PassPorter News - May 29, 2008

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PassPorter News

News, Announcements, Updates, and Tips

May 29, 2008 * Issue 8.22

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: 2009 Pre-Orders

Travel Feature: King Tut Exhibition

Disney Feature: What A Wonderful World

Updates: What's New and Changed

Tips: Great Gift Card Idea, Colorful Characters, Pick Your Pins Carefully

Captain's Corner: Casey's

PassPorter PhotoPick: A Real Mad Tea Party

Q and A: Should we take a taxi from LAX to Disneyland?

Our Sponsors: We Recommend...

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FROM THE AUTHORS: 2009 Pre-Orders

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Hi, {{user("firstname")}}!

Once more, Dave is off to California, this time for Book Expo America, the biggest book business trade show in the U.S. He'll be autographing books for booksellers and librarians, finding new outlets for our books, and learning about the latest trends in the publishing industry. If he's lucky, he'll even get to eat lunch. If you'll be attending (the show is only open to "the trade), please be sure to drop by booth 2007 and say hi!

We'd like to thank the hundreds of people who took advantage of our special PassPorter's Walt Disney World 2009 pre-order deal. While that deal expires at midnight tonight (all good things...), the 2009 edition will continue to be on pre-order at the regular price, and folks who pre-order have first dibs on the books when they arrive in our warehouse (we estimate around October 15). For those of you who plan way in advance (Who? PassPorter readers?), you may just want to pay a visit to the PassPorter Store sometime soon.

As we explained in a previous newsletter, sales of PassPorter's Walt Disney World 2008 have been so good that we have none left in the warehouse (although there are plenty in stock - for now - at book stores around the country). 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 ).

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 a brand new e-worksheet for you to use to plan your next trip: the Daily Ride and Meal Plans e-worksheet lets you plan the rides, shows, and meals around the park(s) you plan to visit in a single day! See http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/passporters-club-gallery/160945-new-e-worksheet-daily-ride-meal-plans.html

* More details at http://www.passporter.com/club

In this issue, Featured Columnist Cheryl Pendry pays a visit to another set of crown jewels currently on view in London, the King Tut Exhibition. Then, first-time contributor Mike Geoghan proves to us just What a Wonderful World it is. 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: King Tut and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs Exhibition: London

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by Cheryl Pendry, PassPorter Featured Columnist

It's amazing to think how the story of a boy king, who ruled for only about a decade thousands of years ago, still attracts the interest of millions of people, but that's exactly what's happened with Tutankhamun.

Known more fondly these days as King Tut, which may have something to do with a struggle to spell his full name, an exhibition of the wonders found with him in his final resting place is once again touring the world.

When the exhibit first went on tour in the 1970s, the exhibition set records for the numbers of people who passed through the doors at various venues around the world to see it. It was last in London at the British Museum in 1972 - the year I was born - so when I heard it would be returning to the city, I figured this could be our once in a lifetime opportunity to see it.

The exhibition is made up of 11 galleries and, as soon as you arrive, you know this is going to be something special. The first room you come to is just like a pre-show at a Disney attraction, with a video introduction narrated by Omar Sharif. As this 90-second presentation ends the doors slide open and you enter the world of Tutankhamun and the Age of the Golden Pharaohs. The name really sums up what you'll see, as it's not just about King Tut. The first gallery you visit explains about Ancient Egypt and gives you some background to Tutankhamun, including his family tree. You learn about the 18th Dynasty of rulers and Egypt as a country, which at that time, was a huge empire.

Then you find out about their beliefs. It was fascinating to learn about all the gods they worshiped. One piece that caught my eye in here was the winged cobra figure that protected King Amenhotep II, with wings outstretched, as if ready to catch him should he fall. The colors on this - bright blues, greens and reds - didn't seem to date 3,000 years, they looked so vibrant.

Then it was time to learn more about death, burial and the afterlife, including the amazing gilded coffin of Lady Tjuya, before discovering the world that Tutankhamun inherited. It was one that his father changed considerably, as he tried to convince his people to believe in only one god - the sun. It fell to King Tut to restore convention when he took the throne.

When he ascended the throne he was just nine years old. It's in the next gallery that fact is brought home to you, via the tiny ebony and ivory chair that he used to sit in. Your first thought is that this is a child's chair and then you realize that's exactly what it is, except this child was also a ruler of an entire country at such a tender age. This room is also home to golden items everywhere you look, whether solid gold or gilded wood. It came as no surprise that one of the scientists who found the tomb exclaimed that everything inside was gold.

From here, it's on to perhaps one of the highlights, Tut's tiny gold coffinette - from his burial chamber and this just whets your appetite for more, with five golden items that were all wrapped in the linen of the mummy, including an elaborate head-dress. This pictured a cobra and a vulture, both designed to protect the King in the afterlife.

The finishing part brings you bang up to date with the science of Tut, examining the mystery of how he died so suddenly aged around 19. There's still no definite conclusion to that, with research continuing to this day to try and solve the riddle.

In every gallery you visit, there are superb explanations about everything you're seeing and unusually, there are normally at least two versions of this written out, one on top of the cabinets, so you don't have to wait for someone to move out of the way. It's also worth keeping in mind that you walk all the way around the exhibit cases, allowing you to view them from the front, side and behind, which gives many of the items a totally different perspective. In particular, the pectoral of gold, a cross worn by Tutankhamun on his chest, appeared stunning enough from the front view. Walk around the back of it though and you see a completely different design, just as intricately made. The detail that went into this piece is breathtaking.

That was really the overall feel we came away with from this exhibition. Every piece you saw just had so much detail on it. Many items had lines and lines of hieroglyphics that couldn't have been more than quarter of an inch tall. Often, you would stand there and as you looked at the item, you would see more detail, with the heads of animals suddenly appearing to you in the design of everyday items such as jewelery boxes and tables.

We kept stopping to discuss how long each must have taken to create and what tools they must have used. One thing's for sure, we must have better quality tools today, but somehow you just can't imagine us creating anything as detailed in our modern world.

It's a fascinating step back three thousand years to an era when countless hours were spent creating jewels fit for a King in his afterlife. When you emerge from this exhibition, you feel very privileged to have witnessed these beautiful things. This may well be a once in a lifetime opportunity to see this, so if you get the chance, be sure to take it up.

Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs is open at the O2 Dome in London from now until August 30, 2008. Its next stop will be in Dallas, Texas, where the exhibition will open on October 3, 2008. For more information visit http://www.kingtut.org

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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DISNEY FEATURE: What a Wonderful World (of Disney)

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by Mike Geoghan, PassPorter Guest Contributor

It is with great reverence that I borrow the lyrics from Louis Armstrong's beautiful song of optimism and hope. The song, "What a Wonderful World", written by Bob Thiele (a.k.a. George Douglas) and George Weiss, was masterfully recorded by Mr. Armstrong back in 1967. Just over 40 years later, I've realized how perfectly the song and its lyrics fit in with a place in Florida based on optimism and hope. Now on to the lyrics...

[Tip: If you'd like to listen to this song as you read this article, go to http://www.seeqpod.com and search on "What a Wonderful World Louis Armstrong"]

"I see trees of green"

Visualize if you will, the entrance to Disney's Animal Kingdom. From the time you walk through the turnstiles until the first moment you set your eyes upon the magnificent Tree of Life, all you see (with the exception of a few birds and some smaller animals) are "trees of green." If this man-made jungle of vegetation doesn't set the tone for a great day at this park, well you might want to "hop" on out of there and check out Epcot or the Magic Kingdom. This theme park's stock is climbing. Just look at what they've done in the last 2-3 years with the additions of the wonderful "Finding Nemo - The Musical," the new Yak & Yeti restaurant, and the amazingly-detailed thrill ride, Expedition Everest.

"Red roses too...I see 'em bloom...for me and you"

OK, as I write this, Lou Mongello of WDW Radio pod-casting fame has reminded me of the beautifully manicured gardens and landscapes throughout Walt Disney World (See Show #62 at WDWRadio.com -- nice job, Lou!). For me, one of my earliest memories of visiting the Magic Kingdom as a toddler in the 1970s, is seeing Mickey Mouse done in "flower form" at the entrance just in front of the Railroad Station. That has stuck with me in both memory (and Kodak pictures) for over 30 years. A more recent memory was a trip to Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival in 2006. From the character topiaries to the themed-displays, there are so many, "How do they do that," visuals. Pictures and videos do not do this annual event justice. The best word I can attribute to it? Breathtaking! And Disney does it "for me and you."

"And I think to myself...what a wonderful world."

This family-friendly destination located in central Florida has the ability to transform humanity. It doesn't do it by ending war, poverty, or hunger on a global level. Walt Disney World does it as we should all do it ... ONE PERSON AT A TIME! Just ask a cast member. You could be reading this article thousands of miles away from Walt Disney World, but if you've ever visited you have no doubt encountered the superior guest service that this Disney destination provides. Now imagine if you treated a family member, a neighbor, or dare I say, a stranger in your town the same way. It may sound a little "Pollyanna-ish," but isn't it possible to translate that goodwill and pay it forward? Let's all try and see if we can't change our "wonderful world" together.

"I see skies of blue ... clouds of white"

Has anyone seen the latest Disney promotional material attached to the "Year of a Million Dreams" campaign? It's shows most photographed building in the world, Cinderella Castle, surrounded by you guessed it ... "skies of blue and clouds of white." Is this a coincidence? I think not! What does Disney do when they make these huge structures like the castle or Spaceship Earth or the Tree of Life? They make us look up. They make us wonder. Most importantly, they make us dream.

"Bright blessed days ... dark sacred nights"

You want "bright?" Check out the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights at Disney's Hollywood Studios around Christmas time...VERY COOL! You want "dark sacred nights?" Check out Epcot's Candlelight Processional at the same time of year. If that doesn't absolutely touch you as a powerful experience, regardless of your faith, well then you should probably join the Tin Man on his quest to see the Wizard.

"And I think to myself...what a wonderful world."

Although it's not my preference, I've recently spent a long weekend at Walt Disney World (4-days/ 3-nights) without even visiting a theme park! I still had an amazing time getting a massage at a spa, taking a boat ride to Downtown Disney, enjoying the incredible food at the many restaurants, watching the fireworks, and even taking a stroll on the Boardwalk. That's just some of the other things to do while you're here..."what a wonderful world."

"The colors of a rainbow...so pretty in the sky"

This line is easy folks. Fireworks, fireworks, fireworks! Be they from "Wishes," "IllumiNations," or even my personal favorite, "Fantasmic!" Pretty? You betcha.

"Are also on the faces of people going by"

OK, this is something I like to do and it gets better with age ... "people-watching!" Next time you're on-property, score a Dole Whip at the Magic Kingdom or your favorite cold beverage at the World Showcase, and park it. If you sit there for just 5-10 minutes, you are guaranteed to see people from every race, religion, culture, and country. And you know what ... most of them are having the time of their lives!

"I see friends shaking hands, saying how do you do"

Let's take a moment to single-out a particular group of cast members. The people who stand around for hours and for the most part, greet you happily as they make sure you get through the security and the turnstiles at each park's entrance. You probably never noticed because you're thinking about what ride to go on first, but next time you go ... flash them a smile and say, "Thank you!" You'll be glad you did and more importantly, so will they!

"They're really saying I love you."

Most of them can't talk, but keep this lyric in mind the next time you see your favorite Disney character. Whether you're there for an autograph or a picture ... guess what that character is "really saying?"

"I hear babies cry, I watch them grow"

I'm in my late-30's, and I'm about to become a father for the first time this summer. This lyric is one that I've only witnessed from a distance while "people-watching." It is a rarity, but it does happen that little ones sometimes cry at the parks. Usually they are tired, but sometimes it may be from fright. Perhaps they aren't ready for a particular ride or maybe they just don't think a 7-foot tall Goofy is something they want to be near. This will change. They will grow (and from what I've been told, it is something that happens way too fast).

"They'll learn much more than I'll never know"

Our children and our children's children have many future challenges in the "real world." However at Walt Disney World, they will have many future rewards. They will not only enjoy the experiences that we can give them when they are young, but they will get to see and experience much more of Walt Disney World's 40-plus square miles of property as more of it becomes developed. More parks, more rides, more shows, more resorts and more fun. Long after we're gone, they'll have "more that we'll never know."

"And I think to myself...what a wonderful world."

Thanks for reading and the next time you hear this classic song, think about this; both the song and this magical place were created within a few years of each other. Don't you think it is possible that two of the greatest entertainers of the 20th century, Walt Disney and Louis Armstrong, tapped into that same creative, optimistic and hopeful mindset we should all strive for in our lives?

Ooooooooooh Yeah!

About the Author: Mike Geoghan is a television producer in New York City. He currently works on the talk show "God Squad," hosted by a priest and a rabbi (insert own joke here), but has worked in the past for FX, PAX, and "LIVE With Regis and Kathie Lee." He and his wife Susan have been DVC Members since 2005 and are expecting their first child (a Disney princess) this summer. He soon expects to be a volunteer with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and someday hopes to be employed by "The Mouse." His favorite Disney character is Peter Pan, which explains his insistence on "never growing up."

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UPDATES: What's New and Changed

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Here's a few relevant news items:

David Cook is going to Walt Disney World. The most recent American Idol winner is the subject of a new commercial, marking the first time a performer has been the subject of the "I'm Going to Walt Disney World/Disneyland" commercial series, begun in 1987. Cook also sings the version of "When You Wish Upon A Star" featured in the commercial.

The Concourse Steakhouse at Disney's Contemporary Resort closes for the final time this Saturday, May 31. Chef Mickey's will be expanding and a new counter service restaurant featuring salads and sandwiches will be opening this fall. Also, a new table-service restaurant, The Wave, located in the space formerly occupied by the Food 'n' Fun Center, will open for dinner on June 7, 2008. The Wave will be open for all other meals beginning June 8, 2008.

American Airlines will be charging $15 for the first checked bag on flights beginning June 15, 2008. That's the right, the FIRST checked bag. Other fees, including overweight bags, will be increased as well. Carry-on rules have not changed -- one carry on item (sized to fit in the overhead compartment) and one personal item (sized to fit under the seat in front of you) per person will be allowed.

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:

GREAT GIFT CARD IDEA

"When planning for a splurge Disney trip, or just one which will require a lot of money, use the Disney Store if you have one near you. We are planning a trip for six people. First, we figure out where we are eating, and our activities per person, add them up, and that's the amount per person. Then, each person gets a Disney gift card. We take the amount per person and add money monthly to each gift card until we get the amount desired. We also buy the our park passes, since they won't expire until activated, one month at a time. In the past, we had to come up with all of the money at once, or use charge cards and pay on them long after the trip. Everyone can get in on adding extra money to their vacation, and have a goal to work for. Also, have one additional card for extras or special things."

-- contributed by Anita J. .

COLORFUL CHARACTERS

"We always love to get autographs when we go but were tired of the old autograph books. About two months before we left, I printed coloring sheets of all the characters we would be meeting. My daughter colored them, and then I covered them with clear contact paper. I then put them into a bound book. We used markers and all the characters signed the sheets. Worked out great, plus she got lots of personal attention."

-- contributed by Misty H.

PICK YOUR PINS CAREFULLY

"As my son was waiting to trade pins with a cast member, we overheard him telling the woman in front of us that her pins were not 'trade eligible' because they were not official pins and did not have the Disney imprint on the back. She was upset because she bought them on the Internet to save time. A word to the wise: do not purchase pins off the Internet from an unknown seller; they may not be official Disney pins ... and you and your child will be disappointed! (By the way, he did let her child trade, which was nice.)"

-- contributed by Mary G.

>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

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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 week's journal entry:

"Ah, summer is in the air. The warm scents on the wind remind me of green grass, hot dogs, and baseball! To celebrate the start of summer, I stopped by Casey's Corner for one of his famous hot dogs and a Coke. Mmm mmm good. While I was there I took a fresh look at the place, marveling at the game posters on the walls and the baseball paraphernalia about. Casey's really kept the place in good shape -- it's hard to believe his joint was established in ... (rest of text obscured by a smear of mustard)."

What year was Casey's Corner established?

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 Alan L. who was the winner of last week's trivia contest! Alan was the first person to identify the big bed pictured as Mickey's bed in Mickey's Country House in Toontown at the Magic Kingdom. Bonus points to Jubilibee who was the first person to identify the photo in our PassPorter Photo Archive. To view the original clue, see last week's newsletter at http://www.passporter.com/news/news052208.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

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PASSPORTER PHOTOPICK

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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:

A Real Mad Tea Party

contributed by swgal

View Photo: http://www.passporter.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/1562

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 - 1469 photos

akleos - 568 photos

Dopey007 - 512 photos

Meggera - 347 photos

OffKilter_Lynn - 261 photos

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Q & A WITH JENNIFER & DAVE

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DisneyMovieDiva asks: "Do we take a taxi from LAX to the Grand Californian or should we rent a car?"

Jennifer and Dave answer: "Taxi would be my last choice. It's a long, expensive taxi ride.

Rent vs. a shuttle service? It depends on the nature of your stay. If you're only visiting Disneyland, then a shuttle is fine.

However, because LA has such a competitive car rental market, you could easily rent a car for your full stay, benefit by the ability to travel elsewhere in that car-focused region, and still pay something similar to the cost of a shuttle service, especially if there are more than two travelers in your party.

I just booked a $13/day rate (pick-up/drop-off at LAX) on a compact car from a well-known rental company (although $20-$30 is also possible from other companies). At rates like that, even if it remains parked for your entire Disneyland stay, you're most likely coming out ahead.

You can also take mass transit from Anaheim to visit Hollywood, downtown LA, and Universal, as well as San Diego, with perhaps a short cab ride to fill the gaps. You might be able to use mass transit to make most of the trip from LAX to Disneyland, too (though there's no direct route). All possible, very economical, and with a cleaner environmental footprint."

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 we're 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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OUR SPONSORS: We Recommend...

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PassPorter only accepts advertising from services of the highest quality -- we recommend these companies because we use them ourselves. Please support our sponsors and, in turn, support this newsletter! This week's sponsors are (in order of appearance):

MouseEarVacations.com -- Disney Cruise Line Special Offers

Mouse Fan Travel -- Free Dining Offer

All Star Vacation Homes -- Choose from more than 150 homes within 4 miles of Disney

Thank you, sponsors!

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