No Flames pls but did not like Dolphin Resort

[dizprincess27]

Hello everyone,

I just got back yesterday from a wonderful trip to WDW and we stayed @ the Dolphin for 5 nights and ASM for 1 night. I could definitely tell that the Dolphin wasn't Disney owed and operated. It's a subtle difference but there nonetheless. The hotel is very large and has a cold feeling to it IMO. Everytime we went through the lobby to catch the boat to MGM or Epcot there was a convention going on and the area was full of drinking patrons at the bar which is right in front of the escalator. We could have taken an elevator on the West side perhaps but this was the easiest route from the East side which is where we were or so we thought anyway. It was very difficult to navigate though the resort to be honest. Also, we got back to our room @ 3:30 one day and housekeeping had not been in our room so we had no clean towels to shower with and were told by staff that the housekeeper was on her lunch break

I would probably not opt to stay @ the Dolphin or Swan again as I really missed the warm Disney feeling.

 

[lttlmc3]

Just a quick question....Did you have children with you? If so, do you think your opinion would be different if you didn't? What if it was just a relaxed trip with you and your husband?

 

[jarestel]

I would probably not opt to stay @ the Dolphin or Swan again as I really missed the warm Disney feeling.

You tried it (Dolphin) and didn't like it. There's nothing wrong with not liking something. Better luck next time!

 

[diskids2]

First thank you for posting your opinion and no flames here!

We will be staying at the Dolphin soon, so I'm wondering if there was anything else that you didn't like?

 

[leanan]

No hotel will agree with everyone. Personally I think you are right that Disney does the little touches better than anyone else. It is a different mind set to me.
When at Disney I like the Disney touch.

 

[dizprincess27]

lttlmc3 I had my 14 yo dd with me so she's not little but yes I would feel the same way with or without kids. I guess it's because I'm a kid at heart but it was the first time ever I felt like I was intruding on a business meeting during a disney vacation.

diskids2 - yes we didn't care for picabu too much. The prices were high and the food was cafeteria style not food court style like most of the disney resorts offer. My dd hated the food there except for the chicken tenders but how many of them can you eat? I had the loaded nachos which were good. They have a great buffalo chicken salad with ranch dressing over @ the Fountain though and it looked like some good ice cream sundaes although I never got one unfortunately. The disney store is at the back of the resort on the West side I believe so it wasn't right there like I'm used to either. The rooms were fine I suppose but again I've seen better. The beds were heavenly so that is a good thing. Oh and the pool slide wasn't all that great according to dd and her cousin but we never used the pool and only went into the hot tub once. The staff was cold and indifferent a bit too. I will let you know if I can think of anything else.

 

[diskids2]

Ok thanks...yes let me know if you can think of anything else.

 

[melomouse]

No flames here - I'm the nutsy one who checked into Yacht Club and asked to be switched to Wilderness Lodge after three days because the "feel" was less than magical for me, though therer was nothing wrong with the resort!

And YC IS Disney! We stopped at S/D on the boat those three days and wondered what it might be like! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

My DIS friends were so supportive, too. We all have differents needs and expectations. Sometimes you do get the feeling here, tho, that folks get defensive about everywhere they stay and expect every person on earth to feel the same. Not true! That's why there's sooo many choices!

 

[Carol D]

Having to pay for parking ($10.00 per day) isn't magical either.

 

[eliza61]

No flames here either. I say it all the time, the one thing I like about Disney is that they have a wide variety of resorts to suit different likes

 

[RSoxFan]

No flames from me either. We stayed at the Dolphin for a long weekend last year, and we didn't really like it either. We didn't hate it, but we wouldn't stay there again. It just didn't "feel like Disney."

 

[Blondie]

One of the things that makes staying onsite at WDW so great is that there is something for everyone!

I'm the opposite of you. I like the S/D for not being Disney'd out. Does that make sense? After being in the parks all day long and most of the evening, it's nice to return to some normalcy. I don't need Mickey and Minnie when I turn every corner. But that's just me.

I'm sorry you didn't care for it, all the more reason to start planning your return trip! Have you tried the Wilderness Lodge yet? Aside from the S/D, it's my favorite, even over the Polynesian.

 

[fairycat]

DH stayed there for work about a year ago and didn't like it at all. He felt it was overpriced and trying to be something it couldn't be. It definetly made it easier the choice easier to go with the Poly.

 

[sherry8253]

No flames here. People go googa over Poly and GF and neither impressed me. I love AKL and yes I love the Swan and Dolphin. But it would be a very dull world if everyone liked the same things. Sorry you didn't feel the Disney magic.

 

[starbaby0103]

sorry you didn't enjoy your stay at the dolphin.....i love the swan! it's the only deluxe i'll ever stay at! i just love the westin's heavenly beds!

as far as dining, we really enjoyed shula's, the dophin fountain, & (what used to be) Tubby's! although i definately understand what you mean by it feeling "cold"....i agree! i think that's part of the reason why i prefer the swan...i think it has a better feel to it since it's much smaller and lacks all those conference rooms!

 

[RacingPrincess]

Thanks for the post , no flames here

 

[travelbug]

No flames here either. I'm sorry you didn't care for the Dolphin, but I'm glad you had a wonderful time anyway. Thanks for posting.

 

[lake queen]

Guess WHat? I'm still excited to stay at the Dolphin. DH has a convention, so we get to stay 4 nights for free!!!!


S0 I don't really care if its not quite the same as the other Dis. resorts===


We still get to go to the best place on earth!!!!!

 

[HGLightlyj]

I used to stay at the Dolphin before I joined DVC because of the location. I could usually get a better rate there than YC, BC or BW. I enjoy the restaurants at the Dolphin and still make a special trip to eat at Fresh. I enjoy the Fountain atmosphere and food more than Beaches and Cream. Dolphin is not Disney but still nice and convenient.

 

[dizprincess27]

Thank you all for the kind replies and I agree that not every hotel is for everyone Disney owned or not. I have thus far stayed @ Riverside, CSR, Poly, Pop, ASM and Dolphin and they have all offered something a bit different. I would love to try the WL or AKL next time to be honest as they look so homey although I think it's a tie between the Poly and CSR that my dd loves the best. We really did enjoy our stay there and Riverside was also quite nice heck they all were lol. The values are so cute and very Disney but the bus service is more crowded I think. Thanks again and I posted a dining review as well if you guys wanna check out our thoughts on the food. We were not on the dining plan however. Now I'm planning for my dd's sweet 16 trip and we are doing 3 or 4 nights in the park and a 7 night cruise YAY!!!