Dolphin DVC discounts -- better than B&C?

[gopherit]

With the DVC discounts at the Dolphin, have any of you abandoned B&C for the Dolphin FOuntain? Is the discount worth it to hike over to Dolphin and get our ice cream and such there? And is seating any better at DF than B&C?

(I asked this question on the restaurant board, but figured a DVC-er might be more inclined to answer this or have tried it, given the 20% off incentive...)

THANKS!

 

[Jecca]

I've never been to the Dolphin Fountain. It may have better seating and cheaper prices, but it could never have the atmosphere of Beaches and Cream... or the burgers! I'm not making the switch.

 

[HookdonWDW]

ditto above!

 

[BEACHCLUBVILLAS]

I have eaten at both B & C and DF. The ice cream at DF is delicious and the longer walk helps me justify the indulgence. IMO, burgers are better at B & C.

 

[SCDizneyDawn]

We have also eaten at both. I think the ice cream sundaes are better at B&C and the burgers are better at B&C. But, I had a great patty melt at DF that was wonderful, and they are not offered on the B&C menu. We were staying at the Dolphin, it was too hot to walk to B&C in our winter clothes (leaving for home in 2 hours) so we tried the fountain. I enjoyed it, but it was not the same. Lots of convention folks passing by looking in might have been part of my problem!
I do think that the DF food menu has more choices to offer than B&C. Hope that helps with your decision.

 

[jekjones1558]

...and B & C accepts Q & C vouchers, which makes it a real bargain!

 

[CaptainMidnight]

I think the Dolphin Fountain has a better menu selection for both food and desserts. The 24 hour buffeteria with convenience items is great as well. I'm glad it's so close. It's a fun boat ride too, and a great alternative for weekend accomodations to spare some points, especially with DIS discounts.

 

[inky dinky doo]

Can anyone provide directions to the Dolphin Fountain? Is it hard to find?

Thanks!

Pat

270 days and counting . . . again!

 

[Connears]

Have eaten at both. Love B&C and used Q&C vouchers and got our money's worth twice and really good food. This trip we ate at Dolphin Fountain and used DVC discount. Equally good food, no wait for a table at 8pm(we waited over an hour the last B&C dinner at 7:30pm); and food was great especially the milk shakes and onion rings. I would go back again to either, but love the DVC discount(also used it at Fresh the next lunch).
Connears

 

[Lexxiefern]

We have eaten at both and enjoyed both. I do think I prefer the ice cream at the Dolphin Fountain, but I prefer the atmosphere at B&C. We usually get off the boat at S&D on our way back from MGM and grab an ice cream to go from the Dolphin Fountain and eat it on our walk back to the BWV

 

[gopherit]

THanks for the input, folks! (See, I KNEW the DVC board was the right place for this question! I already have 3 times more input here!)

Hey, I really like the "on the way home from MGM" idea! That might just work out perfectly... stop off at the S&D, grab our to-go's and have a pleasant walk around the lake!

With 8 people in our group, we may be FORCED into to-go options! How is the seating in DF? Is it any better than B&C (which doesn't really sound like it can accommodate a group our size!)

And if B&C can't really accommodate large parties ... how the heck can they expect someone to finish a kitchen sink? Our group would LOVE to have one, but not if we have to stand to eat it, and it doesn't sound like the "sink" is very "to go"-ish, anyway!

Is there a good (realllly "off-hours!") time to hit B&C?

I noticed DF has a "Dolphin Splash" that's about 7 scoops, but I think our kids would get such a kick out of the sink experience!

THANKS AGAIN!

 

[Connears]

Dolphin Fountain is not that much larger than B&C(a bit I think), but there are no booths so it is more modular and you can attach table for a bigger party easier there.
Connears

 

[tiberius]

I was not familiar with the Dolphin Fountain, so I guess I will try both on my next trip!

 

[erikthewise]

Can anyone verify whether the DVC discount is being accepted at Fresh and at BlueZoo? The idea seemed to be "anywhere except Shula's", but these restaurants are too new to be mentioned in the "official" discount info.

 

[luvwdw18]

Great Thread!!! We are heading home in 3 weeks and are staying at BCV! Sounds like a good idea to stop at the Dolphin on the way home from MGM for dinner!

Does anybody know where we can buy Q&C Vouchers? I bought a few on ebay, but lately they seem quite high priced!

Thanks for your help!

 

[gopherit]

OK, pardon my ignorance -- but what does "Q&C" stand for, anyway? Quick and cheap? And where would one get one?

THanks....

 

[jekjones1558]

Q(uick) & C(asual) vouchers and other vouchers are described well in this thread:

vouchers info

 

[Connears]

DVC is definitely accepted at Fresh(we used it 12/30/03), and I don't know about Blue zoo, but I haven't heard otherwise.

Quick and Casual are WDW vouchers that entitle you to an an entree, side, non-alco drink and dessert at almost all of the fast food venues in the parks and the resorts. You can buy them through a few agents:floridaorlandotickets.com $14.00; hotwire savings 11.25; Connections.com 11.25. The last two are memberships that you can join for $1 for one month and buy vouchers then cancel membership. I bought mine thru connections and had great service with them and kept the membership for a year, then they doubled the cost to $149/year. some others had serious issues with connections but we never did. The vouchers can be a good deal and you often can share a meal between 2 adults. Some places you make out better than others$$wise. We also like the convenience of some prepaid meals. We used them the last 2 visits and also used the breakfast vouchers (17.50) for character reakfast and these also include tax and gratuity(which is a real bargain). The ones that are out now expire May 31, 2004 so if you are going after that, I would wait to for new ones.

Connears

 

[gopherit]

Originally posted by Connears
Quick and Casual are WDW vouchers that entitle you to an an entree, side, non-alco drink and dessert at almost all of the fast food venues in the parks and the resorts. You can buy them through a few agents:floridaorlandotickets.com $14.00; hotwire savings 11.25; Connections.com 11.25. The last two are memberships that you can join for $1 for one month and buy vouchers then cancel membership. I bought mine thru connections and had great service with them and kept the membership for a year, then they doubled the cost to $149/year.

Musta missed something -- if the membership is $1 per month, how does it jump to $149 per year? Or is it a trial offer for 1 month, then it *used* to be an additional $75 per year, or something like that?

And I assume if you go the Q&C route, you forfeit the DVC discount. Hmmm... I'll have to do some math to figure out which comes out better -- 20% at DF, or a Q&C at B&C!

 

[BigTigger]

Nothing can top B&C for ice cream, but the DF is fun in it's own right. The kids burger or chicken strip meals are a bit more creative (they come in a box that's like a 60's convertible). Last August we ate there a few times and the waitress could never find the key for the DVC discount on checkout, so she gave us the 20% employee discount instead. It's a bit bigger in seating space than B&C as it has about 20 tables for 4 and a handful for 2. As someone else mentioned, you can put them together for bigger parties. It's easy to find too - enter from the lower doors at the entrance that comes across the lake from the Swan and then take a left and it's right there. It never seems to get too crowded for sit down or take away treats.