at the hotel was that bad and amenities shortchanged that much, you should have asked to be comped (have made complimentary) the phone calls, and more. Write a letter describing the events and naming what you feel is a fair reduction of the total folio amount after the fact.

Heads up for the next time resorts are shut down and people are re-assigned, last time (late 2001) people were being herded to Coronado Springs which is a convention hotel. You are still entitled to the same rate as you had booked originally so you have to accept their choice of resort for this, but once you get there and the service is lacking, start asking for comps here and there during your stay, or after several mishaps, ask for a transfer to an equal or better hotel for the same rate.

Extra fastpasses (when given out by a hotel they are called something else I don't remember) if available at that hotel are an excellent alternative to a comp to ask for, and don't cost the hotel anything. Win win.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm
9/65 Disneyland
3/75 (World Inn* off I4 near DD)
4/85 (Kon-Tiki* on 192)
'80s Disneyland once or twice
7/94 POR
9/97 ASMu
11/98 ASMu
12/98 (Knights Inn on 192)
9/99 ASMo
12/00 ASSp
9/01 ASSp
11/01 ASSp
*no longer exists

 

[Jen80370]

Great advice seashorecm!

 

[Amberly303]

Dizpro.......yes they r separate and thats what the range is. So now you know why my bill was so high. We got asparagus, potatoes,salads. And also got stone crab claws.......which constisted of 2(not that big i must add also) which were around $20.00, and bacon&basil wrapped shrimp (i think 4 of them) and i think they were right around $30.00. And of course our main meal we order. But all of it adds up quickly.
Just incase your not aware of it. They do give you a few seconds to look at the menu, then they will come back with a table they roll over to your table and go through a speech on the different cuts of meat you can order.This is basically how you order is from looking at the meat they show you. They even show the vegetables u may order. At this time no prices are announced and its too embarrassing to say" oh, by the way what is the price of that"lol. I know me and my husband were. But just make sure in that short time span they do let you see the menu that you do study those prices very hard.........lol
Good Luck!!!

 

[fargas]

wow, thats alot of food for two adults and a child. No wonder you had cramps.

 

[fargas]

I'm sorry, that came out wrong, what I meant to say was thats alot of money for two adults and a child. That amount would give me cramps.

 

[fargas]

it should include tickets to a Dolphins game, Mr. Shula.