WDW Dolphin

[zipster]

Have finally booked our honeymoon to Orlando for next June (so excited!), and got a great deal staying at the Dolphin! We don't know much about the hotel, has anyone stayed there and is it any good? Also is there a specific room we should ask for? We have already requested a non smoking room with king size bed, but what about views, noise etc? Thanks guys x :hehe:

[Bambi]

Yay! I think you'll be happy at the dolphin resort. Make sure you collect your sheraton/starwood points during your stay. It does pay off we got an automatic upgrade and we have enough points for a couple of nights free at any sheraton resort. DH has only stayed at sheratons over the last year or two when he travels for work. So the points do accumulate quiet nicely:)

Anyway, we stayed twice at the dolphin and have all nice things to say about the resort. The first year we didn't have a view since we didn't want to pay extra for the upgrade for a better view. This last stay we had the free upgrade and had an awesome view of MGM's tower of terror. Getting off the elevator to get to our room was a pretty long hike with two kids, but worth it since the girls enjoyed the view. I am tempted though next time to ask if there is a view thats closer to the elevator :D

You will love the pool for sure and there are many selections of places to eat at. Oh, sometimes there are large conventions going on and the lobby area might get crowded at times. The lobby has a pianist playing beautiful music and the lobby's water fountain is just lovely. We never encountered any noise issues that effected our sleep.

Just to warn you they started charging (including resort guests) for self parking. I believe it was seven dollars a day.

Location is super just hop on the water tram to MGM and Epcot. You can even walk to epcot sometimes its faster that the tram. If we are tired we take advantage of the water tram.

Busses are convient to get to AK and MK just ask the times that the busses leave when you get to the hotel.

When at the dolphin resort you will get to enter parks an hour early or stay at the park three hours extra on selected dates.

Tubbies is great to grab a donut and coffee in the morning before heading out to the parks.

[zipster]

Thanks for the reply Bambi! Do you happen to know anything about the resort fees that the Dolphin charge? ($10 per room per day if I'm correct!) It's just that we get free paper, coffee and health club admission (and self parking so I'm told!) with Virgin anyway, so it seems we would be paying the resort fee for internet access and free phone calls which we wouldn't use! Is it compulsory or can you get out of it!?!? Thanks x :hehe:

[Bambi]

Zipster, I know last year they still had the resort fee and we paid it. This year, we were on the disney land and sea pkg so we didn't have to pay for it. Oh, forgot, they tried billing it to us but when we told them we were on a cruise package they removed it.
Maybe someone else will be able to help you with that question. BTW, if it includes self parking, I had no idea. Thats very interesting to know :)

[TinyTinkerBell]

We've stayed at the Dolphin multiple times. If you are lucky, you will get a MGM view where you can see the TOT and fireworks from Fantasmic! Or, just stroll outside onto the bridge to the BoardWalk and you can see the IllumiNations fireworks. Their pool is a grotto pool similar to SAB, and second only to it.Great waterfall and slide! Also, the Dolphin guests are eligible for EMH, and share transport with the BoardWalk Inn (buses) and BWI and yacht and beach club ( boat trams to MGM and Epcot). You can tram to Epcot, however we left on foot at the same time and then waited for the tram with my mom and she got there 12 minutes later! So foot is definitely faster.

[Rosie0610]

We stayed last year and plan on having our honeymoon there in October. The room was fantastic. A view and close to the elevators!! I just loved it and my soon to be DH thought it was great cause he's not as into Disney as me so it was good for him to get away from it for awhile!
I believe everyone has to pay the resort fee. No exceptions unless part of your package.
I'm going next week to check out where my wedding will be outside the Swan! Cant wait!!

[zipster]

Congrats Rosie on the wedding! We have friends who are having their wedding at the Swan in August! Unfortunately we can't afford to go what with our own wedding next year but it will be cool to see the photos then see it for real next year!

:p :p :p

[Kate2005]

I have just had a quick look at the Virgin brochure, and I couldn't see anything in there about a resort fee? We are staying there in November for our wedding and have booked through Virgin :D . We are getting lots of "exclusive benefits" like papers, free entrance to health clubs etc, so would we still have to pay it? When would they tell us - when we checked out presumably?
I'm so confused! :confused:

[zipster]

Tell me about it Kate!!! :hehe:

There's nothing about it on the Dolphin page in the brochure but there was something in the small print at the back of the brochure about resort fees not being included, have spoken to somebody else who stayed there with Virgin and he said that they didn't have to pay it as they were staying with Virgin! Apparently it covers a daily paper and coffee in your room (WOO HOO!) as well as health club entry, a phone in your room and 60 mins of internet access per day! Since we are going with Virgin, we get the paper, coffee and health club free entry anyway! And I don't know about you but we are not taking a laptop on our honeymoon and don't know anybody in the states to call while we're there!!! Hopefully we will get away with it!!

Can anybody unscramble our confused brains??? :confused:

Many thanks x

:wiggle: :wiggle: :wiggle: :wiggle: :wiggle: :wiggle: :wiggle:

[Kate2005]

I could get a coffee and a paper somewhere else for cheaper than $10!! :rotfl:

Don't you just love the small print :rolleyes: , we'll just have to mention something about Virgin while we are there, if you can get away with it that way! :wink:

[Whitequeen]

If you are going on a Virgin Pkg, you shouldn't have to pay the resort fee. It will be included in the price somewhere. Your accommodation is completely paid for. All you'll have to do when you get there is check in. :shrug: