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PassPorter News
News, Announcements, Updates, and Tips
May 14, 2004 -
Issue 4.5
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: Our Fairy Tale Wedding and Honeymoon
* Disney Feature: California, Here We Come
* Resort Feature: Saratoga Springs Open Mouse
* What's New and Updated at Disney (WDW, DCL, DLR)
* Tips: Neck Bands, Crystal Palace, IllumiNations Viewing Spot
* Q&A: Castle Portraits, Next Cruise Guide, Soarin’ Over Canada?
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FROM THE AUTHORS: Our Fairy Tale Wedding and Honeymoon
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Hi, friends!
Yes, you read right -- your PassPorter authors have tied the knot!
Naturally, we had to get married at Walt Disney World, where our magic
began.
On May 1 we gathered our closest family for a magical, civil ceremony
on Sunset Pointe at the Polynesian Resort, overlooking the Seven Seas
Lagoon and the Magic Kingdom. The bride wore an Empire-waist dress of
her own make and design, in a pink floral pattern with white lace
bodice, and a broad-brimmed straw hat trimmed in the same pink fabric.
The groom wore a gray silk sports jacket, open-collar white shirt and
dark green slacks. (Gee, sounds like we’re writing a society column!)
Dave’s daughter, Allie, was in attendance as flower girl and ring
bearer. Vows were exchanged, a violinist played a medley of romantic
Disney tunes, the first dance was danced, the cake was cut, and
everyone was verklempt. Following the ceremony we all adjourned to the
nearby Grand Floridian Resort, for an unforgettable wedding dinner at
Victoria and Albert’s.
Are you yearning to know more? Stay tuned for a full-depth article on
planning a Disney Intimate Wedding in an upcoming edition of this
newsletter (we’re such teases)! In the meantime, Jennifer added a new
chapter in our baby story, detailing our wedding and complete with
photos. Read all about it at http://www.passporter.com/babya
Right after our wedding (and before our honeymoon), we entered the
“Twilight Zone” – namely, we flew to California to attend the big 50th
Anniversary media event. You can read more about it, and all the news
we gathered, in this newsletter!
Your friends,
Jennifer and Dave
Authors, PassPorter Travel Guides
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
DID YOU KNOW?
Save When You Buy a Disney Cruise Guide and a Walt Disney World Guide
Together!
Get a 25% discount off the list price of both a Disney Cruise guide and
a Walt Disney World guide when you buy both together
(paperback/spiral/refill kit/deluxe kit). Just use discount code DCLWDW
during checkout in our online store! (One discount/coupon per order.)
To order your copies, visit:
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DISNEY FEATURE: West Coast Here We Come!
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By Jennifer and Dave Marx
What’s that saying about the best-laid plans of Mouse and men? We
expected for many months that Disney would be convening the media at
Disneyland to announce plans for Disneyland’s 50th birthday. But no
matter how many ways we tried, we couldn’t get Disney to divulge the
date for that event until after we had made our wedding and honeymoon
plans. Naturally, this was after the deposits on our wedding and
wedding dinner became non-refundable.
The media event, which would have a major bearing on all three
PassPorter “beats” – Walt Disney World, the Disney Cruise Line and
Disneyland – would start at 10:00 am on May 4 and extend through the
afternoon of May 5, right in the middle of our honeymoon! After much
soul-searching, we decided we had to be there. We’d fly out to
California on May 3, then fly back to Orlando on the May 5 red-eye
(arriving 6:30 am on May 6) to resume our honeymoon.
Now, we’d owed ourselves a stay at the Grand Floridian for several
years - it was going to be our reward for selling 50,000 PassPorters,
but we just never got around to collecting on it. And now that the
“treat” had morphed into a Honeymoon Concierge stay in a main lodge
turret suite, there was no way we were going to miss out! We got on the
phone to Beci at MouseEarVacations.com, who was helping us with the
honeymoon, and threw her one more curve ball. Pro that she is, she soon
had everything rearranged for our delayed stay.
Meantime, in honor of the opening of Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at
Disney’s California Adventure, we told folks our honeymoon went into
the Twilight Zone during the California jaunt. So, just what did we
(and Disney) manage to sandwich in between wedding and honeymoon?
DISNEYLAND’S 50TH BIRTHDAY
Disney’s original theme park will turn 50 on July 17, 2005, and we’ve
waited a long time for the celebration’s details. Disney unveiled them
in grand style on the morning of May 5, in front of Disneyland’s
Sleeping Beauty Castle. Fireworks, live stage performers, video
hook-ups with Walt Disney World, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disneyland,
the Disney Magic, and Hong Kong Disneyland… You may have already read
the reports of the festivities elsewhere, so we’ll keep this part of
our report short. Certainly most touching, though, and well worth
mentioning, were the appearances by television legend Art Linkletter
and Disney’s Honorary Ambassador for the 50th anniversary celebration,
Julie Andrews. Art Linkletter reminisced about the day Walt Disney
showed him the orange groves that would become Disneyland, and about
his role as television host for Disneyland’s opening day broadcast. At
93 years old, Mr. Linkletter still has a twinkle in his eye and a
spring in his step – it must be a bit of Disney magic. And what can we
say about Dame Julie Andrews that hasn’t already been said? We’re sure
this ambassador will be practically perfect in every way.
So, on with the details! The celebration will be known as “The Happiest
Celebration on Earth,” and will be observed at every Disney theme park
worldwide and on the Disney Cruise Line. It starts on May 5, 2005
(05/05/05, a nice easy date to remember – watch for TV commercials that
play on that number) and will run 18 months – all the way until
Christmas season, 2006. We asked 2004’s Disneyland Ambassador Becky
Murphy about plans for the actual July 17, 2005 anniversary. While she
didn’t doubt that something of note might happen on that special date,
she stressed that Disney was planning the celebration so that folks
wouldn’t miss a thing, no matter when they visited during the 18 month
celebration.
Now, before you get overly-excited, not everything listed here will
debut on 05/05/05. Many of the listed rides will still be under
construction at that time, so if you have your heart set on Expedition:
Everest or Space Mountain, check the latest theme park news before you
select your vacation dates.
Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland will be dressed-up for the
occasion, in what seems to be much more tasteful style than the “cake
castle” treatment given to Walt Disney World’s Cinderella Castle some
years ago. The turrets of the castle will be encircled by golden
crowns, and the castle will be “gowned in swaths of richly colored
royal banners…” and “bejeweled with precious stones.” At night, special
lights will play on the battlements to set an even more enchanting
scene.
Walt’s original magic kingdom will also have a brand-new parade, an
ultra-glorious new fireworks show, and several new/revamped
attractions. Buzz Lightyear Astroblasters will be similar to Buzz
Lightyear Space Ranger Spin at Walt Disney World, but with some new
twists. Thanks to web cams and other Internet technology, folks at home
can play along with guests in the park. Space Mountain will
return from rehab with all-new everything, from the track itself to the
Space Port, ride vehicles, an on-board audio soundtrack (Rock ‘n Roller
Coaster-style), and the special effects. The rumor mill claims (with
some disappointment) that the new track follows the same path as the
old, but press materials suggest the ride will have a high-speed
launch, and while the building’s shape does help determine the overall
flow of the ride, it’s hard to imagine that the track layout won’t
reflect the advances of the intervening decades. Finally, Disneyland
gets a historical exhibit, “Disneyland – The First 50 Years” in the
Main Street Opera House. The attraction will include a film, the
original Herb Ryman concept-sketch of the park, and an exhibit of
Disneyland concepts that might-have-been or may-yet-be. If it’s
anything like “Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream” at Disney-MGM Studios,
there won’t be a dry eye in the house. And, to add some speculation of
our own, we can probably expect several not-to-be-missed art exhibits
at one of Dave’s favorite attractions, the Disney Gallery.
A Disney celebration isn’t a celebration without a new parade and
fireworks, and this is certainly no exception. “Walt Disney’s Parade of
Dreams” will offer a huge cast of characters and performers, and
“Remember…Dreams Come True” promises to up the ante for all Disney
fireworks spectaculars.
By the way, Disneyland will have its own special name for its
celebration – “The Happiest Homecoming on Earth.” Presumably, Disney
wants you to celebrate at your local Disney park plus make a pilgrimage
to Disneyland. Can anybody say, “Record revenues for Disney Parks and
Resorts?”
Across the plaza at Disney’s California Adventure they’ll still be
basking in the glory of this month’s Tower of Terror opening (not
officially part of the celebration). What will be new in ‘05 is “Block
Party Bash,” a not-quite-parade that will feature a differently-themed
street celebration in each of five locations around the park.
Presumably, you’ll want to visit DCA at least five times to take in the
entire party. We bet that Imagineer got a promotion!
Finally, Disney Cruise Line sails into the Port of Los Angeles (San
Pedro) during ’05, to give the West Coast a taste of the Disney Magic
(see DCL West Coast Cruises, later in this article).
Across the continent at Walt Disney World, a variety of
previously-announced attraction openings are being folded-into the
celebration, and a couple of newly-announced imports will give folks a
taste of Tokyo Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Disney’s
California Adventure. Each park gets at least one new attraction: Magic
Kingdom’s Castle Forecourt Stage gets Cinderellabration, the very
popular show straight from Tokyo. While it’s not officially listed by
Disney as part of the celebration, It’s a Small World has just gone
into extensive rehab, slated to open in March ’05. Seems like it’s
destined to be folded into the party, too. Epcot gets the
currently-under-construction Soarin’ (Over California), a headline
attraction from Disney’s California Adventure. Epcot also will play
host to the Hong Kong Disneyland Preview Center, featuring a huge scale
model of the new park. Disney-MGM Studios gets the Lights, Motors,
Action! Extreme Stunt Show, an import from Walt Disney Studios Paris.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be visited by Lucky the Dinosaur, the
“first-ever free-roaming Audio-Animatronics creation.” Lucky made a big
splash during his/her relatively brief debut at Disney’s California
Adventure, and folks on the West Coast are already clamoring to get
him/her back. (Do you think someone will try to put Lucky into one of
the Dinosaur attraction’s Time Rovers and return him/her to California
before the asteroid hits?) Also at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be the
late ‘05/early ’06 opening of Expedition: Everest, Walt Disney World’s
newest thrill coaster.
The celebration continues around the world. Disneyland Paris will get
its own version of Walt Disney World’s “Wishes” fireworks show (lucky
them!). Tokyo DisneySea will get a still-unnamed looping coaster
featuring fire and water special effects, located in the Lost River
Delta area of the park (in keeping with that park’s theme, they’re
called “ports” rather than “lands”). The American Waterfront will add
its own Tower of Terror. The Twilight Zone theme will fall by the
wayside, though, as Japanese audiences aren’t familiar with Rod
Serling’s journey into imagination. Tokyo Disneyland will get a second,
yet-to-be-described attraction based on Toy Story. The first, Buzz
Lightyear’s AstroBlasters, is set to debut later this year. A bit
farther west, in Hong Kong, they’ll be getting more than an attraction
or two – they’ll be getting a whole new theme park. Hong Kong
Disneyland is slated to open in December 2005. Are you ready to cash-in
your frequent flyer miles?
Altogether, Disney’s managed to package together a dizzying lineup of
temptations for the celebration, and it’s still a year away. You can be
sure that there will be additional, mostly smaller goodies added as the
big date approaches, so stay tuned!
DCL WEST COAST CRUISES
We delayed publication of the second edition of PassPorter’s Field
Guide to the Disney Cruise Line in hopes of including this news, but we
ultimately had to settle for speculation (see page 29, The Future of
the Disney Cruise Line). Finally, on May 5 in front of Sleeping Beauty
Castle, we received the official word (although the story was leaked by
the Associated Press two days earlier).
The Disney Magic will temporarily relocate to California from May 14
through September 3, 2005 to be part of Disneyland’s 50th anniversary.
While in California, it will offer 7-night “Mexican Riviera”
itineraries, sailing from the port of San Pedro (home of the old Queen
Mary and host to Los Angeles’ only cruise terminal). Afterward, the
Magic will return to Florida to resume its regular schedule. We also
held out hope that the big May 5 announcements might include word of a
new Disney ship (or ships), but that was not to be. For now, Disney
Cruise Line will continue to be a two-ship operation.
The West Coast schedule includes 12 seven-night, Saturday-to-Saturday
itineraries featuring visits to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, and
Cabo San Lucas (plus three glorious days at sea), and two, 14-night
“repositioning” cruises between Port Canaveral and California, via the
Panama Canal.
We asked the cruise line’s director of marketing, Jim Alessandro, why
Disney chose seven-night sailings, rather than the Land/Sea itineraries
offered to Walt Disney World guests. He told us that the decision was
guest-driven – seven-night itineraries were preferred by the guests
they polled, in order to visit their desired ports. The Land/Sea option
is still available, though. Guests can add a Disneyland Resort stay to
the front and/or back of their cruise, with ground transfers included.
Disney ground transportation will also be available between Los Angeles
International Airport and the cruise terminal.
We also tried to pin Mr. Alessandro down on specifics for the cruises.
Would the Magic visit some sort of private island, like Castaway Cay?
“No.” Might there be a special “private beach” available at one or more
of the ports for Disney cruisers? He couldn’t comment. What shore
excursions may be offered? “That information will be released in the
spring,” (presumably 60 days prior to sailing). He did hint that there
could be special shows and other surprises, but again, he couldn’t say
more about what they might be. What we can count on is Disney Cruise
Lines’ familiar rotation dining and top-flight entertainment. Finally,
might the Most Magical Celebration on Earth theme be incorporated into
DCL’s regular Caribbean sailings? “That’s still to be determined, but
it is likely.”
Between West Coast Disney fans awaiting their first chance to sail, and
veteran Disney cruisers hungry for new ports, pre-announcement “buzz”
for the West Coast itineraries was deafening. While travel agents were
prohibited from making actual reservations until the grand announcement
on May 5, many had assembled waiting lists of customers. The rush for
reservations on May 5 resembled “rope drop” at Magic Kingdom on a
holiday weekend. We heard reports of six-hour waits to reach a
reservation agent. Further, cruise rates, which are set by the level of
customer demand, quickly skyrocketed as staterooms were booked. The
gradually-rising rates we usually see on a typical sailing were
telescoped into a few days of frenzied, Wall Street-style bidding.
Reportedly, reservations on many of the sailings are already hard to
get, or fully-booked. Don’t lose hope, though. It’s likely that many
people grabbed reservations “on spec,” and that some staterooms will
become available as some of these folks cancel. Some travel agents are
undoubtedly holding some reservations, too (although even these pros
had trouble getting a hold of them).
Now, some of you may be curious as to the specifics of the cruise
itineraries. Here goes:
Seven-night sailings depart Los Angeles every Saturday from May 28 to
August 20, 2005
Saturday – Depart Los Angeles
Sunday & Monday – At Sea
Tuesday – Puerto Vallarta
Wednesday – Mazatlán
Thursday Cabo San Lucas
Friday – At Sea
Saturday – Return to Los Angeles
14-Night Panama Canal Itineraries
Saturday May 14 – Depart Port Canaveral Florida
Sunday – Castaway Cay
Monday & Tuesday – At Sea
Wednesday – Curacao
Thursday – At Sea
Friday – Panama Canal
Saturday – At Sea
Sunday – Puerto Quetzal
Monday – At Sea
Tuesday – Acapulco
Wednesday – At Sea
Thursday – Cabo San Lucas
Friday – At Sea
Saturday May 28 – Arrive Port of Los Angeles
Saturday August 20 – Depart Port of Los Angeles
Sunday – At Sea
Monday – Cabo San Lucas
Tuesday – At Sea
Wednesday – Acapulco
Thursday – At Sea
Friday – Puerto Quetzal
Saturday – At Sea
Sunday – Panama Canal
Monday – At Sea
Tuesday – Curacao
Wednesday & Thursday – At Sea
Friday – Castaway Cay
Saturday September 3 – Arrive Port Canaveral
Wow! Each of those 14-night sailings includes seven days at sea. That’s
what we call a vacation!
Well, that’s all the cruise news we have for now, but hang in there,
and watch for update pages for our Disney Cruise Line guide in the
weeks and months to come.
TOWER OF TERROR, CALIFORNIA-STYLE
“California Screamin’” takes on a whole new meaning, now that the
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror has joined the lineup of attractions at
Disney’s California Adventure. Dave made sure to ride Tower of Terror
in Orlando on May 2, knowing that he’d be riding the California version
at the media preview, just two days later. Now that he’s ridden both in
rapid succession…. Let’s keep you in suspense for a little while
longer.
In typical Hollywood style, Disney couldn’t help but make a big thing
of the opening. As Deb Wills described so well in her recent AllEears
newsletter, Disney rolled the red carpet down the middle of Disney
California Adventure’s Hollywood Boulevard to welcome invited media,
travel agents, Disney Legends and celebrity guests to the Twilight Zone
Tower of Terror’s “Hollywood Preview” on the evening of May 4. For
those of us of a certain age, we were most delighted to see Nia
Vardalos, writer and star of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” and “Connie and
Carla,” and her husband, actor Ian Gomez (the “real” Ian Miller). OK,
so we newlyweds are suckers for romantic comedy, and Nia managed to
come from nowhere to create the most financially successful romantic
comedy of all time. Pretty cool, if you ask us. Another luminary that
was of particular interest to us was Disneyland Resort (and former
Disney Cruise Line) President Matt Ouimet. We’d never met Matt while he
held the reins at DCL, so it was nice to finally exchange pleasantries.
Disney Archivist and author Dave Smith was also on hand for the
historical event (“Hi, Dave – we’ll be sending you our latest editions
when we get back home,”) as was Disney Imagineering Vice-Chairman,
Marty Sklar, legendary Imagineer Tony Baxter and a host of other
high-ranking Disney-types. Dave chatted a bit with Marty as we stood in
the Boiler Room waiting to ride (we’re sure Marty was thinking, “OK,
I’ve seen this guy somewhere before, and he’s got press credentials…).
One way or the other, the man who started his career at Walt’s elbow is
still enthusiastic about riding the next big thing! While we didn’t get
to ride in the same elevator as he did, we did catch a glimpse of
Marty’s photo afterwards – his expression was priceless! Too bad we
didn’t buy a copy.
The opening attracted plenty of attention, especially since some
pundits consider the new attraction “make or break” for the theme
park’s future. We’re not so sure that Tower is of such critical
importance (although it sure will help), as DCA has already been
breaking attendance records this year. Still, with the kind of
attention Michael Eisner has been getting from the Hollywood press
these days, everyone’s looking for another Disney stumble.
Well, they didn’t get it. Besides putting on a great party, Disney has
rolled-out a great attraction. Yes, it has all the elements that have
made Orlando’s Tower such a hit, and Disney’s Imagineers have managed
to top their previous performance.
We spoke with Imagineer Jim Kearns, Facility Design Manager for
California’s Tower of Terror and former Project Engineer on Florida’s
Tower. He led a team of over 40 architects, engineers and designers
through the design and construction of the attraction, so he knows the
ride inside and out. Disney’s cast is well-schooled in what to say (and
not say) in an interview. They can’t say “elevators,” for instance –
they’re “special ride vehicles (or some such)” Presumably, there are
some legal fine points that make the word “elevator” off-limits. So are
we riding in an elevator by another name, or is it a special mechanism
that just seems to be an elevator? Your guess is still as good as ours.
Was the attraction intentionally designed to be less fearsome than
Orlando’s version? (Dave thinks so!) Absolutely not – it was designed
to give guests an improved ride experience! Was the addition of a third
lift shaft intended to increase guest “throughput?” (While the
attraction has the same, two pre-show areas, it has three lift shafts
and six, rather than four, vehicle loading areas.) No, the extra lift
shaft was intended to give guests an improved ride experience. (OK,
less time in the queue does equal a better ride experience, we’ll grant
them that).
Other questions got somewhat meatier answers. Naturally, the drop
sequence is reprogrammable, but so far there are no new drop sequences
waiting in the wings – they’ll re-tune things as they get guest
feedback. While the attraction’s above-ground height is different than
Orlando’s ride, the actual lift shaft height is the same.
They’re also very proud of the hidden improvements and special effects
they’ve been able to incorporate in the new version. Among the special
effects, the most notable may be the “disappearing guests.” After a
brief blackout and short lift/drop sequence, you see a reflection of
you and your fellow passengers in a mirror. Gradually, your images
fade, to be replaced by ghostly apparitions. They say that magic is
done with smoke and mirrors, and this is certainly a prime example, but
after experiencing it several times, Dave continues to be very
impressed. One change that we didn’t discuss but is fairly apparent is
that they’ve streamlined the entire ride experience. In Orlando your
elevator “car” is initially lifted several floors in a separate
elevator, and then it rolls forward through the star effect room before
being loaded onto the “big” lift. In Anaheim your car is in the same
lift from beginning to end. This undoubtedly simplifies the mechanical
systems, and the fewer the moving parts, the more reliable the
attraction.
Now, onto the ride! Fearless Dave rode several times, so most comments
will be his, although oh-so-pregnant Jennifer did go through the queue,
pre-show and boiler room before taking the “chicken exit.” The outdoor
queue is shorter than Orlando’s, and is not shaded, but with three
lifts, maybe that won’t be a big issue. The hotel lobby is much the
same, but students of both will undoubtedly see differences. The AAA
13-Diamonds Award that hangs in the lobby in Orlando had yet to be
installed in Anaheim when we visited, but representatives of the AAA
were on hand on the afternoon of May 4 to present the award, so keep
your eyes peeled. The “library” pre-show areas are again quite similar,
but they’ve added some cool artifacts from classic Twilight Zone
episodes – you’ll want to be sure to visit both libraries several times
to see these treasures. The boiler room is much more elaborately-themed
than it is in Orlando. Just keep your eyes and ears open, and enjoy!
The boiler room is also a two-level facility. The queue splits, with
one queue going up a long flight of stairs to the upper loading zone.
Guests with mobility issues can easily stay downstairs, though. Actual
ride loading follows the familiar pattern, but there are some
differences in the elevator cars. As in Orlando, each guest has a lap
belt (rather than the original lap bar), but there are also grab
handles between each rider, for the white-knuckle crowd. Riders with
aisle seats will find a grab-recess on the side of the seat, instead of
a handle. Honestly, though, the seat belts provide all the security
you’ll need (the old lap bars allowed more air time, adding to the
terror).
As noted earlier, your car only moves a short distance before it’s
loaded onto the lift, then it rises and falls briefly several times to
expose you to various scenes from the story. The blackouts and lift
action between scenes do a nice job of boosting anticipation and
terror. Then, it’s off to the races! Dave has never managed to memorize
the lift sequences on Tower, so he can’t make a point-by-point
comparison. Let’s just say that it’s a very enjoyable version of the
ride. There’s some great air time (Dave loved watching his media
credentials float in front of his face), and fantastic views of
Disneyland Park when the doors open. On a clear day, if you know where
to look, you can even glimpse Knott’s Berry Farm (horrors!) We hope
Walt’s ghost won’t come back to haunt the Imagineers for permitting
that sight! Another addition is flashes of light inside the lift shaft.
To Dave, this makes Anaheim’s Tower a little less terrifying than
Orlando’s. Since you can sometimes see the wall of the lift shaft, you
know how far and how fast you’re traveling. This is definitely
reassuring at a subconscious level. We suspect Disney wanted a kinder,
gentler Tower that fewer folks would shun as an “extreme” ride, and
even though riders are still just as thoroughly shaken and stirred, we
expect this version to be even more popular.
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RESORT FEATURE: Saratoga Springs Open Mouse
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by Jennifer and Dave Marx
We arrived back in Orlando at 6:30 am on Thursday, May 6, and staggered
into the Grand Floridian less than an hour later. As you might expect,
our room wasn’t ready and we weren’t about to nap in the concierge
lounge. So, we used our “phone a friend” lifeline to take advantage of
an offer to attend Thursday’s “cast member and friends” preview of the
Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa.
Saratoga Springs is the Disney Vacation Club’s (DVC) newest resort,
right across the water from Downtown Disney on the grounds of the
former Disney Institute. Now, we have many fond memories of the old
Institute, so DVC’s “Welcome Home!” slogan was especially fitting as we
stepped onto the grounds. While most of the Institute’s lodgings were
razed to make way for what will be a 696 guest villa facility, many of
the familiar public buildings survive.
The welcome center has been redecorated, but its three-story, octagonal
check-in area still felt like home. As we followed the signs on the
self-guided tour we saw how the old Institute class registration area
has become a comfy lounge, and how the Gathering Place lounge and
Seasons restaurant have become a very attractive dining/shopping area,
the Artist’s Palette. (Combining the shopping and dining areas is a
recent trend at Disney resorts – it can also be seen at Pop Century.)
The shop area (pict0584) offers a variety of resort-specific and
general Disney merchandise, snack foods and beverages, and even some
gourmet goods. The dining area mixes counter and table-service --
guests place their orders at the attractive counter areas, and orders
will be brought to their tables or packaged for takeout -- DVC villas
are very attractive places to dine. The large room resembles a
remodeled old factory building with “antique” brick walls and large
wood beams and trusses, and is decorated with appealing modern
paintings and hand-blown art glass. Just beyond, a former private
dining room has been converted to a cozy lounge area with a small bar,
very comfortable seating, and an old-fashioned pocket billiards table.
The full-service Spa at Disney’s Saratoga Springs looks brand-new and
very appealing, but it’s really a spruced-up version of the Spa at the
Disney Institute. If you loved the old spa or are looking for a great
day spa experience, you can’t go too far wrong here.
Outside, the open-air amphitheater has been converted into High Rock
Spring, one of the nicest theme pools on Disney property. The large,
free-form pool includes a zero-entry area, a “pop fountain” play zone,
a very appealing water slide, kiddie pool, and a large hot-tub spa. The
spa is equipped with a motorized transfer lift for wheelchair-bound
guests. Locker rooms and a snack bar are immediately adjoining. Just to
the east of the pool is the building that used to house the Institute’s
classrooms. Several rooms have been converted into the Community Hall,
a standard feature of DVC resorts. For the most part, this space will
be used for organized children’s activities, and still feels like
classroom space. The building also houses DVC’s new Preview (sales)
Center, which will replace the facility at Disney’s BoardWalk that
handles all sales presentations at Walt Disney World. While we didn’t
tour the center’s model villas, we saw the “Storybook Room” that
introduces guests to the Disney Vacation Club concept. About a
half-dozen alcoves house huge, multi-media display systems that put
most of the exhibits at Epcot’s Future World to shame. Be forewarned,
the Storybook Room looks VERY persuasive.
From there, we trekked over to visit some of the guest buildings in the
resort’s Congress Park district, just across the water from Downtown
Disney Marketplace. As with DVC’s BoardWalk Villas and Beach Club
Villas, the style here is a variation on Northeastern Victorian,
befitting the style of Saratoga Springs in Upstate New York. These are
huge buildings, each housing about 58 studio, one-, two- and
three-bedroom villas. The resort will have 12 of these guest buildings
by the time construction is finished next year! Outside, the area
is beautifully landscaped, with meandering pathways, a waterfront
promenade perfect for enjoying the lights of Downtown Disney and the
midnight fireworks at Pleasure Island, and a large “leisure pool” (the
term “quiet pool” seems to be on its way out). The pool has “spitting
frog” fountains at each of four corners, a hot tub, a beautiful
children’s playground and will surely satisfy anyone who doesn’t want
to walk over to the more elaborate High Rock Springs pool.
Inside, the studios, one- and two-bedroom villas are very similar to
the units at Beach Club Villas, leaving aside differences of style. The
décor seems “richer” and more upscale than any of the other DVC
resorts, in keeping with the image of the original Saratoga Springs.
Walls are painted in quiet pastels, furniture is done in a dark, walnut
finish (look for hidden Mickeys in the headboards), kitchen and
bathroom countertops are granite (like Beach Club Villas), and there
are lots of interesting “period” décor elements, including lamp
shades that reveal horse head silhouettes when illuminated. One new
touch that captured our attention is the desk in the master bedroom –
it has two power outlets (for a laptop and cell phone charger, for
example) and a built-in high-speed Internet access jack!
The real show-stopper is the three-bedroom Grand Villa. These sleep 12
in very grand style indeed. They have a two-story layout, with a
cathedral-ceilinged great room, kitchen, formal dining area, bath and
master suite on the first level, plus two bedrooms, more baths, laundry
area and a balcony overlooking the great room upstairs. Wheelchair
access is no problem for the second floor guests – in addition to the
interior staircase, there’s a separate entry door upstairs so folks can
use the elevator.
Naturally, a visit of this sort doesn’t compare with an actual stay at
the resort, when we can sample the food, enjoy the recreation
facilities, and ferret-out all sorts of interesting details. We hope to
do that a little later this year, and at that point we’ll release a
fully-updated version of the pre-opening resort description we wrote
for PassPorter Walt Disney World 2004. We can’t wait!
==========================================
UPDATES: What's New and Changed
==========================================
Here are a few of the new developments at Disney…
We visited the newly-opened Earl of Sandwich on April 29. The sandwiches are
prepared as your order them and each of the eight sandwiches we and our family ordered came out delicious. The salads, also prepared at
the time of order, are surprisingly good! Even though the eatery was
crowded, we were able to find seating for our large party. The only
downside we experienced was the customer service at the register – it
was extremely slow and frustrating. Let’s hope they get that worked out
soon, however. The Earl of Sandwich is located at Downtown Disney
Marketplace in Walt Disney World.
The Vista Spa aboard the Disney Cruise Line has increased its spa
treatment prices and added a few new treatments. The menu of treatments
is available in the spa when you board, but here is a sneak peek: Spa
Taster (massage and facial for $109/50 min. or $242 for couples
massage); Aromaspa Ocean Wrap with Well Being Back Massage ($176/85
min.); Ioniethermie Algae Super-Detox ($145/55 min.); Elemis Absolute
Spa Ritual massage and facial ($237/105 min.); LT Oxygen Lifting Facial
($109/55 min.); Well-Being Massage ($109/50 min. or $242 for couples);
Chakra Balancing Capsule ($45/25 min., $60/50 min., or $110 for a
course of 3 25 min. sessions); Tropical Rainforest ($8 on the day of
your “hands-on” spa treatment, $15 for a one-day pass; $30 for a 3-day
pass; or $50 for a one-week pass); Surial Ritual Chamber ($83/60 min.).
Recently added treatments include the Aromastone Therapy (approximately
$170); Elemis Pro Collagen “Japanese Silk” Facial ($130/55 min. or $60
for an add-on treatment); and the Exotic lime and ginger salt glow
($141/50 min.). Manicures are now $40/40 min. and pedicures are $55/55
minutes. The hair salon’s prices have also increased by about 10%.
Cypress Gardens in Central Florida hopes to re-open its gates by July
1, 2004. The park will feature a freefall tower, two water rides, and
four roller coasters, with a new water park to be added next year.
Disneyland Resort has a new height/age restriction policy in place –
kids must be BOTH at least 8 years of age and 54 inches tall to ride
any attraction without an adult.
>Things To Do: Hear some news? Send it to us at
news@passporter.com
==========================================
DISNEY TIPS FROM FELLOW READERS
==========================================
Our readers are a wealth of information! Here are the winners in this
month's tip contest:
COOL OFF WITH A NECK BAND
“Central Florida summers can wilt even the most enthusiastic Disney
World fan, so I use a gel-filled neck band to keep my cool. I
found this wonderful invention before our visit a couple of years back
and it made all the difference. It's inexpensive and very
comfortable. When it is dry it is light and flat and easy to fold up
and stash in my pocket, but soak it in water a few minutes and the
little gel crystals encased inside swell to an amazing size. This is
then tied around the neck and, voila!, it's as if you just stepped into
an air-conditioned bubble. My theory is that this handy dandy
contraption works by cooling the blood running beneath it through one's
jugular veins. However it pulls this little miracle off, it is it
a real treasure.” – contributed by Cyn Shelton [Editor’s Note: These
neck bands are now available in larger shops at Walt Disney World.]
START YOUR DAY AT CRYSTAL PALACE
“Most families with young children choose to spend their first day
enjoying the Magic of the Magic Kingdom. Our family has made it yearly
tradition to begin our adventure with a character breakfast at The
Crystal Palace. We book our breakfast for 8:00am! Yes it's early
especially when you take into consideration the time it takes to travel
from your on-site hotel (is there any other way to do Disney?). However
the advantage to arriving before the park opens truly makes for the
most magical of memories. When you are standing on Main Street USA with
just the Disney Cast Members you truly get to enjoy how spectacular
this magical place is! The turn-of-the-century style architecture and
the absolute attention to every detail is so apparent in everything
they do! On my very first trip to Disney World 5 years ago we planned
our first morning this way and I actually had tears in my eyes. The
other advantages to this early morning breakfast on your first day are
the fact that the kids (and grown ups) are on such an
adrenalin rush no one minds getting up extra early. Lastly you get to
enjoy a few your favorite rides before the park fills with thousands of
eager Mousketeers!” – contributed by Laura Barton (laurabrtn@…)
GOOD SPOT FOR ILLUMINATIONS
“The best place to watch Illuminations is near the United Kingdom. As
you’re leaving the United Kingdom and entering Canada, there is a trail
that leads off to the side. There are trees to sit under if you prefer.
It is a little-known path with little to no crowd.” – contributed by
Veronica Braden
>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
====================================
Q & A WITH JENNIFER & DAVE
====================================
Susan asks:
“Hey guys, I absolutely love my PassPorter. I used it last
September for my trip to Disney, and now I'm using my new one for my
land and sea cruise next November. My question is about
professional photography. My family desperately needs a professional
family picture taken… we would normally go to Sears or the like, but
someone suggested that maybe Disney offers such a service. I was
thinking what would be better than our family pics taken in front of
the castle or something. I thought you guys would know...you are the
experts after all.”
Jennifer answers:
“You can indeed get portrait sessions done while at Walt Disney World,
but it's very expensive. You can call Disney Event Productions at
407-827-5099 for rates and information. To give you an idea of how much
it may cost, a 6:00 am portrait session in the Magic Kingdom (in front
of the castle) that gives you a 12-print, 4x5 album can cost as much as
$725.00. It's really much less expensive to have one of the
professional photographers who are on hand on Main Street U.S.A. to
take your family portrait. Of course, you see other guests in the
background -- that's the trade-off. There used to be a portrait studio
at Downtown Disney Marketplace (Studio M), but when I stopped in there
in January it looked like it was being repurposed for something else. I
just called Downtown Disney Guest Services (407-828-3058), and they
confirm that it is no longer there.”
Dsnytina asks:
“For those of us going on the West Coast Cruise, do you think the
PassPorter will have enough relevant information in it? Of course, all
of the Magic info will be there, but the itineraries, excursions, etc.
will all be NEW!”
Dave answers:
“You can be sure that the next edition of our DCL guidebook will give
plenty of coverage to the West Coast itineraries. If you have the
second (current) edition, just flip to the 18 pages dedicated to this
year's "special itinerary" ports (San Juan, Antigua and St. Lucia) for
an example of how we'll do things. What you'll see is full-depth
coverage of each port of call including maps, and full descriptions of
the likely shore excursion offerings. Will there be enough relevant
information? That's in the eye of the beholder. DCL won't release info
on specific shore excursions until after our third edition goes to
press (early 2005) - we'll provide descriptions of the likely
excursions based upon those offered by other cruise lines, as we did
with this year's special itineraries. Once the actual listing of
excursions is available it will be available as an update here at the
web site. The specifics of most shipboard activities won't be known
until the itineraries start sailing. Again, we'll provide updates here
at the web site once those details are known.”
MichelleC writes:
“I read an article on http://www.jimhillmedia.com about a possible new
attraction to Canada. According to the article, the new Soarin’ Over
California attraction under construction is taller than the mountains
at Canada and can be seen from the Canadian pavilion. So to camouflage
the Soarin' building, Disney Imagineers want to construct more, taller
mountains and build an attractions similar to Disneyland's "Grizzly
River Rapids" but theme it to "Brother Bear". Don't know if it is true
or not, but it sure is interesting!”
Dave answers:
“I've just had the chance to check out the construction first-hand, and
come back with these observations: You can't see Soarin' at all from
Canada or UK - the trees and World Showcase pavilions hide it
completely. You can see the building from across the World Showcase
Lagoon, especially in Japan, US, etc. However, depending upon where
you're standing, the building may not appear to be behind Canada at
all. It may appear in the space between UK and Canada, or be off to the
right of Canada. A "mountain disguise" might not work at all, except
when viewed from a few specific spots. Don't forget that you can see
the top of the Imagination pavilion, Test Track and various other
Future World attractions from World Showcase, depending upon where you
stand, just as you can see some of Magic Kingdom's taller attractions
from other lands in that park. I'm sure Imagineering took appearances
into careful consideration when they designed Soarin'. They always do
all sorts of architectural renderings, from all sorts of angles. Their
main concern, though, is what the building will look like when it's
done. Soarin' is especially visible right now, but I expect that when
it's finished it's going to fade right into the background. The roof is
finished, and it's done in a light gray metal that reflects the sky
very nicely. The sides of the building are still open, so when you look
at it, you're looking into a dark interior (that big, dark area is hard
to miss). Based on the parts of the side that have been enclosed, it
looks like the side walls will also have a gray finish that will blend
very well with the sky. I have a feeling that when it's finished it
will be far less visible than it is at the moment, maybe even invisible
to the casual eye. If Imagineering is planning to use color/reflection
to "hide" a building, it wouldn't be the first time. Even within World
Showcase - have you noticed just how big and boxy the Mexico building
is, out behind the pyramid? Most folks never notice, thanks to the
color Imagineering chose.”
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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