POFQ vs Dolphin

[DisLaw]

Ok doing a last minute trip and the total price for POFQ is actually $20 more than the Dolphin with AAA discount. I've added in the resort fee, but did not add in parking (how much is that now at the Dolphin??) as well as the cost of either a rental car or airport transfers.

So the Dolphin would end up being a bit more in the end but I am still debating! I've stayed at the S/D many times and enjoyed it, especially the location. Stayed a Riverside and really did not like it at all. Granted it was mid July and hot as heck and I always felt we were marching for miles in the steaming heat to get anywhere be it the bus, the pool, or the foodcourt. I said never again!

But everything I read about FQ tells me about the smaller location, plus we are going in the spring not mid July! I also like the idea of the boat to Disney Springs since we like to spend time there frequently.

Any thoughts? If I hated Riverside, will FQ be different enough to change my mind?

Thanks!!

 

[maxiesmom]

If what you hated was the size of Riverside, then yes, there should be enough of a difference. I have to be honest though, I stayed at the Swan in October, and I wasn't a fan. To me the only thing the resort had going for it was location. What is it that you like so much about the Swan and Dolphin resorts?

 

[DisLaw]

If what you hated was the size of Riverside, then yes, there should be enough of a difference. I have to be honest though, I stayed at the Swan in October, and I wasn't a fan. To me the only thing the resort had going for it was location. What is it that you like so much about the Swan and Dolphin resorts?

Yes, it was the location! I guess I felt the same as if I was staying at BC/YC or Boardwalk minus just the use of the pools and the inside of the rooms. We could still easily eat at the different food options, go in the shops, and most importantly walk to the parks.

I thought the rooms were fine, beds were comfy, staff was friendly, and it is like a regular resort hotel with interior corridors. I mean it wasn't the greatest but still very nice to me and all inside, in the AC, and now its newly renovated.

The one issue I have always had with moderates is the outdoor corridors-still always seems like a old style motel to me. I've always worried about safety too with the outdoor doors. But after staying at Riverside, I don't worry about that as much. It really was the long hot walking that got to me.

So I think I still leaning toward POFQ but still on the fence!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Unless there is a gigantic price difference, I would always pick Swan/Dolphin over any mod. For me, it's location, location, location and we can access everything in the Boardwalk, EP, DHS area just as we would if we stayed at BC/YC or BWI.

 

[soccermom54]

If the prices are anywhere close, choose the Dolphin. Reasons: Deluxe resort, next door to the Boardwalk for night time entertainment, boat transportation to EPCOT and Disney Studios, many more dining choices, and entry to EPCOT through the international gateway. I booked the Dolphin for our July Disney trip. The senior rate, yes we are old, including the resort fee and parking is the same as rack rate at French Quarter. French Quarter has not been included in the discounts much these days so we opted for the better transportation and deluxe resort location.

 

[maxiesmom]

To me, the Swan didn't feel deluxe at all. Maybe the Dolphin is different, but I expected to be wowed by the Swan and I wasn't. I was left feeling Meh.

I like having a real Disney food court, which you don't get at the S&D. I like being close to the themed pool, and we were quite a ways away. POFQ is so compact you are close to the pool no matter where your room is. S&D have it on location, no question.

 

[soccermom54]

Bottom line, resort selection is a personal choice based on what you are looking for in your Disney experience. Evaluate what you need in terms of budget, theme, transportation, dining options and your personal expectations. We have stayed at French Quarter several times. We enjoy the resort theme, the compact design, the boat to Disney Springs and the single bus stop. The pool is not important to us and we prefer table service restaurants to a food court. As Florida residents we are always on the watch to snag a good deal at whatever resort, either AP, Florida resident or AAA /senior rate at Swan/Dolphin. People are always happy to share their opinions but it's your trip. Decide what is best for you and have a magical time

 

[KenHutch]

I will go the other direction than some of the above posters. French Quarter is our favorite resort. The girls can take the boat to Disney Springs to shop and everything in FQ is close. Unlike Riversides many bus stops FQ has one and a friend asked last trip how compact was it so I timed myself. From the boat dock to the bus stop took about 6 minutes. We had a garden view room and the pool was 2 minutes and the restaurant was about 3 minutes.

 

[vicb]

Here's my .02 .... We stayed at Dolphin last two trips and really enjoyed our stays. We had switched to Dolphin as our children (DS and DD) had grown to an age they would no longer share a bed (share a room- yes, a bed- no). We stayed at CSR one time, it was fine but the constant busing got old real fast for us. Maybe today with Lyft and Uber it wouldn't be as bad. So for our upcoming trip I just assumed Dolphin BUT the prices seemed way higher and no discounts were really working for us there so I booked POFQ. I thought it looked like our best option of the mods (construction at CBR and CSR deterred me). When the Disney discounts came out POFQ was not included and then I had to change my dates by one day and somehow that blew up the price even more. Luckily someone on the S/D board suggested I look into Costco Travel which I did. I was not a Costco member but even with buying a membership we still saved over $700 to stay at the Dolphin over POFQ. I thought POFQ looked very cute and had some nice features but no way would I take that over an Epcot area resort. JMHO.

 

[ginny65]

Can you get room only reservations through Costco or do they only have package deals?
And can you get these deals with the Gold Star membership or do you have to have one of the more expensive memberships?

 

[loves to dive]

As soccormom said, it's really subjective and you are going to get many different views. I'd picked Swan/Dolphin over a moderate all things being equal any day of the week. I've stayed at POR but not POFQ, I actually like POR and just didn't like the look of POFQ. It just looked too motel to me so even if it's less I don't book there. I don't like outside corridors, we don't do DS and, while we have a car, rely totally on Disney transportation and I don't like having to ride the bus everywhere so Swan/Dolphin is my pick. I like the location, you can't beat walking to two parks, we like the pool area and like the food options at Dolphin, Fresh Med. Market is our favorite breakfast place on the entire property. The rooms at Swan seem a little bigger and nicer than the Dolphin but they did just finish renovating Dolphin so they are all new.

 

[vicb]

Can you get room only reservations through Costco or do they only have package deals?
And can you get these deals with the Gold Star membership or do you have to have one of the more expensive memberships?

We purchased the cheapest membership, I think it was $60 or $70. I don't know about room only... ours came with park hoppers which is what we would have purchased anyway. You can go to their website and price it out without being a member. I really thought it was too good to be true because the rooms at Dolphin worked out to be about $200 per night when I couldn't get anything for under $300+ per night there. And it includes a room upgrade to "resort view" and resort fee. I was booked into POFQ for $269 per night so it was all a no brainer for me.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

We've stayed both. Both are technically on-site, however, you won't get the Magical Express to the Dolphin and you will pay for parking.

POFQ:
- It's a Disney resort. You get all the fun Disney theming.
- You get boat transportation to Disney Springs
- It's a very small resort. It's like a 5 minute walk to the furthest building, depending on how fast you walk.
- The pool is really well themed and fun
- Nice food court with beignets and themed food

Dolphin:
- Location. It's a short 10-minute walk to Epcot; and a 25-30 minute walk to DHS
- Really nice pool
- Fitness center
- Deluxe feel without the Deluxe price
- Solid restaurants in the resort - Phins is an awesome lounge
BUT...
- lack of Disney theming. If you blindfolded me and brought me to the room, I wouldn't know I'm in Disney
- They nickel and dime you - pay for parking and resort fees
- No Magical Express - you'll need to Uber or find a way to the resort
- Not on the Disney Dining Plan, if that matters to you.

 

[DisLaw]

Thanks everyone! I don’t know why I’m still struggling here haha!

Still slightly leaning toward POfQ if only because we’ve never stayed here and we are usually a family of 5 but this time only 4 are going so it’s a chance to try out another resort we usually don’t fit in. Plus last spring we stayed at the beach club and the friendship boats to HS were sooo crowded and slow that we ended up walking a lot which is a nice option but not my favorite! Gosh I sound so lazy with all my complaining about walking!!!
Thanks for everyone’s input. I really do like the dolphin and I usually always prefer deluxe resorts but I’m just thinking for this short trip we can try something new! I have to decide by tomorrow so thanks again for all the info!!

 

[DLgal]

The Dolphin doesn't have queen beds, they are full size. That is a deal breaker for us if we are all traveling as a family. Last stay at Dolphin it was just me and my sister, so it was fine. I actually REALLY enjoyed the refurbished room and the lobby has undergone a massive renovation as well. It's a great resort overall, just wish the beds were larger. POFQ has queen beds.

 

[DisLaw]

Just an update if anyone was interested (haha) we ended up picking the Dolphin. While there's something to be said for trying new things, its also nice to come back to a familiar place especially if you've had a good time there in the past!
The beds were never an issue for us, I feel like they must be slightly larger than a regular double bed because we all slept fine there and DH and I are not small people and we have a king bed at home.

We just couldn't pass up the good rate at a deluxe resort and we love the Epcot area and being able to walk around the boardwalk at night.
I'll report back once we are home!