Please! Opinions Which of the 2 Resorts?

[Just keep swimming]

Hi Everyone! I am looking for some hones opinions! We are making a spur of the moment trip to WDW for the middle of April. We have never been to WDW before and our two children ages 4 (son) and 13 (daughter) will be there as well.

I am totally overwhelmed on the where to stay but we think we have narrowed it to the following:

Dolphin (Concierge level)
Port Orleans (Standard)

The amounts are almost identical...seriously only off by a couple of dollars.

I need your help!!!!!

 

[msteddom]

If the rates really are almost identical then I would go for the Dolphin all the way. The location is much more central. What kind of discount are you using to get such a good Dolphin rate?


Melissa

 

[Just keep swimming]

We are using the teacher rate... The total includes hotel and park passes

 

[#1hockeymom]

DOLPHIN!!! You're comparing apples and oranges... sweet delicious freshly picked oranges at that. Go with the Deluxe and the great location, heavenly bed, and many MANY restaurant choices just steps away!

 

[kiddisney]

port orleans - though the dolphin is considered a deluxe - and it's walking distance to epcot (long) and the boardwalk - it's a hotel and not a disney resort - port orleans has themed pools - for your kids there's counter service food - it's so much easier to get around - each unit is only three stories at the max - so it's not high rise - there's special boat service to downtown disney - it's a whole different atmosphere - and it's a little more secure for the kids - the resorts have gates but at the dolphin since it's walking distances from other entertainment non-guests can visit more easily than in the resorts

 

[iluvtink]

Hi,

I haven't stayed at either place, but I totally agree with staying in an "official Disney resort" with a food court/casual eating area, fun pools, etc.

Although the pools aren't as great, could you swing a standard room at the Contemporary? We were in the Poly the last time we went, and my kids were no longer small, and I just wished and wished that we had stayed at a monorail resort when my kids were 4. It was great not having to wait for a bus or boat or whatever to get to MK and Epcot. We've stayed at the Contemporary, too, and it was just fine; my kids didn't know what they were missing at the other pools, and the Contemp. even back then had at least one big slide. They loved it.
Now that we've played at the sand-bottomed pool at Beach Club, it is our most favorite resort so far.

Good Luck deciding. You know, whatever you pick, you'll have a great time. How can you not when Mickey Magic is pervasive?

 

[Just keep swimming]

Great!!!! We still cant make up our minds...... Is it worth the standard room and have all the disney themes or the club level at dolphin.

We have never been there and are torn. I want the disney theme my wife says go for more comfort....

WHAT are your thoughts?????

 

[BambiTamby]

Sorry, i'm not getting what some of ya'll are saying about gates and 3 stories vs. a high rise.

Have you've ever seen Illuminations from a Dolphin room?
I assure you, you won't get that at the POR.

The grotto pool is awesome, Tubbi's blows the food courts away, and the best food at WDW, and room service (24 hrs) is at the S/D resorts!

Sorry, but, this is really a no brainer.
you're in the middle of the magic, the Swan has character meals, and they have Disney merchandise in the resort shops!

Have fun wherever you go, though!
you'll be at WDW!

 

[Domer87]

Our family narrowed it down to the Dolphin and POR also!! We chose POFQ, mainly because of the newly renovated rooms, choice of two themed pools (POR/POFQ), and the ability to take the boat to DD. Good luck deciding.

 

[DMRick]

I love POR..it's my fav Disney resort. I'm also a champion of staying on site. That said, and never having stayed at the Dolphin (but visited it), gosh for me I can't imagine staying in a Disney moderate if I could go conciege Dolphin!! That's a deluxe!The rooms are bigger, the pool is suppose to be great, you are within walking distance of Boardwalk and Epcot and all the fun, you can take a boat to MGM, better choices for food...gee, why not stay there? I can't believe the price is almost the same, even with the teachers rate.

 

[momof2inPA]

I would sign up for the Starwood Preferred card and hope for a complimentary upgrade at the Dolphin, although I am not sure what that would be on club level, a suite?

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Even though I haven't stayed at Swan/Dolphin, there's no question here - Dolphin. Excuse me?! Concierge Deluxe vs. moderate?! Swan/Dolphin's location is also way superior to PO.

Best of luck, whatever you decide!! You'll have a great trip, it's WDW!!!

 

[RescueRanger]

No brainer...Dolphin. Deluxe concierge is way better than a moderate. By the way, even though the Swan/Dolphin are not owned by Disney, they are on Disney property and you get the same perks (such as EMH) as the rest of the Disney resorts. Be careful when you see people say that it "just isn't Disney enough". You are right there by Epcot and the Boardwalk and are alot closer to the Disney "MAGIC" than POR. So what if your room may not be "Disney themed". That's what the parks are for. I never have understood what some people's fascination with TOTAL DISNEY IMMERSION is. Personally, a non Disney room may be the break you need to keep from having total Disney overload.

 

[Mercy]

Ditto.... what RescueRanger said!

 

[sarahsmom73]

I made this decision in September for our April trip! WE were booked at POR and then I got the teacher rate! DH and I decided with the help of the people here to go for the Dolphin! I'll let you know what I think!

 

[webray]

If the rates are identical...the decision is easy.

Dolphin.

The Dolphin is a starwood resort....not owened by disney, but operating on disney property. Very nice, luxury all the way.
Great location...wide variety of great meals 24 hours a day.

POR..is a disney moderate resort...we have stayed and have never been impressed by any of disney's moderate resort.

 

[Dismom63]

Dolphin wo/ hesitation!!
This is from someone who has stayed at POR (and Dixie Landings when it was called that) several times and really liked it.
Dolphin
no brainer

 

[Tigger&Belle]

We stayed at the Swan before, the sister resort to the Dolphin. We loved it. The hotel ws beautiful, the pool was a lot of fun and the location can't be beat.

T&B

 

[SondraD11]

I just got back from POR with a $88.10 a night value season AP rate (includes taxes). Please explain to me how it is possible to get a concierge room at a deluxe resort like the Dolphin for the same price as a moderate like POR. I would love to make the switch if this were the case. Thanks.

Sondra

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by SondraD11
I just got back from POR with a $88.10 a night value season AP rate (includes taxes). Please explain to me how it is possible to get a concierge room at a deluxe resort like the Dolphin for the same price as a moderate like POR. I would love to make the switch if this were the case. Thanks.

Sondra

It's easy if you can get a discount at S/D (occupational, AP, entertainment book, AAA promotional rate) and can only book rack rate at Disney. In the past S/D had a lot more availability of discounts. Although THERE IS NO GUARANTEE YOU'LL GET S/D people have gotten the Dolphin through PL for $70/night. People have gotten Dolphin on hotwire in the $100-160 /night range. I stayed in the Dolphin for the same rate (through Hotwire) that Disney wanted for the All-Stars.

I think the food court at the Disney moderates is better than Tubbis and S/D does charge a $10/night resort fee.