Just back from Dolphin Club Level

[dahess]

Just back today. We spent 6 nights at the Dolphin. 2nd trip to WDW & Dolphin. Our room definately needed remodeled. We noticed the 1st 3 floors of the East Wing were being remodeled & almost finished. We would not pay the extra $ for CL again, my kids did not eat hardly anything & it just wasn't worth the extra $60-70.00 we paid, can't remember exactly. We were not greeted by CL hosts/employees when we were using CL, they never even acknowledged us, one employee actually did a huffy at my daughter when she went for some crackers. For 1 day 2 of the elevators were being painted & were shut down. We waited 15 minutes for an elevator 1 time. On our final bill this morning it showed a $10.00 per day for parking $70.00 total. My dh went down & the amt was taken off our bill, no idea what that was about. We may stay there again someday if we could get a great deal again, but would never pay full price. Overall we had a great time! Feel free to ask any questions.

 

[jmcross]

Sorry to hear about your experiences. I am considering staying at the Swan. Do you think things are better there? I know it's been renovated already. Also, can you get help with PS at WDW through the staff there?

 

[dahess]

I wish we would have chosen the Swan over the Dolphin this trip. I am sure the Dolphin will be great again as soon as the construction is done. We swam at the pool everyday & the workrers gutted the rooms & carried garbage, beds, tv's & stuff out to dumpsters that was located in a parking lot that was closest to the pool & we had to dodge the men & garbage a lot. I felt kind of uncomfortable when we were walking by the men who did not speak english & they all said something is spanish & would laugh as we walked by, maybe it was a joke, but I don't think so.

The conciegre will make resies for you. I called 1 time & they got resies for Wispering Canyons for the night & time we wanted.

 

[jmcross]

Thanks for the info!!

 

[Ashley's mom]

I'm so sorry you had a crappy room. I really think getting a good room must be the whole difference in whether you LOVE or SEMI hate the Dolphin. We were there in March 2003 and we had a balcony room (Room 8029) and it had a WONDERFUL view - Epcot Ball ahead, perfect view of Illuminations at night... and we had a wonderful vacation there.....admittedly I had been terrified after being on this website about the fact that the Dolphin was being renovated....meaning obviously it NEEDED renovated....but we were happy there - gee, it sucks your room was crap....that's the thing - you have to get a good rate at the Dolphin to not be ticked off....although with our balcony and the club level food, we were pretty gosh darn happy....oh and the slide at the grotto pool was fun....I think the balcony made a huge difference in our happiness there....no mashing your face against the glass to see the fireworks...and we had our plates of food from the club level lounge munching away in peace while our daughter slept....smooching while watching the fireworks....

Hey, again, so sorry about your experience there....and whack that woman who was mean to your kiddie for snatching extra food....gee it's not like THEY paid for it!

You're right - club level is not worth an extra $60 - but we were STARWOOD GOLD and while we kept our balcony room we just got club level PRIVILEGES as our upgrade and so our food was free......so it was a good deal for us. In my opinion that arrangement is the best idea for the Dolphin. KEEP the BALCONY room with a good view - and don't let them UPGRADE you OUT of the room - and then get club level privileges as your free STARWOOD GOLD upgrade.

Again, sorry...better luck next time.....I still think it's the best deal - very convenient - great pool - not overcrowded - place down there.....We won't stay anywhere else....but I'd insist on my same room - or one nearby....and I wouldn't pay an extra $60 for that club level food....it isn't that great...although Disney food prices are ridiculous and just the price of the free breakfasts and free hordevours/fruit/drinks/etc did add up.....Like you, the concierge seemed pretty busy with managing to keep the food replenished....but I didn't have any trouble making the ressies on my own...

I do look forward to seeing the renovated rooms....

 

[sexydevill]

We got back from Dolphin Club level on June 15 and I did not think it was worth paying the extra 70$ our room was ok but I was very unhappy with the food served. They basically had the same thing every day. After 3 nights we asked to be swithed to a regular room. They would not make ressies for us and told us to go downstairs. I was also very unhappy with the parking, handicapped parking was totally blocked off so they forced you to pay to have them park your handicapped car (by way of tipping them) I will never go back there because of the handicapped parking situation.