Pop vs Dolphin, I keep changing my mind!

[Lucky'sMom]

I was all set to stay at Pop. We need 2 rooms, 5 people. Then I saw that photo of the Magical Express 2 hour line at MCO, and read some horror stories about buses and am second guessing. I can get 2 rooms at the Dolphin for nearly the same price. I've started looking into a town car service such as Happy Limo to get to WDW, and think perhaps transportation may be better at the Dolphin with the Friendship boats and the ability to jump on buses to/from parks at BC/YC and BW also. I do know that Mears handles the Swan/Dolphin buses now. Any thoughts, experiences or opinions? I can't make up my mind. Thanks so much! (our family for this trip will be me, DH, DD, DS and son's fiancee.)

 

[KittyKitty]

I would double check the resorts fees that are not included in the room cost.

Pop is great. So is the Dolphin.
Not much help here.

 

[snappy]

Dolphin. You can walk or do the boats to HS and Epcot. The Dolphin is several tiers up from Pop. I have stayed at the Dolphin at least 10 times, Pop once. Never again for Pop. Could hear people passing by my room and toilets flushing in nearby rooms. Dolphin room was very clean and larger than the Pop room.

We also take our transportation to/from MCO, but we have used Tony Hinds. He has never let us down.

 

[Marthasor]

Hands-down, Dolphin. There's no comparison in terms of the ease of transportation, access to amenities (some of the best restaurants on property) and the quality and comfort of the rooms. We haven't used DME in years because of the crowding and how slow it is. We use Park Ave. Limos for all of our transfers.

 

[olive]

I haven't stayed at Pop and have nothing negative to say about it. I understand the rooms were recently refurbished and it looks fun. I love the Dolphin, though. The location is incredible. It is really so central not just to Epcot and DHS, but being right on the Disney Boardwalk is a lot of fun for a stroll anytime. The pool is also fantastic. The slide and waterfall are a lot of fun. Larger rooms is also a bonus. We have stayed at several of the deluxe resorts and my older son really loves the Dolphin.

 

[olive]

I haven't stayed at Pop and have nothing negative to say about it. We actually were booked to stay there next month before switching resorts! I understand the rooms were recently refurbished and it looks fun. I love the Dolphin, though. The location is incredible. It is really so central not just to Epcot and DHS, but being right on the Disney Boardwalk is a lot of fun for a stroll anytime. The pool is also fantastic. The slide and waterfall are a lot of fun. Larger rooms is also a bonus. We have stayed at several of the deluxe resorts and my older son really loves the Dolphin.

 

[Leigh L]

DD14 and I liked Pop, but it's probably not a resort we'd stay at a full week (split stay for sure!). The walls were pretty thin (she was doing virtual school, I was working, and the family next door was kinda loud, DD was frustrated). The refurb rooms are nice! But after our 3 nights, we were both ready to move.

One thing I was super impressed about with Pop was their bus organization to the parks. Considering large groups people in each line, it's soooo organized!! And with one bus stop, the buses just come and it stays very organized. (Unlike our bus experiences at CSR - a resort we love.)

Dolphin/Swan/New hotel is an area we'd love to stay at someday!

(Edited for clarity about CSR)

 

[kevind2112]

Are you all booking your trips through Disney? I looked at prices for Dolphin for Xmas week, and they crazy more expensive than my current Pop reservation. I know that time of year is going to be busy, but I haven't seen anything that get Dolphin even close to Pop for $$$. I'd love to switch if the money was right.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Dolphin is definitely "nicer" albeit more of a standard hotel than "Disney-fied." Terrific higher-end restaurants (bluezoo, Shula's, Il Mulino's) - although I believe some are only operating on certain days - check the Swan and Dolphin app (a separate app) for current details. Ability to walk to DHS or EPCOT is terrific. I haven't heard any issues with buses at S&D. I have heard of some recent issues with buses over at Yacht Club ... perhaps partially b/c people are walking over from S&D; I've also heard there is a shortage of Disney bus drivers overall. I know there has been a lot of construction over at S&D and some have reported that the pool situation was not very relaxing with all the noise. I'd check out the S&D thread to see what the latest status is -- it may be over by now or by the time you travel.

On the other hand, the Pop rooms are fine. If you aren't spending a lot of time in the rooms, it may work well (I'd also consider the price differential vs. Dolphin). It's on the Skyliner, which is very effective and, as an above poster indicates, they tend to deploy a lot of buses anticipating crowds. A lot of people really like the food court option, which is missing in the EPCOT-area resorts. Pop is also over-the-top (not in a bad way) Disney. Staying at Pop would let you charge things in the parks back to your room via magic band (if you enable that option).

 

[DL1WDW2]

Don’t forgetSwan has Queen Heavenly mattresses versus double Heavenly standard size at Dolphin...

 

[Lucky'sMom]

Thank you all! I was leaning Dolphin, I think you pushed me over the edge. We are all adults, I certainly prefer the Dolphin theming vs Pop (which is cute, just not really my style!)

 

[mackmack]

literally not even a comparison on any level between dolphin and pop. I am surprised you were able to get price parity between the two as the cheapest rooms at dolphin still seem to be 60-80$ more a night. still worth it though for location.

I wont stay anywhere else other than Dolphin. Only thing would be beach club but you are talking 2x's the cost.

I thank god not everyone knows or understands the swan and dolphin because they just get disney resorts, when swan is more disney(heart of disney) than 80% of what disney actually owns.

 

[Lucky'sMom]

Yes, I think the price is very comparable. I have the 25% off Disney discount on the Pop reservation for 2 rooms, 7 nights total is $3166.73 (last week of July) Dolphin AAA rate for 2 rooms, 7 nights is 3361.50. So $200 more for a week with 2 rooms seems like a wash to me. I appreciate everyone's input, thanks so much!

 

[Shellyred8]

Yes, I think the price is very comparable. I have the 25% off Disney discount on the Pop reservation for 2 rooms, 7 nights total is $3166.73 (last week of July) Dolphin AAA rate for 2 rooms, 7 nights is 3361.50. So $200 more for a week with 2 rooms seems like a wash to me. I appreciate everyone's input, thanks so much!

For this minimal price difference, I would definitely go for the Dolphin.

 

[empedocles]

Yes, I think the price is very comparable. I have the 25% off Disney discount on the Pop reservation for 2 rooms, 7 nights total is $3166.73 (last week of July) Dolphin AAA rate for 2 rooms, 7 nights is 3361.50. So $200 more for a week with 2 rooms seems like a wash to me. I appreciate everyone's input, thanks so much!

Are you including the resort fee in that calculation?

 

[Lucky'sMom]

Yes, that price is the total price including taxes and/or fees for both.

 

[LeeLee'sMom]

Only thing I am not sure of and it may not matter to you much,,,is the minimal perk resort guests getting into the parks earlier than non-resort guests. Not sure if that has even started yet and if Swan/Dolphin are included in that?

 

[BrotherCraig]

Only thing I am not sure of and it may not matter to you much,,,is the minimal perk resort guests getting into the parks earlier than non-resort guests. Not sure if that has even started yet and if Swan/Dolphin are included in that?

Good question. They have been in the past with EMH.

 

[Lucky'sMom]

Update! The AAA price went down by $10 so now the price is almost exactly the same as Pop! $3197 for Dolphin 2 traditional rooms vs.$3166 for Pop. I am definitely changing to the Dolphin and am so excited to stay in that fabulous location. Thanks again everyone!

 

[sophy1996]

With you all being adults, I think you're going to be very happy with the Dolphin. We had a great stay at the Swan a few weeks ago. The ability to walk or take the boat to DHS and Epcot is awesome!

Do get the separate Swan/Dolphin app for information about the S/D restaurants. During our trip, their hours were kind of strange and different ones were closed on different days.