Walking into EPCOT from the Swan is quicker than taking a Friendship boat. Yes, the sky really IS that blue π
Tag Archives: WDW Swan Hotel
Oasis at the Walt Disney World Swan
I have fond memories of taking refuge in the Swan’s courtyards to get some work done during a conference. So relaxing!
View from the Walt Disney World Swan
I am going to chill and catch some lunch, then head into EPCOT to find the gang. Stay tuned!
Tink’s *~*~* Links: FREE stays at Disney World, Walt’s Wisdom, and Feral Cats
Β© Copyright 2010 Tink *~*~*
After dark, the dirty work at Disneyland begins
– TheDailyDisney.com
I never knew that Disney actually encourages the “wild” feral cat population that lives at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Apparently, these cats serve a very special purpose… you’ll have to read the article to find out!
Long but worth it, this article touches upon one of the first things I learned about the making of Disneyland in Anaheim, California.
[pullquote]βWhen I started on Disneyland, my wife used to say, βBut why do you want to build an amusement park? Theyβre so dirty.β I told her that was just the point; mine wouldnβt be”. – Walt Disney[/pullquote]
I’d read a while back that Walt had taken his girls to an amusement park one day and it occurred to him that it could be cleaner, more child-friendly and more adult-friendly too. It could be a place that would appeal to everyone in the family, a place cut off from the real world, where guests could literally step into the story and really be there and interact with the characters. Walt decided that since the place he was thinking of didn’t exist, he would make it happen himself. βIf you can dream it, you can do it,” he’s quoted as saying. “Always remember that this whole thing was started with a dream and a mouse.β
How I Stay At Disney World for FREE

– a Starwood Resort
(Tower of Terror
in background)
Seriously – first of all, I live in Southwest Florida, three hours away from Walt Disney World by car. Three hours worth of gasoline, even in these challenging times, is a whole lot cheaper than airfare! But I think the thing that saves me the most money is that I haven’t actually paid to stay in a hotel at Disney World in a very long time. I use Starwood rewards points and stay for free. The only thing I pay for under the rewards program is hotel taxes and fees (and if I valet my car, I pay for that too). So, the last time I stayed at the Walt Disney World Swan, which is a 4-star hotel, I paid something ridiculous like $90 for three nights. No, not $90 per night – $90 for the whole THREE nights in a FOUR-STAR HOTEL. See? I told you it was ridiculous!

Sheraton Safari, just
outside Downtown Disney
Orlando, Florida
The credit card that gives me this rewards program is the Starwood American Express. I basically use it to pay for all of my expenses – cable bill, phone bill, gasoline, groceries – you name it, I pay it with Amex (believe me, if I could pay my mortgage with it, I would!). I pay off the card in full at the end of each month, so I never pay them any interest charges. I get one point for every dollar I put through the card. The year I moved down to Florida from New York, I racked up some serious points – you know how it goes with moving expenses. 10,000 points will get me a free night at the Swan or the Dolphin. About 3,700 points will get me a free night at the Sheraton Safari right outside Downtown Disney, or else at the Sheraton Suites in Tampa, just up the road from Busch Gardens, or else at the Sheraton Yankee Trader on the beach in Fort Lauderdale… well, you get the idea.

of the WDW Dolphin
– a Starwood resort
I just got a notice in the mail that says “Introduce your friends to the card…” – it says if I “invite a friend” and the friend is approved for the card, the friend (that’s YOU) will get a sign-on bonus of 10,000 points (hey, a free night at the Swolphin!) and I will get a 5,000 point bonus. The notice also says that the the first year’s American Express membership fee will be waived (My own current fee is $45 annually).
If you want me to “invite” you to apply for this card, you can use this secure form I’ve created (see CLICK HERE, below) for you to use to send me your email address. I promise not to sell it or to spam you – the only purpose is for Amex to be able to email your invitation to apply for the card. Good luck with the application – I hope you’re able to get the bonus points and enjoy the Starwood program as much as I’ve been enjoying it!
CLICK HERE to fill out the “Introduce A Friend” form…
Life-changing Lessons from Walt Disney
– DumbLittleMan.com
We’re on a roll with “Walt wisdom” this week. This article comes from an unusual source as it is not a Disney-dedicated site or publication. Walt Disney’s business acumen really boils down to a set of values and a unique approach to work. You might say Walt is the anti-Puritan when it comes to work. He never would have ended up in a “survival career” – he insisted on doing what he loved to do and getting paid for it. Good for you, Walt! This article is full of some of the better Walt quotes.
I recently found some of these very Walt Disney quotes decorating the temporary walls that had been erected around some construction at EPCOT and the Magic Kingdom. These signs were a delightfully welcome change from the typical “We’re Building The Future EPCOT for your enjoyment” (I saw just one of those). I took pictures of these inspirational messages while I was in the World in April. To accompany this article, I’ve made them into a little presentation using Flickr. Enjoy!
[Subscribers: if you do not see a FLICKR slide show just below this sentence, then click through to the blog HERE]
That’s it for TINK’S *~*~* LINKS this week
Hope you’ve enjoyed π
*~*~* *~*~* *~*~* *~*~* *~*~*
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Crest O’ The Wave – scenes from Disney’s Boardwalk
Β© Copyright 2008 Tink *~*~*
http://MyMobileAdventures.com
π There’s a “wedding pavilion” on Disney’s Boardwalk – well, I’ve never seen a wedding happening there, but it is the PERFECT spot for one. It’s a beautiful wooden structure with some wonderfully detailed arches that make a perfect frame for pictures. Since the lake that the Boardwalk follows is crescent-shaped, you can stand at one end, where the pavilion is, and photograph the other end. Here’s what my camera saw when I stood there on a blustery day in December. Enjoy!



You want me to be happy, don’t you?
DON’T YOU? π
Having yogurt on Swan balcony. All packed. Got 2:00 PM checkout. Headed into EPCOT.

Having yogurt on Swan balcony. All packed. Got 2:00 PM checkout. Headed into EPCOT., originally uploaded by Tink*~*~*.
Dolphin in the mist, Walt Disney World
Β© Copyright 2008 Tink *~*~*
http://MyMobileAdventures.com



You want me to be happy, don’t you?
DON’T YOU? π
The Mysterious Walt Disney World Dolphin
Good morning, peeps and tweeps. It is check-out day, and Walt Disney World seemingly mourns my departure. The day is starting out with a misty gloom. I have coffee and my phone out here on the balcony, and I’m watching the sand-smoothing person ride some contraption back and forth on the Swan’s beach. Soon, I need to go into full bug-out mode so I can check out and head home. But there is still coffee left in my cup, so I think I can hold off on that a few more minutes. :o)
Sent from my Nokia phone
Waiting at the Walt Disney World Swan bus stop
The Swan’s bus stop is adjacent to the canal that passes by the rear of the Boardwalk and leads to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Sent from my Nokia phone
Video: Pano from my 4th floor Swan balcony
Would love to someday have this location on the top floor!
Sent from my Nokia phone
Drink at Shula: THE BAILOUT
I can’t believe there’s a drink called The Bailout!
Sent from my Nokia phone
Yes, I slept in, and it was fabulous
The Swolphin is home to the "Heavenly Bed" – how can one NOT be tempted? Gonna log in a little balcony time now…
Sent from my Nokia phone
OMG, RED MEAT!
No point going tp shila unless you’re going tp eat red meat!
Sent from my Nokia phone
Good Morning from the Swan – gotta love a corner room!
It’s only the 4th floor but on the flipside, a balcony AND a view of the Dolphin!
Sent from my Nokia phone
Lava cake
OMG, RED MEAT!
No point going tp shila unless you’re going tp eat red meat!
Sent from my Nokia phone
Drink at Shula: THE BAILOUT
I can’t believe there’s a drink called The Bailout!
Sent from my Nokia phone
Starts late Thurs 10/22 – LIVE mobile blogging from Walt Disney World
Β© Copyright 200 Tink *~*~*
http://MyMobileAdventures.com
π
This post is sticky, so click “Home” and/or scroll down for current posts Yep, I’m going again! Going to meet my brother and SIL and also attending MooseMeet, a gathering of some of my online Disney freak friends. I’ll be mobile blogging right here at My Mobile Adventures *~*~*, and I’ll send some pics to Twitter as well – follow @BellTinkR for those. See ya real soon! ΒΊoΒΊ .β’:*¨¨*:β’. ΒΊoΒΊ
Beauty from the balcony at Walt Disney World
Β© Copyright 2008 Tink *~*~*
http://MyMobileAdventures.com
I rose early and
crept silently to peek as
God painted the sky
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Morning of our departure
Having coffee on our little balcony before bugging outta here.
Eau de Swan
We came into the Swan to get our fix of Eau de Swan aka White Tea , the fragrance that is pumped into all the common areas of the Walt Disney World Swan hotel. Now we are waiting for the bus to the Magic Kingdom.
Good morning, Swan
We’re having a leisurely morning over our African Kit-whatever *bux.
Glorious morning, Walt Disney World Dolphin

Glorious morning, Walt Disney World Dolphin, originally uploaded by Tink*~*~*. 15 May ’09, 11.14am EDT PST
ORIG. TRIED 830 AM π I’m awake and enjoying coffee on my little balcony. They have Starbucks African Kit-something in-room (too lazy to go inside and look).
The plan for today – well, I need to find my brother, because I have his t-shirt. It’s got the sea gulls from Finding Nemo on it, saying "Mine Mine Mine Mine….". And I think Deb should arrive around noon-ish, so we’ll want to get her all checked in and all. After that – who knows? I do want to check out the Festival Center, which should be open today.
But for now, I’m just going to finish my coffee while enjoying the sights and sounds of the resort waking up. I can watch the boats come and go for a while I daydream about nothing in particular. Life is good π
Another beautiful EPCOT sunset
Β© Copyright 2008 Tink *~*~*
http://MyMobileAdventures.com
Only five more days.
Then, margarita in hand
I’ll be watching this!
Yep, it’s time – I’m going to Disney World!
No, you’re not seeing things. I’ve published this same scene before. But each time, it’s different because the sky is always changing. It’s a routine in which I like to indulge when I’m at EPCOT – get a mango margarita, grab a seat down by lagoon across from the Mexico pavilion, and enjoy the magnificent sunset glinting off the water, streaking the sky with multi-colored clouds. Ahhh… π
So, Tuesday will be my first night at Walt Disney World, and I have a dilemma. I don’t want to miss the finale of The Biggest Loser. I’m hoping that Tara wins – GO, TARA! Nice Lawn Guyland girl LOL π Anyway, I digress. I’ll be in Disney World, and the show starts at 8:00 PM, but the sun will be setting close to 8:00 PM too…. what’s a girl to do? Ack, decisions! π―
I’ll be mobile photo blogging from Disney World starting Tuesday May 12th… hope you’ll drop by now and then to see what I’m up to. π
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NEW! CLICK to browse my previous conquests in my Friday Meme Trifecta
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Friday the 13th at Walt Disney World
Β© Copyright 2008 Tink *~*~*
http://MyMobileAdventures.com
All photos taken Friday the 13th of October 2006 at Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida.
click the photo to see the version posted to Flickr
Friday the 13th
Who says unlucky? Not me!
Looky, rising sun π
Friday the 13th
Who says unlucky? Not me!
Looky, pretty day π
Friday the 13th
Who says unlucky? Not me!
Looky, I Gots Friends π π π
Respectively, that was the sun rising behind the WDW Swan hotel, the sun reflecting off the front of the WDW Dolphin hotel, and my fellow Long Island transplants watching the SpectroMagic parade in the Magic Kingdom that evening – Barbara, Austin, Lexie and Debbie In Paradise.
Hey, did you spot the “hidden” Mickey heads?
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Wordless, Tuesday June 17th 2008
Wordless, Thursday May 22nd 2008

Wordless Wednesday! May 21st 2008
I liked the way I was able to quasi-frame this shot with the trees. Took a bunch standing in this spot; tomorrow I’ll share a closer view without the frame.
