Swan/Dolphin Character meals

[finnie48]

Hi!
Staying at Swan & would like reviews of character meals there or at Dolphin. We are planning Cape May buffet also. Thanks, Bob

 

[DNBois]

I am also interested in the character meals at the Dolphin/Swan ; heading there in May for nine days. Can you tell me what the CAPE MAY BUFFET is? It sounds very enticing. . .

 

[finnie48]

Hi! DNBois
Cape May buffet is at the Beach Club, and from reading these boards it is a great place to meet some characters and enjoy good food. Very few negative comments. Bob

 

[DNBois]

Thanks so much - will keep checking back for feedback. Have a nice week-end!

 

[tjmw2727]

I took my girls (then 5 & 7) to the character meal at the Swan and it was just OK. Chip and Dale were around 1x to sign but not their usual playful selves. The food was just ok and IMHO pricy even for a character meal. We were stuck at the resort during a downpour thunder storm and thought we would give it a try. We won't return, YMMV.

We love all the restaurants at the BC/YC and often walk over from the Dolphin.

We love the dolphin resort as well as tubbies and the ice cream store but you can't beat Cape May for breakfast and Beaches & Cream for Cheesburgers and Ice Cream treats.

TJ

 

[m.pots]

Hi everyone!

DNBois: just wondering when you all were going to be there? My dd and I will be there May 2-10. Hope you all have a very magical time! We booked the Cape May breakfast and plan on going to beaches and cream as well. We also got a PS for the Storybook Princess breakfast (with dis princesses) at the Norway World Showcase in Epcot (just a short walk from what I read).

anyone recommend any of the S/D restaurants?

 

[Ithastobe]

We stayed at Swan in October. I agree with tjmw2727, the character meal at the Swan was just OK. Pluto or Goofy were around - but it was like one guy who went back to kitchen and changed costume to Goofy, and then came out again after a break as Pluto. Food was o.k., but not that great.

They had a 'themed' buffet - our night was American (go figure)!
Food not that great, expensive, and service poor. Floor, tables and buffet area kinda of messy too.

Just my opinion - Swan itself lovely.

 

[DNBois]

m.pots -

What a coincidence - my DH and I will be there May 2-10 also; taking the train down and returning by plane. If you like italian, I have heard rave reviews for Palio; I believe it is in the Swan not Dolphin. People on this forum have commented on how great the food and the atmosphere (strolling musicians); and Fodor's and Frommer's Disney Guides both write it up as excellent. DH and I will be checking out - will post our comments upon returning. Have fun - I'm sure you're DD is looking forward to trip

 

[m.pots]

DNBois: Thanks for the info. How neat we'll be there at exactly the same time-what are the odds!?! Yes, my DD is getting so excited. Her bday is this Friday (turning 8). Grandma & pa and aunt got her disney dollars to spend on her trip. She is such a saver and already put them in her disney fanny pack. (how cute) Thanks for the tip on Pallo (sp?). She would find the traveling muscians the neatest thing! She very artsy and loves anything about the fine arts! Have you stayed at the Dolph or Swan before?

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Had character breakfast at both Swan and Dolphin. Definitely liked the Swan better. Although, the food is not that good...often overcooked (probably from sitting in the buffet for so long). Each time (two separate trips) we saw Chip and Dale, Goofy and Pluto.
I think if you can get yourself somewhere else for a character meal, definitely do that instead.

Although not a character meal, DH and I LOVE Kimonos in the Swan. One of our faves and often visited.

Good luck.

 

[finnie48]

Hi to all -
Thanks for all your replies. we have decided to meet the characters elsewhere. Just waiting for our "family" from Norway - the real one - to get here for a July trip to see Mickey and friends.
Bob

 

[flagal]

We LOVED the Sunday a.m. character buffet breakfast at the Dolphin's Coral Cafe, on the first floor near where you leave the building to get the boats to MGM & Epcot. The characters were Pluto, Goofy (our favorite), Chip & Dale. Since it wasn't too crowded, the characters spent a lot of time with our kids.

The food was superb - smoked salmon with capers, cream cheese & onions; made-to-order omlettes, Mickey waffles, delicious breads and pastries, eggs, pancakes, bacon & potatoes, bagels. Quality was very high. Pleasant atmosphere, great service.

The smoked salmon was worth the cost alone, if you like that sort of thing. The buffet is every day of the week but the characters are only there on Sunday.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

That is one thing I like about the breakfasts, actually....there is hardly anyone there so you get a TON of attention.

I guess I would say my biggest food complaint was that my mickey waffles each time were as hard as a brick and cold. Now that is NO fun!
One plus was that I asked for soy milk and got it. That is hard to find.
The breakfast buffet wasn't as good as other breakfast buffets at the resorts that I've had.

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

finnie48 - just wanted to add my 2 cents just in case you decide to stay at Dolphin for Sunday Bfast at Coral Cafe.
Totally agree with flagal. This was the best character meal we had on our June02 trip. We also did Cindy's (food just OK) Crystal Palace, Breakfastaursaus (DH didn't like this one at all - that's another story..)
Food at Coral Cafe was excellent, choice was far better than others above, character interaction was fantastic (Chip and Dale, Goofy, Pluto) restaurant was set up much better for character interaction (lots of room to move around), and wait staff was terrific. At all the other's we felt rushed to get in and get out, and characters moved quickly around.
We were also at our hotel, so didn't have to get up and travel to another restaurant for bfast.
If you want to see Chip/Dale, Goofy and Pluto I'd highly recommend Coral Cafe.

 

[finnie48]

Hi, again -
It was good to see some positve reviews of the Sunday Character Breakfast at the Dolphin. I'm usually easy to please, anyway, but it looks good for the rest of our family. Thanks all for your comments. Bob

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Maybe we got the Mickey Waffles on a bad day.