Did I make a mistake and should I change my plans?

[bangzoom6877]

We are booked at Pop Century July 13-18, 2008, on the dining plan. For the meals we really want to go to, the dining plan is saving us over $100, so we decided to go with it (character meals for the kids, etc.). However, I did read on All Ears that the Swan and Dolphin give discounts for teachers and it is only $159 a night to stay at the Dolphin for the same nights as we are booked at the Pop. Problem is no dining plan at Dolphin, but the location is great (boats to Epcot and Studios).

We will have our car with us since we are driving down. So transportation is not a huge issue at the Pop since we plan to drive to the parks anyway. I am still so torn. Our travel agent requested a room in the 50s building with a lakeview on the 4th floor so we can see fireworks from outside our room at night (kids are too little to stay so late at the parks). However, I know you can see fireworks from Swan and Dolphin too in the pool area right? Then go right back to the room for bed.

I know we have to decide whether the meals are more important than the location of the hotel, plus that Dolphin is deluxe and not a value resort. Maybe we will stick to our current plan as is, then consider Dolphin for a future trip when the kids are a little older? What would you do if you were me? I am so torn right now, I hear excellent things about the Dolphin, and I know you can still use EMH there. Maybe for a future trip it would be better?

Confused!!

-Bonnie

 

[spiceycat]

Pop is great for a budget.

the Dolphin not so - just go read the menu at the D&S.

it is up to you. the Dolphin is a lovely resort. now some rooms do not have a view of Epcot fireworks - though some of these might have a view of the MK fireworks.

the buses at the D&S share a bus for the MK - so you might be stopping at the BC & Yc or BW or all of them. You don't know before hand.

so in the final it is up to you. but the dolphin has plenty of fans - did you read the FAQ on it.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1567343

 

[msteddom]

There is also a nightly parking charge at the S&D. If you are really looking to save money then I would stick with Pop.

Melissa

 

[bangzoom6877]

Okay, that reassured me that we made the right decision. We do need to save $$, so figured Pop was good since we can still be in the middle of the magic and enjoy the character meals that we would not have been able to afford in our vacation budget without the dining plan. So staying at Dolphin would mean all new dining changes (very cheap places which I don't like...don't want to spend my vacation eating at McDonald's every night...DS3 never even ate any food from there, and certainly not DS1 either!).

Okay so now I am even more psyched to go! I am sure we will have a great time even staying at a Value! I just see so many posts here on how great deluxes are, but some time in the future we will stay at Dolphin when we can afford it.

I guess I keep expecting the worst when I see the word "Value". It must still be sooooo nice to stay on property, something I never got to do on my trips to WDW as a kid, so I wanted to give it to my kids since they have Values now and not only deluxes.

Could I compare the Pop to say, Fairfield by Marriott? Or Hampton Inn by Hilton? Please just tell me it is nicer than Motel 6 (not in space necessarily, but in quality and service).

-Bonnie

 

[spiceycat]

it is much, much better than a motel 6.

here are some pictures - but it is looks and feels much, much better in person.

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/showgallery.php/cat/537

 

[C-CMom]

I agree with spiceycat! You can certainly get a variety of opinions, but I personally think it would be very fair to compare POP more with the Hampton and Fairfield chains + Disney charm. If your kids are young, they should especially enjoy the larger than life and fun atmosphere. Have stayed there twice (another booked), and we found it to be very clean and had a great time. Have fun either way

 

[Atchley]

Staying at POP would be better. You are always surrounded by the magic. Even in your room. You won't find that at the Swan or Dolphin.

 

[gatorgirl2]

If going to the character breakfasts is only attainable with the POPs choice, then stay with that. The character meals provide such a great opportunity for pictures that you will cherish forever.

My sons are now 17 and 13 and anything but "mama's boys". But pull out the Disney photo albums with pictures of them hugging Goofy at Chef Mickey's, and we all just grin.

 

[traveladdiction]

I would switch to the Dolphin or the Swan. One of my best friends stays there everytime and it's located in the same area as the Boardwalk/Beach Club, etc... meaning you can walk into Epcot from the International Gateway. She loves walking around the boardwalk at night and just popping in the World Showcase without having to walk through Future World. The location of Pop Century just seems to be make it more removed from Disney World than the location of the Swan/Dolphin... of course there is 'Disney Magic' at the Pop Century itself, but being closer to a park (walking distance or a short boat ride!) would make it a plus in my book... and you can take the monorail from Epcot to Magic Kingdom, so it's really close to 2 of the 4 major parsk. Not to mention that the Dolphin and Swan are like 4 steps up in luxury than the Pop Century.. totally worth that extra $100. JMO.

ETA: We were going to stay at the Pop Century last time (ended up at Saratoga Springs) but the reviews of the paper thin walls where you hear the conversation in the next room, and the rock hard beds and 'motel' like feel (a/c unit in the wall), scared me a bit. Yeah, I guess I'm a hotel snob and I know I would sleep MUCH better and feel more pampered at the Dolphin or the Swan... just think of the plush mattresses, super fluffy down comforters and high thread count sheets!

 

[MeggerasMa]

My family is back from Pop very recently and here are my thoughts. The ages of your little ones are perfect for Pop and its larger than life size characters. My own "little ones" of 24,23 and 21 even thought it was pretty neat. The rooms we had (2) were very clean and mousekeeping was excellent. The food court has lots of choices including fresh fruit, milk, etc. and though its often crowded, lines move quickly and it's not too "fussy" for small children. The down side for us was the buses and even that wasn't too bad. At least with your car, if the bus line looks too long, just hop in the car. I've stayed at several of the on site resorts and would agree that Pop is a great choice for your family. IMHO you really are getting great "value" for a reasonably priced Disney experience.

 

[TaylorsDad]

I hadn't heard about the discount for teachers but that did get me wondering if there are any other occupations that can receive discounts for their stay in any of the resorts.

 

[TDC Nala]

I hadn't heard about the discount for teachers but that did get me wondering if there are any other occupations that can receive discounts for their stay in any of the resorts.

Only applies to the Swan/Dolphin, which are owned by Starwood, not Disney. They have discounts for teachers, nurses and government employees.

The only group that may be able to get an occupationally related discount at Disney-owned resorts is active military. The military also get access to Shades of Green, which can also be used by civilian DoD employees.

 

[Kim1964]

We spent one night at Pop last summer and six nights at YC. My kids (11 and 5) were thrilled with Pop. Even though they love the pool at YC, they asked if we could stay at Pop longer next time. They loved the pools and the icons, and they had fun at the food court. We tend to eat at off hours so we never had to deal with crowds.

Even though I am more of a "deluxe gal" myself, I think from everything you've said, Pop is the way to go.

 

[bangzoom6877]

Wow, thanks everyone! Now I know that this is for sure the right place for us!

I'm not worried about the food court. We'd thought of that a while ago when we booked our trip. There were 2 issues there...one was that we have the regular dining plan and the deluxe one seemed like way too much food and was too expensive for us, so that left us with 2 meals daily covered by the plan (a CS lunch and a TS dinner). So we decided to purchase some cereal for the room, and we are going to pay $10 per night for the fridge anyway (milk for my little one's bedtime bottle) so we will keep milk in there for everyone. This saves us the expense of breakfast every morning, plus saves us tons of time since our kids are little and we have to get them ready in the morning as well as ourselves, and want to get to the parks as early as possible. The trip overall cost us slightly less than originally anticipated, so we decided to splurge on 2 character breakfasts and pay out of pocket. One is at Chef Mickey's really early in the morning (7AM) the day we leave (thought it would be a nice end to the trip). The other is at Hollywood & Vine the day we will be visiting the Studios.

Anyway, while the Swan and Dolphin both sound very nice and luxurious, we will look forward to one of them for a future trip. I was talking to my husband last night about it and we both agreed it is a great option for us in the future, a few years down the road...on a trip where the dining plan would not save us so much money on places we would go to anyway and end up paying so much more to go to.

Now here's a question...just how much do they charge you to park at Swan and Dolphin if you are staying there? What if you are not a hotel guest but want to eat or shop there? How much to park?

-Bonnie

 

[whogirl'smom]

Check the budget board for a fridge swap and see if they have your dates available. The fridge swap is FREE and there are usually a few going on for Pop since it's a large resort. We did this last year and it was great! The fridges are already paid for and are left for the next guest with luggage services.

 

[3mickeys&me]

POP !! Its all about the magic your kids are little!!

 

[jadedbeauty14304]

Try not to think about it as "settling for a value" resort. Think more "wow we are staying on property at this really groovy resort!"

You will have a great time, your kids will love the icons, and you will be fully immersed in the Disney experience! I personally, love POP. I've booked my next trip there. It is a truly fun resort.

 

[mom22boys]

We loved Pop! For little ones the zero entry baby pool and Goofy's pop jet play area are two things you can't even find at a moderate. I truly think these two features alone make Pop a better choice for families with little ones over any of the moderates! I do not know about the S&D pool areas but I think your little ones will really enjoy the pools at Pop! Plus the atmosphere at Pop is just plain old fun!

Here is a picture of the baby pool which is zero entry with that soft squishy playground material all around it instead of cement. I couldn't find any pictures of Goofy's pop jet play area.

Have fun!

 

[ldo]

We have stayed at all ends (except Motel 6). We stayed at POP last summer, then DVC and Hyatt Grand Cypress (free certificate) this year. Pop is a GREAT hotel!! The rooms are clean and neat and fun. The pool are is MUCH more than you would typically get for this price, esp. with the water sprayer area, and the food court is great.
My only comment is that the walls are a bit thin and I am a light sleeper---so, at 6 AM, I could hear toilets flushing, etc. But, with a baby, you're probably up anyway--or so tired that you can sleep right thru that.
For the $$, I would pick POP again. ps--don't do more than 3 character meals--after the 3rd one last year, I canceled the 4th--at that point, kids didn't care anymore. Even 2 might be OK for younger kids. Have fun! Elaine

 

[NMAmy]

Staying at POP would be better. You are always surrounded by the magic. Even in your room. You won't find that at the Swan or Dolphin.

Sorry. I have to vehemently disagree with you on this one. Although, I'm sure Pop is magical, the rooms at the Swan/Dolphin are much bigger and more comfortable--the beds in particular. And seeing the Boardwalk, Epcot fireworks, or the Tower of Terror from my room is extremely magical.

To the OP: We've stayed at AsMo before and had a great time and I'm sure you'll have a blast at Pop. But don't skip the Swan/Dolphin on a later visit for fear of missing the magic.