Dolphin or Mods?

[sab53085]

I've been going back and forth between staying at the Dolphin for our May trip (there's a pretty good Expedia deal with 6th night free) or using one of the 30% off Spring deals and staying onsite at one of the mods. If we book through Expedia @ the Dolphin with a car it's only slightly more expensive than staying at one of the mods, however there is a resort fee of $14/day and parking is $15/day. We mostly want the car for eating offsite, Universal, and to/from airport. I mostly am leaning towards the Dolphin mostly because of the convenience to walk to/from Epcot and Studios, even if it's a couple hundred dollars more. Any advice?

 

[Disney grandma]

I would definitely choose the Dolphin. It is a deluxe resort, the pool is one of the best at Disney, and as you said it is so convenient to two of the parks. I love the fact that it has interior corridors. If you are a teacher or government worker you can get very good rates, and you might even get a better rate on the Dolphin website than through expedia.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Hands down, the Dolphin! Location, location, location...

 

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

Please post what you decide to do

I'm debating the same...Dolphin or Mod for a summer trip...with teacher discount can book Dolphin the same as a Mod

Have stayed in Mod's & the Swan - liked them both but no ME or Dining plan with Dophin but the location IS fabulous! And the beds at the Swan were wonderful & I've read the Dolphin has the same heavenly beds, although not queens. But no Disney whimsy at the Dolphin....

Like all the themed pools....so it's hard to decide.....please do post what you decided & why....good luck deciding

I

 

[Belle83]

We LOVED the Dolphin. Being so close to everything (Epcot, HS, restaurants galore) is great. I think you can waive the resort fee (the little water bottle tags in the room said it was optional), but the water in WDW tastes gross so we didn't. I think that we'll be back at the Swan/Dolphin some day.

I do love the Disney moderates, but in a different way. You get more for your money at the Dolphin.

 

[NMAmy]

We've stayed at PO-FQ (once, last March) and at the Dolphin (multiple times over the years.) If the price is close, we vastly prefer the Dolphin over a mod. PO-FQ was adequate--the rooms were fine, the grounds were quite pretty, bus service was okay but we can't stand being so far away from Epcot and DHS. The Swan/Dolphin are deluxe hotels and, IMO, the amenities far outweigh what's available at a mod.

After several years of various deluxe resorts and PO-FQ, the whole family is very excited about being back at the Dolphin for a trip this May.

 

[lucysmom]

I love the Dolphin. The pool system is fabulous. The heavenly beds are superior. I don't know why people say there is no Disney magic there. I sat on my balcony and watched the EPCOT fireworks. I rode the Friendship boats to the DHS, Boardwalk, and EPCOT. The Dolphin is right in the middle of everything Disney. If the presence of Disney soap is what makes the experience, then, by all means, bring your own. Decorate your room with a stuffed Mickey. The Dolphin is a great hotel!

 

[Mirax]

We are having the same debate, I am just waiting to see if free dinning is available for my dates in October. I have two preteen boys who love water parks and Disney Quest so the pool at the hotel is not as important as how long it takes to get to DTD. However I want the luxury of the Swan and Dolphin.

 

[Couchy]

Dolphin hands down . The resort pool, ease of getting food, closeness to Epcot, and DHS are all so much better than a Mod.

 

[dancin Disney style]

We LOVED the Dolphin. Being so close to everything (Epcot, HS, restaurants galore) is great. I think you can waive the resort fee (the little water bottle tags in the room said it was optional), but the water in WDW tastes gross so we didn't. I think that we'll be back at the Swan/Dolphin some day.

I do love the Disney moderates, but in a different way. You get more for your money at the Dolphin.

You can't waive the resort fee.....you can waive the daily cleaning service and get a food and beverage credit or get extra SPG points.

 

[Geezer12]

The Dolphin! Way nicer than the mods. Better location and way better beds. We love the Dolphin/Swan. We are kind of biased though. We are Florida residents and my wife is a teacher so we usually get a rate of between $129-$159 per night. But that's just us. It's really whatever you prefer.

 

[iman]

Couchy
What did you mean by "ease of getting food"? Did you mean the closeness of Epcot?

 

[sab53085]

Thanks for all of your input! Like I said, we were thinking about getting a car because I believe it's cheaper offsite to eat (Crossroads, etc.). We aren't big buffet eaters but I don't want to be eating in the parks every day. Sure, we will dine at the Dolphin a bit I'm sure and maybe check out the other resorts in WDW. Also we want to go to Universal one day and possibly again another night to go to Citywalk. Do you think the car is worth it (keep in mind there is a $15/day parking fee).

 

[Geezer12]

Ease of getting food may be due to the Boardwalk being so close and the 15 or so restaurants in the Dolphin/Swan.. Plus Picabu is open 24 hours.

 

[Ohiodisneyguy]

Dolphin, hands down. Stayed there last two trips. Location, rooms, pool are all great and about the same price as a Disney mod.

 

[BareNecessities]

Dolphin, hands down. Stayed there last two trips. Location, rooms, pool are all great and about the same price as a Disney mod.

More 2 cents' worth....

Dolphin: feels like a big hotel, with good fitness club, Mandara Spa (ah!) easy access to really good food, great beds, great pool area, high cost to everything including parking (and can't park near your room - will you be going in and out of the resort with your car often?). Can't remember if you get free parking at Disney parks.

Mods: feels calmer and quieter, more laid back, beds sometimes too firm, no-cost parking if you have to have a car, and free parking at Disney parks. Sometimes hear noise from other guests. You can park easily, pretty close to your room.

I loooove the Dolphin, as well as Coronado Springs. So my bottom line often dictates where I'll stay (although I get a teacher discount at Dolphin). Staying at the Dolphin usually ends up costing a little more (especially if I need a little pampering).

 

[kandb]

We stayed at POR on our last 2 trips to disney and this september are staying at the dolphin. I am super excited with all the restaurant selections in the area and the location and quality of the hotel.

 

[vicb]

On our last trip we traveled with our two older teens and really wanted two rooms. We have always stayed in one room in Disney deluxe hotels. We tried to make it work at the dolphin but just got a way better deal for 2 rooms at CSR.

We had connecting rooms there, they were newly rehabbed when we stayed (almost 2 years ago). The resort was very pretty and our stay was just fine. However we missed the Epcot resort location and the variety of dining options in that general area and the ability to walk, boat or bus into parks. While the bus worked very well at CSR we did get tired of bussing to everything by the end of our week. The pool is very nice and the El Central was as well. Staff friendly too.

This upcoming trip just DH and I are traveling to watch DS's HS band perform so we opted for a room at Dolphin, very excited to try it out primarily because we will be back in the location we know we love. The price at Dolphin was half of what they are asking for at BC or BWI during Easter week.

 

[Mrs D]

Just to throw another option out there, depending on availability renting points for either Boardwalk Villas or Beach Club Villas could be an option. Just using some dummy dates in May and pricing it out on David's Vacation Club Rentals it would be in the ballpark of a Mod using the spring discount.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We have stayed both many times but prefer the Dolphin for a weekend jaunt only, anything longer than that I want onsite somewhere. Dolphin location is great but has zero Disney feel