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

[Mouseteacher]

DF ~ dear sorority sister ~ you never have come across as boastful. Keep those pics and details coming! Thanks for confirming my failing memory on the grab bar!

 

[dreamflight99]

One of my FAVORITE photo subjects....

A Very Welcoming sight...

I can FEEL the warm night air...

Walking from the Boardwalk...

more...to come...

 

[dreamflight99]

Friendly...indeed!

Surprise! Anyone know where this was taken, and the name of this Dino?

Mama and Baby at the Dolphin...

Another BEAUTIFUL Day in the MAGIC...

One of my FAV attractions...

Love this kitchen...

Christmas in the GREAT, BIG BEAUTIFUL TOMORROW!

Tribute to TIKIMAN in Small World!

 

[#1hockeymom]

Kelli>> I agree with DF, your family could be DC models! My daughter's name is Natalie.. what a hoot it would be to have Natalie kissing Natalie! LOL Wonderful pictures, thank you for sharing!

DF>> keep those vacation photos coming.. we all love them!

Good luck to all the teachers starting back next week!

My daughter (Natalie) is going to be on TV in less than a half hour! Fundraiser/telethon spokesperson! I wish I could say what she is wearing, but she took about five different outfits with her down to Detroit! If anyone gets WB20/Detroit she is from OTC has brown/blond long hair/skinnier than all heck and pretty! I need to work on finding someone to record this for me! We dont get that station out here! I can see it in static only.

Have a great Labor Day everyone!
Debbie

 

[Mouseteacher]

I love CoP and was so happy it was open when we were there. It was closed during our trip last summer. I particularly like the kitchen of the 50s/60s - memories of my childhood!

Is that the dinosaur in MGM? I'm forgetting its name - Tillie??? or something like that.

 

[dreamflight99]

One of the friendliest fellas!

And his pal...

Sweet Stuff...side by side...

The FAB FOUR!

Mmmmm...Chocolate WAVE @ Coral Reef...

Illuminations...from our suite...

More....to come

 

[dreamflight99]

Summer...2003...


A friendly fellow at the lake...

Orlando Sky through the pines...

Happy Transport...

Welcome Back (From your day in the MAGIC!)...

Another view from our suite...through the trees...

 

[dreamflight99]

DD & I "MADE" this creature @ disneyquest...and bought it, too! (Sids creations)...It is a "KITTYROO"! (LOL)

You select the parts on the screen...then save, name and purchase your own creation ($10)...

We also goofed around on the drawing boards!

I LOVE drawing Horses...

Always a GREAT time in DQ~!

 

[dreamflight99]

Originally posted by Mouseteacher
I love CoP and was so happy it was open when we were there. It was closed during our trip last summer. I particularly like the kitchen of the 50s/60s - memories of my childhood!

Is that the dinosaur in MGM? I'm forgetting its name - Tillie??? or something like that.

CoP is only "Seasonal" now...and open certain hours too. I always call ahead, and make sure it's open so I can ride it (about 10x) to obtain my "fix" (LOL).

Well, she's a VERY close relative of Tillie in MGM (Ice Cream Dino by the lake), but she's Yellow~and Tillie is Green!

*BTW...you do NOT have a failing memory! You have a very SHARP, CONCISE and CLEAR memory my sister. You are also one of the most endearing, sweet and kind-hearted persons gracing our thread. Have a wonderful day...relax and enjoy. Your sparkling new year truly begins tomorrow...may it be all you have anticipated/dreamed (and then some). ^_^

 

[#1hockeymom]

I also was going to guess, Tillie as the dinosaur. Is that the dinosaur in Dinoland in AK? I don't know its name, though.


I just spent 20 minutes on everyone's tv in this house trying to get even static for a Detroit station. Nada.... I will hope that someone made a tape so I can see my own daughter! We get basic cable out of Flint, and dish network for the rest of our viewing. Since we're strung from Flint, we ended up getting the Flint broadcast off the MDA telethon instead of the Detroit broadcast. I guess I just hit one of the disadvantages of living in the sticks! I hope she was great on TV, because mom missed it! (but I did unearth a science experiment in ds's bedroom which is now going into the dishwasher.)

We have never been to Disney Quest, yet have always had the UPH. I just know that as soon as we dont have the UPH we'll all be dying to go to DQ! We just seem to run out of time, although we have never run out of things to do! I will move DQ up closer to the top of the list for our next trip! Any good times to go? To not go?

*sorority wave*
Debbie

 

[joshua4]

Bummer Debbie! I am sure that someone taped it for you -- by the way, what is "OTC"?


Is that Chester or Hester from Dinoland? I don't think so, but I can't think of any other dino's names.

Lauren

 

[#1hockeymom]

OTC=Oakland Technical Campus. DD17 takes computer programming classes there in the afternoons. She has regular HS in the mornings, there in the afternoons and two nights a week starting this Tuesday she is taking college classes. She just called and their teacher said someone they knew was taping it, so I know I will see her eventually! They had raised money for MDA mainly through a golf outing, but I believe there were other fundraisers, also.

*sorority wave*
Debbie

 

[kimmar067]

...on the new thread. Keep those AWESOME pix comin'!!

Happy Labor, Day Sorority Sista's [hope no one's "IN" labor !]

 

[*Belle*]

WoW, we go up to the White Mtn of NH and a new thread appears. Love all the wonderful photo's, thanks to all for sharing, keeps me smiling until my next visit.

 

[Loubon]

<==== I'm with everyone else on the CoP.

 

[jmcross]

Me, too! Love the CoP!

It was closed the last time I visited and a CM told me that it is outdated and may be phased out eventually. Why doesn't Disney just renovate it and keep it open all the time?

 

[KelliR]

I love looking at your pictures and hearing about your trips/adventures! I never find them "boastful" at all. First of all I learn so much from your reports ... and secondly I like to live vicariously through you and your family trips! We used to never go away on vacation, then we started taking a week long vacation and I always thought they were a bit short ... and after reading about your sojourns I took a longer one the last couple years. It is so enjoyable to have time and not have to "cram" everything in. We are fortunate to have the time to take ... although my DH does work much of the time onthe phone and computer.

Now ... here is our day at Discovery Cove:
You do need to make reservations at least 2-3 months ahead of time. The park is limited to 1,000 visitors per day. I hear they fill up quickly. The AAA South office (in Kissimmee) offers slightly discounted tickets for Discovery Cove. When I visited WDW in June I went to the office and bought the tickets and AAA made the reservations at DC for us while I was in the office.

I read about DC on the Sea World thread on these DIS boards. Many folks recommended arriving early to get an early swim time with the dolphin. I awoke my family bright and early (actually only my DD6 and I were "bright" ... my DH & DD14 are not early risers!) and we left for DC at 7:40 am. The park opened at 8:00 am and we arrived at 7:58.

The whole experience was incredibly organized ... I was EXTREMELY impressed! You park your car and get in a very short line at the entrance, where they do the required inspection of bags. A DC CM then directs you to an available CM to have your photo taken for your ID badge on a lanyard. This will serve as your ID for the day and has charging privileges. It will also be your "ticket" to Sea World, since your DC admission includes 7 days of Sea World. (this can be done any 7 days around your DC visit). You are assigned a cabana and then proceed to another CM who takes you on a brief tour of the park. You are given a beach bag with a towel, sun block lotion, and snorkeling gear.

You go to your lockers and select a vest or wet suit. THE WATER WITH THE DOLPHIN IS COLD!!! That is why I chose a wet suit ... plus the bouyancy was great for snorkeling too.

We put our towels on chairs to save a spot on the beach. They have great hammocks, cabanas, umbrellas, etc. and plenty of them. We then proceeded to our assigned cabana for a short video and instructions.

We then went to the beach and met our trainers ... Buck and Sherry. They were great! So informative and had a great sense of humor. It was 8 people with each pair of trainers. But you are close enough to see the other groups of 8 frolicking with their dolphins.

For about a half hour we played with Natalie ... doing tricks, petting her, giving her cues, feeding her, and taking our ride with her. It was a blast and we all can't wait to do it AGAIN! The trainers made sure they answered every possible question and made it fun for all ages. We were then escorted to another cabana to view photos and a personal videotape of our experience ... which, of course we purchased!!!

We were then free to spend the rest of the day at DC. We swam in the lazy river, visited the aviaries (I think there are 3 of them), and snorkeled with the fish and sting ray. I am not doing it justice how much we enjoyed all of this!!!

A meal is included and it is delicious. You could select on the line similar to a cafeteria/buffet from 6 or 7 different entrees, a sald and dessert. (Grilled salmon, chicken, fajitas ...all wonderful!). We ate outside and a very talented musician/one man band entertained us. Of course it was mostly Jimmy Buffet and Beach Boys music to keep us in the mood!

A rainstorm moved in around 3:00 and we headed to the photo/video pick up area. We would have stayed longer if it wasn't for the weather ... it was such a serene and beautiful place. My DD6 loved watching the other groups with their dolphins throughout the day. The whole experience was worth every penny.

I am glad you enjoy the photos ... they do a great job with the photography at DC. I wouldn't say we look our best in these photos but in our younger days (25 years ago) my husband and I were models ... that is how we met!

As soon as I learn a little more I will post some of the photos I took from the trip. We celebrated both of the kid's birthdays while in WDW and both Poly and AKL concierge did some special things!

Mom Poppins ... happy b'day ... August 28th is my older daughter's b'day as well!

 

[KelliR]

That would be funny ... Natalie smooching Natalie! I hope you get the chance to do that someday!

 

[lovingthemouse]

OMG - i am away from the boards for a few days, and a new thread has begun with 6 pages of posting... just finished readng them all and looking at the great pictures many of you have posted. Have a short trip planned in November, not the Dolphin this time- got great rates at the ASMusic- have stayed there with my students but my DH has never been there. We'll still bask in the "magic!"
Students arrive tomorrow- i am always excited on the first day- looking at the all the new kids and wondering what they expect the first day of 6th grade. Have 30 in my homeroom right now, but it will probably increase. With so many teacher layoffs here, it was bound to be a crowded year.
Everyone have a great Tuesday. Caroline

 

[hookedup]

Hola all! Happy Labor Day to you!

Well DH's district has made Thanksgiving week a holiday week and we have some free airline tickets and are toying with the idea of taking a quick WDW holiday - of course all our friends and family think we are wierd for considering taking ANOTHER vacation to WDW after just returning, but we have a few days leftover from our parkhopper passes, and I called the S/D and got the $129 rate at the Dolphin booked so we really would not be spending a fortune to do this! In fact compared to other vacation options WDW one of the cheaper ones with the great teacher rate and the fact we already have park tix and free airline tix.

I posted seperately about this on the resort main board but was hoping some of you guys might have experience with traveling there around Thanksgiving time (we would go Sat-Thurs) come home the Friday after Thanksgiving. Crowds? Weather? Other thoughts?

ANY EXPERT ADIVCE HERE?