Just Back from the Dolphin!

[tddalton]

Ok, I'm thrilled.

We arrived on NYE, and we were initially irritated because our room wasn't ready until almost 5:00. Turns out we had an AWESOME view of the fireworks, and they were waiting for us to get "the good room." Yay!

The cribs were fine - better than pack-n-plays for sure. The room was big enough that we didn't feel like we were sardined in there. It was awesome.

There was a HUGE religious convention down there at the same time as our stay. It was obvious that the staff was often a little stressed, but they hid it well and kept on offering great service to us whenever asked.

We lost our cell phone charger. They lent us one from their stash. We had tons of garbage and needed lots of extra towels. No problem!

It was really a great vacation, and I actually am thinking that I might contact Starwood to compliment them. (I'm not a person who normally does stuff like that)

Thanks for the recommendations, everyone. I'm now a Dolphin convert!

Denise

 

[jimmiej]

Glad you enjoyed the Dolphin. We have ressies there for June. I'm looking forward to it.

 

[Mouseteacher]

I'm glad you had a magical stay. I am S/D convert - it happened 3 years ago! After our first Dolphin stay, I was so impressed I e mailed a compliment letter to the Dolphin. I have never done that before, either. But, that is how impressed I was!

 

[mep319]

Where else have you stayed at WDW? Did you like it better than the other on sites places you have stay? How did it compare?

 

[jjskribs]

tddalton...

If you don't mind my asking were you able to get a discount room rate for NYE? Did you book through DreamsUnlimited or directly through Starwood? Thanks so much for the info.. also.... how early did you book to get a room for NYE?

 

[Connears]

We spent 12/28-1/02/04 at the swan and loved it! Also had a front view of MGM fireworks from our room(returned at 11:30pm NYE to beat the crowds) and also Epcot fireworks at the side. Loved the resort and its convenience. We are DVC members and stay at OKW, BCV and BWV and I was not disappointed at all..it was a real treat(we were on club level). I got teachers rate of $214 for CL (regular room for that time using teacher rate was $149). We rented our dvc points for the first time ever and enjoyed the Swan. I know we could not have gotten any other WDW discount at that time because our check-in was after 12/24. We are starwood members and tried for suite upgrade but none were available. Back to OKW next time, but love the Swan(and the Dolphin restaurants).
Connears

 

[airhead]

Mouseteacher,(if you read this) you were a big help and influence when I was just starting to make my room ressies. It was your enthusiasm that convinced me that the Dolphin was a great place to stay,especially with the teacher's discount. I'm so
wicked excited about my summer trip!


airhead

 

[01Sweetpea]

We're headed to the Dolphin in 50 days!!! I was getting a little nervous with all the posts about the S/D not living up to expectations, but now I'm more relaxed.

If you don't mind me asking, which fireworks were you able to see, what type of room did you have, and were you given an upgrade?

Thanks!

 

[#1hockeymom]

Glad to hear about your wonderful vacation! Please email the Dolphin, Starwood or both to tell them your praises. I know they'll appreciate it. I did the exact same thing after my first trip to the Swan! I had never written a glowing letter to a hotel before that visit!

Debbie

 

[dreamflight99]

Welcome... Dolpin Convert! It's always nice to read such a great post, where everything went as it should, and everyone enjoyed the great service/accomodations which are usually always synonymous with SWAN/DOLPHIN. Thanks for your sincere post.

DF99

 

[tddalton]

Yes, we booked through Dreams Unlimited, and we had the good rate for the whole time. We booked back in July, I don't know if that mattered. Oh, and we were able to get two rooms at the $129 rate, too. Cool.

I don't know if our room was considered to be an upgrade, but I think it was. I emailed and explained the whole "twins, we need to be inside early" thing, but I had never received a response. I don't know if that factored in at all. When we checked in, my husband asked about an upgrade, and they said that they couldn't for NYE, but they could check later in the stay and see if anything better opened up. We were so happy that we never asked about it.

We saw the fireworks from Fantasmic, but obviously we couldn't see the show. We saw Illuminations, and we could even see the globe when it opened and everything. From the hallway, we could see Wishes, but it wasn't close enough to really see much.

What other questions were there? Oh, we've stayed at Poly, WL, Beach Club, Port Orleans/Dixie Landings, All Star Sports, and Contemporary (a long, long time ago!). I would rank it up there with the best. Dixie had been my favorite based on the whole cost factor, but the Dolphin beats it hands down.

Were it not for the teacher discount, we'd be Dixie people until death. But, for this rate and these amenities, I'll never stay anywhere else!

(But now I heard that Pop offers adjoining rooms that have one with a king and one with two doubles for kids!)

Again, loved it. Can't say enough about it!

Denise

 

[Mercy]

Denise, I'm glad you had such a good time at the Dolphin. I too love this hotel, I think it is beautiful and in the best possible location!! I bet you got a great rate too!! I really don't understand those that say that it lacks "Disney magic".... my gosh you are in a fabulous hotel, plopped smack dab in the middle of all the magic, what more could one want!!! Ok, so there is no Mickey soap.... gee... so buy a bar or bring one with ya!!

Sorry to ramble, but there was another thread where the writer was saying how the Dolphin/Swan lacked disney magic.... I'm sorry I just don't get it.... I personally think part of it is mind over matter. People know it isn't owned by Disney, so therefore it lacks the "magic." Or maybe it's because they didn't pay $300 a night for their room! So what, if Disney up and bought the S/D and stuck their Disney logo on the hotel... would that change everything suddenly?

OK, stepping off soap box now

 

[NHAnn]

Originally posted by tddalton
we were initially irritated because our room wasn't ready until almost 5:00. Turns out we had an AWESOME view of the fireworks, and they were waiting for us to get "the good room." Yay!
Denise

We had this type of experience too...getting in mid-afternoon and not having the room ready til after 4...but WELL worth the wait for an awesome view
Glad you enjoyed your stay!

 

[mep319]

Thanx Denise...I'm feeling a bit more relaxed about our trip...I was getting a bit nervous. Glad you had a great time!

 

[disney ready]

We will be there Feb 21st - 28th and we have 3 rooms booked. I requested joining rooms. Anyone familiar with these rooms? I booked the nurse discount for 129 a night. Total for 7 nights $3200. Such a great rate for such a great location. We are all soooo excited. The inlaws and my mom and sister are going to be there with us. I was incharge of all the tickets and reservations, therefore all the presure is on. I just hope everyone is pleased with the dolphin.

 

[tddalton]

Hi,
We also had adjoining rooms, but I think they only link two together.
If you are the type to ask, request room 18-093 and 18-095. Those were our adjoining rooms, and they were fabulous.
Denise