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             PassPorter News

 

   News, Announcements, Updates, and Tips

 

       Febrary 8, 2007 * Issue 7.06

 

  PassPorter.com - http://www.passporter.com

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Welcome to PassPorter News, an online newsletter

about PassPorter travel guidebooks, the

Walt Disney World Resort, and Disney Cruise Line.

 

PassPorter News is available by free subscription

to all readers and friends of our labor of love --

PassPorter Travel Guidebooks.

Learn all about them:

http://www.passporter.com/aboutpassporter.htm

 

 

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In This Newsletter:

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From the Authors:   Bells and Whistles

 

Resort Report:  Contemporary Tidbits

 

Travel Feature: New Orleans

 

Disney Feature: Learning To Like Disney-MGM Studios

 

Updates: What's New and Changed

 

Tips:  Disneyland Dining, Train to Toontown, Re-making Memories

 

Captain's Corner: The Clock

 

Q&A: Where is the best place to snorkel?

 

 

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FROM THE AUTHORS: Bells and Whistles

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Hi, {{user("firstname")}}! 

 

We have a few bells and whistles (plus a couple PassPorter deals) to announce:

 

Message Board Features: The upgraded message boards are zipping along and members are settling into their new home. We're pleased to announce that we've brought back our popular countdown timers to member signatures. To create your countdown timer, simply login to our message board (or create a free account), click on My Home, click on Edit Options, scroll to the bottom of the window, and follow the directions to enable and create your countdown. Visit our message boards at http://www.passporterboards.com/forums

 

 We also added a New Posts feature which tells you how many new posts since your last visit, as well as the option to find new posts in specific categories (i.e., just Walt Disney World, just Disneyland, just Disney Cruise Line, etc.). Our members report that this feature -- which you'll find in the menubar at the top of every message board page -- is very convenient.

 

Older Cruise Guides With West Coast Info: Going on a West Coast or Repositioning cruise in summer 2008? Get an older copy of our cruise guidebook with tons of helpful information on the West Coast ports of call and the Port of Los Angeles, including lodging near the World Cruise Center terminal. Please note that quantities are limited -- when we're out, we're out! Price is 65% off list, or just over $6 a copy. Order at http://www.passporterstore.com/store/1587710226.aspx

 

Looking for the latest cruise guide? The new edition of PassPorter's Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line is in our warehouse, and all new orders are shipping on the next business day! This is the biggest edition of our Disney Cruise Line guidebook ever, with more than 70 brand-new pages, most of them dedicated to this summer's Mediterranean itineraries. To be among the first to get your copy, order now at http://www.passporterstore.com/store/dcl2007.aspx

 

Free Sidekick E-Book: Our new e-book, PassPorter's Sidekick to the Walt Disney World Guidebook, is once again available as a free download to all customers who purchase a copy of PassPorter Walt Disney World 2007 through our online store at http://www.passporterstore.com/store/2007.aspx . This special offer is available between February 8-15, 2007; it cannot be retroactively applied to orders placed before or after this point. To learn more about our popular new e-book, visit http://www.passporter.com/wdw/sidekick.asp   

Tip: If you've already got this e-book and downloaded it on or before Sunday, January 21, we've updated the e-book with more interactive features! Log back into the store check your order history, and download the e-book again to get the latest and greatest version.

 

PassPorter Public Appearance Calendar

Here's an update on where you can see/hear/meet PassPorter's authors in the upcoming months:

 

Coming soon:

 

Friday, February 9, 2007 at 9:00 am Central, Dave will be appearing in the St. Louis, Missouri area, on Live Wire with Mike Thomas, on KWRE, 720 AM.

 

Wednesday, February 14, 2007 at 7:30 am Eastern - Dave will return for another appearance on Health Beat of America with Rochelle Herman on WIBQ 1220 AM in Sarasota, Florida.

 

In this issue of the newsletter, Heather Macdonald shares some of the delights of her hometown, New Orleans, and Cheryl Pendry revises her assessment of Disney-MGM Studios. Enjoy!

 

Jennifer and Dave

PassPorter Authors and Publishers

 

 

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RESORT REPORT: Contemporary Tidbits

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We thought we'd share a couple of items about Walt Disney World's Contemporary Resort that potentially have some broader meaning for Walt Disney World vacationers.

 

First off, full-scale demolition is underway at the resort's North Garden Wing (one of the two free-standing, low-rise guest buildings adjoining the Tower), and the resort's adjoining tennis facility is gone, too. Remember a while back, when folks were expecting that wing would be demolished, to be replaced by a 13-to-15-story Disney Vacation Club (DVC) resort? Well, DVC then announced it's next project would be at Animal Kingdom Lodge (some units there available late this year, the rest coming on line in 2009)? Folks forgot about the Contemporary for a bit, but now anybody riding the monorail can see something's up. Disney is mum on what's going down, but dollars to donuts it's DVC going up.

 

The Contemporary is also adding a new amenity to all it's guest rooms -- computers with free high speed Internet access. Yes, you may be able to leave the laptops at home, and if you're someone who never logged-on from your resort in the past... you may join the ranks of those who call down to room service at 2:00am in need of more coffee. About 50% of the rooms have been upgraded so far. If you'll be staying at the Contemporary sometime soon, be sure to request a room with this feature if it's important to you. Eventually, it won't be necessary to ask. Reports from the grapevine indicate that all of Walt Disney World's Deluxe resorts will eventually get this upgrade. No doubt the "added value" will make it easier for folks to accept rate increases at those resorts, and will probably make the deluxe convention hotels (Contemporary, Grand Floridian, Yacht Club, Beach Club, and BoardWalk) even more attractive to convention organizers.

 

Finally, while it doesn't have a whole lot of impact outside the Contemporary Resort, we hear there's a restaurant shuffle going on at the Contemporary. The ground floor space occupied by the Food and Fun Center (the resort's counter-service restaurant) is being converted to a new table-service restaurant. Rumors have it that the new establishment will be Asian- or Fusion-themed and called "The Wave." When that opens the Concourse Steak House will close, it's space to be divided between a new counter-service restaurant and neighboring Chef Mickey's.

 

 

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TRAVEL FEATURE: New Orleans: The City That Care Forgot

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by Heather Macdonald, Guest Contributor

 

 

Carefree New Orleans has long been a favorite travel destination for college students, singles, and party seekers of all kinds, especially at this time of year when Mardi Gras is in full swing. But those who look beyond Bourbon Street to see what the rest of the city has to offer are rewarded with an area rich in history and culture.

 

In the past year the city of New Orleans has struggled to rebuild the areas that were devastated in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina. We're making progress, but progress is slow. The good news is that the French Quarter, the Central Business District, the Garden District and other uptown areas are all ready and waiting for you to come and experience our charming and diverse city.

 

One of the greatest parts of New Orleans is the fantastic food and restaurants. With a culinary heritage that combines French, Spanish, Creole, African, and Caribbean flavors, there is something for every palate. The old-line Creole French restaurants like Arnaud's offer up some classic old world food. If you go to Arnaud's you have to try the duck with blueberry sauce and make sure to save room for dessert or at least a signature coffee drink. Seafood is a big part of New Orleans cuisine and I love Acme Oyster House for their red-checkered table cloth atmosphere and great oyster po-boys (fried oysters dressed with lettuce, tomato, and mayo and served on French bread). If you'd like something a little classier . . . say with linen napkins, head over to GW Fins where they fly their seafood in fresh daily from all over the world. Others to try are Cuvee for classic French with a twist and Stella for a French and Asian fusion meal. Expect to pull out the wallet at both of those locations and return it to your pocket much thinner.

 

If you still have the energy to explore after indulging in our wonderful food, consider a visit to Jackson Square. If dining out isn't your cup of tea, but say, reading the tea leaves is, plan a visit to the fortune tellers at Jackson Square. While you are there check out the artwork of fantastic local artists who display their work daily on the fence. There are more artists out on the weekends and when the weather is good. New Orleans also has a number of shops selling "authentic" voodoo charms and whatnot. My favorite is Voodoo Authentica on Dumaine St.

 

If the artists on Jackson Square have piqued your interest you might want to stroll down Royal Street and pop into any of the galleries there who are truly in need of business right now. I love the Rodrigue Studio that features the famous "Blue Dog" paintings. In addition, you can take a ride out to City Park and visit the New Orleans Museum of Art, or to Lee Circle, which houses the Ogden Museum of Southern Art. They have recently had some wonderful exhibits showcasing storm photographs and art made from the rubble left by Hurricane Katrina.

 

One of my favorite places to go is the National World War II Museum. It was originally known as the D-Day Museum, but it has expanded so much in recent years that the Smithsonian has changed its name. You can explore the European and Pacific fronts of the war and take a guided tour if you so choose. This stop is especially popular with teenage boys!

 

Please come and see everything New Orleans has to offer. We are a city on the rebound, but we're certainly not going to give up and we look forward to welcoming you!

 

[Jennifer and Dave's Note: The phrase "The City That Care Forgot" has long been a nickname of New Orleans -- if this sobriquet puzzles you, it's supposed to refer to the easy-going, carefree nature of many of New Orleans' residents.]   

 

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Did you enjoy this article? Have questions? E-mail us at news@passporter.com or visit http://www.passporterboards.com to discuss your Disney travel plans. Also check out our Article Collection at http://www.passporter.com/articles for more great information!

 

 

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DISNEY FEATURE: Learning to Like Disney-MGM Studios

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by Cheryl Pendry, PassPorter Message Board Guide and Guest Contributor

 

 

So which is your favorite Walt Disney World theme park?

 

It's a question that most of us could answer immediately and, for the record, mine is Epcot. That question then naturally leads on to another, "Which is your least favorite Disney theme park?" I'm guessing that's something that we could probably answer as well, although we might need to think about it a bit more.

 

For me, the park that somehow is the least appealing is the Disney-MGM Studios. Why? Well, apart from Epcot being my favorite, the Magic Kingdom is, well, just magic really! After all, it's based on Disneyland, which is where it all started. As for Animal Kingdom, Animal Kingdom is beautiful! To me, it's like escaping into a tropical wonderland, filled with hundreds of animals that I could just sit and watch for hours. If only they'd just stop those safari vehicles on the Kilimanjaro Safaris and allow you to do that!

 

But for many years now, I've felt that there was no such great theming at the Disney-MGM Studios. You walk in and yes, the idea is that you're transported back to a golden era of Hollywood, but compared to the other parks, it just looks remarkably normal. And as for the attractions, they've never done much for me. Not being big thrill riders, the Sunset Boulevard area was unfamiliar to us, even though it's the first stop on most people's lists as they head for the Tower of Terror and the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster.

 

Of course there's not only thrill rides at MGM, but we've also found some of the other attractions less than appealing. Although Who Wants to be a Millionaire? -- Play It! had many fans, we weren't amongst them. It's very much geared to an American audience, which while perfectly understandable. Being from England, it frustrated us immensely. And then there's the Backlot Tour. The last time we'd taken this, it had been severely reduced, as work was underway to create the new stunt show.

 

So what's happened to change my view? Well, on our last visit to Walt Disney World, we really gave the Disney-MGM Studios another chance and I started to learn to love this park.

 

The first thing that changed was some of the attractions that had never appealed to us were either gone or much improved. Who Wants to be a Millionaire -- Play It! disappeared in the summer to make way for Toy Story Mania!, scheduled to open in 2008. And then there's the Backlot Tour which is very much back to its former self, with its route restored now. You really feel as if you're being given a good tour these days, unlike a couple of years ago, when you came off wondering "was that it?"

 

And the Lights, Motors, Action! Stunt Show Spectacular, the reason for all those changes to the Backlot tour, is proving to be an excellent addition to the Studios. Some have said that two stunt shows may be too much for one park, but for our money, they both showcase very different stunts and there's room for both. If you haven't checked out this new show yet, it's well worth a visit, as it's packed with talented drivers who show off their skills.

 

We also finally found our way to the Sunset Boulevard area, as I plucked up courage to try the Tower of Terror -- and wow, what a great ride this is! I'm no thrill ride fan, but this was a lot of fun. If you've never tried this, it's definitely worth giving it a go. I found the drops amazingly smooth and far better than some of the ones I've experienced on planes when we've run into turbulence!

 

Then there are the old favorites that we've always known and loved at the Disney-MGM Studios. Who could fail to enjoy the Great Movie Ride, as it takes you on a tour through the magic of Hollywood? Yes, your enjoyment of this ride is likely to depend on whether you get a good guide or not, but in our experience, they usually put 110% into their roles, as you'd expect from any aspiring movie star!

 

One attraction that many people seem to skip, unless they've got young Ariel fans in their party, is Voyage of the Little Mermaid. It's something that always exceeds my expectations and somehow, I never seem to remember just how good this production is. This live show is packed with surprises, including some really imaginative use of falling water and puppets. There's something magical about watching the story of the Little Mermaid come to life in front of you.

 

The story of another Disney princess, Belle, also comes to life at Beauty and the Beast -- Live on Stage, another not to be missed attraction at the Studios. Sadly, it's one that we rarely seem to make it to, perhaps because there was so much else to see on our last visit, but we'll make sure we put that right when we're next there.

 

Perhaps the real hidden treasure at the Studios is One Man's Dream, the story of Walt Disney and the magic he created throughout his life. It's a fitting tribute to the man who started it all. Any Disney fan could easily spend hours in there, browsing all the exhibits and learning more about his life. It's another park attraction that many seem to pass by, no doubt heading for high octane thrills elsewhere in the Studios, but if you take the time to head inside, you won't be disappointed. I could linger for hours, learning more about Walt's childhood and his dreams. My personal favorite is the video of him talking about his Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, whose initials spell out EPCOT. While the reality of Epcot may be very different from the vision he talked about in the video, watching it, you can understand how much vision one man possessed.

 

The other thing that changed on our last trip to the Disney-MGM Studios was that we rediscovered their afternoon parade. We made a pledge that we would take in some of the park parades, as we hadn't seen them for many years and of course, none of them disappointed. Somehow though, Disney Stars and Motorcars was far and away my favorite. Maybe it was the fact that it features characters you don't usually see in other parades, such as the Muppets, Darth Vader and R2-D2 or maybe it was the fact that the cars work so well. Instead of floats, there's naturally something for them to be traveling in. Either way, it's well worth a look.

 

And the moral of this whole story? If you're not convinced by one of the Disney parks, do go back and give it another go. You may be surprised at what you find waiting for you.

 

About the Author:  Cheryl and husband Mark live in England and love to travel, particularly to America. Their last trip to Walt Disney World was over Halloween and their next Disney adventure will be the Mediterranean cruise in May.

 

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Did you enjoy this article? Have questions? E-mail us at news@passporter.com or visit http://www.passporterboards.com to discuss your holiday plans. Also check out our Article Collection at http://www.passporter.com/articles for more great information!

 

 

 

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UPDATES: What's New and Changed

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Here's a few relevant news items:

 

The newly designed Disney.com is up and running. The site features video clips of upcoming movies, music videos, and the ability to watch full length episodes of Disney Channel shows on the new Disney XD site. (The Disney XD site is technically still in beta mode so not all features may be available just yet.)

 

Following the severe thunderstorms and tornados that affected Central Florida last week, The Walt Disney Company announced it will be donating $50,000 to the American Red Cross to assist in relief efforts. At least 20 people died as a result of these devastating storms.

 

A tentative concert schedule for the 2007 Flower Power concert series has been released. This series is a part of the Flower & Garden Festival that takes place every spring. The list is subject to (and more than likely will) change:

 

April 5 - 9: Paul Revere and The Raiders

April 10 -14: Tony Orlando in Concert

April 15 - 18: The Buckinghams

April 19 - 21: The Turtles featuring Flo and Eddie

April 22 - 24: The Box Tops featuring Alex Chilton

April 25 - 28: The Tokens

April 29 - May 1: Peter & Gordon

May 2 - 3: Jose Feliciano 

May 4 - 5: Petula Clark

May 6 - 10: Nelson featuring the songs of Ricky Nelson

May 11 - 15: Davy Jones

May 16 - 19: BJ Thomas

May 20 - 22: Grass Roots featuring Rob Grill

May 23 - 26: The Guess Who

May 27: The S.O.S. Band

May 28 - 30: Gary Puckett

May 31 - June 3: Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone

 

Our thanks to http://www.allears.net from which we get some of our news leads.

 

>Things To Do: Hear some news? Send it to us at

news@passporter.com

 

 

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DISNEY TIPS FROM FELLOW READERS

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Our readers are a wealth of information! Here are the winners in this month's tip contest:

 

DISNEYLAND DINING

 "The best thing we did before going to Disneyland was to make dining reservations by phone for restaurants at the park. While others waited ages in line, we walked right up and were seated in minutes. Even at Blue Bayou we managed to get a waterside table after waiting just 15 minutes. So it really pays to call 714-781-DINE before you go, not only to reserve your character meal (which you must do) but to make any other dining reservations."

 -- contributed by Wendy B.

 

TRAIN TO TOONTOWN

 "I suggest arriving early in the day and taking the train right to Toontown Fair and getting autographs and pictures taken. Most people walk right down Main Street to get there. I think its much faster to start from the back and work your way to the front for the parade and fireworks!"

 -- contributed by Tina B.

 

RE-MAKING MEMORIES

"Once every 2-3 years, my older sister and I plan a trip to Walt Disney World for just the two of us - no husbands, no kids. Growing up, the only vacation we ever took as a family (and it was only one vacation) was to Walt Disney World when it was just the Magic Kingdom in 1976. It was so memorable to us that we make sure we plan in to every trip all of the things that we did as kids. So there's always a stop to look at the blown glass figurines, she always gets a turkey leg, we always ride on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority and on this last trip, while riding "It's a Small World" we phoned our mom and let her listen to the song (it's her favorite attraction from the 1964 World's Fair!). While most of these things are kind of lame, it reminds us of being kids again and no matter how many times we go, we still get a thrill walking down Main Street USA."

 -- contributed by Stacey C.

 

>Notes: Send us your tips! You may see them in this newsletter and win a copy of PassPorter! Visit:

 http://www.passporter.com/wdw/tipsandstories.htm

 

>>Want more Disney tips? For Walt Disney World fans, we've collected 500 of the best tips submitted by readers over the past six years. All have been edited for accuracy and categorized. For details, visit the PassPorter Disney 500 info page at http://www.passporter.com/wdw/disney500.asp

 

>>For Disney Cruise Line fans, we have an e-book with 250 cruiser tips, as well as a special cruise line comparison section and seven customized packing lists. For information, visit the Disney Cruise Clues info page at http://www.passporter.com/dcl/cruiseclues.asp

 

 

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CAPTAIN'S CORNER: Treasure Hunting Game

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Play our fun and quirky treasure hunting game, hosted by Captain Jack Skatt from our book, "PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World." 

 

The Captain makes a study of the delightful details -- sometimes hidden, sometimes in plain sight but often overlooked -- at Walt Disney World and aboard the Disney Cruise Line. Using notes from his journals, he will lead you to this "treasure" at Disney with clues, questions, photos, or riddles. Your challenge is to discover the answer by searching your memory, visiting Disney, or even just looking really hard on the Internet. If you think you've found the answer, e-mail it to jackskatt@passporter.com -- the first person to correctly submit the FULL answer will receive a free PassPorter enamel pin or PassPorter name badge pin.

 

Here is this weekÕs journal entry:

 

"The glockenspiel in the Germany pavilion at Epcot has inspired me to take a closer look at clocks. If you look closely while touring the World, you'll see clocks nearly everywhere. Some are simple, some whimsical, some tell a story, and some spawn controversy and theories. For example, not too far from the glockenspiel is a clock with roman numerals -- but the number four, which is typically shown as 'IV' on other clocks is shown as 'IIII' on this clock. I've heard some folks theorize that this was done to prevent confusion when the clock is viewed from far away. Another theory is that the 'IIII' looks more symmetrical in relation to the other numerals on the clockface. But, as a student of history, I believe that the use of 'IIII' instead of 'IV' is related to time, appropriately enough -- clocks made before the 18th century used 'IIII' primarily."

 

Where in Epcot will you find a clockface with the roman numeral "IIII?"

 

Send your full answer to jackskatt@passporter.com -- the winner will be notified by e-mail and announced in the next newsletter, along with the correct answer!

 

If you enjoy treasure hunts, we've got an entire book with over 100 distinct treasure hunts and over 1500 questions, complete with clues and contributions from Captain Skatt.  Get details on ÒPassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World" at http://www.passporterstore.com/store/1587710269.aspx

 

 

 

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Q & A WITH JENNIFER & DAVE

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Mindibell CM asks: "My husband and I are doing a seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise for our anniversary. I would like a tour/shopping/beach day and I would like to do some great snorkeling. I have seriously looked at going to St. John to snorkel. What do you recommend?"

 

Dave & Jennifer answer: "For great snorkeling, St. John's is definitely your best bet. Snorkeling in St. Martin isn't all that great.

 

Still, you'll have more shopping variety in St. Thomas. If you're docked at Havensight you may be able to do all your shopping at the pier before or after your St. John excursion. Otherwise, a beach/shopping excursion (if available) on St. Martin is a good choice. I'm a fan of keeping to the French side of the island for those activities."

 

Have a question? Check out our new "Ask PassPorter" Q & A blog at http://ask.passporter.com . We're still working on getting the blog ready for prime time, but we welcome your comments and questions! You can also post questions at http://www.passporterboards.com/ -- and if you're lucky, you may find that folks have already asked and answered the same question that's on your mind!

 

 

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WANT TO GET PUBLISHED?

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PassPorter News is published weekly, and this means we need more articles than ever! We're on the lookout for guest columnists who want to contribute articles to this newsletter. No professional writing experience necessary, just a desire to share your experience with others! Not only is this a great way to give something back to the PassPorter community, but you get to see your name in "print" and receive a $25 gift certificate.

 

 

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Copyright (c) 2007 - MediaMarx, Inc. / PassPorter Travel Press, PO Box 3880, Ann Arbor, MI  48106