Which Club Wyndham - Dolphin's Cove or CW Anaheim?

[CyndiLooWho]

Hello! We are working on booking our first DL trip; normally we go to WDW. We always stay at Wyndham Bonnet Creek in Orlando; we are trying to decide between Club Wyndham Anaheim (on Katella) and Club Wyndham Dolphin's Cove.

We are a 50ish couple looking to stay in a 1BR unit.

There is a pretty significant points difference between the two resorts, as well as amenities differences:

~ CW Anaheim charges for parking, but has in-room laundry and appears to be newer. It is a big tower block with small balconies. Appears to be close to chain restaurants and shopping. About double the points for a 1BR unit as compared to resort below.
~ Dolphin's Cove looks to be converted apartments, shared laundry room, larger balconies, free parking. Does not seem to be walking distance to eateries, etc.

There is a 3rd resort (Peacock Suites) that is even fewer points, but looks like a converted hotel with no balconies and no laundry. Appears to be walking distance to parks. Not sure we are at all interested in this option.

Has anyone stayed at any / all of these and can give me some direction on which is better?

 

[bwvBound]

We've stayed at both D'Cove and Anaheim through Worldmark-- but not Peacock Suites. We favor Dolphin's Cove over Anaheim for three reasons:
a) No TOT tax (might be specific to WM vs Wyndham?)
b) Free Parking
c) Better Parking; Our trucks are too tall to park in the Anaheim structure beyond the lowest level.

That said ... for a "first time visit" ... I'd suggest the Anaheim property. There is less chance of "disappointment." It is more "resort-like." It is prettier. And I'm beginning to really hate the room renovations currently going on at Dolphin's Cove. Ugh!

Edited to add:

• Spot on! D'Cove is a converted apartment complex.
• There are walk-to eateries near D'Cove:
  • Directly adjacent to Denny's
  • Very close to two upscale steakhouses: Morton's and Ruth Chris
  • Very close to Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles

FWIW, we walk from either location to the Disneyland Resort area -- so that adds all the Downtown Disney eateries. We also walk from D'Cove to the restaurants near the Anaheim property ... but I really don't mind walking 10 miles a day when visiting Disney parks. If you don't enjoy that much walking ... do look into the Anaheim Resort Transportation (ART) bus system?

 

[CyndiLooWho]

@bmvbound thanks for the reply! Good to hear from someone who knows. You are right on the transient fees, they have to be paid in cash / card with Anaheim. No mention with D Cove.

We'll be renting a car, so no trying to get the truck or SUV into a parking garage, but I don't think we want to put up with construction / renovation on our first trip. Saw enough of that in the early Bonnet Creek years.

It sounds like Anaheim will be the winner for us.

 

[bwvBound]

Good decision! Be sure to enjoy the rooftop for both hot tubs and fireworks viewing! (That is our favorite part of the Anaheim resort.)

 

[bwvBound]

Oh! BTW ...

While we generally enjoy 1BR units over Studios ... we are OK booking a Studio at the Anaheim property. I mention this in case you feel a need to conserve points? On the Worldmark side, the studios are quite spacious, have a nearly complete kitchen and, if I recall correctly, also have in-room laundry. The bed is a queen size murphy (folding down from the wall). In all, quite comfortable and workable for two! (I'm guessing the CW units are same/similar??)

 

[CyndiLooWho]

Oh! BTW ...

While we generally enjoy 1BR units over Studios ... we are OK booking a Studio at the Anaheim property. I mention this in case you feel a need to conserve points? On the Worldmark side, the studios are quite spacious, have a nearly complete kitchen and, if I recall correctly, also have in-room laundry. The bed is a queen size murphy (folding down from the wall). In all, quite comfortable and workable for two! (I'm guessing the CW units are same/similar??)

Thank you for the tips. I think the units are identical regardless of designation. We like the 1BR so that we can get some separate space - I apparently snore. We've got the points to spare, my parents are slowing down and we now find it a challenge to use all our points. But sometimes the point values are also indicative of resort quality; that's why I mention.