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

[ozziewags]

Recipe Club rate at the Swan = $139/night, with $50 food credit for every two days.(per room) You must apply/sign up for S/D recipe club on their website. Since you have to eat anyway, it is a pretty good deal, depending on how many are in your room!

 

[#1hockeymom]

I neglected to get back here last night and didn't find out it was Loubon's birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!


to the other Debbie>> I do see we are both managers of some sort! I am the Flint Jackals hockey team manager, you are the official race team manager!

Totally off topic but at the front of my mind. I finally found my charm bracelet from New York which was given as a gift to me from my Great Aunt upon our vacation to NYC in 1976. It was bought near the base of the World Trade Center. I feel better with it on, though truthfully it is going to be a very hard teaching day today. May we never forget.

God Bless,
Debbie

 

[madge]

Originally posted by ozziewags
Recipe Club rate at the Swan = $139/night, with $50 food credit for every two days.(per room) You must apply/sign up for S/D recipe club on their website. Since you have to eat anyway, it is a pretty good deal, depending on how many are in your room!

if I'm not mistaken, that offer expires at the end of this month. I don't know if it was extended or not....

 

[ozziewags]

Thanks, Madge........I didn't even know it lasted that long. I thought it was a summer thing. Someone just used it, I think, and I was surprised. Helping each other out!

 

[joshua4]

Good morning all. Thanks for welcoming my sister so warmly. Also, happy belated birthday Lou.

Snwwhite -- Are you starwood gold? If so, you might not need those points to upgrade. I got a balcony room without any point just last week.

 

[snwwhite]

Unfortunately I am not gold; only preferred plus. I keep calling and they won't upgrade me for having the Starwood Amex. I keep checking my reservation and it still says limited view. I would rather use the points to be sure I get a balcony room.

Thanks again for all of the great advice!!

 

[joshua4]

That is odd. I have a new Starwood Amex, called Starwood and told them "I have a platinum american express card and understand that that qualifies me for gold status." The rep checked and came back on the line and said "You are now gold"

I wonder if they changed the policy?

The balcony was nice - but not really necessary. Even if you don't get a balcony you are going to have a great time.

Lauren

 

[dreamflight99]

I'm having a difficult time accessing this forum...and/or posting. I kept receiving ERROR messages yesterday, after I had written a nice post! I was unable to send it...very frustrating. I'll try something simple today...like some PICS! I finally removed ALL our pins from Lanyards, and placed them in Albums, bags and official holders. Here are a few pics of the ones collected this summer....

Summer PINS 2003~

Close-up of the above...

All Disney CRUISE PINS ('02 & '03)~

More Cruise pins!

Summer SETS (Donald=DD's Fav)~

A few more to follow....

 

[dreamflight99]

Misc. Pins from our summer 2003 Vacation~

More "SETS"~

Close-up of "MINNIE" Mission Space (her hand moves the mask)~

Summer SETS including NEMO, NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS & Mission Space...

MOSTLY...."TINK"!

Does this qualify moi as an "OFFICIAL PIN COLLECTOR?" These represent (some) of the pins gathered this past summer. They are "addicting"...as I TRY not to stop at the carts, etc.~Yet am DRAWN as if PULLED by an invisible TRACTOR BEAM! LOL...
Enjoy the day. DF99

I'll try to post more later (after catching-up on reading the past few pages!). ^_^

 

[dreamflight99]

Originally posted by Disbug
My new pin....

"NOW...WHERE ON EARTH DID YOU FIND THIS? I "MUST" HAVE ONE! ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE!!" Thanks for the wonderful picture. Please...tell me where I may purchase one as well. Thanks...you made my day!

On another NOTE:

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LOU!"

 

[dreamflight99]

Originally posted by kidk
Hello all!
I have been reading this thread off and on for almost 2 years and we have made 2 trips to the Dolphin (concierge level with the teachers rate) since finding this web site! Thanks to everybody for all of the great info!

My question for DF and I'm sorry if you've answered this question before but how long was your summer '03 sojourn and where did you stay? I know you love the Dolphin but is there anyplace you wouldn't return?
I'm considering booking a Disney cruise and do you prefer western or eastern Caribbean?
DF is such a Disney expert and I love reading about her adventures!

We travel quite a bit and I am always interested in hearing about other people's adventures and opinions.

By the way I should be getting an additional discount at the Dolphin for all the people I've sent there!(LOL) But I do love it and everyone who has gone there agrees with me!

One more thing, DF I'm a high school teacher and I think it's great that you have such a wonderful realationship with your daughter. I don't always encounter that!

Thank You!

KIM

Welcome, KIM! I'm so glad you finally posted (after lurking for 2 years!).
Thank you for the praise. Here's my 2 cents (worth...LOL) of "expert" advice:

1. Summer 2003 Sojourn was a total of 60 days!

2. Stayed an eve in the Peabody 25th floor CL, 5 eves in the Portofino Bay Hotel in a 2-room Portofino Villa Suite on the fifth floor overlooking the bay (PM for room #), 7 eves in Disney's VERO BEACH resort in a 1BR villa, 5 eves in the CR 14th floor 1BR suite, 34 eves total in a 2-room exec CL suite at the Dolphin, 4 eves on the Disney Wonder w/balcony, 3 eves in Key West at the Sheraton Suites on Smather's beach. I believe that covers it!

3. There is NO place I would NOT return to visit. We have been returning each summer to the PBH (since it opened), Vero Beach (5 years), Dolphin (seemingly forever), Peabody (3 consec. years....for the DUCKS), and two consec. cruises! I enjoy continuity. ^_^

4. I MUCH prefer the Western CC on the Disney Magic. Cozumel was our least fav. stop/port...and Grand Cayman our #1. Key West was in the middle. The entire itinerary and cruise is preferred over the Eastern. We plan on taking another Western in the near future.

5. Thank you for the kind comment regarding my relationship with my DD. I often wonder how much H.S. teachers are aware of when it comes to teens and their parents (realtionships). So many parents I know are practically "Pushing" their kids out the door (and make sneering comments like, "I can hardly wait until he/she is grown and out of the house."). These revelations literally "stun" me, as these people appear to be wonderful caring parents from all outward appearances (?).

I have NEVER wished for my daughter to mature/leave the house any sooner than is expected. I believe my daughter is now more cognizent of the closeness we share, as a result of her friendships in High school. She frequently comments on her friend's parents from time to time, and of the lack of love/support/care they exude towards their chidren. I'm always taken aback by the seemingly apparent/blatent "lack" of parenting some of her peers experience. Yet, these observations only prove to make me more aware of the precious and delicate balance between a parent/child. Thus, I try to focus on my own relationship with my daughter, and foster her character, (level of) awareness and love of life (joie de vivre!) through open conversation and large doses of Nurturing support & LOVE. Like most everyone on this thread...I'm merely "doing the best" I possibly can. If only MORE parents "parented"...TEACHERS could focus on "teaching", instead of the multitude of tasks they (YOU) conquer each day with your charges. It is a tremendous profession...one which commands strength and resolve beyond all imagination. My Hat is off to you...every moment of every day.

TTFN...DF99

 

[KelliR]

Happy Birthday Loubon!!! Hope it was a great one!!!

And welcome to Potatohead! How nice to have you join us ... I feel like I know you already!!!

DF .. I LOVE that Mission Space pin ... it is so adorable. I do try to pass by those pin stations, but I would make an exception for that one!!! And you DEFINITELY need that Dreamflight pin!

And DF ... a question for you ... if you had to choose your absolute FAVORITE place to stay in WDW, what would it be? (I mean besides the DOLPHIN of course). I would like this information just in case I would like to use it next year. We did do PBH this year and LOVED it! I am now contemplating between CR, Vero Beach, and the Peabody. What would your recommendation be?

 

[Mouseteacher]

DF ~ Your pin collection is wonderful! I have often felt the "call" of the pin stations but have dodged the lure. Your pix have piqued the urge to delve into pin collecting on the next trip. I do a few pins which I love but now I'm thinking I need more.

As always, I appreciate your thoughts on and support for the teaching profession. Also, your thoughts on parenting are similar to mine. So many people judgementally questioned why we would want our oldest DS to commute his first two years of college. It was really his decision - he has a great family (us!) that is suppportive and loving. He was allowed to come and go as he pleased as if in a dorm as long as he was respectful of DH and me so that we didn't worry about him. He never abused any of these privileges and I feel he was content to still be in the heart of the family. Today, he is away at college and is thriving.

KelliR~ May I give you my .02 on a fav resort besides S/D? I really love the CR Tower (not garden wings). Seeing the castle and MK from your room, for me, is the most magical view and says Disney! Thanks for letting me intrude.

God Bless America on this saddest of days - let us not forget.

 

[#1hockeymom]

*room wave to everyone!*

That pin collection is fabulous! I agree, you simply must have that dreamflight pin!

I agree with all the parenting advice here! My only sway is due to a personal circumstance. We are actually encouraging DD to live in a dorm away from home due to the fact we'd like her to see life does exist even if your boyfriend of two years isn't there with you. I would love her to stay here, and she is talking about going to the University I went to, but I think she would get such a better experience if she were to make new friends who weren't her boyfriend's friends. Her boyfriend is a nice kid, just graduated HS, but we're talking TWO YEARS! I just don't want her to settle thinking this is "it".

WOW, that was sure off topic! I'll think of an on topic later!

Debbie<-----who is fighting for computer time on our lone working home computer!

 

[Mouseteacher]

#1HM~ It seems as if all of us on this thread who post regularly are great parents who help our kids make good choices, keep open lines of communication and let them know all the time how much we love them. If I must brag for us - - I'll take the liberty of doing so.
whoaaaaaa---way off topic...

 

[disnurse]

Hey everyone,
I haven't been near this thread in a few weeks, school has me swamped and our internet is down in the entire district. Well anyways i have 20 pages to catch up on!!
planning april 9th-17th is i can get a decent flight, so far no luck out of boston,pvd or hartford.

 

[Loubon]

I don't want to dampen the mood here but I posted this on the Community Board today and thought you might want to see it.

No Mouseteacher, I have not forgotten.


My 9/11 Tribute

 

[dreamflight99]

Hello! Yes...I do NEED that DF pin!! DISBUG???

Now..as for the Resort query:

Out of the three listed, I would take VERO first...with the CR tower as a CLOSE/TIE second. Vero above CR, only because it is the complete opposite of the "theme park" experience. Not that there is anything negative with the Theme parks...quite the contrary. Yet, to experience DISNEY & the DISNEY MAGIC so far away from WDW is an amazing adcenture. There is nothing as magical as a little piece of DISNEY sitting right on the OCEAN. So...VERO rates at the top of our list. It is a veritable DISNEY santuary. A place to "take it all in", while completely relaxing. Like a breath of fresh air, we all seem to come away from VERO much more "centered" (LOL) than when we arrived. It is truly a DISNEY home, away from home. Give it a try, and you will see!

* although we LOVE the Peabody, it's still more of a convention property. We only visit for DD, the DUCK MARCH, and the CL (Very good Lounge).

*Have you contemplated a CRUISE? It's the FULL DISNEY MAGIC/WONDER Treatment...on the OCEAN!

Hope my views help a bit. ^_^

Mouseteacher~You definitely NEED more pins! I think the PIN BUG bit DD & I the first time we "hesitated" near a pin cart. Now, we are truly unable to merely pass a cart w/o rubber-necking and leering to see if we spot anything NEW/UNUSUAL! DH is such a saint, and gives in to our weakness. He is not interested in the "pin thing", but never prevents us from following our heart.

I too...(As ALWAYS...LOL) agree w/you 100+% on your child-rearing views. I would LOVE DD to commute (if it were possible), and can assure you SHE WOULD if she were able! BTW..how far did your DS commute on a daily basis? Our DD too, enjoys the "home life" we have created. We have lengthy discussions on a variety of issues, we laugh and have fun every day, and always say we "LOVE" one another (frequently). What more could one want? A wise person once said, "Work as though you never need the money, love as though it will never hurt, and dance as though no one is watching." We respectfully support one another, and the freedom to experience life without judgement and/or opression. We gently offer logical guidance and moral support, or VICE-VERSA! Either way, it seems to be working very well.

I know you LOVE the CR as much as I do! BUT...have you visited VERO BEACH yet? You MUST take DH & the boys there...they would be sure to LOVE the area, and the R & R. Think about it...even if for a day/two on your next trip. If you love the Ocean...you'll LOVE this place.

*LOVE your BOAST for all of us! We ARE all GOOD FOLKS...with GOOD family Values, etc. After all...we are DISNEY people. WALT would definitely be PROUD of us! There...it IS ON TOPIC!

#1hockeymom~Great perspective on DD's move to dormlife/college away from home. Thankfully, DD only has boy "friends", as her curriculum/extra C activities demand too much of her time (whew...hands in prayer...looking up to the heavens). She just turned 16, so she has a LOT of time to experience a companion of the opposite sex. I actually hope she refrains (Other than casual, as w/friends to formals/proms) from dating until college. Do I sound too hopeful? LOL. She is close with her core girlfriends, and most all of these girls do not have boyfriends either (Whew, again). Did your daughter begin dating at my DD's age? How close is the college to your area/home? Does her BF try to talk her "out" of going away to college? Keep working on her. I too believe, in her situation...moving away to experience "MORE" of life would be a positive experience.

disnurse~HELLO! I'll keep my fingers crossed for something to come (by way of good affordable flights out of b-town, pvd or hartford). PIXIE DUST to help you out...***************************************!!

MOM POPPINS~Thank goodness the hep shots are DONE! Whew...I had no idea (2X per day in the stomach). You are more BRAVE than I ever realized. So glad to read Baby KIRK is thriving. Hope little Rachel is adjusting to school, and having a great time. I love seeing your count-down peel away, and before you know it~YOU'll ALL BE IN THE MAGIC TOGETHER AGAIN! Take care, kiss BK for moi!

Thanks a mint, LOU...for the wonderful link. I do not think any of us could ever forget.

*Now...a few more pictures to lift your spirits, and reflect the FULL EXTENT of my ADDICTION!!

Cover of my Album...

Page UNO of pins...

Page DOS...

Third page (enough espanol)....

I keep saying I'm not getting every pin in a set...but then...

Another page...another set...

Do you think I qualify as a GENUINE PIN COLLECTOR?

 

[MOM POPPINS]

Hi I am going to try and post a few pics.... I am still learning...


Our four girls in front of the Dolphin in the lobby and the other is you got it.... "Tubbi's"

Sorry these are sideways... I will keep trying..

 

[MOM POPPINS]

a few more

DD Rachel and DD Ashley in front of the waterfall at the grotto pool and the infamous "kitchen sink" at Beaches and Cream and baby DD Sarah