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PassPorter News
News, Announcements, Updates, and Tips
May 15, 2008 * Issue 8.20
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: True
Confessions
Travel Feature: How A
Disney Fan Does Vegas
Disney Feature: Specialty
Cruises: Wishes and IllumiNations
Updates: What's New and
Changed
Tips: Monorail Magic,
Terrific Titles, Perfect Plugs
Captain's Corner: The
Cay
PassPorter
PhotoPick: Gateway to Earth
Q and A: Is it customary
to tip extra at Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue?
Our Sponsors: We
Recommend...
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FROM THE AUTHORS: True
Confessions
====================================================
Hi, {{user("firstname")}}!
OK, we admit it. We messed
up this year. We didn't print nearly as many copies of PassPorter's Walt Disney
World as we should have, and by the time we realized our error, it was too late
to (profitably) print more. While there are still plenty of books out on
bookstore shelves (for now), we didn't keep enough for the PassPorter online
store. You see, sales of the book are running nearly 15% ahead of last years
record pace!
Just how well have things
been going? According to Nielsen Bookscan, which tracks actual sales at
something like 80% of U.S. bookstores, our little baby is #13 among all travel
books for year-to-date sales. Among Walt Disney World guidebooks (the country's
#1 guidebook destination), PassPorter's Walt Disney World outsells every title
but Birnbaum's and the Unofficial Guide. Pretty cool, huh? "Yeah,"
you might say, "But how do I get my hands on a copy before they're all
gone?" You'll find PassPorter's Walt Disney World on sale at most major
bookstores, including Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com, Borders, Waldenbooks, and
Books a Million.
Since we want to keep the
impending PassPorter drought as short as possible, we've also moved-up the
publishing date for PassPorter's Walt Disney World 2009. We expect to have that
new edition for you in October this year (maybe even sooner if all goes well).
In fact, you can pre-order the 2009 edition starting today at http://www.passporterstore.com/store/2009.aspx
.
And to make it a bit
easier for you to get your pre-order in, we're rolling back prices for
pre-orders for a limited time -- only nine (9) days, or until May 24. With the
rollback price, our spiral edition of PassPorter's Walt Disney World 2009 is a
mere $19.95 "list" price, and you can apply any discounts or coupons you
may have. So a 2009 spiral edition is just $15.96 (with a 20% newsletter
subscriber coupon -- see bottom of this newsletter) or $13.96 (with a 30%
coupon for registered readers and message board members). Deluxes are an even
better deal.
If you can't wait for October
to get a book, you may purchase a 2008 electronic edition (download only - http://www.passporterstore.com/store/1587710498ebook.aspx
) or get a 2007 edition at a
close-out price ( http://www.passporterstore.com/store/2007.aspx
). Refer to the 2008 electronic
edition for the most up-to-date info, and print-out the pages you'll need when
you travel. Rely on the 2007 edition for all our great planning features,
PassPockets, and info that's still pretty darned accurate and useful.
Some of you may know we've
been temporarily out of stock on PassHolder Pouches, too. Fortunately, those
are much easier to get back in stock. In fact, we've got them right now! Not
only that, but we upgraded the printed PassPorter logo to a full-color version
that we think is much more attractive than the old, all-yellow version.
PassPorter's Disney Cruise
Line and its Ports of Call 2008 is in stock! All new orders of our cruise guide
ship the next business day. Order at http://www.passporterstore.com/store/dcl2008.aspx
Will you be joining us for
PassPorter's Decade of Dreams Tour? PassPorter is celebrating our 10th
anniversary in 2009 with a year-long celebration from coast-to-coast! Everyone
is invited and all are warmly welcome to join us at all or part of our
celebration. We are combining small parties (meets) with grand, multi-day
trips, including a 7-night Disney Cruise, a 4-night stay at Walt Disney World,
and a Disneyland visit that includes park time and an Adventures by Disney
expedition. See our Tour Schedule for the latest details at http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/passporters-decade-dreams-tour-2009/
PASSPORTER'S CLUB UPDATE
* Nearly 1400 vacationers
are now enjoying access to all our e-books, e-worksheets, and super-sized photo
archive images. Thank you for your continued support!
* Our newest e-book,
PassPorter's Answer Book is now available for download. This 85-page e-book is
full of the detailed, up-to-date information on the topics that really matter
to you. Details at http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/passporters-club-gallery/new-post-152726-new-e-book-coming-soon.html
* We have two recent-new
e-worksheets for you to use to plan your next trip: the Daily Meal Log
e-worksheet and the Deluxe Dining Plan e-worksheet!
* More details at http://www.passporter.com/club
In this issue, first-time
contributor Kathy Holmes reports on How a Disney Fan Does Vegas. Then Featured
Columnist Cheryl Pendry describes the pleasures of Walt Disney World's Specialty Cruises: Wishes and IllumiNations.
Finally, Jack Skatt is back with a brand-new Walt Disney World Treasure Hunt. Have a great
week!
Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter Publishers and
Authors
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TRAVEL FEATURE: How A
Disney Fan Does Vegas
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by Kathy Holmes,
PassPorter Guest Contributor
A Disney fan in Las Vegas?
What could Walt Disney World and Las Vegas possibly have in common? They may be
fierce competitors when it comes to the convention market and are two of the
most popular tourist destinations on earth, but don't they attract entirely
different types of tourists: Walt Disney World for families and Las Vegas for
adults? Well, the days of Las Vegas seeking to attract families with children
for their family vacations may be over, but there are still a lot of places in
Las Vegas that a Disney fan would enjoy, with or without children, with or
without gambling. For example, Las Vegas and Walt Disney World share some of
the same restaurants. You can find a Downtown Disney favorite sandwich stop,
Earl of Sandwich, in Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on "The
Strip" in Las Vegas.
There's also a Rainforest
Cafe inside the MGM Grand Resort & Casino. In fact, this was the first
Rainforest I ever visited and remains one of my favorites, if not my favorite.
Why? While I don't enjoy Rainforest Cafe inside shopping malls, there's an
interesting juxtaposition about a place so fun and family-friendly inside a
casino.
And if you're missing
Alfredo's that was located in the Italy Pavilion inside World Showcase at Epcot
until closing recently, it is relocating to Las Vegas in late 2008. Start
planning a trip to Las Vegas and your Italian culinary wishes may come true.
While you're at Planet
Hollywood, take a walk through Miracle Mile Shops for more themed restaurants
and shopping. A Disney fan would definitely enjoy a tropical drink at Trader
Vic's or Hawaiian Tropic Zone--you may want to try lunch to retain the
G-rating. You'll soon hear the Enchanted Tiki Room song playing in your head.
And if you enjoy dining at
one of the top-tier restaurants at Disneyland or Walt Disney World, then you
can't go wrong in Las Vegas. The top celebrity chefs in the world have
restaurants in Las Vegas: Emeril Largesse, Wolfgang Puck, Bobby Flay, and Mario
Batali are just four of those well-known celebrity chefs.
But before you plan where
to eat, you may be wondering where to stay. The Mirage introduced themed
resorts to Las Vegas when it opened in 1989. Since then numerous themed hotels
have sprung up on the Las Vegas Strip.
If you're a fan of all
things tropical, then the Mirage is a great place to start. The Siegfried &
Roy tigers may no longer be hanging out just off the lobby, but there is still
an aquarium behind the reservation desk, white tigers and dolphins at the Secret
Garden & Dolphin Habitat (located beyond the lagoon-style pool with water
slide and waterfall), a lush indoor tropical garden that transports you to
Hawaii, and an outdoor volcano that erupts nightly.
If the Knights of the
Round Table, complete with Tournament of Kings dinner show, are more to your
liking, you may want to stay at Excalibur. At the Luxor, 'though it has toned
down its Egyptian theme in the main casino areas, you still can't escape the
fact that it's a giant pyramid located in the desert. Egyptian hieroglyphs are
still present throughout, especially on the mezzanine level where several
Disney-type attractions, such as an IMAX theatre and a Star-Tours type ride,
are located.
Circus Circus is known for
its circus theming and free circus acts, along with carnival games on the
Midway, and roller coaster and other theme-park rides in the Adventuredome. If
you're a fan of driving your RV to Ft. Wilderness, you can also park your RV at
the Circus Circus RV Park and enjoy a direct shuttle to the casino.
Speaking of theme parks,
the theme park at the MGM Grand may be gone, but you can still find a roller
coaster at New York/New York Hotel Casino and other thrill rides located over a
thousand feet in the air on top of the Stratosphere. If you love monorails,
don't forget to seek out the Las Vegas Monorail--you can purchase a day pass
for a special online rate of $9. The monorail connects you to many hotels on
the Strip. And while you're riding the monorail, you may want to stop off at
the Las Vegas Hilton for the Star Trek Experience--especially if you're a Star
Trek fan.
For a spectacular light
show and a blast into the past right where Las Vegas got its neon start, you
must see the Fremont Street Experience. You'll have to drive or cab downtown,
but it's worth the trip.
My favorite experience as
a Disney lover is strolling through the faux-painted outdoor sky-topped, indoor
shopping malls of the Forum Shops inside Caesar's Palace, the Grand Canal
Shoppes at the Venetian, and the Miracle Mile Shops in Planet Hollywood. Of
those three, the Forum Shops are my favorite. You're transported to an ancient
Roman city within a modern setting with upscale shops, restaurants, and unique
"streetmosphere" with fountains, statues, and Roman facades. It's
truly indescribable.
Paris Las Vegas, complete
with a restaurant at the top of the Eiffel Tower, will make you think you're
strolling through World Showcase at Disney World. You could pop into the bakery
for a French pastry and hang out at Napoleon's for a round of dueling pianos,
similar to the Dueling Pianos on the Boardwalk at Disney World.
Las Vegas is known as the
Entertainment Capital of the World, and in addition to major headliners, Las
Vegas, like Disney World, has spectacular shows like Cirque du Soleil. There
are several Cirque du Soleil shows in town, but my favorite is "O" at
the Bellagio.
If you'd rather be outside
and Typhoon Lagoon is your favorite Disney activity, then be sure to book a
room at Mandalay Bay. In addition to the Shark Reef aquarium, there is an
outdoor pool area with wave pool and river pool. That gets my vote for
all-around favorite pool, especially if I'm dining alfresco at Border Grill,
overlooking the river pool.
By now maybe you're
feeling overly-stimulated by all that Las Vegas has to offer. Perhaps you'd
like to enjoy more rustic, outdoor recreational activities. Too much neon can
do that to you. You can either take a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon, plan
an overnight trip at a Grand Canyon Lodge, or take a side trip to Zion and/or
Bryce Canyon National Parks in Utah. These parks will give you a feeling of
Disney deja vu--if you've ridden the train roundtrip around Disneyland, you've
seen the Grand Canyon diorama. And if you've ridden Big Thunder Mountain at
Disneyland or Disney World, then you've gotten a peek into Bryce Canyon
National Park.
So whether you plan to
take a side trip to Las Vegas on your next Disneyland vacation or visit Las
Vegas specifically, rest assured that this is only the tip of the iceberg of
having a Disney experience in Las Vegas or in the surrounding National Parks.
For more information on
visiting Las Vegas, check out http://www.visitlasvegas.com
About the Author: Kathy
Holmes grew up near Disneyland. Shortly after exchanging wedding vows, Kathy
and husband Rich took their first trip to Walt Disney World. That trip sparked
an additional vow to move to Florida from California. Three thousand miles and
three states later, they made that dream come true. But eventually home called,
and they moved back west. They now live in Las Vegas, just four hours from
Disneyland, and write about their adventures at
http://two4disney.wordpress.com.
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Did you enjoy this
article? Have questions? E-mail us at news@passporter.com or visit
http://www.passporterboards.com to discuss your Disney travel plans. Also check
out our Article Collection at http://www.passporter.com/articles for more great
information!
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DISNEY FEATURE: Specialty
Cruises: Wishes and IllumiNations
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by Cheryl Pendry,
PassPorter Featured Columnist
There are many magical
ways to spend your time in Walt Disney World, but perhaps one of the most
magical also has to be one of the hardest to snag.
We're not talking about
breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table here, although admittedly that's a
magical experience and can be difficult to get into. We're talking about the
speciality cruises, as Disney calls them, private trips in small boats that
head out every night to showcase the fireworks of Epcot and the Magic Kingdom
to a select number of guests.
They're called speciality
cruises and not firework cruises by Disney for a very good reason. It's just in
case, for any reason, the fireworks have to be cancelled, the cruise may still
go on as scheduled. Now before you panic, you can rest assured that only
happens on very, very rare occasions. It takes a lot to cancel the majestic
displays you see being put on at both parks, but it's something worth keeping
in mind.
But never mind that -
you're probably thinking that this sounds like an amazing experience and, for
those of you lucky enough to have done an IllumiNations or Wishes cruise
before, you know that it is. If you've taken one of these cruises before, then
you probably also know just how hard it is to get one. There are only a limited
number of boats available for each show each night, usually around six, and
they go quickly.
So what's the trick to
getting one? They say practice makes perfect and that's definitely the case
here. Bookings are made exactly 90 days out by phoning 407-WDW-PLAY. The phone
line opens at 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time and it's not unusual for the cruises to be
sold out just a few minutes later. Usually, when I'm trying to snag one, I call
up the day before, so that I know exactly what the different messages sound
like, as they change as soon as it opens in the morning. That way, you also
know exactly which number to press next, without having to listen to the
message, which can give you a good advantage over other people, who are sitting
there, figuring out which option they need.
As soon as you're
connected to someone, it's a case of stating what you want as quickly as
possible. I usually just say "Hi" and follow it up quickly by telling
them I'm after a specialty IllumiNations (or Wishes) cruise for a particular
date. Usually you know immediately whether you've got one or not - and if you
do, then that's the time to make polite conversation. It's also usually the
point at which you'll be thanking the Cast Member profusely for having managed
to obtain one of these elusive cruises for you.
The time difference from
living in the UK as I do means I can only ever try for one of these cruises on
weekends, as strangely, my bosses don't take kindly to me making international
calls at work! Having said that, it works in our favor, as we've been lucky on
a number of occasions. I'm sure a lot of that is down to people in the States
not being up early on a weekend (for me, it's Noon). In our experience, it is
worth setting that alarm clock early, as you probably stand a better chance if
you call on a Saturday or Sunday. Another way of increasing your chances is to
have more than one person calling. If we know that fellow PassPorters are going
to be at Disney at the same time as us, we suggest the idea of sharing a cruise
to them and, if they agree, we both try calling, doubling our chances.
So what can you expect
from your experience? The cruises for IllumiNations usually leave from the
Yacht Club Marina. You're asked to be there about an hour before IllumiNations
is due to start. It's a similar process with Wishes cruises for the Magic
Kingdom, in that you're asked to be at the Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge,
Polynesian, or Grand Floridian Marina a similar amount of time before that show
commences (departing from the Contemporary seems to be most common).
Once you get there, any
children in the party will be fitted with life jackets, you'll meet your driver
for the night, and then you'll be off. If you're viewing IllumiNations, you'll
cruise over to the Disney Hollywood Studios first of all - and if you're lucky,
you may even see some of the fireworks from Fantasmic! on the way. Then it's
back past the Swan, Dolphin, BoardWalk, and Yacht and Beach Club, before lining
up underneath the bridge between the United Kingdom and France on the edge of
World Showcase Lagoon to watch IllumiNations from a prime viewing spot. When
it's all over and done with, your driver will take you straight back to the Yacht
Club Marina, allowing you to get ahead of all the crowds exiting the park.
With Wishes, it's very
similar, although you'll be taken out on a tour around Seven Seas Lagoon,
perhaps heading towards Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge first, before taking
up a prime position right in front of the Magic Kingdom. The music will be
piped into the boat, so you won't miss a thing. As an added bonus, you'll
either get to watch the Electric Water Pageant either before or after Wishes
has taken place.
With either cruise, your
driver will also act as a tour guide, telling you about the things you're
seeing and perhaps asking Disney trivia questions. You'll also get snacks and
non-alcoholic drinks while on board and, when you leave the boat, you're free
to take any goodies that are left, because in the words of our drivers in the
past, "You've already paid for it!"
It's not a cheap
experience. Speciality cruises to see either IllumiNations or Wishes cost $275
plus tax, and the pontoon boats can take up to 10 people. You can also reserve
Breathless, the beautiful wooden reproduction boat housed at the Yacht Club
marina, but remember that it can only take up to six people. Tips for the
drivers are not included in this price. While it may sound like a lot of money,
it's a great way to spend an evening and is a real treat for any Disney fan.
Don't forget that, if
you're lucky enough to reserve one, you can always post the details on the
PassPorter message boards to see if anyone wants to share the boat with you.
It's a great way to meet fellow Disney fans and cut the cost of the evening.
About the Author: Cheryl
and husband Mark live in England and love to travel, particularly to America.
They are in the process of visiting every Disney theme park around the world, having
already spent a day in Disneyland Resort Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland so far
this year. They are looking forward to returning to America in October to visit
both Walt Disney World and Disneyland in California.
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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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UPDATES: What's New and
Changed
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Here's a few relevant news
items:
Toy Story Mania will have
it's official grand opening on May 31, 2008. The attraction is currently in
"soft opening" mode which means that it may be closed periodically
for tweaking.
"Journey Into Narnia:
Prince Caspian" at Disney's Hollywood Studios will open on Friday. The
walk-through attraction will feature a meet & greet with "Prince
Caspian" (the theme park version, not the actor who portrays him in the
movie), a reproduction of one of the sets from the movie and various actual
props and costumes. The movie, not coincidentally, also opens on Friday.
A new baby sable antelope
has joined the herd on the savanna at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Mother and baby
made their public debut last week on May 7, 2008. Keep an eye out for them
while on Safari!
Our thanks to AllEars.net
and MousePlanet.com from which we get some of our news leads.
Hear some news? Be a
"PassPorter Reporter" and send it to us at
http://www.passporter.com/report.asp
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DISNEY TIPS FROM FELLOW
READERS
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Our readers deliver a
wealth of information! Here are the winners in this month's tip contest:
MONORAIL MAGIC
"My husband and I
just returned from a week at the Walt Disney World Resort. In using the
monorial systems, the best seating isn't in the "front row" - it's in
the back! The monorail fills up in the front and middle cars first
leaving the back cars nearly empty! Next time you're traveling the
circuit, check out the back where you actually have a chance to sit down and
not be overly crowded. One last thing though ... remember to follow the
instructions of the cast members, if they instruct you to another seat."
-- contributed by Katie P.
TERRIFIC TITLES
"If you are into
scrapbooking and find that the laser cut titles are too expensive, do the
following. Instead of buying a title or a letter cutting machine, make sure to
take pictures of attraction, store or restaurant signs, and use those as titles
for layouts."
-- contributed by Connie
L.
PERFECT PLUGS
"Some of the shows
and rides can be loud for young children or people sensitive to loud noises. We
would often find my son holding his ears during shows and even on roller
coasters. This last trip we packed a pair of ear plugs. Then he could enjoy the
shows and rides and keep his hands free."
-- contributed by Sara N.
>Notes: Send us your
tips! You may see them in this newsletter and win a copy of PassPorter! Visit:
http://www.passporter.com/customs/tipsandstories.asp
>>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
==========================================
CAPTAIN'S CORNER: Treasure
Hunting Game
==========================================
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 week's
journal entry:
"Yesterday was a
lazy, barefoot kind of day, so I picked up a snack from a vendor in the port
and headed to one of my favorite island retreats for a nice, relaxing snooze in
a hammock. I felt even more safe and secure, knowing my little cay was
protected by a brace of cannon!"
Where in Walt Disney World
did the captain go for his nap, and what is the name of his fortified, island
hideaway?
For bonus credit, locate
the photographic evidence in the PassPorter Photo Archive and post a comment
with the photo!
Send your full answer to
jackskatt@passporter.com -- the winner will be notified by e-mail and announced
in a future newsletter, along with the correct answer!
Congratulations to John B.
who was the winner of last week's trivia contest! John was the first person to
identify the location of the Hidden Mickeys as Flights of Wonder at
Disney's Animal Kingdom. To view the original clue, see last week's newsletter
at http://www.passporter.com/news/news050808.htm#captain
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 Jack Skatt.
Get more details on "PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney
World" book at http://www.passporterstore.com/store/1587710269.aspx
==========================================
PASSPORTER PHOTOPICK
==========================================
Each issue we choose a
special photo from the PassPorter Photo Archive which highlights something
beautiful, interesting, humorous, or timely at Disney or around the world. Here
is this issue's PassPorter PhotoPick:
Gateway to Earth
contributed by akleos
View Photo:
http://www.passporter.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/5552
You can nominate photos as
a PassPorter PhotoPick by giving ratings in the PassPorter Photo Archive
(you'll need to be logged in to do this). If you'd like to contribute your own
photos to the Photo Archive and be considered as a PhotoPick, please read our
Photo Upload Guidelines for details and benefits.
Top 5 Photo Contributors
chezp - 1310 photos
akleos - 568 photos
Meggera - 347 photos
Dopey007 - 270 photos
OffKilter_Lynn - 261 photos
====================================
Q & A WITH JENNIFER
& DAVE
====================================
CinderAbby asks: "Is
it customary to tip extra at Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue? I read that an 18% tip
is included."
Jennifer and Dave answer:
"Under most circumstances, I think you'll find the built-in 18% to be
enough. I don't hear much from folks who feel it's not enough.
Service is usually very
cheerful and prompt, but since it's a family-style meal, other than taking
drink orders and asking if you want refills of any food items you've depleted,
most of the meal runs on "auto-pilot." If there's a reason for them
to make some extra magic for you (celebration, etc.), they'll try to do that,
because it's hard for them to get an additional tip for anything less."
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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