No More Dolphin for us

[PAcpl]

We also had a shabby room and appalling service on our last stay at the Dolphin, about a year ago. We never got ANY housekeeping despite calling repeatedly (and no, we didn't have a "do not disturb" sign out). We begged for coffee because they didn't supply any in the room, and they sent decaf only. We couldn't get ANY response from management. We finally just wrote them off and won't ever return.

Thats funny. We only stayed at the Dolphin once and it was only for about 6 hours so I cant really judge. But DW was happy to find Starbucks in the room and then was quickly disappointed that it was all decaf. What hotel only has decaf coffee in the room? Just thought it was odd, but we thought the hotel and room was very nice.

 

[Buzzandthemermaid]

Sorry, finger slipped on celly, just reading.

 

[TinkerwithDis]

So youre upset because a few light bulbs were missing and the paint/patch on the back of the door didnt match? Am i reading this correctly?


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[kaligal]

I am truly sorry to read this.

I've had more than my share of problems with WDW hotels...finding other people's stuff, half-eaten food, excrement and filth in the rooms. Sometimes it's been taken care of, sometimes not.

But I've never had any problems at the Dolphin. I cant believe you couldn't get water! I almost never complain about anything, but I'd charge back their stupid resort fee if that happened to me.

I hope this is an isolated incident. I doubt it, but I hope so.

If the Dolphin sinks, that will super suck.

 

[kathie859]

So youre upset because a few light bulbs were missing and the paint/patch on the back of the door didnt match? Am i reading this correctly?


Posted from DISboards.com App for Android

You really think missing light bulbs are ok? And mismatched paint on a wall. With no apology or a manager on duty to handle problems? What a dive! I'd never stay there again either, OP.

 

[NMAmy]

I think I saw that you booked through Dreams Unlimited. Did you contact them during or after the stay? They might have been able to intervene on your behalf while all of this was going on.

You know, I didn't really think of it. I spent time trying to resolve the issue at check in and again by emailing. I didn't want to waste any more of our vacation time messing around with them.

I felt that the hotel staff weren't interested in assisting and didn't really care.

We had similar issues during our stay last fall. Even the card with the name thing. The front desk was not at all helpful. We have not been back.

That's crazy that they did the same thing with the card! I'm guessing either the GM doesn't want to be bothered with guest issues or the front desk is trying to keep issues under wraps. Since I actually cc'd the GM on my email I'm guessing it's the former.

So youre upset because a few light bulbs were missing and the paint/patch on the back of the door didnt match? Am i reading this correctly?

No, that wasn't the whole situation. I put up with the room for the first three nights of our vacation. When I checked out of the hotel, I mentioned that there were issues with the room to the front desk staff. None of these issues were addressed after we checked out.

The reason I was upset was that when I checked back into the hotel the next day, I was given the same room out of the hundreds available and when I nicely requested a different one in the same category at 3 in the afternoon on a Wednesday, I was told that it was impossible and that there was no manager on the premises who could assist me and I should email any concerns. My issue is with the lack of response from management and that even the simplest requests (the two bottles of water for which guests pay a daily fee) were ignored and required multiple phone calls.

I've been posting here for years and despite yearly trips to WDW with stays in many hotels (including the Dolphin) and I believe this is my first negative review. I know the Dolphin used to have fantastic customer service and the rooms were very nicely kept up. Neither seems to be the case anymore.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Sorry to hear about your trip. As the mouse continues to cut corners...we see the results.

The Dolphin is not owed by "the Mouse".

 

[Daisy-J&D]

You may not be getting through to the General Manager or Starwood but you've gotten through to us!!

OMG after reading this thread (of more than just your experience) my interested in staying at the Swan and Dolphin is at about a ZERO now!! I'm sure others feel the same way... !!!

 

[Missytara]

I can say my one stay at the Dolphin was not my favorite.

The first three years, I did the land/sea package and you booked it together. A moderate resort got you an inside stateroom on an upper level.

The first year I stayed at CBR. Loved it, but wanted to try something new, so I opted for POR. A few weeks before my trip, my TA received a call that POR was going down for refurbishment and she was on vacation, but another TA (who was a Disney nut) snagged the call and got me a "upper room facing Epcot and the fireworks."

Got there, and the staff gave me my room key, when I got there I was on the 4th floor facing the loading dock. I went back downstairs and they knew nothing about a reservation for an upper room. Nothing was noted, except I had been moved from POR for overbooking. Told me I should be excited to stay at a deluxe resort.

Each morning, I was awake at 7 am to the sound of the trucks exiting and entering the loading dock.

Went downstairs to expect to sit at the bar all evening, and had a fishbowl glass with a three oz. pour and the bill was 9.50. At that time, I was paying for meals OOP and everything seemed so expensive; although I greatly enjoyed the Buffeteria (the one saving grace). I was not wise yet on to the other choices out there.

The bus service was awful, since the Dolphin was the last stop, it seemed like you were riding the bus forever. The water taxi did definately win out, with rides from both DHS and Epcot, I only had to deal with the buses for the other two parks.

All in all, I didn't enjoy my stay there at all and haven't been back.

 

[LexiC123]

You may not be getting through to the General Manager or Starwood but you've gotten through to us!!

OMG after reading this thread (of more than just your experience) my interested in staying at the Swan and Dolphin is at about a ZERO now!! I'm sure others feel the same way... !!!

Not to diminish the problems experienced by the OP on this trip and the unacceptable lack of response from anyone connected to the Dolphin and Starwood, but for every disappointing stay referenced in this thread, there are dozens - if not hundreds - of positive experiences cited in the multiple Swan/Dolphin Resort threads.

I also guarantee that you'll find similar stories on each and every Disney resort thread in this forum.

That said, to each their own. I hope the OP's next Disney trip is a lot more magical than this one was for her.

 

[MinnieMommy07]

When you look at it, it looks great. Great location, really nice pool, nice restaurants.... but when you start to consider it- and you're like me- you start checking all of the Hotel Review websites.

They are so many inconsistancies (sp?). Some rooms look alright and then some photos show the room to be completely dingey and run down....

Then there is the issue of room location- yeah, i know walking is a given at Disney.... but I'd rather pay to have a great view and a two minute walk to the pool.... but if you have the epcot view look how far away you are from the pool!

Then there is no Magical Express. This obviously can be avoid with a shuttle.... but no thanks.

I just wouldn't want to waste my vacaiton to chance hoping for the best here.