minniemmom
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2002
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- 361
Hi Everyone! Just back from our surprise Christmas Gift trip for DS's! Stayed at AKL, GF, and Dolphin. Any questions? I will be posting a trip report shortly!
Just Back-AKL, GF, Dolphin-any ??'s
- Thread starter minniemmom
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simonmunro
DIS Veteran
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- Apr 30, 2001
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- 715
Could you tell us how you liked the Dolphin in comparison to the others? Would you stay at all three again or limit it to just one hotel next time? I'm kind of interested in how much is involved in splitting a stay between a couple of resorts.
CaliforniaDreaming
#1 Grand Floridian Fan/Expert
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- Jan 27, 2001
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How was the GF? What room were you in?
minniemmom
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2002
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- 361
Sorry this is long, but I need to explain a few things!
simonmunro-the moving wasn't a problem at all! We had Disney transfer our luggage each time and it went smoothly. I wouldn't hesitate to split stays again, and probably will. Sorry to say, we disliked the Dolphin very much, and would never consider staying there again (even though we are SPG Gold members w/Amex). We all felt like it was an "off-property" hotel, with no magic whatsoever. I wasn't expecting a lot. I booked and paid for a CL room, and felt it was way overrated. The CL lounge was so extremely crowded there was a line for breakfast everyday with no seats to be had. I understand it was Christmas holiday and more crowded, but I felt they really couldn't accommodate the number of guests they had booked in CL. We took breakfast back to our room one morning and the dishes sat there for the rest of our stay. Maids never even looked your way when you walked by them, and we left mousekeeping envelopes everyday!
The only good thing I can say about the hotel is the view we had from our room; 17th floor facing the Swan, so we saw Epcot and MGM as well as Pleasure Island, Downtown Disney, etc.
CaliforniaDreaming-GF was wonderful! Full of Disney Magic! We were in Conch Key, room 7314, first room off the elevator (not a problem) This is a very quiet resort. Great view! We could see lagoon, Contemporary, Space Mt. Could hear the MK railroad! What a wonderful resort! DS got the Norwalk virus and the mousekeeping staff was wonderful! They put up a do not disturb sign on our door, brought me extra boxes of tissues, and later that day when he felt well enough to sit outside, they came in and changed everything (bed spreads, etc.) I sprayed Lysol for them before they came in. There was no mess anywhere, they were just efficient enough to clean the room to rid it of germs! We had a wonderful bellman! His name was Doug. When he brought us to our original room on the golf cart, I saw the bldg he was approaching (Boca Chica) and I said, this room's not going to be a dormer room, is it? He said it may be (I forgot to note on my resv. no dormer room). We went to the room (yes, it was a dormer) and he went directly to the phone and called to ask for a better room for us. He was on the phone for about 15 mins, said I'll be right back, came back 10 mins later and said I found you a room I think you'll like. When we arrived at 7314, the maid was still cleaning it and he said what can I do. He went in and vacuumed and hurried her along, and brought us into the most wonderful room! What a view (we booked garden view!). We became fast friends! He said next time we visit GF, call him 2-3 days before and he'll arrange a great room for us. I can't say enough about this man and the level of service you receive at the GF! Thanks for all your help before we left for our trip!
simonmunro-the moving wasn't a problem at all! We had Disney transfer our luggage each time and it went smoothly. I wouldn't hesitate to split stays again, and probably will. Sorry to say, we disliked the Dolphin very much, and would never consider staying there again (even though we are SPG Gold members w/Amex). We all felt like it was an "off-property" hotel, with no magic whatsoever. I wasn't expecting a lot. I booked and paid for a CL room, and felt it was way overrated. The CL lounge was so extremely crowded there was a line for breakfast everyday with no seats to be had. I understand it was Christmas holiday and more crowded, but I felt they really couldn't accommodate the number of guests they had booked in CL. We took breakfast back to our room one morning and the dishes sat there for the rest of our stay. Maids never even looked your way when you walked by them, and we left mousekeeping envelopes everyday!
The only good thing I can say about the hotel is the view we had from our room; 17th floor facing the Swan, so we saw Epcot and MGM as well as Pleasure Island, Downtown Disney, etc.
CaliforniaDreaming-GF was wonderful! Full of Disney Magic! We were in Conch Key, room 7314, first room off the elevator (not a problem) This is a very quiet resort. Great view! We could see lagoon, Contemporary, Space Mt. Could hear the MK railroad! What a wonderful resort! DS got the Norwalk virus and the mousekeeping staff was wonderful! They put up a do not disturb sign on our door, brought me extra boxes of tissues, and later that day when he felt well enough to sit outside, they came in and changed everything (bed spreads, etc.) I sprayed Lysol for them before they came in. There was no mess anywhere, they were just efficient enough to clean the room to rid it of germs! We had a wonderful bellman! His name was Doug. When he brought us to our original room on the golf cart, I saw the bldg he was approaching (Boca Chica) and I said, this room's not going to be a dormer room, is it? He said it may be (I forgot to note on my resv. no dormer room). We went to the room (yes, it was a dormer) and he went directly to the phone and called to ask for a better room for us. He was on the phone for about 15 mins, said I'll be right back, came back 10 mins later and said I found you a room I think you'll like. When we arrived at 7314, the maid was still cleaning it and he said what can I do. He went in and vacuumed and hurried her along, and brought us into the most wonderful room! What a view (we booked garden view!). We became fast friends! He said next time we visit GF, call him 2-3 days before and he'll arrange a great room for us. I can't say enough about this man and the level of service you receive at the GF! Thanks for all your help before we left for our trip!
CaliforniaDreaming
#1 Grand Floridian Fan/Expert
- Joined
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Doug was our bellman one time, too! 
I didn't see him on our last trip, I'm glad to hear he is still at the GF.
I didn't see him on our last trip, I'm glad to hear he is still at the GF.This is not my thread....but may I suggest that if you are doing a split between the WL and the AKL...that you do WL first.....
We did so in reverse....the WL was a big let down after the AKL...
not that the WL isn't beautiful....just didn't compare in our opinion....
We did so in reverse....the WL was a big let down after the AKL...
not that the WL isn't beautiful....just didn't compare in our opinion....
minniemmom
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2002
- Messages
- 361
AKL thoughts: It's a beautiful resort, with a very relaxing feel to it. When we pulled up to the guard house of the resort we said we were checking in and he looked at our reservation, then his list, and welcomed us by name! I felt like we were coming "home"! We used valet parking, although I really don't think it's necessary because the general parking lot is close to the entrance. Busses were never a problem. It is pretty close to route 192. You can see the top of the hotel from that highway. But not a real problem. We could hear sirens one night for quite awhile. We thought they were at the AKL they were so close! Ate at Jikos. Loved the food; great server. I stopped at the Jiko entrance on the way out and said how wonderful our server was and they asked if I would fill out a card, which I was happy to do. Their food court is great, also. Requested turn-down service w/mousekeeping and they never came. No big deal. I could have called again but it wasn't important. Newspapers were delivered daily. Bell staff very attentive. Check-in smooth; not a real long wait. CM checking us in chuckled a little when I requested Zebra Trail, Arusha Savannah. She asked if we had friends that stayed there previously. I guess they get a lot of requests from us knowledgeable Disney guests for this trail! Did not send a fax before arriving asking for specific room requests, but we did request non-smoking, bunk beds on our original resv., and we received both. Our room number was 3321, Kudu Trail, overlooking the Arusha Savannah. I would request to be near a feeding station next time. Lots of animal action there. We did see Ankole Cattle, zebra and some sort of deer we were never able to identify, and I think we saw the legs of giraffe. We were almost to the end of that trail and I didn't think it was too far of a walk. When you're in Disney you do a lot of walking anyway! If I had smaller children I may not have wanted to be that far, though. We did get a towel "creation" one night. I left a mousekeeping envelope and got a thank you note with the "creation". It was a shirt and tie, with a bar (boxed-Mickey) of soap as a tie tack! Very cute! Made my day! Would love to return to this hotel sometime in the future. WL is my favorite resort still, AKL compares favorably.
GF Dormer room-It's a personal preference. Some people think the rooms seem larger because of the vaulted ceilings, but the one we were in did not have a day bed, which I really like. The decks have a very enclosed feeling, which makes them seem really small. There are dividers up on either side of the deck which really close it in. The decks on the other rooms have a bigger, more open feel. Just my opinion. My DS-12 thought I was being too picky when I didn't want the first room we were taken to, but when Doug the bellman opened the door to the room we ended up in, he just went "Wow!". He realized the difference then.
I agree with Jinnyboom. You may want to do the AKL first because it's newer and has that "new", clean, crisp feeling. But the 2 resorts are very similar.
Thanks for the welcome home and Happy New Year greetings! Same to all my fellow disers!
PS-If you were at the GF 12/24-12/29, our room was the one with the lit Christmas tree in the window and the lit cany canes. My husband was out videotaping our windows from the grounds and he heard many people going into Narcoossee's saying, "Wow! They must be staying awhile!". It was a lot of fun surprising DS's with the tree as well as the trip!
Where were all the lime green ribbons? I was looking for them constantly but didn't see one!
GF Dormer room-It's a personal preference. Some people think the rooms seem larger because of the vaulted ceilings, but the one we were in did not have a day bed, which I really like. The decks have a very enclosed feeling, which makes them seem really small. There are dividers up on either side of the deck which really close it in. The decks on the other rooms have a bigger, more open feel. Just my opinion. My DS-12 thought I was being too picky when I didn't want the first room we were taken to, but when Doug the bellman opened the door to the room we ended up in, he just went "Wow!". He realized the difference then.
I agree with Jinnyboom. You may want to do the AKL first because it's newer and has that "new", clean, crisp feeling. But the 2 resorts are very similar.
Thanks for the welcome home and Happy New Year greetings! Same to all my fellow disers!
PS-If you were at the GF 12/24-12/29, our room was the one with the lit Christmas tree in the window and the lit cany canes. My husband was out videotaping our windows from the grounds and he heard many people going into Narcoossee's saying, "Wow! They must be staying awhile!". It was a lot of fun surprising DS's with the tree as well as the trip!
Where were all the lime green ribbons? I was looking for them constantly but didn't see one!
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