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We Came To Play!

We Came To Play!

Opening Magic Kingdom

Opening Magic Kingdom

Friday, July 30, 2010

Centerville Municipal Pool

Centerville Municipal Pool


Location: 712 West Lane Street, Centerville - (641) 437-1920 in Morgan Cline City Park just west of Centerville High School.

Cost: $2.00 for kids, $3.00 for adults, passes available and start at $40.00. Under 2 free.

Hours: 1:00-7:00 pm daily.

Description: Centerville Municipal Pool is truly a municipal pool with little to no updates. A rectangular pool with stairs and ladders to enter and exit. An almost 2 foot drop from the deck to the water surrounds the pool. There is a '1.5 - '2.5 foot section, then a large "2.5-"4 foot section and the deep end. The deep end has 3 diving boards, two low dives and one high dive.

Rules to Know: Rafts, blow up tubes, noodles, masks, goggles, balls, dive sticks, and frogs are all OK. Frogs? Yes, frogs. But more about that later.

Food: Food, drinks, and snacks ranging in price from $.25 -$2.00. Vending machines are also available.

Cleanliness: Pool deck was clean. Pool had a lot of debris floating in it and frogs. Bathrooms were yucky--not clean and no toilet paper in the stalls in the girls' room. The boy said the men's was scary.

Friendliness: Other pool patrons--kids talked to us and one girl shared her raft when she wasn't using it. When you enter and pay admission, you have to write your name on a clipboard.

Web-site: No web-site for the pool, but there is a few words of info about the pool on the Centerville/Rathbun Lake Area web-site: http://www.centerville-ia.com/content/view/24/40/

Pros: If you want to swim or use the diving boards this is a pool for you as there is lots of room to do that and with 3 boards minimal wait time. The park next door is a nice touch. Since there are many trees and shade our car was relatively cool, which was unusual for a hot summer day, and the trees provide some shade to one corner of the pool and pool deck. I heard a lifeguard whistle twice during the 2 and half hours we were there.  We had ice cream at Raymond's located on the NE corner of 10th and Highway 2 when we left the pool.  Yum!

Cons: No zero depth entry. There is a ramp to get through the fence and to the pool deck, but other than that, I'm not sure how they meet the ADA requirements for the facility. Bathrooms as mentioned above. There are no lounge chairs and really no room for them. There are some benches next to the fence and some tables with chairs. We spent most of the time in the water.

Lifeguard supervision was an issue. One lifeguard was texting while on duty. She kept her phone in her suit/shirt and would pull it out to text. By the third time she was on shift, the t-shirt was gone and I'm guessing so was the phone. We were leaving at that point.

The other lifeguard looked away from the deep end she was supervising. But I do know who she is dating, as the person kept referring to while swimming and asking her to confirm.  Do you see anything wrong with the picture below? The guards didn't.

Multiple times I saw kids jump off the high and low board to the side of the board towards each other. After the second time, I used the opportunity to remind the boy loudly to jump straight off the board and not to the side. This woke the guard up a bit and when the sideways jumping happened just seconds later, she weakly blew her whistle to tell the guys not to do that. I heard the lifeguard whistle 2 times during our 2 and a half hour visit.

Fun Factor: I can tell you if we go again, I'm bringing my raft! The two seven year old boys enjoyed the diving boards. Oh, the frog. I almost forgot. Just a few minutes after we arrived, the boy found a frog swimming in the deep end of the pool. He kept a vigilant watch on it, making sure the frog didn't get jumped on, etc. Soon, the frog was in his hands and he brought it to the shallow end of the pool. He and the frog swam together, jumped off the side of the pool together, and he eventually placed the frog near the fence in the grass so that it could return to its family. A few minutes later either that same frog returned or he found another frog. Once again, more frog swimming with the frog. He was convinced it was the same frog who had come back. Eventually, he took the frog out of the pool, through the entrance and placed the frog by a tree. He watched the frog for a while, making sure it was OK and then returned to swim. The highlight of the day was finding and swimming with the frog.

Visiting the Centerville Municipal Pool marks our 10th pool review so far this summer. Click on the other names of pools we have visited to read our reviews: Bloomfield Municipal Pool, Edmundson Park Swimming Pool in Oskaloosa, Fairfield Municipal Pool, Grinnell Mutual Family Aquatic Center, Monroe County Aquatic Center in Albia, Pella Aquatic Center with Adventure River, Sigourney Pool, The Beach Ottumwa, and Veteran's Memorial Aquatic Center in Indianola.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Indianola Veteran's Memorial Aquatic Center

Indianola Veteran's Memorial Aquatic Center


Location: 714 W. Detroit Avenue, Indianola, IA (515) 961-9422. NW of the square near Simpson College

Cost: 2 and under free w/ paid adult. $3.50 for residents and $4.00 for non-residents. We were charged the resident price. Punch cards and passes are available and a discount on passes is available if purchased in April.

Hours: M, W, F 1:00-8:00; T & Th 1:00-6:00; Sat. & Sun. 1:00-7:00

Description: Two outdoor pools both with zero depth entry. One pool is for the 8 and under set with a slide for those under "49, bubblers, sprays, a "sliding" feature and maximum depth of about 2.5 feet. The other pool has dumping buckets, a deep end with diving board, a body slide, a lily pad climbing feature (that was closed), and a unique half circle "Dinah Shore" bench with jets. (think "spa") There is also a sand play area with a bit of shade adjacent to the shallow pool.

Rules to Know: Flotation devices have to get manager approval. We saw noodles, small kiddie blow up rafts, water balls, snorkels, fins, and masks. To ride the slides you either have to be over "48 or under "49. This meant the boy was good to go for both slides.


Food: Snacks, food, frozen treats, and beverages ranging in price from $.75 - $2.25.

Cleanliness: Clean. The lawn and pool deck were clean. The sand area has plants growing in the middle and there is peeling paint on the wood trim of the main building. There was a blood spill while we were there and we saw staff with spray bottles spraying the deck. I'm assuming this was a bleach mixture of 1:10 ratio as recommended by bloodborn pathogens training. No wiping off, just spraying.

Friendliness: Guards we saw in the shallow pool would go up to the kids to redirect. Not a lot of whistle blowing, which was good.

Web-site: http://www.indianolaparks.com/Aquatic%20Center.asp



Pros: The pool has a convenient circle drive for drop off and pick up. I was impressed with the self scan feature of the passes that made entry at opening smooth and quick. Other pools with pass cards need to think about investing in this option. The shallow pool was quite large. This is where we spent most of our day. The diving board, lily pad feature, and body slide are good additions. When the pool was evacuated from 2:45-3:15 a guard hosed down the pool deck to help with burning feet. This was appreciated.


Cons: We spent most of our day in the shallow pool. The other pool seemed small and crowded (hence the nosebleed?). The lilly pad feature was missing a lilly pad and was therefore closed. Having one diving board made for long waits at the board. We had 2 people, one kid and one adult try the body slide and the word for it was "lame." Lots of rules. . . wait on the landing, etc., and it didn't go very fast. By the last curve they were pushing themselves with their hands. The sandy area had some shade, but to get to the shade you had to cross a section of very hot sand and very hot pavement. The boy did give it a try, but there wasn't much traffic in the sand area. There are pool breaks or "adult swims" at 10 minutes to the hour. So, after being there 50 minutes it was time to get out for a break. The pool was again emptied at 2:45 due to the nosebleed accident and people weren't allowed back in the water until 3:15. The shallow pool was unaffected by the break and the blood spill. We spent most of our day in the shallow pool. Luckily, we were at the pool with 3 children ages 5 and 7 and therefore the shallow pool was fine for them. We had one disappointed swimmer who wanted to enjoy the diving board but the wait and the crowd were just too much. I told the husband that if the kids we were with had been older than 8 our day at the pool would have been a wash. I wonder if the designers/planners for the pools either had young kids themselves or young grandkids?


Fun Factor: If you have a child under 8, this is a pretty good pool, especially the shallow pool. The diving board, body slide, and lily pad climbing feature are nice additions.

Indianola Veteran's Memorial Aquatic Center was our 9th pool visited this summer over a several county area in Iowa. To see how this pool compares to others we have reviewed just click on the name of the pool: Bloomfield Pool, Edmundson Park Swimming Pool in Oskaloosa, Fairfield Municipal Pool, Grinnell Mutual Family Aquatic Center, Monroe County Aquatic Center in Albia, Pella Aquatic Center with Adventure River, Sigourney Pool, and The Beach Ottumwa.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Disney Dining Plans

One of the things that kept me from booking our first trip to the Walt Disney World Resort was worrying about meals. . . where would we eat? When would we eat? How much would it cost? I wanted dining at the World to be more like taking a cruise or staying at an all inclusive resort where your meals are built into the cost of your trip and there is some convenience to dining so I didn’t have to worry about making the decisions to the above questions when we were all hungry.



As if by magic, Disney magic, just prior to our first resort stay in November 2006, Disney introduced the Dining Plan. Basic dining plan which included a table service meal, counter service meal, and snack per person per night of your stay. The credits for the meals are electronically added to your Key to the World card and you can use the credits any way you like. For example, if you eat two counter service meals one day you can use two table service credits the next day. Chef Mickey’s is a restaurant where you would use one table service credit per person while Pecos Bills is a counter service credit per person.



When the Dining Plan first came on the scene it included appetizers for table service meals and the tip. Both of those went away by the end of 2007 when contracts were renegotiated with cast members. Now, table service meals include entrée, dessert, and drink (non alcoholic) while quick service meals include a combo meal, dessert, and drink. Snacks range from popcorn or a drink at the parks to a bag of apples or carrot slices. Mickey Bars can be had for a snack credit!



Just as everything Disney, the Dining Plan has evolved over the years to now include 3 different dining plans so you can have the magic your way.



Quick Service Dining Plan: This plan includes two counter service meals and two snacks per person per day. This plan also includes a refillable mug per person. This plan is good for people staying at a Disney Resort—the only place you can refill your mug is at the food court in a Disney Resort. Also, for folks who don’t want to take away any park time by sitting at a restaurant or are traveling with light eaters. I was recently visiting with a fellow Disney enthusiast who was helping another family with teenage girls plan their trip. Their reasoning was teenage girls don’t eat very much, at least in this family, so they were leaning towards the Quick Service Dining Plan.

The Quick Service Plan would have also been good for the gentleman we bumped into at 'OHANA's one morning.  We were waiting for our 7:30 am ADR to eat breakfast with Lilo and Stitch when he appeared.  Obviously a guest at the Polynesian, he wondered if breakfast was served at 'OHANA's and when he found out he needed to have an ADR, he was a bit miffed.  Upon visiting with him, I discovered that he and his family had come to Disney and had booked either the Basic or Deluxe Dining plan, but failed to make any Advanced Dining Reservations (ADR's) so they weren't having any luck using their table service credits.  I had two suggestions for the man. . . for this trip, see about exchanging a table service credit for a counter service credit and a snack.  This can be done and is somewhat better than having the table service credits go to waste.  He didn't know he could do this.  The second suggestion was for next time and that the Quick Service dining plan may be a better option for his family.  Again, he didn't know about the Quick Service dining option.  While he walked away still hungry, he was armed with more information that could help him.  This is exactly the scenario I want to avoid when traveling with my family and illustrates once again, that you gotta do your homework and planning prior to coming to Disney.  I know, the two words homework and vacation conjure up some sort of twisted oxymoron, a juxtaposition of two words that typically don't go together.  But just as all things magical at Disney, they do go together and make for a happier Walt Disney World Vacation.


Basic Dining Plan: This plan includes a table service meal, counter service meal, and snack per person per day. The Basic Dining Plan is good for folks who want to eat at restaurants at the Walt Disney World Resort but not spend all of their time sitting at a restaurant. The counter service meal credits allow for even more flexibility. This is our “go to” plan and it has worked for us . . . numerous times!



Deluxe Dining Plan: This plan includes 3 table service meals, including appetizers, and two snacks per person per day and also includes a refillable mug per person. You will definitely not go hungry on this plan. I visited with a family who had tried this plan and they said they spent almost $500 on tips. Given that the a check for a table service meal can be $90 - $150 just for a family of 3 and then you tip 15-20% of that times 3 times per day, the tips can add up! This plan only makes economic sense if you are planning to eat at restaurants that require “2 table service credits” per person per meal. Examples include: Cinderella’s Royal Table, Hoop Dee Dodo Review, Mickey’s Backyard BBQ, and the Luau at the Polynesian Resort, etc.  Dollar for dollar, this is the most economical plan if you don't include park time you may be missing.



Disney has variations on the theme that are a part of the Premium or Platinum packages which include the Deluxe Dining Plan. You can also add a Wine Package to your Deluxe Dining Plan if you like.



So, here’s how we do it to avoid the questions and decision making while park touring and being hungry . . . Where are we going to eat? When are we going to eat? How much will it cost? We add the Basic Dining Plan to our trip—now the only cash we need for eating is our tip money. And, we have been able to score the dining plan for free 3 of our last 6 trips and will once again get free dining on our upcoming trip! (You still pay the tip even when the Dining Plan is free.)



Knowing that we will be using the Dining Plan, we make our Advanced Dining Reservations (ADR’s) 180 prior to our first day of our trip. (I’ll write later about how to decide what, where, and when you want to eat 6 months ahead.) If we want to eat at say, Hoop Dee Doo Review (click here to read more) then we pay for that restaurant rather than use our table service credits. Typically on every trip, we end up paying separately for one meal. Sometimes that is Mickey’s Backyard BBQ (click here to read more) and sometimes it is an extra counter service meal when we have used all our credits. Combine the Dining Plan with some goodies we pack—small boxes of cereal, granola bars, juice boxes, our refillable mugs, and we are good to go!

Check out the Disney web-site for more information about Dining Plans.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Grinnell Mutual Family Aquatic Center

Grinnell Mutual Family Aquatic Center

Location: 80 8th Street, Grinnell, Iowa (641) 236-2621

Cost: Ages 3 and up $4.00; Seniors $3.00; and anyone who walks or rides their bike to the pool is given $1.00 off admission. Passes are also available and start at $60.00.

Hours: Noon to 7:00 pm Daily. Tiger Shark meets will close the pool early. Lap swim and walking the lazy river are available 11:00am to noon daily and other times. Check the web-site at http://www.grinnelliowa.gov/index.aspx?nid=161

Note for Summer 2012:  The lazy river is also open 6:00 am to 8:00 am Monday through Friday and Saturdays 7:00 am to 9:00 am for exercise.


Description: The pool has a large zero depth entry with a kiddie play structure with water sprays. There are semi circle lines painted on the pool floor in various colors to indicate a depth change at 1 ft, 2 ft, and 3 ft. There is a climbing/walking lilly pad type feature with a net overhead and floating creatures to navigate across the water. This area is also adjacent to where the drop slide empties riders. A rectangular portion of the pool connects with a dept of 4ft to start and then goes to the deep end. There are lap lanes painted on the bottom of the pool and two lanes are roped off for lap swimming. A low dive and high dive complete the deep end. The slide tower is between the pool and the lazy river. The tube slide, which is a tunnel slide, empties into the lazy river. The drop slide empties into the pool. Both slides begin on the same level of the slide tower.



Rules to Know: In order to go on the slides you have to have a wrist bracelet indicating you are over "48 tall. The bracelets are given at the admission desk. If you have a bracelet, you are not allowed on the kiddie play structure. You can play around it, but not on it. We saw no noodles or floatie boats. Flotation devices must be worn on the body. Life jackets are available. Also, sometimes the diving boards are not available. If the guard supervising the deep end deems it "open swim" then the boards are closed. When I asked when the boards would be open, I was told it would be when "open swim" was over. When I asked when open swim would be over, I was told when she says it is over. There is also a 10 minute pool break at the top of each hour. . . 1:50-2:00 for example.

Food: Drinks, frozen treats, and food ranging in price form $.50-$2.50. While there are tables outside the snack window, food seems to be consumed throughout the pool deck.

Cleanliness: Very clean.

Friendliness: We talked to several guests, including one family from Houston, Texas. We also asked guards questions, like the before mentioned "open swim." The only staff to visit with us was the man in the snack shop with the bum knee. He was quite friendly and told us to enjoy our day.

Web-site: ( Interestingly, when we arrived, I was confused about the price we were being charged as after reading the web-site I thought the price for admission was different. The employees working the admission counter told me they didn't have a web-site.) http://www.grinnelliowa.gov/index.aspx?nid=161


Pros: This is a brand new pool and just opened this summer. There were plenty of chairs and deck space. A chair on the back side of the lazy river would have been just right. . . Next time! The lilly pad climbing feature is great, as are the slides and lazy river. Offering walking in the lazy river against the current as an exercise option is fantastic. The price was right and offering a discount admission to folks who find alternate transportion to the pool is a unique idea. There was also a recycling receptacle outside the snack shop. There was also quite a bit of guest diversity.



Cons: The drop slide empties into the pool and the husband skinned his foot on the bottom of the pool after being "dropped." He said other adults and big kids are going to experience the same thing.

I was ready to ride a tube slide, but not a tunnel slide. There is no other tube slide, expect one that is completely dark and enclosed.

The over "48 inch rule to be on the kiddie play structure is going to drive parents with kids of different ages and therefore different heights batty, especially if the expectation is for parents to watch kids closely. Can you imagine how this might make siblings feel? The boy is just under "50 inches and was attracted to the play structure. Kids much older and taller than that didn't seem interested. When he was done going on the slides, he removed his bracelet and went on the kiddie play structure until they rotated life guards and the next guard either recognized him as being tall enough for the slides or just arbitrarily told him that he couldn't be on the kiddie play structure.

There is only one entrance/exit to the lazy river, which is also the exit for the tube slide. Traffic gets backed up here pretty badly.

If you are jumping off the high dive you have to either exit the pool by climbing up the side, or swim under the low diving board to get to a ladder. There is a ladder on the other side of the pool by the high dive, but pool staff have decided to keep two lanes roped off for lap swim and therefore, a swimmer coming off the high dive can not go that way to exit. Not safe and poor planning!

Fun Factor: We were there for 3 hours and had a good time, especially after we figured out all the rules, etc. If you get tired of swimming, there is a park just next door.


Compare Grinnell Mutual Family Aquatic Center to other pools we have reviewed so far this summer by clicking on the name of the pool: Bloomfield Municipal Pool, Fairfield Municipal Pool, Pella Aquatic Center with Adventure River, Sigourney Pool, Monroe County Aquatic Center in Albia, Edmundson Park Swimming Pool in Oskaloosa, and The Beach Ottumwa.

The photo above is from their web-site.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

EPCOT's Flower and Garden Festival


Each spring from about mid March to mid May, EPCOT is decked out in its finest greenery for the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival. We have had the privilege of visiting EPCOT two different years during the Flower and Garden Festival. The ever meticulous grounds become even more meticulous and colorful.




This past spring, a special wedding garden was designed for Disney’s newest princess, Princess Tiana. Click here to read more about Tiana.



In honor of the Disney Fairies, topiaries were created in their likeness. Click here to read more about Disney Fairies.









And, just as you would find various characters at the pavilions in World Showcase, you would also find their topiaries.



The pavilions weren’t the only location for wonderful Disney inspired topiaries. At the entrance to World Showcase, we found a dolphin topiary display in honor of the movie Disney Oceans.



The main entrance to EPCOT had a marvelous topiary featuring Goofy and Donald at a campfire.



Another feature you can find at EPCOT during the Flower and Garden Festival is playgrounds sprinkled around World Showcase. Each year, we have found 3 playgrounds for kids. These playgrounds offer a welcome break from touring for the entire family.



If you can plan a visit to the Walt Disney World Resort during EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival, I highly recommend it. And, I have two commemorative pins to prove it! Click here to read more about what we collect.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Sigourney Swimming Pool

Signourney Swimming Pool



Location: 1018 West Spring Street, Sigourney - (641) 622-2741

Cost: $3.00 for residents; $3.50 for non-residents; Passes both individual and Family are available starting at $80.00

Hours: 1:00-7:00 daily

Description: The Signourney pool is nestled in Legion Park between the playground and the tennis courts and ball field. The "L" shaped pool has a zero depth entry on one end, a small slide in the corner, a lap swim area, and two diving boards on the deep end. There are a series of watersprays and "dumpers" located to the side of the pool.



Rules to Know: Only children under 12 are allowed on the slide. Masks, dive sticks, water balls are all OK. We saw a child with a small foating ride in "boat" so those must be OK, too, but we didn't see any rafts or noodles. The sign says no outside food can be brought in. We had two tubs of snacks we brought with us. There is a 5 minute break at the top of each hour for "adult swim."



Food: Snacks, drinks, and frozen goodies ranging in price from $.25 - $1.50.

Cleanliness: Clean. The bathroom/shower/changing rooms were clean and off to the side of the entrance. A patron had vomitted on the pool deck and we saw the staff meticuously clean the mess with bleach and water. I don't know if the bleach mixture was 1:10 ratio as the bloodborne pathogens training would suggest, but it was cleaned none the less.



Friendliness: Very friendly. A guard spoke to us right away. We walked up slightly before opening and the gate was open. We did have to get the attention of the person inside the window where you pay to ask about opening time, etc. Another parent spoke to us while we were there.

Web-site: There isn't one for the pool, but there is a blog on the Signourney city web-site.

Pros: Padded/lined bottom. Ladies, buy those expensive swimsuits and then come sit in the pool at Sigourney. You won't snag a thing! It also makes it nice for little ones' feet and hands. The dual boards make for diving fun and while the slide is not a huge one, it did offer the two seven years old we had with enough of a challenge to go on it repeatedly. The boy tried different techniques. . . slow, fast, sitting up, etc. We saw other kids try to come off the slide and see how far they could go under water. Based on the adult/child ratios at the pool, there are lots of kids dropped off or walk to or ride bikes to this pool. It is evident that the community has faith in the pool for appropriate supervision.



Cons: Lacking the big body slides that are so prevelent at other pools nearby. We snagged lounge chairs near the entrance only to find that we couldn't adjust the back on them as they were broken.

Fun Factor: We hadn't been to the Sigourney pool for a couple of years and it was like coming home to an old friend. During the 5 minute breaks, the kids congregate at either the snack stand or the water sprays and dumpers for more water fun. The 5 minute break is much more palatable than the 15 minute breaks we encounted at other pools. Between the slide, diving boards, and dive sticks the two 7 year olds we had with us were reluctant to leave after 2 1/2 hours.

To compare this pool to others we have visited, click on the name of the pool to read the review: Bloomfield Municipal Pool, Edmundson Park Swimming Pool in Oskaloosa, Pella Aquatic Center with Adventure River, Monroe County Aquatic Center in Albia, The Beach Ottumwa, and Fairfield Municipal Swimming Pool.