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PassPorter News

News, Announcements, Updates, and Tips

December 7, 2006 * Issue 6.47

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: Also MouseFest Bound!

Travel Feature: How to Handle a “Bumpy” Flight

Disney Feature: Christmas Day at Disney

Updates: What's New and Changed

Tips: Magnet Laundry Markers, PassPorter Park Planning, Disney Day Off

Captain's Corner: Piscine Property?

Q&A: Resort hopping at Disneyland?

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FROM THE AUTHORS: MouseFest Bound!

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Hi, {{user("firstname")}}! 

Due to technical difficulties, we will only be sending the text version of PassPorter News. To view the HTML version, go to: http://www.passporter.com/news/news120706.htm

Jennifer and Dave are sailing the high seas with Captain Mickey (and about 250 MouseFest-ers) so it falls to me to greet you this week. I'm departing for MouseFest 2006 on Thursday to join in the land festivities. I can't believe it's here already! I'm really looking forward to seeing old friends, putting faces to "on-line" friends and making some new ones as well. I'll be wearing my PassPorter name badge and carrying a PassPorter bag so if you see me, stop and say "Hi!"

If this is your first newsletter and you are wondering what the heck this MouseFest thing is, head on over to http://www.mousefest.org to learn all about it. Then start planning to join us next year! And if you will be with us this week, don't forget about the "PassPorter Pal" program. What is it? Simple--if a member of the PassPorter team spots you in the parks with a PassPorter book, pin, badge, or pouch, or you attend a PassPorter meet, we'll give you a free "PassPorter Pal" cloisonné pin! The pin -- which you can only get if we give to you in person -- has the PassPorter "family head" logo being held by two hands -- "Small World, Great People" appears above the logo and "PassPorter Pal" appears below.

PassPorter Public Appearance Calendar

Here's an update on where you can see/hear/meet PassPorter's authors in the upcoming months:

Coming soon:

12/3 - 12/11/2006

MouseFest 2006

See the MouseFest web site for the full schedule

http://www.mousefest.org

Appearing: Jennifer, Dave and Alexander Marx, Deb Wills

Be sure to bring your books for autographing

Books will also be available for sale at the MegaMouseMeet, Saturday 12/9, at 1:00 pm.

In this issue of the newsletter, Maureen Austin shares how to handle some of the challenges that can occur during air travel and Cheryl Pendry shares what it is like to spend Christmas Day at Disney! Enjoy!

 Sara Varney
 PassPorter News Editor

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DID YOU KNOW?

If You Book MouseFest 2007 Early

You Get Our Extra Bonuses Free!

Hope to See You at MouseFest 2006!
Stop by our Mega Mouse Meet booth!

Walt Disney World Resort®  4 nts fr $377*     
Free Ticket Upgrades - Jan to Mar
Valid most nights 1/1/07–3/8/07

Visit us at:  www.MouseFanTravel.com

*Per person/double occupancy, subject to availability - CST207807440
Click for full details. As to Disney artwork: ©Disney

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TRAVEL FEATURE: How to Handle A “Bumpy” Flight

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by Maureen Austin, Guest Contributor and PassPorter Message Board Guide

About a month ago, I adventured down to Walt Disney World for a long, relaxing weekend with many of my dear PassPorter friends. I’ve made the air travel journey to Orlando more times than I can even count. For the most part, it’s been an easy, smooth and problem free experience. However, on my recent journey I became a student of the what-happens-when-multiple-things-go-wrong class in air travel. I penned a few things I’ve learned; in hopes it will help other travelers. I’ll break that adventure down, mishap by mishap and share solutions that seemed to finally put the horror to an end.

Let’s begin with the first flight. I’m not in an area that has non stop service, so I make a connection at one of the country’s busiest airports - Dallas Fort Worth. When I arrived at my regional airport, having checked in online - I was told my flight to Texas had been delayed by 1 hour due to high winds and that all east bound flights from Dallas had also been delayed. What I did right: Checked in online. Doing that and doing it early reduced my risk of being bumped and being delayed even later. What I did wrong: I didn’t call ahead to check the status of the flight. As a result, I sat in a very small airport for over 2 hours, waiting and waiting, which added to my tension.

Finally, my 4:50 flight began boarding at 6:20 pm. My connection to Orlando was to leave Dallas at 7:05. However, I had been assured that all flights were delayed so I would make that flight. I confirmed with the flight attendant on board about the Dallas delays so although I was already a wee bit frustrated, I settled in and accepted what will be will be. 

No problems with arrival at Dallas and knowing my gate number, I deplane. What I did wrong: Make my way towards that terminal, contemplating the possibility of grabbing a light meal. What I did right: Then it occurred to me I had better check on the flight to be sure and found a departures board. My eyes nearly popped when I saw flashing red words next to the flight number and gate - my flight was boarding! So picture the scene from Home Alone, except that it’s me instead of a blond haired kid running frantically through the airport. What I did wrong: I initially assumed that the information given to me on board the first flight was ultimately correct. Never do this. Think of the information given while still in the air as a guide but at any time things can change. If you are delayed or making a tight connection, either find a gate agent or look at a departures board to reconfirm information. If an airport is experiencing major delays, employees may be dispatched to assist travelers who have already been displaced, need special assistance, etc. Yes, ideally they should be there to assist every passenger without passengers having to ask but let’s face it, it doesn’t always happen that way. In these times, look out for number one- yourself and don’t depend on assurances or estimations to get where you need to be.

Okay. So I make it to the connection just as the gate agent was about to shut the door. I might add I am not the type to shout randomly across a terminal full of people but when I saw that agent’s hand on the door, you better believe I was yelping. I make it on to the flight and the door was closed behind me. 

As I got settled, I began to listen to the complaints of other passengers, some of whom were extremely rude to the flight crew going on about everything from being bumped to almost missing the flight like I did. The result of these tirades was a tension so thick you could snap a rubber band. Certainly, I have been on flights with less than friendly flight crews but I’m thinking these three ladies didn’t message up to the big man upstairs asking for wind gusts nor did they call the airline’s operations control begging to inconvenience thousands of people on a Friday night. What I did right: I followed crew instructions, let these employees do their jobs and made a note to lodge any complaints, if I had any, to the right departments. 

Let’s take a moment here to talk about complaints. If you’ve got one, you can address it in a number of ways. If it is something that can be addressed immediately at the employee or supervisor level, state your complaint without screaming or yelling. If it can’t be addressed then, or you aren’t having much success, ask for a corporate address or phone number. You can also find this information on the airline’s website or in the in flight magazine. When you email, write or phone, have as much information as you can available including a flight number, date of travel and any names of people you encountered that you want to mention. If possible, try to address it first on the spot, then move up the chain of command. You can also contact the government to file a complaint against the airline at http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov.

Back to this twisty adventure. On the flight to Orlando, I might add I heard someone mention to one of the loudest passengers that she might consider the alternative - have this flight and all the others leave on time and then us all be at risk for wind shear, which can take a plane down. Interesting how quiet it got after that! How an airline handles your delay is one thing- the reason FOR the delay is another. I’ve been on flights where there is a mechanical problem. Inconvenient?  Yes. But I’d rather they find it and take care of it on the ground than at 35,000 feet. Planes are like cars. Things happen and sometimes, not at the best time.

Touching down at Orlando at nearly midnight, I thought all my troubles were over.  I was tired and almost 2 hours late, but I was glad to be there safely. Two of my best PassPorter friends were there to greet me. What they did right: Called the airline for flight updates via the 800 number. As a result, they spent time they would have been sitting around waiting on me, wandering around the World Showcase.

As usually happens, it took quite awhile for the baggage carousel to get going. So we waited and as the steady stream of oddly shaped boxes, colorful and not so colorful suitcases passed by, there slowly arose an uneasy feeling that my adventure was not over. And indeed, my luggage was nowhere to be found. What I did right: I waited until the carousel stopped and proceeded to the baggage office. This is usually located within close proximity to the airline’s carousels. If you don’t see it, ask. Do not ever, ever leave the airport without reporting lost baggage!  

As you can imagine, there was a line. I was totally exhausted but I really had no other choice than to wait. When I got to the counter, I was faced with a not so friendly agent. Did I feel like screaming? Yes, sort of but what I wanted most was my stuff and screaming wasn’t going to make the luggage magically appear. She proceeded to ask me questions about my luggage- including a description. What I did right: I was specific, down to the colors of my Mickey luggage tag. If you use a ribbon or colorful identifier on your luggage- make sure you mention it. It could mean getting your luggage that much quicker! What I did wrong:  I wasn’t able to give the agent a really good list of what was in my suitcase. Yes, I knew clothes and shoes were in there but I forgot a lot of other things that were worth some value like some gifts for my friends. It seems “Type A” to make a list but if the luggage is indeed actually lost, the airline will need an itemized listing of contents in order to reimburse you. Take a few photos. 

As we got further into the report, giving her information on my hotel and my contact information, I asked her if there was any possibility that the luggage might be coming on a following flight. She did tell me the last flight of the night was arriving at 1:05 and it was likely my bag would be on it. At that point, I decided it was worth the extra 30 minutes to have my bag in hand- even if just a possibility. My wonderful friends agreed and we waited. It worked! When the luggage came rolling out from the next flight, there was my suitcase. What I did right: Even though I was ready to get to Disney as it was nearly 1:30 am, I went back to the baggage claim to report the bag had been found. 

What if it wasn’t on that flight? Baggage is delivered to the passenger by the airline. In most cases, it can take anywhere from 12-72 hours. If it still is not found, then it would be considered missing and you would need to file a lost property claim with the airline. 

Sometimes damage to your belongings or missing belongings may be a result of the security inspection process. If you open your suitcase to find the calling card that the TSA has inspected your bag and then discover damage or missing items, visit their website at www.tsaclaims.org to file a claim. If you lock your suitcase and the damage is a result of the TSA having to break it to gain access, you are not entitled to any reimbursement. I use plastic cable ties that can be cut and never had any issues with any kind of damage. 

I did finally arrive at Disney and begin my vacation, having learned a few new things along the way. Preparing well for any travel adventure can help you avoid disaster from the unexpected. Happy and smarter travels!

About the Author: Maureen Austin is co-owner of Grand Getaways Travel. She is already planning her next trip to Disney and hopes it will be a "smoother" trip.

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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.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Great Cruise Rates Are Available At MouseEarVacations.com!

Disney Cruise Line® Special Offer

May 13, 2007 - 4 night Land / 3 night Cruise
Save up to $1160* per cabin compared to current Disney pricing.
Click here to get a quote for May 13, 2007

Click here to see other dates available.

*Savings based on double occupancy. Ships' Registry: The Bahamas

CST2058090-40 www.MouseEarVacations.com 800-886-8601

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DISNEY FEATURE: Christmas Day At Disney

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by Cheryl Pendry, Guest Contributor and PassPorter Message Board Guide

The decorations are abundant, holiday music is playing and everywhere you look are advertisements for this season’s must-have presents. It’s a sure sign Christmas isn’t far away and what better way to spend the festive season than by visiting Disney?

We’ve been lucky enough to spend three Christmases in the magic of Walt Disney World and there really is nothing like it. So for those of you enjoying Christmas at Disney this year or thinking about it for future years, what can you expect on Christmas Day itself?

The most common question I’m asked about being in Disney for Christmas is “what are the cast members like?” Many people are under the impression that they can’t have that same magic on Christmas Day. After all, who really wants to work over Christmas?

Well, I’ve never come across any cast member who’s been less than totally magical on Christmas Day. Every single one we’ve seen has wished us “Happy holidays!” with a big smile on their face – and that even includes the lifeguards at Stormalong Bay, who were shivering because the temperature had dropped below 70°F that day! The cast members we’ve talked to tell us that Christmas Day is a magical time and it’s wonderful to be able to share that with so many guests, who are taking in the magic of this special day.

And Disney doesn’t forget that it’s a special day. It’s not unusual to wake on Christmas morning and discover that Father Christmas has come calling, leaving a Disney stocking hanging on the door of your room, packed with goodies to enjoy. It’s a lovely touch and a great way to start the day.

However, things can quickly become less than magical if you don’t plan ahead. Let’s not fool ourselves. Christmas Day at Disney is wonderful – and because of that, it’s a very popular time of the year to visit. Crowd levels are at their peak and, unless you encounter particularly wet or cold weather, you’ll find all of the parks straining with people.

The first choice to make about Christmas Day is whether to go to a Disney park or not. Some people feel there’s no decision to be made, it wouldn’t be Christmas unless they were in a park, but don’t forget that there’s lots you can do outside of the four main theme parks.

If it’s warm enough, how about spending the day at a Disney water park? We have very fond memories of the Christmas Eve we spent at Typhoon Lagoon. Sure, you have to play it by ear and keep an eye on the weather forecast, but you may be lucky and get a warm enough day.

You can take the stress out of Christmas shopping by not bothering before the big day. One year we did exactly that and hit the shops on Christmas Day. We set ourselves a limit each and we were allowed to buy exactly what we wanted for ourselves up to that amount and it was a really fun – and different – way to do things! At least you can guarantee that you’ll get what you want – and there’s plenty to choose from at Downtown Disney.

Another option is to spend the day visiting the various Disney resorts. They’re all beautifully decorated during the holiday season and it’s worth making time to see them. Our favorites that we always make sure we visit at Christmas include the Beach Club, Grand Floridian, Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Wilderness Lodge. You’ll find a chocolate merry-go-round, a life-size gingerbread house and a chocolate village on your travels if you take in these resorts.

If you do want to go to a park, which one should you head for? Our favorite is Epcot, so that’s the one we usually go to. It’s packed with storytellers around the World Showcase, explaining about the festive season in their native country and for us, there’s no better way to spend Christmas night than by watching the Candlelight Processional. Somehow, the re-telling of the Christmas story is so much more magical on the day itself and, when followed by dinner at one of Epcot’s superb restaurants, Christmas doesn’t get much better.

However, it’s a close call for us between Epcot and MGM, with their wonderful Osborne Lights, which will this year be dancing for your delight. There’s something very soothing about the lights and they never fail to bring tears to my eyes.

Don’t forget Animal Kingdom either. Although it’s usually the first park to close on Christmas Day, it’s also usually the last one to fill up, so if you want to have a lie-in before you head out and find the other parks too much to handle, this could be a quieter alternative for you – and what could be more unusual than going on an African safari on Christmas Day?

Of course, most people head straight for the Magic Kingdom on Christmas Day and if that’s your plan, there’s only one thing you need to remember – get there as soon as it opens! This park doesn’t handle crowds well and when it’s full, it really does feel full. I’ve been the park has reached capacity and they’ve stopped letting anyone else in. All you can see in every direction from the hub in front of the castle is just a sea of people!

Don’t necessarily plan on doing many rides on Christmas Day if you do go to a park. Nearly everyone else will have the same idea, with FastPasses disappearing quickly and wait times skyrocketing. Waits of three to four hours for the top rides have been seen in the past. Instead, what we tend to do is head for the more unusual attractions that don’t get the crowds as much. If you’ve never been to Tom Sawyer Island in the Magic Kingdom or seen the films in Epcot’s World Showcase or walked the various trails in Animal Kingdom, Christmas Day is a wonderful time to do just that.

Whatever you choose to do on Christmas Day at Disney, make sure you take time to just soak in the festive atmosphere and enjoy the fact that you’re in the most magical place on earth at one of the most magical times of the year. It really can’t be beaten and we’ll be back there again for our Disney Christmas next year!

About the Author: Cheryl and husband Mark live in England and love to travel, particularly to America. They’ve spent three Christmases in Walt Disney World in 2000, 2002 and 2004 and are planning to make it four in 2007, when they’ll be joined by family.

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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 holiday plans.

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UPDATES: What's New and Changed

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Here's a few relevant news items:

Rock 'N Roller Coaster will be closed for rehab from January 2 - 21, 2007.

Cast members at the Zawadi Marketplace at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge raised more than $100,000 in guest donations for the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund this year. Last years donations from the Marketplace totaled $7000.) The fund supports conservation and environmental organizations around the world.

The Dream Squad at Disneyland has begun awarding overnight stays in the new Mickey Mouse Penthouse at the Disneyland Hotel. This "dream" is expected to be awarded daily to random guests.

The list of narrators for the 2006 Candlelight Processional has been updated AGAIN. (Yes, since last week!) The current list is:
David Robinson - Nov 24-26
John O'Hurley - Nov 27-29
Rita Moreno - Nov 30-Dec 2
Marie Osmond - Dec 3 (NEW)
Mario Lopez - Dec 4-5 (NEW)
Brian Dennehy - Dec 6-8
Steven Curtis Chapman - Dec 9-11
Maureen McGovern - Dec 12-14
Kirk Cameron - Dec 15-17
Neil Patrick Harris - Dec 18-20
Edward James Olmos - Dec 21-23
Gary Sinise - Dec 24-26
Marlee Matlin - Dec 27-30

Our thanks to http://www.allearsnet.com from which we get some of our news leads.

>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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Our readers are a wealth of information! Here are the winners in this month's tip contest:

MAGNET LAUNDRY MARKERS
"For those of us who pack light, the laundry room is always a stop on the trip. I kept forgetting which dryers were the ones with our clothes (we usually had at least 4 dryers, especially with a 15yr old). I began taking magnets and putting them on the washers/dryers we were using (they never end up being side by side). If I had to leave the laundry room and someone else had to take over the laundry watch, they knew which ones were ours. It keeps you from wondering whose underwear is in your dryer."
 -- contributed by Kelly A.

PASSPORTER PARK PLANNING
"Whenever we begin planning a new Disney trip, the first thing we do is get the latest refill for our Deluxe PassPorter and a set of new highlighters. Then each of us picks a color and marks every attraction/show we want to see. Then when it's time for me to plan what we do each day, I can easily tell what is a "must see" to make sure we get to all of those on the trip. Sometimes I'm surprised. Something I thought would be a must has changed into a "nice if we have time" attraction. It's also great to be able to look through the past books and see how my girls' likes and dislikes have changed over the years." -- contributed by Anna T.

DISNEY DAY OFF
"The best advice I offer to friends planning a "big trip" to Walt Disney World is this: Make sure to schedule in a DAY OFF. No matter how magical the parks may be, they are also exhausting. The temptation to over-schedule is strong when there is so much to see. Whether you are staying four days or fourteen, an "off day" is a blessing. On our "off days" my family enjoys swimming in the resort pool, visiting favorite restaurants, and riding the monorail. Often these days are the best of our trip. Walt Disney World has so much to offer that is slower-paced and even free. Don't overdo it!" -- contributed by Colleen C. 

>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

>>Want more Disney tips? For Walt Disney World fans, we've collected 500 of the best tips submitted by readers over the past six years. All have been edited for accuracy and categorized. For details, visit the PassPorter Disney 500 info page at http://www.passporter.com/wdw/disney500.asp

>>For Disney Cruise Line fans, we have an e-book with 250 cruiser tips, as well as a special cruise line comparison section and seven customized packing lists. For information, visit the Disney Cruise Clues info page at http://www.passporter.com/dcl/cruiseclues.asp

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CAPTAIN'S CORNER: Treasure Hunting Game

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Play our fun and quirky treasure hunting game, hosted by Captain Jack Skatt from our new 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:

"After enjoying a sing-a-long with the Colonel last night and perhaps imbibing a few too many of those Kungaloosh drinks, I am looking forward to spending a quiet afternoon with friends. I understand a group of like-minded people will be gathering at a near-by inn. I'm told to look for a large piscine sculpture on the roof of the inn. I wonder what they mean by that?"

Which resort is the Captain looking for?

Send your full answer to jackskatt@passporter.com -- the winner will be notified by e-mail and announced in the next newsletter, along with the correct answer!

Congratulations to Tina C.  who was the winner of last week's treasure hunt game! Tina correctly identified the military man as Colonel Critchlow Sutchbench of The Adventurer's Club at Pleasure Island. To view the original clues, seehttp://www.passporter.com/news/news113006.htm#captain

If you enjoy treasure hunts, we've got an entire book with over 100 distinct treasure hunts and over 1500 questions, complete with clues and contributions from Captain Skatt. “PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World" is now available! You can order the new book today at http://www.passporterstore.com/store/1587710269.aspx

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Q & A WITH JENNIFER & DAVE

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timb asks: "Has anyone ever switched resorts mid-trip at Disneyland? We are thinking of going in February and staying at Disneyland Hotel for a few nights and then switching to Grand Californian. Can we do this? How do we go about getting our luggage transported or do we take it ourselves? Are they close enough to carry our luggage if we have to since we aren't planning on renting a car?"

Dave & Jennifer answer: "We have resort-hopped. We did transport our own luggage (we had a rental car). You can certainly ask if they'll do it for you, but I suspect it's not a regular service on their part. When you consider the number of hotels and guestrooms involved, and that the typical length of stay at Disneyland is significantly shorter than stays at Walt Disney World... it's just not something that's likely to come up frequently.

If you just have a couple of bags, you could just walk between the resorts. Paradise Pier and Grand Californian are a very reasonable walk - not much worse than the distances involved schlepping your bags around the airport. The distances between Disneyland Hotel and the other two are greater. For those, a taxi would be cheap and convenient if Disney wouldn't do it for you."

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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WANT TO GET PUBLISHED?

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PassPorter News is now published weekly, and this means we need more articles than ever! We're on the lookout for 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.

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If this newsletter was forwarded to you by a thoughtful

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Copyright (c) 2006 - MediaMarx, Inc. / PassPorter Travel Press, PO Box 3880, Ann Arbor, MI 48106

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