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

[disfanRN]

Hi to everyone- I've been quiet here lately- busy with life!

Mompoppins- My heart has a pang for you- I will never forget when my DD started K, my husband and I walking away from the bus stop crying like babies!! It was hard- even harder is how fast the time seems to fly once they start school!

DF- fabulous pictures! Glad you are having fun and enjoying your vacation.

Hockeymom- belated congratulations on your job safely returning- teachers are some of the hardest working people I know, and easily the most important, in my opinion. In my job, (RN) I influence peoples lives for only a fleeting time, but teachers have the ability to affect children for a lifetime- that is serious responsibility!

Glad to have electricity and safe water again- that was tough!

Our trip is approaching soon and we are so excited!! Even more exciting, my DH and DD surprised me with an early Christmas gift- a trip to the Dolphin and MVMCPin Dec!!!!! This year is certainly filled with magic!!

I love reading all the trip reports (Disbug you are so cute! Such a disney lover I can relate to) Take care everyone!

 

[disnurse]

Wow bac to school already, we have 2 more weeks to go. Just got a call that my office floors are all finished if i want to get in and start unpacking and setting up for first day of school. I thlink i'll wait till a rainy morning and go in and start sifting thru the boxes.
we are off to boston in the am, points/cash promo. I'll post some pictures

 

[#1hockeymom]

Thank you disfanrn! I was thinking about you during the blackout. We had power most of the time, but I was pretty sure your area was totally in the dark! I had to laugh reading the papers as my little town seemed to be famous as a place to find light and gas! As for the praise for my profession, heap some on yourself, too! I am always amazed at what nurses do day in and day out, many times with very long shifts! Nurses also touch lives forever!

I wonder if we could get df and disbug to plan a vacation for all of us?! Wouldn't that be a hoot? I don't think we could do a vacation any better!

*waving*
Debbie

 

[MOM POPPINS]

Monica got home on the bus, and had a GREAT first day of school! Favorite thing to do : RECESS of course.

I bought our 7 Day Park hoppers today ! I had to do something to pass some time I am thinking we will upgrade these at the gate for Annual passes and make another trip the following 1 st. week in January 2005. Wow know that sounds like forever away, but we could get 2 trips in on 1 annual pass.

Thanks for all of your stories of sending your kiddos away to school and college. The time we have with our children is soooooo short so enjoy every SECOND you can. Make memories everyday that will last a lifetime, our children will always feel like they are at home with us, in their hearts.

Baby Kirk is doing great, Its hard to believe when he starts to school my oldest will be starting her senior year. I am already thinking that will be one tough year. Sending my last baby to kindergarten and my oldest one for graduation...

God Bless you all.... and safe travels on your way home DF

 

[Disbug]

Such a warm and generous group on this thread! I would LOVE to plan a vacation with DF for us all.... We would have a TIME, I can tell you, #1hockeymom!

Thank you for your remarks disfanrn... I really enjoyed doing the trip report and learning how to post pictures as I went. Thanks to the kind remarks of others, I found the courage to do what DF does so well... Tell the tale!

I find that as fall approaches, I am most sentimental. Kids starting back to school, autumn leaves falling (somewhere up North, not here! Ours fall in January!). Halloween approaching marks the beginning of the holiday season... This is when I reflect most over our lives and where we've been... where we're going.

I am glad I found you all here for whatever time we may share... this has its own magic, don't you think??

 

[madge]

I bought our 7 Day Park hoppers today ! I had to do something to pass some time I am thinking we will upgrade these at the gate for Annual passes and make another trip the following 1 st. week in January 2005. Wow know that sounds like forever away, but we could get 2 trips in on 1 annual pass.

Mom Poppins....I was thinking seriously about doing the same thing. Do you have any idea how much the Paramount hoppers are going to be worth at the gate as far as "upgrade value"? I'm wondering if I'm not better off just buying the APs at the Disney Store. Then I wouldn't get that free breakfast, though.....

{{hugs}} on the first day of school. Been there, done that already this year. School started on Aug. 5 for my oldest and Aug. 12 for my middle DS....what happened to the summer?

 

[deedee723]

ww52, We stayed at the Swan from 8/2 to 8/8. Stayed in room 1260 right by you. The view was exactly as you described. We drove straight thru from South Jersey and arrived about 6:00am.
CM initially said no check in till 3:00 pm but with some prodding he was able to find us a room on club level that we could check into immediately, boy did that feel good being as tired as we were. Finally got to meet Thabo and Momma T. They were both very friendly and good at what they do. DD and DS both would look forward to going to Thabo's place as they called it. We took a walk around to all the pools in the area and decided the pool area at the Swan and Dolphin are the very best. It never seems to be crowded unlike the Boardwalk and Yc/Bc. We wound up spending 3 days just around the pool area swimming and using the fitness center etc. We also had a four day hopper and wound up doing E-Ride on Friday 8/8. From there we drove to South Beach Miami, spent 2 days lounging on the beach and enjoying the warm Florida ocean before heading to Key West. It was our first time to Key West and I guess we were a little disappointed in the water, lots of Coral and slime, the water was too hot not good for swimming for sure. Stayed at Sheraton Suites, very nice rooms however the location on Smathers Beach wasn't the best. There was a constant fowl odor from the ocean there. We did get to rent mopeds, put dd and ds on the backs of two seaters and toured the whole island. That turned out to be a lot of fun, even got to see plenty of roosters like the one dreamflight posted. After two days at Key West we headed to the beautiful Westin Diplomat and Spa on the beach at Hollywood FL. We were given a corner room on the 28th floor with the biggest wrap around balcony We've ever had. Spent two days lounging at the pool, sitting on that blacony etc. before heading home. This was the first time we have ventured out of the Disney area on our vacation and although it was interesting and enjoyable we all agreed "There's no place like Disney" for the feeling of the Magic.

 

[Disbug]

We were in 1256 at the Swan until July 30th.. and loved being so close to the CL! I am already thinking about it for the fall!

 

[Mouseteacher]

Good morning, everyone! I agree with Disbug's comment - we are a "magical" group of people who share not only our love of Disney but so many other "life" stories.

Okay ----- DF and Disbug, you will be our "official" Travel Agents and Authors Extrodinaire (sp?) on this thread. Who knows, someday we may be all in the World at the same time "sharing a dream come true".

Hockeymom, you are so right about RNs - they are a noble profession! Having someone caring, competent and compassionate to care for you or your loved ones is priceless!

Well, off to the office and *real* life! See ya later!

 

[MOM POPPINS]

Hello Madge: I was told on another thread, WDW can scan your 7 day hopper and it gives WDW the price you paid for it, then you apply that toward purchasing your Annual pass. I also ordered from Paramount for the free breakfast vouchers. We are still trying to decide about an annual pass, so I thought this was my best way to purchase the 7 day hoppers.

Have a great day all

 

[madge]

Hello Madge: I was told on another thread, WDW can scan your 7 day hopper and it gives WDW the price you paid for it, then you apply that toward purchasing your Annual pass. I also ordered from Paramount for the free breakfast vouchers. We are still trying to decide about an annual pass, so I thought this was my best way to purchase the 7 day hoppers.

I will absolutely let you know how it goes next month if I end up doing the same....the deal on the 7 day PHP is too good to pass up at Paramount, even with the $15 shipping I'm going to order our tickets within the next week or so....how long do they take to arrive?

I also need to order a few Q & C vouchers as well....

and here I thought I didn't have anything to do bu t wait, LOL....

 

[ww52]

deedee -
So we were "neighbors" for a few days (we checked out 8/6). Hope my two teenagers didn't cause any trouble - they got loud in the room a few times.

And disbug - you checked out the day before we checked in (7/31). By the way - your trip reports were great; they set the platinum standard for trip reports. I won't even try to match it, but I do think I'll try to pull one together in the next week.

I'll still be checking in to the boards on occassion since my BIL and oldest son may be heading back at the end of the year. My oldest son is on the quarter system at DePaul, and gets from Thanksgiving to early January off, so the plan is for them to go either beginning of December or after New Year's for a few days - at the Swan of course.

 

[MOM POPPINS]

Hello again Madge: I ordered mine just yesterday and was told by Rosa they were mailed UPS today. I will let you know when I get them. Please let me know how it works out for you. I think with the free voucher it makes this a great deal. Any deal on tickets is great since its so hard to come by any specials on tickets. I also need to join Connections for meal vouchers, I think I am going to go through Lillian Vernon this time around. Have fun finshing up your planning

Dreamflight: I loved all the pics you posted. We have not made it to Universal yet, we cannot seem to pull ourselves from WDW, but maybe in the next few years we will

Happy Tuesday

 

[adisneynut]

Dinsey hotel. We are splitting our stay between S/D and WL. Plan are heading to the parks on checkout day and don't know what to do with the bags.

 

[hookedup]

Yes, we just did it last week from Swan to the GF. The bell desk at the hotel will do it for you just like at the Disney resorts. It was very simple. They guarentee your bags will be there by 3:00 pm - ours did not arrive until after 4 pm but it was no problem.

 

[TinkOhio]

Just a quick wave to all from our neck of the woods. We lost power for about 24 hours, but couldn't get through online untill today. I've been having withdrawls for this thread and am glad to read you all again!
Hope you enjoy what's left of summer!

 

[Debbie7452]

Hi all,

I have been lurking quietly for a while, enjoying all the trip reports from WDW.

Mom Poppins...my youngest (DS)started Kinder. last week! He also had to ride the bus. That was the part he was most looking forward to. He only gets upset on the weekend when there ISN"T any school. He wants to go every day!

Even though I miss him a little, it was great to go to the grocery store ALONE today...

 

[Mouseteacher]

Welcome, Debbie7452! Don't lurk - join in!

It made me smile to read in your post that your DS loves school - the school / teacher is making him comfortable and happy in school. A good thing.

 

[Disbug]

It's DD8's BD on the 25th and we are having a "Camp-out Birthday Party"! We are starting on the invitations tonight (brown paper bags full of pine cones, pine needles, leaves, maybe a plastic frog or 2! Plus the invitation, of course... and maybe a bag of trail mix or a granola bar. Then we'll staple a leaf to the outside and use markers to address.

DD8 gets to help and thinks she's going to have a "way cool party"! Little does she know... I'm winging it here, folks!

~ww52~ Sorry to have missed you and thank you for the high praise for our "grand adventure'! Looking forward to more of your views from your trip!

~adisneynut~ I agree with hookedup, it's easy to transfer your bags to another hotel from the S/D. When you call bell services, let them know you are transferring bags so they will bring the form with them. They give you a copy and you are on your way. No delays at all!

~Hi, Mompoppins and madge! Sounds like you both have found a good way to economize this coming trip. Hope it works out just as you plan!

~Hi, Mouseteacher! You sound like you are gearing up for the upcoming year. I hope all the educators on this thread know how much the parents and students appreciate really good teachers! We depend on you so much to reinforce what we start at home.

~tinkohio! Knew you were out there. Glad you are back with us!

~Welcome Debbie 7452! Lurk no longer! Join in! We welcome you to our positive posting!

Thank you Dreamflight for starting this thread (anew!) and keeping us regaled with your adventures!

 

[Mouseteacher]

Saying an early "Good Night" to all. I have an early and all day meeting at our Central Office in Boston tomorrow. So.............. here's some Swan turn-down service for everyone.

Sleep tight!