60 Candles, 30 Million Lights, Best Friends&Family at Disney--Priceless (New 5/23)

[KathyRN137]

Hi Kathy!

I'm hopscotching through your report using the links... Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday, Mark!

What an awesome surprise for Mark!


Kathy

*All Caught Up!* Loved it! What's even better is knowing that the sad faces are now smiling at Disney!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Like you, I've really never thought about staying at the Dolphin (or the Swan). But, from the looks of your pictures, it looks really really nice. You guys really scored with the view of the Tower of Terror and the lake. Pretty!

 

[disneyfan61]

Great picture of the WDW sign!!

That's great that the business part ended quickly & you could enjoy Disney.

The Dolphin does look nice. What a great view!! Glad you enjoyed it.

Anxious to hear about your meal at Yachtsman. We are trying it for the first time in Oct. Everyone seems to rave about it.

 

[WDisneyMom]

Yay for finishing up early! The more Disney time the better!
I just love the pic of Mark and Dumbo
And I am not a Stars Wars fan but that shirt is awesome!!
You don't like Cracker Barrel?! Oh my!! LOVE that place. I have yet to try Waffle House but I have heard great things about the food.

The Dolphin looks great and wow!! What a room upgrade! I love it.

So happy nicer weather has found its way into Chicago! Happy Spring

 

[marvali]

Nope, I hate Cracker Barrel; I think the food is disgusting and the staff very rude. You can always stick with Nicki's dining reviews...she likes Cracker Barrel.

Now there's a wonderful idea..........and she's a real sweetie too!!!

Oh Mr Elous I love me some grits too !! Yes this Brit loves Grits !!! With butter , with cheese , with redsauce , and grits and guts !!! Had some wonderful Texas friends several years ago and they initiated me into the world of grits !!!

You go Rosie!!! Agree they are much better if you prepare them just right with some additional ingredients!

You don't like Cracker Barrel?! Oh my!! LOVE that place.

Okay, I was beginning to think it was just a Chicago thing, but I guess not.......

 

[afwdwfan]

Now there's a wonderful idea..........and she's a real sweetie too!!!

I'm trying to figure out why I keep hanging around Kathy's TRs... neither of us likes the other's favorite resort, she doesn't like Cracker Barrel, but she does like the Awful Waffle, she's addicted to Starbucks and doesn't like Mexican... I really don't even know if I can take anything away from her dining reviews since our tastes are so obviously different.

 

[WDisneyMom]

Marvali....yes, you can rule that thought out! haha. I Love CB

 

[KatMark]

I'm trying to figure out why I keep hanging around Kathy's TRs... neither of us likes the other's favorite resort, she doesn't like Cracker Barrel, but she does like the Awful Waffle, she's addicted to Starbucks and doesn't like Mexican... I really don't even know if I can take anything away from her dining reviews since our tastes are so obviously different.

I'm in the middle of a huge closing here at work...but you and Marv are welcome to leave any time.

 

[marvali]

I'm trying to figure out why I keep hanging around Kathy's TRs... neither of us likes the other's favorite resort, she doesn't like Cracker Barrel, but she does like the Awful Waffle, she's addicted to Starbucks and doesn't like Mexican... I really don't even know if I can take anything away from her dining reviews since our tastes are so obviously different.

I know right! It really makes you wonder............

Marvali....yes, you can rule that thought out! haha. I Love CB

Okay, must just be Kathy........???

I'm in the middle of a huge closing here at work...but you and Marv are welcome to leave any time.

I don't have to take this...................

I'm staying and from now on I'm going to be a pest!!!

 

[3prettyprincesses]

I don't have to take this...................

I'm staying and from now on I'm going to be a pest!!!

And how is that different from any other day...

 

[marvali]

And how is that different from any other day...

It means I get to act more like Molly!!!

Oh wait.....................

 

[3prettyprincesses]

It means I get to act more like Molly!!!

Oh wait.....................

Touche Marvie.

And you should probably expect that this comment will get you into trouble with Kathy. We girls stick together! For the record, I am NEVER a pest, quite the opposite actually. My darling hubby can attest to that (for the most part). Can Ali say that about you? Boy do I wish she was on the DIS so she could see the shabby way you treat some of us, sniffle sniffle.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Hooray! We're back home!

Any picture of the gates is a good one, if you ask me.

That room view is pretty awesome. I can imagine that made you love the Dolphin resort a whole bunch.

I'm trying to figure out why I keep hanging around Kathy's TRs... neither of us likes the other's favorite resort, she doesn't like Cracker Barrel, but she does like the Awful Waffle, she's addicted to Starbucks and doesn't like Mexican... I really don't even know if I can take anything away from her dining reviews since our tastes are so obviously different.

I think I'm in the same boat! I guess variety is the spice of life.

(But 50's PT >> Sci-Fi)

 

[afwdwfan]

I'm in the middle of a huge closing here at work...but you and Marv are welcome to leave any time.

I don't have to take this...................

I'm staying and from now on I'm going to be a pest!!!

Hmmm... time to highjack a TR???

I think I'm in the same boat! I guess variety is the spice of life.

(But 50's PT >> Sci-Fi)

I've always said that Sci-Fi tends to be underrated and has a bad reputation, but you're 100% right about that one.

 

[glennbo123]

All right, you folks have arrived at WDW! I haven't seen too much about the Dolphin, other than the outside of it.

That Darth Vader shirt is AWESOME! I'll need to find one of those!

 

[MeMom]

More room pictures:

The ones with the balconies are much more appealing to me than the ones in the background with no open windows or space to walk outside from the room.

So happy and relaxed!


Another vote for Cracker Barrel here.

 

[scottny]

Nice animal pics.
I would love to feed giraffes.
OMG! That chicken and waffles is huge. I have never had that but it looks good.
The room at the Dolphin looked nice. Do they charge for parking?
I am all caught up again.

 

[Chicago Mo]

AWESOME pictures Kathy!!! the Dolphin looks great with your VIEW!!! holy cow that is AMAZING!
what is it you got Mark??? some ambassador?!?

 

[KatMark]

Amazing how people's tastes differ !!!The Dolphin looks great !!The few is tremendous !!!

Maybe for you, Rosie...and ONLY you--not the guys, I'll give CB another try.

The Dolphin looks lovely! And it has heavenly beds....

Cynthia, the beds were heavenly (Mark hated the pillows though)

Wonderful view, you can't beat the location, good CM interaction, gosh, what's not to like!

The only thing I didn't like was the parking fee!

Fun update, productive day and really, not a horrible amount of time spent on "work".

It worked out so well.

Nice entry picture and you both look happy and relaxed...despite having to work on vacation (or is it vacation on work).

I think it is "work on vacation"....although Mark would differ with that opinion I am sure.

nice you got Mark's business finished up so quickly!
great photo of the entrance!
never been over to the Dolphin, it looks pretty and love your view!
so wonderful that you had some good CM treatment and pixie dust of an upgrade!

Lisa, it was such a great morning...quick and efficient. I really like that photo....there was no one anywhere around us so I told Mark to slow down just a tad, but not stop. the Dolphin is really nicer than I expected. Best CM we probably ever had.

Welcome to Disney World. I definitely think you should use that welcome picture over and over again. Takes the pressure off!!!!!

I may just do that, Mary Ellen. I could do with less pressure these days.

Dolphin - I like it. The room is very nice and the view is awesome! Lucky. I was pricing it out for June and the only thing I don't like is the resort fee and the parking fee. I feel like they nickel and dime you, but the location can't be beat.

That parking fee is a killer; the resort fee didn't bother me...probably because it was only one night and we appreciated having the water. The location is great.

So where is dinner? Can't wait to see.

Dinner coming up.

It's always a great day when it ends at Disney.

It sure is Pat.

Got work out of the way and then out to go play. Sounds like the Dophin really took care of you.

The Dolphin was a wonderful surprise.

You got a great shot of the arch. I would reuse that one too.

Definitely think I will...especially for the girls trip since it will be after 6 when we get there.

Some really great shots of both you and Mark. I am sure you enjoyed your dinner at the Yachtsman.

Yes we did...and that is coming in the next update.

Sorry Kathy , I would pick Cracker Barrel over Waffle House too.

It's okay...I still like you.

I am so glad you loved the Dolphin, its everything you could want in a WDW deluxe with 1/2 the price

I promise to listen to you earlier next time. Love you.

Hi Nicki!!!!

Hopefully, now that the snowbirds are basically out of FLorida, Nicki will find more time to be around.

The Dolphin looks beautiful! Especially those beds, they look so soft and comfy! I've never really considered staying there, but I should look into it, I like that they are in the Epcot resorts area but they're a bit cheaper than the BW and Beach and Yacht Club!

The location is great, Jen, and definitely cheaper than the other resorts in that area.

You guys were just coming in as we were leaving. Thanks for sharing your photos of the Dolphin. I haven't seen many. A good location for sure.


Susan/QUOTE]

I'm so sorry we missed you again. It really is an ideal location.

 

[KatMark]

The Dolphin looks pretty, but probably not Disney enough for me. Glad you liked it though!

Mel, it has a very, very mild Disney vibe to it. Truthfully, that's why we don't like the values. After being in the parks all day, we like the more "relaxed" atmosphere. But I can also see why a lot of people love the Disney 24/7.

You definitely are having good luck with pictures. The arch is definitely a keeper.. The pictures of you and Mark are very nice too. You both look so snazzy. The dolphin does look nice! We walked from the BW to there in February. It wasn't that bad of a walk. I could see staying there.

Thanks, Ann. We clean up good, sometimes. It's no worse of a walk then some of the resorts (CSR, AKL if you are stuck at the very end, etc).

A successful mission then.
Large orders are very nice things

Yes, and it helped with the lack of one altogether later in the trip.

A must if you’ve got the time

Absolutely; it says "welcome home" to us.

Copy that…
May need to look into some other file sharing options myself.

So annoying...can't understand why they couldn't leave well enough alone.


And that is a good shot.

Thank you, sir.

A win and more magic.
May be a long while before I get around to staying on those resorts, but the views from that part of the property are very nice to be sure.

It really was a beautiful view.

Good to know.

I surprised myself when I first said that because I really went in thinking it was just a place for that one night and I wouldn't really like it.

Mmmmmmm… Yachtsman…

So good...................

Yay you made it to Disney!

Yes, we did. And in case you hadn't heard...I'm going to Disney next month with the girls.

I love the picture with Mark and his Dumbo.

The man loves his Dumbo.

The Dolphin looks interesting. I have to agree with Mel abov though that it's just not Disney enough for me. Great view though of TOT!

Yes, if you are into a lot of Disney themed stuff around the resort, the Dolphin is not the place.

For 4.5 years after I graduated from college, I traveled for work... a lot. In fact, I got a Christmas card from Priorityclub congratulating me on being in the top 1% of customers in both 2006 and 2007.

I always looked for a Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express (these obviously tended to be the most common), Country Inn, Fairfield Inn or Comfort Suites. One of those was almost always available where I needed to stay and for the most part, you know what you're getting with those chains, they have a decent breakfast, and they tend to be clean. I did stay at Baymonts, LaQuintas and Drury Inns a few times, and they were definitely in that tier too. I just tried to consistently stick with the same chains if I could to maximize my points.

I've also spent some nights in some less than desirable hotels. Days Inn, Motel 6, Knights Inn, Super 8, Quality Inn were all on the "avoid like the plague" list because you never knew what you were going to get until you were there... but you knew it most likely wouldn't be good.

Mark traveled a lot more in the past for business; now it is just Vegas twice a year and he always stays at the Flamingo and the Florida trip and we tend to stick to LaQuintas when we can because the company likes the price.


Starbucks? Really?

Yes, really. We went to Starbucks. I'll try not to mention every other time we went during this trip.

Uncle Bob rocks!

Yes, he does!

Hmmm... I like Uncle Bob more all the time.

Me too...he got a big hug from me when we left.

Almost as good as the picture I have of us driving under it.

Hmmm....I don't seem to remember that picture.

I seriously love that shirt. I never saw it until you put it on Facebook, but I want one!

I'll be glad to pick one up for you when I'm there next month. Just send me your size in a PM.

Is it because they call it a dolphin, but it looks more like a carp?

I've never figured that out.

Mark (Captain Oblivious) would love that view.

I'm sure he would.

I'm glad you liked it.

We really did.

Hi Kathy!

Hi, Kathy. I'm so happy to have you here.

I'm hopscotching through your report using the links... Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday, Mark!

He says thank you.

What an awesome surprise for Mark!

Kathy, it really was. And I am so happy we pulled it off. He so deserved it.


Kathy

*All Caught Up!* Loved it! What's even better is knowing that the sad faces are now smiling at Disney!

Yes, those faces were smiling a couple of weeks ago. And mine will be smiling again in 36 days for our girls trip.

Like you, I've really never thought about staying at the Dolphin (or the Swan). But, from the looks of your pictures, it looks really really nice. You guys really scored with the view of the Tower of Terror and the lake. Pretty!

I was really shocked when I saw TOT out our window; it was so cool!

Great picture of the WDW sign!!

That's great that the business part ended quickly & you could enjoy Disney.

It was awesome; I figured we wouldn't get done until 12 or 12:30...it worked out great.

The Dolphin does look nice. What a great view!! Glad you enjoyed it.

The view was awesome. I finally left the patio when the lights went out at the Studios.

Anxious to hear about your meal at Yachtsman. We are trying it for the first time in Oct. Everyone seems to rave about it.

That will be coming up soon if I can stay awake after I finish the responses.