Why do I think I'm an expert? Resort Advice please!

[hsmamato2]

Why is it so somple to help others plan their trips, but when it comes down to it, I 2nd guess my own to WDW nonstop? OK...disclaimer,I have been to WDW MANY times, stayed at various onsite places,visited all the other ones. Right now,thinking about my upcoming options, I can potentially choose between 3. (I know,lucky) so...I can
1- Stay at the Dolphin,(got a super great rate), use Disney transport onsite,pay OOP for QS.Plus we would get hopper tix ,7 day.(pay for taxi back to airport tho)
2-Stay at Pop, get free QS dining, rent a car (hate the bus stops there) get 7 day base tix-
3- stay POFQ with FD (if available)-so free TS dining- 7 day base tix,use Disney transport,including ME
What to do? moneywise, the Pop stay is the cheapest 2644.00,Dolphin is 2916.00, (272.00 more) POFQ is 3308.00- (so approx 664.00 more than pop,392.00 more than Dolphin)
I like certain sections of Pop,tho rooms are small, never stayed Dolphin, but LOVE that area- and Love POFQ anyway.....
Food.... we've done FD with TS for a couple of years,honestly I don't love the food that much, but it was good deal.....we're familiar with WDW so finding good QS isn't a problem
Currently leaning towards Dolphin for the location,and hopper tix, kind of a different feel,we usually have base tix. WWYD?

 

[hsmamato2]

also forgot to mention.... we like to hang out and relax quite a bit..... pools,views,etc. If anyone has stayed Dolphin, does this place have a nice 'feel' for the hanging out types? (last year,we enjoyed hanging out at POFQ quite a bit) we're not the shower and run out the door types at all.... and I assume the rooms at Dolphin might be roomier than Pop?

 

[mommyof3princess27]

I think it depends if you want the TS or not... and you hang out at the pool I would do Dolphin or POFQ. My vote would be POFQ and do some TS. I love the resort

 

[luvallprincesses]

Why is it so somple to help others plan their trips, but when it comes down to it, I 2nd guess my own to WDW nonstop? OK...disclaimer,I have been to WDW MANY times, stayed at various onsite places,visited all the other ones. Right now,thinking about my upcoming options, I can potentially choose between 3. (I know,lucky) so...I can
1- Stay at the Dolphin,(got a super great rate), use Disney transport onsite,pay OOP for QS.Plus we would get hopper tix ,7 day.(pay for taxi back to airport tho)
2-Stay at Pop, get free QS dining, rent a car (hate the bus stops there) get 7 day base tix-
3- stay POFQ with FD (if available)-so free TS dining- 7 day base tix,use Disney transport,including ME
What to do? moneywise, the Pop stay is the cheapest 2644.00,Dolphin is 2916.00, (272.00 more) POFQ is 3308.00- (so approx 664.00 more than pop,392.00 more than Dolphin)
I like certain sections of Pop,tho rooms are small, never stayed Dolphin, but LOVE that area- and Love POFQ anyway.....
Food.... we've done FD with TS for a couple of years,honestly I don't love the food that much, but it was good deal.....we're familiar with WDW so finding good QS isn't a problem
Currently leaning towards Dolphin for the location,and hopper tix, kind of a different feel,we usually have base tix. WWYD?

We are in a similar situation to you. Really considering the Dolphin for our first time. How great to have the option to walk or even boat to 2 parks. Heavenly beds. We don't want the dining plan, would book a couple TS but we tend to enjoy our QS meals as much and have our favorites. We agree that we couldn't resist park hoppers (which we NEVER get) when right next door to Epcot and HS. And Epcot WS has some of those favorite QS locations. Paying for a town car to/from airport is minor. Although we will miss the experience/hyping up of ME on the way, we won't miss the sad return or the sometimes long wait and stop at other resorts. I think you just helped me convince myself to do the Dolphin. Thanks! BTW, we are going to get AAA membership for the % off the dining at Picabu, and in case the AAA rate ends up better than the Teacher rate. And maybe consider the Starwoods AMEX rewards card, too, in addition to the membership card I already signed up for. Happy deciding!

 

[MET270]

My DW and I did the Swan a few years ago and absolutely loved it. Great location, easy access to Dis transportation, good restaurants. However, we stayed at AKL on our next trip and I like staying on property, especially with the DDP. in Aug we will be at CR for the first time, can't wait! I would say give the Dolphin a try this time, I don't think you will be disappointed.

 

[HM]

Of your choices, I'm leaning toward the Dolphin stay with QS OOP meals and taxi to/from airport. The deluxe style rooms and large pool for hanging out plus the location for walking to Epcot and DHS would be great. We stayed in the Swan and ate at Picabu a couple times and used the pool a couple days. We enjoyed that stay a lot.

I have stayed at PopC and it's not my favorite value resort. I have not stayed at POFQ before but have stayed in the other moderates. The rooms are fine but no where near as nice as those at Swan/Dolphin.

 

[hsmamato2]

I think you just helped me convince myself to do the Dolphin. Thanks! BTW, we are going to get AAA membership for the % off the dining at Picabu, and in case the AAA rate ends up better than the Teacher rate. And maybe consider the Starwoods AMEX rewards card, too, in addition to the membership card I already signed up for. Happy deciding!

haha glad to be of help! I forgot,we have AAA also, so that will help with dining at the hotel too,looks like 20% off even the qs at Dolphin? If dolphin standard rooms are 360 sf, how does that compare to POFQ size rooms?

 

[luvallprincesses]

haha glad to be of help! I forgot,we have AAA also, so that will help with dining at the hotel too,looks like 20% off even the qs at Dolphin? If dolphin standard rooms are 360 sf, how does that compare to POFQ size rooms?

Moderates at wdw are 314 square feet. I'm not sure how much of the 360 sf at Dolphin can be contributed to actual bedroom size (as opposed to bathroom, entryway) which i think is what makes it feel bigger. I expect them to feel about the same size-wise. The WL rooms had such small "usable" space compared to moderates, so much of the square footage was in hallway/entryway and sink area, I was so surprised.

I didn't remember that it was as much as 20% off for AAA but that's great. I remembered it was significant enough to warrant the membership though.

 

[hsmamato2]

Well, still thinking,but seeing it all out here has me leaning towards the Dolphin too....and it would a new place to stay,so there is that! And yes, with PH tix, we could just hop to Epcot nightly for a dinner somewhere,my DH would love that....

 

[luvallprincesses]

Well, still thinking,but seeing it all out here has me leaning towards the Dolphin too....and it would a new place to stay,so there is that! And yes, with PH tix, we could just hop to Epcot nightly for a dinner somewhere,my DH would love that....

I'm glad we helped convince each other! I am booking the dolphin tomorrow. The rates for our dates in Jan right now for teacher, standard room, are $209 (plus tax and resort fee) but I hope/expect it will come down if I keep checking. When are you planning for? (Sorry if that's in your signature; I don't see them on mobile.)

 

[hsmamato2]

We're going the week before Thansgiving, got a great rate on Quikbook..... keep looking sometimes they have great sales!

 

[hsmamato2]

Oh wow...all this talk of free dining,room discounts etc etc made me rethink and crunch all my numbers again....ack! anyway I ALMOST booked a Pop package...... but then I stopped myself..... I would probably be making the mistake of apples to oranges....Pop to Dolphin..... so I got the rates for a comparable stay at BC or Poly with a package.....then I was settled,and happy with my current deal! Even tho Pop is a good deal with a package,etc...... I am now at the point in my Disvacationing where a couple of bucks more seems worth it to me to have a bit of extra 'luxury' for a week.....
SO I'm sticking with the Dolphin,and mostly QS (yum Epcot) for our week.....
(I love how my DH has absolutely NO idea how much I think about this stuff)

 

[jba2]

The Dolphin is a fabulous choice. I no longer stay at Disney Deluxe resorts as I love the Dolphin prices. With what I'm saving in the room, I get park hoppers as it's so easy getting to HS and Epcot. Many say that free dining isn't actually free anyway. Instead of looking for a taxi to go to and from the area, try looking at a car service.