Port Orleans-Riverside vs. Dolphin

[Minniemagie]

Hi! I'm taking my family of 5 to Disney World in August. I was able to get the teacher rate at Dolphin Resort making the price comparative to the rate I got at Port Orleans- Riverside. I've never been to either of these places. Anyone have an opinion of which resort my family should stay at? Thanks so much in advance. This is my first time on this website, I look forward to your responses.

 

[sarahsmom73]

HI! I had the same "problem". I ended up changing my ressie's from POR to the Dolphin after checking out this board! Everyone kept telling me "deluxe" and "Location, location, location!" We leave in just under six weeks! Good luck making your decision!

 

[Minniemagie]

Thanks, Sarahsmom73 for your response! Have a great time. I look forward to your thoughts when you get back!

 

[dmonroe]

I would also pick the Dolphin based on it's location. We stayed at POR last December, and while it was a beautiful resort, we missed being able to walk to Epcot and MGM and the excitement of the Boardwalk!

 

[paras4ri]

Everyone kept telling me "deluxe" and "Location, location, location!" We leave in just under six weeks!

I agree! We stayed at POR in 1999 and will be at the Dolphin this summer for the first time. POR was very nice but if you can get the Dolphin for the same rate - go for it!!!! The Boardwalk area is great and having the option of walking or boating to both Epcot and MGM is really nice. The Dolphin pool is wonderful. We're counting the days until we leave!

 

[maggiew]

"Deluxe" and "Location, location, location!"

I agree with the above posters. We stayed at POR in Nov. 2002 and then Dolphin June 2003. While we enjoyed our stay at POR, if I could get the Dolphin for the same price I would go for it. It is so nice to be able to walk to 2 parks (we walked to both MGM and EPCOT). It is in the middle of everything. The Dolphin pool is great! (But the POR main pool was closed when we were there, so can't compare. We had to use the quiet pool at POR.)

At POR it seemed like just a hotel room. The grounds were beautiful, but it was REALLY cold when we were there (like Winter coat and glove weather) so we didn't spend a lot of time exploring. When we went to the Dolphin, it seemed like a Deluxe, magical vacation!!

We didn't miss the Mickey soap (love the Oatmeal soap at the Dolphin) or the Mickey wake up call. Plus, we had travelers checks to spend, so we wouldn't have charged to the room card anyway.

If you can get it for a comparable price, go for the Dolphin. But I am cheap, so if you can get a good code for POR to make it significantly cheaper (we paid $79/night with AP discount), then POR is great too.

Maggie

 

[Fokus17]

Ok im going to be the odd one here and say go with POR. The Dolphin just doesent have the Disney feel. I just recently stayed there and while the beads are wonderful, it is really not that great of a resort. POR just screams Disney though with is wonderful landscaping and great food court. Location is not that big of a deal either. The trasportation is great.

 

[Grumpy92]

Both are nice resorts. It sounds like you have never stayed at a Disney resort so will try to tell you the pros and cons of both hotels.


Dolphin - very nice large hotel with a great location, You can walk or take a boat to Epcot and MGM. Some of the best restaurants are in the area, Shulas, Yachtsmans, B&C, ESPN. You also will have great nighttime activities nearby. The BW will have entertainment on the walk area that the whole family will enjoy and Jellyrolls. The Dolphin is owned and run by Sheraton. So though whimsical with color it does lack the Disney touch.

POR - wonderful moderate hotel, rooms are in two themed areas Alligator Bayou with a cajun feel & rooms that have trundle beds. Magnolia Bend is grand mansions that make you feel like you are staying in the old south. The gardens are beautiful, they have a wonderful campfire program, Bob Jackson in the Co-op, Boatwrights a great restaurant and the best foodcourt area on property. The theming is carried thru from the time you step out of your car to the soaps in your room. As for transportation there is a boat to DTD that is very relaxing and bus service to all other destinations.

You really cant go wrong with either resort they are both nice.

 

[dznyntnh]

I love POR. It is my favorite of the moderates and second only to GF as my favorite wdw hotel.

But, I did take advantage of a great AAA rate to try the Dolphin this time, my main reason for doing so was location. I always want to go the Boardwalk but I never make it because its 'too far' from where ever I stay, so this time I'll be sure to visit. I also liked the opportunity to explore and area and some of the resorts that I don't get to explore usually.

 

[Blondie]

In August we were at the Dolphin and my BIL, wife and two little ones were at PO-Riverside.

During a thunderstorm we brought them back to the Dolphin to hang out until the rain let up and they were really impressed with the Dolphin, and asked about maybe staying there for their next trip.

So....you know what my answer is going to be, The Dolphin!

 

[pumpkinboy]

I think the rooms are a little larger at POR, but I agree on the location issue; the Dolphin is much more convenient, and has a luxurious feel about it. There is also much better dining in the vicinity at the Dolphin, something that is in short supply at POR or POFQ (and my main criticism of those resorts).

 

[Minniemagie]

Wow! Your responses have been wonderful! Keep them coming and thanks from the bottom of my Disney heart!

 

[Disneynut1]

I must say that Grumpy did an excellent job of pointing out the pros and cons....we've stayed at Dixielandings twice and obviously loved it...we thought the food court was like grumpy said and we were able to save some money....however we did stay at the Yacht Club our last trip and you just can't beat the location......we had a balcony view overlooking the wedding gazebo and the boardwalk and I can't say enough about being able to walk to Epcot.....the biggest difference would be the food court...really great at POR....good luck

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Dixielandings
Dixielandings
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Dolphin or Yacht Club 7/04

 

[videogal1]

Originally posted by sarahsmom73
HI! I had the same "problem". I ended up changing my ressie's from POR to the Dolphin after checking out this board! Everyone kept telling me "deluxe" and "Location, location, location!" We leave in just under six weeks! Good luck making your decision!

I just dumped my teacher rate and balcony view of EPCOT at the Dolphin for POR.

Sometimes location is not a place in the universe but a place in the heart...Hear that, Tag Fairy?

 

[RescueRanger]

We haven't stayed at the Dolphin yet, but we have stayed at POR. In fact, just a couple of weeks ago. The room was OK but IMO was nothing spectacular. The only Disney feel to the room was the soap. Go with the Dolphin. It is a deluxe and is in the middle of the action. My wife and I did visit the Dolphin the last trip. I commented to my wife, "Yeah, this place is the pits. There is absolutely no "magic" here." We both started cracking up. Of course I was only kidding and it was in reference to all the people who post not to stay there because it "has no Disney magic". The Boardwalk and the parks are at your back door. How much more Disney do you really need.

 

[las3888]

Once you have stayed in the boardwalk area, it is really hard to go back to staying somewhere else. I really think all of the boardwalk resorts are fantastic and you just can't go wrong with any of them - including the Dolphin and Swan. I don't think there is any magic lacking at the Dolphin at all.

I have stayed at POR before and found the grounds to be beautiful but I'm not crazy about the 'motel' feel since the doors are outside.

I would stay at POR if it were about half the price, but if the price is similar, there's no comparison - Dolphin for sure...but that's just my 2 cents...

PS - the Dolphin has Tubbi's Buffeteria which is akin to a 'food court'. It offers ala carte items for all meals, so you can grab a quick donut and coffee or get hot eggs and bacon there as well, etc. Speaking of meals - don't forget all the wonderful restaurants you will have walking access to if you stay at the Dolphin (boardwalk hotel restaurants AND EPCOT restaurants) versus the very limited restaurant options at POR.

Good luck with your decision!