Tag Archives: resort

Casa de Rodent

A few weeks ago I blogged about my daughter’s mouse sighting on our flight to Hawaii. The thought of a rodent rifling through the bag I placed under the seat in front of me still creeps me out, but it’s nothing compared to what some hotel guests in Washington, D.C. have been dealing with. The Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center just opened for business and it’s already been plagued with a nightmarish situation—a rodent invasion. UGH! According to news reports, numerous guests—all of which were the first to stay in the brand-new 2,000-room hotel—say they had run ins with … Continue reading →

Best Western Lake Buena Vista

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The Best Western Lake Buena Vista hotel is one of the Downtown Disney hotels that are not owned by Walt Disney World but part of an arrangement that considers them Disney World resorts. Reservations for these resorts can be made through the Disney Reservations office at (407) W-Disney like every other Disney resort and guests have the luxury of being able to take advantage of the Disney World transportation system from the doorstep of these hotels. Downtown Disney hotels offer the following to all of their guests: * Free transportation to all Disney World parks * Disney admission tickets available … Continue reading →

Walt Disney World Swan

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Like the Walt Disney World Dolphin, the Swan is not owned by Disney. It is on Disney property but owned and operated by Westin Hotels. The Dolphin and the Swan are both located on Crescent Lake. As a guest at the Swan or Dolphin, you can take advantage of Extra Magic Hours and the Walt Disney Word transportation system. The Swan and the Dolphin, are connected by an outdoor bridge. From this bridge, you can catch a boat to Epcot or Disney-MGM Studios. Bus service is provided to all other Disney resorts and attractions. Other Disney resort guest perks are … Continue reading →

Disney’s Old Key West Resort

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Key West is a beautiful place. The pastel colored cottages, white picket fences and tree lined roads are nothing less than quaint perfection. If you were hoping for a laid back vacation in Key West but the kids wanted to go to Disney World, this is the perfect compromise. Disney’s Old Key West Resort will provide you with a quiet, relaxed atmosphere in which to vacation and still provide the excitement the kids crave. Old Key West is a 156 acre resort complex with tin roofed and white picket fenced two and three story buildings set on tree-lined, winding roads … Continue reading →

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

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So you wanted a Rocky Mountain getaway and the kids wanted a Disney vacation? No need to lose any sleep over the decision! Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is surrounded by huge pine, cypress and oak trees and is made to look just like what you’d find on a vacation to Yellowstone National Park. With an eight story lobby complete with an 82 foot, three sided stone fireplace, this resort sets out to impress it’s guests and does the job like only Disney can do. Inside the lobby is what appears to be a hot spring that goes outside the hotel and … Continue reading →

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

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The Yacht Club is on 25-acre Crescent Lake. Like the Beach Club, it was designed by Robert A. M. Stern and meant to bring to mind the New England shore of the 1880s. Also a five-story deluxe resort, the Yacht Club has a gray clapboard facade with whitewashed-wood trim. A nautical theme is carried throughout the resort with brass, millwork and hardwood floors. This resort even comes complete with a lighthouse to guide you home from the parks every night! There are 621 rooms at the Yacht Club and each measures 380 square feet. These rooms are made to comfortably … Continue reading →

Australian Timeshares

More and more, people are looking into timeshares as a way of being able to travel without paying the high cost of hotels. With a timeshare program, you would be sharing an apartment, condominium, or home with other people, all buying into the same place. Between you and the other “owners” or “leasers”, you have a home away from home. I know that sometimes, I do not like feeling like staying in a hotel and with a timeshare, you have all the conveniences of home because it is your home. In addition to buying or leasing a timeshare in the … Continue reading →

Why Pay Full Price? Get Comps

What does “comp” mean? It stands for complimentary and is usually used to indicate free or discounted products or services, such as when a resort “comps” dinner for a repeat guest or provides free services to a company that uses a particular hotel for all its business lodging. Another way to receive comps is to agree to visit a timeshare under certain programs. You’ll usually get your choice of free meals or free tickets to a concert, show, or theme park. It’s a great way to stretch your vacation dollars. You do have to participate in the timeshare seminar, but … Continue reading →

Vacationing with Elmo

My 2-year-old daughter loves Elmo. So like millions of families, our weekday routine includes watching Sesame Street and saying “hi” to Elmo and pals. At the end of each show I’ve noticed a plug for Beaches Resorts, saying, “As a proud sponsor of Sesame Street, Beaches Resorts is pleased to welcome some fun and furry friends to all of its island locations.” I was intrigued. I thought, sun, beach, Elmo, what more could a parent ask for? I found the answer and if you have a child who would rather vacation with characters from Sesame Street than ones from Disney, … Continue reading →