Dolphin or Riverside

[pbg]

I have reservations for July 1 until July 11 for the Dolphin at a rate of $129.00 a night or at the Riverside for $94.00 a night. With taxes included I can save $40.00 a night for a total savings of $400.00. Any feelings on this subject would be appreciated.

 

[glo]

JMHO...

There really isn't a comparison. One is a Deluxe hotel with all the emmenities, and great transportation options. The other is a MOderate, with good transportation options.

From the S/D you can walk to Epcot and MGM. You have a water taxi (less crowded than busses.) You have 15 restaurants and lounges and room service. You can walk to the Boardwalk that has a mirad of entertainment choices.

For more info on the S/D, click on the link under the clipart below.

 

[las3888]

I agree. S/D are in such a great location for EPCOT, MGM, restaurants, night-time entertainment, etc. They offer so many more amenities than Riverside. That is also a great rate at the S/D!!! It would be a no-brainer for me!

(And I really like PO-Riverside)

 

[Blondie]

I like Riverside too!

But for me, it's the Dolphin all the way!

 

[Momto8]

We also have the $94 rate at POR and could have gotten the $129 teacher rate at the Dolphin. While I like POR, I would much rather stay at the Dolphin. I really like this resort and the whole Epcot area is my favorite place to stay. However, I have 2 daughters getting married this year and since my one dd backed out of our WDW trip, we now don't qualify for the teacher's rate anymore.

We could get the Entertainment rate or DC rate at the Dolphin, but it is a bigger difference in price between the 2 resorts, and we need to cut our expenses due to both of these weddings. We are on a tighter budget this year.

I'm still happy to be staying at POR, but I would MUCH rather stay at the Dolphin if I could get the teacher's rate.

 

[Momto8]

We also have the $94 rate at POR and could have gotten the $129 teacher rate at the Dolphin. We have stayed at both POR and the Dolphin twice. While I like POR, I would much rather stay at the Dolphin. I really like this resort and the whole Epcot area is my favorite place to stay. However, I have 2 daughters getting married this year and since my one dd backed out of our WDW trip, we now don't qualify for the teacher's rate anymore.

We could get the Entertainment rate or DC rate at the Dolphin, but it is a bigger difference in price between the 2 resorts, and we need to cut our expenses due to both of these weddings. We are on a tighter budget this year.

I'm still happy to be staying at POR, but I would MUCH rather stay at the Dolphin if I could get the teacher's rate.

 

[Real-loser]

We just returned from 9 nights at the Swan. If I were in your position I would take POR. We did that last year and I think it compares very favorably with both the Swan and the Dolphin. It is true that the Epcot location cannot be beat, the boats are great. Location is the only reason we would return to the Swan.If the health club is important to you go with the deluxe. But in terms of the rooms, POR as a moderate is every bit as nice as the "deluxe" Swan and Dolphin. And don't forget the S and D "resort fee" that is tacked onto your bill each night, $8.00. If you do go with the Dolphin, buy the refillable mugs. Two cups of coffee cost $5.86 and it is instant! If minding the budget is important, note that eating at the Dolphin, (including in tubbis buffeteria) is very expensive. A six ounce orange juice is $2.50 at Tubbi's. Whatever you decide, enjoy!

 

[BadgerBruce]

We have stayed at POR 4 times & love it there. Having said that, if we can get a room anywhere in the Epcot area for a reasonable price (and $129 is a great rate!) we jump at it. Being able to walk or boat to Epcot & the Studios, the great pool areas, a nice selection of restaurants & the beauty of the area at night are some of the reasons. We've stayed at both the Swan & Dolphin and they were both great. Have a great trip whatever you decide!

 

[Momto8]

I respectfully disagree on the rooms. The Dolphin's rooms are larger than POR (360 vs 314) and that is one reason why I wish we were staying there instead. There is also a place for changing while someone else is in the shower/bathroom that offers a little more privacy than POR. The Swan's room are a little smaller. I also like the idea of interior hallways.

I like the decor of the room better at the Dolphin than at AB in POR (can't stay in the mansion section as we need the trundle bed). JMHO....I don't like the rustic feel there. I've wanted to stay in the mansions, but can't because of 5 in the room. They also charge you $15 for the trundle bed at POR, and at the Dolphin they will give you a rollaway at no extra charge as long as it is for a child and not an adult. At least they didn't charge us for it for 2 different stays. As for the $8 resort fee, you can tell them at check-in that you won't be using the health club, coffee and newspaper and they will drop it. We bring our own coffee and just use their pot.

I do agree that the price at Tubbi's is expensive for food court-type food. But there are so many alternatives nearby with the BW, Y&BC, and Epcot.

Again this is JMHO. Either way you can't go wrong.

 

[LBYC-19]

Just when I thought I'd read it all on the S/D, I read the roll out bed is free for children, that is great news! I echo all your sentiments and I'm trying to talk my sister into staying at the Dolphin with us this April (she's staying at PO-R, and by the time she is done with the trundle, etc., we are paying much less at the Dolphin with the DC discount). She just loves that food court at PO, and the boat to DD which they just brought back.

Oh, well, that is why they made chocolate and vanilla, but you can certainly stay at the Dolphin with lots of discounts, I know we do (we bring groceries/breakfast items, buy milk and juice, etc.)

 

[Gagebre]

Can you always get out of the extra $8.00 charge? We'll be staying at the Dolphin in May and I'm sure I won't use the health club, won't have time to read the paper and don't even drink coffee!

 

[LBYC-19]

You can let them know when you make the reservation (and I'm sure also when you check-in). From what I've read on these boards, you can preview you bill on your t.v., so you can just be sure they don't charge you.

Personally, I don't see why one would use the Health Club, either-
after all, it's vacation and we can go to the gym at home! Don't we walk for hundreds of miles at WDW, anyway? Why on earth would we need additional exercise, lol. Now, coffee, THAT is an entirely different story.

 

[Momto8]

Gagebre, We've stayed there twice and both times had the resort fee waived. The first time it was no problem. The second time, they had the charge on our bill when we checked out even though I had asked them to take it off. They kept delivering the paper every day, and I called to tell them to stop delivering it since we had the fee waived at check-in. When we checked out, it was on our bill, but I told the girl about how I asked for it to be waived and she took it off with no questions.

As far as the rollaway, I know that when I made both reservations, both times they told me that they don't charge for the rollaway for children, so I would make sure that this is still the policy. I was also told that we could not have 5 in the room at the Swan because the rooms are smaller.

I agree, LBYC-19, I have no use for a health club with all the walking I do at WDW. All I want to do when I get to our room is relax. Good luck with getting your sister to try the Dolphin. I agree the food court is better at POR, but I'd rather have the convenience of the Epcot area, plus they have more dining options there. Did they really bring the boat back to DD? I've heard that it is back and then I've heard that it was just a rumor.

I gotta have my coffee, too, but I just bring my own and use their coffeemaker.

 

[DeeP]

I love the Epcot resort area also, to me it is the best location at WDW. That is why I bought my DVC membership at BWV. We often check out of BWV for Fri & Sat nights to save the much inflated weekend DVC points and I WISH I could get S/D for $129.00 a night for Fri & Sat nights, but I retired from teaching 15 years ago and although I now work for a hospital I am not a RN, so these wonderful rates are not available to me. I would take the $129.00 rate at S/D in a NY minute! You will love this area!
I also like POR very much but the location can't even begin to compare to S/D location. BTW, we have stayed Fri & Sat nights at POR in the AB section many times with a trundle bed and have never been charged for it.

 

[Ityldu]

Riverside was one of our favorite resorts until we tried Dolphin, now there's no going back. Riverside is absolutely beautiful with great service, but the Dolphin has so much more to offer that $40/night is more then worth it.