csmommy,
Why not do both? we split our christmas trip between the Dolphin and the AKL and loved it. We stsrted at the Dolphin and got that fabulous location and then, we moved to the AKL and got to experience the unbelievable ambience. So, my advice for this choice is--why choose? do them both. Also, the move from the Swan/Dolphin to the AKL took about 30 minutes out of our day. That includes both checking out and In.
PS--sorry to hijack your thread, OP.