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PassPorter News
News, Announcements, Updates, and Tips
June 23, 2005 * Issue 5.12
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 --
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Guidebooks.
Learn all about them:
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In This Newsletter:
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From the Editor: Thank
You!
Family Feature: When Bad
Trips Happen to Good People
Disney World Feature: Taking
a Toddler to Walt Disney World (Part 1/2)
Updates: What's New and
Changed
Tips: Souvenir Showcase,
Character Calendars, Swim Show Shuffle
Q&A: Which night to
dine at Palo on a Disney Cruise?
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FROM THE AUTHORS: Memorial
Day Reflections and New York City Bound
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Hi,
{{user("firstname")}}!
I've asked Jennifer and
Dave to allow me to use their usual space this one time. Since this issue of
PassPorter News marks my one year anniversary as Editor I thought I would take
this opportunity to say "Thank You!"
Thank you to Jennifer and
Dave for this opportunity. In addition to my work as the Editor of PassPorter
News, I also began working for PassPorter Travel Press as their Web Promotions
Coordinator. It's a brand new position and I'm still figuring out exactly what
my job description is but I already know that I am quite simply the happiest
employee on the planet.
Thank you to my family.
This past year has been the best year of my life for a number of reasons. My
husband Shawn and I became parents for the first time on October 14, 2004 when
our son Ryan arrived home from South Korea. He has been a complete joy and is
the love of my life. (Sorry, honey!) So thank you to Shawn for handling dinner
every other Monday while I finish the newsletter and thank you to Ryan for
having an early bedtime that allows Mommy to get work done at night!
Thank you to the members
of our message board community who keep me laughing every day. If you haven't
checked out the PassPorter
message boards ( http://www.passporterboards.com
) -- please do! There are 10,000+ members there eager to ask and answer
questions, share a joke, or lend support. The message boards are how I was
first introduced to PassPorter and they continue to be a huge part of my life.
(I'm known as Belle* over there. Look for me as a Co-Guide in the Disney Cruise
forums!)
Thank you to everyone that
has contributed an article, a tip, or an idea. I love reading the e-mails I get
and I am constantly blown away by how creative and talented our readers are.
Which reminds me ...
The biggest thank you
really goes to our readers! Our newsletter is sent out to over 22,000 e-mail
addresses and more people sign up every week. If you know someone who may be
interested -- forward them a copy! And many of our readers become our contributors.
We are always looking for people to submit ideas for stories on travel --
Disney or otherwise. Send me an e-mail at news@passporter.com
and I will send you our guidelines. This past year we have had some wonderful
articles on places to visit up and down the east coast. I would love to include
some West Coast cities in our travel section!
In this issue, Dawn Dobson
offers some insight and tips on what to do when your "perfect trip"
goes awry and Anna Totty arms you with advice on planning to take a toddler to
Walt Disney World. (Part 2 of the article, on what to do once you get there,
will be in next week's issue.) Two more great articles -- two more readers
turned writers!
Thanks again and happy
reading!
Sara
PassPorter Travel Press
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DID YOU KNOW?
WDW and DCL PassPorters
Ship Next Day!
The 2005 edition of
PassPorter Walt Disney World and PassPorter's Field Guide to the Disney Cruise
Line 3rd Edition are now shipping next business day when ordered by 8:00 pm ET
the night before. (Don't forget that Monday is a business holiday, though.) If
you've been waiting to order your copy, now is the perfect time!
Everyone gets a 15%
discount and if you've already got a copy of PassPorter, you can register it at
http://www.passporter.com/register.htm to get a discount coupon good for 30%
off the list price of any PassPorter guidebook.
Order your copy today at:
http://www.passporterstore.com/store/
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Get Published in a
PassPorter Guidebook
Each annual edition of our
guidebooks features a new collection of magical memories from fellow readers.
We know most of you have had magical experiences ... and we'd love the
opportunity to include your story in an upcoming guidebook! To learn more and
submit a story for consideration, visit these pages:
Disney World Stories: http://www.passporter.com/wdw/tipsandstories.htm
Disneyland and S. Cal
Stories: http://www.passporter.com/dl/tips.htm
Disney Cruise Line
Stories: http://www.passporter.com/dcl/tips.htm
Special Needs at Disney
Stories: http://www.passporter.com/wdw/specialneeds/tips.htm
We look forward to
receiving your magical stories!
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FAMILY FEATURE: When Bad
Trips Happen to Good People
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By Dawn Dobson, Guest
Columnist
I saw a billboard that
said "True happiness is being able to enjoy the view even on a
detour." I got to thinking about applying that statement to a Disney World
or Disney Cruise Line vacation, especially during hurricane season.
What makes "the
perfect trip?" How many times do we read (on message boards) that
someone's chosen itinerary, advance dining reservation plans (formerly
"priority seating)" or getting that stateroom upgrade will make for a
"perfect trip?" How does it make those of us whose itinerary gets
swept away on gale force winds feel? For many, much effort and emotion goes
into planning our Walt Disney World vacations. We read our guidebooks and
highlight pages, surf the web and post on message boards, gleaning every scrap
of information we can about everything from the resorts to the rest rooms. We
are well-versed even on the type of shampoo we should expect. The problem is
that sometimes we set our expectations too high. We forget that Mother Nature
may have other plans. We forget that little Mike or Sue might not be able to
walk around, exposed to the bright and luscious wonder of Disney for hours on
end. We forget that there are germs and accidents everywhere we go, yes, even
at the most magical place on earth! We watched the planning video and those
people (and children!) are smiling and laughing and having a wonderful time, so
we will, too, by golly. Or will we? Stuff happens. It is very important for
travelers to remember that little adage. Yes, it may be a once-in-a-lifetime
trip, but if something does go wrong, how you choose to deal with it will make
all the difference in your memories in years to come.
It is best to prepare
ahead of time for the little disasters that are likely to happen during your
stay, so that when you are faced with a "change of plans," you can
adjust readily and with a smile.
Hurricanes are a deadly
force of nature. If you have scheduled your vacation during hurricane season,
you may be in for a bumpy ride. It is a good idea to keep an eye on the sky
(and on the weather forecasts) and make some choices about your vacation. Yes,
you've planned and saved, but is it worth potentially risking your life or the
lives of your loved ones? OK, too late, you are there during the hurricane.
Sitting around the resort room stressing and griping about the storm is not
productive. It just upsets anyone else who is in the room with you. Make the best
of what you have. Go "camping" with the kids. Watch TV. Read a book
together. Make up a new game. If you have children, they are especially
sensitive to your emotions and if you are calm, they will remain calm
themselves. Most of all, remember that the cast members who are assisting you
may have just lost their home or worse, yet here they are, smiling and trying
to help you and yours have a magical time. Be nice. It's a tough gig.
As the mother of four
girls, stressed-out children make me understand why some animals eat their
young. (Just kidding. Really!) There is nothing worse than a melt-down or
screaming temper tantrum as you are about to board Test Track. Chances are you
feel like everyone is staring at you, and that is embarrassing. You may think
they are judging your ability to parent little Mike or Sue. Keeping a vigilant
eye out for signs of fatigue or fear or over-stimulation can help prevent these
situations. (Children who haven't taken a nap in years often do take one at
Walt Disney World -- adults too!) Every guidebook tells you to take the kids
back to the resort for a rest and a swim, but many people do the math and see
how much "park time" that they are "wasting" by doing this.
Re-think your definition of "fun" from a child's point of view and then go have some fun! (Ask many children what their
favorite part of the trip was and they will tell you about the pool at the
resort!)
Accidents happen. So do
blisters and stomach bugs. It is good to know that Disney is equipped with
first aid in each park and a helpful front desk in each resort. On a recent
trip, I stepped into the trolley track right in front of the Castle after
Wishes. I was tired, cranky, and in pain. I went to the first aid station and
they took excellent care of my sprained ankle and bruised ego. I was told to
check at the front desk of my resort as soon as I returned for further medical
information, in case I needed it. Thankfully, I didn't need it, but it was
reassuring to know that it was available to me. It's no fun to be sick or
injured on vacation, but, come to think of it, it's no fun to be sick or
injured at home either. Just file it under "L" in the life
experiences folder.
Some friends of mine
returned last year from their 40th anniversary cruise and I asked how it was,
knowing they had had to do some hurricane-dodging. I was concerned about how
they had dealt with the stress of canceled ports and excursions. She told me
that it was the most wonderful and relaxing time. She laughed as she said the
Captain was joking about the hurricane wanting to visit the same ports they
were supposed to. What she said that had the most impact on me was, "We
were there together, celebrating our marriage. It didn't matter where we went,
just so we went together." They were able to enjoy the view, even on the
detour. That sounds like the perfect trip to me.
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Did you enjoy this
article? Have questions? E-mail us at news@passporter.com or visit
http://www.passporterboards.com to discuss your travel plans.
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WALT DISNEY WORLD FEATURE:
Taking a Toddler To Walt Disney World
(Part 1 of 2)
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by Anna Totty, Guest Columnist
Taking a toddler to Walt
Disney World. To some it sounds like a great adventure, to others it sounds
like a nightmare in the making. Should you rent a stroller or bring your own?
How will you get out of the hotel in time for Extra Magic Hour? How can you
ride Space Mountain when your child can't? What is there to do while you wait
in line? I've taken toddlers to Walt Disney World and it is wonderful. Your
trip can be too, with a little advance planning. Here are some of the tips
we've learned through trial and error during our Disney trips.
There are several things
to do before leaving home to ensure a smooth vacation. First you will need a
stroller. I've heard parents with two- and three-year-olds say they don't need
one because their child walks everywhere at home. But Disney World is the size
of Manhattan and the walking you do here is much more than an average person
does at home. Toddlers need to conserve their energy and need a place to rest
and perhaps even nap while touring the World and a stroller is perfect for
both. Plus, if you're planning on doing a child swap at some of the big rides,
you will need a comfortable place for your child to wait.
Should you bring your own
stroller or rent one? I recommend bringing your own. There are some
disadvantages, but in my experience, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
A lot of it depends on how you explore the parks. If you travel light and only
need a stroller when your toddler needs a break, bringing your own stroller
might not be the way to go. But most toddlers don't travel light. Your toddler,
the toddler gear, cameras, snacks, drinks, and other stuff can be quite a load.
Your stroller can be the perfect pack mule. And if you stay on property, your
cargo-moving needs don't end at the park gate. You've got quite a load to get
to the bus stop and then to your room. Some of the Disney resorts are rather
sprawled out. When we stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge it was over a quarter of a
mile from the bus stop to our room. That's a very long way to carry a tired,
probably sleeping child at the end of the day along with everything else.
Another plus to bringing
your own stroller is that yours is probably made out of a comfortable material
and your child likes it. (Or at least is familiar with it!) Disney strollers
are made out of hard, molded plastic and are too big for babies and are
difficult for some small toddlers to sleep in comfortably. You also know what
your stroller will hold, the best way to pack it for the day, and probably have
those oh-so convenient cup holders. If you bring your own and will be using
Disney transportation, make sure your stroller is lightweight, compact, and can
be folded quickly to get on and off the buses easily.
If bringing your own isn't
an option, don't despair. Disney strollers are very convenient and functional.
You can rent one near the front of every park and at Downtown Disney by the day
or for the length of your stay. They will give you a paper ID tag to place in
the plastic sleeve on the stroller to identify it as yours for the day. If you
decide to park hop, keep your ID tag. Use it to get a stroller at the next park
at no additional charge. If you decide to rent for multiple days, they will
give you vouchers to use for the other days. All you have to do is show the
voucher at the first park each day and place your ID tag on the stroller and
you're ready to go.
Whether you bring your own
or rent, you'll need an easy way to ID your stroller in a sea of others. You
may think you're the only person who has a green striped stroller with white
wheels, but believe me -- you're not. And to make it even harder, Disney has
cast members whose job is to move parked strollers so that everything stays
looking neat. You may have left it next to the entrance of Kilimanjaro Safaris,
but by the time you come out, it could be wedged way back in the back of the
stroller area. Tie something personal to the stroller's handle. It doesn't have
to be big or fancy, a simple bandana will work. Just make it something you can
spot easily.
After the stroller
decision is made, you'll need to decide what bag to take to Disney. Toddlers
never travel light and a trip to Disney is no exception. You'll need a place to
carry all those little things: diapers, pull ups, wipes, extra clothes,
sunscreen, sippy cups, etc. On our second trip, I learned an invaluable lesson
just by chance. I took a clear backpack instead of a regular diaper bag so I
could easily find what we needed in the parks. I had no idea that it would
actually be a big time saver as well. When we came up to the security bag
check, the guards just glanced at it and waved us on through. No having to
spend time unzipping all the pockets and having all our stuff searched.
Security can see everything you have in it in a glance and you can just zip
through the line.
Now that those two
decisions are made, you need to think about ways to make it easier to make it
to the bus stop for Extra Magic Hour or those great character breakfasts. A
little advanced planning goes along way here too. First, when packing, put each
complete outfit in its own zip lock bag (shirt, shorts, underwear/pull-up,
socks, hat, hair bows for girls, etc). That way, all you have to do is grab one
thing out of the suitcase and you have everything you need. Doing this, our
girls could get their own clothes each morning. Plus, you can easily grab a complete
change of clothes to take to the parks with you in case of accidents. And if
anything gets wet during the day, you can pack it in the plastic bag to take
back to the hotel.
Another tip to make it
easier to get going in the morning is to go to a discount store that sells
things for $1 before your trip and buy a shoe holder with pockets that will
hang over the bathroom door or on the closet rod. Put each person's
toothpaste/toothbrush in its own slot as well as hairbrush/comb in one, makeup
in another, etc. It makes it easy to see and get to everything you need in the
morning. Plus, your kids know where their toothbrushes or hairbrushes are all
the time.
To keep arguments down to
a minimum and to be able to find these quickly, bring labels you make at home
and label every thing. This helps in case you lose something. And it also helps
if the kids have two of the exact same thing such as autograph books, sand
buckets that come with the kid meals at Blizzard Beach, Epcot passports, etc.
You will be able to see whose is whose if it has their name on it, cutting down
on lots of arguments. Our youngest can't read yet, so I let her pick out a
character to be for the week. All of her things get a Cinderella label so she
can quickly pick out her own refillable mug or disposable camera as we're
running out the door.
(Next week: You're
finally at Walt Disney World. Now what?)
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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 planning your Disney vacation.
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UPDATES: What's New and
Changed
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Here's a few of the new
developments at Disneyś
On Monday, June 13, 2005,
a child was found unresponsive after riding Mission: Space. 4 year-old Daudi
Bamuwamye, who met the ride height requirement of 44 inches, was on the ride
with his mother. When the ride finished she discovered that he was
unresponsive. Medical personnel attempted resuscitation techniques but were
unsuccessful. The child was transported to Celebration Hospital where he was
later pronounced dead. The ride was closed immediately following the incident
but was re-opened after an investigation found that the ride was operating
normally. During the autopsy, no obvious cause of death such as trauma was
found, further results may take up to 12 weeks. Our thoughts and prayers go out
to everyone affected by this loss.
Star Wars Weekends wraps
up for the year this weekend, June 24-26, 2005. Jake Lloyd, who portrayed
Anakin Skywalker in Episode I, and Warren Fu, Concept Designer on Episode III
and creator of the original design for General Grievous, will be making
appearances throughout the weekend.
Ice Station Cool at Epcot
has been closed and boarded up. No word on whether the closure is
permanent.
Beginning July 1, 2005, Disney
is changing the age range for "child" at all dining establishments
from ages 3-11 to 3-9, similar to the age range used in theme park admissions.
You can view our
page-by-page list of updates and corrections for the PassPorter Walt Disney
World 2005 Edition at http://www.passporter.com/customs/bookupdates.htm.
>Things To Do: Hear
some news? Send it to us at
news@passporter.com
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DISNEY TIPS FROM FELLOW
READERS
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Our readers are a wealth
of information! Here are the winners in this month's tip contest:
SOUVENIR SHOWCASE
"Our family always
makes a showcase out of our resort window (at the value and moderate resorts).
On the windowsill, we will display souvenirs, photos, stuffed animals, etc. It
makes it more personalized and special for us and a sight for the other guests
walking by. Not to mention, it also has been known to help one family member or
another locate our room when they all look the same."
-- contributed by Rebecca Hayes
(strmtropr96@...)
CHARACTER CALENDARS
"Instead of using an
autograph book, we brought a Disney Princesses calendar with us to our
breakfast at Cinderella's Castle. The Princesses (and Prince Charming) were
very excited to find their pictures on the different months and autograph the
pages. We caught up with Ariel in her Grotto. We have enjoyed the calendar all
year! It's a daily reminder of a wonderful trip. On our next trip, we will be
taking the Pooh calendar! "
-- contributed by Susan K.
SWIM SHOE SHUFFLE
"The intense Florida
sun can make the deck around the resort swimming pools unbearably hot. Be sure
to pack a pair of swim shoes to wear in and around the pool. They are also
better to wear for your walk back to your resort room than a pair of
flip-flops."
-- contributed by Fran
Skall
>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
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Q & A WITH JENNIFER
& DAVE
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ReneHW asks: "I am
trying to pick the best night for Palo reservations. I have reservations
currently for Palo on the third night of our West Coast cruise, but after
reading my PassPorter last night, I discovered that we will most likely have
Animator's Palate (this is based on having an 8 and 10 year old) on the 3rd
night. I have also learned that the "show" at Animator's is only on
the 1st night of your rotation. Do I reschedule my Palo reservations for our
second night or miss the Animator's "show"?"
Dave answers: "Please
remember that we don't "predict" your rotation, we only state what's
likely based on the makeup of your party.
One approach would be to
plan Palo for the fourth night (or later). That way you'll experience all the
dining rooms once and catch the Animator's show, regardless of what rotation
you actually receive. I think every cruiser should experience Animator's once,
but it's not nearly so important to catch each of the "theme" dinners
that occur later in the cruise."
Have a question? Post it
at http://www.passporterboards.com
-- and if you're lucky, you may find that folks have already asked and
answered the same question that's on your mind!
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WANT TO GET PUBLISHED?
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We're on the lookout for
guest columnists to contribute articles to this newsletter. 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. For
details and our article guidelines, please e-mail our newsletter editor, Sara
Varney, at news@passporter.com . Articles about Disney and general travel are
welcomed!
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