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PassPorter News
News, Announcements, Updates, and Tips
December 4, 2008 * Issue 8.49
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: MouseFest
Bound!
Travel Girl: The Art
of A Smooth Check In At Walt Disney World
Disney Feature: Veggie
Dining At Disney: Counter Service
Updates: What's New and
Changed
Tips: Send Us Your Tips!
Captain's
Corner: Concierge Club
PassPorter
PhotoPick: Rose Garden Near Cinderella Castle
Q and A: Where can we get
a "real" breakfast at Disneyland?
Our Sponsors: We
Recommend...
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FROM THE AUTHORS:
MouseFest Bound
====================================================
Hi,
{{user("firstname")}}!
Are you packing your bags
for MouseFest, or are you just wishing we'd stop talking about it? Either way,
your big moment is nearly here! Members of the PassPorter team will be heading
down to Florida in just a few days to embark on the first step of the MouseFest
journey, our four-night cruise on the Disney Wonder. For those of you who are
joining us on the cruise and/or at Walt Disney World, we'll see you soon! And
if you aren't joining us, you can enjoy MouseFest vicariously through a
staggering number of blogs, message board posts, Twitter "tweets,"
podcasts... when 1,000 web-connected Disney fans go on vacation, the one thing
we don't do is disconnect. Here at PassPorter, keep your eyes on our message
boards at http://www.passporterboards.com/
, especially the MouseFest Corner, our Walt Disney World and Disney Cruise Line
trip report forums, and our Real-Time Photo Trip Report forum.
PassPorter's Walt Disney
World 2009 pre-orders have been mailed, and new orders are shipping on the next
business day. Of course, even after packages have been mailed, they don't
arrive at your doorstep instantaneously, especially during the holiday season.
If you need an update on your shipment status, you can contact us via e-mail to
orders@passporter.com or by toll-free phone at 877-929-3273 Mon-Fri, 9:00
am-6:00 pm ET).
--> MouseFest 2009
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 MouseFest
schedule of events is online over at MouseFest.org. MouseFest attendee
registration is officially closed, but we've left the door open for late
arrivals at http://www.mousefest.org/register/
. Nearly 950 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.
--> PassPorter's Decade
of Dreams
PassPorter's Decade of
Dreams Tour is going to Disneyland for the Backstage Magic Adventures by Disney
on October 13-18, 2009! Our Adventures by Disney package is 6 days/5 nights of
VIP treatment -- we'll visit Hollywood landmarks, see how the magic is made at
Walt Disney Imagineering, eat lunch on the lot at the Walt Disney Studios, and
get a peak behind the fantasy at the Disneyland(R) Resort. The price includes
an exclusive group discount and there is an early booking bonus of a $75 Disney
Gift Card for the first 10 bookings from our Decade of Dreams travel provider,
Mouse Fan Travel. Get all the details, a day-by-day itinerary, and prices at
the Decade of Dreams Tour Headquarters at http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/passporters-decade-dreams-tour-headquarters/174105-decade-dreams-backstage-magic-tour-adventures-disney.html
This also means we have
selected the dates for the Decade of Dreams Tour visit to Disneyland! Tour
festivities at Disneyland will begin on Friday, October 16, 2009 and will continue
through Tuesday October 20. Stay tuned for the schedule of events!
What is 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!
- Passholders have another
new benefit: Unlimited photo uploading to their personal photo albums
(non-passholders have a limit of 100 photos). To access your personal photo
album, log in, click My Home, and click the Pictures & Albums link.
- More details at http://www.passporter.com/club
In this
issue, PassPorter Guest Columnist Justine Fellows explores The Art of
a Smooth Check-in at Walt Disney World. Then, Featured Columnist Cheryl
Pendry begins a multi-part exploration of Veggie Dining at Disney with a report
on Counter Service restaurants. 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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DID YOU KNOW?
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is the
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PassPorter's Decade of
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TRAVEL FEATURE: The Art of
A Smooth Check-in At Walt Disney World
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by Justine Fellows,
PassPorter Guest Contributor and Host of Travel Girl podcasts
So I have to think about
checking in? Is it not enough that I have planned for hours, reserved dining,
memorized the maps, pre-purchased the park tickets? I know, sounds crazy, but
you have to trust me on this one - checking in the right way can make the
difference between a smooth, problem free trip and one struck with issues.
Here's the biggest problem when you check in to any hotel- you're excited and
in a rush! Who wouldn't be? You've just tackled car rides, plane trips with
screaming children, shuttle rides, baggage lugging, stroller collapsing, juice
spilling, hours of travel, and you are psyched! You made it, you're still alive
and you only lost one child for a brief moment. You are ready to rip off the
tags of your brand new shorts, don your favorite Mickey tee, slap on the
sunscreen and head out. STOP!!!
Trust me. Take a breath.
Hold out the anticipation for just a few more minutes. Plunk your spouse and
the kids in front of the Disney movies in the lobby and prepare to spend some
time perfecting your trip, this is the last step in a perfectly planned out
vacation. Here's what you need to do:
1. Have your paperwork
ready, including hotel confirmation numbers, any requests you made such as a
crib in your room, your park tickets if they do not come with your package,
your list of dining reservations, activity reservations, and any special
events.
2. Start at check-in. Make
sure to verify everything -- dates, room location, will they be sending the
crib, has your luggage arrived and if not, when should you expect it. Make sure
that your Keys to the World - your hotel keys that look like a credit card -
include everything in your package, hotel room, dining plan, and park tickets.
You also have charging capabilities on this card so make sure to check the
limit and set a limit for your children old enough to go off on their own.
REMEMBER that you must have all cards when you head to the parks - Park tickets
are on each individual card.
3. Next stop, lobby
concierge. Don't do it later, trust me, just get it all over with. At the lobby
concierge desk have them print the list of your dining reservations - make sure
they are all correct. Pick up any event tickets such as Hoop Dee Doo Revue. Get
maps, park times, and the resorts calendar of events. There may be a craft
activity for the kids or movie on the beach that you otherwise wouldn't know
about. Ask for any coloring books, stickers, and hidden Mickey hunts that they
might have to keep the wee ones amused.
4. If it is your first
time to the resort have them explain the transportation options, find out where
the bus stops are and make sure to take a map to find your way around.
5. If you bought your park
tickets separately, concierge can put the tickets right onto your Key to the
World to make it more convenient.
6. Lastly, ask any
questions that you may have, the lobby concierge staff will be your best
friends throughout the trip!
I know that not rushing to
your room or out to the pool may be VERY difficult but I promise you, careful
and thoughtful check-in is the last step to planning a perfect Disney World
vacation!
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's(TM)
Tips for Disney World podcasts
- - - - - - - - -
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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CST2058090-40 www.MouseEarVacations.com 800-886-8601
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DISNEY FEATURE: Veggie
Dining At Disney: Counter Service Locations
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by Cheryl
Pendry, PassPorter Featured Columnist
As a non-meat eater, I
scour guidebooks with interest whenever we're planning travel abroad to see how
well our destination(s) cater to those of us who don't eat steaks or
hamburgers. Fortunately it's very rarely an issue these days, with more and
more people choosing to steer away from meat - and Disney is no exception to
that rule.
We're blessed to have a
huge selection of dining options at Walt Disney World Resort, from wonderful
table service restaurants serving everything from exquisite romantic meals to
character buffets, to a huge choice of counter service options, and carts
selling snacks throughout the parks.
That's perhaps been one of
the biggest changes in recent years. Those carts would, once upon a time, just
have sold sweet treats, such as the famous Mickey bars, but now they're a
wonderful opportunity to grab a healthy treat, such as fresh fruit, which can
be exceptionally refreshing in the Florida heat.
When it comes to counter
service places to eat, there are still plenty of non-meat options, despite the
omnipresent burgers that, at first glance, seem to be available everywhere! The
beauty is that Disney has changed what's on offer in recent years, partially to
become more health conscious, but it's also benefited vegetarians, who've seen
the range of options open to them expand.
We'll start our survey of
counter service establishments with a stroll around the Magic Kingdom. You can
find excellent vegetarian burgers at both Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe and Pecos
Bill Cafe. These are both much better than the cardboard style veggie burgers
you may have tasted elsewhere, and Pecos Bill has the added attraction of a
wonderful fixins' bar. If burgers don't appeal, Cosmic Ray's also offers a
vegetarian wrap.
Perhaps the best non-meat
counter service choices in the Magic Kingdom can be found at Columbia Harbour
House. If you eat fish, you'll be in heaven with clam chowder, which is
exceptionally good, a fried fish basket that's not bad, and the Anchors Aweigh
Sandwich, made up of tuna, all on the menu. True veggies will also find plenty,
with a lighthouse sandwich, made up with hummus, tomato and broccoli slaw, and
a tasty vegetarian chili.
On our most recent visit,
we also discovered Pinocchio Village Haus, where the vegetable pizza with salad
was a great find. There's also a cheese-only option, and you can have it with
or without salad.
Epcot is traditionally the
best park when it comes to dining and it's no exception when it comes to
vegetarian options. You'll certainly find the widest variety here, with options
from various countries around the World Showcase and some offerings in Future
World. If you enjoy more unusual food, then make a beeline for the Tangierine
Cafe in Morocco, where you can sample some superb dishes, generally based
around the national dish, couscous. There are vegetarian Mediterranean wrap
with Couscous salad, while the vegetarian platter is also served with couscous
salad.
Nearby in Japan, Yakitori
House serves up miso soup, a favorite of ours, and fish eaters will be in
paradise with sushi, Tokyo rolls, and shrimp udon on offer; all great tasting
and filling meals. Staying in the Far East, vegetarian stir fry is available
with steamed rice at the Lotus Blossom Cafe in China and there are more Asian
offerings at Sunshine Seasons Food Fair in The Land pavilion in Future World,
perhaps one of the best choices in the park for non-meat eaters. There's always
a vegetarian entree in the Asian section of this counter service eatery and you
can also get a roasted beet and goat cheese salad, as well as a grilled
vegetable Cuban sandwich.
At Disney's Hollywood
Studios I used to dread having to find something I could eat at counter service
places, but fortunately the selection there has improved dramatically in recent
years. OK, so you're not going to find anything as unusual as in Epcot, but
then again, you wouldn't expect to. Sure bets include cheese pizza at Catalina
Eddie's and Toy Story Pizza Planet, where you can pick up a cheese pizza or the
slightly more exciting veggie pizza, which comes complete with mushrooms,
peppers and onions - now that's more like it! Perhaps even more exciting is the
addition of a vegetarian cheeseburger to the line-up at Rosie's All American
Cafe, although my vote still goes to the veggie burgers at the Magic Kingdom.
Once again, you perhaps
expect more from Disney's Animal Kingdom but sadly, even with recent dining
changes there, the result is disappointing. Yes, there is cheese pizza from
Pizzafari and veggie burgers from Restaurantosaurus, but that's about it, ever
since Tusker House became a table service restaurant throughout the day. It's a
shame, as this was always my usual standby for a good light meal while in the
park.
In the next installment,
we'll take a look at some of the better choices for table service dining if
there are vegetarians or non-meat eaters in your party. However, even if you
never set foot in one of Disney's restaurants during your vacation, it's clear
there is plenty for everyone to enjoy from counter service places - sometimes
it's just a case of knowing where to look.
And remember, don't be
afraid to ask whether it's possible to have a different option if you like the
look of something. On many occasions, I've asked if I could have the Caesar
salad without chicken and, nine times out of ten, it's no problem at all. This
is Disney after all, where customer service comes first.
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 been to Disneyland Resort Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland and both
American Disney resorts. They are now planning for their trip to Japan in the
spring to visit the Tokyo Disney Resort.
- - - - - - - - -
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?
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Free 30-minute grocery
stop with airport round-trip
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Use Discount Code:
PassPorter News
Call 888-GO TO WDW or
visit http://www.quicksilver-tours.com
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
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==========================================
UPDATES: What's New and
Changed
==========================================
Here's a few relevant news
items:
Disney Cruise Line is
eliminating the fuel surcharge for all new bookings, thanks to lower fuel
costs. For guests with existing reservations, an onboard credit will be offered
for sailings following a quarter when the closing price of fuel was under $70 a
barrel. So for example, if you are sailing in April 2009, Disney Cruise Line
will determine what onboard credit will be received based on the price of fuel
at the end of March 2009.
On Sunday, November 30,
2008, severe weather in Port Canaveral caused the main gangway for guests and
crew members to board the Disney Wonder to collapse into the water. No injuries
were reported. The ship was moved to a cargo pier to load the remaining
passengers. The ship was an hour late leaving port.
Disney Theatrical
Productions announced a "Kids Go Free" promotion for their Broadway
shows. Buy a full priced adult ticket to see Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid,
or The Lion King and get one under age 18 ticket for the same show FREE! This
deal is available for all performances January 6-March 13, 2009. Visit
DisneyKidsGoFree.com for details. Tickets must be purchased by December 12,
2008.
Have you booked a trip to
Walt Disney World for 2009? Would you like to have Mickey announce the news to
your children on Christmas Day, December 25? Visit MickeyHolidayCall.com to
arrange for this. You will need your confirmation number and the phone number
where you can be reached that day. You can even choose your greeting -- Merry
Christmas or Happy Holidays!
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
==========================================
Our readers deliver a
wealth of information! 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
Note from the Editor: Yes,
I know. Your beloved tips section seems somewhat, well, devoid of tips this
week! With MouseFest looming, the tip section is on hiatus until we return. But
send us your tips while we're gone and who knows -- you might be our next
winner! So please ... send us your tips!
>>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
==========================================
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:
"My love Leota and I
had a fabulous Thanksgiving. I took her to the Wilderness Lodge where we
enjoyed a concierge-level room. We even had access to an exclusive 'club' where
we found delicious snacks and delightful wine. We did enjoy that wine! I'm
thinking about proposing to Leota ... should I do it, I wonder? And if I do,
perhaps I should propose to her in that club? It's name is so
appropriate!"
What is the name of the
concierge lounge at the Wilderness Lodge?
For bonus credit, locate
the photographic evidence in the PassPorter Photo Archive and post a comment
with the photo!
Whoops! Captain Jack made
a mistake last week and asked "Harambe is a (fictional) port in what
(real) country?" The answer was East Africa except that, of course, East
Africa is a region and not a country. Looks like the Captain was hitting the
wine a little too hard at Thanksgiving dinner! No one answered East Africa but
congratulations to vinsmom929 who was the winner of last week's trivia contest!
Vinsmom was the first answer we received and she was close - her answer was
Africa. Bonus credit goes to materstater as 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/news112808.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!
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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:
Rose Garden Near
Cinderella Castle
contributed by leannabeth
View Photo: http://www.passporter.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/10793
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 - 2830 photos
Meggera - 711 photos
akleos - 568 photos
Dopey007 - 512 photos
DyanKJ130 - 503 photos
====================================
Q & A WITH JENNIFER
& DAVE
====================================
ashleyinwonderland55 asks:
"I will be going to the Disneyland resort in December. On past trips I
have always brought my own Breakfast bars. But the boys in our group want a
"real breakfast." I know of a lot of places surrounding the park that
we could eat at. But I would like to know if there are any places that any of
you like to go to IN the park for breakfast. They don't really like sweets. So
I am looking for a place where there is a hearty menu. Eggs, bacon, etc."
Dave answers:
"Carnation Cafe is my favorite in-park breakfast in Disneyland park, but
since all the seating is outside, happiness is weather-dependent. Another good
choice is Cafe Orleans - plenty of hearty choices. At Disney's California
Adventure I'd suggest the breakfast at Pacific Wharf Cafe (breakfast croissant,
scrambled egg & bacon in a bread bowl, oatmeal), or the character breakfast
at Ariel's Grotto."
Did our message board
members agree with Dave? To see other answers that ashley received, check out
the rest of the thread on the PassPorter message boards at
http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/dl-feasting-snacking-eateries/174581-breakfast-park.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!
===================================
WANT TO GET PUBLISHED?
===================================
PassPorter News is
published weekly and we're always on the lookout for good quality Disney and
travel articles! We seek guest columnists who want to contribute articles to
this newsletter. No professional writing experience necessary, just a desire to
share your experience with others! 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.
===================================
OUR SPONSORS: We
Recommend...
===================================
PassPorter only accepts
advertising from services of the highest quality -- we recommend these
companies because we use them ourselves. Please support our sponsors and, in
turn, support this newsletter! This week's sponsors are (in order of
appearance):
Mouse Fan Travel -- New
Walt Disney World Offer -- Book 4 Nights, Get 3 Free!
MouseEarVacations.com --
2009 Disney Cruise offer
Quicksilver Tours &
Transportation -- $5.00 off airport round-trip town car
Thank you, sponsors!
====================================
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