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PassPorter News
News,
Announcements, Updates, and Tips
March 15, 2007 * Issue 7.11
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: All-You-Can-Eat E-Books
Travel Feature: Big Apple Greeter
Disney Feature:
Romance at Walt Disney World
Updates: What's New and Changed
Tips: Great Gratuities, Fantastic Fireworks, Specific
Shopping
Captain's Corner: Making Cents
Q&A: What weather can we expect on our cruise in
February?
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FROM THE AUTHORS: All-You-Can-Eat E-Books
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Hi, {{user("firstname")}}!
Last week's grand opening of the PassPorter's Club bowled us
over -- it seems there are a LOT of vacation planners out there who love the
idea of "all-you-can-eat", anytime access to our popular travel
e-books. Thank you so much for your support in our new program!
The great thing about your enthusiasm is that the more folks
who join the Club, the better it becomes. For example, did you know that
readers who get an annual pass to PassPorter's Club can commission one of our
increasingly-popular e-worksheets -- they're customizable, interactive planners
which you can fill out on your computer and print out to tuck in a PassPorter
and take with you. In the last week, annual passholders have commissioned SEVEN
new worksheets: Tips Budget, Pressed Coin Tracker, Autograph Tracker, Group
Trip Mini-Guide, Souvenir Wish List, Cruise Daily, and Cruise Gratuities. And
now these e-worksheets, along with our others, are available freely to all Club
passholders. Real vacationers + real plans = really cool!
To find out how to get YOUR pass to the PassPorter's Club,
visit: http://www.passporter.com/club
(hint: it costs less than a turkey leg!)
Also, for those of you waiting for PassPorter's Treasure
Hunts at Walt Disney World to come back in stock after an unexpected run on
them earlier this year, we're happy to announce that we received our
newly-printed books. We should also note that we took the opportunity to update
several of the book's "hidden treasures," too! Get more details at http://www.passporter.com/hunts
In this issue of the newsletter, feature columnist Cheryl
Pendry introduces us to Greeter programs around the world, and Sue Kulick
shares her tips for one of our very favorite activities, Romance at Walt Disney
World. Enjoy!
Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter Publishers and Authors
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TRAVEL FEATURE: Big Apple Greeter and Greeter Programs
Worldwide
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by Cheryl Pendry, Feature Columnist and PassPorter Message
Board Guide
Have you ever wanted to explore a city with someone who
lives there, loves the place, and can tell you all about the little things that
only a local person would know?
That's the idea behind the Big Apple Greeter program in New
York, an organization that has now been implemented in seven other cities,
including Toronto, Houston, Chicago, and Fairbanks, Alaska. There are similar
operations running in Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Adelaide and Melbourne in
Australia. The next addition will see the first European program coming to
Thanet, an area of Kent in the southeast of England.
The idea for Big Apple Greeter came from Lynn Brooks, who
started it back in 1992. She wanted to dispel the myth that New York City was a
dangerous and unfriendly place to visit by pairing up visitors with volunteers,
who could show them around the area and explain about how the city works --
even down to demonstrating how to ride the subway. Today, there are 300
volunteer greeters who, collectively, speak about 25 languages and have
welcomed thousands of visitors from 112 countries.
As Lynn explains, the whole thing started from a simple
idea. "Every single town or city that I've visited has had the same
reaction from the people that live there -- they love where they live, and they
love to share where they live with visitors to the area. Of course they can
share information about the place, but more importantly than that, they can
share their personal experiences that a visitor would never have known about
otherwise and they can share their friendship. For the visitor, it's like
spending time with a friend or a family member, as people talk about the things
that make you feel at home.
One thing Lynn is careful to clarify is that greeters aren't
tour guides. "They're friendly and enthusiastic volunteers and they're not
expected to be experts about their home town or city. They don't have a script
to stick to, but instead talk about places from a personal point of view and
what the neighborhood or individual buildings mean to them.
So how does the Greeter program work? The first port of call
for visitors who want to learn more about a greeter in a city they're planning
to visit is to check out the relevant web site. There you'll find a visitor
request form to fill in. Some programs need the form submitted a month or more
before your visit so that you can be matched up with a greeter, so don't leave
this until the last minute. Some programs ask you to specify which neighborhood
you'd like to visit, but if you're not sure, fill in the words "Greeters
Choice" and the greeter will select the neighborhood they most enjoy.
Every greeter program differs slightly, as they're adapted
to each location, but you can expect your visit to last for between two and
four hours during the daytime. Greeters don't meet visitors in the evening or
at night. They take out groups of up to six people and included in that group
must be at least one adult over the age of eighteen. Because the program is
voluntary, it's important to remember that it's not always possible to match
visitors up with greeters, as it depends on how many volunteers are available
on any one day and how many requests they get for visits.
If they are able to match you with a greeter, then you'll be
given your greeter's name and contact information. Your greeter will then meet
you in a public place and you'll spend the next couple of hours getting to know
the area through their eyes.
Is there any cost? No. Some greeter programs are charities
and welcome donations (although none is required), and others are public
services, organized by local government or tourism organizations. In case
you're wondering, the organizations work on the theory that everyone pays for
themselves. So if you end up on public transportation or grabbing a coffee, you
pay for your own and so does your greeter. Tips are not accepted either,
although many people go on to become firm friends, with promises that if the
greeter ever comes to their home town, the visitor will take them on a tour and
share what they love about their area.
So what sort of people become greeters? In Lynn's
experience, it's something that interests a wide range of people. "You
might think that greeters would only be retired people with time to spare on
something like this, but that's not been our experience at all. Greeters can be
retired, but many also work and give time at the weekends. They all share one
thing in common. They all want to make a difference and want to share their
love of their home town or city and show visitors why it's such a special
place."
About the Author: Cheryl and husband Mark live in England
and love to travel, particularly to America. They're now looking forward to
setting sail on Disney's first cruise around the Mediterranean 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
Disney travel plans. Also check out our Article Collection at
http://www.passporter.com/articles for more great information!
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www.MouseEarVacations.com 800-886-8601
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DISNEY FEATURE: Romance at Walt Disney World
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by Sue Kulick, Guest Columnist and PassPorter Message Board
Guide
Happy Valentine's Day! Happy Anniversary! Happy First
Vacation Without the Kids! No matter what the occasion, it's a great time to
tell that special someone how much you love them, and how much they mean to
you. And what better place to spend a romantic holiday than Walt Disney World?
Walt Disney World is overflowing with wonderful ways to
spend time with that special someone. Your romantic adventure can start from
the moment you arrive! You can use one of the many local florists to have
flowers, champagne or chocolates delivered to your room. These wonderful gifts
can be pre-ordered and will be delivered to your room shortly before or after
your arrival. Try Walt Disney World Florist for some truly magical gifts!
Start your special day with a romantic breakfast for two.
Grab your coffee and a chocolate croissant at the Main Street Bakery and head
out to one of the quaint tables next to the Plaza Restaurant. Enjoy a lattŽ
from the Fountain View Bakery in Epcot while you sit outside and watch the
Fireworks Fountain work its magic. Sip your coffee while you enjoy each otherÕs
company in a way that too few of us get to do during our hectic everyday lives.
What did you have in mind for your romantic day? How about a
spa treatment? The Grand Floridian Spa and the Spa at Saratoga Springs offer
couples massage and couples relaxation treatments, as well as many other
soothing therapies. These treatments must be booked in advance. The spas are
operated by Niki Bryan Spas, and the web site for information is Relaxed Yet.
If you'd rather get in some park time, the Magic Kingdom
offers Cinderella's Golden Carrousel. Try to catch the horse with the gold bow
on her tailÉthis is Cinderella's horse! Take a slow ride on the Liberty Belle
Riverboat. Enjoy a stroll through the Rose Garden. Take a trolley ride down
Main Street. In Epcot, wander through the shops at World Showcase. Enjoy a
glass of wine and a cheese platter in France. Take a Friendship ferry across
the lagoon. Walk through the Streets of America at the Disney-MGM Studios ...
you'll feel like you and your "honey" are experiencing several
mini-vacations! And take some time to enjoy the animals at Animal Kingdom.
Whatever you do, the key is to keep it slow and relaxed. Take a languorous pace
that would never be possible when on a family, commando vacation!
Did you know that Walt Disney World offers Horse and
Carriage Rides? You can enjoy these at Port Orleans, Fort Wilderness and
Saratoga Springs! You get a romantic ride for the two of you along the pathways
of the resort. Your driver is knowledgeable and competent, and the horses are
beautiful, well trained and well cared for. There's a blanket in the carriage
if you and your sweetie want to snuggle up. These fill up fast, so reserve
early at 407-WDW-PLAY.
Night is falling on your romantic day, and you need a place
to watch the sunset. You can take the monorail over to the Contemporary (ask to
ride in the front) and watch the sunset from the Bay Marina. You can head over
to the Polynesian and watch the sunset from the beach, or, my personal
favorite, you can make an Advanced Dining Reservation for dinner at
Cinderella's Royal Table and watch the sunset from a table by the stained glass
windows overlooking the Magic Kingdom. Of course, Cinderella's Royal Table is
not the only place for a special dinner for two. Try Artist Point at Wilderness
Lodge, and ask for a window table. California Grill at The Contemporary offers
great food as well as spectacular views. San Angel Inn, in Epcot's Mexico, lets
you dine in an "open air" Mexican plaza with a million stars
overhead, and the Yacht Club's Yachtsman Steakhouse offers the ultra-indulgent
chateaubriand for two!
After dinner, you definitely want to see fireworks. Disney
fireworks that is! And what better way to see them then a Specialty Cruise?
These should be booked 90 days in advance, especially the Illuminations
cruises. These are extremely popular and sometimes difficult to book, but they
are well worth it. The cruise is booked per boat, not per person, so you're
sure to have a romantic cruise for two (plus the skipper, of course)! There is
no better way to watch either Wishes or Illuminations than with the one you
love on a specialty cruise at Walt Disney World!
Still not ready to call it a night? We love a nightcap at
one of the many resort lounges. Our personal favorites are Territory Lounge
(Wilderness Lodge), The Belle Vue Room (Boardwalk) and the Outer Rim
(Contemporary). Martha's Vineyard (Beach Club) is another romantic lounge, and
Francisco's (Coronado Springs) makes a great margarita.
Your romantic day is coming to an end. Take the bus back to
your resort and take a slow stroll, hand-in-hand, around the grounds. Stroll
the beach at the Poly, wander around the lagoon at Coronado Springs, and enjoy
the beautiful view at the Boardwalk. I think you'll agree that Walt Disney
World is the place to be for a romantic and lovely getaway!
About the Author: Sue Kulick is a resident of the Pocono
Mountains and an avid Disney fan. She and her husband, Steve, live in a log
home with their Golden Retrievers, Cody and Belle and their cat Tigger.
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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:
This year's Night of Joy event, a separate admission
Christian Music concert series, will take place on September 7 and 8 at the
Magic Kingdom. Tickets are now on sale at Disneyworld.com. The performers list
is as follows (subject to change):
Friday, September 7: Jaci Velasquez, Brian Littrell,
BarlowGirl, Leeland, Jessie Daniels and Sanctus Real
Saturday, September 8: Smokie Norful, Kutless, Red, Mary
Mary, Flyleaf and Mark Schultz
Disney Cruise Line has announced that it's most popular
stage show, Disney Dreams, will be getting an upgrade AND a new name. Beginning
this week on the Disney Wonder and in May on the Disney Magic, "Disney
Dreams ... An Enchanted Classic" will showcase new special effects, new
animation and new characters including Timon and Pumbaa making their ship-board
debut. The Sail Away parties will also be on the receiving end of a
Disney-style makeover this summer featuring new music, dances, and even more
character appearances. Look for the "Ariel-Vision" jumbo screens to
play a big part in the Sail Away party as well!
The Pirate & Princess Party will return this August to
Walt Disney World. Tentative dates have been announced but not prices. The
dates are August 11, 15, 18, 21, 24, 28, 31 and September 3. We'll keep you
posted as details are announced!
CORRECTED: Bruce Metcalf, our resident Walt Disney World
Railroad expert, sent in some background pertaining to last week's railroad
article. "Walt's miniature steam locomotive was built by Roger E. Broggie
-- you can see a section of the original railroad track from Walt's backyard
Carolwood Pacific Railroad on display at the Iron Spike Room at Wilderness
Lodge Villas. The four steam engines in use at Walt Disney World were built
between 1916 and 1928 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia. (There
are photos on display at the Main
Street Station of this process.) One of the locomotives is named Lilly Belle,
in honor of Walt's wife, Lillian Disney. The passenger cars were built at Steinbrenner
Shipyards in Tampa."
Our thanks to 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:
GREAT GRATUITIES
"Before we left for Walt Disney World, I prepared a set
of tip envelopes for Mousekeeping, one per night of our stay. I had my
preschooler, Sammy, help me decorate each with stickers and drawings of his
favorite Disney friends, and a short thank you note. Then we placed tip money
in each. Each morning as we left for the parks, I let Sammy choose a tip
envelope and set it out for the housekeeper. This was a great project to help
him feel involved with the planning of the trip and get him excited about
Disney World. It also helped me, as I didn't have to scrounge around for tip
money each morning!"
-- contributed by Bonnie M.
FANTASTIC FIREWORKS
"We dined at the Crystal Palace hoping to catch the
fireworks after dinner. As it happened, dinner ran late and only my husband and
youngest child got outside to see the fireworks. At first, my eldest daughter
and I we were disappointed. Our disappointment turned to delight when we saw a
unique and amazing view of the fireworks coming through the stained glass
windows and reflecting upon the mirrors in the interior of the restaurant. It
was magical and spectacular!"
-- contributed by Deborah F.
SPECIFIC SHOPPING
"To stay within your vacation budget, try focusing on
one item that you really love and have fun shopping for it during your trip.
Get a new one of whatever it is each trip. My collection of Disney snow globes
always makes me think of each trip and gets me in the mood for the next one!
This works well for kids, too, who see so many neat things and can't really
enjoy them all once back home."
-- contributed by Tracy E.
>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
Anita Answer from AllEars.net sent us some further
information on last week's tip regarding the "center" of Walt Disney
World: "In today's newsletter, Mary Jane K. wrote that the Inventor's
Circle, located to the west of Innoventions West, is the geographic center of
Walt Disney World. This is actually a myth. The Inventor's Circle didn't exist
before 1999, and of course Walt Disney World came into existence in 1971. No
one seems to know how or why this story started, but it isn't true.
When Epcot opened in 1982, the "ceremonial" center
of the World was located in the circle at the center of the large Epcot logo
embedded in the concrete to the south of the Fountain of Nations. The fountain,
known then as the World Fellowship Fountains, was dedicated by Lillian Disney
in a ceremony which included the water of 23 nations being poured into the
fountain to represent world unity. This is why it was known the "center of
the World", even when it really wasn't geographically the center of the
property. The fact that it's a circle located between the two Innoventions
buildings may be how the Inventor's Circle story started. It could be a matter
of mistaken identity.
By the way, the true geographic center of the World is not
located in an area accessible to guests."
Thanks for clearing that up Anita! You can read more of
Anita's Answers at AllEars.net.
>>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:
"I've been hanging out over at the Club recently and
heard about a fascinating sort of collecting called 'pressed coins.' Apparently
there are machines scattered about the World which will take one of my
hard-earned coins (and a few extra for good measure) and squash the living
daylights out of it, embossing it with a whimsical image at the same time. I
found one of these contraptions on my own today -- it pressed my penny with an
image of The Big Cheese himself (Mickey, of course) holding up a
passport!"
Where can you get this pressed coin?
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!
Congratulations to Rosalyn Strickland who was the winner of
last week's treasure hunt game! Rosalyn correctly identified the existing tea
stop as the Royal Anandapur Tea Company in Asia at Disney's Animal Kingdom. To
view the original clue, see last week's newsletter.
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Q & A WITH JENNIFER & DAVE
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MontiMouse asks: "We are taking our first cruise the
first week of February. I am
wondering how warm it will be and if the seas are pretty smooth."
Dave & Jennifer answer: "I can only generalize.
You're still in winter season. However, there's a pattern to all winter
cruises.
Rough seas? The first and last nights of the cruise will be
rougher, as you're out in the open Atlantic for a few hours. While you're in
the Bahamas or Caribbean seas are generally calm.
Temperatures? A major arctic cold front can have an effect
while you're in the Bahamas, but if you're in the Caribbean there's almost
never an impact. Ocean water temperatures have a huge moderating effect on cold
air masses. Even though the Bahamas are only 60-100 miles off shore from Miami,
when Florida is hit by a cold snap, temperatures in the Bahamas are typically
20 degrees or more warmer. If it's in the 40s in Florida, it'll be no lower
than the 60s in Nassau. However, ocean winds can be brisk, so the wind chill
effects during such a cold snap can still be uncomfortable.
Since such cold snaps are uncommon in South Florida, you can
count on them being even less common at sea.
Storms? Not very common in the Bahamas or Caribbean at that
time of year. Still, you can encounter cloudy days, and when you add a breeze,
even nominally moderate air temperatures can seem cool compared to your
expectations. If there has been a storm or cold/windy snap, ocean swimming can
also be a bit less comfy than you might expect, as cooler, sub-surface waters
have been mixed with normally bathtub-temperature surface waters.
On the average, though, you can expect daytime temperatures
in the low 80s, water temperatures similarly in the low 80s, light breezes,
lots of sunshine, and relatively few daytime rain showers. There's a reason
visits to this part of the world are so popular at this time of the year."
Have a question? 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 weÕre always on the
lookout for good quality Disney and travel articles! We seek 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
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