NEW...DOLPHIN/SWAN..."questions and answers"...tips and hints!

[ozziewags]

Just had to add a countdown timer......can't believe how soon it is coming.
I don't know about you mouseteacher, but when the fourth hits, the summer seems to fly by! Also, I went to Walmart and bought myself one of those rafts today. I was wrong though. You have to blow up the ring around the outside and the pillow. But that's all. Folds up to a small circle! I will let you know how it works...hoping I use it each day!

Deb, where are you? Was this your last day, or are you on your way home? DF just got there yesterday. Let's see, she would be at the Peabody Orlando, I think. DF....where are you? Here's hoping you got there yesterday with no problems. Did you get 'wanded' again?

 

[Mouseteacher]

ozzie~

I have seen those floats on the TV infomercial. They do fold up to a relatively small circle and blowing up the outer rim doesn't seem too difficult.
Yes, indeed, once the 4th goes by the summer seems to FLY! My true time off ends upon my return from the Swan (the 28th). I will be back at the office the next day. I do ease myself in during the early days of August. Then, it's full throttle by mid August. So, I am thoroughly enjoying these days and trying to take it easy.

DF ~ Where Are You? We are patiently waiting back here to hear from you!

 

[kimmar067]

...fellow S/D "diehards"!! Wow, I can't believe that it's been a year already since DF went on her 56(?)-day magical experience to WDW and beyond and she's there once again! Hope she has a fantastic flight....DF, if you get a chance, peruse the Community Board to "Congratulations & Birthday Wishes" !!

 

[disnurse]

Dreamflight hope everything is going magical for you. I can't wait to hear how things at the dolphin are!!!

hockeymom, sorry to hear about your blisters. MGM TOT you are so brave, I tried that once and declared it a bit too much for me, I shutter thinking about it.

 

[Mouseteacher]

Good morning, disnurse - we are early birds! I wholeheartedly agree about ToT!! hockeymom must a brave soul.

 

[travelin' girl]

Hi there all you Dolphin people!!! I am new to these boards and I have a couple of questions..please... The reservationist at the Dolphin said she could guarantee me a room with a view of spaceship earth- I was wondering about this because the YC & BC CRO's said you cannot see it due to foilage of the trees and how long and exciting is the slide at the grotto pool? and how would you compare it to Storm-along- bay? Thanks much...

 

[ozziewags]

Good morning all and welcome travelin' girl........
TOT....my favorite ride...I could do it over and over! Love all the new drops and each ride is different!
The YC and BC are shorter and blocked by foliage, but the Dolphin is huge and has many rooms that can see Spaceship Earth. Grotto pool at S/D is wonderful.....so is Storm along Bay. Have been to both. I think the slide at YC is better, but I wouldn't hesitate to go to the S/D.....pool is very nice. SAB is about as good as it gets for pools, but you will not be disappointed in the Grotto pool. See for yourself.

courtesy of Our Laughing Place

courtesy of ourlaughingplace

 

[ozziewags]

Oh yes, travelin' girl....I forgot....there are also several of these at the Grotto pool....one of my favorite things to do. So good for aching muscles!

 

[MOM POPPINS]

Here is another vote for TOT, its also my favorite ride My 5 year old Monica rode it several times but says " I don't like the tall building". She wraps her arm around the bar to hold on, she does not like flying off her seat.

My girls also love the Grotto pool and the slide, although like Ozziewags said the slides at the other resorts are longer. The view from the Dolphin to me is worth the sacrifice of the shorter slide.

Dreamflight: Where are you??? Looking foward to your post

 

[Mouseteacher]

Mom Poppins ~ How is baby Kirk?

Welcome, travelin'girl - I agree with ozzie's summation of the pools. In addition, every time I have walked by SAB it seemed extremely crowded - much more so than grotto pool. Just my $.02

 

[travelin' girl]

Thanks much you all are the best!!! I'm so glad I was able to get through my computer illiteracy to log on... it took awhile... All the pics look great- do you know of any specifically of the slide somewhere? To be quite honest, the pool, balcony, and room are some of the things that can make or break our vacations!!! I guess we're atmosphere people!!! Also, we live in Ohio, so we don't get access to many "nice" pools often!!! We feel lucky if we have 2 days of complete sunshine!!!

 

[kimmar067]

...ToT RULES!!! Oh, #1hockeymom, to be fast asleep on those "HEAVENLY BEDS"!!! It's worth another trip to the Swan just for that!!

ozziewags ~
LOVE the pix you posted...it takes me right back to WDW!!

(wonder how DF's doin'.....hmmmmm)

lovingthemouse ~
How's by you?? Doesn't it feel great to have the summer off?? (you too, mouseteacher!)

 

[#1hockeymom]

Spent the day in Epcot after we literally hung out in CL with Thabo. He was going to go wake up "princess" himself if she didn't make it up there to say goodbye to him! He was absolutely fantastic on the days he was there. We did make sure we showed our appreciation to all his hard work when we "shook" hands on the way out the door. He deserved every bit of that and more!

Had lunch at Biergarten, again! One of the places we seem to keep on coming back to. I think part of what we like about that restaurant is the dark and coolness of the building. You feel like you are truly escaping the Florida heat.

We were tricked by the tricky trolls, saw "Norway, a proud people" with me giggling in my DH's ear the entire time. We wandered around quite a lot then headed to the International Gateway for the sad trip back to the hotel to pick up our luggage from bell services.
Our transportation was waiting for us after we had a drink at the lobby bar. An iced Mocha with a kick really hit the spot! Uneventful trip back, just the way I like them! Dodged thunderstorms all the way home, what a great pilot!

We're home, tons of laundry as we dumped the suitcases on the floor as we walked in the door late last night. I miss my heavenly bed! I didn't sleep as well last night. I decided I am going to start with new pillows. Obviously my down isn't as good as their down! We all loved the Swan; we will be back again! I am sorry I missed so many people! Would have been nice to meet up in one of the restaurants or bars for a round of beverages!

To everyone headed off to the world, we left some pixie dust for you. ENJOY!

Debbie

 

[Mouseteacher]

Debbie ~ Glad you are home safe and sound. The time in the world does go by so fast! I know the feeling you described on your last day returning to International Gateway and the Swan for the last time... . I am so happy to hear how you felt about the Swan - I am REALLY REALLY getting excited. Maybe the PD you left behind will get us CL and a chance to meet Thabo and/or MamaT.

What's good to eat at the Biergarten? That's one place I haven't been to - perhaps we could make it for lunch.


kimmar~ I am enjoying my time off - I don't have the whole summer but I am happy for the time I do have and the calmer pace of things once back at the school office. Thank you for thinking me.

 

[#1hockeymom]

Biergarten is the buffet in Germany. We have only been there during their lunch hours. Traditional German food, a full selection of hot dishes and many salad combinations that you wouldn't find on other buffets such as the cucumber salad, a beet salad, and they had one with what looked like knockwurst (sp?) in it. Desserts are included in the price, drinks aren't. They have entertainment at various times which is pretty good! We recognized many of the band members from previous trips. Perhaps the entire band is even the same and we just didn't remember everyone as easily.

MommaT was also excellent, we didn't see her our last day, though. I wish we would have! On Friday neither one of them were there and you really noticed. Its not that the club level is bad those days, it just isn't coming home to family! There were times when our ds would go up in the evening for a coke, some cookies and some cheese for himself and end come back with two plates, saran wrapped, made especially by Thabo since he realized we were napping in the room. He had already noted our favorites and didn't have items on the plates that we usually bypassed. If there is anything you want drink wise to take back to your room, you just ask, and they usually bring back two per person of whatever you asked for. It was nice coming back to a few diet cokes in our room after walking through the park of the night. We tended to stash a few cookies for a midnight snack, also! When your boys are traveling with you to Disney again I would definately suggest adding CL to your reservations. We are just getting a preview of "boy" eating habits, and it already scares us! Our ds eats every hour!



Someone speed up my washer and dryer!

Debbie

 

[Mouseteacher]

Debbie ~ We had CL last summer at the Dolphin with our boys and, just as you said, it was great. CL at the Dolphin was nice but certainly not as personable as the CL at the Swan sounds.

One positive about CL with 2 older teens (at that time), I would be the first up and in the Club room (I love early mornings) - DH would arrive next. We would take our time, reading the newspaper, enjoying a few cups of coffee while waiting for our sleeping beauties to stir. The older was a typical "early morning grump teen" so at times we would bring food back to the room for him. DBro and his family went with us and this is where we met every morning. So much better than a food court or restaurant. Sooo relaxing - Club room was never crowded - we had the room practically to ourselves. It was late August so things are much quieter. Was the Club room ever crowded while you were there?

 

[disnurse]

heres a shot of the the end of the grotto slide:

 

[ozziewags]

DREAMFLIGHT.......WHERE ARE YOU?

 

[#1hockeymom]

We tended to show up at weird times, so club level was usually very empty. I am assuming that was due to our inability to wake up early! The attempt would be made, the first pot of coffee made, and dh and I would both fall soundly asleep in "heaven", again.

Friday evening it was packed, and by 6:30pm when we walked in the only thing left food-wise were veggies and potato chips. That was a disappointment, but we made due with some nice cold drinks and the chips. The man taking care of club level just said that he was overbooked. When we got back to the room I remembered that a chocolate "almost" croissant was waiting for me wrapped up in a napkin! I had wrapped it up when it wasn't finished at breakfast. We did let Thabo know what Friday night looked like when he happened to ask us the next morning. He seemed very concerned.

I a missing my zip a dee do dah tips!

Debbie

PS that laundry still isn't done.... I took a nap. I am recovering from my vacation!

 

[jgates]

I'm lonely for the Swan........ I would imagine DF is having just TOO MUCH FUN!!!!! Hopefully she will show up soon.

We used to grab a couple of cookies for the room also - plus an extra soda. I hate ice in my soda so we would all swap our warm can of soda for a cold one from the mini-bar.

PS - Teenage DS's aren't the only ones that can pack it away - My 10 year old DD can outeat us some days! And she is skinny as a rail!