allicat1214
CajunDisneyMom
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2001
- Messages
- 160
Hello,
We just returned from a 5-day stay at the Dolphin. We had an incredible view from our room -- a balcony overlooking the Boardwalk and Epcot. We could see Illuminations every night.
We arrived at 9:30 or 10 on a Sunday morning, and the reservations agent was going to give us a room that was ready -- 8081. But I asked if it had a view of Epcot and he said no the other lake. I said we didn't need the room right then that we were going into the parks. I sweetly requested room 8029, which I read about from someone else on these boards) and got it for later that afternoon! It pays to speak up at check-in!! I had even requested all of that in an email and in reservations, but when there are a lot of folks there it looks like they are just trying to get you in.
We did have a renovated room. There wasn't a pineapple in sight!! The beds were quite comfy, but had feather pillows. I requested all foam pillows and got them within an hour! I also asked when we arrived later in the day about a refrigerator. A different front desk employee said that if I emptied the mini-bar myself, I could use it and would pay nothing. So that's what we did! It fit my daughter's special milk, several drink cans, and cheese sticks for snacks in the park. That alone will save you the $12/nite fridge rental fee or the one time $20 charge for housekeeping to empty the mini-bar for you.
Also, despite what their website says, they do not offer anything special for Striaght A report cards. I brought that with me and they said they didn't do that anymore. However, the guy at the front desk, stamped the kids "passport" full and they received a free ice-cream (with sprinkles no charge) at the Dolphin Fountain!
There was a convention going on while we were there, but we didn't let that bother us. It was a little crowded in the lobby at times with the conventioneers but they didn't crowd the bus or boat waiting locations nor the pool. We were pretty much the only family there. That was kind of enjoyable!!
My two kids -- 12 & 8 -- enjoyed the pools, Tubbis, and the Dolphin Fountain ice cream parlor. We walked from Epcot once, then took the boat the rest of the time to both Epcot & MGM. We walked to Boardwalk and really enjoyed that. (My hubby and son LOVED the ESPN club!) We never waited more than 15 minutes for a boat or a bus!
All in all we had a great time and will definitely go back to Dolphin and/or Swan again. My hubby is a fed. govt. employee, so we had a great rate and are Gold SPG members. As long as that continues, I can't see us staying anywhere else!
If you have any questions, ask away!!
We just returned from a 5-day stay at the Dolphin. We had an incredible view from our room -- a balcony overlooking the Boardwalk and Epcot. We could see Illuminations every night.
We arrived at 9:30 or 10 on a Sunday morning, and the reservations agent was going to give us a room that was ready -- 8081. But I asked if it had a view of Epcot and he said no the other lake. I said we didn't need the room right then that we were going into the parks. I sweetly requested room 8029, which I read about from someone else on these boards) and got it for later that afternoon! It pays to speak up at check-in!! I had even requested all of that in an email and in reservations, but when there are a lot of folks there it looks like they are just trying to get you in.
We did have a renovated room. There wasn't a pineapple in sight!! The beds were quite comfy, but had feather pillows. I requested all foam pillows and got them within an hour! I also asked when we arrived later in the day about a refrigerator. A different front desk employee said that if I emptied the mini-bar myself, I could use it and would pay nothing. So that's what we did! It fit my daughter's special milk, several drink cans, and cheese sticks for snacks in the park. That alone will save you the $12/nite fridge rental fee or the one time $20 charge for housekeeping to empty the mini-bar for you.
Also, despite what their website says, they do not offer anything special for Striaght A report cards. I brought that with me and they said they didn't do that anymore. However, the guy at the front desk, stamped the kids "passport" full and they received a free ice-cream (with sprinkles no charge) at the Dolphin Fountain!
There was a convention going on while we were there, but we didn't let that bother us. It was a little crowded in the lobby at times with the conventioneers but they didn't crowd the bus or boat waiting locations nor the pool. We were pretty much the only family there. That was kind of enjoyable!!
My two kids -- 12 & 8 -- enjoyed the pools, Tubbis, and the Dolphin Fountain ice cream parlor. We walked from Epcot once, then took the boat the rest of the time to both Epcot & MGM. We walked to Boardwalk and really enjoyed that. (My hubby and son LOVED the ESPN club!) We never waited more than 15 minutes for a boat or a bus!
All in all we had a great time and will definitely go back to Dolphin and/or Swan again. My hubby is a fed. govt. employee, so we had a great rate and are Gold SPG members. As long as that continues, I can't see us staying anywhere else!
If you have any questions, ask away!!
