Originally Posted by collybird
I’m a bit of a Swan and Dolphin hater, I just wish they weren’t so ugly to look at! We have been inside the Dolphin, and it is very nice but I am one of those annoying Disney purists. We will make it back sometime for the character breakfast as our list of places still to eat in Disney shrinks by the year.
I am still annoyed on your behalf that Disney couldn’t help you in the rescheduling of your trip, do you know if they honoured Free Dining books for those who booked through Disney?
You’ve inspired us to try House of Blues again, we didn’t particularly enjoy it a few years ago but we’re going to give it another bash as the menu has a nice split of ‘real’ and junk food. It is so frustrating waiting for them to open up the ADRs to Disney though, I am needlessly stressed about this.
Universal tickets really are expensive these days, perhaps I am judging them too harshly (as aforementioned Disney purist). In 2013 we did both parks in one day with £99 14-day 2-park tickets, when Diagon Alley opened I figured maybe we would go back again to see it but the prices have shot up (I know, I know, supply and demand), but when we’re only going to be visiting for a day, I can’t justify the cost.
Thrilled to see your plans for next year! Late October is a great time, our preferred time to be honest, we have been lucky enough to do MNSSHP and MVMCP in the same trip once (these days the dates between one ending and the other starting seem to have been stretched a little).
Great write up Caz, thank you once again for sharing, your positive puts a moaning Minnie like me to shame.
P.S. I hope you make it back this year, tell Chris I am very sorry but he is wrong about it being less magical going back every year. See more... |
Ah, but the bonus of staying IN the Swolphin is that you don't have to see the Swolphin, hahaha.
I completely agree that the exterior is an eyesore, such a blight on the rest of the area, but the interior was really nice. Not themed but it felt high end and you get many of the Disney perks at a much lower price.
Apparently the restaurants there are good too. Tom & Sarah from Disney Tourist Blog ate at the Blue Zoo restaurant there and reviewed it -
Disney Tourist Blog
Now I feel responsible, I hope you like House of Blues as much as we did. As it isn't a Disney restaurant you could probably make the reservation with them directly. Not sure how that works with the DDP though.
We had a fab waiter (Tyler) and a good table that was in the raised part of the room, the food was all hot, fresh and tasted like it was good quality. It's a shame you don't like cornbread as the starter that I had with shrimp and cornbread was delish.
See, $99 for Universal I would not mind in the slightest, but their tickets are creeping up to Disney Prices, and Disney have 4 parks and 2 waterparks. Universal has 2 parks and a waterpark (I don't care what they say, Volcano Bay is a waterpark). It really is not good value for what is a nice extra to our trip, rather than a 'must do'. It may be added to our 2019 trip though as I want to get more use out of my wizard's wand
Oooh, a Halloween party AND a Christmas party would be fun, and a good use for the 'Ohana refund gift voucher I received.
I am thinking on using it for a dessert party though after reading your report. Prime firework viewing and sweet treats sounds like a winner to me.
You aren't a moaning Minnie at all
I loved your report and liked how honest you were when things were disappointing.
Looking forward to reading your next report to see where gets a return visit and where you go that is new.
Thanks again for reading and commenting, I do really appreciate it