What would you do?

[tinkandonaldfans]

Not sure where i should post this, thought i would try here and the resort boards. We are looking to go to Disney this year for a week dec 8-15. We have done free dining on our last 3 visits so never really contemplated paying for food for a while so not sure what's more cost effective and time effective.

So would ,you stay at the dolphin and pay for food or stay at pop and pay for Disney dining?

 

[TDC Nala]

of course you are asking me what I would do...I haven't used the dining plan since before 2008 and am not interested in using it again, I'd pick the Dolphin if it's going to cost the same as Pop with the dining plan.

 

[cluvsdisney]

For me this is no contest, I'd stay at the Dolphin and pay OOP for food.

 

[Disney_Mama]

I picked the Dolphin and pay for your food, because the dining plan for our family would be a waste of money and food. We never eat that much and always share things.

 

[smiths02]

I would have to see the numbers...

I am not understanding how the Swan AND paying for food OOP would be the same price as Pop with DDP?

Also, are you flying or driving? Driving may require you to pay a parking fee at the Swan while flying would have you pay for transportation to the Swan...yet another expense.

Overall, I would pay more for a better room. I really have no interest in staying at the values, but I would look at a real cost differential.

ETA: Also not sure how many people you are talking about in one room.

 

[sjs314]

I have never stayed at a value resort but have stayed at Epcot area resorts, YC and BWI, that being said I would choose The Dolphin and pay OOP for food. Have always paid OOP for food except for our last trip this past March and for me where I stay is all about the location.

 

[DJFan88]

I also don't understand the trade off here either, or what your reasoning is for picking the dolphin, (which by the way, looks like a great resort, but my DH doesn't want it,even though I tried) but given those 2 choices I would choose the Dolphin with OOP.
However, really I would do what I am doing, which is go with a Mod, in our case POR and pay OOP.

 

[catne]

Unless you have a really incredible discount at the Dolphin, I do not see how you could possibly come up with the same costs staying at Dolphin & paying cash for your food VS. staying at Pop and buying the dining plan...unless you're planning on really skimping on food when you stay at the Dolphin, I don't think the two scenarios are even at all. You might want to check your numbers again

 

[Disneyhenry]

I guess it depends on what you what or what kind of eaters you are. I like to not worry about paying for our food on vacation plus we are big steak eaters so the dining plan does save us money

 

[tinkandonaldfans]

Thanks for the responses. As we are travelling from the uk we are flying in and the travel agents we are going through are offering the dolphin pretty cheap but we wouldnt get the option of the dining plan. Give or take £100 or so the two potions are pretty similar.

 

[smiths02]

Thanks for the responses. As we are travelling from the uk we are flying in and the travel agents we are going through are offering the dolphin pretty cheap but we wouldnt get the option of the dining plan. Give or take £100 or so the two potions are pretty similar.

So the Pop WITH dining is the same as Dolphin WITHOUT food?
The problem is that you still have to eat if you stay at the Dolphin...so in the end the Dolphin will be more expensive.

I would probably still rather stay at the Dolphin, but I would pay more for a nicer hotel and more control over my food options.

 

[Sally]

Without the numbers for Dolphin and oop, I am with the POP/mod and DDP. Emails with free dining PINs are out, (not sure of the dates but it covers my Oct trip ). So for me I went mod and free dining it was $100 difference between value and bumping to DDP.
Maybe hold off and wait for those dates to be released to the public to make the decision easier?

 

[TDC Nala]

The OP has another thread in which she states that she has an annual pass. She's British, so to get DDP she will have to buy tickets. I don't think they do the ticketless packages in Britain. I think she could get a ticketless package if she booked through the U.S. website, not the British travel agencies.

 

[thelionqueen]

I'd stay at the Dolphin and pay OOP for food. That location offers many dining locations so paying OOP would free you up to enjoy the many offerings that area & Epcot enjoy.

That being said we love POP and it's a lot of fun, but I wouldn't opt to stay there only to get a dining plan. Definitely go for the bigger and more conveniently located resort.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

I voted for the Swan simply because given the choice, I would rather have the nicer room.

I thought Disney always offered AMAZING deals to the Uk residents like FREE DINING AND ROOM DISCOUNT to come and stay on property. If you can get one of those good deals where you can get free dining and a good room discount then buying a few days tickets per person may be worth it price wise.

Staying in a moderate might be similar in quality to staying at the Swan. Or is it more like a deluxe? I have never stayed there.

You wouldn't get to use the Magic Express from the airport, but from what I understand you can catch a bus from the swan to Disney so transportation wouldn't be a problem. If you decided to rent a car then you might have to pay a daily parking fee at your resort AND at the parks.

Anyway, I picked Swan. Unless you could get FREE DINING I would choose the nicer resort.

 

[thelionqueen]

You actually do get the use Magical Express when staying at the Swan or Dolphin. Although they are not Disney owned, guests there get the same transportation privileges. Also I would consider both Deluxe not moderate. The beds are AMAZING!!

 

[MrsLS]

I would choose the Dolphin even though you still have to pay additional food costs (assuming it's in your budget). I've never stayed at a value resort, nor do I want to which is why I would choose the Dolphin. The boardwalk area is great. Love the location - you can walk or take the boat to Epcot or HS, which right there is reason enough for me. There are so many dining options. The rooms are bigger & I don't like the motel feeling of the values either, I like the rooms all in one building, getting into the room from a hallway rather than an outside walkway.