Swan/Dolphin vs POR/POFQ

[coachyo]

Planning a trip in June 06.
Can you tell me the pros & cons of the 2 places.
Which would you choose and why?
Should I split the stay?

I would love to hear your comparisons.

Thanks, YO

 

[Bob P]

Hi,

have you checked out these links? They may answer a lot of your questions:

http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/faq_po.htm

http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/faq_dxl.htm

http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/faq_dol.htm

http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/faq_swan.htm


Also if you do a search on this board you will find many threads on these four hotels.

Bob

 

[leight]

Swan/Dolphin- slightly garrish Floridian decor but it is closer to a deluxe than the POR. Doesn't come w/ mousekeeping or the special Disney feel, but if a great nite's sleep is more important that Mickey soaps in the bathroom you might prefer the S/D. They have great beds. You can't beat the location- right in the heart of Epcot. Wonderful restaurants, great pool and slide.


POR/POFQ- Staying at the POR for 1st time in Dec- but I wasn't impressed w/ FQ. I'm not one for the outdoor corridors- but I stay for weekends and can't see paying alot for a room I wn't be in much and being that I'm with the kids too- mods are fine. When dh & I go ourselves we look for a more deluxe feel and we'll be spending more time in the room- wink, wink!

Plus- ME, Disney experience, EMH, charging to room.

 

[BevS97]

I love love love Port Orleans French Quarter, I don't mind the outside corridors - in fact they don't feel like outside corridors to me (not like at a motel), it's more like strolling through a garden to my room. I would quite like to stay at the Swan/Dolphin for the location, but for the atmosphere I don't think you can beat French Quarter - I thought it was stunning.
I didn't care for the Alligator Bayou section as much, the theming didn't appeal to me in the same way the French Quarter did, but it's still quite nice.

 

[SAXMAN88]

the feel is a bit different the s/d is more like a "hotel" conference center. when i stayed there i didn't get the disney feel that we get when staying in the park. BUT the location is great and it is steps away from the boardwalk and beach club which have as much disney feel as you can get. although the feel is not the same it is just steps away and the accom. are much nicer. the hotel as opposed to motel makes all the difference and although the feel to me or others replying may be something you could have staying at the s/d. not to mention you can just hop on the boat to epcot and mgm. thats a big plus right there!

 

[miko]

You did not mention if the cost was close. Normally Swan/Dolphin would be about $75 or more per night. We have stayed at Swan several times and enjoy the location and the service. We go enough that one stay a year without full Disney saturation is fine. Also choices of walk to resteraunts is excellent. POR/POFQ have a nice boat trip to DTDisney but the motel feel is a drawback to many. We don't spend all that much time in room so as long as transportation is good we can be flexible.
So if the cost isn't an issue I would pick the Swan/Dolphin. Maybe split the stay so you can judge for youself.

 

[Tinkaroo]

I've stayed at both (Swan & POFQ). I was really expecting to love POFQ after reading so much about it on these boards, but I could honestly take it or leave it. It was fine, for the most part clean, etc., but as far as moderates go, we prefer CBR. I think even POR looked nicer - we enjoyed Boatwright's, and they had a much better gift shop than POFQ!

It's true that the Swan is more "convention-y" and doesn't have that 24/7 Disney feeling, but the beds are nice and the rooms are large. It was definitely a better quality room and overall service than POFQ.

I have stayed (and will be staying again) on SPG points when at the Swan - it's defintely not my first "deluxe" choice on property were I to be paying for the room. But if I were purely deciding between the two, I'd probably take the Swan if the price wasn't much of a difference (or try another moderate).

 

[addicted2disney]

We got an AP rate last Thanksgiving at the Dolphin of $129/night. We couldnt pass that up. we had a room facing the water with a balcony. The room was really big, the beds were over sized full's with down everything! They were the best beds ever. I loved the location and being able to walk to MGM and Epcot. We looked into staying there again this January, but they dont offer AP rates then. Its their peak season. Although there isnt any Disney themeing, its still a great place to stay. They have a huge lagoon type pool with a waterfall and slide. A beach with hammocks. Swan boats to rent, a nice pool bar ( where I watched the steeler game last year) Tubbi's buffeteria, plus a bunch of nicer restaurants. I liked it there.

Ive stayed at both POFQ & PORS. If the price is close, stay at Dolphin.

 

[coachyo]

Thank you all for your thoughts. I may try to split the stay. I'm hoping for the teacher rate and I think that makes it comparable to POR. It sounds as though we would like the POR better than POFQ. I think the location of S/D will make up for the differences in not being a Disney property.
Thanks, YO