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PassPorter News
News, Announcements, Updates, and Tips
August 7, 2003 - Issue
3.13
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: On The Road Again
* Travel Today: Dress for Travel Success
* Disney Feature: The Joys of Disney Fan Gatherings
* Updates: What's New and Changed
* Tips: Disney Letters, Dialing for Meals, DCL Romantic Escape
* Q&A: Advance Booking for Airlines
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FROM THE AUTHORS:
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Hi, {{user("firstname")}}!
The PassPorter office has been busy this week! We’re busy planning our last
research trip of the year before we go to press on the 2004 edition of PassPorter
Walt Disney World. We’ll be two very busy campers when we reach Orlando next
week! If that’s not enough, we’ve been hard at work upgrading our online
PassPorter Store. The new store software is greatly improved—it’s much easier
to place an order, there are far fewer glitches, and we can offer you a bunch
of new options and features! Meantime, this fall’s MouseFest gathering on
the Disney Cruise Line and at Walt Disney World is fast approaching. Jennifer
will be filling you in on all our plans, and news about the great MouseFest
deals that are still available through MouseEarVacations.com. Finally, even
though winter is far away, Dave’s already thinking about how he’ll dress
for that December journey. He shares some of his pick tips for making the
journey in comfort and style. As always, we’ve got tips from fellow travelers,
news about Walt Disney World, and a good bit more. Bon voyage!
Your friends,
Jennifer and Dave
Authors, PassPorter Travel Guides
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TRAVEL TODAY: Dress for Travel Success ========================================================
by Dave Marx
"Oh dear, what shall I wear?" Readers frequently ask what to wear once they
reach their destination, and we’re happy to oblige, with suitable packing
lists for Walt Disney World, Disney cruises, and soon, Disneyland and southern
California. But this time, rather than expound on resort wear, I’m going
to set my sights on something a bit different, "traveling clothes."
Traveling clothes have long had a special cachet. The veteran voyager has
been expected to wear lots of rumpled linen, desert boots (or huarache sandals),
and a Panama hat – in short, the spitting image of a foreign correspondent.
Modified safari gear is also stylish, especially those heavily-pocketed vests
favored by photojournalists. It’s as if the sun never set on the British
Empire. The image persists, especially since so many travel writers are former
or wannabe foreign correspondents themselves. (If you could choose between
war, starvation or natural disaster and resort travel, which would you pick?)
Yes, I’m talking about fashions from the bygone days of Banana Republic (before
The Gap morphed it into an upscale-casual emporium), the even farther bygone
days of the original Abercrombie and Fitch, and the kind of high-priced goodies
you can still find in the J. Peterman catalog (http://www.jpeterman.com).
These days, TravelSmith (http://www.travelsmith.com) is one of the better
sources for these fashions, but you’ll most likely find me shopping at Land’s
End (http://www.landsend.com), even though it’s now part of Sears Roebuck.
I have a soft spot in my heart for all these retailers, plus more down-to-earth
travel outfitters like the REI Co-op (http://www.rei.com). But as much as
I like Windows and (catalog) shopping, when I actually pull out my wallet,
I get very cheap. Bless all those online retailers who have closeout departments!
Not everyone is a slave to travel fashion. Most folks at the airport are
dressed in their favorite Saturday casuals—everything from jeans and football
jerseys to country club attire. Yes, almost anything can work in the air
conditioned comfort of modern air travel, but once you’ve reached your destination
you may find far less comfort than you bargained for. If you dress right
you’ll be ready to vacation as soon as you exit the plane (even if your hotel
room isn’t ready yet).
My travels often begin in the frigid pre-dawn of a Michigan winter and deposit
me in the sun-drenched humidity of a Florida midmorning. Even though I might
be tempted to wear flannel-lined pants and a turtleneck, I learned a long
time ago to dress comfortably for the warm weather, and to add layers over
that for the cold. This works whether I’m heading to the warmth, or will
be flying home to the cold.
The night before I head South (or Southwest) I set out loose-fitting shorts
and a short-sleeved shirt. Over these, I’ll wear pull-over pants (wind pants,
sweats, warm-ups, whatever works for you), and a cozy polyester fleece top.
This is more than enough to keep me comfy in the terminal and on the plane,
and they’re easy to remove in public whenever I begin to feel too warm. It
used to be I’d wear all this stuff on the plane and remove it as soon as
I reached my destination. Lately, I’m down to my warm weather wardrobe soon
after I board - it seems the airlines are keeping cabins warmer than they
used to.
If a friend or family member is dropping you off (and picking you up) at
a cold weather airport, leave your winter coats in the car. As long as you’re
wearing a sweater you’ll survive the short walk to the terminal entrance,
and the coat will be waiting for you when you return. If you’re leaving your
car in long-term parking, you may prefer to stuff your coat into your checked
luggage as soon as you enter the terminal. Either way, this is the last time
you’ll need it until you return home. The ritual of "stashing the winter
coat" is a great warm-up for the balmy days ahead. Don’t even think of carrying
your coat on the plane with you. You’ll have to send it through x-ray, and
it’s one more item to carry and keep track of. As an alternative to the heavy
winter coat, think about layering a lighter jacket plus several pullovers.
Winters in Florida and California can get chill enough to make all those
items useful.
I may need light boots when I leave home, but when the temperature’s above
60, you can’t pry me away from cool, airy sandals. At six-foot one tall,
I can also use all the airline foot room I can get. Once on board the plane
those trim sandals have big, clunky shoes beat, hands, er, feet down. I pack
my sandals right on top of my check-through and swap my footwear before I
check my luggage.
If I’m going to be spending long hours in an airline seat (or in a car, for
that matter), I want to be as comfy as I can be. Tight pants do not make
me a happy traveler. And I know only guys are dumb enough to do this, but
don’t keep your wallet in your back pocket, especially if you plan to buy
an adult beverage on your flight. Your butt is going to get sore enough anyway
in those broken-down economy class seats, and your neighbor won’t appreciate
your elbow in his/her ribs while you struggle to free your billfold. I make
sure my pullover top has at least one wallet-sized, zippered pocket.
A lot of what I’ve said goes for long drives in the car, too. Comfy pants,
nothing in my back pockets, and a comfy pullover under my coat. It’s remarkable
how many people drive long distances in a heavy overcoat. As soon as the
car’s heater has done its work (pre-heating the car before you leave is a
good strategy) I’m out of that bulky, restrictive parka. My pullover is enough
to keep me warm until I can don my overcoat to pump gas or visit a rest stop.
In shorts-and-short sleeved shirt weather we wear something a bit unexpected
– sunscreen. Jennifer’s skin is especially sensitive, but we’ve both found
that our exposed arms and thighs can get roasted by the sunshine pouring
through the windshield.
Lately, I’ve added one more item to my air travel wardrobe – a PassHolder
Pouch ( http://www.passporterstore.com/store/0966899437.aspx ). With all
the ID cards and papers you need to keep readily available these days, it’s
great to have them all hanging around your neck in plain view. No fumbling
in pockets (or purses) for wallets and boarding passes, and with its transparent
front pocket, your photo ID can stay right where it is, in plain view. On
International trips, its zippered inner pocket is perfect for passports,
too. More than one airport security guard has thanked me for being so well
prepared. And lest this seem like a commercial plug, you’ll find similar
items from sources including TravelSmith and most luggage stores, and they’re
appearing at many airport giftshops and newsstands, too.
So, I’ve been going on and on about what I wear on my way to the warm weather,
so I should spend a minute on what I wear when I get to the "tropics."
Yes, I do have a generous supply of linen shorts and trousers. They really
are superior to cotton in hot, humid environments. But I only buy them on
sale. One of these days I’m going to buy a pair of convertible trousers –
the kind with zip-off legs. It’s an easy way to go from long pants to shorts
with a minimum of fuss and bulk. Let me know when you see a good sale! I
recently bought a safari-style hat with a crown made of breezy mesh, after
I got one too many sunburns on my thinning scalp. Shirts? You can’t separate
me from my collection of cotton pique polo shirts (if you can, my daughter
Allie will be forever grateful – she thinks they’re much too boring). Those
polos are just so plain versatile; although I must admit I’m a creature of
habit in this regard. Cotton is not the coolest fabric, although pique works
far better than jersey knits. (Wear white and light colored tops, not navy
blue – you’ll bake!) When the weather heats up I’m usually more comfy in
loose-fitting tropical shirts and my cotton seersucker buttondowns. I’ll
probably be getting more of these as time goes by.
So, I apologize if I’ve focused entirely on traveling from freezer to oven,
but I’m confident you can fill in the less extreme blanks. Happy comfortable
travels to you all!
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DISNEY FEATURE: The Joys of Disney Fan Gatherings
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by Jennifer Watson
Ask a Disney vacationer for their best tip and you’ll probably hear, "Go
when there aren’t many people around." The off-season with its lower crowd
levels is, indeed, a great time to visit. But what if we revealed that our
best vacations were during the off-season AND with lots of people?
No, this isn’t a contradiction. We’re talking about Disney Fan Gatherings,
sometimes called Meets and Fests, and they’ve given us some of our most vivid,
fantastic memories!
Ok, so what’s a Disney Fan Gathering? Essentially, it’s a reunion – whether
you’re meeting old friends or making new friends with kindred souls who enjoy
Disney as much as you do. We know that sounds a bit sappy, but we kid you
not – virtually everyone we’ve met at a gathering feels like a friend, even
if we just met a moment ago. It’s that Disney connection that binds us together
so quickly. And, since most fans KNOW that the best time to visit is during
the off-season, most gatherings are also scheduled during that period. The
best of both worlds!
We’ve attended gatherings as small as three people and as large as over 400!
Most gatherings are open to anyone who wants to attend. Gatherings are generally
casual and unstructured, but a few also involve a bit of advance planning
or even a friendly competition. Likewise, most gathering events are completely
free of charge (outside of park admission or the cost of a meal), while a
few may involve small fees to cover the costs of materials or prizes. They
appeal to vacationers of all walks of life and experiences – from the first-timer
to the fanatic.
The most obvious reason to attend a gathering is social. Disney is a huge
place, and it’s easy to feel lost in the masses. Knowing just one other person
can enrich your experience and increase your enjoyment. There are many other
reasons to join a gathering, such as:
∑ Do something unique. Everyone can watch IllumiNations, but how many get
to watch from the deck of a private patio or boat? Or enjoy a Buzz Lightyear
Space Ranger Spin or virtual Daytona USA tourney? Or go on a Treasure or
Hidden Mickey Hunt? These and many more unique events are offered during
gatherings, and they are often the ONLY time you can experience them in this
manner.
∑ Save money. Larger gatherings offer great rates on vacations so folks can
afford to attend. The upcoming MouseFest 2003 event has unbeatable rates,
though some of the group rates are closing soon (August 15). You can take
advantage of these rates even if you’re not sure about the social stuff.
See the bottom of this article for more information.
∑ Meet celebrities. Ok, well at least they’re celebrities in the Disney arena.
Guidebook authors often attend gatherings and sign autographs – we attend
many gatherings, and we know that Bob Sehlinger (author of the Unofficial
Guide) and Steve Barrett (author of Hidden Mickeys) will be at the upcoming
MouseFest 2003 gathering. You can also meet other luminaries like Deb
Wills and Debra Koma (of WDWIG.com and AllEarsNet fame), Allison and Tom
Keaney (of WaltWouldWaltDo.com), Mary Waring (founder of MouseSavers.com),
Mike Scopa (from MousePlanet.com), Scott Thomas (founder of PSCalculator.net),
Pam VanSyckle (from WDWMagic.com), Rose Folan (founder of AdultsatWDW.com),
and many more at the MouseFest 2003 gathering. These folks are all very friendly
and a font of information and tips.
∑ Get cool stuff. Giveaways and prizes aren’t unusual, and many hosts like
to give small tokens to folks who attend their events. Of course, it’s always
nice to have something to give in exchange, like a small souvenir from your
hometown. When folks meet us, we usually have some small PassPorter trinket
to share.
So what’s the downside? The large gatherings, such as MouseFest, are usually
only held once a year, and their dates may not coincide with your vacation
dates. Some folks chose to vacation specifically during a gathering so they
know they can attend some events. If this isn’t an option for you, go to
the Backyard: Gatherings, Meets, and Group Trips forum (http://www.passporterboards.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum;f=30)
in the PassPorter Message Boards. You may get lucky and find some folks who
are forming a gathering, or just post a note and start one yourself!
Dates of upcoming gatherings are generally posted in the PassPorter Message
Boards. And you can always get the details of the next major PassPorter Gathering
at http://www.passporter.com/gathering.htm . Be sure to also visit http://www.wdwig.com
, which is the repository for information on RADP and MouseFest gatherings.
Also visit http://www.disboards.com and check the DIS Meets forum.
Now we have a confession to make – the real reason we’re sharing our love
of Disney gatherings is to encourage you to attend one! The more folks we
meet – old and new friends alike – the more fun we have. The next major gathering
we will attend is MouseFest 2003, of which our own PassPorter Gathering is
a part. It’ll be held on both land & sea this year: a 4-night Disney
Wonder cruise from 11/30-12/4, and a five-day gathering at Walt Disney World
from 12/4-12/8. We have a whole slew of fun and unique events planned for
the cruise, including two treasure hunts and several private parties, and
at last count there were over 35 events planned for Walt Disney World. Everyone
is welcome and invited… and we mean everyone. It’s entirely open to all –
the only costs involved are those of going on a vacation (i.e., cruise, hotel,
park passes, food, etc.) and a few nominal entrance fees here and there (i.e.,
$10 for a treasure hunt, $30 for the Great Race event).
MouseEarVacations.com (http://www.mouseearsvacations.com/mousefest.php) has
some great rates available for the cruise and/or land portions of MouseFest,
but the cruise deal expires on August 15. If you’re at all interested, be
sure to check it out!
To learn more about the PassPorter Gathering & MouseFest 2003, visit:
http://www.passporter.com/gathering.htm
If you can’t make MouseFest, we will be in Walt Disney World next week (8/11-18)
for our annual research trip. If you see us in the parks or on a bus, please
say hello – we love to meet new people!
Hope to see you at Disney!
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UPDATES: What's New and Changed
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THE TABLES HAVE TURNED
The hot Walt Disney World news these past two weeks is the change in Disney
Dining’s Priority Seating dining reservation system. A small storm ensued
when word of the proposed changes leaked out over the Internet. The good
news is that Disney listened carefully to people’s concerns and comments,
and the final policy is a good deal for everyone.
Rather than get you upset over what could have been, let’s just cover what’s
real. As of August 4, Priority Seating "reservations" for everyone can be
made 90 days in advance for most Disney theme park and resort hotel restaurants.
In the past there were a variety of reservation "windows," ranging from 60
days to 120 days, depending upon the restaurant and park. There are still
a few exceptions (listed below), but for most Disney guests, this will untangle
a lot of complications and confusion over when to call for which meal.
Theme Park and Resort restaurants – 90 days prior
Character Meals (including Cinderella’s Royal Table) – 90 days prior
Victoria & Albert’s Chef’s Table – 180 days prior
Bistro de Paris – 30 days prior
Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue – 2 years prior
Disney's Spirit of Aloha Dinner (luau) - 2 years prior
Lunch With a Disney Artist – 30 days prior
*Fantasmic! Dinner Package – 90 days prior
Candlelight Processional Dinner Package – seasonal
Mickey’s Backyard Barbecue – seasonal
Evening Childcare "Clubs" (Never Land Club at Polynesian, Simba’s Cubhouse
at Animal Kingdom Lodge, etc.) – 90 days prior
Grand Floridian Kid’s enrichment programs (Wonderland Tea Party, etc.) –
90 days prior
To make Priority Seating reservations, phone Disney Dining at 407-WDW-DINE
(407-939-3463)
Our thanks to Scott Thomas from http://www.pscalculator.net , who did so
much to keep everyone on top of all the rumors and changes as they developed.
Disney may have simplified Priority Seating a bit, but Scott’s site is still
a must-visit for anyone planning a Walt Disney World vacation.
*Note: The Fantasmic! Dinner Package can now be reserved by everyone, not
just Disney resort guests or last-minute signups at the park.
SPACE LAUNCH
As of August 10, Mission: SPACE, Epcot’s new E-Ticket attraction, should
be up and running full time (or something resembling it). The ride, originally
slated to "officially" open in October, has been open intermittently for
a while now for preview and testing to (mostly) enthusiastic reviews. Back
in April, Walt Disney World president Al Weiss announced the attraction would
"soft open" on August 15, with the official opening (essentially, a ceremony
for the press and travel industry) slated for October. (Soft openings are
something like a dress rehearsal, where Disney reserves to close the attraction
and make changes without notice.) Things have been going so well that the
soft opening was advanced by five more days, to August 10, and Disney isn’t
even bothering to call it a soft opening anymore. PassPorter Authors Jennifer
and Dave will be down at Walt Disney World next week. You can be sure they’ll
report their spin on this big, new attraction.
RUMORED NEW 15-MONTH CELEBRATION
For a while it seemed that Disney World was one long "celebration." It seemed
the 15-month party for Magic Kingdom’s 25th anniversary had barely ended
before the 15-month Millennium Celebration began. The Millennium slipped
right into the 100 Years of Magic party for Walt Disney, which petered-out
about 18 months after it began. Word from the Disney grapevine was that we’d
get a break from these big events for a while, as guests seemed to be getting
bored. Nothing huge has been planned for Mickey’s 75th "birthday" later this
year (more accurately, Mickey’s debut in Steamboat Willie), so we expected
the next big party would be the celebration of Disneyland’s 50th Birthday
in July, 2005.
Wrong! At least, that’s the latest report from Screamscape.com and WDWMagic.com.
Apparently, starting this October, there will be a 15-month "Magical Gatherings"
celebration, aimed at groups of eight or more. The sites quote Walt Disney
World president Al Weiss as their source, but we haven’t had any luck corroborating
the report through our regular sources. Yet.
From the description, Magical Gatherings sounds like a marketing program,
rather than a full-fledged celebration. According to Screamscape, parties
of eight or more staying at a Walt Disney World resort hotel can get the
"Grand Gathering" treatment, including special trip planning assistance and
perks at their resort.
A Google search turned up several other hints. A fan page reports that the
musical group Jump5 (who have made several recordings for Disney) will be
performing at WDW’s October media event, entitled (according to this source),
"Magical Gatherings." The Orlando Sentinel also recently reported hearing
that the upcoming theme of a new TV advertising campaign will also be "Magical
Gatherings."
So, our best guess is that Disney will link all the excitement over the official
October openings of Mission: SPACE, Mickey’s PhilharMagic, and the new Magic
Kingdom fireworks show, plus the December opening of Disney’s Pop Century
Resort and the spring 2004 opening of Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort. Maybe
they’ll toss-in a few extra goodies, too, all aimed at encouraging multi-room
hotel bookings by groups of family and friends. Considering how many groups
visit Walt Disney World (can you say, MouseFest?), it seems like an awfully
good business strategy. Will your magical gathering be able to take advantage
of the rumored special perks? Sorry, it’s too early to say.
>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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LETTERS FROM DISNEY FRIENDS
"Our last trip to Disney was also the first for our two children. So my wife
decided to make the experience for them really special. About 1 1/2 months
before we were scheduled to leave my wife had the kids favorite Disney characters
"write" them a letter (on character themed letterhead she created) and she
mailed each of them a letter once a week. Each week the kids would get a
letter from Cinderella, Snow White, Sebastian, Simba, Goofy, and of course
she saved Mickey & Minnie for last. The look of joy and excitement on
the kids’ faces was worth all the work she put into this. It also drove the
kids nuts! Wanting to leave for Disney each day they received their letter.
It was the perfect build up for the kids and to be honest, their excitement
got my wife and I just as excited to leave." -- contributed by Blair
CELL PHONES FOR MEALS
"I get so excited about playing in the parks all day that I never know what
I'll feel like having for lunch or dinner later in the day. I don't stop
to make meal reservations. Even though I may be steps away from where I decide
to dine, while I'm in line for an attraction or ride, I use my cell phone
and call 407-WDW-DINE for reservations. I have so many cell minutes.....I
won't miss them, but I don't want to miss the Disney fun."-- contributed
by Cynthia Olsen (cdolsen@bellsouth.net)
RESERVE PALO IN ADVANCE
"Adults on the Disney Cruise Line who’re planning on visiting the spa and
the adults-only restaurant, PALO... consider a Romantic Escape at Sea package.
It doesn't have to be a romantic intention, but for $299 per couple you get
an aromatherapy massage, guaranteed reservations at Palo, and some extras.
That way, you don't have to worry about rushing to board and perhaps missing
your chance to snag a reservation. You are guaranteed a spot!" -- contributed
by Kelly Denning (kelina77@yahoo.com)
>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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In this column we answer your frequently asked PassPorter and Disney questions.
redsback asks:
"We are planning to return Thanksgiving weekend 2004, so the flight schedules
aren't published yet. I want to book as early as possible, though since I
know the prices will increase greatly as the dates get closer. Do you know
how early the airlines publish their schedules?"
Dave replies:
"Most airlines book up to eleven months in advance. Airfares typically start
high, then drop, and finally go back up again during the last few weeks before
traveling. Book early and you will be sure of having a flight during that
busy period, but it won't be cheap. Not only that, but the flight schedule
may change several times while you hold the ticket. If you're nervous, book
about six months ahead. If you want to save some money, consider booking
about two or three months in advance. Any closer than that during Thanksgiving
time and you do run the risk of not finding the flight you want."
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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