ww52
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2001
Long post that some might find informative. For anyone else - humor me. I recently booked our rooms for July 2020 and I'm kind of psyched already.
I requested the same type of rooms we had in 2018 at the Dolphin - which were as follows:
Two rooms booked under one reservation number that are not connecting, but across the hall from each other. At at the very end of the hall (in the "triangle" section) - there is a third door that seals the two rooms off from the rest of the hall - and one key card opens all three doors. Plus closing that door creates a sort of private area where things like a stroller etc can be stored.
We had two sets of these - one on one end of the floor and the other on the other.
We had a view of Epcot from one room and the Studios on the other. And in the distance we could see MK.
What are these rooms called? I have no real idea. Last year we requested 4 rooms at the Swan and the reservationist suggested this at the Dolphin - she called it an Alcove Suite. But that term applies to other configurations as well I understand. There is NOTHING on the website pictures and diagrams that mention this - presumably because it comprises two separate (non connecting) rooms.
We found this set up so perfect that I called for 2020 just 3 or 4 days after the first time we could (350 days in advance - different than for Disney properties.) I mentioned the specific room numbers we had last year in the hopes of getting them - but if not, the very same set up on another floor. I was told we could not get the very same rooms (all it would take is one of them being booked already for just one of our 6 night stay to make it impossible) but I was told they'd put us on a floor close to that.
Annoying to me to say the least that there is still no specific term used for this that would not potentially apply to some other set up. And the reservation confirmation actually made me question if I was getting what I requested (and paid for in my deposits). A call back verified that it's what I wanted since the reservationist it described it the way I expected.
A couple points - the reservation confirmation last time actually was much better in that it explicitly said each reservation number had two rooms. Not this time - and I suspect it's the result of the Marriott takeover (last year it was not completed). In fact the two confirmations themselves each were different from each other.
But the price indicates it's more than one room each - because with taxes and resort fee (with a senior discount) it's just under $600 a night. I was told it was essentially a certain price for the larger of the two rooms and then $200 for the smaller
The rooms were configured as the larger having two twin beds and a pullout couch. Very roomy.
The one across from it had a King bed. A smaller room but still quite comfortable.
The drawback of the Dolphin to me is the convention crowd. More so than at the Swan. And it's true there are few quick meal options. But the view and price and family experience made this set up better overall.
And the pool area is second to none in my opinion of any comparably priced Disney resort. (Y/B still the best I would suppose - but four rooms there would be hundreds more each night compared to what we're getting.
Even the Unofficial Guide seems to lack complete information on the Dolphin. They don't mention the rooms in the "triangle" at all.
One last note for anyone curious - we were on the 18th floor. I'm not sure what floors constitute the triangle - but we were clearly higher than the various wings or arms that most people refer to when describing their Dolphin rooms. We could see the huge "water buckets" that sit above the "arms" that come out. And the clamshell "waterfall" (The inside of them btw aer very grimy looking)
I requested the same type of rooms we had in 2018 at the Dolphin - which were as follows:
Two rooms booked under one reservation number that are not connecting, but across the hall from each other. At at the very end of the hall (in the "triangle" section) - there is a third door that seals the two rooms off from the rest of the hall - and one key card opens all three doors. Plus closing that door creates a sort of private area where things like a stroller etc can be stored.
We had two sets of these - one on one end of the floor and the other on the other.
We had a view of Epcot from one room and the Studios on the other. And in the distance we could see MK.
What are these rooms called? I have no real idea. Last year we requested 4 rooms at the Swan and the reservationist suggested this at the Dolphin - she called it an Alcove Suite. But that term applies to other configurations as well I understand. There is NOTHING on the website pictures and diagrams that mention this - presumably because it comprises two separate (non connecting) rooms.
We found this set up so perfect that I called for 2020 just 3 or 4 days after the first time we could (350 days in advance - different than for Disney properties.) I mentioned the specific room numbers we had last year in the hopes of getting them - but if not, the very same set up on another floor. I was told we could not get the very same rooms (all it would take is one of them being booked already for just one of our 6 night stay to make it impossible) but I was told they'd put us on a floor close to that.
Annoying to me to say the least that there is still no specific term used for this that would not potentially apply to some other set up. And the reservation confirmation actually made me question if I was getting what I requested (and paid for in my deposits). A call back verified that it's what I wanted since the reservationist it described it the way I expected.
A couple points - the reservation confirmation last time actually was much better in that it explicitly said each reservation number had two rooms. Not this time - and I suspect it's the result of the Marriott takeover (last year it was not completed). In fact the two confirmations themselves each were different from each other.
But the price indicates it's more than one room each - because with taxes and resort fee (with a senior discount) it's just under $600 a night. I was told it was essentially a certain price for the larger of the two rooms and then $200 for the smaller
The rooms were configured as the larger having two twin beds and a pullout couch. Very roomy.
The one across from it had a King bed. A smaller room but still quite comfortable.
The drawback of the Dolphin to me is the convention crowd. More so than at the Swan. And it's true there are few quick meal options. But the view and price and family experience made this set up better overall.
And the pool area is second to none in my opinion of any comparably priced Disney resort. (Y/B still the best I would suppose - but four rooms there would be hundreds more each night compared to what we're getting.
Even the Unofficial Guide seems to lack complete information on the Dolphin. They don't mention the rooms in the "triangle" at all.
One last note for anyone curious - we were on the 18th floor. I'm not sure what floors constitute the triangle - but we were clearly higher than the various wings or arms that most people refer to when describing their Dolphin rooms. We could see the huge "water buckets" that sit above the "arms" that come out. And the clamshell "waterfall" (The inside of them btw aer very grimy looking)
Last edited:
