Reviews of Walt Disney World Dolphin (Deluxe Resort)
Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 12/17/2021
Rating: (2) Not Recommended
I would give this resort a one star, however it is beautiful and I enjoyed the pool. With that being said you have to tell the front desk when you would like the room cleaned, and since our phone didn't work the entire ten days we were there it was very inconvenient to get housekeeping in the room, not that it mattered anyway, the rooms were not cleaned from the last guest who stayed there! We found a face mask, old butter, and when we did ask for service I made sure we had nothing on the floors or counters and they did not get cleaned! On other sites I have seen others have this same issue, I wish I had done more homework on this and gone somewhere else! We paid way too much to have these issues!
Pros:
Nice poolCons:
Very expensive, for not great service!Reviewed by DonGlover Review Date: 12/17/2021
Rating: (8) Recommended
The location of the Dolphin is great. We booked very early and thus got a very good rate. The common areas of the hotel are nice well maintained. The layout of the hotel makes it a bit confusing as to where your wing is and where the elevators and after a long day at the park this can be a bit of a challenge.
We had a room on the 11th floor and a mildly obstructed view but still nice. The rooms need a refurb. There aren't enough plug-ins for the modern world and the ones that are there are not conveniently placed. Since I always travel with powerstrips and long USB cables this was not a huge issue.
There were minor maintenance issues such as a loose soap tray and a bad USB port. But overall very nice rooms.
They have an outpost Disney giftshop in the hotel, but is small and does not do shipping. I had to go over to the Boardwalk to ship my saber and droid home. The bus transportation is not provided by Disney. It is frequent, but not well marked at times and the drivers don't necessarily offer up where they are going. Also, they don't drop off at the Disney bus stops. Busses to the Magic Kingdom go to the Transportation center and Disney Spring busses drop off quite a distance from the entrance.
Overall the value was great, the location was great, and I would happily stay there again.
Pros:
Location. Cost vs other hotels in the area.Cons:
Needs updating. Not fully part of the Disney transportation system.Reviewed by Summertime3218 Review Date: 12/07/2021
Rating: (10) Recommended
The Dolphin was wonderful! We got here early in the morning after a long red-eye flight. Unfortunately, our room wasn’t ready yet, so we crashed on their couches in the lobby for a bit. They then informed us that they had made a room available for us! So we were able to catch a nice long snooze before our dinner reservations that night. During our entire week long stay, the service was top tier. They provided extra blankets and water bottles, and the front desk was always friendly. Location was wonderful, it was very easy to either get a bus or an Uber to Magic Kingdom, Disney Springs, and Animal Kingdom, and then the ferry boats made for a wonderful transportation experience to Epcot and Hollywood Studios! The Pool complex was on another level, I enjoyed it very much! Everything was clean and tidy, and the staff were absolutely wonderful. I’m already planning our next trip and definitely planning on staying here again!
Pros:
Comfortable, friendly staff, good transportation options, great pool complexCons:
Quick service options are meh.Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 11/27/2021
Rating: (10) Recommended
Rooms have been updated. The Fountain restaurant is great for a quick meal. Love the proximity to Hollywood Studios & Epcot. Fraction of the cost compared to other area Epcot resorts.
Pros:
PriceCons:
NoneReviewed by ChefDionofLima Review Date: 11/20/2021
Rating: (4) Not Recommended
Great resort for the location only. But stay with caution. Many of the resort rooms need updated, and some rooms have funky layouts, owing to the architectural design. If you get assigned room 10119 request a different room. The view is completely obstructed by the top of the western wing's roof top stairwell, air handlers, and giant rooftop decroation. It has three different celing heights (tall people beware). Ì'm 5'7\" and could lay my paln flat on the ceiling in the shower, and the bathroom has no exhaust fan. Honestly this room would be better suited for housekeeping or maintenance purposes, and with the symmetrical design of the resort there are at least two of these rooms. Shopping is meh, at best. Food options are hit and miss, including Shula's (see my review for that location), and the full service breakfast location is closed on Monday and Tuesday, so plan for breakfast in the park. The pool bar was a pleasant surprise, they have an excellent full menu with table service, and a condensed menu for mobile order with poolside delivery. Transportation is not really a convenient perck. The buses don't drop you off where all the other resort buses do, the MK bus drops you off at the TTC, and the Disney Springs stop is clear on the west end by the staff parking, and with increased security, you have to walk around the front of the shopping center to the Orange Garage to go through security (a VERY LONG long walk, 3/4 mile to be exact). Use this tip if you plan on bussing, walk across to Boardwalk and ride their buses. The Water taxis are by far the best convenience in transportation for both Epcot and DHS. The shuttle service to the airport is very pricy as well as charging per person, and they do not use Magical Express , which is going away. So to get to and from the airport we used Lyft, a $30 trip. With all that being said, for the location the price is a very good deal, Disney Delux location for Moderate price tag, which saves it in the rating system for me. But this is by no means a Delux level service/experience.
Pros:
Location, location, location Friendship Boats Price is rightCons:
Bus Transportation less of a convenience, Outdated rooms, Spoty Food Selection Poor customer serviceReviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 11/05/2021
Rating: (5) Not Recommended
We are titanium members and we were treated terrible. We
Purchased two rooms for six nights and faced the building. They gave us two breakfast vouchers for six people that were worth very little. We decided to go to breakfast and pay the extra ten dollars per person. We found out extra breakfast was increased to twelve dollars and we then ordered a omelet which was an add on of three dollars a piece.
We came home from the park numerous times and the rooms were not cleaned. We requested full cleaning and our daughter was partial. We understand hotels are short staff but the hotel manager was never available to talk !
We work hard for our money and have been very loyal to Starwood now marriott. We get all our points through personal travel.. we are so excited to bring our grandchildren to Disney . It is so disappointing when we are treated so good everywhere else and come here and treated terrible. I will say the Swan has treated us better.
Pros:
Nice locationCons:
Do not treat Marriott members any differentReviewed by TropicalDog67 Review Date: 07/27/2021
Rating: (10) Recommended
Every single time I come to Walt Disney World, I stay here. It is so comfortable, and very accessible to most of the parks/water parks to magic kingdom it is only a bus ride away to TTC where you can get on the boat/Monorail/Buses it is a walk to Epcot, (Which is one of my favorite parks) and has \"Peekaboo\" which is getting renovated but is a great and easy quick place to pick up dinner or some breakfast. They do have \"Fuel\" which is a modern Peekaboo, but is way to busy because it is on the main floor on the lobby. Once, I waited 30-40 mins in line for a smoothie and pizza. WHICH IS NOT WORTH IT. The food is anything you can get in a grocery store but is very convenient.
Pros:
Restaurants/Clean RoomsCons:
Long waits for food/apparel itemsReviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 07/03/2021
Rating: (1) Not Recommended
This place is disgusting & everyone has treated us horrible! we were supposed to be in a deluxe suite as we are platinum members & i am a transplant patient! We had to wait 4 hours for our room to be ready & then the room was dirty & smelled like BO! They left out bags filled with medications & our clothes outside in the rain just sitting there! Promised us a balcony & no balcony! My daughter had to walk all around the hotel almost passed out! We are platinum ambassadors & are treated horrible!! Gross treated horrible! & the bellman came & brought us a new key for a “better room” & its dirty! Horrible hotel!! Dirty! & Especially for an immunosuppressed person! WOW DISGUSTING & as a platinum elite member for marriott! Not ok! We will never stay here again so gross! So mean, & nobody really cares
Pros:
NOTHINGCons:
EVERYTHING! DIRTY, SMELLY, TREATED LIKE _ _ _ _, Vomit on the floor that said they couldn’t clean it up until the next day!! So gross,Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 04/06/2021
Rating: (9) Recommended
Stayed 3 nights (3/30-4/2). On first floor facing the friendship boats and The Swan. Got a great teacher rate and even with the resort fee it was cheaper than Pop for sure. Loved the property and the pools. Pools were crowded the two days we were there (it was 90 degrees!). We were out early and got pool chairs at about 9:00. Beautiful property, very comfortable beds, wish the rooms were cooler. Loved the location, being able to walk the Boardwalk and walk to Epcot and the Skyliner Station in about 10 minutes. I loved hearing the friendship boats. You get a lot of amenities for the price for sure. Didn't try the restaurants other than grabbing a couple sandwiches at Fuel. Neither Pikabu or the other one (can't remember name) that has the ice cream were open, which was a bummer. Buses can be kind of a pain because they aren't Disney buses, but we walked to Boardwalk and used theirs a few times. That worked just fine. I went with friends but can't wait to bring my family here in the future. Uber to and from airport was easy and not too much (under 40 with tip).
Pros:
Location!! Pools are nice, Cabana Bar and Restaurant is nice. Price for what you get, beds!Cons:
No Magical Express, Not all restaurants open, nothing like a 'food court' type place was open, rooms don't get cool enough for me (true for most Disney rooms), beds are small (maybe double?)Reviewed by LaurenS Review Date: 03/01/2021
Rating: (10) Recommended
My Husband and I just returned from our Honeymoon at WDW and the WDW Dolphin Hotel. I chose this hotel due to its Deluxe Amenities and convenient location within Walking Distance of both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, at a much more Moderate Price Point than Disney's Deluxe Resorts. Even with the Resort Fee (which I know a lot of people complain about), we stayed in a King Bed Resort View (which was really a Water View) Balcony Room for approx. $256 per night including room rate, resort fee, other fees, and taxes, which is significantly less expensive than Disney's Deluxe Hotels, which all seem to be upwards of $400 per night for the most basic room, let alone a Water View or Balcony Room. The room was lovely, with a clean design, plenty of space, and I really liked the wheeled table which allowed us to move it around the room easily if we wanted to eat together in the room. The room was clean, comfortable, and spacious. We also had a great Balcony and view of both the Pool area and the Lake between the Dolphin and Swan hotels. The only warning I have for potential guests is the Bed was very firm, which we both liked and found to be excellent for sleeping. However, if you like a very soft mattress you may prefer a different hotel.
The Pool area was great! with multiple Pools and four (4) Hot Tubs. They have even attached Tags to the Pool Lounge Chairs with Colors and Numbers that make it easy to Mobile Order from the Cabana Bar and Beach Club, and have your Food and/or Beverage delivered directly to your Lounge Chair. We had Pina Coladas delivered to our Loungers and enjoyed them Poolside. The Large Grotto Pool with the Waterfall and Slide is pretty cold, the smaller family pool is warmer, and the Lap Pool is the warmest of the pools. This was great, b/c it meant that there is a Pool with a temperature to match every preference.
We also really enjoyed the Dining Choices on property. We had Dinner at Shula's Steakhouse one night and shared a most excellent NY Strip and their Dark Cherry Smoked Manhattan, which was a delightful surprise if you like dark, rich liquor over sweet drinks. We also ate at Il Mulino's at the Swan twice - one night we had Dinner in the Restaurant and the Tortellini Alla Panna with Fresh (not frozen or canned) Peas was excellent. On our last night, we were too tired to go out to Dinner and ordered Pizza to go from Il Mulino's to eat in our room, and it was excellent Pizza.
The Staff at the hotel was helpful and friendly, and the Transportation to and from the Parks worked well for us. We might have just gotten lucky with our timing, but we really never had to wait more than a few minutes for the Bus or Boat to or from the Parks. Also, being within walking distance of EPCOT meant that we made good use of our Park Hopper Tickets by going to EPCOT on three separate evenings during our stay.
I don't know why others have ranked this Hotel so low, we had an amazing stay here, and I would definitely stay here again.
