HotelChatter - Stories about Walt Disney World Dolphin http://www.hotelchatter.com/ Hotel Reviews, Hotel Ratings, Hotel Openings en-us Copyright 2008 - SFO Media 2012-02-14T07:26:08Z HotelChatter HotelChatter HotelChatter http://www.hotelchatter.com/images/hcwhite.jpg http://www.hotelhotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/local/1028 New York: Starwood Will Turn Bryant Park Into a Summer Wonderland Tomorrow http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/1/10/1083/15069 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/30451/WSouthBeach_CitiPond.jpg" class="top"><p><i>Which would you prefer: hotel pool in South Beach--or ice-rink in the city?</i><p>If you live in NYC or have been in town this winter, you may have noticed that Bryant Park has been transformed into <a href="http://thepondatbryantpark.com/index.php"><b>The Pond</a></b>, a free skate rink with assorted other wintry activities on tap. Tomorrow, however, Starwood is flipping the seasons and turning the Pond into a pop-up summer shop, promoting the idea of a winter getaway to one of its hotels and resorts in Florida and the Caribbean.<p> Drop by between noon and 6 p.m. tomorrow and you'll see beach cabanas, a beach-ball-filled igloo, chicks getting their hair braided and people bowling with coconuts. You know, just another day in New York. MsRebecca 2011-01-10T12:06:06-05:00 Lake Buena Vista: You Can Look But You Can't Sit on the Lap of This Life-Sized Chocolate Santa http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2010/12/9/10193/0766

So we've been profiling the wonderful, wild and wacky holiday hotel decorations and we think that this holiday display at the Walt Disney Swan and Dolphin Hotel is all three. That's because they've just unveiled a 1,200-pound life-sized CHOCOLATE Santa Claus accompanied by an armchair, fireplace and Christmas tree, all made out of chocolate!

The sculpture is the creation of the hotel's executive pastry chef and only two-time world champion pastry chef, Laurent Branlard. Here are some stats on the work that went into this:

· Man Hours: 300 hours
· Dark Chocolate: 880 lbs.
· Milk Chocolate: 132 lbs.
· White Chocolate: 154 lbs.
· Cocoa Butter: 120 lbs.

]]> juliana 2010-12-10T16:00:05-05:00 Other Cities Make a Play for Super Bowl Hotel Action http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2010/1/28/95144/9569

Sure, most of the hotel booking action is going on in Miami and Fort Lauderdale for Super Bowl weekend, but they’re not the only cities looking to score from the big game. Packages and parties in New Orleans are starting to shape up—and we presume in Indy as well, although we haven’t heard of many yet.

The New Orleans Marriott comes bursting out of the huddle (ha ha) with its Saints Finish Strong package. Other than South Florida we can’t think of a better place to watch the Super Bowl, but for anyone who needs a bit of arm twisting, the Marriott is happy to oblige.

]]> MsRebecca 2010-01-28T10:23:52-05:00 Orlando: Disney's Dolphin Hotel Shows Guests the Magical World of Bus Stops http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/9/23/232953/973 <![CDATA[<p><p><i>You know the scene. You open the door to your brand new hotel room, run over to the window, open the blinds and bam, you are hit with the anti-view. Maybe you are looking down a dirty alley, witnessing a drug deal, staring at an air shaft in the face, or seeing a brick wall. Whatever you are viewing it is not extremely pleasurable. Help out your fellow hotel mavens by uploading your anti-views to the <a href="http://flickr.com/groups/hotelchatter/">HotelChatter/Flickr photo pool</a>, or by <a href="mailto:tips@hotelchatter.com">sending the photo along to us</a>. Remember to tell us the name of the hotel and the room number with the not-so-easy-on-the-eyes view.</i><p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/disneydolphinbusstop.jpg" class="top"><p> <p>When superstar athletes win big championship games, the TV cameras always (infamously) juliana 2009-09-24T14:56:16-05:00 Where Else You Can Celebrate Election Night http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/11/4/135853/632 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/electoralmap2.jpg" class="top"><p>We already rounded up where the movers and shakers in DC <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/11/4/84326/1268/hotels/The_Best_Hotels_in_DC_to_Celebrate_Election_Night">will be celebrating</a> the end of Election 2008 but of course, Americans will be celebrating all over. Here are some places in your neck of the polls.<p><b>Beverly Hills</b><br>&#183; <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Avalon+Hotel/local/584"><b>The Avalon Hotel</b></a>: The Blue on Blue restaurant here will be showcasing election-themed food and cocktails all day today from noon to close. <p><b>Chicago</b><br>&#183; <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/The+James/ian/131004"><b>The James Hotel</b></a>: The hotel's lobby bar will be celebrating the election with McCain and Obama treats and drinks from 5pm until the election is called. <p><b>Boston</b><br>&#183; <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/RENAISSANCE+BOS+WATERFRONT+HTL/local/1264"><b>The Renaissance Boston Waterfront</b></a>: At the hotels 606 Congress restaurant a drawing will be held today where a lucky winner will get a night's juliana 2008-11-04T13:58:53-05:00 Search HotelChatter Search HotelChatter string http://www.hotelchatter.com/search/