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PassPorter News
News, Announcements, Updates, and Tips
October 2, 2008 * Issue 8.40
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: Jennifer Turns 40!
Travel Girl: How to
Get A Great Deal At Disney
Disney Feature:
Disney From the Driver's Seat
Updates: What's New and
Changed
Tips: Chafing Challenges
(Pt 2), Lose Those Loose Items, Snack Wisely
Captain's
Corner: R2-D2 in Pieces
PassPorter
PhotoPick: Through the Arch in Cinderella Castle
Q and A: Why didn't we get
towel animals?
Our Sponsors: We
Recommend...
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FROM THE AUTHORS: Cool
Links and MouseFest Mania
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Hi,
{{user("firstname")}}!
Jennifer's turning 40 in
exactly one week! Woohoo! In celebration of 40 wonderful years (which she's
more inclined to think of as an accomplishment rather than being "over the
hill"), Jennifer set up a special 40% coupon in the store. Just spend $40
or more dollars (before discounts, shipping & handling), and you'll get 40%
off any PassPorter books and/or item(s) in your shopping cart. The coupon works
great on the order of a deluxe PassPorter edition, for example! Use coupon code
jennifer to get this special discount -- it expires at midnight on Jennifer's
birthday, October 9! Click here for the details and to begin shopping: http://www.passporterstore.com/store/jennifer.aspx
Where did the summer go?
According to the calendar, it ended less than two weeks ago, yet here in
Michigan, it's like someone drenched us with a cooler full of ice water. The
seemingly endless summer daylight has disappeared, a situation made even worse
by the return of overcast skies and autumn rains. We'd like to mow the lawn before
the leaves fall in earnest, but it seems every time we try, the grass is too
damp. Temperatures tonight are due to dip into the 30s, reminding us that our
first snow shower last fall came in mid-October (no big deal if you're in the
northern part of the state, but here in the southeast, it was a bit unusual).
Just one bright rose persists on the bush beyond the office window, but it
can't last much longer. So, we've started wearing cozy clothes in the office,
while our shorts and tropical shirts hang in the closet, awaiting December's
MouseFest cruise on the Disney Wonder.
Were you thinking of
joining us this December 11th-15th at Walt Disney World and/or on the December
7th-11th Disney Wonder cruise for MouseFest? This 'grand gathering' of Disney
online communities, podcasters, bloggers, webmasters, and authors has become a
holiday season tradition for many of us, and keeps getting bigger and better
every year! If you already have plans to be on the Disney Wonder and/or at Walt
Disney World at the same time as MouseFest, definitely check it out. There are
all sorts of free activities, and you'll be able to meet a whole lot of really
great folks who share your passion for all things Disney.
The preliminary schedule
of events has just gone online over at http://www.mousefest.org/meets2008_start.php
, and MouseFest attendee registration has been going strong at http://www.mousefest.org/register/
. So far, more than 400 people have registered, including many members of the
PassPorter message board community. Many PassPorter message board Guides will
also be on hand, and folks from PassPorter are organizing a bunch of great
events to share with everyone who attends. Come on by MouseFest Corner at our
message boards at http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/mousefest-corner-passporter-events/
to see what your fellow 'PassPorters' are planning, and get a chance to get
acquainted.
While we're counting down
the days 'til MouseFest, we're also anxiously awaiting the delivery of
PassPorter's Walt Disney World 2009, which will arrive in our warehouse in less
than a month. Now is a really great time to place your pre-order, so you'll be among
the first to receive the next edition of our guidebook (and have it in time for
MouseFest, too)!
Will you be joining us for
PassPorter's Decade of Dreams Tour? PassPorter is celebrating our 10th
anniversary in 2009 in 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. Visit http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/passporters-decade-dreams-tour-2009/
PassPorter's Club Update
More than 1450 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. Visit http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/passporters-club-gallery/154412-new-e-book-passporters-answer-book-expert-answers-common-disney-travel-questions.html
More details at http://www.passporter.com/club
In this issue, Guest
Columnist Justine Fellowes shares her tips for How to Catch a Deal at
Disney. Then, Guest Columnist Sandy Bostwick relates the accumulated vacation
wisdom of chauffeurs in Disney From the Driver's Seat. Finally, Jack Skatt
is back with a brand-new Walt Disney World Treasure Hunt.
Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter Publishers and
Authors
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TRAVEL FEATURE: How To
Catch A Deal At Disney
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by Justine Fellowes,
PassPorter Guest Contributor and Host of Travel Girl podcasts
As you know staying at
Disney is not exactly a cheap vacation. If you're listening to this podcast you
are most likely pretty web savvy. You've already jumped from Orbitz to
Priceline to DisneyWorld.com without much luck getting a great deal. Well,
you're not alone and obviously Disney does this for a reason. They are in tight
control of their room inventory and only cut deals on occasion. So let's talk
about some secret tricks for Disney deals. First, get yourself signed up for
the Mousesavers.com e-newsletter. The writers of this little treasure will keep
you updated on deals that tend to go unnoticed by the general public. Next,
think about the time of year you are visiting. Travel in late August, the fall,
the last two weeks in January, May, and early June may get you some significant
price cuts. Always keep in mind that packages from Disney may not be the
cheapest way to go. It depends a lot on how much you plan to eat, how many
parks you plan to go to, and the time of year that you book. Always ask for the
package price and then the room price only, then carefully weigh the benefits
of the package versus buying park tickets separately and not getting the dining
plan.
When considering where to
stay, make sure to choose the category level based on your budget, then, when
you call, have them compare hotels within this level. Sometimes you'll catch a
deal at less-booked resorts or it may be less than you think to upgrade, for
example, from Pop Century to Caribbean Beach. I recommend using Disneyworld.com
to get some basic price ideas and call when you are ready to ask detailed
questions. First, ask for room only, Disney does not offer discounts on
packages. Ask for AAA, military, or government discounts. (Swan and Dolphin-
which you need to book through Starwood, not Disney, also offers government and
teacher discounts!) If you are in the military, you may want to look into
Shades of Green, the onsite hotel especially for military families. Also, ask
about special deals for Florida residents, if you happen to be one, and annual
passholder discounts if you happen to have one. If you don't have an annual
pass and you are thinking of going to Disney for more than 10 days in one year,
the discounts and saving on tickets may be well worth the cost.
Next trick: stick with the
Garden View. While it's hard to avoid fantasizing about the perfect view of the
castle, I've never found it worth the cost. You can always walk outside, and
usually when you are in the room you're ready to sleep, not ready to look out
the window.
Keep an eye on the deals
that might not be related to the hotel. For instance, Disney often offers a
free dining package for those arriving in late August and September. This can
save upwards of $500 for a family of four on a six-night stay.
So let's review:
Tip # 1 - Sign up for the
amazing e-newsletter at http://www.mousesavers.com
Tip # 2 - Think about when
you can travel. Off season will get you less crowds with less cost.
Tip # 3 - Always compare
the package to breaking out the room, dining and tickets separately.
Tip #4 - Ask for discounts
-- they won't tell you unless you ask! AAA, seniors, military, teacher, Florida
resident, annual passholder -- it's worth a shot!
Tip #5 - Stick to the
Garden View
Tip #6 - Keep your eye out
for special offers, such as free dining packages, that will offset the cost of
your hotel room.
Please don't fall for
scams, if it seems too good to be true, it most likely is.
And my TOP TIP for Disney:
Find yourself a travel agent who knows Disney inside and out to help book your
vacation.
Good luck!
About the Author: Justine,
the author of PassPorter's Disney Speed Planner: The Easy Ten-Step Program,
works in education in Connecticut. She is also the host of Travel Girl'sª Tips
for Disney World podcasts.
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Did you enjoy this
article? Have questions? E-mail us at news@passporter.com or visit
http://www.passporterboards.com to discuss your Disney travel plans. Also check
out our Article Collection at http://www.passporter.com/articles for more great
information!
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DISNEY FEATURE: Behind The
Scenes: Disney From the Driver's Seat
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by Sandy Bostwick,
PassPorter Guest Contributor
My flight arrived 20
minutes early. I planned to wander around Orlando International, but there was
my driver, Douglas, holding the sign with my name. He explained that he tracks
flights on his cell and the home office expedites drivers so no one has to
wait. Before I knew it, I was settled into a Lincoln Town Car and on my way.
Ah, to be royalty!
The tone for a trip starts
and ends with the transportation. Quicksilver drivers, Douglas and Vinnie,
shared their thought on what it is like to be part of the action in one of the
top family vacation spots in the country-Orlando, Florida.
"You share personal
moments that are usually pretty happy," said Vinnie. "It's more fun
if I am the same driver when they get here and bringing them back to the
airport, but that is just a chance." Douglas enjoys the reactions at the
gates of Walt Disney World. "I love when the kids yell Mickey, Minnie,
YAY! I'm always looking through the mirror to see the faces."
Vinnie, a former Walt
Disney World cast member, studied hospitality management at Valencia Community
College. "I've always liked driving, and I like people, so when a friend
told me about a job taking people to Disney from the airport, it sounded like
fun. I think guests can tell if you really appreciate taking them to their
hotel." His cutest fare was a chatty little girl who had just learned that
passengers don't jump from the plane with a parachute at the end of the flight.
He still e-mails one newly-married couple who he enjoyed speaking with during
the ride. "He sent me an e-mail that his wife is pregnant and I was so
pleased," Vinnie said. "It could be a friendship for a lifetime. Each
and every day that I come to work, I enjoy it and always have a great time,
especially when guests appreciate me!
Douglas left San Paulo,
Brazil when a friend invited him to work in Orlando. "I've been working
for Quicksilver since the beginning in 2002," he says proudly, adding that
he met his wife in Orlando. He recalls a Wyoming family who borrowed $10,000
for a five night stay at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort with their small
children, remembering that one had an obvious disability. "When the little
girl came through the Disney gate, she became so happy and that was the Daddy's
dream come true!" He remembers one woman's last Disney trip after cancer
left her with a year's life expectancy. "She is always on my mind,"
he said. "I hope she is alive. I never saw her again."
For worry-free travels,
Douglas advises travelers to double check the flight and hotel information
given to their transportation company, and to take time to read all directions
for pick-up, especially if taking one of the group travel options. "Some
people use the elevators and go straight to the carousel to claim
luggage," he said. "On the web site, we promise we'll be waiting with
a sign at the bottom of the escalator. Orlando is a big airport, so you need
good information when you leave the plane." He also suggests that
passengers allow themselves to be pampered. "When you hire a chauffeur,
let him act as a chauffeur, let him open the door and treat you like royalty.
You should expect VIP service, not a cab."
Vinnie suggests marking
luggage with a large bright sticker or name tag for easy identification as the
bag travels around the carousel. When it comes to happy travels,"It's all
about being positive," he emphasizes, remembering a family who
demonstrated this. "They were supposed to fly in the morning and they
ended up flying at nine at night. I picked them up at one in the morning. The
parents were saying 'Tomorrow is a new day and we are going to have a great
time' for the kids."
"Most of the time my
guests have been in the plane for hours and they need to be cheered up. They
have great expectations, and that starts at the moment that they land at the
airport, so we are part of their vacation. We should always present the best
and cheer them up if they need it and make sure they really experience the
excitement from the start," Vinnie continues. "With families I always
start with kids. I ask them about their favorite characters. I like to guess
their age. I find that little trick really gets them to open up. When you pick
them up you are a stranger to them, and it's fun when you don't feel so much
that way at the end. Sometimes things don't go right. It rains, or bad things
happen, but to ask questions about the good things is the best way."
Douglas finds that most of
his clients are looking to make the most of their visit by cutting
transportation time. "If you lose four hours on your vacation, that costs
money," he explained, referring to shuttles or buses that might wait to be
filled, make several stops along the way, and can't wait if you are
unexpectedly delayed. For the return trip, "We recommend two and a half
hours, 30 minutes to ride and two hours in the airport because we never know
how bad is the traffic or how bad is the security line. If the customer checks
luggage at the hotel, we can drop that recommendation to two hours, but not all
airlines check the luggage at the hotel. I see sometimes families losing the
bus and they have to call a cab otherwise they lose the flight," he
continued, remembering a family at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort who missed
their bus for a flight to France. "I was there dropping people off and the
wife called me over and asked if I can give a ride. The office said I can help
her. We are not usually allowed to do this because our service is pre-arranged
with a reservation, but in that situation, the boss let me do that."
Even when all goes
smoothly, a ride back to the airport bears the tone of closure. "On the
way, they are excited about starting a vacation. On the way back, the Daddy is
broke, Mommy is tired, and the kids are mad because they have to go back to
school," Douglas laughed. "The little ones wear their Mickey ears and
are carrying animals but on the way out it is party all over."
Vinnie uses a few tricks
to end on an up note. "Sometimes the kids are a little bit sad, so the
best way is to ask them about their vacation and what was their favorite ride.
When they start talking about their vacation, they get that smile again from
remembering. I always say they can come back again. Asking their favorite food
from the vacation always helps."
In my final vacation
hours, a sudden downpour with fierce lightning delayed the Epcot shuttle boat
indefinitely. I trekked to the nearby Dolphin on foot, arriving fifteen minutes
late, soaked, and stressed. Vinnie searched the lobby, holding his sign high
and looking serious. HE WAITED! His positive thinking magic immediately
brightened my mood. I pulled dry socks and shoes from my luggage, before he
took it away and opened the car door. I settled into the comfy leather seats of
the Cadillac Escalade and adjusted the temperature to just right as the sun
poked through the clouds. Ah, to be royalty!
About the Author: Sandra
Bostwick is an occupational therapist, music therapist, and adjunct professor
at County College of Morris. She owns Creative Learning Studios and enjoys
motivational speaking and writing. She has experience in the travel and
entertainment industry on land and sea, but dreams of earning a Walt Disney
World cast member pin one day. She is an expert peer reviewer for the
PassPorter guide books and can be reached at Speed_of_light_2@yahoo.com.
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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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News readers:
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UPDATES: What's New and
Changed
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Here's a few relevant news
items:
Pixie Hollow, the new
Tinker Bell and her fairy friends meet and greet area in Toontown Fair, is now
open. (It was previously reported to be opening on October 24. No word on
whether this is a "soft opening.)
Universal CityWalk is
offering Pleasure Island Annual Passholders free admission until March 31,
2009.
The "final"
schedule of celebrity narrators for this years Candlelight Processional has
been announced. (Yeah, right...) The line up includes:
Nov 28 - 30: John O'Hurley
Dec 1 - 3: Neil Patrick
Harris
Dec 4 - 6: Brian Stokes
Mitchell
Dec 7 - 9: Virginia Madsen
Dec 10 - 12: Marlee Matlin
Dec 13 - 15: Monique
Coleman
Dec 16 - 18: Chita
Rivera
Dec 19 - 21: Abigail
Breslin
Dec 22 - 24: Steven Curtis
Chapman
Dec 25 - 27: Edward James
Olmos
Dec 28 - 30: Angela
Bassett & Courtney Vance
In honor of the upcoming
election, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin has announced a contest to
award a two-night stay in one of the resort's Presidential Suites, with room
for a party of six. The winner will be announced the day after Election Day (November
5). Learn more and enter at http://www.swandolphin.com/election
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:
CHAFING CHALLENGES (Pt 2)
"In the September
25th PassPorter News there was a tip about chafing challenges. I have another
tip to help with that: use a lubricant! The one we like is a product called
BodyGlide. You can usually find it in sporting good stores and especially
running shops. Runners and other athletes use this product as well. You apply
to the problem area (it is available in a solid like a deodorant). The
lubricant helps the body parts glide past one another instead of sticking and
rubbing. It isn't sticky, has no odor, you have no more chafing, and everyone
is comfortable. Besides your thighs, you can also use it on your foot if there
is a problem spot rubbing against your shoe to help prevent blisters."
-- contributed by Barb Z.
LOSE THOSE LOOSE ITEMS
"During a recent trip
to the World, our family spent the day at Blizzard Beach. After climbing many
flights of stairs to reach the start of Teamboat Springs, we arrived with our
small children and their little plastic pails (acquired with lunch) only to
find that we could not take the pails with us on the raft. We couldn't leave
the pails there either. We ended up walking part way back down and stowing
them. So remember, no loose items are allowed on the water slides. Before you
end up making lots of trips up and down those stairs, find some place to keep
your loose items while you enjoy the great family ride."
-- contributed by Kim R.
SNACK WISELY
"You can get a lot
more for your Disney Dining Plan dollar by using snack credits wisely. Check
out the Market section of the resorts for fresh fruit, yogurt parfaits, or
baked goods. Each item counts as one snack credit and makes a great breakfast
or afternoon snack. At $3 or $4 a piece, they are a much better use of your
snack credit than a single piece of fruit or a cup of coffee."
-- contributed by Taryn H.
>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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COOL LINKS: Disney Stuff
and Services
==========================================
We encounter many Disney-
and travel-related products and services. From among those we try, a few are
good enough to use ourselves and recommend to you:
The Laughing Place Store -
Disney World Merchandise and other Unique Disney Items -- Visit: http://www.laughingplacestore.com/?r=ad-passporter
KidsFlySafe.com - CARES
FAA-approved safety harness for planes -- Visit: http://www.kidsflysafe.com/?utm_source=PASPTR&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=affiliate
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CAPTAIN'S CORNER: Treasure
Hunting Game
==========================================
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:
"Still here at
Disneyland in California! Last night I took a break from the hustle and bustle
of the parks to check out the shops in Downtown Disney. While I browsed, I was
delighted to stumble across R2-D2, who was apparently out doing some shopping,
too. He must have been a bit stressed, though, because it looked like he was
coming to pieces! I quickly moved out of his path so I would not block his way.
Where is R2-D2 in Downtown
Disney (California)?
For bonus credit, locate
the photographic evidence in the PassPorter Photo Archive and post a comment
with the photo!
Congratulations to Teddy
C. who was the winner of last week's trivia contest! Teddy was the first person
to identify the day Old Flybait's died as August 9, 1869. Cause of death?
"He croaked." Bonus credit goes to tjam who was the first person to
locate the photo in our PassPorter Photo Archive. To view the original clue,
see last week's newsletter at http://www.passporter.com/news/news092508.htm#captain
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!
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
==========================================
PASSPORTER PHOTOPICK
==========================================
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:
Through the Arch in
Cinderella Castle
contributed by Jennifer
Marx
View Photo: http://www.passporter.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/10324
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 - 2592 photos
Meggera - 711 photos
akleos - 568 photos
Dopey007 - 512 photos
DyanKJ130 - 326 photos
====================================
Q & A WITH JENNIFER
& DAVE
====================================
DisneyMom87 asks: "On
previous trips when we returned to our room from a day out, our kids were
thrilled to find all of their Disney character toys posed in funny ways,
holding the TV remote, on the toilet holding the tissue, holding a toothbrush.
It was a hoot! This last trip, the mousekeepers made some cute towel animals
and a towel mickey head for our arrival day and that was it. We were kind of
disappointed. Does anyone know why they stopped this?"
Dave answers: "It's
not something they stopped doing. Magic-making such as this is something that's
up to the individual cast member.
The whole nature of magic
is that it's something out of the ordinary. When magic is 'normal,' it's no
longer magic. As I've often said, the harder you chase the magic, the more
likely it is to slip from your grasp. Slow down, and give the magic a chance to
find you. You won't know where or when that will happen, and that's part of
what makes it magic.
It's undoubtedly true for
the CMs, too. When making magic is something you want to do, it's as magical
for the person making the magic as it is for the recipient. When it becomes an
expected part of the job, it's not going to be nearly as rewarding.
Thanks to online
communities such as this one, it's easier than ever for folks to learn about
the magic (and disappointment) other people have experienced. Sometimes that's
a good thing, sometimes not."
Did our message board
members agree with Dave? To see other answers that DisneyMom87 received, check
out the rest of the thread at http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/staying-style-resorts-hotels/173206-why-no-more-surprises-mouse-keeping.html
Have a question? Post
questions at http://www.passporterboards.com/ -- and if you're lucky, you may
find that folks have already asked and answered the same question that's on
your mind!
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share your experience with others! Not only is this a great way to give
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OUR SPONSORS: We
Recommend...
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turn, support this newsletter! This week's sponsors are (in order of
appearance):
MouseEarVacations.com --
Disney cruise offer for November 2009
Mouse Fan Travel
-- Oct -Dec 2008 Disney Deals
All Star Vacation Homes --
Choose from more than 150 homes within 4 miles of Disney
Thank you, sponsors!
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