Parker Jones
The Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort is a fantastic choice, especially for adults desiring a luxurious and relaxing getaway with easy access to Epcot. The convenience of boat transportation to Epcot is a major perk, making park visits incredibly simple and enjoyable. The pools are absolutely stunning, with multiple options to choose from. The poolside service is top-notch, and you can easily order drinks and snacks without ever leaving your lounge chair. The resort also boasts a wide variety of dining options, from casual cafes to upscale restaurants. I was a little disappointed that the swan boats were closed during my entire stay, but this didn't detract too much from the overall experience. While the resort is not ideal for young children due to its more adult-oriented atmosphere, it's a perfect escape for couples and groups of friends seeking a sophisticated and enjoyable vacation with convenient access to Epcot.
Nicole
If you’re expecting Disney Magic, do NOT book the Dolphin. There is absolutely none of the Disney cast member energy here—no warm smiles, no going above and beyond, and definitely no pixie dust. This is a hotel operating under the Disney name but without the Disney heart.
From the start, the front desk staff were incredibly unhelpful. At check-in, we weren’t even given a resort map, Wi-Fi info, or restaurant hours—basic things you’d expect anywhere, let alone a resort connected to Walt Disney World. When we inquired about a late checkout, we were first told it wasn’t possible… only to be told the very next day that we could extend by two hours. The inconsistency and lack of effort made it clear that guest experience was not a priority.
The hotel itself is… fine. The bed was comfortable enough, the room was clean enough, but there was nothing special or memorable about it. The best thing going for the Dolphin is its location—you can easily walk to Epcot or Hollywood Studios, and it’s close enough to other Disney resorts that you can sneak a bit of their magic into your trip. I also appreciated the complimentary bottled water, which, honestly, was a highlight compared to the rest of the stay. Oh! And they do have Mickey pancakes, so, that is a plus!
While I wouldn’t avoid it like the plague, I would not intentionally stay here again. There are better options nearby with actual Disney service and charm that are worth the extra effort/cost.
Kimberley Roberts
Beautiful resort with lots of excellent dining options and beautiful pools. Quick walk over to the Swan Resort. Excellent location right by Epcot. There are two mini golf courses right across the street at the neighboring Swan Reserve, which were fun to check out!
While this resort is on Disney property, be sure to note that this is a Marriott-owned hotel rather than a Disney-owned resort, so you cannot use your Magic Band to access your room. Also, if you book your room through a third party website rather than booking directly through the Marriott website, you CANNOT check in to your room via the Marriott app. You will have to visit the front desk to pick up your room keys, which is a slight inconvenience if there is a long line at the front desk.
My experience at this resort was good overall, but check-in and parking could have gone more smoothly. I arrived a little after 4pm on a Saturday to park at the Dolphin resort and was told that there was no more parking available due to construction in the parking lot, so I would have to park at either the Swan or the Swan Reserve. The parking lot attendants also told me that I would be able to check-in to my room from any of the three hotels, since they're all on the same property and all Marriott-owned. I drove over to park at the Swan Reserve, went inside to check in, and was told that I could only check in at the Dolphin Resort. Not a huge deal, but a minor inconvenience when you're lugging a bunch of bags and suitcases around and trying to get to your hotel room in a timely manner.
After checking out, I realized I was charged twice for parking. I had to pay to exit the parking lot at the Swan Reserve, but I was also charged a self-parking fee to my room invoice (folio) upon checking in. I was able to get the charge removed from my room invoice, but it required me to jump through a few extra hoops. Luckily, I was not charged the resort fee that I was expecting to be charged, which was a nice surprise.
Would stay here again but likely not until the parking lot construction is completed.
Ashlee Worshum
Overall had a wonderful stay at the resort. The pools and hot tubs were amazing and there were many different restaurants and a store at the resort itself so we didn't have to go anywhere to get anything. The only issue I had was with the housecleaning staff. She was extremely rude and disrespectful. We were there for a week and I had asked her for clean sheets and she flat out told me no. I went and spoke with the front desk and they were able to resolve the issue. Other than that we had a wonderful time!
Kavyashree Srinivas
Amazing resort and its amenities, easy access to park. You don’t need a car if you are doing Disney theme parks since you have bus/water transportation and easy walkway to Epcot and Hollywood studios. We returned our rental car since we did not know it would be this easy, so we can save on our parking charges! Still I have 2 stars because of the guest service. We are staying in the property for this week and from the day we checked in we have been complaining of exhaust fan not working in the bathroom and there cobwebs in the sink area. It’s still not addressed. When we checked in the reception this morning why it’s not fixed, they say the housekeeping guy checked and tried to reach us. I don’t understand why they have to reach since the raised concerned is pretty straight forward. And why would we be on phone while we are in theme parks. Am very highly disappointed with their service.
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