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PassPorter News
News,
Announcements, Updates, and Tips
February 22, 2006 * Issue 6.6
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: Disneyland Done
Travel Feature: Belgium
Disney Feature: Three Generations of Disney Lovers
Updates: What's New and Changed
Tips: Turndown Treats, Wishes or Winnie,
Tips for Tipping
Captain's Corner: Nutty Professor
Q&A: Transportation for an early character
breakfast
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FROM THE EDITOR: Disneyland Done
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Hi, {{user("firstname")}}!
It
is with great joy that we announce the COMPLETION of our Disneyland guidebook. After a
lengthy peer-review and proofreading process, plus triple checking by everyone
here in the office, the manuscript is complete and it is now on its way to Hong
Kong for printing. This has been a long, long road (we estimate just about four
years from conception to finish) and we're extremely pleased to be finished.
Ok, well, we're not entirely finished -- folks say writing the book is the easy
part -- but the most important part is now complete. Thank you to our four
contributors -- Barbara Baker, Rebecca Oberg, LauraBelle Hime, and Courtney
Fontana -- to our dozen peer reviewers -- Dianne Cook, Joanne and Tim Ernest,
Debbie Hendrickson, Denise Lang, Bruce Metcalf, Rebekah Moseley, Cheryl Pendry,
Tina Peterson, Jennifer Sanborn, Michelle Smith, Lani Teshima, and Marnie
Urmaza, to our in-house production team -- Nicole Larner, Chad Larner, and Kim
Larner -- and to our proofreader, Sandy Zilka. We'd love to throw a party and
invite everyone, but we'll have to settle for a big HOORAY!
To
learn more about the upcoming PassPorter Disneyland and Southern California
Attractions guidebook, visit http://www.passporter.com/dl/guidebook.htm . As a special gift to everyone who
has waited for us to complete our lengthy research on this guidebook, we're
offering the first three chapters of the Disneyland guide in an immediate
download, free to anyone who pre-orders through us! The first three chapters
are essential for trip planning, making it easy for Disneyland-bound travelers
to the travel and hotel information they need now. To get the first three
chapters now, simply place a pre-order and download once your order is
confirmed.
Tip:
The 50% off sale on our Disney cruise guide is almost over! Just use coupon code sailaway to get 50% off the third edition paperback. You can also use the coupon code
sailaway2 to get 50% off the deluxe refill kit. (Sorry, no discounts available on the
deluxe starter kit as they are almost all gone.) Offer expires March 1, 2006
and quantities are limited. Order at the Disney Cruise Guide page. Order at
http://www.passporterstore.com/store/1587710226.aspx
In
this edition of the newsletter, frequent columnist Cheryl Pendry gives us an
armchair tour of the small but beautiful country of Belgium. First-time guest columnist Jessica Halliday
shares the magic of three generations of Disney lovers. Finally, Captain Jack Skatt returns with a new treasure hunting game. Enjoy!
Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter Authors
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DID YOU KNOW?
PassPorter 2006 Š Our Best Yet!
The new 2006 edition of our PassPorter Walt Disney World guidebook now features a full-color interior
along with the most up-to-date text, new TeenTips and ToddlerTips, and new
photos and magical memories. This edition is proving so popular that we've had
to go back for a reprint of more books already! We're not out of stock quite
yet, and our new shipment of books arrives soon.
Learn more and order today at:
Shop at http://www.passporterstore.com/store
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TRAVEL FEATURE: Small is Beautiful: Belgium
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by Cheryl Pendry, PassPorter Message Board Guide
and Guest Contributor
Big may well be beautiful, but the country of
Belgium doesnÕt fit with that phrase. At about the size of Maryland, squashed
in between France, Germany and the Netherlands, itÕs smaller than many American
states, but despite its size, the Belgians have many claims to fame and reasons
to attract visitors.
LetÕs start with something thatÕs always close to
my heart Š food and drink! If you havenÕt sampled Belgian chocolates, then you
donÕt know what youÕre missing. I admit it, IÕm a chocolate connoisseur and
having tried many chocolates from around the world, I can confirm that Belgian
is best. Something else that they do well Š in fact itÕs a national specialty Š
is mussels, cooked in garlic in their shells, and fries, complete with
mayonnaise. Want to make it a totally Belgian meal? Then you canÕt go wrong
with a Belgian beer, something else that this country is very good at
producing.
But a visit to Belgium is about so much more than
eating and drinking Š as enjoyable as those things may be! Most visitors to the
country will head for the capital Brussels and getting there couldnÕt be easier
these days. With international flights into the cityÕs airport from all over
the world, itÕs now easy to combine your visit to Belgium with a stay in
London, thanks to the high speed Eurostar train service. Taking the train means
that you can board at LondonŌs Waterloo Station and two and a half hours later
step off into the center of Brussels.
This is a city thatÕs very much looking to the
future, but more of that in a moment. ItÕs also a city steeped in history and
no more clearly can that be seen that at La Grand Place, the central market
square. It was back in the 13th century that merchants first started to trade
their wares here and a range of historic buildings have grown up around the
cobbled square over the years. The most stunning of these is the gothic Town
Hall, which towers over the square. Inside is just as impressive with
tapestries and works of art dating back to the 15th century.
Lining the other three sides of the square are
buildings which once belonged to groups of workers, such as archers and
boatmen. The beautiful KingÕs House was once used as a store house, an odd use
perhaps, but despite this buildingÕs name, it has no royal connections. That
privilege is reserved for the Palais Royal, the KingÕs official residence, set
in BrusselsÕ main park. During the summer months it throws open its doors to
the public and it is well worth a tour.
Now full of restaurants, the Grand Place an
excellent place to enjoy the beautiful scenery and sample that wonderful food and
drink, and if youÕve still got room after your meal, you can head for the
Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate. As well as learning about the history of this
wonderful product, you can even sample a chocolate or two in the shop as you
exit!
A little further afield is perhaps one of the most
intriguing buildings ever constructed. The Atomium was built for the World Fair
in Brussels in 1958 and represents a moleculeÕs nine atoms, magnified 165
billion times! Towering over the city skyline, it provides a magnificent view
of Brussels as well as fascinating exhibits. The Atomium has recently undergone
a major renovation, resulting in its closure for over a year, but one of the
changes has seen the addition of a restaurant, which will provide truly
breathtaking views while you eat.
DonÕt be surprised if some of those breathtaking
views include the Eiffel Tower or Big Ben. ItÕs not too much Belgian beer Š
itÕs Mini Europe at the foot of the Atomium. Featuring scale models of
buildings from across Europe, the detail is amazing and itÕs an excellent way
of touring a whole continent in just a couple of hours.
But thatÕs not the only European connection that
Brussels has. The city is very much at the forefront of the European Union that
is now binding a number of European countries together politically as well as
economically. It is home to the European Parliament and we were fortunate to be
given a tour of it by our local Member on our last visit. ItÕs a fascinating
place and itÕs at the heart of a mini city of offices and institutions, which
regularly see something like 20,000 people working in the offices of the
European Union on any one day, serving 25 different countries. The scale of
this really has to be seen to be believed.
Although thereÕs a lot to do in Brussels itself,
thereÕs just as much to do outside the city. Unfortunately home to some of
EuropeÕs most terrible battles, much of the country is littered with war graves
and memorials. In particular, the memorial to the Battle of Waterloo of 1815,
which saw NapoleonÕs forces defeated, is worth a visit and offers a stunning
view over the local countryside. The victims of World War I are remembered at a
six acre cemetery southeast of Ypres. The town continues to pay tribute to
those who lost their lives, with the buglers from the local fire brigade
playing ŅThe Last PostÓ every night at 8 p.m. while traffic grinds to a
halt.
Happier times can be celebrated in one of EuropeÕs
most beautiful cities, Bruges. Less than an hour by train from Brussels, it
couldnÕt be more different. ItÕs often called the ŅVenice of the NorthÓ and is
probably the best preserved medieval city in Europe, making for a perfect
romantic escape. ItÕs really like stepping back in time, as the city center is
closed off to cars and the easiest way to get around is by foot, although a
boat ride is an absolute must. ItÕs the only way to view the buildings dating
back hundreds of years, although if youÕre a land lover, an alternative is one
of the many horse drawn carriages that take visitors through the cobbled
streets.
Again, the center of life is the townÕs Market
Square, which is home to the Belfry. ItÕs an exhausting climb up the stairs to
the bell tower, but well worth it for the view over the town. The Market Square
beneath is home to many excellent restaurants, and like its counterpart in
Brussels, offers you the chance to once again sample some fine Belgian food and
drink.
A far quieter part of Bruges is the Beguinage to
the south of the town. A walled complex that houses beguines or nuns, this area
is bordered by tree lined canals and includes the beautiful Minnewater Š the
Lake of Love. ItÕs a wonderful place to spend a few peaceful hours away from
the crowds.
This
is only a small part of what this small country has to offer the visitor. Big
may be beautiful, but Belgium is crammed full of treasures Š and not just the
edible kind!
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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
travel plans.
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DISNEY FEATURE: Three Generations of Disney Lovers
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by Jessica Halliday, Guest Contributor
Walt Disney World is, and will always be, about
magic. Who doesnÕt love watching the faces of children light up as the
fascination around them unfolds. But for the three generations of women in my
family, our vacation to Walt Disney World was magical on so many other levels.
For my mother, Disney is magical in every way. She
is one of those ŅkidsÓ that walks around with her jaw to the floor, mesmerized
by Walt DisneyÕs vision and how it became a reality. But this particular
vacation proved to her that Disney is not the only place in Orlando where
miraculous things happen.
Upon our arrival at Orlando International Airport,
we headed to pick up the rental car to start our vacation. We were given
directions from the clerk at the Alamo counter to go to a specific aisle, find
the SUV row and select any of the cars in that row. Just as we were getting
ready to put the key into the ignition of our SUV, I noticed that we were
getting ready to drive out of the parking garage in a National car, rather than
the Alamo my mother had reserved.
We found the Alamo row, packed our luggage into the
correct car, and headed toward the hotel. The drive from the airport was
simple, the signs leading to the resort was abundant, but when we dropped our
car off with the valet parking attendant, the bag that held my motherÕs laptop,
iPod, and dissertation for her Ph.D.. was missing.
Calling National Car Rental and trying to explain
that we lost a bag in their rental car, which we did not have a reservation
for, was not an easy task. Moreover, the airport was packed the night we
arrived and the longer we waited the greater the chance that someone would rent
that car and drive to their destination with my motherÕs bag in the back seat.
Luckily National had found the bag and had it waiting for us back at the
airport where my mother experienced the magic of discovery.
We stayed at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel.
The DolphinÕs dˇcor is very elaborate - in the main lobby, look up, and you can
see a simulated star-filled sky, and if you look long enough, youÕll even see a
few shooting stars. Our room had a balcony where we enjoyed views of the
DisneyÕs Boardwalk and Epcot, and the beds had some of the plushest comforters
IÕve ever experienced in a hotel.
Starving, we walked over to Kimonos restaurant,
located in the Walt Disney World Swan. For the sushi lover, or just plain
curious, the chefs are set up behind a glass panel, where you can watch as they
cut up fish and make sushi rolls and other tasty treats. Kimonos also hosts a
karaoke show, so while dining on sushi, you can watch in amusement, fear, or
sheer admiration as buttoned-down business men and women, who have obviously
sampled the sake, take the stage singing favorites such as, ŅIÕve Got Friends
In Low PlacesÓ and ŅSweet Caroline." Even if the songs are not your taste,
the sushi at Kimonos is so delicious and fresh that itÕs hard to pay attention
to anything but the party that happens inside your mouth.
Our kimono-clad waitress recommended an appetizer
that was eggplant stuffed with chicken and spices and served with a sweet and
spicy sauce, and I must say, one of the most memorable food items I ate all
weekend. We also tasted the tuna and yellowfin sushi, a Hawaiian Roll (spicy
tuna, various fish and avocado), and an Asparagus Roll (tempura asparagus
rolled with cream cheese), each one just as different and delicious as the next.
After dinner, we decided to check out Jellyrolls,
the dueling piano bar at DisneyÕs Boardwalk. The cover charge was $8
dollars, but the people-watching alone is well worth the price. The bar is
packed with people of all backgrounds belting out songs at the top of their
lungs while the very talented piano players onstage sort out which of the 500
requests theyÕre going to play next. We ended up staying far past my momÕs
bedtime.
For my grandmother, DisneyÕs magic lies in the
beauty of the resorts. And lucky for her, we had reservations at The Mandara
Spa, located in the Dolphin. There, the three of us enjoyed an exotic
Frangipani Body Nourish Wrap for the next 75 minutes. The Frangipani wrap is a
mixture of coconut oil and frangipani flower oil. The oil is massaged into your
arms, legs, feet, hands and hair and then youÕre wrapped up in aluminum foil,
like a baked potato, so that your skin absorbs the oil. They finish the
treatment with a 50-minute massage. My skin has never felt so soft, my mother
had never looked so vibrant, and my grandmother, well, she had just experienced
the magic of massage at The Mandara Spa and was glowing.
That evening we dined at Citricos, a Mediterranean
restaurant at DisneyÕs Grand Floridian Resort and Spa where we indulged in the
Warm Onion Tart and Gateau of Crab appetizers. We also sampled the Tilefish
with yellow tomato-pepper compote and spinach risotto, the Sautˇed Salmon Filet
with roasted fennel Yukon gold potatoes and black olive butter and the Crunchy
Baked Chicken with orzo pasta and marinara sauce. Needless to say we didnÕt
have room left for dessert.
We made up for our overindulgent dinner with a
stroll around Downtown Disney, taking in all the sites and nightlife, and ended
the evening just in time for EpcotÕs IllumiNations fireworks and light show
display at 9 p.m. which just sends chills through you the first time you see
it.
Our last day of our ŅThree Generations of DisneyÓ
trip was spent at Epcot, wandering the shops of the countries, experiencing
SoarinÕ, the breathtaking ride where you hang glide over California, and dining
at Le Cellier, the steakhouse in Canada at Epcot.
Their Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup is to die for
and if youÕre nice, theyÕll even give you the recipe. For dinner, my mom had
the Prince Edward Island Mussels (highly recommended if youÕre a roasted garlic
and mussel fan); my grandmother picked the Butternut Squash Risotto (very
nutty, creamy and buttery). And for me, well, I experienced the magic of the
Mushroom Filet Mignon (melt in your mouth steak with mushroom risotto).
That night, winding down in our hotel room, looking
out the balcony window, we were surprised with a firework show that we could
view from our beds. It was the perfect way to end a magical weekend with three
generations of Disney lovers.
The
thing I love most about Disney is the offering of many flavors, be it food,
nationalities, princesses, or thrill rides. I love walking around and seeing
all the different colors of faces, hearing all the different languages and
trying the foods from other countries. But more than anything, I love that
regardless of our physical differences, we all seem to have the same look of
complete awe on our faces as we experience the enchantment of Disney. Disney
for me is a place where we can all come together and be happy. There truly is
something for everyone at Disney.
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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.
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UPDATES: What's New and Changed
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Here's a few of the new developments at Disney:
Marty Sklar, one of the
last remaining Imagineers to work directly with Walt Disney, is stepping down
from his position as Principal Creative Executive of Walt Disney Imagineering.
He was involved in the design of such classic Disney attractions as "It's
A Small World", "The Enchanted Tiki Room" and "Space
Mountain." He is also credited with creating "Mickey's Ten Commandments," a widely used document that condenses Walt
Disney's core values for the company.
The Timekeeper attraction in
Walt Disney World's Tomorrowland will officially close for good on February 26,
2006. This attraction has only run seasonally since April of 2001. No word yet
on what will replace it but the character meet & greets with Buzz
Lightyear, Stitch and The Incredibles that took place in the Timekeeper lobby
will be re-located. Buzz and Stitch will be found elsewhere in Tomorrowland and
The Incredibles will move to the Disney-MGM Studios.
The
Walt Disney World web site now lists the official rehab dates of the Pirates
of the Caribbean attraction as March 1 - June 30, 2006.
>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:
TURNDOWN TREATS
"We wanted to add a little extra Disney Magic
to our vacation. We contacted Guest Services at the Grand Californian
Resort to help us create this magic. We gave them a budget for our length of
stay and had them deliver different items to our room each night during turn
down service. Some of the things they brought were cookies, Mickey shaped rice
krispie treats, a stuffed Mickey Mouse, a signed picture of Mickey Mouse, etc.
Our son was so excited to see what Mickey Mouse had left him every night! If
you are not staying in a hotel where they will do this, you could have one
spouse leave the room after everyone else or make a trip back to the room to
set up the surprise!"
-- contributed by Carla M. (cdm555@...)
WISHES OR WINNIE?
"One thing that we discovered is that during
the Wishes fireworks show in the Magic Kingdom, if you are in Fantasyland (or
maybe other lands, too) EVERYONE stops to watch the show. Because of that, we
were able to ride the highly popular "The Many Adventures of Winnie the
Pooh" ride with NO wait whatsoever! If you don't mind missing the fireworks
for a night, station yourself near the ride that you want to jump on and
wait for the fireworks to begin. You should be able to ride at least once
(maybe twice!) line-free! Next year our kids have already said they want to be
near "Peter Pan's Flight" when the show begins!"
-- contributed by Denedriane Dean (dydean@...)
TIPS FOR TIPPING
"When going on a Disney Cruise, bring lots of
single dollar bills for tipping. You'll find in many of the ports that
the service providers such as taxi drivers and hair braiders do not carry
change. You may wind up leaving a much larger tip than planned!"
-- contributed by Linda Clements (lindadisny@...)
>Notes: Send us your tips! You may see them in this newsletter
and win a copy of PassPorter! Visit:
http://www.passporter.com/customs/contest.htm
Want more Disney tips? We've collected 500 of the tips submitted
by readers over the past six years -- most have never been published before.
All have been edited for accuracy and categorized. The "Disney 500"
are available in e-book form for immediate download. For details, visit http://www.passporter.com/wdw/disney500.htm .
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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 upcoming 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.
It seems the Captain has stumped you for the first time! No one
got the correct answer to last week's treasure hunt question. Here is another clue...
Here is this week's treasure from Captain Skatt's Journal:
"The good chaps at the Himalayan Escapes
Tour Company got me a seat on the Anandapur Rail Service for the final leg of
my journey to Mt. Everest. While I wait for the train to leave tomorrow
morning, I've been amusing myself in a local museum about the infamous Yeti. It
seems the village people believe that the Yeti is a real creature, can you
believe it? While I was browsing the curious artifacts and photos, an old
Nepalese man appeared and introduced himself as a conservation biology
professor and the museum's curator. I thought he was quite batty -- he warned
me sternly not to pursue my exploration of Mt. Everest. I made a note of his
name on a scrap of paper so I could look him up upon my return through this
village, but it seems I've lost the paper upon which his name was scribbled.
Perhaps one of my fellow adventurers remembers his name."
What is the name of the nutty professor who
runs the museum in the village of Serka Zong at Expedition Everest?
Congratulations to Charles Waters who was the
winner of last newsletter's treasure hunt game last week! Charles correctly
identified the name of the tour company that takes you on Expedition Everest as
the Himalayan Escapes Tour Company. To view the original clues, see the last newsletter.
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. We will release the book --
"PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World" -- in April 2006.
You can pre-order the new book today at http://www.passporterstore.com/store/1587710269.aspx
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Q & A WITH JENNIFER & DAVE
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kathy320 asks: "If I have an Advanced Dining
Reservation for breakfast at a resort or park restaurant before the parks open
(Crystal Palace at 8:10 a.m. for example), are the buses running from the
resorts early enough to get me there on time?"
Jennifer and Dave answer: "The character meal
bus will probably be available, but just to be sure, call 407-WDW-RIDE, the
Disney Transportation phone number.
Service to Crystal Palace will depend in part on
when Magic Kingdom opens that day. If there's an Early Magic Hour at the Magic
Kingdom, then buses will start running at 7:00 a.m. (one hour before park
opening). Otherwise, depend on the character meal bus.
You
can always get a taxi, but the fare from your resort may not be all that cheap
(although less than renting a car for the day). "
Have a question? Post it 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?
===================================
Big News! PassPorter News is now published weekly. 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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