Keep Dolphin or switch to Poly for family of 5 in December

[3PRINCESSMOM]

I am still in a quandry about where to stay for our December trip. I have truly been agonizing over this decision for months! First it was definitely the Poly if discounts became available. Then it was either YC or BC because I wanted DH to get involved with the planning (be careful what you wish for), and he was wanting to go over to the BW/Epcot resort area this trip. Then when all things seemed to indicate no discounts, we together, decided the Dolphin it would be, with gov't discount. So we kind of got into that mind-set.

Now, as of a few minutes ago, Poly GV is available. The cost is around $250 more for our entire stay than the Dolphin. That $250 would do more than cover our MVMCP tickets!

Now I am wondering about the size of the Dolphin rooms. Will our family of 5 be comfortable? That is the thing I like most about the Poly rooms...SPACE! The resort is fabulous (I absolutely love it there), but besides space the rooms themselves are just "nice." You know what I mean?

I've stayed at the Poly 1 time, and obviously never been at the Dolphin.

HELP!

P.S. I know, those of you regulars are probably like, "decide already!!!!" I've posted at various points of this process... I can't help it...I am neurotic!

 

[mouseketeerwannabe]

I say keep the Dolphin for this trip since your husband was interested in staying in the Epcot/MGM area. (We have to keep our DH's happy so they will be agreeable to all our return trips!) That location is fabulous especially during the holiday season. Epcot has so much going on that is special just during the holiday season. We have stayed at both the Dolphin and the Swan and enjoyed both stays very much. We checked out the Christmas decorations at the Dolphin while we were at the YC last December and we were VERY impressed. The Dolphin has a gigantic tree in the lobby, and it is gorgeous. MGM is a quick boat ride away and the Boardwalk is a 2 minute walk away!!! Make sure you get the Starwood Preferred guest card before you go and then call and have that number added to your reservation. We have gotten fabulous upgraded rooms each time because of that. When we were at the Dolphin in February, we could see Illuminations from our window! Yes, it will be different from the Poly, but I think you will love it.

 

[swilphil]

We did love the location of the Dolphin, but I don't know if the standard room is what you would call spacious. Is it possible to split your stay between Poly and Dolphin?? That way you could have the best of both worlds.

 

[NancyIL]

I love the Dolphin, but the room will have only 2 beds. Did you request a rollaway for the 5th person? (Possibly a charge for that.) The Poly has 2 beds and a day bed, right?

 

[3PRINCESSMOM]

Thanks for the feedback, so far.

I still don't know, though. I think the princesses are still too young for a split stay,(translation: too much work for Mom). I'd love to do that in a year or two.

Location wise, for me, it is a tie. Although we will spend a lot of time at MK, with shorter park hours we'll do Epcot and Boardwalk during evening hours.

Price wise, Dolphin wins. However, then I think room size and I have to give that to the Poly.

Do you see why I can't decide? I keep having these debates inside my head!

 

[JulieWent]

I don't know that you will be comfortable with 5 people in a room a the Dolphin. The rooms are lovely, no doubt, but they are small. Rooms at the Poly are so much larger.

 

[aahmom1]

How old are your children?

 

[BCV23]

We spent one night at the Dophin years ago. It was the night before our package at the Polynesian began. Anyway we too are a family of five. They brought in a cot....took forever too even though my husband had called ahead a couple of times to ensure it would be in the room because we were arriving around midnight. We were totally smooshed. If it were me, Polynesian all the way.

 

[swilphil]

Maybe a compromise is possible. Call the Dolphin and tell them you're concerned about the space, and see how expensive it would be to upgrade you to a larger room.