Walt Disney World Dolphin

Walt Disney World, Orlando

FAVOURITES HOTEL
These hotels provide exceptionally good value, are in great locations and offer exclusive benefits to Virgin Holidays’ customers.
Standard Room
Dolphin Lobby
Disney Character Dining
Cabana Bar and Beach Club, Walt Disney World Dolphin, Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida
Dolphin Starlight Foyer
Dolphin Lobby
Fuel Food Market
Standard Room
Todd English’s bluezoo
Standard Room
Todd English’s bluezoo
Kimonos, Walt Disney World Dolphin, Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida
Shula’s Steak House
The Fountain
Il Mulino New York Trattoria
Il Mulino New York Trattoria
Garden Grove
Picabu
Shula’s Steak House
Shula’s Steak House
Todd English’s bluezoo
Fresh Mediterranean Market
Phins Lounge
Mandara Spa
Standard Room
Dolphin Lobby
Disney Character Dining
Cabana Bar and Beach Club, Walt Disney World Dolphin, Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida
Dolphin Starlight Foyer
Dolphin Lobby
Fuel Food Market
Standard Room
Todd English’s bluezoo
Standard Room
Todd English’s bluezoo
Kimonos, Walt Disney World Dolphin, Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida
Shula’s Steak House
The Fountain
Il Mulino New York Trattoria
Il Mulino New York Trattoria
Garden Grove
Picabu
Shula’s Steak House
Shula’s Steak House
Todd English’s bluezoo
Fresh Mediterranean Market
Phins Lounge
Mandara Spa

The hotel

Perched overlooking the gardens leading to Epcot, the Walt Disney World Dolphin is a fantastic base to make the most of the famed theme parks. With Walt Disney World Swan adjacent, there’s a huge 18 restaurants between the two resorts for you to enjoy. And with 5 pools, a waterslide, a kids’ camp and mini-golf nearby, little ones will be entertained to high heavens.

Amenities

  • Bar
  • Spa
  • Swimming Pool
  • Wedding
  • Theme Parks
  • No Smoking
  • Kids Club
  • Children’s Playground
  • Children's Pool
  • Free Parking
  • Close to Walt Disney World Resort
  • Room Service

Where is it

Ideally located in the heart of the Walt Disney World Resort. Adjacent to Epcot and within close proximity to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Transfer time from Orlando International Airport: 30 minutes.

Hotel information

2,270 guest rooms. All with air-conditioning, flat-screen HDTV, iPod/MP3 connections, tea/coffee making facilities, mini-fridge, safe, iron and board and hairdryer. Standard Rooms have courtyard or lake views, with 1 king-size bed, 2 queen-size beds or 2 double beds, sleeping maximum 4 adults or 2 adults and 2 children. (5th person can be accommodated on a rollaway bed*).

Why is this a Virgin Holidays favourite?

Range of restaurants, offering fantastic dining options

Great for families, with Camp Dolphin supervised activity programme* (local charge)

Fantastic spa facilities with exclusive discounts for Virgin Holidays' guests

Exclusive Virgin Holidays benefits:

  • Receive a Lake View Room at the Dolphin or a Courtyard View Room at the Swan
  • Kids 9 years and under eat free at the following restaurants when accompanied by a full paying adult. Garden Grove which offers breakfast and lunch, Fresh which also offers breakfast and lunch, and at The Fountain for dinner. Maximum 2 children per room, per paying adult. Restaurants and meal options are subject to change
  • Complimentary babysitting service for kids aged 4-12 years whilst parents eat at either Shula's, Blue Zoo or Il Mulino. Maximum 2 hours
  • Receive 20% discount on any Mandara Spa treatment valued at $50 or more
  • Complimentary self-parking saving $28.00 per day
  • Any adult only booking will receive a $50 food coupon to dine at the resort (one per room, per stay)

Complimentary Disney transportation throughout the Walt Disney World Resort. Within walking distance of Disney's BoardWalk, Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and to a private entrance at Epcot. Complimentary water taxi to Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot.

18 restaurants and lounges across both Swan and Dolphin resorts: Fresh Mediterranean Market (open for breakfast and lunch). The Fountain (open for lunch and dinner). Garden Grove (open for breakfast and lunch; character breakfast on Sat and Sun). Il Mulino New York Trattoria (Italian dining, open for dinner). Il Mulino Lounge. Kimonos (sushi, open for dinner). Splash Pool Bar & Grill (poolside dining). Java (open for breakfast; grab-and-go available for breakfast, lunch and dinner). Picabu (open for breakfast, lunch and dinner). Shula's Steak House (open for dinner). Todd English's Bluezoo (Seafood, open for dinner; lounge serving light bites and cocktails). Shula's Steakhouse (open for dinner; lounge open for drinks). Phins (light bites and cocktails). Chill (cocktails). Cabana Bar and Beach Club. Kimonos Lounge. 24-hour room service*.

5 swimming pools, including a 3-acre grotto pool with waterslide and waterfalls, 2 lap pools, a spring pool and a kids' pool. 4 whirlpools. Sandy beach. The Dolphin Health Club with fitness centre and yoga mats (on request). Mandara Spa*. Camp Dolphin* kids' club. Volleyball. Jogging trails. Kids' playground. Arcade*. Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf* (located nearby).

Complimentary WiFi. 24-hour ATM. Babysitting*. Laundry/dry cleaning facilities*. Merchandise delivery service from the park to your hotel. Complimentary parking at Disney Theme Parks with room key and ID.

Wheelchair accessible rooms available on request. Please note that these rooms are subject to availability and may be restricted to specific room categories and bedding arrangements. Rooms and facilities vary between hotels so please check at the time of booking. For more information and contact details please check out our Special Assistance page

* Denotes local charge.

Please note: use of a rollaway bed for parties of 5 people or more sharing a room will incur an additional charge. This is subject to change and is payable locally to the hotel.


Rating summary

  • Location Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Sleep Quality Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Rooms Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Service Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Value Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Cleanliness Image of the Tripadvisor rating

Traveller rating

  • Excellent (522)
  • Very good (407)
  • Average (218)
  • Poor (114)
  • Terrible (117)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Great Resort!

Sep 21, 2020 E9103ZMheidis

Having now experienced stays in both the Swan and Dolphin resorts, there is a huge difference and the Dolphin impressed us from the moment we arrived! Valet was prompt and greeted us warmly, bell services, and front desk were both very professional and friendly. Our requested room was not ready when we arrived but since we were headed to Disney… Read more
Having now experienced stays in both the Swan and Dolphin resorts, there is a huge difference and the Dolphin impressed us from the moment we arrived! Valet was prompt and greeted us warmly, bell services, and front desk were both very professional and friendly. Our requested room was not ready when we arrived but since we were headed to Disney Springs we were happy to wait vs taking the immediately-available double bed room. They did accommodate our request for a higher floor and the room was ready right before 4:00 p.m. The room was clean, quiet, and very comfortable. We had extra amenities (coffee, tea, soaps, etc.) which was nice. We had dinner at Shula's and it was absolutely amazing (it's a favorite but we weren't sure how it would be right now with Covid rules in place). Tables were spaced out and they handled groups of diners with ease. The staff at Fuel were also friendly and helpful, and we continued to be treated with the same professional and kind service through check-out. Even as we waited for valet services to get our vehicle, Borman chatted with us and kept us laughing. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Teachers are taken advantage of!

Sep 15, 2020 kime555

I just returned from Disney and stayed at the Dolphin. It was a beautiful hotel, very comfortable, cheaper than other Boardwalk area hotels, and very convenient to Hollywood Studios and Epcot. When I booked the rooms (we had 2), I got a price of $199 ($257.63 with tax and fees) per room with a teacher discount. I was thrilled that they offered a… Read more
I just returned from Disney and stayed at the Dolphin. It was a beautiful hotel, very comfortable, cheaper than other Boardwalk area hotels, and very convenient to Hollywood Studios and Epcot. When I booked the rooms (we had 2), I got a price of $199 ($257.63 with tax and fees) per room with a teacher discount. I was thrilled that they offered a teacher discount; however, during my stay, I found out that I was being charged much more than the published rate of $136. I called and asked them to adjust my rate because i was paying more than I would be paying as a Marriott rewards member. They refused to adjust my rate because they said that was the rate at the time of booking. I could not believe that they would not honor the published rate at the time. This is a nice hotel, but they certainly take advantage of teachers. If you book, do NOT book the teacher rate! You will be paying much more. So sad that they advertise a teacher discount but actually charge teachers way more than other guests. Just a horrible business practice. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Nice But Can’t Handle COVID

Sep 7, 2020 Takemetoalaska Cape Coral, Florida

This hotel is nice. It was the first time we stayed here. It’s pretty and our room, while right next to the elevator and pretty loud with foot traffic, was brand new. The room was recently updated. The beds were interesting because the sheets and bedding were very comfy, but the mattress definitely runs on the very firm side. The hotel is… Read more
This hotel is nice. It was the first time we stayed here. It’s pretty and our room, while right next to the elevator and pretty loud with foot traffic, was brand new. The room was recently updated. The beds were interesting because the sheets and bedding were very comfy, but the mattress definitely runs on the very firm side. The hotel is connected to The Swan so you can go back and forth between these places. We never had a chance to access the pool area, but it did look very nice. You can walk to Epcot and Hollywood Studios, which we did. Be aware that your nightly rate is not what you’ll pay when it’s all said and done. There’s a $27 daily parking fee and resort fees tagged on, so this is misleading when you get your final bill. The hotel is struggling to adapt with COVID restrictions when the line to get coffee or to purchase something in their general store is going out to the lobby. You have to stand separated from others but when you have to wait in line to get coffee for 30+ minutes, I’m sorry, but that’s not ok. Have a separate line for people that just want coffee, or, have two separate locations. I walked to the swan one day because the coffee line at our hotel was going out into the lobby, but the coffee place at the swan wasn’t much better. They also had us going out into the lobby and waiting over 25 minutes just for a cup of coffee. These are things that need to be fixed. I HIGHLY recommend getting up early to get coffee or buying some creamer and putting it in your room’s fridge. They have a VERY small coffee pot with coffee filter/pods (not Keurig) in the room so I guess you could ask the front desk for more if you run out. I’m not sure that we would return during COVID restrictions and they would have to be offering a REALLY good deal. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Mold, termites, and extremely hard to get food without waiting a very very long time

Sep 6, 2020 Ststeh

We are from South Florida and come to Disney about 4 times a year or so. I was really disappointed with my stay here. When we checked in our first room had hair in the bathroom and all over the toilet. There was old candy wrappers near the bed. It also had black mold near the carpet by the air vent. This is a health hazard!!! Nobody should be… Read more
We are from South Florida and come to Disney about 4 times a year or so. I was really disappointed with my stay here. When we checked in our first room had hair in the bathroom and all over the toilet. There was old candy wrappers near the bed. It also had black mold near the carpet by the air vent. This is a health hazard!!! Nobody should be allowed in a room with mold!! We called and after being on hold for 30 minutes I was finally able to talk to someone and they offered to switch rooms. (Didn’t offer a refund or food credit, nothing like that.) Shocker. We went to another room and upon arrival I found termite droppings in the bathroom. After that I called again and they said they would move us. Finally, the next room was okay but outside the room there was mold on the vents. Sheets were clean but you could tell there we previous stains on it. At this point if I was going to move again I would have just left the hotel. But we were tired from the parks so we dealt with it. I have to say though my number one complaint would be how difficult it was to access food/water/necessities at the hotel. Lines are extremely long with little staff (which I understand) and the hours are off. We tried to get water and some Advil at Fuel around 9:30pm and they were closed. I just feel like this isn’t appropriate/convenient for the guest. What if there’s a serious situation where someone needs easy access to a drink of water? We wanted a snack at night too and everything was closed. For the money we pay for 3 nights we should be able to grab a candy bar or water at night if need be. I went to the guest service counter just to get water. Waited 20 minutes. I asked where I could get Advil and they literally said we would have to go to a gas station. Just crazy for “Disney” property. This place needs to get it together. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating This Is Not A Resort!!!!!!

Sep 6, 2020 T9723WLdanielb

This was our honeymoon/ best friends trip and it was all down hill from jump. Resort fees/ not enough self parking for their customers. We drove around the parking lot for 45 while our Texas Roadhouse order got freezing cold. They didn’t clean our room before we came, as there was what appeared to be crap on the walls in the bathroom. They didn’t… Read more
This was our honeymoon/ best friends trip and it was all down hill from jump. Resort fees/ not enough self parking for their customers. We drove around the parking lot for 45 while our Texas Roadhouse order got freezing cold. They didn’t clean our room before we came, as there was what appeared to be crap on the walls in the bathroom. They didn’t come in to clean our room and put fresh linens in our room. The desk said due to Covid 19 this wasn’t offered, they said we had to call to get fresh towels daily. WTH we are on vacation at Disney, for the price we paid we shouldn’t have to call for anything. Covid is not an excuse! Read less