Which Resort????

[Terk-1]

Am planning my next trip and now can't decide where to stay. Wilderness Lodge is my favorite resort, but I can only stay there if I can get a discounted rate. I have not been to the French Quarter since the remodel and have never stayed at the Swan or Dolphin before. Where would you stay and why? I've heard that they chage an extra daily fee at the S&D for use of the gym. Can this be waved if you won't use it? What is the current discounted rate there and is it usually throughout the year?

 

[Tiffany]

If price is not an issue then the Dolphin would be my choice out of the resorts you listed but you noted that you could not afford WL without a discount and usually the S/D is more expensive than the WL. So if money is an issue the go with Port Orleans.

 

[Terk-1]

Tiffany, Thanks for your input.

Anyone else???

 

[PrinceJohn]

I love dolphins - though I am sad to report that according to some lady, there are no actual dolphins at the Dolphin Resort. bad.

 

[aubriee]

I voted for the Wilderness Lodge. Their theming is just beautiful. Stayed there in January and loved it. From what I've been reading you can no longer get the daily fee waived at the Swan or Dolphin (it includes daily paper, use of the gym, and a few other things). I've also read that parking at the S/D is no longer free, even for resort guests. I'm a RN and so qualify for their nurses/teachers discount. However, personally I think they're ugly and have no desire to stay there. I considered it last month. I got a courtyard view at WL for $149.00 and could have got the S/D for the exact same price using my nurse's discount. I would have still had to pay the daily fee though. If it's not value season I believe the teacher/nurse discount is $159.00/night. The Unofficial Guide describes the fish on top of the Dolphin as looking 'like a catfish from outerspace' and I have to agree. I love their location however.

 

[KilleriMac17]

I love dolphins - though I am sad to report that according to some lady, there are no actual dolphins at the Dolphin Resort. bad.

well, there are no bottlenose dolphins either. the dolphin is named after the dolphin fish, not the dolphin that is a porpose(sp). if you see pics of the building you will see the fish.

 

[yaksack]

Last June my, wife, my four year old, my mom, and myself stayed at PO French Quarter. We did not like it. The grounds were littered and the rooms somewhat dirty. I heard many people complain about the transportation, but this was not an issue for us since we drove down to Florida. While we did not like the hotel, I think this trip was the most enjoyable. We were also trying so some money, so rather than buy park admission for the full week, we bought a five day pass and spent the rest of the time swimming and going to shops or visiting the other hotels. Not having to rush around those days and see everything made it very relaxing.

We have stayed at the Wilderness Lodge two time and enjoyed ourselves both time. We hope to go back in 2006.

The Dolphin and Swan both have discounted rates, so keep you eyes open. Check out this link:http://allearsnet.com/acc/sd_discounts.htm.

Good luck!

 

[Stitch Inside]

I voted for POFQ. We stayed there last May, and have to say it is the cleanest and quietest resort we've stayed at. The boat to DTD was nice, DS (5 at the time) loved the pool. Had no problems with buses. The two times we took one to MK, we went straight there and straight back. No tour of POR. For the money, it would be hard to beat POFQ.

 

[PamNC]

Swan. POFQ doesn't appeal to me, never has. You can often get a decent discount at the Swan if you check these boards, as they are the sponsor of the resort board. Since you've experienced the MK area at WL, I thought maybe you would enjoy a change of pace in the Epcot Resort area. The Swan is a wonderful choice! You won't miss anything as far as it being a non-Disney resort. The staff is wonderful, just as helpful as CMs in my experience. There are wonderful restaurants, the rooms are a good size, I just can't say anything bad about it! You'll love walking to Epcot and MGM, or of course there is the Friendship.

PamNC

 

[ead79]

I voted for the Dolphin. Compared to a moderate resort, the rooms are much bigger and more luxurious. Those heavenly beds are also fantastic! Plus, the Dolphin is a bit less expensive than the Swan.

I will warn you though, the Swan/Dolphin is much less elaborately themed than the WL. If you want a resort with a super well executed theme, then I would do WL again.

 

[eeyore0062]

Of those choices I will ALWAYS go with PO-FQ!

WL has a nice lobby and pool, but the size of the rooms, with that oversized furniture is just a major turnoff for me... also, the rooms are so DARK!

I am a Disney owned and operated resort snob, so even though the Swan and Dolphin are convenient, and nice, I just can't bring myself to stay there. They are too much of a "convention/business" resort to me.

PO-FQ has nice, pretty and very recently renovated rooms, a great food court, with beignets in the mornings (yummie!!!), awesome bus transportation, the use of 2 themed pools, which are totally different and both fantastic, and the beauty of it being not as spread out as many of the other resorts. And the price tag doesn't hurt, either!

 

[Terk-1]

Boy, this decision is getting harder. I think I'm going to shoot for a discounted rate at the Wilderness Lodge. I'd like to try the Swan or Dolphin, but am hearing more negative than positive. I may try those on a trip with my sister whose a nurse, so we can get her discount.

Now, the next thing is to decide whether to do a package or book everything in pieces.

Thanks again for all your help!!!

 

[mhaley]

My family loves the Swan and you can often get a great rate. The big seller for us is that we hate the double beds at the moderates vs the queen beds at a delux. We choose the Swan over the Dolphin because of this. The pool at the Swan/Dolphin is significantly better that the one at POFQ. There is no comparison. The transportation options and food options cannot be beat anywhere.