Hi,
{{user("firstname")}} -- Here's your copy of the latest PassPorter
newsletter, per your subscription request. -- Thanks, Jennifer & Dave
==========================================
PassPorter News
News, Announcements, Updates, and Tips
August 15, 2005 * Issue 5.15
PassPorter.com - http://www.passporter.com
==========================================
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
==========================================
In This Newsletter:
==========================================
From the
Authors: Greetings From Onboard the Disney Magic in the Pacific Ocean
Travel
Feature: Soarin' Over South Africa
Disney World
Feature: Everyone, Start Your Engines!
Updates: What's
New and Changed
Tips: Fabric
Finders, Clean Showers, Pass the Popcorn
Q&A: Cruising
with a child under 3?
====================================================
FROM THE AUTHORS: Greetings
From Onboard the Disney Magic in the Pacific Ocean
====================================================
Hi,
{{user("firstname")}}!
Excuse us
while we put down the Mickey bars we just received from stateroom dining and
let us send you warm greetings from the Disney Magic on its voyage from
California to Florida through the Panama Canal! Yes, that's right, this
newsletter is hot off the wireless Internet onboard the Disney Magic and we're
having the time of our lives! If you'd like to read more about our experiences
onboard this historic cruise (we've heard a rumor Roy Disney got onboard
yesterday in Acapulco), you can read our live trip report at:
http://www.passporter.com/panamacanalcruise
Back on the
homefront, the release on our new Special Needs guidebook is going wonderfully!
The book has gotten warm welcomes from folks around the Internet, a rave review
from Bob Sehlinger (author of "The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney
World"), and a very high Amazon sales ranking! The guidebook,
"PassPorter's Walt Disney World For Your Special Needs," is in stock
in the PassPorter Store and with Amazon.com. Bookstores will probably need another
week or two to get it in stock.
In this
edition of the newsletter, Michelle Mangio gives us a stunning look into the
exotic country of South Africa, and Jacque Boyles shares her adventures on the
Richard Petty Driving Experience. Excellent articles... and great for those
armchair travelers among us. Enjoy!
Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter Travel Press
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DID YOU KNOW?
All PassPorters Ship Next Day!
The 2005 editions of all our
PassPorter guidebooks are now in stock and shipping: PassPorter Walt Disney
World 2005, PassPorter's Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line 3rd Edition, and
PassPorter's Walt Disney World For Your Special Needs are now shipping next
business day when ordered by 8:00 pm ET the night before. (We should note,
however, that we're down to our last couple hundred copies of our PassPorter
WDW 2005 edition, but we just re-stocked on our Disney Cruise Line edition
because our first printing sold out in just two months!) 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 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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========================================================
TRAVEL FEATURE: SoarinÕ Over
South Africa
========================================================
By Michelle R.
Mangio, owner of Magical Escapes Vacations and a "Fundi" South Africa
Expert
Imagine for a
moment... you are winding down a road that seems removed from the rest of
civilization, twisting among low-lying trees and vegetation until -- suddenly
-- the Lodge appears before you, thick thatched roof and dark wooden timbers
over a welcoming entrance. You step inside to see a glimpse of African luxury
and dˇcor. Across from you, you can see the savannah through the huge window,
and the fire pit where you are asked to gather at night to tell stories, enjoy
the stars, and immerse yourself in the experience of the African safari. But
first you are taken to your room, where windows and balconies overlook the
grasslands. You can barely contain your squeal of delight as a giraffe lifts
its head up and seems to look right at you.
Where are you?
For most of us, this would be your entrance to Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge in
Walt Disney World, a deluxe resort designed to transport the experience of an
African safari lodge to sunny Florida. But what you were really experiencing
was your first moments on a safari in Kruger National Park, located deep in the
heart of South Africa.
For most
Americans, Africa is synonymous with Safari. Whenever I think of that
destination, my mind conjures up images of wind-swept grasslands where lions
lounge, elephants and giraffes graze, and a cheetah dashes by on a high-speed
chase after a zebra. And while no South African experience would be complete
without a Safari, there is much more to this amazing destination.
So close your
eyes for a moment and imagine (okay, read all of this first, and then close
your eyes and imagine...)
We'll start
with Kruger National Park, a vast stretch of wilderness larger than the country
of Israel, home to the largest diversity of wildlife in all of Africa: more
than 640 mammal and bird species, and over 300 different types of trees.
Luxurious private reserves surround its borders, offering game lodges
reminiscent of Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge with one notable exception: small
size, often limiting its clientele to no more than 20 guests at a time. Under a
brilliant star-filled sky, you gather for a barbecue, tell stories, sing songs,
and then embark on a night game drive led by experienced guides.
You continue
on, soaring over Blyde River Canyon, the only green canyon in the world. You
stop for a moment to gaze out over "God's Window," arguably the
worlds most breathtaking view as you look over a series of canyons,
escarpments, mountains, and the interior plateau stretching out endlessly
before you.
Onward you go,
to the capital of Johannesburg, an amazingly energetic city of great shopping,
fine dining, and night life that continues well on into the day. But it's also
a city steeped in history, with roots to the Apartheid movement, the birthplace
of Nelson Mandela, and the World Heritage site "The Cradle of
Mankind," where you can view the fossilized remains of the man-like
creatures from which human beings evolved.
You find
yourself next on the pristine beaches of the warm Indian Ocean. The eclectic
city of Durban provides a little bit of something for everyone, and is also
home to the largest aquarium in the southern hemisphere, Ushaka Sea World.
Enjoy the diversity of world cultures in this city through its architecture,
dining, shopping, and arts, or lounge on one of the many pristine Blue Flagged
beaches in the area. Along the way to your next destination, stop at the
"living museum" of PheZulu, where you can experience Zulu culture,
including traditional cooking, thatching, spear making, and dancing.
Now you zip
across to the other side of South Africa, to the cooler Atlantic coast. The Garden
Route takes you from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town, where your imagination is
captured by tangled forests fading into purple mountains, dramatic cliffs that
tumble into the sea followed by long stretches of sandy beaches. In sheltered
coves, you can even watch dolphins and whales at play. In the small towns
dotting the region, you can choose from a dizzying array of adventure
activities, art galleries & museums, and craft centers.
Southward your
grand adventure takes you, to the "Mother City," Cape Town, ranked as
one of the top destinations of the world. This amazing and lively city will
capture your heart and soul with all it has to offer: culture, wine &
vineyards, breath-taking scenery, pristine beaches, leisure activities of all
sorts. Whether your desire is to stay in a country inn or spa nestled among the
vineyards, take a trek into the national parks to view a waterfall, or soak up
the culture, dining, and shopping of an energetic South African city, Cape Town
and its environs has it all.
Now you can
close your eyes, and picture all that we just saw. Are you ready to escape away
to Africa now? Would you believe that this is only the tiniest fraction of what
South Africa can offer?
It's an ideal
location, in a sub-tropical climate nestled between the warm Indian Ocean and
the cooler Atlantic. This Mediterranean-style climate, coupled with its large
area and varied landscape, ensures that South Africa always has an area that is
reliably warm (without being too sweltering) for your vacation. The best time
to visit South Africa very much depends on what you wish to do while there. For
example, the best safari season is August to October, while viewing humpback
whales is best August to December. If you enjoy scuba diving or surfing, visit
April to September, but December to March is best for beach combing on one of
South Africa's many pristine beaches.
Because of the
enormous size of South Africa, as well as the varied destinations and
activities available, working with a South African Expert is the best way to
ensure that your vacation matches your dreams. On South Africa Tourism's web
site, you can search for a "Fundi," an expert on South Africa
certified by their tourism board. There are only about forty-six experts
currently in the U.S., but you can be certain that by working with one of them,
your vacation will be more than you imagined it could be.
It is a long
flight to Johannesburg or Cape Town; nearly 18 hours direct from the US. Many
travelers fly first to Europe, for a brief sojourn before departing on an
overnight flight to South Africa. You want to stay at least a week, though many
packages offered to the region are ten to fourteen days in length.
South Africa
is an exciting and hot destination. While certainly more expensive than a trip
down to the Animal Kingdom Lodge in Florida, as this destination grows in
popularity, the costs of a South African getaway are also coming down. And
there are activities and accommodations for all budgets available.
The next time you walk into
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, imagine what it would be like to step into a
real safari lodge, deep in the heart of South Africa. It may have seemed an
impossible dream, but it's no longer so far out of reach; this amazing
destination offers 360 degrees of possibilities for your vacation dreams.
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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.
========================================================
WALT DISNEY WORLD FEATURE: Everyone,
Start Your Engines!
========================================================
by Jacque
Boyles, Guest Columnist
I have been a
NASCAR fan for nearly 30 years. So when I read about Richard Petty Driving
Experience, or RPDE, at Walt Disney World Speedway I knew I had to try it. RPDE
puts you in a NASCAR "Cup" style stock car, either as a passenger or
behind the wheel. I love to drive, so I called 1-800-BE-PETTY and made a
reservation for the 8 lap "Rookie Experience."
As I drove
through the tunnel to the Speedway infield, I got goose bumps thinking that
this was how real race drivers get to the track. At RPDE everyone knew how
nervous this "Rookie" was and they put me at ease. There was the
usual waiver, but it was carefully explained so I was comfortable signing it. I
was fitted for a fire suit to wear over my clothes (they have all sizes!).
Since it gets hot in the car and I'd be crawling in and out of the window, I
wore my favorite NASCAR t-shirt and shorts. Because the floor in the car gets
hot, I wore sneakers and socks to protect my feet. While I waited for the
driver's orientation, I read the inscriptions on photos of celebrities who have
done RPDE at WDW. My favorite was Michael J. Fox, whose picture said "Sorry
about the car!"
I watched a
safety and orientation film and then was introduced to the instructor, a
licensed NASCAR driver. Next there's a van ride around the track to see the
"driving line" marks on the pavement. The instructor told me I would
be in my own car with him in a car on the track in front of me. The first
couple of laps he'd evaluate my driving ability, slowly increasing the speed.
If he felt that I was capable of handling it, I could go as fast as 145 mph! He
explained the colored instructional flags I'd see from the starter's stand, his
hand signals and what to do when I saw them. Then he told me I couldn't pass
him -- well, darn! How about a little bump draft? That's not allowed either.
Finally, there
on pit road, my machine waited, a 600 HP stock car painted Petty blue and red.
I was fitted for a helmet and it was time for someone to get in the car. This
was one time when I heard "Ladies first" that I didn't argue.
Professional drivers make getting in and out of a stock car look so easy. I
just wanted to do it without falling on my head or looking completely
ridiculous. Well, I didn't fall on my head and my boyfriend said that I looked
"cute." It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I'm vertically
challenged, so the worst part for me was getting my rear up to the windowsill
-- after that I got through the window feet first and settled into the seat. At
this point the steering wheel isn't installed and the seat is set up for
someone in the 6' range, so I had plenty of room for maneuvering. One of the
RPDE pit crew was there to assist, but thankfully I didn't have to call on him.
The pit crew guy helped me get everything adjusted. These stock cars have a
standard shift transmission, so I had to be able work the clutch properly, and
it would help if I could see out the windshield! The pit crew had plenty of
cushions and they got me comfortable in the car.
Safety is very
important in racing, so the pit crew went over all the safety equipment. I
sincerely hoped I wouldn't need to remember how to do any of these things, but
it was comforting having it all explained. They made sure my harness was
securely buckled and that I knew how to unbuckle it in the unlikely event that
I needed to get out in a hurry. They showed me the engine kill switch, how to
drop the safety net over the driver's window, how to disconnect and remove the
steering wheel and how to set off the fire extinguisher bottle
Helmet on,
safety harness buckled and tight, window net up and latched. Lady, start your
engine! I hit those toggle switches, the engine roared to life and I felt that
raw power running through me. I had a few seconds to get used to this feeling
and it was time to roll out of the pits. I put it in first gear, slowly let out
the clutch as I gave it some gas (I didn't want to stall) and I was moving off
pit road and on to the track
Walt Disney
World Speedway is a one mile long track. During the van ride, it seemed huge
and almost overwhelming. When I started coming up to speed, the track got small
in a hurry and those corners came up pretty fast. Going in to the third turn on
the second lap, I felt this huge smile breakout on my face -- this was more fun
than Test Track and Tower of Terror combined! The instructor waved me to come
up and we picked up speed and he kept waving me up and picking up speed, I was
hitting my marks, and I felt like I was flying.
All too soon,
that checkered flag waved and I had gone back to the pit. The pit crewman
patted me on the helmet and shoulder and told me I did great. Then I managed to
get out of the car without falling on my head. My boyfriend said when I turned
around I had a smile on my face like he had never seen, and I was yelling that
I wanted to do it again! The instructor shook my hand and told me I did great, and
then we went to the pit box to see the telemetry from the drive. My
fastest average lap speed was 125! The RPDE crew all congratulated me and gave
me a certificate with my top lap speed on it.
I wanted to do
it again. I didn't have enough money for another 8 laps, but I had enough for
the 3 lap Ride Along. I signed up and I got a discount because I had done the 8
laps. I buckled in, the driver climbed in, shook my hand, buckled in, fired up
the car, put it in gear, let out the clutch and I was slammed back in the seat!
We must have hit 145 by end of the back straight. And I know we were only
millimeters from the wall! Okay, it was probably inches - maybe 10, but it
looked like 6 and felt like 1. The driver kept looking to see if I was okay and
I know I was grinning like a crazy woman.
I've done some
neat things at Walt Disney World since 1971, but this was, by far, the coolest!
If you're looking for a new thrill, try the fastest ride at Walt Disney World,
Richard Petty Driving Experience at the Speedway. You don't have to be young
(I'm 50-ish), and you don't have to be big and strong (I'm only 5' tall), and
you obviously don't have to be a guy. If you're not sure about spending money
on driving, try the Ride-Along first. One of my friends did and now she's
saving money to do the Rookie Experience. Ladies, don't let the men have all
the fun! Everybody -- Start Your Engines!
To book the Richard Petty
Driving Experience, call 800-BE-PETTY (237-3889). Check out http://www.1800bepetty.com
for more information.
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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.
==========================================
UPDATES: What's New and Changed
==========================================
Here's a few of the new developments
at Disneyś
Ariel's Grotto
at Disney's California Adventure will be host to the "Disney Princess
Celebration" character lunch and dinner beginning on August 16, 2005. Not
to be outdone, Minnie Mouse will be hosting a character breakfast over at
Disneyland. "Breakfast in the Park with Minnie and Friends" will be
held at the Plaza Inn on Main Street U.S.A. Advance Dining Reservations are
available up to 60 days in advance by calling 714-781-DINE (3463).
A list of
tentative narrators for this year's Candlelight Processional has been
announced:
Rita Moreno -
Nov 25-27
Phil Donahue -
Nov 28-30
Haley Joel
Osment - Dec 1-3
Cicely Tyson -
Dec 4-6
Jim Caviezel -
Dec 7-9
Eartha Kitt -
Dec 10-12
Lou Diamond
Phillips - Dec 13-15
Harry Hamlin -
Dec 16-18
Marlee Matlin
- Dec 19-21
Gary Sinise-
Dec 22-27
Steven Curtis
Chapman - Dec 28-30
Tickets for
the Candlelight Processional DinnerPackage go on sale on August 15, 2005 and
can be booked by calling 407-WDW-DINE (3463).
The Disney Magic now has
wireless Internet like its sister ship, the Disney Wonder. Hot spots are decks
9 & 10, the atrium on decks 3-5, the Promenade Lounge, and Studio Sea.
Pricing is $.75/minute, $55 for 100 minutes, or $105 for 300 minutes. There is
no unlimited plan. It is working well, and Guest Services provided a detailed
instruction sheet for connecting which was very helpful. And it's thanks to the
wireless access that we can send this newsletter, as we're currently onboard
the Disney Magic!
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
==========================================
DISNEY TIPS FROM FELLOW READERS
==========================================
Our readers are a wealth of
information! Here are the winners in this month's tip contest:
FABRIC FINDERS
"Before a
trip I go to the fabric store and buy a small remnant of oddly colored fabric.
I cut this into strips and tie a strip to every piece of luggage, camera bags,
purses, backpacks, coolers, etc. Because I choose an unusual colorful designed
fabric I can easily spot our items wherever they may be. I bring extra strips
with me on our vacation for those extra Disney shopping bags you always have at
the end of a trip. If we check into or out of our Disney resort and store our
luggage while enjoying the park for a few more hours we can always tell the
Cast Member that our luggage and bags are the ones with the strips of
"pink material with green balloons" on it, or whatever the design
maybe."
-- contributed
by Beverly Goff (figmentfan@...)
CLEAN
SHOWERS
"I'm not
a total nut about germs but every time I get in a shower in a hotel I think
about the cleanliness of the shower curtains. That's when it occurred to me --
before my next trip I went to the local dollar store and bought a shower
curtain liner and hooks. They pack neatly in my suitcase and don't weigh much.
Now when I take a shower in my hotel I know I have a clean shower curtain and
because it only cost $1 I can throw it away the day we pack up to leave."
-- contributed
by Ella (elizaberry33@...)
PASS THE
POPCORN
"When we
went to the parks last year, we splurged for the popcorn in the plastic
containers instead of the disposable boxes. This cost a few extra dollars, but
I kept them, brought them home and cleaned them. Now when we have movie night
at home, we pop our microwave popcorn and serve it in our Disney World
containers! It really is a trip down memory lane for us!"
-- contributed by Leanne P.
(leanne@...)
>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
====================================
Q & A WITH JENNIFER &
DAVE
====================================
jacq78 asks:
"My question is for anyone that has gone on a Disney Cruise with a child
under three. (My nephew will be 2 at our travel date.) It seems to me that all
activities are for children 3 and older. Will he and his parents be able to
really enjoy themselves? Is it better to wait until he is 3 or just go ahead
and have the cruise? Will they be able to participate in many activities?"
Jennifer and
Dave answer: "We've already cruised three times with our son (who has just
turned one) -- in fact, we're cruising with him right now (we're on the Magic's
2-week Panama Canal itinerary). While it's certainly a different experience
than we have when we cruise as a couple, it works very well. We've also cruised
several times with relatives who had toddlers at the time, and find their
experiences to be consistent with our own.
One of the
benefits of the Disney cruise is that the infants and toddlers nursery
(Flounder's Reef) actually operates for a substantial part of the day and
evening (typically noon to 4 pm and 6 pm to midnight), and it has a full-time
staff of infant/toddler specialists. On other cruise lines you may find that
their nursery is only open for limited hours, and may be staffed by part-timers
from other departments. For example, on our recent Carnival Glory cruise,
nursery services were only available from 10:00pm to 3:00am, after regular
"Camp Carnival" activities were over for the day. The Camp Carnival
counselors gave us a clear message, "We want your kid to be sleeping when
you bring him here."
While it's
true that you can only make a limited number of Flounder's Reef reservations in
advance, they keep a lot of space open for spur-of-the-moment childcare, too. I
can't promise that they'll always have space, but we've been able to work with
the times they have available.
Disney's
philosophy behind care for toddlers and infants is pretty sound. There are lots
of family-friendly activities on board, so there's little problem if parents
never use the nursery. However, it doesn't make much sense to create many
activities specifically for families with children under three (although there
are sometimes a few on the schedule) - kids of this age develop and change so
quickly that few kids would be at the right stage to enjoy a particular activity.
This is also an age when it's more appropriate for children to play with their
parents than with other children.
Also, parents
with children in this age group aren't always ready to let go. Back in December
when Alexander was four months, his Flounders Reef experience was the first
time someone other than a relative had watched him. Jennifer was more than a
little apprehensive about leaving Alexander at Flounders. I ended-up slipping
down to Flounder's on a pretext ("Did we leave enough diapers?") so
that I could peek in and report back to Jennifer to set her at ease.
Overall, if parents with
infants/toddlers are planning to cruise on any line, Disney should be at the
top of their list. And if parents want a lot of "grownup time" while
cruising, they should consider traveling with some family/friends who are
willing to take a turn watching the baby, or leave the baby home with grandma
and grandpa. However, if they want a "family cruise," I can't imagine
having a more magical time than on Disney."
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!
===================================
WANT TO GET PUBLISHED?
===================================
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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