Beach Club vs. Dolphin

[mommykds]

Ok which do you prefer?

 

[devotedchristian]

bump

 

[maggiew]

We prefer the Dolphin because the Beach Club is too expensive. We had a great stay at the Dolphin and paid the price of a moderate! The pools were great and the location can't be beat for the price.

Disclaimer, I haven't stayed at the Beach club. But that's because we prefer the less expensive option of the Dolphin.

Maggie

 

[Lewisc]

I've stayed in both. S/D charges a resort fee, charges for parking and doesn't participate with ME. Adjust your rate from the Dolphin.

If the total price was about the same I'd go for the BC. SAB is a better pool, although Grotto pool is probaby the second best pool on property. I think the Dolphin has more of an adult, business feel to it. If you have young kids you might prefer BC but I'd go with the S/D if the price is good.

 

[Gymbomom]

We LOVED the Dolphin, but since its rising popularity, I think it is harder to find the awesome rates. Also, when you fator in all their charges, what is it like $22 a day?? That adds up. Also, I like to have my hotel all paid for when we leave. I really hate I will have a $104 balance at the end of my stay for leaving my car in their parking lot, and not drinkning the coffee, not using the fitness room, etc.
The Beach Club is a better hotel, but the prices are steep. I would rather stay there than the Dolphin, but the Dolphin would be a close second for that area. Even if you factor in the charges, the Dolphin will more than likely be cheaper.

 

[elf]

I've stayed at both and they are my two favorites. I like the BC better but the price has usually been more than I could afford. So for the last 5 years I've been going to the Swan/Dolphin. The pool is my second favorite (1st SAB). I like the range and multiple option of restaurants in S/D; Tubbi's 24 hours (cheap), to the Fountain (good burgers and sandwiches and ice cream, cheap), to Character meals (mid range) and a few other mid meals, to Sushi to Palios and the steak house which are high end. All right in the complex.
I've never had a bad view from either the S/D. They are just so expensive this year I'm trying something new with AKL (got good rate).

I loved everything about BC and you could walk to S/D if want to try some of the restaurants. I liked the atmosphere. The only thing is the SAB is hard to keep track of kids in multiple age ranges and I've gotten so so views. I never payed for the upgraded view because it wasn't worth it. But the S/D always had decent views (except one year my MIL got the view of the employee parking lot/dump area). Another thing about S/D you can join SPG and collect points for free or partial pay and partial fee very versitile.
By the end of writing this I think I'm saying that the S/D is my favorite now.

 

[pooh2001]

Watch out for conventions at the S/D.
Conventions can close the pool for a day at the S/D.

We tried for June 24 -> July 8th of 2006 at the S/D.
The Dophin is sold out for all those dates with 4 conventions.
The Swan has a few rooms left - but with 4 conventions going on,
I am afraid the restaurants will be filled with business dinners and
the pool may be closed for a few days.

We are saving our $$'s for our BC reservation

 

[pooh2001]

Watch out for conventions at the S/D.
Conventions can close the pool for a day at the S/D.

We tried for June 24 -> July 8th of 2006 at the S/D.
The Dophin is sold out for all those dates with 4 conventions.
The Swan has a few rooms left - but with 4 conventions going on,
I am afraid the restaurants will be filled with business dinners and
the pool may be closed for a few days.

We are saving our $$'s for our BC reservation

 

[Tony]

Check various channels for bookings at the S/D. We stayed at the Swan in October 2003 - the starwood website was showing the place as sold out, but expedia had availability.

Because of this - and the starwood "best rate guarantee", starwood was obliged to give us a booking at the Swan for 10% less than the price quoted on expedia.

Note, this doesn't work on things like entertainment book rates, but it's worth shopping around the main websites. Great location and I was perfectly happy with the service!

 

[CheezDoodle]

I would say BC because I've always had something against the Swan and Dolphin. For one, you can see them everywhere and they take away from the magic. For another, why did they use a dolphin fish instead of a dolphin? I think the fish looks ugly and frowny.