We just returned from our first stay at the Dolphin (3 nights) and I will say that on the whole I had no complaints! The hotel feels very upscale on the inside, and really offers an impressive roster of food and dining options in comparison with many of the Disney hotels. We stayed in a "Grand Suite" which was a king bedroom lock-off connecting with an expansive parlor/living room with sofa bed, dining table, limited kitchenette, additional vanity prep area, additional closet space, and beautiful large bathroom with walk in shower. We didn't have a great view, overlooking the backside of the hotel, but we probably would have been able to see a few Fantasmic fireworks if we'd been home when they went off.
A few observations/notes for anyone else considering this space:
There is no microwave in a Dolphin suite's connecting parlor kitchenette. Having viewed pictures and videos online, I was under the mistaken assumption there was a microwave, and this surprised me and added a bit of a wrinkle, as I had brought packets of instant oatmeal to tide the family over each morning before we could procure breakfast.
On the same note, there are no PAPER TOWELS in the suite. This is one of those items where our experiences staying in Disney villas had gotten us used to little "extras" that make for a comfortable stay, and which may seem banal but ultimately do help with two kids running and spilling amok.
The mini fridge was in the king bedroom, and there was no additional fridge in the parlor kitchenette. Again this struck me as surprising but I understood, given that the parlor part of a "Suite" is essentially just an optional add on to a traditional room, and is not designed entirely for occupancy on its own. It did send me on a mildly panicked goose chase for a refrigerator however...
ALL of the room technology was VERY outdated. Charging stations didn't charge, and were built into alarm clock/Ipod stations that seemed plucked straight out of 2005. None of the outlets or tables have been updated with USB functionality, clocks were old and barely functioning. This is something the Dolphin could quickly address, but doesn't seem to have done.
The guest parlor bathroom was MUCH bigger than that in the connecting king bed room. That king bed bathroom is TIGHT and features the dreaded "door opening into the toilet/shower" conundrum to make the space feel even tighter.
Linens, pillows, mattress toppers, etc. were perfectly serviceable, but did not seem to be the "Heavenly Bed" quality that everyone mentions at the Swan. Pillows in particular could use an upgrade.
The Dolphin on the whole is a beautiful hotel, but as others have mentioned, it's HUGE. I might be able to stay a week or more there and never fully understand the layout. It's also the FARTHEST WALK from Epcot and Hollywood Studios - we found ourselves using the boats more often than not. It is, however, the closest to Yacht Club's Coke Freestyle machine if you end up purchasing Disney refillable mugs, which was a nice bonus for us during the trip.
While I didn't really mind the more traditional/upscale hotel feel of the Dolphin, and appreciated the small bits of Disney ephemera that the hotel provided to give it a bit of Disney magic (e.g. an R2D2 photo op in the lobby, and a large Moana/Tefiti Way of Water sculpture near one escalator), everyone else in our family (even my generally Disney agnostic DH) felt the interior came off as cold and missed the magic of our previous stays at Beach Club and (especially) Boardwalk. (It probably didn't help that we were there just prior to the Gartner IT conference, for which Gartner had impressively and expensively bought sponsor signage throughout the resort, covering almost every display surface.)
As an additional note, however -- though everyone in our group requested a return to Boardwalk --- my husband in particular admitted that for a cost savings at Swan and Dolphin of nearly 50% over a Disney 1 BR villa during this Halloween and upcoming Christmas season -- he could put up with the lack of "magical" aesthetics!
We will actually be at Swan for Christmas in an Executive suite - which will mean that over our last few trips we will have stayed at every Crescent Lake resort, both Disney and Marriott. So far, for us, Boardwalk is far and away the winner when it comes to ambiance and balanced location between Epcot and HS - but we cannot argue with the cost effectiveness of a stay at Swan/Dolphin!
