Walt Disney World hotels urban legend debunked

by Leigh Caldwell on

Even if you haven’t stayed at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, you have seen the convention hotel complex if you have visited EPCOT. The postmodern resort designed by American architect Michael Graves is visible from several places in the park.

The triangular hotel with leaves painted on it is the Dolphin, and the rounded one with waves is the Swan. Which seems to be the opposite of what they should be, right?

And thus, a Disney urban legend was born. It says that when the iconic sculptures on top of the two hotels were hoisted into place, they were put on the wrong buildings, and the names of the hotels had to be changed.

At Yesterland.com, Werner Weiss aims to put the urban legend to rest once and for all. Weiss recounts a conversation with Disney historian Jim Korkis, who has first-hand knowledge of Graves’ intent.

The real story, according to Korkis, is that the Dolphin hotel was raised up from the ocean bed by a volcano or earthquake, and the two dolphins on the roof were raised up with it. It’s an island now, which accounts for the leaves on the building. The swans on the companion building stopped to look at this phenomenon and were turned to stone.

Weiss has many more details, but among the other gems from the interview was the idea that Graves, who then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner handpicked to design the hotels, didn’t even like Disney. According to Korkis, Graves “freely admitted that seeing a four-foot mouse walking around in the parks was just ‘wrong’ as far as he was concerned.”%Gallery-86600%

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Daily Pampering: Indulge in an ancient inner peace therapy

by Annie Scott on


At the blissfully tranquil Miami oasis Pritikin Longevity Center and Spa, there are many unique spa treatments designed to bring harmony and quiet to your chaotic, crazy life.

This Monday, I’m so tired that my hair hurts. Consequently, I’m completely enchanted by the Shirodhara treatment, which is based on ancient principles for restoring inner peace (and makes your head feel awesome, and encourages hair growth):

“An ancient therapy used for centuries to restore an inner calm and balance to the emotions and to rejuvenate the hair and scalp. Shirodhara begins with a gentle stream of warm oil onto the third eye to quiet the mind and soothe the senses. The oil is then massaged into hair and scalp and followed by an herbal treatment to nourish hair roots and condition the scalp.“

Um … yes, please. The 50 minute treatment is a steal at $130. I suggest you don’t try pouring warm oil on your face at home — you can stay at the Pritkin Longevity Center and Spa, with its huge fitness center, saltwater pool, cooking school, medical center and “experiential showers” for one week at rates starting from $4,500.

Want more? Get your daily dose of pampering right here.

Travel safety tips: Traveling with jewelry

by Leigh Caldwell on

Jewelry is rarely at the top of my packing list. Truth be told, I’ve worn the same rings and earrings in nearly all my travels for the past several years. And other than the addition of a cheap, costume necklace or two for a night out, I generally don’t pack any jewelry.

But sooner or later, we all have to travel for some function where “the good stuff” needs to come along. Be it a family wedding where grandma’s pearls need to make an appearance or a gallery opening where that canary diamond you have (and I say “you” because I certainly don’t have one) begs to be worn, we all find ourselves packing some fine jewelry occasionally.

So, how do you keep it safe and secure? I went to the experts to find out.

The hotel security director

You can probably guess what Robert Brauner, the director of safety and security at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, said when I asked him. “Don’t take your heirlooms and your favorite stuff with you.”

But, if you are going to take them, here are Brauner’s tips for traveling with jewelry:

  • Be sure you are staying in a hotel with a safe in the room or safety deposit boxes at the front desk. Most 3-star or better hotels have both.
  • Once you’ve checked into the hotel, use the safe or safety deposit box. “The hardest part is getting people to utilize them,” Brauner says. “We advertise that we have them, but then people don’t use them, and that’s where things can go wrong.”
  • Know the hotel’s policy if something should happen to your jewelry. In most U.S. states, an innkeeper is not liable for hotel losses, unless they are the direct result of the hotel’s negligence. For example, if a hotel employee is caught stealing it.

The insurance agent

If you own fine jewelry, you probably have insurance to cover it. But does that insurance apply when you are traveling? That’s the question I asked Thomas Trask, owner of Dennis Insurance Agency in Lutz, Fla.

He said you first need to ensure that you are insured. “A standard homeowner’s policy will not cover jewelry for disappearance, and it will only cover theft of jewelry up to $1,000,” Trask said.

The key is to purchase a rider to your homeowner’s policy or a separate policy to cover jewelry. Either one will cover your jewelry for theft, disappearance or other mishaps, including losing a stone from a setting or the old familiar dropping of your wedding ring down a garbage disposal.

Now you will need to be sure that you are following your specific policy’s rules for travel, and Trask said to check with your agent about that. Most standard policies will cover you for travel anywhere, but some might require that certain items be kept in a safe when you are not wearing them. And, if we’re talking about Harry Winston, red carpet-level jewels, your policy may limit exactly how much jewelry you can travel with.

And Trask, like Brauner, said it’s probably best to leave the heirlooms at home. “There is no way to insure sentimental value,” Trask said. “That ring that your grandmother gave you can only be insured for an appraised value,” and it probably means more to you than that.

Hiding valuables in your hotel room

by Sean McLachlan on

Every hotel tells you not to leave valuables in your room. They suggest using the hotel safe, and for the most part that’s a good plan. But what if the hotel safe isn’t safe? What if the “safe” is merely an unlocked drawer at the reception desk? This is too often the case with hotels in the developing world.

One option is to always keep your valuables with you. This isn’t always convenient or wise, such as if you’re going out on a pub crawl where you might be bum-rolled or attending a religious service where it would be inappropriate to bring a camera. So if you must stash stuff in your room, here are some ideas.

Under the mattress: This old trick is surprisingly effective for small items if you take a few precautions. First, make sure to stash your passport/money in the middle of the mattress, where it can’t be found by simply pulling up one corner. Also, spread out some clothes or a book on top. The cleaning staff will be less tempted to disturb the bed. Finally, make sure to do this after the bed has already been made for the day.

Hiding in plain sight: In the Edgar Allan Poe story “The Purloined Letter”, a clever thief baffles police by hiding a stolen letter in plain sight by refolding it and adding a different address. People make assumptions about what they’re seeing, and thus are easily fooled. A pile of worthless papers can easily hide a passport. A few dollars left carelessly in plain view keeps the thief from looking further.These are two of my favorites, and in twenty years and 28 countries of travel I’ve never been robbed. (Well, I got my pocket picked the first hour I was in Pakistan, but that wasn’t in a hotel room). Looking for fresh ideas, I decided to ask a creative group of people–authors. Here’s what they came up with.

Lock your suitcase: Brenna Lyons says, “have a locked suitcase. Someone could steal the entire suitcase, but that’s extreme. Or they could get lock cutters and cut the lock off…also extreme.”

Hide stuff in other stuff: Brenna Lyons again, “One thing I’ve done before is get a dark-colored plastic bottle and place something small and valuable, wrapped in tissue and/or plastic, inside it. If it looks like shampoo or something, people don’t tend to look twice. If you have one of those little clear toiletry cases with a bunch inside, and one or two have valuables in them, they really don’t look. If you’re really inventive, you can put something like shampoo or lotion in the container over or around the valuables (either using a plastic bag or a smaller bottle).” Jean Hart Stewart has a hollowed out paperback she uses to hide stuff, and she puts it with a bunch of real paperbacks. She better not have destroyed one of my titles!

Taping an envelope in a hidden place: I do this too, but Bob Nailor describes it best.
“Bring a spare envelope and tape. 1) Tape to bottom of trashcan and DON’T USE IT! Housekeeping won’t move it.

2) Tape to bottom of desk, table, or inside of drawer.
3) Tape it to the inside of bi-fold doors, on a solid section, if available. As the doors are opened, the doors close on themselves, hiding the envelope.”

Where do you stash your stuff? Share your secrets in the comments section!

Hotel safety tips: How to choose the best hotel room, best hotel location

by Melanie Nayer on

When it comes to your safety, hotels can be your best source of security while traveling. While hotels are constantly making improvements to improve their safety, there’s nothing worse than discovering your passport has been stolen or your laptop is broken thanks to a disabled door lock and a fast thief.

While you’re searching for your next hotel, keep these safety tips top of mind.

What makes a safe hotel:

Never compromise your safety for a dollar. A great deal on hotel room can certainly cushion you budget, but it’s worthless if the hotel is in a bad neighborhood or isn’t up to code on things like door locks and surveillance cameras. Once you find the right location, narrow down your hotel choices by taking into consideration the following:

  • Is each room equipped with a dead bolt lock and a peephole?
  • Does the hotel room have an electronic guest room lock? Key locks are cute and add a bit of charm, but electronic doors track the comings-and-goings of all who enter.
  • Do the hotel rooms have a telephone enabled with emergency call button or the ability dial outside of the hotel?
  • Do photos of the hotel show well-lit hallways, parking garages and lobby areas? (Side note: never book a hotel without viewing pictures first).
  • Hotels with limited entry/exit options usually have less foot-traffic, which keeps stragglers off the premises.
  • Does the hotel provide 24-hour concierge/security? Knowing someone is on duty at all times allows for peace of mind if you’re feeling unsafe.
  • Before booking a hotel room in an international destination, make sure it’s in a safe area by checking with the US Embassy in that country.

When arriving at your hotel:

  • Stay with your luggage at all times. If a bellman offers to take your bags, make sure to keep the bag with your laptop, wallet and jewelry in it, and get the Bellman’s name.
  • Once you check in, grab a few hotel cards or matchbooks with the hotel’s address on it and place them in your bag. If you get lost, you have the address and phone number ready to give to a cab driver.

Selecting the safest hotel room:

  • While the higher floors have the best views, the lower floors have quicker access to the ground. In the event of an emergency, you want to get out fast. Keep in mind that some fire departments, including those in the United States, can only reach as high as floor 8 in an emergency.
  • Whenever possible, do not take a hotel room on the ground floor if it has doors and windows that open to the outside. This is particularly important for motels with rooms off parking lots. If you can’t get a room on a higher floor, forgo your view and choose a room facing the interior or courtyard.
  • Guestrooms near the elevators are generally the safest, but can also be the noisiest. If you’re staying alone, request that your room is in the middle of the hallway or near an elevator – while the alcoves and corner rooms are very intimate and offer great views, they are also somewhat hidden making it easier for thieves to access.

After arriving in your room, check for the following:

  • If the hotel room you’re staying in has older door locks (metal keys instead of the electronic key cards) make sure to check the deadbolt and safety chain when you arrive in your room. If they seem jittery or loose, ask to change rooms.
  • Check the closets and bathrooms for anything left from the last guests and ensure all windows and adjoining doors shut and lock properly.
  • Check the phone to make sure an outside line is accessible.
  • Locate the nearest fire exit and count how many doors along the way until you reach the exit. In the event of a fire and heavy smoke, counting the doors will ensure you get to safety if you can’t see.


When you leave your hotel room:

  • Leave the television on – it gives the impression someone is in the room. Ask the maid service to keep the TV on or turn on the radio during turn-down service.
  • The ‘please make up my room’ sign is also code for ‘I’m not here’. Don’t worry about making your bed or needing clean towels – maid service keeps track of the rooms and what’s been cleaned, so they’ll get to you regardless of whether you have the sign on your door. If you don’t need your room serviced, place the “Do not disturb” sign on your door when you leave. This gives the impression you’re inside.
  • If you have valuables and don’t have an in-room safe, ask to use the security vault in the hotel. If you have an in-room safe, use it!

Now that you’re armed with the best hotel safety tips, get out of your room and enjoy your trip!

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