Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort

Chloe Rideout

We had an awesome midweek stay with family at the Dolphin! We booked two nights so we could take our little one to Epcot and meet all the Disney Princesses. We wanted to be close to the theme park so we could get early entry and come back to the room for naptime, and wanted to take advantage of Bonvoy status. The location is perfect. I love the post-modern architecture of the hotels- so fun and kitschy with classy interiors. We visited three different restaurants there and had yummy meals, all with fast service (ideal for toddlers). The king room we booked is your standard 4 star hotel chain room that had a little bit of wear and tear if you looked closely, but had nice toiletries provided and a comfy bed and I appreciated that the bathroom had a real door (with a lock on it!) We could see the Magic Kingdom fireworks from our bed at night which was a nice touch. Housekeeping service was great. The resort pools were beautiful. The temperature only got up to the 60s during our stay but the hot sun meant we could still splash around for a bit the last morning, and had the baby pool area to ourselves. We would absolutely stay here again the next time we come to Disney with our kid.

Marissa Gale

Long story short, we had many small issues during our stay that wouldn’t really have been problems, then a big issue that was poorly managed/largely ignored by the hotel managers left us regretting our choice to stay here. In the middle of our stay in the evening, something started leaking from the ceiling in one of the bathrooms. We called to inform the front desk of the issue, and about 50 minutes later a maintenance technician came to investigate. I believe his name was Bryan. He was very kind and said that he couldn’t identify the source of the leak, and that it would have to wait until morning to be investigated further. About 30 minutes later we got a call from the hotel manager Mr. Mohammed to discuss. He offered to move us to different rooms, but because we were in the “grande suite” there wouldn’t be a comparable room available. We wanted to try and avoid moving rooms that evening because we had our 1 and 2 year old who were already asleep. We had 2 other bathrooms available so it wasn’t the end of the world. We decided with Mr Mohammed that we he would provide an additional room nearby for our aunt who was sleeping near the leak and using that bathroom, and they would investigate further in the morning. I provided our cell phone numbers so we could be reached while we were at the parks the next day as soon as they knew what the issue was, and if we would need to move rooms so we could adjust plans accordingly. As we sat and listened to the leak which seemed to change in volume of water, and frequency, I developed a theory that it was a wastewater leak, so we were eager to have a confirmed diagnosis by hotel staff. 24 hours later, we return from a busy day at the park wondering what was found by hotel maintenance staff during the day. We returned to the room and it appeared that nothing had been done. Our aunts key for her new room was no longer working(of the 6 keys we were given for our 3 rooms, they hardly worked the whole time we were there) so she went down to the desk, where she was hassled and accused of trying to get into someone else’s room. Finally they called to verify with us that she could get into the room, during the call we requested an update on the unidentified fluid leak. We were told that Mr. Mohammed would call us back with an update. He called later to inform us that the hotel engineering had not entered the room because there was do not disturb signs on our doors. This was not true, and merely an excuse. We never once used the do not disturb signs our whole trip. So instead of calling us or otherwise communicating at all, they sat around and let an active leak in their hotel continue all day? They sent the nice maintenance man back to take another look, he tells us that the leak appears to have stopped on its own, but remained unidentified. Since the hotel neglected to take this matter seriously, we were left with our own assumptions, this was a sewer leak as far as we know. Mr. Mohammed called again to discuss, we told him how disappointed we were overall, and then the poor management of this leak and lack of follow up by the hotel really was a terrible experience.

T Vaz

Lobby and bar are great but rooms are in desperate need of renovation. Corner balcony had a great view. The $40 parking is a nightmare and should be free to resort guests who paid for a room on top of a $50 daily resort fee. Front desk staff were friendly. Not worth the price compared to nearby Disney resorts actually ran by Disney. Boat transportation to Epcot is a plus. The bus transportation is inconvenient from this resort to other parks with the third party companies (Disney buses used to service the swan and dolphin) and we found it easier to walk to yacht club and take the Disney bus transportation. Dolphin feels too corporate which is good for people attending conventions but not for a guest who’s primarily visiting the Disney theme parks. This hotel is unfortunately past its prime. Also on a side note, leaving the resort on Sunday morning had taken longer than it needed. There was a line of about 6 frustrated people in their cars waiting to exit the unattended parking gate due to a confused guest with no room key trying to call the phone number on the call box with no answer. It shouldn’t be complicated just to exit the property!

Miranda Kump

AAA discount! Excellent price point! Rooms were quiet and the beds were extremely comfortable! I have severe scoliosis and normally have to request mattress toppers but I did not have to at the Dolphin! Disney deluxe amenities available to guests of Dolphin/Swan/Reserve which includes early park entry, deluxe after hours, reserving lightning lanes 7 days in advance. The location is phenomenal with boat access to two parks: Epcot and Hollywood Studios. You can also take the boat to Beach Club and Boardwalk. Really enjoyed the breakfast from Garden Grove (located next door at Swan) but do note to check their hours because they were not open every day. We did not enjoy Rosa Mexicana (located in Dolphin) breakfast buffet. We felt the quality and variety didn't match the price point. Blue Zoo (located in Dolphin) was one of our favorite meals of the week. The posh/chic vibe, the music, the drinks and food presentation, the decor was all fantastic! I do believe it may not be appropriate for small children, as the experience and atmosphere tended to be more adult driven.

bartsimsp

Our check-in experience at Disney's Dolphin Hotel was, unfortunately, a complete disappointment. It's unbelievable that a brand like Disney, expected to provide one of the most professional guest experiences in the world, could fall so short on such a fundamental aspect. Around check-in time, the reception area was utter chaos. Hundreds of people were waiting in line, and despite this crowd, we saw only one person working at the check-in desk. Yes, you read that right: hundreds of people... one person... This wasn't just slow progress; it was a complete system breakdown. The line moved at a snail's pace, people were getting increasingly frustrated, and everyone was asking the same question: "How can a hotel this size have such poor planning?" Families on vacation, guests with children, and people who had traveled long distances were forced to stand for hours. Instead of being able to relax in their rooms after a tiring journey, they were subjected to stress and anger from the very first moment of arrival. This wasn't just a matter of "it might be busy"; it felt like the result of completely poor organization and a management approach that didn't prioritize guest satisfaction. What should have been standard at a Disney property were simple but effective steps like extra staff support during peak hours, fast check-in points, clear directions, and alternative solutions (such as directing guests to mobile check-in, separate lines for families/guests with children, etc.). But we saw none of that. People just waited... and waited... and waited... No one provided clear information, and no one tried to speed up the process. It was completely a "you wait, we'll get to you when we can" attitude. Considering the hotel's location, brand image, and price point, this experience is truly unacceptable. People staying here expect not just "an ordinary hotel" service, but the quality associated with the Disney brand. But that perception of quality is shattered from the moment you arrive. Check-in is the first impression of a hotel, and unfortunately, the first impression here was very bad. In conclusion: Even if the room cleanliness, comfort, etc., are good, this disastrous check-in experience negatively impacts the entire experience. My advice to those considering the Disney Dolphin Hotel is clear: allocate extra time for check-in and be patient... because check-in here depends entirely on luck and how many people are working that day. It's truly sad that such a large hotel manages this process so poorly. Disney management absolutely needs to take this seriously and improve their staffing. Because we came here to have a vacation, not to wait in line at the reception for hours.