Resort Details
Customer Ratings & Reviews
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating
1955 reviews
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Mar 16, 2025Swan was good but Dolphin room BAD/sewage
I have stayed at the Dolphin quite a bit but this last stay was bad. Luckily it was only a one night addition to our trip (we were at the Swan for the week prior). The room appeared clean and everything orderly at the Dolphin but when I returned at night the bathroom smelled like sewage. It was late and I had already waited a long time to be able to check in for the room so I shut the door after getting ready for bed. Next morning the bathroom smell was bad. I also was woke up by truck beeping, loud glass recycling and trash can emptying at 5am. I didn’t expect a spectacular room or view when I booked a standard view but being able to sleep past 5am was expected. The sewage smell made me decide to skip my shower (it seemed like a plumbing issue). I have another longer stay in summer but I’m considering canceling it because a longer stay would have been bad. I think I will. I have been a loyal Swan and Dolphin guest but now I’m worried.
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Mar 14, 2025
How is this a Disney hotel?
This hotel is not a true Disney hotel or it is the worst one that I have stayed at at a higher cost. It’s very shocking to me that it’s called a Disney hotel. I have stayed at several Disney hotels. First of all the some rooms are wet and have the worst mold smell. I called to be switched rooms immediately but was told by guest services that the property is older without updates so all rooms are like this. I had to leave for a few hours and when I returned it was worse. The smell made my nose and eyes water and I was developing hives. I wish I was exaggerating it was that bad. This has never happened to me at a hotel. I called Guest services again and was told they will come and spray but I had to be out of the room for 3 hours due to chemicals. This was not acceptable so I insisted for a room change. Then I was told it was the manager of house keeping decision. The manager of house keeping immediately acknowledged the smell and wetness and gave me a beautiful room, thankfully. This was a suite though and not a standard room. He was very embarrassed after learning what I was told previously. This room was gorgeous. Older carpeted space but I did not have issues with smell, dampness. It did have some hot water issues in the morning but I know there were many conferenced there at at 6am everyone showers so I understood and accepted a luke warm shower in the morning with a hot shower at night. The hotel does have temperature control issues as well but both issues I could live with. The entire hotel itself has temperature control issues making it so cold it felt like a freezer. Even staff were extremely uncomfortable with space heaters at some stations. Colleagues at the conference had to layer sweaters and jackets. I did not bring enough warm cloths to Florida so I froze. I am not talking chilly this was almost unbearable cold. Speaking with colleagues at the conference some had no water at all one morning. NO WATER to even brush your teeth. Some also complained about the must smell of their room. I left lucky to at least have cold/like warm water for washing. I also turned the heat on in my room to 79 which made it 72 and bearable with cold air still blowing from the return but still bearable. The change of my room made the stay not so bad but I considered myself very lucky compared to some. I also am very thankful for the House Keeping Manager that acted as if he was the owner of the hotel and had a lot of pride in the place making my situation right. He was sincere and apologetic. This hotel is not worth the price. I know what I paid for a standard room and it was way too much for a 1 star feel. The suites are beautiful with minor issues but if I paid close to 400 us for a standard, I can only imagine the price of a suite. The grounds, common areas are clean and beautiful. There is simply no comfort at this place and for the price and the face that they call it a Walt Disney hotel its a but shocking.
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Mar 10, 2025Just “okay”
I just recently stayed here the weekend of 3/7 for a birthday trip. The location and bus/boat service to Hollywood and the other parks were fantastic. Our issue was with our room—two traveling adults who booked a king room and got a double room upon check-in. Upon entering the room (10056), the room smelled heavily of mildew or wet carpet. We slept in separate beds the first night as we were so tired, but on the second night, my husband went to the front desk to let them know what we booked was not what we received, and we were told there was nothing they could do for us as they were full. Lesson learned make sure to speak up from the jump if something is wrong. I don't think we would stay at this location again.
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Mar 09, 2025
Multiple visits , but never again!
We have stayed happily at the dolphin, probably around seven times in the past 10 years. Sadly, this will be our last. We’ve recommended it to many of our friends, but will retract all of those recommendations. While you pretty much can’t beat the location, the level of Care has dropped precipitously. Just today, while settling into a lounge chair poolside, I discovered that I shouldn’t get too comfortable because two of the pools and the beach area are to be closed at noon for a private event. I’m sorry, I guess I didn’t pay enough to use the pool and beach while I was here . Furthermore, if you expect to grab something quick for breakfast, it will neither be quick nor breakfast. Instead, you will stand in line with every other guest in this massive hotel, long enough that you may as well order lunch while you’re there to avoid the line again. If you enjoy ordering breakfast at Starbucks, then you’ll enjoy this. There use to be a wonderful quick service cafeteria downstairs that offered eggs, bacon, omelettes, toast, sausage (you get the picture) , but they closed it to open yet another overpriced restaurant who depends on the expense accounts of convention attendees to keep them afloat. The rooms are adequate, as long as you don’t need to open or close the bathroom door with someone in there because there isn’t room for one person plus their shadow. The toilet has gurgled every night like someone flushed a plush Mickey down there. Bottom line, what once was a nice cheap family place is no more. Never again. Stay at a Disney hotel(this most definitely is not) , especially with kids. The quick service alone will make it worth it.
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Feb 28, 2025Terrible mistake
I booked the Dolphin last minute, as we were visiting family in the area. I like the location because I enjoy waking, and the Epcot resort area is the perfect place to get some miles in. My other choice was the Drury at Disney Springs. Since we stay there often, I figured we would break it up and try something new. Horrible mistake on my part. The good: The location is in one of the best areas of Disney. Lots of places to see and explore if you’re not going to the parks. If you are going to the parks, it’s an easy walk to the back entrance to Epcot. The lobby is pretty with plenty of places to eat. We enjoyed Fuel for late night snacks. The rest: Attempting to park for check-in was a nightmare. We waited 30 minutes for the valet line to move enough so I could parallel park and walk in. After check-in, they made us park across the street, about a 10 minute walk with luggage, because their lot was full. Not only is the hotel showing its age, but they’ve let it get run down. The hallways to the rooms are disgusting. You can clearly see the years of foot traffic going down the middle. In the room, under the glass top table, rust was showing, giving the appearance of eating on a dirty table top. I didn’t grab a picture but the shower had dirt in the bottom! After I ran the water for a minute, the dirt washed down; a clear indication it hadn’t been cleaned. Lastly, the bed. After a long drive, the last thing I wanted to do was get into the bed and feel the mattress on my feet. After removing the sheets, whoever made the bed left about a foot of mattress exposed. So gross. I made the bed correctly and went to sleep for the night. This is a one and done. If you find a decent deal, don’t do it. It’s not worth it. Stay at an actual Disney hotel instead or go to the Drury.