20 days !!!!!

It's getting close - I'm starting to think about our upcoming trip more and more. Sometimes I can't get any work done because I'm too busy playing on my favorite fan site, The DIS, www.disboards.com.

When it gets this close, we have certain pre-trip rituals, rather traditions that we carry out. Thing is, with my wonderful husband out of town until Memorial Day I've been having to carry on these traditions all on my own, which just isn't the same. I play on the DIS, watch our home video collection, look at pictures from previous trips. Anything I can do to think about Disney. Once he's home, the rituals will kick into high gear:

* We always watch National Lampoon's "Vacation" prior to a trip. It puts us in the vacation mode unlike any other movie. It's obvious they are poking fun at Disney. Roy Wally, PLEEEZ. I predict we'll be popping this in the DVR within days of his return home.

* When we ride our horses, we always say "can you see us walking down main street?" OR, "can you see us on Splash Mountain?" Just fill in the blank - "Can you see us ________?" We talk about the trip through most of the ride.

* Saturday mornings are spent eating a big breakfast and breaking into our personal Disney library. Just discovered something fabulous - Extinct Attractions club. Can't believe it took us this long. They have DVD's available that take you through the history of attractions, some of which are no longer with us. My favorite thing is the interviews with the actual imagineers, songwriters, and even wives of imagineers. So far we have the Carousel of Progress Story, Horizons, Epcot Opening, the Tiki Room Story and The Haunted Mansion. This just adds to our already extensive collection of Vacation Planning Videos sent to us by Disney and whatever TIVO gets for us from the Travel Channel. Oh yes, and the many videos we've purchased at the parks. Saturday mornings are Disney marathon mornings - complete with a big fat breakfast and a couple pots of coffee!

* One must shop for a couple new tops or shorts for the trip. It's just necessary in life!

* Another necessity is the need to go through our itinerary over and over to make sure we've got the trip laid out to take advantage of the most fun as possible, with a little relaxation thrown in as well.

* Suntan - okay, so my DH doesn't need one. And, I'm pretty olive skinned myself but it's a good idea to take precautions against sunburn NOW, before the trip. That entails wearing the bathing suit that will be taken on the trip to ensure that all areas that will be exposed while in Disney are exposed a bit before the trip - so as to get a base tan. That lowers your chance of a burn. As does sunscreen.

* It's also a good idea to get used to the heat. We love hot weather so it's not a difficult task but we have been known to purposely park as far away from the door of the mall or some other retail outlet so that we can practice walking through hot parking lots!

* Packing List - as the trip nears the week-to-go mark, we prepare a packing list so as not to forget anything. One year I forgot my prescription sunglasses and that was NOT pleasant. One time we actually packed three weeks in advance. Husband won't do that anymore, he hates to pack. It reminds him of going away on a gig.

* We have dinner with other Disney-lovin' friends. That way we can talk about Disney as much as possible and not annoy anyone. We have one set of friends, Renee and Mike, also worldphiles who we always see before a trip to talk through details. After our trips, we meet again and share pictures.

* Visit the DIS every day - at least once a day. There are countdown threads on the board and since everyone on there is as crazy about the world as you are, they will share in your excitement.

* Look up any and all information on the web about the resort. This time, the Dolphin - found a lovely picture just this morning (when I should have been working).













Ahhhhhhhhhhh. I should get to work now!

BUDGETING - not the fun part of the PD period!!

Hanes is having a promotion - believe it or not...they are giving away a trip to Disney.

http://www.hanes.com/vacationincomfort

Actually, they are giving away seven trips. All one has to do is purchase specially marked packages of Hanes products. There will be a sticker on the package with a code. Go to the site, enter the code and you're entered to win a trip for four! I enter every single solitary contest I can to win a trip to the World. Never won anything, but I keep trying. There will be another contest starting 6/1 called Hanes Comfort Rewards. http://www.hanes.com/comfortrewards. Same concept - buy the product - go to the site - enter the code. It's a loyalty program where you can earn points for prizes. Every time you enter a code, you're automatically entered into a monthly drawing for a trip to four - 6 trips total!

I can't imagine a free trip to Disney. Speaking of money and Disney trips, I got to thinking this morning about how much a Disney trip has gone up since my husband and I became worldphiles in 1994. Of course, you can control your costs based on where you stay, what time of year you go, where you dine, how many souvenirs you buy. I recall going back in the 90's for as little as $2,000 for a week long trip. That's a deluxe resort. Then, it slowly but surely (actually not that slowly) grew to an average of $2,500, then $3,000 - now I'd say the average week long trip is $3,500. So, thinking about all of this, I decided to go back through our budget for this trip.

Budget for the "Finally get in the Grotto Pool Tour":

Resort - The Dolphin - Annual Pass Discount - $194.50 x 8 $1,556.00

Tax on the Room at the Dolphin @ 12% $186.72

Parking Fee at the Dolphin - $8 x 8 days $64.00

1 night (the 9th night of our stay) renting points at Saratoga
Springs Resort (thanks to my friend Linda!) $130.00

Husband's New Annual Pass (I have mine!) $477.00

Airfare for both of us $260.00

Rental Car $180.00

Expenses (food, buying "stuff" - $125 a day x 9) $1,125.00

TOTAL FOR TRIP $3,978.72*

*You may as well say $4,000 big ones!

Wonder if Hanes would like to foot that bill?

I can only imagine how winning a trip would add to our overall enjoyment. On the other hand, paying for it will NOT hinder my enjoyment. We glady give Disney our money and never begrudge it even for a minute. There isn't another place I can think of where you get all those wonderful memories, the utmost in customer service and entertainment value - all packaged up so nicely - it's worth every penny.

Can't wait to drive onto the property - no more green highway signs. No overhead phone lines. Just pristine manicured beauty!

21 days and counting!

28 days to go as I write this on 5/13/08!!!!!

Less than a month to go!!!! I love that less-than-a-month feeling.

Disney recently released Annual Passholder rates for the time frame of our trip. I thought it would never happen. When I called to check rates for my favorite Disney resorts (Yacht club, Beach club and the Polynesian), there were no availabilities with the discounts for our dates . I think they are opening up fewer and fewer rooms for the AP discounts each year. The Yacht Club didn't have an available room with the discount until 7/2. Having already booked our flight, it's too late to switch. I absolutely hate having to wait a month or two before my trip to find out if I can get a discount with my AP.

All the more reason to love the non-Disney owned Swan and Dolphin. You don't have to play the "code game" because the Swan and Dolphin release their AP discounts all at once. You can call right now and book a room with your annual pass discounted rate for a trip in November, or anytime this year. Throughout the year, they offer different discounts not related to annual pass. We've paid as little as $139.00 for a a room at this 4-star hotel! Can't get a moderate resort for that price! I think rack rates for the moderates reach $179 in peak season. Maybe more.

The Swan and Dolphin offer many advantages! Don't get me wrong, I love the true Disney resorts, but these two beautiful and whimsical hotels are quickly winning my heart.

Here's why:

Location! The Swan and Dolphin are located in the Epcot Resort area along with the Yacht and Beach Club and the Boardwalk. The resorts surround beautiful Crescent Lake. You can walk to Epcot and MGM or take the Friendship to either park. Can't beat that! The area boasts restaurants, entertainment options, bike and water rentals, not to mention the ability to see Illuminations from the beaches of Crescent Lake...if you just happen to be too lazy to go into Epcot on a given evening. You can even catch a movie along the shores near the Beach Club. But, back to food - I'm talking about a wide variety of eateries ranging from the fancy-schmancy Yachtsman Steakhouse to my favorite little soda shop Beaches & Cream Here's a semi-complete list of restaurant choices - followed by my rating of each - on a scale from 1-5, 5 being the best.

Let's start at the actual Swan and Dolphin. GREAT dining options:

Fresh - This mediterranean buffet is located at the Dolphin. They have a great breakfast buffet and you can order off the menu as well. They also serve lunch and dinner. Oh, and more importantly, they have Starbucks coffee. Since there are NO Starbucks on Disney property, and they tend to serve this nasty nescafe-instant swill in the parks, this is quite an advantage in my opinion. Rating: 4

Kimono's - This is a sushi combination karaoke bar located at the Swan. Fantastic sushi - in fact, it's the first place that I ever tried sushi, and now I absolutely LOVE it. I'll have to admit the first time I tried it I was under the influence of 2 or 3 champagne cocktails. So I was feeling brave, I believe the drink was called "Japanese Typhoon" and the name certainly fits. Glad it happened because the world has a new sushi fan. Rating: 5 (for food & karaoke fun)

Garden Grove - This restaurant has a strange little twist - it changes names after breakfast to Gullivers. Then back to Garden Grove for breakfast the next day...quite strange. Split personality I guess. Since I've only eaten at this place when it was Garden Grove, that's all I can speak to. It's the second best breakfast buffet I've ever had (Boma at Animal Kingdom Lodge being #1). Very very fresh food - eggs cooked to order. Fresh squeezed oj and you guessed it - Starbucks coffee. Rating: 4

Picabu - This is the counter service restaurant at the Dolphin, serving both hotels. I can't truly rate it - never gotten anything other than a Starbucks coffee and a brownie. Yep, even the counter service place at the Swan and Dolphin serves Starbucks. Rating: in my limited experience of only coffee and a brownie, I'll give it a 5.

Splash Grill - located at the pool - delicious stuff !!- beef burgers, tuna burgers, salads, and yes Starbucks coffee. Just a few steps from the pool. Rating: 4+

Shulas - located at the Dolphin. Never been there. Supposedly one of the best steak restaurants in Florida with a great wine list. We're actually dining there this trip. We've always been reluctant to try it because it seems kind of stodgy - with a dress code no less. We're in Disney, "we don't need no stinkin' dress code!!!"

That's it for the Swan and Dolphin. But, there's more all around Crescent Lake, just a short stroll away.

Flying Fish - Now this is a real treat! Only eaten there twice, but we're scheduled to dine there again this trip. Why we haven't returned I have NO idea. They call it "New American Cuisine" but I just call it yummy. The focus is obviously seafood, but they also have steak and vegetarian options and desserts to die for. They have an open "show" kitchen so you can watch them cook your food. Great atmosphere and service. Rating: a solid 5

Spoodles - Okay - I didn't like it. My husband didn't like it. Most people love it. We had a bad experience. I want to preface my review by saying the service was absolutely perfect. The food, well....not so perfect. I had to send my steak back 3 times and never got it medium rare like I ordered it. My husband's chicken dish appeared to be more like a rubber dish and to top it off, he got sick. Literally. Rating: 1

ESPN - haven't dined there. Don't intend to. Not interested in a bunch of people spaced out watching sports while at Disney. Can't, just can't do it! I'll bet they have good french fries though...hmmmmmm.

Beaches & Cream - located at the Beach Club near Stormalong Bay, the best pool on WDW prooperty. This place can be summed up in two words: FUN & DELICIOUS. Best burgers on WDW property. They also have hot dogs, salads, chicken noodle soup, and the best ice cream treat in the world (not just Walt Disney world, the WORLD), No Way Jose. No Way Jose is an ice-cream lovers wet dream. Vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, peanut butter - just an ooey-goeey rich and chewy dream! This place is a cute little soda shop with a jukebox and a wonderful cast of servers...they always aim to please! Rating: a solid 5+ I vow NEVER to visit Disney and not go to Beaches & Cream.

Yachtsman Steakhouse - located at the Yacht Club. This pains me. Years ago this was our favorite deluxe sit-down meal at Disney. I would have given it a 10 on a scale of 1-5, but I'm sorry to say the last 2 times have been a disappointment. We went about 5 years without going but when we decided to go back about 2 years ago, I couldn't believe it!! My medium-rare filet mignon was indeed cooked correctly on the inside, but the outside was so charred and burned up it tasted like someone had wrapped my delicious bloody steak in a dried-up well done steak...you know the kind your mom orders and asks them to "butterfly it." It was horrible. I sent it back, came back the same way. I noticed the fire was so high - I think they need to turn that sucker down a notch. Rating: prior to the last two times we went I'd say a 5+, the last two times we went, a 2. Very sad! I hope they turn this place back around!

Cape May Cafe - located at the Beach club. Great character breakfast buffet. The characters are adorable in their beach garb although it's hard to see Minnie. She doesn't come to the table, you have to line up. I guess all the kids attacked her. In the evening it becomes a Clam Bake, aka a delicious seafood buffet. Husband ate so much once he broke out in hives. Rating: 4+

Yacht Club Galley - located at the Yacht Club. They did serve breakfast, which was very good, but I think it's just lunch and dinner now. Had lunch there once, quite good....just plain ol' American cuisine. Had Thanksgiving dinner buffet there twice. The first time it was great, but the second time left a lot to be desired. Rating: 3+

Big River Grill - located near the Boardwalk resort. Went once. That was enough. Dried up mess. Rating: 1 (nuff' said)

If that's not enough - Epcot's World Showcase is teeming with great places to dine within the countries. ENOUGH about food, back to more reasons to love the Swan and Dolphin.

Great rooms! The rooms are open and modern, a great size, and have something no Disney owned resort has - HEAVENLY BEDS. Talk about a good night's sleep - you'll get it!! You can't help it. It's a fluffy, comfy, pillow-top bed that you sink into without even trying. Leave the sleeping pills at home!

And, you can see a large Swan outside your window. Or a Dolphin (if you're staying at the Swan). We've stayed here twice, and both times the staff, although not technically "cast members," were as gracious as the Disney owned resorts. They are cast members as far as I'm concerned. I was very impressed with our first stay, which was at the Swan. We checked into the room and there was something not quite right. There was a nagging damp and musty smell. We figured it was because the room may have been empty for awhile, so we thought once the air ran it would clear out. We left out for a few hours and came back and the smell was still there. We went down to the front desk to talk to them and they could not have been more accommodating. The issue was taken seriously and, more importantly, taken care of immediately. They let us check out 2 or 3 different rooms and we were able to pick the one we wanted. I was impressed.

The pool isn't Stormalong Bay. But, I've heard some say it's the second best pool on property. The "grotto" pool is the main pool shared by the Swan and Dolphin, but each hotel has it's own lap pool. We've never actually gotten in it as we've only stayed at the Swan/Dolphin in November. But we certainly enjoyed the peaceful, tropical feel of the pool area even though we didn't get our feet wet. I love the poolside restaurant, Splash Grill! It's just steps from the pool and the food is better than the typical "at the pool" eateries at the other resorts on property. They even have a DJ spinning tunes. Family friendly of course.

There is also a health club, a full-service spa, in-room dining, tennis and basketball courts, boat and bike rentals, and one of my favorite diversions right across the way - Fantasia Minature Golf! I'll have to admit that one of my favorite things is getting up in the morning just before the sun rises and most guests are still asleep for a quiet stroll around Crescent Lake. The music is softly playing, cast members are hosing down the planks on the boardwalk, and the smells from the Boardwalk Bakery (be they real or "piped in") wake my senses and prepare me for a fun-filled day at Disney. All I have to do is decide what fun thing I'm going to do next.

Okay, so you can't charge to your room from other locales throughout the property, you can't get Magical Express service, you don't get Mickey soaps....or Mickey & Stitch wake-up calls. I for one, am still VERY excited about our upcoming trip to the Dolphin. That's not to say I won't return to the Disney-owned properties - that will NEVER happen...the Polynesian and Yacht Club/Beach Club remain my favorites. But, the Swan and Dolphin are in 3rd place!!! I feel a rating coming on:

1 - Polynesian
2 - Yacht Club/Beach Club (sometimes these two flip and YC/BC is #1...depends on my mood)
3 - Swan/Dolphin (pretty amazing - beats Grand Floridian!)
4 - Grand Floridian
5 - Port Orleans Riverside
6 - Contemporary
7 - Wilderness Lodge
8 - Carribbean Beach
9 - Coronado Springs
10 - Old Key West
11 - All Star Music

Haven't stayed at Pop Century, Boardwalk, Saratoga Springs (although we will for one night on this trip), or Animal Kingdom Lodge, Port Orleans French Quarter, Beach Club Villas, or Wilderness Lodge Villas. Oh - or the Fort Wilderness Cabins, I'd love to try those. But without River Country, where would one swim? Swimming is quite important while in Florida. But, stay out of the fresh water lakes...you might get an algae infection in your ear! Believe me - it happens.

So many resorts - so little time.