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

[Disbug]

Hello everyone! I have been lurking as well. Busy doesn't quite cover it.

Lou, I had no idea you were "there" for the Tragedy in NY. My sister was also, as she is a buyer for SteinMart. She was either scheduled for a meeting in the Towers or had one the previous day... I don't remember. Just grateful she was not in the wrong place at the wrong time. Your story and pictures were very poignant. Thank you for sharing that with us.

And then on the flip side... you are such a hoot! Always able to bring a grin or an outright belly laugh. We are so glad you have found the time to humor and assist us with your many talents!

Okay everyone wave to the room, DF glad you got your pin (and I can keep mine!)... #1hockeymom! Have fun at practice/games this weekend. Mouseteacher! Hello to you and all in the BT area. A thumbs up for the Pinot Grigiot! Disabilities Conference is next weekend, so I must finish my 2002 taxes THIS weekend! Will be in Pittsburgh middle of October for the International Water Conference. AND I am finishing logo tweaking duties! (BTW, where IS hookedup??)

Hello, ozzie, jgates, josh4, potatohead, lurking deb, eiluvcin, madge, muffy, and all the rest of you great disney afficiandos! Say hello to me every now and then until I get caught up!

 

[Mouseteacher]

room wave---

Lou~ ROFL I always know you can bring a big to my face and a loud chuckle so that others near me come to see what's so funny.

kimmar~ Howdy back to you!

In regard to Debbie's comment on the relaxing feel of the S/D, I, too, feel that as you walk through each lobby it is never seems hectic - it has a calming feel no matter how many guests are about their business. Now, I love Disney resorts esp. CR and BWI and will return someday but the resorts always seem to have a "busy" feel to them. Our (DH and me) Swan stay in July was so relaxing and calming - just what we needed. The quiet pool was "quiet" - I felt so relaxed and had a lot of space around me in and out of the pool.

Hi, Disbug.

 

[madge]

Originally posted by #1hockeymom
I just saw Lou's post. I am totally cracking up!

me, too....all I could think of was the poor dog that lived in DH's fraternity house...there was a dog bowl underneath the tap. Bandit drank that beer like it was water

yikes!

thanks for taking me back a few years, Lou!

 

[EiLuvCinderella]

to:

Hi back 2U2!

 

[dreamflight99]

Thanks a MILLION, LOU! You are such a generous PRINCE of a guy, truly made my day (I'm still singing the song in my head....neverland, and can hear NANA BARKING! LOL).

We just came back from AUTO~SHOPPING (again) for DD. She's so sweet. She will drive the truck for the time-being, as she does not want to "pressure" us into anything, etc.

We looked at the Mini-C's, and the VW Beetles. Both are about the same price ($24-25 G...ouch), and she's leaning towards the beetle. She LOVES the Cyber Green 1.8 GLS Turbo with the Lifestyle 2-tone racing leather seats, the Monsoon stereo with the CD player, the Tiptronic auto shift, the 17" color-match alloy wheels/rims, etc. Very nice car...comes with a FREE IPOD too!

I just can NOT buy a car on impulse, sitting in the Dealers office. So, after we looked at the prices, etc.~we left and had lunch together. DD decided to "wait" a while, and see if a better deal develops for the 2003's they are wanting to move off the lots here in L.A.

So glad she is not the "I want an oompa-loompa now daddy" type of girl. She is literally thrilled we are contemplating purchasing a "new" car for her, and expressed such at lunch. After all...she JUST passed her driving test yesterday. What's the rush? When/what did the rest of you buy for your "young adults"? Any/All assistance is GREATLY APPRECIATED. Thank you.

Thanks for the nice comments on "girls", Ozzie. They are better at keeping in touch (for the most part), as I am the one whom sends the cards to DH's family, etc.! (LOL).

Hope you are ALL enjoying your SATURDAY...and PLANNING/DREAMING/LONGING for a trip to the Magic of the DOLPHIN/SWAN!

TTFN...DF99

 

[jmcross]

DF99~Thanks for your input! I feel better.



Joanne

 

[KelliR]

Loubon ... that post is hysterical!!! My DD enjoyed it as well.

#1Hockeymom ... do you ever have a minute to yourself? I am glad I am not the only one running the kids all over. That hockey schedule is crazy ... I guess you never feel bored!?!

And DF ... I love those handbags. I do like Judith Lieber bags but I am not familiar with those you have. I did see the Mickey purse at Dylan's Candy Bar in NYC, but I didn't buy it. How much can you fit in to it? Oh I do realize it is mainly for "show" and the love of Disney. Dylan's also had some great rhinestone Pez dispensers ... Pooh was adorable!

And since my kids are not of driving age yet (2 more years) I will tell you my dad bought me a car when I got my license in 1974. It cost $100.00!!! My friends laughed at it and called it the "white bomb". And they kept laughing at it all through high school and the first 2 years of college!!! But it transported all of us around ... maybe not in style ... but definitely where we wanted to go. It was a real junker, it would accumulate more rust every month. (The snowy Western New York winters would see to that). Luckily my father was quite good at fixing cars because he was able to keep it running for 4 years.

Now, since then, I have purchased many brand new fancy cars ... and the funny thing is ... I have more fond memories of the "white bomb" than any other car I have ever owned.

Thanks for letting me stroll down memory lane. Good luck on your car selection for DD. After seeing The Italian Job, those Mini C's look tempting. But teh VW Beetles are just too cute.

 

[jgates]

Ouch on those cars! We did not buy DS a vehicle of his own when he turned 16. He was listed as primary driver on the oldest worst car we had and then only had liability, deer/bird/glass etc. No full coverage. That alone was $750 per year. When we bought a new (3 year old) truck, the insurance company listed him as primary driver on it and bumped our premiums to $2400 per year on this vehicle!!! I blew a fuse and the agent said that was an error - then I found out from another agent that the companies automatically do that- list the kid on the higher value vehicle to up the premiums - at least with a few of the companies around here. Anyway - they stuck him back on a beater vehicle and we stayed at $750 (partial coverage) for that and the truck dropped down to $445 (full coverage)- however, he can drive any other vehicle in our household and still be covered - whew!!!!

I don't remember if you ever mentioned it, but if she doesn't have it - before the vehicle get her a cell phone. We live in a rural area and DS hit 2 deer in a one year period - they are thick as flies around our roads. The 2nd accident took out the entire front end of the old van. I was only about 5 minutes behind him (stopped for a soda) - you can imagine what it would have done to me if I had come around the corner, saw the black marks and the destroyed van (facing the other direction off the side of the road) without having talked to him first!!!!!

Part of our decision in no vehicle of his own is that UW-Madison has basically NO student parking. There joke is that they have the worst parking in the Big 10 system. If they blew up every building on campus and created parking lots, they would have the 2nd worst parking in the Big 10!!!! Possibly next year when he is in an apartment rather than a dorm. During the summer, he just drives one of ours!

OK - help me stay on topic here!!!! Joanne- the difference between the two hotels is going to be personal for each person. We choose the Swan because I felt it was 'cozier' than the Dolphin. (Can you call a hotel with 800+ rooms or so cozy?) I just felt there was 'too much' to the Dolphin. I did enjoy visiting it, but boy when we were over there - try to find a bathroom - try to find the right elevator - no thank you. For us it was down the hall, down the elevator and out to the boat docks, parking lot, Dolphin -wherever!!!!

 

[zurgswife]

PLEASE STOP!!!!!

I need to catch up and I'm only at page 12......12 to go but I need to head to church by the time I finish church I'm sure you will have added another 12 pages....I'm begging you guys...


LURK !!!!


THANK YOU!!!

 

[jmcross]

Zurgswife~Promise, this will be quick!!!

jgates~I've decided to remain at the Swan. Why torture myself with trying to change the ressies when the 2 hotels are side by side, right? Thanks for your help!

Another question for anyone~What is the weather usually like in mid February? I'm hoping for the 70's so that we can swim. I'm sure it will be quite warm compared to Boston. Brrrrrrrrr....
I think we're going to have a bad winter this year(but I hope not!)

Go Patriots and Red Sox today!

Joanne

 

[zurgswife]

Thanks for listening everybody....I'm headed out the door and I'm up to page 16 so...only 8 pages to go....try to keep it down for the next 1.5 hours



Love ya

 

[Loubon]

Originally posted by zurgswife
PLEASE STOP!!!!!

LURK !!!!

If you insist......

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<IMG width="150" height="125" SRC="http://dontatro.bryce-alive.net/creepy/kilroy.jpg"><IMG width="150" height="125" SRC="http://academic.csuohio.edu/ball/ACB_pics/120801_kilroy1.JPG"><IMG width="150" height="125" SRC="http://www.takegreatpictures.com/content/images/tip1_1656.jpg">
<IMG width="150" height="125" SRC="http://www.links.net/daze/02/01/pix/peeking-sm.jpg"><IMG width="150" height="125" SRC="http://www.jessamynharris.com/images/peeking.jpg"><IMG width="150" height="125" SRC="http://home.pacbell.net/wut_ever/peeking.JPG">

 

[ozziewags]

NO CHANCE, ZURGSWIFE.....Read Fast!!!

 

[zurgswife]

WHEW!!!

12:15pm and I'm caught up.....

YIPPEEE for me!!!!

OK first question...

DF.... I know we have covered this before....blasted CL 2bdrm Dolphin exec Suite.....I keep getting told they don't exist....what floor and room number is this secret.....or did you get CL privliges with your Plat. card and your exec suite was on a different floor..

Thank you....

 

[jmcross]

LOL!!

Loubon-Love the picture of the dog sticking his head through the door. You are so clever!!!

 

[Mouseteacher]

Lou~ Your "lurk" pic post made laugh quite loud to no one in the room here! You are so clever with a great sense of humor - just my kind!

Joanne~ You won't be disappointed with the Swan. I agree with jgates. After staying at both, I would do the Swan again. However, I don't see the Dolphin as second best - for I love it there, too.

zurgswife~ We are a chatty bunch, aren't we?

DF~ Since we have 2 DSs only two years apart - buying a car for them was definitely used not new. Plus, Massachusetts (Boston area) insurance is outrageous! DS#1 was given my Toyota Corolla and I bought a new car. DS#2 got a used Honda Civic in great condition. Both DSs work to help defray the cost of insuring 4 cars. DH just bought a new Toyota 4Runner. His previous car was a Taurus and it was a constant repair monster - it was good riddance to that car.

 

[dreamflight99]

Originally posted by zurgswife
Thanks for listening everybody....I'm headed out the door and I'm up to page 16 so...only 8 pages to go....try to keep it down for the next 1.5 hours



Love ya

LOU...YOU'RE KILLIN' ME!!! ROTFL....

Zurgswife...I'm just answering your query. My dear, I am never officially "ON" CL....I'm WAY OVER on the FAR EAST WING...UPPER FLOOR! My PLAT SPG grants me CL privs...even if I stayed in the BROOM CLOSET! LOL...

jmcross~Joanne...you're welcome. ^_^ Glad I was of some assistance. The weater in FEB in ORLANDO...will ALWAYS beat the weather in BOSTON (during the same time!). My parents were there this past year, and some days it was in the 90's (DD even said it was TOO HOT....and he was heading back to the snow!).

Ozzie...~

Mouseteacher & jgates~My parents never bought us new cars either, but there were "four" of us sibs. With only one child...we are willing to purchase new. Yet, we have not ruled-out "certified pre-owned from a dealer." Our decision to buy new has a LOT to do on the person she is as well, and the one she will continue to be in order to maintain driving privs in our home. There are a TON of rules which come with the car, and she is fully aware of all of them. In fact, DH has a little "contract" DD will sign (LOL), seriously.

She will have this car through college, and will be covered by a new warranty, etc. We are more concerned with "safety" issues, (mechanically sound, side/front airbags, etc.) than the cost. She will most likely be far away from home pursuing her education, and we will sleep better knowing she is driving something safe/sound. Especially when we are aware of someone whom bought an old car, with no airbags or proper restraints, and lost their child in a collision due directly to these factors (terribly sad).

Most of the kids at her school drive new Jags, BMW's Benz's, and the like. This has never influenced us, only further intrigued us with respect to these parents. We passed her friend yesterday, and he had just obtained his "third" new car...an "Infinity". Both parents are Dr.'s, and perhaps have the means. They are all nice, especially Joey. He's a great kid...not ostentatious or pretentious. But...I would never go that route (excessive), $$$ or no $$$. We are happy our daughter does not WANT a designer car, or a status symbol. She has much more substance/character than that. Even the dealer in LA said he worked BMW in BEV HILLS for 6 years, and never got over the $$$ these parents would toss down on their kids. They would stop in with these "whiners" in tow, and plunk down 80-100,000 $$ for a new set of wheels for a 16 YO. Spoiled to the extreme, and living the life in LA LA LAND! A VW Beetle, or Mini Cooper is a reasonable purchase to us. But then...perhaps we're comparing it with our own last vehicle purchase, which was twice the cost of either of her choices(So, it doesn't SEEM that bad). Either way, I appreciate all of your views and experience (more than you know). It keeps me GROUNDED!

YES...she has a C-phone. She has to keep it with her in the car(mandatory), but is not permitted to use it unless it's an emergency or she has stopped the car completely. IN CALI...it's LEGAL to drive around and chat-away on the cell-phone (something I'm SO against). I wish they would pass a law prohibiting such behavior.

Our insurance rates in Cali are some of the highest in the nation. We have to pay for all the uninsured motorists, and other costs. We have NO vehicle inspections, or TOLLS, but our registration fees are outrageous! I pay more than $900 for our truck, annually. The insurance is too high to even post. Adding DD will increase it by nearly "double" (less than boys...and even less if she is an "A" student). Of course, DH told me to call and tell them she is only driving our truck 5% of the time (which is true). He also suggested I register her new car in MY name, and add her as a 50% driver. This greatly reduces the cost of insurance rates.
I asked about buying the car with my American Express Plat card, but could only put PART of it on there! Darn...I wanted all the skymiles or SPG points.

She was NOT gung-ho to get a car yesterday, and I was so relieved. She wants to drive the truck for a while (saves me two trips per day), yet today...she asked me if I would drive tomorrow? I asked her why, and she said..."Mondays are always hectic days, and I would prefer to RELAX on the way to school. I also like seeing your smiling face as I walk up to the truck at the end of the day." This statement alone...made my day.

Kelli~The purses are small, and mostly for evening use. I too, and familiar with the J. Leiber bags, but only like a few. She does not create the Whimsical designs of KB. The costs are comparable, although some of KB's are much more limited in production, and therefore more costly. KB has a store in B. Hills on Rodeo. She also has her designs in many other upper end retail stores throughout the country. She designs the bags actresses carry at the A.Awards in L.A., and designed the famous "titanic" purse for the producer's wife. They are mostly for FUN!

KB piano purse!

KBauman & Annette Funicello (W/Mickey!)

The ladies are showing their Mickey Mouse purses - shown are Cheryl Holdridge, Annette, Katherine Baumann, Carol Connors, and Stella Stevens

Enjoy your SUNDAY (49ers.... ).



TTFN...DF99

 

[Mouseteacher]

DF~ My point exactly regarding DD being your only! If we had an only perhaps a new car could have been do-able. But 2 in 2 years was a strain - if one got a new car of course the other would want one, too! We, too, expect them to keep their cars until the day they are out of college and ready to buy their own cars. Buying them a car was a one-time deal.

Many of our older neighbors commented on kids today getting their own cars - foolish they say. They are saying this was a negative tone. Our response is that it is a different world today - kids need cars to get around to all their commitments - school, sports, work. It certainly helps when parents are working, too. It helps in so many aspects of family life. We don't see it as a luxury - it is a necessity.

Great pix of the handbags and Annette. She was my favorite Mouseketeer as a child. I wanted to change my name to Annette. And, there was a Mouseketeer named Karen. You would've thought that I would be thrilled that a Mouseketeer had my name. Nope - I loved Annette. I wonder how she is doing. There doesn't seem to be any news on her in the last 3 years.

 

[joshua4]

Room wave to all. Boy, you guys have been busy posting your hearts out. Loved all of the pictures.

Back from our trip to the Swan now almost a week and I still have not put away all of my stuff and I still have not brought in my film to get it developed. Sounds like everyone posting is just as busy though.

JMCross -- We have been twice in January and it was warm enough to swim - so I have to imagine it will be warm enough in Feb. The difference is that in January you don't hang out wet on a lounge chair basking in the sun. As soon as you get out of the pool, you wrap up in a big towel and go off in search of hot chocolate. Coming from Chicago in the winter, swimming in the 70's or even high 60's is not that hard to do.

Madge -- Where are you? Don't you leave really soon? Are you lurking out there somewhere?


Lauren

 

[Mouseteacher]

Hi, Lauren. I have to chuckle about swimming in January and then dashing for the hot chocolate. Even though I'm from Boston and the temps in FLA are much warmer, I still can't bring myself to swim with the air temps in the high 60's or 70's. I love the summer when you can swim and sun. When we were there in November one year and another year in December, swimming was not on my list. DSs swam though.