Dolphin or POR?

[ajk912]

We are trying to pre-plan our next trip for next year sometime. We are undecided between the Dolphin and POR. Has anyone ever stayed at both and can give any input? We are a family of 5, btw.

Pros:
Dolphin: MUCH cheaper than POR (we can get employee rates at the Dolphin so less than $100 a night), walking distance to Epcot

Cons:
No "immersed in it all experience", you can't put your tickets on your key card, no dining plan, no theming everywhere, risk losing tickets.

Thoughts anyone? If it makes a difference, it is me, DH, and a 10, 9, and 6 year old.

 

[CinderellaDreamer]

Oh my goodness, that is an awesome rate for the Dolphin! I know that some people don't care for the Dolphin, but I would stay there in a heartbeat based on the location alone.

We are staying at POR our next trip (also a family of 5), but I priced the Dolphin over and over, trying to make it fit our budget! If I had gotten such an awesome rate, we would be staying there.

We stayed at BWI our last trip and loved it. I like that resort area. It was so nice to boat over to Epcot and DHS. You can leave your room and go down to the Boardwalk for the immersion if you need to.

BUT - we also lost a ticket last year and were able to get another reissued, so I see your point on that one.

Great rate and great location would win out for me! And you could dine with Lion King characters!

 

[minijeanie]

Dolphin all the way!!!! Rooms so much bigger. beds bigger and location is tops.. I know many people say the "Feel" is not there but you are right on the boardwalk and you can do character dining...Such an awesome place to stay.

You can walk to Epcot and boat to Studios. Other great thing to do with kids is take Monorail from Epcot to MK..

Don't think twice Book Dolphin today

 

[JerseyJanice]

Not having the tickets on your key cards should not be a big consideration. If you're really that worried about losing them, buy them ahead of time and keep a photocopy of them, so you'll have a way to replace them.

Disney theming is special, but the luxurious atmosphere and great location of the Dolphin more than make up for that IMO.

Your biggest consideration is the dining plan. Only you can figure out how much, if anything, it will save you. FWIW, you can use a AAA card for discounts at the restaurants in the Dolphin.

 

[Disney grandma]

Love Love Love the Dolphin!!!! But I didn't know about the Lion King character breakfast. I will have to check into that for our next trip.

 

[Goobergirl]

So if you stay at the Dolphin or Swan you are unable to do the Disney dining plan? Hmmm....I wasn't aware of that. I had them as a possibility for our next trip if they were still doing the discount for teachers, nurses, etc...but want the dining plan. The seperate tickets are not an issue for me.

 

[wood145]

I've stayed at the Dolphin and will be staying at POFQ this trip. If I could get a room with the nurses rates for my trip I would stay there. I need two rooms there are 6 of us so PO just worked out better for us. I've stayed at Disney resorts before and there is plenty of theming at the Dolphin. I'd go for it!

 

[SuzieN]

I've stayed at both! The Dolphin is a lovely hotel....just that, a hotel. I know the rooms are bigger and the location is great but it doesn't give me what I love from a Disney resort. The incredible theming that you get at POR (and all other Disney resorts) for me, far outways the plusses at the Dolphin. The dining plan is a must for our family. If I had to hear my husband grumble about how much each meal was costing it would put a serious damper on my trip!! Good luck to you with your decision!

 

[ajk912]

So if you stay at the Dolphin or Swan you are unable to do the Disney dining plan? Hmmm....I wasn't aware of that. I had them as a possibility for our next trip if they were still doing the discount for teachers, nurses, etc...but want the dining plan. The seperate tickets are not an issue for me.

Nope, no dining plan for Swan/Dolphin because they aren't Disney properties. That's a huge drawback for me..unless we just decide to skip character meals that time. I can't imagine paying character meal prices without a dining plan. They are fun and all..but definitely not worth about $150 for a character meal for my family of five.

 

[ntsammy5]

Dolphin - the proximity to Epcot does it for me.

However if the DDP or DME is important to you then POR.

Losing your tickets is not a concern at all. Just copy down the numbers on the back of your tickets or make a copy and if you lose them WDW will replace them for you. In hundreds of trips to the parks, we've never lost any tickets. Good luck.


That rate for the Dolphin is awesome.

 

[Stitch2244314]

POR for sure! In most cases, I would choose any Disney resort over the Swan/Dolphin just for the fact that they are "Disney" resorts. In my opinion, staying at the Dolphin will not make your vacation as "Disney" as staying at POR would. Plus no Magical Express or Disney Dining Plan at the Dolphin. Go for POR.

 

[NJFabFour]

We were "bumped" by the Dolphin 8 days before our arrival last August (and relocated far OFF Disney property to the Hyatt), despite being Starwood Preferred Members and making our ressies 11 mos in advance. The Dolphin WILL bump you at that discounted rate (we had a teacher's discount . . . .so much for honoring America's educators!) if they have a large convention booking that overbooks their hotel. One of my biggest regrets in life is NOT sticking with a Disney-owned resort . . . never, never again!