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PassPorter News
News,
Announcements, Updates, and Tips
June 26, 2008 * Issue 8.26
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: Christmas in July, no, June
Travel Feature: Hong Kong (continue)
Disney Feature: How I Helped My Scaredy Cat Kid Enjoy
Walt Disney World
Updates: What's New and Changed
Tips: Lost Luggage List, Less Luggage, More Laundry, Blowing
Bubbles
Captain's Corner: Beauty
PassPorter PhotoPick: Beach Club Under Blue Sky
Q and A: Where should we go in Walt Disney World on New
Year's Eve?
Our Sponsors: We Recommend...
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FROM THE AUTHORS: Christmas in July, no, June
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Hi, {{user("firstname")}}!
When Dave was much younger and living in the New York City
area, particularly energetic TV commercials announced, "Crazy Eddie! His
prices are insane!" Part of the insanity was Eddie's "Christmas in
July" sale, and the notion of Christmas in July has been lodged in Dave's
brain ever since. At the moment, it's not quite July, but December's holiday
season is definitely on the brain. As you'll see in What's New and Changed,
we've got more news about Epcot's annual Candlelight Processional. A bit
farther down the page we field a question about New Year's Eve fireworks at
Walt Disney World. Meantime, here in the PassPorter office, we've been up to
our mouse ears in planning for MouseFest ( http://www.mousefest.org ), the
annual gathering of Disney parks fans we help organize at Walt Disney World
early every December. While the details are going to be under wraps for a
little while yet, it's great time to learn about MouseFest at the MouseFest.org
web site. Maybe you'll even subscribe to the MouseFest newsletter, so you'll be
among the first to know (and isn't it always nice to be the first to know)? Do
you already know you're MouseFest-bound? While at MouseFest.org you'll find
downloadable MouseFest graphics for decorating your message board signature
(and anything else that might suit your fancy), a special, interactive
MouseFest Agenda Worksheet (a free example of what PassPorter's Club has to
offer), and updated MouseFest gear from Cafe Press (proceeds go to support
MouseFest).
Fred Block, who runs the very popular MagicMeets event in
Pennsylvania every July, asks us to remind you that only pre-registered
attendees can get in (and we're not going to even tell you where or when you'd
have wanted to try to get in). There is no, and we repeat, no, walk-up
registration, so please, don't come in hopes of getting lucky, especially if
you'd be in for a long drive. Please, save gas! However, if you've got one of
the 500 golden tickets, we'll see you there!
As we explained in previous newsletters, sales of
PassPorter's Walt Disney World 2008 have been so good that we have none
left in the warehouse (although they are still in stock -- for now -- at book
stores around the country). If you can't wait for October to get a 2009 edition
from us, you may purchase a 2008 electronic edition (download only) or get a
2007 edition at a close-out price. 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.
PassHolder Pouches are back in stock! 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. Order at
http://www.passporterstore.com/store/0966899437.aspx
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
* 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, Guest Contributor Courtney Agnello shares the
secret of How I Helped My Scaredy Cat Kid Enjoy Walt Disney World.
Then, Featured Columnist Cheryl Pendry takes us back to Hong Kong to
wrap-up her impressions of that famous city. 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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MouseEarVacations.com!
Now is the perfect time to plan ahead for your 2009 winter
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CST2058090-40 www.MouseEarVacations.com 800-886-8601
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TRAVEL FEATURE: Hong Kong: A Gentle Introduction To A New
Part of the World (Part 2)
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by Cheryl Pendry, PassPorter Featured Columnist
This is a follow-up to the article in the June 12 issue
which looked in general terms at what you can expect when you visit Hong
Kong...
Hong Kong attracts millions of visitors each year, many
crossing the border from mainland China, but many also arriving from countries
around the globe. So, apart from being a convenient stopping point on the way
to places like Australia and New Zealand, what is there to see and do in the
territory?
There are literally hundreds of things to see, but you won't
be able to fit it all in unless you have a long time to spend visiting. We
failed miserably to see everything we wanted to on our seven night stay.
Therefore, it's important to pick out the priorities that really are "must
sees" during any visit here. Fortunately, there are some very obvious ones
that most visitors - and indeed most guidebooks - would agree on.
As much of Hong Kong is exceptionally hilly, it's no
surprise to learn that one of those hills offers some superb views over Hong
Kong Island and further afield to Kowloon, just on the opposite side of the
harbour. Victoria Peak, or "The Peak," as it's more commonly known,
is probably the island's biggest tourist attraction. Standing at around 400
meters/1,312 ft. above sea level, it's reached by the Peak Tramway, which has
operated since 1888.
Despite its name, it's actually a funicular railway that
travels up some pretty impressive gradients during the seven minute ride.
Unfortunately, because it dates from more than 100 years ago, it wasn't
designed to take the volume of visitors that want to head to The Peak today.
Each tram only has two cars and can only take 72 people, which can lead to long
waits, particularly in busier months and at weekends.
Having said that, it's definitely worth the wait for the
view you get when you reach the top. You can either opt to pay to visit the
viewing platform at the top of the new Peak Tower, which we did on our first
visit up there -- and it's certainly worth the entrance fee - or you can just
choose to wander around, taking in the views from outside or from one of the
many restaurants in the Peak Tower.
It's certainly a tourist trap and it's very clear as soon as
you arrive that everything here has been designed to make money, with numerous
shops and places to eat just waiting to take your hard earned cash from you,
but for the view you get, you can almost forgive that. We ended up visiting The
Peak twice during our stay, once during the day and once again for a night time
view, and both are very different but equally rewarding.
Another way to get a great view of the city is to head for
the Bank of China Tower, which has an observation deck on the 46th floor. It's
not something they advertise, even in the lobby, but it is there and it gives a
beautiful -- and very different -- perspective to the views you get from The
Peak.
When something makes it into the Guinness Book of World
Records, you know it's something you need to see - and that's exactly what's
happened with the Symphony of Lights. It takes place every night, using the
buildings of the Hong Kong Island skyline as its base. This 18 minute sound and
light show sees many of the key buildings on the skyline light up in turn in a
range of colors, which are then complimented by the use of lights and lasers
from the top of these buildings. It's a beautiful sight, although for any
Disney fan familiar with the strong music they use in their fireworks displays,
the accompanying soundtrack does leave a little to be desired!
Nearly every city and destination visitor's center in the
world recommends that you visit some of the local museums, but interestingly,
Hong Kong doesn't make a big deal of its museums - and one of them is an
absolute hidden gem. Its Museum of History takes you back in time thousands of
years to the creation of the territory, and then the journey fast forwards
through its life as part of the various Chinese dynasties, Hong Kong's
hand-over to Britain following the Opium Wars, Japanese occupation in World War
Two, and finally its hand-over back to the Chinese. Exhibits include a
three-story set of buildings, housing shops of days gone by. It's a fascinating
place and really does set a standard for other museums around the world.
Whenever I visit somewhere, I always like to explore the
aspects of the place that make it uniqu,e and Hong Kong was no different. It's
famed for its shopping opportunities and in particular, its markets. The Flower
Market is another "must see" with some stunning sights and smells,
while the Jade Market is well worth a look, particularly if you want to pick up
a bargain to take home. Another passion in Hong Kong is horse racing and, as
foreign visitors, you can take various tours not open to the locals. We chose
to take the night-time tour, which takes you to the Happy Valley race course,
where the racing is held on a Wednesday night between September and June.
There's also daytime racing over at the Sha Tin race course on weekends during
the season. Millions of Hong Kong dollars are spent on horse racing each
season, and it's something well worth seeing so you'll understand for yourself
just how passionate the locals get about this passtime.
There's so much more to see and do in Hong Kong, and this is
really only a small appetizer, but it gives you a good idea of just how many
things there are to see and do, and where to start on any visit to this
fascinating city.
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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DID YOU KNOW?
MEI and Mouse Fan Travel is the
Official Travel Planner for
PassPorter's Decade of Dreams
Ready to Join a Winning Team?
Do you have what it takes to make magic?
If you have travel experience and/or want to
compare benefits to your current agency...
We are currently accepting applications for
our summer 2008 affiliate training group!
Click Here: Join Our Affiliate Program:
http://www.mousefantravel.com/mft/join.php?&apid=ptpn
or Visit us
at: http://www.mousefantravel.com/mft/package.php?id=309&apid=ptpn
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DISNEY FEATURE: How I Helped My Scaredy-Cat Kid Enjoy Walt
Disney World
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by Courtney Agnello, PassPorter Guest Contributor
My daughter has always been the cautious type. She sleeps
with all the lights blazing. Her definition of a thrill ride is a whirl on the
carousel. On a bench, please - those horses go up and down pretty fast! Then
there's the issue of theme park characters. How about the time she watched a
parade at Sesame Place perched on my husband's shoulders? Lovable little Elmo
made her so nervous that she threw up on her poor father's head. So when she
was five and we decided to make our first trip to Walt Disney World, it
occurred to us that she could be the only kid on Earth to hate everything
there. How were we going to help her overcome her fears and turn possible
nightmares into Magical Moments?
Before Trip Preparation
As they used to say on Saturday morning cartoons, knowledge
is power. Long before we left for Orlando we tried to let Katie know what to
expect of the different rides, the characters she might meet, and so on. We
felt this would help take away the power her fears had over her. We went
through guidebooks (PassPorter's KidTips are great), and pored over the list of
attractions on the Walt Disney World web site. She let us know her perceived
scariness level of each one, which helped us decide some things to definitely
delete from our touring plan!
We also watched (many, many times...) the Disney Sing-a-Long
Songs DVDs, which were an invaluable - and enjoyable - tool. On these DVDs,
kids interact with the characters in the Disney theme parks while singing songs
that fit the theme of the show. While still at home, she was able to become
familiar with the environment of the Disney parks and see the real-sized
characters having fun with kids around her age. Bonus: our family also learned
some Disney songs we would not have otherwise known. Now we can "Walk
Right Down the Middle of Main Street USA," and sing it to boot.
SPOILER ALERT FOR CHILDREN: We also did something
controversial that worked for us, but might not for every family. We decided to
fill her in on the "grown-up secret" that the non-speaking characters
are really people in costumes. I know this was a risky move! The thought of
cartoons come to life was blowing our little girl's very logical mind. We
wanted to remove the mystery without ruining the magic. To that end, we treated
the concept of the characters the way we deal with the idea of there being a
Santa Claus in every mall at Christmastime. We let her know that while Mickey
and his pals are real, they cannot be everywhere at all times to visit with the
many children who visit Walt Disney World. They need wonderful helpers who will
make their guests feel just as special as they would themselves. She responded
so well to this tactic. She was thrilled to be trusted with this extraordinary
secret and kept her promise not to spoil the magic for other kids. I have no
doubt that knowing about the characters helped her feel more grounded and less
fearful around them.
During Our Trip
Even with all the groundwork we laid, there were still
things at Walt Disney World we had to overcome. It took a day or so of
acclimation for her to feel easy around the characters. Luckily, they seemed to
sense her feelings immediately and won her over more often than we would have
believed. I will never forget our meal at the Crystal Palace, where Piglet
signed her book, "To Brave Katie." And then there was a momentous
occasion - she hugged Tigger. Yes, I said she hugged Tigger! With everything we
did at home to prepare her, she would not have made the progress she did if not
for these amazing cast members. I will be forever grateful to them.
There were some other things that caused Katie anxiety
besides character contact. The first one was her intense fear of the dark.
While we were aware that there are many dimly lit rides, we had no idea of just
how many and just how dark they really are! Almost every ride is pitch black at
some point. We addressed this by giving her a small, pen-sized flashlight. She
was instructed to only shine it inside the car in which she was riding, and
only down at her feet. Being able to do this let her have someplace bright to
look, and reminded her that she was still in the real world without interfering
with the experience of those around her.
Another source of worry for her combined her trepidations
regarding both characters and the dark - the stage shows. The Voyage of the
Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, the Lion King... all have dark parts and
characters galore! We solved this by sitting all the way in the back row. She
still didn't like being in the theaters, where she felt a little trapped until
the end of the show. However, she used her flashlight in the same way as she
did on the rides during the dark parts. She coped as best she could and
sometimes that's all one can ask of a five year old, isn't it?
Lessons For Next Time
Now that she is almost eight, she's a little bit older and
wiser - more experienced in the world and the ways of Walt Disney World. But
she still hates the dark and will not go near a costumed character at a birthday
party. As we are in the midst of planning this summer's Disney vacation, what
lessons from our last visit will help us?
We will definitely bring the penlight. One thing we did not
count on last time was the effect of loud noises in some of the attractions and
during the fireworks. We are adding earplugs to our packing list. And we are
again going over lists of attractions as a refresher. We have found posted
videos of many rides on YouTube. We have "ridden" Expedition Everest
in our living room almost every day! Speaking of rides, we realized that
forcing her to go on something will not mean that she will suddenly enjoy it.
We will listen to her more.
For her part, she seems willing to try some new things.
Without pressuring her we've begun, shall we say, some subtle convincing...
"Test Track only goes as fast as our car, did you know that?"
"As a matter of fact, you do not really go anywhere on Soarin' - you just
feel like you are part of a giant movie. Isn't that cool?" Even if she
doesn't give those a shot, I bet she will at least get off the bench and on to
one of those wild horses on Cinderella's Carousel. And that will be a Magical
Moment itself.
About the Author: Courtney Agnello is the mother of three.
Her articles on several television shows have been featured on pop culture and
reality TV web sites. She and her family are counting down the days until their
upcoming Walt Disney World vacation.
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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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Special for PassPorter News readers:
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UPDATES: What's New and Changed
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Here's a few relevant news items:
The 2008 Candlelight Processional Dinner packages have been
announced. The package includes lunch or dinner at select Epcot restaurants and
reserved seating at the America Gardens Theatre. For Guests NOT on the Disney
Dining Plan, your meal includes an appetizer, entree, dessert, and soft drink
(no alcoholic or specialty drinks), or buffet and soft drink. (Gratuities and
lobster entrees are not included. ) For Guests on the Disney Dining Plan,
the package will use one table service credit and your meal will include
entree, dessert, and soft drink. (Appetizers and gratuities not
included.)
Guests will dine PRIOR to their reserved show time. So if
you have a reservation for the 5:00 show, you will eat your meal during lunch
hours.
Tier 1 - The Garden Grill, Biergarten
Lunch - $27.99 plus tax & gratuity / ages 3-9
$12.99
Dinner -$33.99 plus tax & gratuity / ages 3-9
$14.99
Tier 2 - San Angel Inn, Restaurant Marrakesh, Nine Dragons,
Rose & Crown
Lunch - $37.99 plus tax & gratuity / ages 3-9
$12.99
Dinner - $44.99 plus tax & gratuity / ages 3-9 $14.99
Tier 3 - Chefs de France, Tutto Italia, Le Cellier
Steakhouse, Teppan Edo, Tokyo Dining, Coral Reef
Lunch - $44.99 plus tax & gratuity /ages 3-9
$12.99
Dinner - $53.99 plus tax & gratuity / ages 3-9 $14.99
Disney Vacation Club members can now make reservations for
their home resort 11 months prior to their check-in date and 7 months
prior to their check-in date for all other resorts. Previously, it was 11 or 7
months from the check-out date. DVC has also discontinued the day to day wait
list. All new wait list requests must be for your full length of stay.
Celebrating Independence Day at Walt Disney World? Check out
the new "Disney's Celebrate America! - A Fourth of July Concert In The
Sky," the special fireworks display to be shown at the Magic Kingdom at
9:00 pm on July 3 and 4. On the 4th, IllumiNations will also have a special
holiday finale and Disney's Hollywood Studios will have a special fireworks
display at 9:00 pm followed by Fantasmic! at 10:30 pm. Downtown Disney will
also have a special fireworks display at 10:30 pm.
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:
LOST LUGGAGE LIST
"The last item that I pack into my checked luggage is a
sheet of paper with all of my travel information. I include my name, home
address, home phone number, cell phone number, hotel phone number, flight
numbers, and dates of travel. This is sitting right on top. If my luggage
should get lost and the airline needs to open the luggage to look for clues,
there will be a really good clue staring them right in the face!"
-- contributed by Dean S.
LESS LUGGAGE, MORE LAUNDRY
"Since so many airlines are now charging to check
second (and sometimes first!) bags, I plan to bring laundry soap and a few
dryer sheets on our next trip. I did this on our last trip, while sending my
daughter and husband off to the big pool. I had a quiet afternoon to read and
relax, and no one was bored! Extra tip - dryer sheets keep your luggage fresh
and smelling nice!"
-- contributed by Lauri G.
BLOWING BUBBLES
"When trying to keep my little one entertained when
staking out our viewing spots for the parades, we take along bottles of
bubbles. This keeps my young daughter entertained while waiting for the parade
to start and the people around us have often thought that the bubbles we are
playing with are part of the "pre-show." We also use the bubbles in
long lines waiting for rides."
-- contributed by Joanie D.
>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:
"I'm a sucker for a good romance, and I've always been
quite fond of Beauty and the Beast. So it is with delight that I discovered the
hidden library in France recently. The library in question contains a three
panel, stained glass depiction of the Beauty and the Beast story, yet so many
people never even see it. I was also interested to note the color of the rose
in the glass!"
What color is the rose in the stained glass depicting Beauty
and the Beast in France at Epcot?
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 Loretta who was the winner of last week's
trivia contest! Loretta was the first person to identify the bumper stickers on
the back of the trailer at Winter Summerland as "Santa for
President" and "My Child is Elf Taught". Loretta was also 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/news061908.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:
Beach Club Under Blue Skies
contributed by chezp
View Photo:
http://www.passporter.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7923
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 - 1898 photos
akleos - 568 photos
Dopey007 - 512 photos
Meggera - 347 photos
OffKilter_Lynn - 261 photos
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Q & A WITH JENNIFER & DAVE
====================================
melreid asks: "We're planning a trip over New Year's
Eve with our two kids -- age 11 and 7. What you recommend we do to ring in the
new year? We'll be staying at Port Orleans Resort, but we're willing to seek
out the "best" place to experience this special night!"
Jennifer and Dave answer: "Magic Kingdom will have the
biggest crowds and party, partly because its fireworks show is the most
dramatic. If you're looking for a "scene" on New Year's Eve, you may
want to try it, despite the crowds. The park will definitely fill to capacity
early in the day, and the parking lots will probably close. So if you're
MK-bound, only use Disney Transportation - the buses, monorails and boats
always get through. Still, you may not get in - Disney promises on-property guests
admission to one park (no park hopping), but they can't promise which park. If
one is full, you have to move on to the next.
We did MK on Millennium New Year's Eve, when Allie was
eight. We actually had a really good time. Fantasyland was relatively quiet
during the evening, and simply because it's such a long day, we managed to ride
everything in the park despite all the lines and crowds. The crowding is
intense out on Main St. and in the Hub at fireworks time, but like New York's
Times Square, that's part of the attraction of being there. You'll probably
have to hoist the kids on your shoulders to see the fireworks, though.
We arrived early in the morning, got the necessary hand
stamp (unique to MK for the day), then took a break in early afternoon. We had
a 4:00pm dinner at Chef Mickey's, and walked back to the park. Even though the
park did fill to capacity, people are always coming and going, so it can pay
just to wait a while outside the turnstiles."
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