10 Nights of Magic in The Orlando Trifecta-TR - COMPLETE!! 12/10 About This Page:

[SuperDave]

Originally Posted by DMA

Your room upgrade was great, with the king bed and the great view! Oh well, no veranda, but I guess you can't have everything.

The rain was really coming down in buckets! Glad it stopped so you could get to Splitsville and then dinner. Looking forward to hearing about it...but it sounds like all was not to your liking! :

I was very happy with the upgrade and really enjoyed the view, especially as I enjoyed watching the Friendship boats come in to dock below my room. The rain was a bit of a nuisance for a while with a delay but glad I was able to enjoy Splitzville before dinner. You'll hear all about dinner in the next update and it's not all negative.

[Colexis Mom]

What a great room! Love the pictures! Glad the rain stopped in time for your dinner! Can’t wait to hear about it!

[Cam22]

Very nice room upgrade! Bummer that the rain interrupted your first night at WDW. But as you said, thankfully storms don't usually last long in October in Orlando. Can't wait to hear about your dinner though it sounds like it might have a mix of good and not so good.

[SuperDave]

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

What a great room! Love the pictures! Glad the rain stopped in time for your dinner! Can’t wait to hear about it!

The room is great and love the view of the river between Studios and Epcot. You can't beat it with the exception of a balcony as I wished but can't have everything! Glad you enjoyed the photos, although I think I should have taken more, but captured the room well overall!


I love it when the Friendship boats would appear and dock below my room as just a great thing to see! Outside of a veranda, you can't beat this type of view!


My dinner experience will be interesting for sure and not like my four previous experiences at Fulton's. Never had a bad one there, but this one will be mixed as things I didn't like and some good as well!



The rain was just a hindrance for a bit, but not that bad. Just a bit of waiting for it to pass and didn't influence my plans in a bad way with the wait!

[SuperDave]

Originally Posted by Cam22

Very nice room upgrade! Bummer that the rain interrupted your first night at WDW. But as you said, thankfully storms don't usually last long in October in Orlando. Can't wait to hear about your dinner though it sounds like it might have a mix of good and not so good.

I was more than happy with the room upgrade and more than I expected. But as I've said a veranda would have been the biggest prize, but that would be too much to ask for at least for free!

I had one of my best ever fish courses ever in my life back in 2010 or 11 and just overwhelmed me. Best until with outside V & A's (in another league) in Atlantic City a few weeks ago at Dock's, which I showed you on here in a recent update.

The rain wasn't that bad as it only delayed things for a bit on arrival to the Springs and afterwards all was good as I got to enjoy Splitzville immensely for a good 30 minutes or so!

My meal at Paddlefish will definitely be mixed, but there were some pluses about it! My previous four experiences at Fulton's were nearly flawless with one exception on meal number four back in 2012 I believe. But, not that bad. It was a matter of locating something and will explain if anyone is interested.

[chezp]

What a lovely view from your room! It's a nice size and beautifully decorated.

My goodness, that rain did come down at Disney Springs! It's fascinating to see your photos from there. I can't believe how much difference there is between yours and ours from when we were in January. So much had been completed by January with the Edison open, although Wine Bar George only opened a couple of weekends ago. That's on my list to try as well.

[Tara O'Hara]

What a beautiful room and view!! Sorry about the rain but it seems to have been good timing at least. Can't wait to hear about your dinner!!

[patclairesmom]

Nice upgrade! You've had a great view! Fulton's was my husbands favorite, so I'm interested in your meal at Paddlefish.

[purplegal]

What a nice room and a lovely view. It will be nice when Disney Springs construction is complete, it’s almost like a fifth park with all there is to see and do.

[lindawdw]

Wow, your room upgrade was beautiful! I can’t get over how large the rooms are there! Your view is gorgeous although a veranda would have been perfect with that view! Sorry it rained so much at DS but at least it didn’t last all night 😀👍. Can’t wait to hear about your meal!

[SuperDave]

Originally Posted by chezp

What a lovely view from your room! It's a nice size and beautifully decorated.

My goodness, that rain did come down at Disney Springs! It's fascinating to see your photos from there. I can't believe how much difference there is between yours and ours from when we were in January. So much had been completed by January with the Edison open, although Wine Bar George only opened a couple of weekends ago. That's on my list to try as well.

I was quite happy with the room and enjoyed the views. So many changes in DS in such a short time.

Originally Posted by Tara O'Hara

What a beautiful room and view!! Sorry about the rain but it seems to have been good timing at least. Can't wait to hear about your dinner!!

I really enjoyed my room with the nice upgrade. Glad the rain didn't last long and no affect on my plans.

[SuperDave]

Originally Posted by patclairesmom

Nice upgrade! You've had a great view! Fulton's was my husbands favorite, so I'm interested in your meal at Paddlefish.

I enjoyed the view so much and very happy with the room.

Originally Posted by purplegal

What a nice room and a lovely view. It will be nice when Disney Springs construction is complete, it’s almost like a fifth park with all there is to see and do.

Room was great and so was the view. Good point about DS as almost like another park.

[SuperDave]

Originally Posted by lindawdw

Wow, your room upgrade was beautiful! I can’t get over how large the rooms are there! Your view is gorgeous although a veranda would have been perfect with that view! Sorry it rained so much at DS but at least it didn’t last all night 😀👍. Can’t wait to hear about your meal!

The rooms are quite big and not at the prices of the Disney deluxes. I loved the view and a veranda would have been amazing to have but I'd certainly be paying for that. Glad the rain was short lived as it just put a hold on my evening plans just briefly.

[SuperDave]

An Uneven Dining Experience Compared to Past Ones!



Sunday, October 8th (Part VII)



I entered Paddlefish and checked in for my ADR. I liked the changes that have been made to the restaurant as it has a very modern and warm feel to it. Even, though I have only seen parts of the ground floor. I plan to explore more of the eatery after dinner.

I only had to wait a few minutes until my table was ready. I was seated on the ground floor in the bar area. I remember this room well and it looks so much different when it was Fulton’s. I like the look of it.


I love the marble countertops of the bar and the semi-circle shape to it as you can seat more patrons. It also gives a more openness to the bar.

I’ve dined in this room on previous experiences at Fulton’s and it looks nothing like it did previously. It’s very bright, cheery and modern with a welcoming feel to it with the white colors, marble and lighting. So well done! In this room, there is also an open kitchen of sorts behind the glass as that is where the various seafood boils are done.


Seafood boils kitchen



During this time my server gave me a menu and went over with it with me. I told him, I had dined here several times as Fulton’s but this would be my first time at Paddlefish. I looked over the menu and saw some things I liked. I also ordered a glass of Spanish white wine, which was quite good. I can’t remember the name of it. A few minutes later, my server returned with some bread, ice water and my glass of wine. I made my choice and enjoyed my bread and wine before my first course arrives.

I was viewing the kitchen as interested to see one of the chefs doing some of the seafood boils. I did see him working with lobster and crab at various times. Next, my first course arrived.


Charred Octopus over Cannellini Beans with Chourico (Portuguese Sausage) and Smoked Paprika Oil.

This course was very enjoyable and cooked to tender perfection. There was quite a bit of flavor and especially in the cannellini beans, which paired so well with the octopus.

It was during this time, that things took a bit of a turn as far as enjoying my meal. While, I was having my first course my server returned with my main course. I don’t think I was halfway through my appetizer when he brought this to my table. I asked him to bring it back to the kitchen, until I was finished with this course. You’d think he’d check back at my table, before bringing this out, but he didn’t. This is one of my pet peeves when dining out. He hadn’t even cleared my plate and you’d think he would have known. Not good service or organization on his part!

After finishing my first course my server returned and cleared my plate and settings. While, I waited for my main course, I took in more views of the kitchen.



A few minutes later, my server returned with my main course. This would be a disappointment!


Cioppino with Shrimp, Littleneck Clams, Mussels, Octopus, Crab, Fish Filet of some sort in a Tomato Broth

I liked the presentation in the small cast iron pot, but it’s the quality of this, which I didn’t like. I think when I sent this back to the kitchen, that they may have continued to cook this to keep it hot. I think this how it suffered. Some of the seafood was a bit tough and overcooked as well as the tomato broth, which wasn’t a broth and more pasty or stewish in texture. The other thing is the crab claws, which were still in the shells. Even though I was given a crab cracker, it was bit messy to crack these as the claws were in the sauce. The crab should be in the sauce without the shells. Although, the clams and mussels were in shells, they were a lot easier to deal with. I could have returned it to the kitchen, but I didn’t want to wait twenty minutes for this, so I just dealt with it. Although, parts of it were enjoyable. I had this dish at Mama Melrose’s in 2016 and it was exceptional. Just not here, but may have been, if it hadn’t been overcooked!

I was a bit disappointed in my meal, so I decided to skip dessert and just paid my check. It was an uneven dining experience compared to past ones at Fulton’s, which were always enjoyable. Perhaps, just one of those things with the service and quality tonight and just happened. I will return here and hope my next experience is like those I had at Fulton’s!

After paying my check, I went to check out the rest of Paddlefish. First I went upstairs to the third floor to the bar and have an after-dinner drink. I looked at the menu and couldn’t believe the prices. I’m sure they aren’t this high in the restaurant downstairs. Eighteen dollars for a Grand Marnier! I will not pay that and will go elsewhere in a while. But, first I wanted to see more of Paddlefish.


Upstairs bar and home to the $18 Grand Marnier!


Outdoor deck and bar, which would be nice on a dry evening


Some views from the deck of Disney Springs and beyond











After, touring Paddlefish for a bit I headed down the outside stairwell to the ground floor. I also visited the second floor, where the main dining room is located, but didn’t want to take any photos there as it was very busy in here and lots of CM traffic. I can tell you is that is just as nice as the rest of Paddlefish.







I first stopped here for my after-dinner drink, but decided to go elsewhere as it was far too noisy. Even outside, where I went was quite noisy, so I headed elsewhere.


Not here, but maybe should have as I enjoyed their upstairs bar in 2016.


But here!

I visited the Hangar Bar on my last trip and enjoyed it. I did find it to be much smaller than I thought it would be as not on the usual Disney level.

I sat up at the bar and lucky to find a seat as it was quite busy. I ordered a Grand Marnier and enjoyed it. It was much more reasonable at $10 than those at Paddlefish and yet so close by.




Jock Lindsay’s Hangar Bar



It was after 9:30 pm and I headed towards the Disney Springs bus depot and return to the Dolphin resort. I still wanted to check out Phins bar in my hotel as well as the lobby as I only spent a few minutes this morning on arrival.









I visited a few of the Disney Springs shops but didn’t buy anything as a lot of it is way overpriced and not much interested me. I’m also not a big shopper. I then walked over to the bus depot and return to the Dolphin.



The wait for the bus was only a few minutes, but it took some time until we could board as two passengers were using ECVs. The bus was nearly full, but I got a seat. The ride was fine, but I got off before the Dolphin as there were stops at the Boardwalk and Swan before the Dolphin. I got off at the Boardwalk as it may be a while until I disembark with the ECV passengers on board. They didn’t get off at the Boardwalk.




Still wet from the heavy rains earlier this evening. I always enjoy the Boardwalk at night.




My approach to the Dolphin


The walkway to the Dolphin between the Swan. Looks amazing all lit up at night with the music and fountain show!








Love the lighting against the water





NEXT: That is Quite a Show, but is it Good?

[Cam22]

Sorry that Paddlefish was a disappointment. Sounds like the server wasn't on top of his job.