Florida visit: Swan and Dolphin stay

We recently visited the Swan and Dolphin located right next to Epcot. We stayed at the Swan side. The Swan and Dolphin are Starwood properties. They get a lot of the benefits as other Disney owned and operated hotels, but not all. One thing you will need if staying here is your own ride to and from the airport. Other than that, you can still use Disney's transportation to and from all the theme parks, and Disney Springs, as well as the extra magic hours.

You can use all the amenities at either hotel, which was very nice. The main pool is in between both hotels.

Swan Quiet pool. You walk by the quiet pool on your way to the main pool. 

After you walk by the Swan quiet pool you walk by the playground on your way to the main pool. 

This is the side you enter from

Walking by the water fall, a favorite of my daughter. 

An area for the little ones

This pool is so big you can not see it all on one picture!

She would not leave this area, it was so fun! 

On the other side of the main pool they have a bar area. You look at the pool from the bar at this angle. 

The Dolphin quiet pool and on the other side is the pool bar. They make great drinks and serve food as well. 

Inside the bar, lots of seating if you want to step away from the pool action. 

Here is the view from the other side of the pool bar. 

Here is where you walk out of the Swan. If you continue on this path you will be on the Boardwalk then and easy stroll to Epcot. If you take a right (going straight under the awning) you will find your way to the boat that takes you to Epcot, or Hollywood Studios. 

Follow the path this way to the pools! This way is the opposite to the picture above. 

I loved the gardens around the Swan and Dolphin. Here you are looking towards the Dolphin. 

We had a quick visit here and look forward to coming back. Some highlights of staying here are:

-Close to Epcot, and Hollywood Studios. We loved the ability to walk to either park, or take the transportation.

-Great pools! We loved the main pool. It is huge and never felt over crowded. It has not only a fun water fall but a water slide. The pool is close by to the Cabana Bar and Beach club. The casual dinning at the pool. 

-Heavenly beds! If you have ever stayed at a Starwood property you know what I am talking about. These beds are very comfortable. 

-A nice size hotel room. I really liked the space of this room. Even though we are a smaller family some hotel rooms can get cramped really easy. This one had enough room for us to get ready and not get in each others way. 

-I would stay here again! 

Have questions please let me know! Thank you! 

One day in Epcot

Greeting readers-

 We were fortunate enough to spend a day at Epcot last week. I know one day was just not enough, but I will take what I can get. We enjoyed the park from open till after close. It was a magic filled day. The day began with a stroll from the Swan where we had been staying.

When you stay at one of the Epcot resorts you get to enter through the counties. At this time of the morning the countries are closed. It is a cool way to walk through the park, and it is less crowded too!

We had our first Fast Pass+ scheduled for 9:15 so this gave us time to do something before. We decided to check out the lines at Test Track.  The sign outside said the wait would be 30 minutes, even though the park had just opened.  We decided to give it a chance anyways. I am so glad we did because it was not 30 minutes! Even though we had a Fast Pass+ for this ride later on, we love it!! We wanted to try to ride it more than once. Plus it gave us the chance to get the picture just right:

After a quick ride on Test Track we strolled over to Starbucks, grabbed our morning coffee and breakfast sandwich before heading to Nemo. Or the official name: The Seas with Nemo and Friends. Nemo has always been a favorite of ours. We love to spend some time after in the aquarium after the ride.

When we arrived for our Fast Pass+ for Space Ship Earth there was something not quit right going on. The line wasn't moving, and if you have ever been, you know this goes fairly quickly. Well as luck would have it something was not right with the ride, so they were turning people away and giving them Fast Pass+ tickets to use on just about any other ride in the park (not test track sadly). So while we waited for them to fix the ride we decided to use this extra ticket for Mission Space. 

This was a ride the family wanted to do.... me on the other hand not so much. See I had ridden this (the orange side) a couple years back while at food and wine, and my stomach was just not right the rest of the night. Something I'll never forget! But I was up for trying it again, just making sure I took the green side this time! It was a blast!! We actually got to ride it twice in the same day. I would recommend this ride, and do it again. I am not sure I would jump onto the orange side but could totally rock the green again.

Going to Epcot during their Flower and Garden is sort of like going during Food and Wine, but with gorgeous flowers!! 

Instagram <- you can check out more pictures via this link! 

Everyone loved checking out the flower arrangements, gardens and over all set up. It was cool to see them in different spots and even kind of hidden around the park. We also got adventurous and tried some of the food. Flower and Garden doesn't have as many booths as Food and Wine, but they are just as good!! I felt like the food booths for Flower and Garden were unique and had great flavors. Here are a couple if the pictures, sorry we ate to fast to photograph all the food we tried! But trust us it was tasty!

My daughter was most excited about this booth! 

From Morocco, Harissa Chicken with Couscous. Half way though my daughter reminds me to take a picture. 

Corned Beef and Cabbage from the UK

and Finally the Pineapple soft serve!

We also ate at the Mexican booth, America booth, and then had dinner in France. All so yummy!

Our original dinner plans got scraped when my husband checked out the menu to Chefs de France.  He really wanted to go here now. It was mid afternoon I wasn't sure if we could get in. But having my handy dandy iPhone with the Disney Experience app ready to go, I checked to see if they had any reservations. It was our lucky day because they had an opening around 8:10. Perfect we thought as our original dinning reservation was at 7:50 so only a little bit of a difference. 

I ordered the three course meal. Started with a salad, had the salmon for dinner and apple for dessert. It was all AMAZING! 

While eating here we got to see the fireworks from the windows, it is not a great view but it is nice that you don't totally miss the show. 

Chefs de France is a busy restaurant, some people were more dressed up others had just come from a day at the park. The servers were friendly and hard working. It was on the pricier side for a family meal, but it was one that was worth it. 

Our one day at Epcot flew by we got to do a lot, and missed somethings for next time. It is a big park with so many things to do and see. Because of the Fast Pass we got to ride some rides twice and right onto others. Epcot is my favorite park, ok top two. But only having one day I wouldn't change a thing. We savored somethings while checking others off that must do list. I love it here and can not wait to go back!