Not that impressed with the Dolphin

[disneychic]

My DH and I stayed at the Dolphin last week May 3-5 for the first half of our WDW trip before switching over to the Wilderness Lodge Villas. I was a little dissapointed with our stay at the Dolphin. It was our first stay there, and unfortunately we felt that the service was very poor. Also, the room wasn't very clean and, the transportation - boats included was just not up to par with other Disney resorts that we've stayed in. I just expected more for a hotel that charges as much as it does to stay there. But, we booked very late - it was so last minute that even though we are DVC memebers, there were no DVC resort rooms available for the first part of our trip. If I would've known I'd have paid the extra money and stayed at GF or the Contemporary.

 

[NancyIL]

I'm sorry you were disappointed with your stay at the Dolphin. As for the transportation - it is the same Disney transportation you would've had if you had stayed at the Yacht Club, Beach Club, or Boardwalk. I hope your next trip will be more enjoyable.

 

[Eloise@the Plaza]

I too, am sorry you didn't enjoy your stay at the Dolphin, but think of how lucky you and your family are to have been able to go to Disney at ALL- and to stay on property.

It seems people forget about the good things sometimes, and focus on the negative. I am sure your two nights there weren't torture-it just wasn't "your cup of tea".

You've experienced another resort to mark off on your list and now you have your next visit to look forward too!

 

[Maleficent2]

excuse me wasn't that alittle harsh.

They did not enjoy the Dolphin and I don't think they were focusing on the Negative.

My DH did not like the Swan although I loved it!


disneychic was just voicing her OP about the Dolphin and I thank her.Too much sugar spoils the meal just as too much vineagar.



Mal

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by disneychic
My DH and I stayed at the Dolphin last week May 3-5 for the first half of our WDW trip before switching over to the Wilderness Lodge Villas. I was a little dissapointed with our stay at the Dolphin. It was our first stay there, and unfortunately we felt that the service was very poor. Also, the room wasn't very clean and, the transportation - boats included was just not up to par with other Disney resorts that we've stayed in. I just expected more for a hotel that charges as much as it does to stay there. But, we booked very late - it was so last minute that even though we are DVC memebers, there were no DVC resort rooms available for the first part of our trip. If I would've known I'd have paid the extra money and stayed at GF or the Contemporary.

Hi disneychic,

I will be staying at the Dolphin for the first time this coming Aug and even though I am excited every time I read a post about people be disapointed I get worried. Would you mind sharing some specifics? Poor service, not a clean room? We have always had great service and clean rooms at the Disney resorts we have stayed at.

I am familar with the transportation and we plan on walking to EC and MGM. We got 50% off of the room with a AAA discount so price is not an issue for us but I am interested in the poor service and the rooms not being clean.

Just when I think I am okay with staying at the Dolphin I start to second guess myself. Someone make me feel better about staying at the Dolphin.

 

[Luv2Dream]

We stayed at the Dolphin in November 2000 and we loved our stay. The rooms were very clean. The customer service was excellent. We also had no problem with the transportation. We found that the restaurants were very good and the hotel looked beautiful all dressed up for Xmas. Unfortunately, though, sometimes you have a stay that just doesn't measure up to others. This does happen. We had a great stay and wouldn't hesitate to stay again.

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by Luv2Dream
We stayed at the Dolphin in November 2000 and we loved our stay. The rooms were very clean. The customer service was excellent. We also had no problem with the transportation. We found that the restaurants were very good and the hotel looked beautiful all dressed up for Xmas. Unfortunately, though, sometimes you have a stay that just doesn't measure up to others. This does happen. We had a great stay and wouldn't hesitate to stay again.

Thanks for the postive feedback Luv2Dream.

 

[happytrails2u]

We were fortunate enough to stay at the Dolphin in April with a teacher's rate discount. This was also our first visit to the Dolphin and I can say that our room was immaculate and well maintained. The staff was wonderfully attentive and we "particularly" enjoyed the Friendship Boats.

Should something not be of your liking during your stay, the Dolphin Staff will work swiftly to rectify it. Try to relax and anticipate your upcomming vacation, Tiffany. We loved the Dolphin and are confident you will too.

ENJOY!

 

[dreamflight99]

We've been sojourning at the Dolphin for more than a decade, and have thoroughly enjoyed every visit. We have stayed at EVERY DISNEY RESORT (W/exception of the AKL), and find the Dolphin to be our favorite. Just as Happytrails stated, if you experience a problem of ANY kind, please contact the staff to have it rectified while you are there. We find the accomodations astoundingly clean and comfortable. The staff is always friendly and eager to assist. We love the Friendship boat transportation and the availability to walk to EC & MGM & the BOARDWALK! It is a great resort, and I wish you the BEST vacation you have ever enjoyed!

 

[DawnCt]

Originally posted by Eloise@the Plaza
I too, am sorry you didn't enjoy your stay at the Dolphin, but think of how lucky you and your family are to have been able to go to Disney at ALL- and to stay on property.

I am having a problem with "how lucky" she was to be able to go to WDW. Luck has very little to do with it. They saved their money and made a choice on how they wanted to spend it and from their experience, they didn't get a good value. Your experience may be different but the bottom line is, when guests anticipate a certain level of service, cleanliness, convenience for the amount of $$$ they spent, and those expectations aren't realized, they don't feel very "lucky".

 

[pooh6890]

Maleficent2 & DawnCt...........I completely agree with you 100%.

 

[dahess]

My family stayed at the Dolphin in November of 2001. We received a "Free Upgrade" from Dreams Unlimited. We had originally booked POR. We did not enjoy the Dolphin at all. I felt that the employees were rude, with the exception of the bell hops. Most of the restaurants were closed or closed very early. We really did enjoy the boat rides to MGM & Epcot, I would say that is the best thing about the Dolphin.

The rooms were decent enough. We also went on the Disney cruise after our stay at the Dolphin. Man, I can't even begin to tell you how awesome that was! The Dolphin didn't compare to the Dis cruise.

My family is returning to WDW in June of 2003 and will definately not be staying at the Swan/Dolphin.

POR here we come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


DAHESS

 

[Blondie]

Sorry you didn't enjoy your stay at the Dolphin.

We had a fabulous trip there in February!

 

[The Pluto People]

Tiffany: We had a wonderful vacation at the Dolphin last month!! We have only stayed on site 2 times before (YC and Contempo Tower) and, although we enjoyed those vacations, we liked the Dolphin a lot more!! Our room was beautiful, the resort was magnificent (and immaculate) and the CMs were the nicest we have ever encountered in WDW. The Grotto pool was great! We are also planning a trip in June of 2003 and we are planning to stay at the Dolphin again!

 

[Trekker]

This is one of those Moderator's - Friendly Reminders that the topic of this thread is the original posters disappointment with some aspects of thier stay at the Dolphin.

I've stayed there several times and have enjoyed each visit.

But, I have seen / experienced some of the things that are reported as being negative about the Dolphin.

Some of my observations are:

Bad

1. The beds at the Dolphin are old and need replacing.
2. The carts from room service are left in the halls way to long.
3. Some of the rooms are run down and even though they are clean can appear dingy.

Good

1. Location
2. View
3. Boat Transportation
4. Staff - always friendly and courteous - but also allow you your privacy.
5. Large rooms
6. Great Pools
7. Tubbie's
8. Did I mention location?

We need to here the good and the bad about each and every Disney Resort and each and every stay if we are to come to a valid conclusion about where we want to stay.

Please refrain from making any additional personal comments about the original poster. Keep the thread on topic.

Thanks,

 

[DisneyPoly]

We also just returned from the Dolphin (5/4/02). We stayed there one night prior to our cruise. We decided to stay due to the discount being offered in conjunction with the cruise, and felt that this would be a good opportunity to try something new, since we always stay at the Polynesian.

We were pleasantly surprised. We had two connecting rooms on the 7th floor. We had a wonderful view of MGM and of the Swan. We spent the day at the grotto pool and my four children loved it. Both of our rooms were very clean and enjoyable.

We took advantage of the children eating free at Gulliver's and our meal was wonderful.

We had a very positive experience and would return again!

 

[DawnCt]

DisneyPoly; you highlighted an important point. Two people can take the exact same vacation and have vastly different experiences. The same people can take the exact same cruise and not have the same cruise and the same person can take the same,exact cruise a few months a part and have a completely different experience.

 

[disneychic]

Wow, I definately didn't mean to get some people upset by what I said about the dolphin. Firstly, let me just say that we ALWAYS know how lucky we are to be able to go to WDW. We never lose sight of that. We love it there so much, that the reason we were there was that my husband had a job interview, and we're looking to re-locate there. Secondly, I just posted my opinion to let other people who never stayed there kind of know what I experienced. I also post great reports of other places that we've stayed. We may have just stayed there at a bad time. Like I said there were tons of conventions going on - including many conventions going on right there at the Dolphin. But, the transportation while we were there was definately not up to par. The busses in particular were no shows, there were many guests besides us who were more than a little dissapointed with the transportation. Actually, my husband had stayed there at the Dolphin when he was in high school and was on a family trip and they loved it. It just didn't feel disney to us this time. I'm sure it had ALOT to do with the conventions that the rooms/staff were not how they usually are.

 

[Bimmy56]

I love the Dolphin, we stayed there over Christmas and am going back in june and next Christmas. I do have to agree with WDWtrekker's assessment about the room service trays though. It's tough walking down the halls having to look at all that old food, and the Dolphin does seem really slow about picking the trays up. I can live with that as a trade-off for a great location, and low rates, but I'm sure that probably really bothers a lot of people.

 

[mickey7861]

disneychic

I noticed you mentioned the conventions.... I've only run into that problem once at CSR and haven't retutned there. We were scheduled to stay at the Swan 8/9 and 10 but friends of ours are staying there the same time for a Subway convention. when they told me that I switched our ressie to POR. I didn't want to take any chances with the conventioneers again. I wish you could find out in advance when big conventions are scheduled at your resort.