bluwater
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2007
- Messages
- 447
We really enjoyed our time at the Dolphin. Here are my thoughts on it:
Dolphin is a large property, but all enclosed within one building. There are multiple elevator banks (designated by wing), which meant that the elevators were never too full for us to enter and the wait was never more than a few seconds.
Our room overlooked the beach, the main pool and the Tower of Terror. At night, the ToT is lit purple...so pretty, yet so ominous!
The lobby area is impressive. There are plenty of seating/relaxing areas where you might feel welcome to sit and sip a cocktail or just chat and take-in the scene. There is a large themed fountain in the middle of the lobby. While strolling through on several occasions, we heard music being played on the grand piano. There is at least one art gallery on the lobby level - absolutely stunning pieces.
There are several diverse restaurant options in the Dolphin/Swan: Todd English's bluezoo, Shula's Steak House, FRESH: Mediterranean Market, The Fountain (ice cream, casual dining, great late night choice), Cabana Bar and Beach Club, Splash Terrace (Splash Grill), Picabu (my daughter's favorite - cafeteria style and open 24X7 - with both ready-made and made-to-order items....very good value!), Java Bar, Il Mulino New York Trattoria, Kimonos (sushi!!), Garden Grove.
Many of the restaurants gave us 20% off for showing our AAA card. The Cabana bar was really great with it's Miami-esque theming of cabana lounge areas, billowing curtains....kind of swank, but lots of kids enjoying it.
When we first went to the pool, we were disappointed ot hear that the pool was closed due to an "accident" (baby poop) and it was being shocked with chlorine (common at Disney, I've read)...but it certainly helped that there were 3 other large pools from which to choose - 2 in IMMEDIATE proximity to the main pool and another over by the Swan.
There was a live DJ out by the pools and he was spinning tunes and conducting a hula-hoop contest for the kids. We saw about 18 kids (ages 3-12 or so) taking part in the contest.
We watched a volleyball game being played on the beach.
Overall, the feel of the pool area was definitely a little more sophisticated than some of the other Disney properties we've visited. It felt welcoming for kids, but not totally themed for them. I recall thinking that a teen would LOVE this place.
My own daughter assesses the hotel pool by the amenities; most importantly, the slide! She's looking for slide features that go beyond the normal -does it go inside of anything, does it go fast, is it tall, is it like a real water-slide?. She really enjoyed this pool and slide.
What I noticed was that the bar and cabana lounge area was next to the lap pool, which was being used more of a lounge pool when we were there. More of the non-family, adult crowd was hanging there. The families and children were over in the main pool with the slide and waterfalls. The chairs around the pool were not the typical pool chairs - they were more like a wicker-look loungers (really nice) and were very comfortable and tropical looking.
There is also another bar/grill area and lap/lounge pool over by the Swan.
There was a nice children's play area in the sand with a seal spraying water our of his nose...great for getting wet without swimming in the pool. This area was apart from the general pool area and was rather large in it's own right.
There was also a little dock going out into the canal with these little motorized boats that look like Bumper Boats with spray guns on the front. You've probably seen these at other resorts and/or on fun piers. We saw kids going out in these and having a good time. We didn't try it.
And, yes, there is a hot tub
There is a game room, which my daughter found ot be adequate; but not as good as the game room at the Contemporary and the AKL, which she found to be tops.
Other than the beds, I would not consider the rooms to be luxurious. They are perfectly fine, but not "wow"ing to me. Everything was very, very clean, felt updated and fresh....and there was no hint of any odors (good, bad or otherwise). The air was neutral, which is what I want...no scents covering odors, etc...
There are tons of drawers. I don't know how many...but many more than we are used to seeing in a hotel.
The bathroom was nothing spectacular..but was nice and nothing less than I would have wanted. There was one vanity sink with plenty of counter-space, which was outside of the bath area.
The shower had good water-pressure. I do not recall if there was an adjustable shower head.
The bath toiletries were from Bath and Body Works. Very nice!
The fridge is locked, unless you pay to rent it and have it unlocked.
The cooling/heating system is on the sensor that most of the Disney resorts use. It adjusts when you are not in the room.
We did get the Disney resort/park channel in our room (with the woman whose name escapes me) - as well as the other Disney channels.
There is a fee to park - $9. We used valet at the cost of $16 per night.
There is an automatic $10 per night resort fee added to your bill. The resort fee covers up to 60 minutes local telephone calls, all toll-free and credit card access calls, unlimited access to health club facilities, in-room high-speed Internet access (not wireless - and you have to reconnect yourself each day since it times out and logs you off after 24 hrs), 2 bottles of water daily, and 20 minutes of domestic long distance daily.
The boat launch sits between the Swan and Dolphin and takes you to either DHS or EPCOT. Frankly, I found the boat to be a little too slow. Also, there is little to no A/C on the boat and the vast majority of the seats are inside without windows that open. It's not a very pleasant experience, IMO. Also, waiting for the boats can get tiresome. When going to EPCOT we always opted to walk...and only used the boat to DHS.
There is a canopy that extends from the boat exit to the hotels (Swan or Dolphin), so you never have to walk in the rain or sun.
While sitting by the pool, I talked to quite a few people and realized that, in this instance, the only pool-hoppers we ran into were from BWI. I guess the parking fee at Swan/Dolphin discourages pool hopping..(?).
We rented a surrey bike and rode around the Boardwalk area. I got my workout for the day in getting that large bike up the hills with only the help of one small 9 yr old!!! It was fun and a great way to spend part of a day off from the parks.
All in all, I would stay here again. The price was very fair for the amenities and I really enjoyed the little hint of sophistication I was able to sample. After all, I, too, am on vacation!
In the end, we wound up departing with a robe and pool cover-up left on the back of the bathroom door. 2 days later we called and asked about those items. Lost-and-found had logged the items and asked if we wanted them shipped. We were at the Polynesian, so I offered to come to Dolphin to retrieve the items. The items were handed over by security, release signed by me, and off we went...all while the car was parked in front and being cared for by the valet (no cost).
Swan/Dolphin guests may take advantage of Extra Magic Hours at the parks.
Bravo, Dolphin!
I'm sure I missed something...so if there are any questions about the property, feel free to ask.
About cost: We paid $188/nt on the AAA rate for the Dolphin room, prior to parking, taxes and resort fees. Our BWI was only cheaper because we had a conference rate there....but not by much. In the end, I felt that it was worth the extra $$ to stay at Dolphin over BWI...and I definitely would not stay at BWI in the rooms we had been shown...not at any rate - including F-R-E-E.
Dolphin is a large property, but all enclosed within one building. There are multiple elevator banks (designated by wing), which meant that the elevators were never too full for us to enter and the wait was never more than a few seconds.
Our room overlooked the beach, the main pool and the Tower of Terror. At night, the ToT is lit purple...so pretty, yet so ominous!
The lobby area is impressive. There are plenty of seating/relaxing areas where you might feel welcome to sit and sip a cocktail or just chat and take-in the scene. There is a large themed fountain in the middle of the lobby. While strolling through on several occasions, we heard music being played on the grand piano. There is at least one art gallery on the lobby level - absolutely stunning pieces.
There are several diverse restaurant options in the Dolphin/Swan: Todd English's bluezoo, Shula's Steak House, FRESH: Mediterranean Market, The Fountain (ice cream, casual dining, great late night choice), Cabana Bar and Beach Club, Splash Terrace (Splash Grill), Picabu (my daughter's favorite - cafeteria style and open 24X7 - with both ready-made and made-to-order items....very good value!), Java Bar, Il Mulino New York Trattoria, Kimonos (sushi!!), Garden Grove.
Many of the restaurants gave us 20% off for showing our AAA card. The Cabana bar was really great with it's Miami-esque theming of cabana lounge areas, billowing curtains....kind of swank, but lots of kids enjoying it.
When we first went to the pool, we were disappointed ot hear that the pool was closed due to an "accident" (baby poop) and it was being shocked with chlorine (common at Disney, I've read)...but it certainly helped that there were 3 other large pools from which to choose - 2 in IMMEDIATE proximity to the main pool and another over by the Swan.
There was a live DJ out by the pools and he was spinning tunes and conducting a hula-hoop contest for the kids. We saw about 18 kids (ages 3-12 or so) taking part in the contest.
We watched a volleyball game being played on the beach.
Overall, the feel of the pool area was definitely a little more sophisticated than some of the other Disney properties we've visited. It felt welcoming for kids, but not totally themed for them. I recall thinking that a teen would LOVE this place.
My own daughter assesses the hotel pool by the amenities; most importantly, the slide! She's looking for slide features that go beyond the normal -does it go inside of anything, does it go fast, is it tall, is it like a real water-slide?. She really enjoyed this pool and slide.
What I noticed was that the bar and cabana lounge area was next to the lap pool, which was being used more of a lounge pool when we were there. More of the non-family, adult crowd was hanging there. The families and children were over in the main pool with the slide and waterfalls. The chairs around the pool were not the typical pool chairs - they were more like a wicker-look loungers (really nice) and were very comfortable and tropical looking.
There is also another bar/grill area and lap/lounge pool over by the Swan.
There was a nice children's play area in the sand with a seal spraying water our of his nose...great for getting wet without swimming in the pool. This area was apart from the general pool area and was rather large in it's own right.
There was also a little dock going out into the canal with these little motorized boats that look like Bumper Boats with spray guns on the front. You've probably seen these at other resorts and/or on fun piers. We saw kids going out in these and having a good time. We didn't try it.
And, yes, there is a hot tub
There is a game room, which my daughter found ot be adequate; but not as good as the game room at the Contemporary and the AKL, which she found to be tops.
Other than the beds, I would not consider the rooms to be luxurious. They are perfectly fine, but not "wow"ing to me. Everything was very, very clean, felt updated and fresh....and there was no hint of any odors (good, bad or otherwise). The air was neutral, which is what I want...no scents covering odors, etc...
There are tons of drawers. I don't know how many...but many more than we are used to seeing in a hotel.
The bathroom was nothing spectacular..but was nice and nothing less than I would have wanted. There was one vanity sink with plenty of counter-space, which was outside of the bath area.
The shower had good water-pressure. I do not recall if there was an adjustable shower head.
The bath toiletries were from Bath and Body Works. Very nice!
The fridge is locked, unless you pay to rent it and have it unlocked.
The cooling/heating system is on the sensor that most of the Disney resorts use. It adjusts when you are not in the room.
We did get the Disney resort/park channel in our room (with the woman whose name escapes me) - as well as the other Disney channels.
There is a fee to park - $9. We used valet at the cost of $16 per night.
There is an automatic $10 per night resort fee added to your bill. The resort fee covers up to 60 minutes local telephone calls, all toll-free and credit card access calls, unlimited access to health club facilities, in-room high-speed Internet access (not wireless - and you have to reconnect yourself each day since it times out and logs you off after 24 hrs), 2 bottles of water daily, and 20 minutes of domestic long distance daily.
The boat launch sits between the Swan and Dolphin and takes you to either DHS or EPCOT. Frankly, I found the boat to be a little too slow. Also, there is little to no A/C on the boat and the vast majority of the seats are inside without windows that open. It's not a very pleasant experience, IMO. Also, waiting for the boats can get tiresome. When going to EPCOT we always opted to walk...and only used the boat to DHS.
There is a canopy that extends from the boat exit to the hotels (Swan or Dolphin), so you never have to walk in the rain or sun.
While sitting by the pool, I talked to quite a few people and realized that, in this instance, the only pool-hoppers we ran into were from BWI. I guess the parking fee at Swan/Dolphin discourages pool hopping..(?).
We rented a surrey bike and rode around the Boardwalk area. I got my workout for the day in getting that large bike up the hills with only the help of one small 9 yr old!!! It was fun and a great way to spend part of a day off from the parks.
All in all, I would stay here again. The price was very fair for the amenities and I really enjoyed the little hint of sophistication I was able to sample. After all, I, too, am on vacation!
In the end, we wound up departing with a robe and pool cover-up left on the back of the bathroom door. 2 days later we called and asked about those items. Lost-and-found had logged the items and asked if we wanted them shipped. We were at the Polynesian, so I offered to come to Dolphin to retrieve the items. The items were handed over by security, release signed by me, and off we went...all while the car was parked in front and being cared for by the valet (no cost).
Swan/Dolphin guests may take advantage of Extra Magic Hours at the parks.
Bravo, Dolphin!
I'm sure I missed something...so if there are any questions about the property, feel free to ask.
About cost: We paid $188/nt on the AAA rate for the Dolphin room, prior to parking, taxes and resort fees. Our BWI was only cheaper because we had a conference rate there....but not by much. In the end, I felt that it was worth the extra $$ to stay at Dolphin over BWI...and I definitely would not stay at BWI in the rooms we had been shown...not at any rate - including F-R-E-E.
