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

[Blondie]

One lifeguard at the top and the bottom of the slide watching only those on the slide until 7PM doesn't actually mean a "lifeguard on duty" to most people who use resort pools and their own beaches; especially for a pool the size of the S/D.

I realize your frustration, but having a lifeguard on duty technically means there was in fact a lifeguard on duty, regardless of their location or whether or not you were happy with their posted location. I hope your next stay at WDW is a better one.

I may regret it once I'm home, but I NEVER do laundry on vacation! I"M ON VACATION!

(if we stay in a condo WITH the laundry right in our unit, then I will do laundry... I'm not TOTALLY crazy. but NEVER in a hotel laundry room. Too much fun to have - not enough time! )

I stopped doing laundry on WDW vacations back in the year 2000! I said enough is enough! Like yourself, when in a condo with a washer & dryer right inside the unit I'll do a load or two just so that I don't have as much to catch up with when I get home. But while at WDW? Nope, never again!

 

[dmwang9]

I stopped doing laundry on WDW vacations back in the year 2000! I said enough is enough! Like yourself, when in a condo with a washer & dryer right inside the unit I'll do a load or two just so that I don't have as much to catch up with when I get home. But while at WDW? Nope, never again!

Last time I was in WDW with my family, one afternoon during our midday break, I volunteered to do everyone's laundry. They all thought I was nuts (but still piled my arms full of dirty clothes), but then I explained that as much as I loved them, I was ready for some down time away from everyone else. I spent an incredibly relaxing hour or so with a book by myself, watching the clothes spin in the dryer.

 

[SingingMom]

30 years ago when we first got married I screwed up the laundry and have been restricted from doing it since then. Best move I ever made.

I'll say, Keith.

21 years ago, when we first were married, DH made a "suggestion" while I was ironing his dress shirts... I calmly stepped away from the ironing board and said, "If you can do it better, by ALL MEANS, go for it.".... funny how he hasn't had another "laundry suggestion" in 21 years....

Renée

 

[MickeysFan]

Thanks to everyone for the responses to my last post! It sounds like we will walk to Epcot and home from MGM, if not too tired. It will be a new experience for us to rely on Disney transportation instead of driving.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Hi, guys!

Thanks to you, I now know what tricks to expect. I will never let my BF/future DH get away with not doing laundry!

Anyway, I am so excited! In a little over a month, I will be at the Swan!

I was at work talking to a fellow teacher yesterday and she mentioned her upcoming Nov. WDW trip. When I asked her where she was staying and she said the Dolphin, we looked at each other like long lost secret society members! It was like we said the magic word! Turns out she's been going long before me - since it first opened and she loves it even more now!

 

[Dislifer]

Hi, guys!

Thanks to you, I now know what tricks to expect. I will never let my BF/future DH get away with not doing laundry!

Anyway, I am so excited! In a little over a month, I will be at the Swan!

I was at work talking to a fellow teacher yesterday and she mentioned her upcoming Nov. WDW trip. When I asked her where she was staying and she said the Dolphin, we looked at each other like long lost secret society members! It was like we said the magic word! Turns out she's been going long before me - since it first opened and she loves it even more now!

Another teacher here (4th grade) and we are going to be staying at the Dolphin for the first time Dec. 22. We are really looking forward to it. I've stayed at the Polynesian, CBR, Contemporary and Coronado Springs-I'm sure like most places some things will be better and some things will be worse-but I'm sure we will love it!!!

 

[madge]

Last time I was in WDW with my family, one afternoon during our midday break, I volunteered to do everyone's laundry. They all thought I was nuts (but still piled my arms full of dirty clothes), but then I explained that as much as I loved them, I was ready for some down time away from everyone else. I spent an incredibly relaxing hour or so with a book by myself, watching the clothes spin in the dryer.

I don't mind the laundry... for this very reason! One time at the Dolphin, my DH was at a meeting, and I wanted to do some laundry while we swam. I stopped in the laundry room with my boys and someone was there doing maintenance on the token machine. I gathered our stuff up, and told the boys we'd just go on and go swimming, we'd do our laundry another time. It wasn't a big deal.

The repair man gave my kids each a handful of tokens... way more than we'd need for laundry... and wouldn't take any money for them at all. My boys were in token heaven - after we did laundry and went swimming, they used the leftover tokens at the arcade, and we still had leftovers for more laundry!

 

[lilyv]

This laundry discussion made me smile. I'm not big on doing laundry on vacation, but...I make a big exception if I think there might be any chance of flight delays or if it's hurricane season. I've been involuntarily stuck a couple of times, and I learned that even a few days of clean clothes make a big difference in my outlook.

 

[grammy520]

I am so excited never been to Disneys there any way to get park tics at a discount? First time just booked at the dolphin for 35th anniversary. Took me months to get a room finaly decided on the 9th floor corner double balcony. it is a suprise for hubby. going 9/10-16. Any info will be a great help. Been reading all the boards for months. CAN"T WAIT Thanks

 

[BlueFairy]

I am so excited never been to Disneys there any way to get park tics at a discount? First time just booked at the dolphin for 35th anniversary. Took me months to get a room finaly decided on the 9th floor corner double balcony. it is a suprise for hubby. going 9/10-16. Any info will be a great help. Been reading all the boards for months. CAN"T WAIT Thanks

Check out www.mousesavers.com for info on ticket discounts. There is a whole page of explanations there. DO NOT try to buy your tickets at the Swan/Dolphin. While they do have a desk, and they do sell them, we had a terrible experience on multiple occasions there. The employees are not Disney Cast Members, and it was a disaster. If you want to wait until you get there to buy them, simply walk over to the EPCOT entrance and do it there. Be aware that you will not get a discount at the gate (unless maybe it's AAA) and that gate prices are more expensive than tickets purchased in advance.

 

[SingingMom]

Check out www.mousesavers.com for info on ticket discounts. There is a whole page of explanations there. DO NOT try to buy your tickets at the Swan/Dolphin. While they do have a desk, and they do sell them, we had a terrible experience on multiple occasions there. The employees are not Disney Cast Members, and it was a disaster. If you want to wait until you get there to buy them, simply walk over to the EPCOT entrance and do it there. Be aware that you will not get a discount at the gate (unless maybe it's AAA) and that gate prices are more expensive than tickets purchased in advance.

We just bought our tickets at the Dolphin last week - and they were Disney Cast Members... they were very helpful - checked on old tickets for us also.

I usually buy before we go and get a discount, but we weren't certain exactly how many days we wanted this time, that's why we used the Dolphin's desk. Really had no problems... (but they were full price)

 

[Blondie]

I don't mind the laundry... for this very reason! One time at the Dolphin, my DH was at a meeting, and I wanted to do some laundry while we swam. I stopped in the laundry room with my boys and someone was there doing maintenance on the token machine. I gathered our stuff up, and told the boys we'd just go on and go swimming, we'd do our laundry another time. It wasn't a big deal.

The repair man gave my kids each a handful of tokens... way more than we'd need for laundry... and wouldn't take any money for them at all. My boys were in token heaven - after we did laundry and went swimming, they used the leftover tokens at the arcade, and we still had leftovers for more laundry!

Dude...do you realize you met the mythical token fairy? I've only read of such tokens of magic, now I know it to be true!

I am so excited never been to Disneys there any way to get park tics at a discount? First time just booked at the dolphin for 35th anniversary. Took me months to get a room finaly decided on the 9th floor corner double balcony. it is a suprise for hubby. going 9/10-16. Any info will be a great help. Been reading all the boards for months. CAN"T WAIT Thanks

Subscribe to the Mouseavers.com monthly newsletter and within that email will be links to discounts on such things as park tickets, etc. It'll save you a few dollars and you'll have your tickets before you hit WDW property. That's what we like to do, have our tickets before we even leave home! One less thing to tend to when we arrive!

 

[Crazy Kanga]

Thanks to everyone for the responses to my last post! It sounds like we will walk to Epcot and home from MGM, if not too tired. It will be a new experience for us to rely on Disney transportation instead of driving.

I think I would take the boat back from MGM. It is the first stop on the way home. It only takes about 7 minutes. The walk would probably take more like 15 minutes. JMHO

 

[SingingMom]

I think I would take the boat back from MGM. It is the first stop on the way home. It only takes about 7 minutes. The walk would probably take more like 15 minutes. JMHO

I'm with Kanga on that one! Boat home from MGM, walk home from EPCOT...

"Home".. hmmm.... living at the Dolphin?.... now THAT would be nice!.....

 

[Dan Murphy]

For me....



MGM, always

Epcot, mostly sometimes depending on and

 

[ozziewags]

For me....



MGM, always

Epcot, mostly sometimes depending on and

Dan, you are so funny......here's mine:

MGM, Epcot: always

And that will be me this coming week! And we (mom/son trip) have ressies at the BlueZoo and California Grill!

 

[*Belle*]

We've stayed at the Swan and Dolphin many times and have never purchased the refillable mugs. This summer we'll be checking in for 4 days, leaving and checking back in for another 6 days. My question is can we still use our mugs when we check back in or are they dated for your stay and we'll have to re-purchase them?

 

[Dislifer]

Dan, you are so funny......here's mine:

MGM, Epcot: always

And that will be me this coming week! And we (mom/son trip) have ressies at the BlueZoo and California Grill!

Let us know all about BlueZoo and California Grill. We are going in December and we are going to both of those restaurants. We went to California Grill 12/25/05 and it was great!!! Can't wait to hear about your trip!
Have fun!

 

[knelson]

Let us know all about BlueZoo and California Grill. We are going in December and we are going to both of those restaurants. We went to California Grill 12/25/05 and it was great!!! Can't wait to hear about your trip!
Have fun!

I have the California Grill on December 24th this year - right after we take our youngest to Bibbidy Bobbidy Boutique - got the Brown Derby for December 25th with the Fantasmic Show.

 

[ozziewags]

Let us know all about BlueZoo and California Grill. We are going in December and we are going to both of those restaurants. We went to California Grill 12/25/05 and it was great!!! Can't wait to hear about your trip!
Have fun!

I know! I love the CG! It is a tradition for us to go there our last night. Even though it is always great, I still liked Chef Cliff Pleau the best. He is still in Orlando, just not at Disney. I will let you know about both restaurants. I have never been to Blue Zoo, but am looking forward to it.