Port Orleans - Riverside vs Dolphin, Please Help!

[minniemagic]

My family of 5 will be going to Disney in August. I have a teacher's discount so staying at the Dolphin will cost about the same as staying at POR. Please help me decide which resort to stay at. Anyone been at either resort lately? Thanks!!!!

[Drince88]

Stayed at POR in October/November 03. It seemed pretty accurately billed in most of the guides/etc I read. One thing, with a family of 5, is that some (all?) of the Alligator Bayou rooms have a trundle bed, which I've read isn't quite adequate for a decent sized teenager, but if your kids are younger than that, I think it might be the deciding point. Now the Dolphin may have the same, but I don't recall reading about that.

The Dolphin seemed pretty convinient to the International Gateway of Epcot as well as the Studios, and the boat (which we rode between the 2 parks) would be a lot nicer than the buses you have to use everwhere from POR, unless you're using your own car/rental most of the time. The bus ride to the Magic Kingdom, though, seemed fairly short (from POR), so if that were the high priority of the trip, POR might be a better choice.

POR is going down in portions, soon, for rehab, so the available inventory of rooms might not be too great and may make finding a good rate a little tough in August. I believe the WDW update on the main page addresses the anticipated rehab impacts.

There are some other differences because of the odd status of the Dolphin (and the Swan), which I don't know about since we never really considered staying there. There might be some discussion on the point, but I didn't do the search to see.

Good Luck deciding!

[efoxx]

POR is much more "Disney" then the dolphin, however the dolphin, as pointed out is much more convenient, and I also believe the rooms are bigger. given that they are the same price with your discount I would recommend the dolphin.

[ChoEarfan1]

By all means take Port Orleans!

The Dolphin is nice but we found it to be a little less convenient and a lot less Disney. For instance to get to some parks from the Swan or Dolphin its faster ( and way more costly ) to take a cab than WDW Transportation

Oh by the way it's not a Disney hotel. I think Sheraton owns it but I could be wrong.
Port Orleans has a wonderful flavor to it and so does Caribbean Beach.

Did you know that on average ALL Disney hotel rooms are the same square footage???? The exception being deluxe rooms or suites.

[sediment]

Originally posted by ChoEarfan1
Did you know that on average ALL Disney hotel rooms are the same square footage???? The exception being deluxe rooms or suites.

I agree about the Dolphin. It also was a bit small with five people, squeezing in a rollaway.
The AllStars with two rooms was cheaper but not as fancy.

Your statement quoted above, however, is redundant. Yes, the average square footage will be the same for all rooms, even if you include the deluxe rooms and suites.

[IndianaJenn]

I stayed at POR last November and loved it! The theming is gorgeous. Our room looked out over the Sassagoula River. It was quiet, the rooms were small, but very clean and I really enjoyed the boat rides to Downtown Disney.

We ate breakfast at the hotel almost every morning and liked the pricing/selection.

I would definitely stay at POR again.

[Tref]

I loved staying at Port Orleans. The Dolpin is big and clumsy looking -- very anti-Disney, if you ask me. The New Orleans section is a whole world initself.

[minniemagic]

Thanks, everyone for your responses. They really do help. I'm a newcomer to this website and I really appreciate your input. Thanks again!!! Keep your thoughts coming!

[efoxx]

Originally posted by ChoEarfan1
Did you know that on average ALL Disney hotel rooms are the same square footage???? The exception being deluxe rooms or suites.

Sorry but not true.
according to Passporter WDW

All Star resorts, and Pop century = 260 sq. ft.

AK resort standard room = 344 sq.ft.

AK deluxe room = 381 sq. ft.

boardwalk standard room = 422 sq. ft.

Caribbean beach = 340 sq.ft. the largest of the moderate resorts.

contempo = 436 sq. ft

coronado springs & POR = 314 sq. ft.

GF = 400 sq. ft.

poly = 409 sq. ft.

WL = 350 sq. ft.

Y&BC = 380 sq. ft.

While this may not seem like much, let me tell you it is a lot. the difference in the feel of the room even in as little as going from say a 350 sq ft. room at WL to the 409 sq. ft. at the poly can seem to give a lot more comfort. trust me I have been at most of the hotels (except for the AS/ pop resorts). and there is a big difference in the room sizes. in some cases as much as 60% bigger

[sediment]

Actually, what Cho states is true, but it is a poor use of the word, "average."
Take all the hotel rooms' sizes and get the average. Then that is the average of all the rooms. And it will be one number.

What you've done, eFoxx, is different. More relevant and informative, but different.