One room at Dolphin or two at value resort for 5?

[jimmiej]

I have ressies at the Dolphin for 2 adults/3 kids (a rollaway is on our ressie) for next June. I'm debating about switching to a value resort (ASMo or PC) & asking for 2 connecting rooms. Is it worth the extra $400-500 for more space? I got the teacher rate at the Dolphin. Should I switch or wait for possible AP rates?

 

[Sammy]

jimmiej:

Our family (2 adults; 3 kids under 14) just stayed at the Dolphin in one room this past September. We definitely were feeling a little "pinched" by the end of the eight days. HOWEVER....we really didn't spend much time in the room except to sleep, shower and change. One of the best parts of the Dolphin room was the huge closet....we were able to store all the luggage and dirty laundry bags in there as well as all the shoes. If we didn't have that, it would have probably been more of a nightmare!

One big consideration with having the two connecting rooms would be the extra bathroom. We REALLY could have used that! There were several mornings when my two youngest actually got dressed in that big double closet while my oldest was in the bathroom and DH and I quickly changed in the room. Sort of a well-choreographed dressing ballet.

I would have to say though, that the Dolphin location can't be beat. We walked several nights back and forth to Epcot and some nights we would just stroll around Crescent Lake. It was really beautiful at night.

Its a hard decision......only you can determine how your family will survive an entire vacation in one room. If I had this trip to do all over again I would still choose the Dolphin one room over the All Stars two rooms....just based on the location alone. JMHO

Sammy

 

[jimmiej]

Thanks for the thought-provoking response. We stayed at Swan last trip (only 4 of us) & you're correct-the location can't be beat. I'm leaning toward two rooms, but I can't resolve the extra $$$.

 

[TINK61]

I vote for the Dolphin. You don't want to give up all the luxury and location. Don't get me wrong, I love the Allstars, but these two resorts are on complete opposite ends of the chart. And, to spend more for the Allstars? Naah! Either way, have a great trip.

 

[Kallison]

I would stay at the Dolphin, the location can't be beat. I wouldn't pay extra for the All Stars. Instead of a rollaway you might want to take the money and get an aerobed. They are easy to pack and you'll actually have something useful for the kids friends to use during sleepovers, etc.

 

[TINK61]

I agree with Kallison about the aerobed. We used one of these at the Royal Pacific last summer and it worked out great. We were able to deflate it and get it out of the way in the morning. My DD got so used to sleeping on it, she continued to use it for a while after we got home (until I hid it from her).

 

[Sammy]

Originally posted by Kallison
...Instead of a rollaway you might want to take the money and get an aerobed. They are easy to pack and you'll actually have something useful for the kids friends to use during sleepovers, etc.

This is exactly what we did! It wasn't an actual "Aerobed" brand, but an Eddie Bauer from Target.....about 1/2 the price at approx. $45. It had a small, built-in pump (4 "D" batteries) that inflated when the cover was turned one way, then deflated the mattress when turned the other. We packed it right in the luggage....took up no more room than maybe 2 pairs of folded jeans.

We would inflate it at night (literally took 60 to 90 seconds) and DS-11 slept on it right in front of the windows (what a nice view to fall asleep to!) and deflated it in the morning (again, only about 2 minutes using the pump in reverse), folded it up quick and stuck it in the closet. It was nice not to have the rollaway to contend with in the room all day. We also now have something for the kids to use when friends sleep over.

Sammy

 

[swilphil]

The Dolphin location is great. I wouldn't pay more money to stay at All-Stars. By your trip, you should get one of the renovated rooms with the Heavenly Beds. My in-laws stayed at the Swan with 5 people in a room. It worked out okay, especially since the Swan has double sinks in the bathroom. Actually one sink is outside the bathroom. The Dolphin only has one sink though, and the big closet is nice for storage. A lot of it depends on the ages of the kids and how long you're staying. Eight nights with 5 in the room might get old. I do like the aerobed idea.

 

[tar heel]

We're a family of 5 and the oldest two are teens, and we wouldn't have to think 20 seconds to decide on the Dolphin. We did the two rooms at the All Stars this summer, and missed our usual YC location in a really, really big way. My kids found the pools so boring that they didn't even want to go -- they like slides and hottubs. But we stayed at the All Stars because it cost significantly less with the AP discount than any other option except one room at PO-R (We've outgrown that). I can't imagine paying extra to stay at All Stars.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Hey jimmiej. We just dealt with this in aug. I priced out 2 preferred all star rooms versus the swan with the govt. disct. plus rollaway. Our 3 ds are 11,13 and 15. Our littlest ds is a texan woo hoo. We wanted the dolphin but it was booked for a convention. Our room was a little tight, but as the other posters said the location is the best, You are smack in the middle of epcot mgm and the boardwalk. Water sports abound and the grotto pool and beach are awesome and you can walk to mini golf. Water volleyball and beach volleyball are awesome. I would not think twice. With the money you save for the little inconvenience you will have you can get some nice meals or souveniers. You can also get the starwood points but we chose to take the airline miles instead.

 

[fangritter]

I have to say I would vote for the two rooms at All Stars or the new Pop Century. We also have 2A/3K (12 & under) We find having two rooms makes it so nice when the kids want to go to sleep early and we aren't quite ready for bed yet. Not to mention the two bathrooms!! We've stayed before with the two rooms at ASMu and it was great. Since there are only 2 Adults, you will be GUARANTEED the connecting rooms, its not just a "request". Five in one room just seems too crowded. I would vote for the 2-rooms at a value resort. The extra space an privacy is worth it.

 

[4greatboys]

You could try to get an AP rate for the YC/BC, Poly or CR since these have the 2 queen beds and a daybed in the room. We stayed at the YC last year and our room was a good size and the daybed was great and really comfortable.