Originally Posted By DVC_dad The history of the Swan and Dolphin? Are you serious? Okay...first let me suggest you read "Building A Dream - The Art of Disney Architecture" by Beth Dunlop, 1996. The Dolphin and Swan were built in an era where (No matter what you think of him today) Eisner and Roy O. saved Disney from itself. Please don't let this statement open a larger can of worms. From page 63..."Michael Eisner couldn't sleep. It was September 23, 1984, only his second day at Disney, and he'd just been shown the drawings for two outsized but utterly ordinary hotels for Walt Disney World that were to be OWNED and built by the Tishman Company. "I said to myself, this is really horrendous." ... Seven days - and sleepless nights - after seeing the plans for the two hotels, Eisner was possessed by a new determination. "We're not doing it,"he said to himself, aloud. That week set a new course for Disney. Anyway there were law suits and the original location was supposed to be near the other chain hotels in LBV. Disney had already commited to the project before Eisner came aboard, otherwise there really would be no Dolphin nor Swan. There were many things that were unique to the building of these... a contest for designers and architects to present their ideas for these hotels, Eisner untimately wanted a giant glass pyramid but there were too many constraints and many other things. Anyway, the history of the Dolphin and Swan is very very deep and facinating. You really would love this book. The Swan and Dolphin were the spring board of a wonderful and beautiful time, in which Eisner/Wells and Roy O. were about to make history and making the company better. However the Swan and Dolphin were to be owned by outsiders and staffed by outsiders. Again I cannot possibly do justice to the story here, get the book, its awesome and full of color photos of lots of Disney Architecture from around the globe.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad By the way, when you have kids in tow, as I am sure your co-worker will, the best place from within a park has to be Canada I would think.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip DVC_dad, Am I not following something here, or are you arguing with yourself in this thread? Your posts #5 and #21 seem to be at odds with each other.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss My one problem with the Swan and Dolphin is their intrusion onto the WS skyline. While I appreciate Eisner's fascination with architecture, these hotels are an eyesore in their placement.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad RoadTrip humm... maybe so. Sorry for the confusion. Post #21 was a reply to post #7, I was asked about the history of the Dolphin and Swan. To clear things up let me boil both posts down to two statements. They are really un-related. Post #5 - I prefer Le Cellier for steak. Post #21 - I do not patronize the Swan and Dolphin and never will. I guess I should have said only that huh? Thanks for calling me on it.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip ^^^ I wasn't trying to call you on anything, but was seriously confused. I took #5 to be anti-Swan/Dolphin and #21 to be pro-Swan/Dolphin. Guess I was wrong about #21. I love the Swan/Dolphin. I consider their presence to be one of the benefits of staying at the Boardwalk. The architecture is fantastic and lead to the continued development of the Epcot resort area, which I think is the finest at WDW. As trekkeruss mentioned, the hotels do intrude on the Showcase skyline. I guess I've never had the problem about being able to see "outside the berm" that many Disney fans do, so it has never bothered me
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<I guess I've never had the problem about being able to see "outside the berm" that many Disney fans do, so it has never bothered me>> You probably would have had to seen the skyline before the two hotels were there to notice how disruptive they are to the harmony of the WS architecture.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad I'm so used to seeing them that I don't even see them anymore, if you get my meaning.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN The France Showcase got the worst deal out of the Swan and Fish Hotels (for the love of God, those are NOT dolphins sitting atop that building), since theie mini Eiffel Tower looks ridiculously small in relation to those hotels. I too prefered the view to the west (or lack of it) before these hotels went up. Then TOT didn't help matters either.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<the Swan and Fish Hotels>> They didn't think the Swan and Mahi-Mahi rolled off the tongue too well.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss Of course we all know what is the #1 mentioned item at Le Cellier: the Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup!
Originally Posted By seanyoda ^^ absolutely trekkeruss. << for the love of God, those are NOT dolphins sitting atop that building >> Take a gander at the emblem for the US Navy's Submarine Service <a href="http://www.csg2.navy.mil/dolphins.htm" target="_blank">http://www.csg2.navy.mil/dolph ins.htm</a>
Originally Posted By LuvDatDisney The Dolphin hotels dolphins are charactures of dolphin FISH, not what you see jumping thru hoops at Sea World. They are designed to be whimsical. I also love both hotels, although I wish they hadn't have been built where they were. They are two wonderful resorts that are quite high-end and are better in many respects than many WDW deluxe resorts. I don't know why anyone would choose to not visit them just for the great dining alone. As to steaks, Shula's is absolutely the best at WDW. But it is adult, which I like, and caters to an expense-account crowd, which I don't. The Yachtsman is the best Disney-owned WDW steakhouse. LeCellier can be great, but I've had too many low grade steaks for $20-plus there. Concourse Steakhouse is very up and down. Was great when it opened, went steadily downhill and now can be great (I just had some terrfic prime rib there for $16.99.), or less than. The best piece of meat I've ever tasted is the tamarind BBQ filet at the California Grill, but it's more of a gourmet treat ... in other words, it's smallish and don't expect a huge baked potato and onion ring on the plate. But if I had to pick a last dinner, that would be it!
Originally Posted By Chelledun ^^My grandpa used to fish for and cook dolphin fish and he said they looked just like that . That said, they aren't my favorite hotels.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad A dolphin fish is different from a Dolphin (Flipper). I am told by someone who deep sea fishes a lot that a Dolphin Fish is a Mahi-Mahi. Is that true? In either case, the fish on the top of the hotel are stylized anyway so they probably look as much like a real Dolphin Fish as Goofy looks like a real dog. No disrespect Goofy!
Originally Posted By Chelledun Here's a picture of a real one... <a href="http://marinefisheries.org/FishID/dolphin.html" target="_blank">http://marinefisheries.org/Fis hID/dolphin.html</a>
Originally Posted By vbdad55 A Dolphin Fish is different than a Dolphin mammal -- they are both Dolphins by definition
Originally Posted By adizneeguy A bit off-topic here, but that's kinda my thing. Best thing I ever got out of a guide- A coupon from Rita Aero's WDW guide for $50 off any meal ticket at Swan or Dolphin hotels. I was broke, and called twice to make sure there were no tricks involved. I don't even remember the restaurant, but it was good eatin, and I was smart enough to spend right up to the amount and have a good amount of tip money. Needless to say, they don't include coupons like THAT anymore. P.S.- I did have a steak and it was good.
Originally Posted By LuvDatDisney ''A Dolphin Fish is different than a Dolphin mammal -- they are both Dolphins by definition'' And then you have the Miami Dolphins ... who can barely keep their fins above water!
