? regarding the Dolphin

[PigletsPal]

We are going to WDW the first week in Dec. DH, DS and DH's cousin and I. This will be the first time our cousin will be staying on site and only her 2nd time at WDW so I want to make it as special as can be. Does the Dolphin have the same Disney Magic even though its not a Disney hotel? I was thinking of the jr. suite.

TIA

 

[gigi1313]

the dolphin offers a great location, a well appointed architecturally interesting hotel, luxury amenities, great restaurants, a beautiful pool, excellent disney transportation... but is it "disney?" well, i have not stayed there, but have walked thru and found it to be more formal than typical "disney," but w/that being said, would i still feel like i was in disney if staying there, most likely... one look out a window and i would know where i am!

 

[Trekker]

I have stayed many times at the Swan and Dolphin and all I can say is "YES", as soon as I get there I feel like I'm home - in fact I wiss I was there right now!

There are not many resorts where you can walk to 2 of the theme parks, or walk out of your room and head directly down to the boardwalk.

 

[Kapp]

and found there to be just as much "magic" at a real Disney resort. It does not have Mickey and Minnie on every wall (but they do have them around) but neither does the AKL and other real resorts. We found the staff to be just as nice and helpful as Disney and even nicer on many occasions. I'm sure this can vary from time to time and family to family but we LOVED the Dolphin and would stay there again in a second.

Have a great time!

Kapp

 

[CamColt]

I too was worried about the lack of magic before I stayed there the first time, but I was proven wrong. The only thing I missed is not having the tv channel that has the park hours, weather, recreation, etc... as I have a routine of turning that on while Im getting ready in the morning before anyone else is up.

On my last stay at the Swan if I looked out my window I had the BW to my left and the TOT & Earful Tower to my right. Short of seeing the Castle, I cant imagine feeling like I was "in Disney" any more than that.
The transportation options are great and the heavenly beds, are just that, heavenly.

 

[mrsboz]

We absolutely LOVE the Dolphin. We have stayed there three times. You can walk to the Boardwalk and to Epcot. You can take a boat right from their dock to Epcot and MGM. Can't say enough about it......

 

[PigletsPal]

Thanks everyone for your replies and good reviews.

 

[dreamflight99]

I have stayed many times at the Swan and Dolphin and all I can say is "YES", as soon as I get there I feel like I'm home - in fact I wiss I was there right now!

There are not many resorts where you can walk to 2 of the theme parks, or walk out of your room and head directly down to the boardwalk.

We LOVE this place for the same reasons Trekker posted! Too bad some of the other parks don't have secret little entrances in the back for resort guests (like Epcot's international gateway).

 

[dash]

Have stayed at the Dolphin and it is TERRIFIC in terms of location and room size/layout. As one previous poster said, the primary Disney amenity that one misses is the lack of the channel with the park hours. We did have a channel with Disney tips, but we did not receive information at check-in regarding early entry and park hours etc which we did receive on the same trip when checking in at POP. I'm sure the concierge would have given us the information had we asked. Also, you are able to buy park tickets through the hotel's concierge as at true Disney resorts.

 

[swilphil]

Have stayed at the Dolphin and it is TERRIFIC in terms of location and room size/layout. As one previous poster said, the primary Disney amenity that one misses is the lack of the channel with the park hours. We did have a channel with Disney tips, but we did not receive information at check-in regarding early entry and park hours etc which we did receive on the same trip when checking in at POP. I'm sure the concierge would have given us the information had we asked. Also, you are able to buy park tickets through the hotel's concierge as at true Disney resorts.

We did receive information at check in with the early entry and park hours. There's also the concierage desk in the lobby that can answer all your questions about Disney parks, transportation, etc. They also will book restaurant PS's for you during your stay--you don't even have to be staying Club Level for them to do this.

We love the location and amenities at the Dolphin and always felt plenty of magic around.

 

[sarahsmom73]

LOVE IT!!!!

 

[katter24]

Leaving March 16 for a 7 night stay at the Dolphin....haven't stayed there before, but did stay at the Swan last summer...loved it....looking forward to to staying at the Dolphin.....I love walking to Epcot to watch the fireworks and then coming back and walking down the Boardwalk and seeing all the entertainment.....It's such a "Disney" feeling.....Love the bagels and coffee at the bakery and some of the pastries....Looking forward to the Dolphin pool and that special feeling I get every time I walk down main street at Magic Kingdom......


The Contemporary November 1998
The Boardwalk Villas November 1999
The Grosvenor Nov. 2002
The Beach Club villas/The Swan August 2004
The Dolphin March 2005