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PassPorter News
News, Announcements, Updates, and Tips
December 13, 2005 * Issue 5.23
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: Home From MouseFest
Travel
Feature: Prince Edward Island
Disney
Feature: Disneyland - A Happy Homecoming
Updates: What's New and Changed
Tips: Face Photos, Light The Night, Security Speed-up
Captain's
Corner: Treasure HunterÕs Club
Q&A: Do we need a bike lock for our stroller?
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FROM THE AUTHORS: Home From
MouseFest
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Hi,
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A white
Christmas seems all but a sure thing here in PassPorter's Michigan offices,
where we can already stare out our windows into the snow-covered woods beyond.
And we can gaze with a good bit of satisfaction, as PassPorter Walt
Disney World 2006 is in stock
and shipping, and MouseFest 2005 was a huge success!
Every
pre-order of our 2006 guide has gone out, and new orders are shipping on the
next business day. We're feeling so good that we've even created a special
gift-giving deal (see below).
Meantime, MouseFest 2005 exceeded our every expectation. The many
participating communities put together a great roster of events, and wherever
we went at Walt Disney World people wearing MouseFest buttons were having a
great time. Over 1,000 folks attended at least one meet, over 250 people
gathered to view the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party fireworks on December
1 (so many that we needed two meeting places to fit everyone), over 500 came
together at the Mega Mouse Meet on December 3, and at least 150 joined us for a
cruise on the Disney Wonder.
The PassPorter
community made an especially heartwarming appearance, with several hundred
attendees that included over a dozen of our message board Guides. Check our Trip Report Forum for lots of
reports and lots of pictures! Our thanks to everyone who came, and especially
to all those volunteers who organized meets and worked so hard to make the Mega
Mouse Meet such a rousing success.
Is it too
early to start thinking about MouseFest 2006? Nope! Mark your calendars now:
December 3-12, 2006. The four-night cruise on the Disney Wonder sails December
3-7, and land-based events at Walt Disney World take place from December 7-12.
Whether you add MouseFest to your regularly-scheduled Disney vacation plans, or
schedule your vacation so that it coincides with MouseFest, we hope to see you
then!
In this
edition of the newsletter, guest contributor Michelle Kosloff spreads her love
for Canada's Prince Edward Island. (She sure has seafood-loving Dave convinced!) Then
Michelle Mangio shares memories of her happy Disneyland homecoming. Captain Skatt is also back again with a new treasure hunt game to solve. Good luck!
Happy
Holidays,
Jennifer and
Dave
PassPorter Travel Press
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DID YOU KNOW?
PassPorter
Holiday Gift-Giving Special!
The 2006 edition of
PassPorter Walt Disney World
is beginning to appear on book store shelves, all pre-orders at our online
store have been shipped, and new orders are now being shipped the next day!
This is the very first time that the new edition of PassPorter Walt Disney
World has been ready for holiday gift giving, so we're going to celebrate
with....
The PassPorter
Holiday Gift-Giving Special! If you've always hoped to give loved ones
(including yourself) the gift of a new-edition PassPorter Walt Disney World (or
any other PassPorter guidebook), we've created a special deal just for you!
Buy two or
more PassPorter guidebooks (any titles, in any combination) between now and
11:59 pm on Thursday, December 15 and you'll get 35% off on your order. That's
the best deal we've offered all year!
To take
advantage of the offer, all you need to do is put two or more books into your
online shopping cart at the PassPorter Store, and when you check out, use
this special "coupon code": holiday35 (typed just as you see it, all
lower-case, no spaces; just type the code into the Coupon Code box and click
the Apply Code button). You can also place your order by telephone at
877-929-3273.
Why does the
deal end so soon? We want to be able to ship all these orders by Friday, so
they'll arrive in time for Christmas and Chanukah.
Order your
books today at:
http://www.passporterstore.com/store
PassPorter
Titles:
PassPorter Walt
Disney World 2006 Ð http://www.passporterstore.com/store/2006.apsx
PassPorter's Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line 3rd Edition Ð http://www.passporterstore.com/store/dcl2005.aspx
PassPorter's Walt Disney World For Your Special Needs Ð http://www.passporterstore.com/store/1587710188.aspx
The above
titles are all in stock and make great holiday gifts. Our popular e-book, PassPorter's Disney
500: Fast Tips for Disney World Trips is also available for immediate download from our
online store!
Shop at http://www.passporterstore.com/store
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TRAVEL FEATURE: Prince Edward
Island
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by Michelle Kosloff, Guest
Contributor
I love to go
to Walt Disney World. When we were little, my grandparents were snowbirds and
every year they would go to Florida and we often went with them for a couple of
weeks. More often that not, we made a trip to Walt Disney World. Sadly my
grandmother passed away some years ago and my grandfather sold their Florida
house so our trips to Disney World have become much less frequent and more
expensive. With two growing children involved in many activities, itÕs a double
whammy to our finances.
So because I
love to vacation, I had to find an alternative. That turned out to be
vacationing locally. It helps that I live in an area to which tourists flock
every summer. I live on beautiful Prince Edward Island (PEI) in Canada. It
is the smallest Canadian Province but one of the most beautiful.
This island,
unlike its neighbors Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, has sandstone as its
foundation rather than granite. So its beaches are all sandy and
soft. The coastline doesnÕt have the same rugged beauty, but is more soft
and romantic.
In the summer
with the hoards of visitors you might not see this tranquil beauty, especially
if you hit the touristy areas of the north shore. In the winter, the wind
and the blizzards would certainly cause you to miss it. However, in the
shoulder season Ð June and September, you will see this island in another
light.
In June, the
world is new and the grass and all the trees glow green. The red soil is
so fertile that people donÕt have to sod their lawns when they buy a new house,
they just throw down some grass seed. Lupines grow wildly in all the
ditches. You can walk along the beach and not meet another soul for miles.
In September, it may be cool, but the autumn leaves are beautiful and you still
have all the beaches to yourself.
Do you love
seafood? This is the place for you. You can mosey down to one of the
many docks around the island and get the best fish and chips from a little fish
and chip stand. Restaurants specializing in lobster are all
over. Lobster is best in the shoulder season in any case because they molt
in the summer and are fished in the spring and fall.
Mussels are
also cultivated in the island waters in abundance. I remember going into a
restaurant and ordering their special, which was a plate of mussels with your
entrŽe for around $2. I expected 10 or so mussels. The plate they brought
was heaped so high with delicious, fresh mussels, that by the time I got to my
meal I was already too full to eat any of it. Often restaurants will have
these special prices in the spring and fall to entice locals to their
restaurants.
Since this is
a prime tourist area, the accommodations are plentiful. While your dream
location has probably been booked months in advance for July, itÕs probably
available at a discount in the shoulder season. You can get anything from
a fancy hotel to a lovely little B&B. Many of the accommodations will
put you right up close to water (it is after all an island). The government of
PEI has the best directory of accommodations I have ever seen anywhere. You can order a tourist
guide, but everything in it is searchable online.
For our
wedding anniversary one year we visited a little B&B. We were the
only ones there other than the owners. It felt like we had the whole place
to ourselves. During the day we would wander along deserted beaches,
finding all the marvels of the ocean. During the evening we ate lobster and at
night we slept in luxury (at a reduced cost, of course). It was one of
the most romantic anniversaries ever.
If you are a sun lover and love to
just lie in the sun and swim in the ocean, this might not be the vacation for
you. Even in the summer the water can be chilly, but for an intimate,
romantic getaway, give PEI a try, especially when you can have it all to
yourself.
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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.
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DISNEYLAND FEATURE: Disneyland Ð A
Happy Homecoming
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by Michelle r. Mangio, Guest
Contributor and Owner of Magical Escapes Vacations
As all Disney
fans know well, 2005 marks the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Disneyland
theme park. All Disney properties across the world, on land and sea, are
participating in this Happiest Celebration, in honor of the beginning of it
all.
If you are
like me, then this party is the perfect reason to revisit Walt Disney World,
and participate in the celebration. For many of us where I live, out here
on the East Coast, there really is no contest in our minds which U.S. Disney
theme park to visit. If youÕre going to make the trip to Disney, why go
all the way out to California, to visit a smaller version of our beloved theme
park, when you can head right on down to Florida and visit it all?
IÕll tell you
why. Because there is no place more magical to celebrate this most special
of Disney occasions.
Whenever we
think of visiting Disney, itÕs always to Walt Disney World that we are
drawn. To us, WDW is our Disney home.
That is -
until this year. I knew when I first heard of the upcoming ÒHappiest
Homecoming on EarthÓ celebration that I wanted to visit Disneyland again. And
it wasnÕt until after I had gotten there that I knew for certain there was no
better place to be.
And luck was
with me. A conference I was attending was held in Long Beach, bringing me
right to DisneylandÕs backyard. And what kind of Disney travel agent, not
to mention Disney fan, would I be if I didnÕt stop by for a peek? Two days
wasnÕt near long enough, but it was enough time to imprint a memory IÕll always
treasure.
The fact is,
Disneyland is different than Walt Disney World. WDW grew from Disneyland,
but it was here that the magic was first given life. YouÕll see familiar
sights and rides, yet itÕs more intimate, cozy, like wandering back into your
childhood days. But the emotion of the past 50 years will catch up with
you from the moment you walk in.
The city of
Anaheim has done a great job cleaning up the city in the last eight years since
my previous visit, making it all the more pleasant to visit Disneyland. The
Disney resort hotels are beautiful, and nothing can beat the Grand
CalifornianÕs private entrance right into the middle of Californian Adventure
park Ð especially after a long day when you just want to get to your bed, or
soak in a pool. But even many of the off-site resorts are right within
walking distance (a few right across the street!), giving you many options to
choose from.
I first walked
into Disneyland after dark, when the entire park was lit up Ð what a grand way
to feel as if you were walking into a childhood memory again.There was Sleeping
BeautyÕs Castle down the end of Main Street, all brilliant pink and shining
gold crowns. Just the sight had me positively giddy.
I wandered
into City Hall to look at the memorabilia on display, including many of the
original tickets issued for Disneyland. It truly was a walk down memory
lane, and had me nostalgic for all the things Ð theme parks and movies, TV
shows and cartoons Ð that I grew up with and love so much about Disney.
But what was
most special about that first evening Ð and what is the reason every Disney fan
should make it to Disneyland before the Happiest Homecoming ends Ð was the
fireworks show, ÒRememberÉDreams Come True.Ó There are many reasons to
visit Disneyland this year, but if you need only one reason Ð this is it.
If youÕve been
to Walt Disney World in the last year or so, then you are probably familiar
with its new fireworks show, ÒWishes.Ó ItÕs a fabulous new display that
combines an astonishing array of fireworks with story, song, and the heartfelt
wishes of children and Disney characters.
ÒRememberÉDreams
Come TrueÓ takes the best parts of ÒWishesÓ and makes it even grander. I donÕt
want to give away the show, but think of ÒRememberÓ as blending the best things
of ÒWishesÓ and ÒIlluminations.Ó It goes beyond just fireworks and song to
tug at your heartstrings with laser, lights, and more, engaging most of the
Main Street area in its dazzling display. It will take you on a journey
down memory lane to all the Disney things with which you fell in love, from
your favorite attractions to television shows and Disney classic movies.
Before
ÒRememberÓ was even halfway through, I quite literally had a tear in my eye and
the warmest feeling in my heart. But what I remember most was all the
people around me, the many Disney fans who were swept away in the show,
laughing and remembering and, yes, crying. When the show ended, my eyes
met the woman next to me, and we both shared a crazy grin as we realized that
the other also had tears on their face.
There is
something truly magical about this new fireworks display at DisneylandÉ but
itÕs also the emotion of the moment, surrounded by thousands of other fans,
here where the Disney theme park dreams began, in front of the glittering gold
crowns of Sleeping BeautyÕs Castle. IÕve said it already, but IÕll say it
again: if there is one thing you shouldnÕt miss during the Happiest Homecoming
Celebration, it is the ÒRememberÉ Dreams Come TrueÓ fireworks display in
Disneyland.
Of course,
there are many other reasons to visit Disneyland before the end of
2006. The new ÒWalk in WaltÕs FootstepsÓ Tour is a great way to see
Disneyland and learn more about this park. Walt Disney never lived to see
the opening of Walt Disney World in Florida, so this is an experience you just
wonÕt be able to find anywhere else.
Throughout the
park, you will find mosaics of Disney characters and classic scenes, all
comprised of photos of families who have visited Disneyland over the years.
Fifty hidden ÒMickey 50 EarsÓ are hidden throughout the Park as well Ð can you
spot them all?
Sleeping
BeautyÕs Castle has been transformed into a ÒGolden TributeÓ to its 50 years Ð
from golden turrets and drapes, to the Crown Jewels on its main towers. ItÕs a
beautiful and stunning transformation. The original rides which opened in 1955
are celebrating as well, as one vehicle in each ride is now golden. Buzz
LightyearÕs Astro Blaster has made its way from Florida, and Space Mountain has
been revamped with all new special effects.
Then hop on
over to California Adventure to check out the Block Party Bash Ð a high energy
parade and show that will have you dancing in the streets. The performers
are always full of energy, even in the sweltering heat, and their enthusiasm is
infectious Ð itÕs hard not to get swept up in the dancing. Then head to
the animation building for a conversation with Crush (from Finding Nemo), in
the new ÒTurtle Talk with CrushÓ show.
As you can see, there is much
excitement going on in Disneyland this year. This is Classic Disney at its
best, mixed with the energy of all thatÕs new Ð and the dreams of all thatÕs to
come. Any Disney fan will not be disappointed in a trip to the original
Disney theme park Ð just donÕt forget to bring your handkerchief when the inner
child within you brings those tears of joy and nostalgia to your face.
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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 of the new
developments at Disney:
Celebrate New
Years' Eve at Walt Disney World! The Magic Kingdom will be open from 8:00 am -
1:00 am with extra parades and fireworks. Epcot will also be open late (until
1:00 am) with an additional showing of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth and
different music around the World Showcase. Disney-MGM Studios will also get in
on the celebration with a special fireworks show, "Lights, Camera,
Fireworks!" as well as extended hours. (Park open until midnight.)
The new Pop
Gallery store has opened in the spot of the former Guitar Gallery in Downtown
Disney West Side. Jennifer and Dave "popped" in and found it full of
interesting (if pricey) wall and glass art from contemporary artists.
The Mickey's
Very Merry Christmas Party events on December 18 and 20 have sold out.
Splash Mountain will close and
undergo a quick rehab from January 23 - 27, 2006.
>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:
FACE PHOTOS
"Take
lots of pictures of your children's faces during the parade. My most treasured
possession is a photo of my son waving at Mickey in Animal Kingdom. The
excitement and wonder in his eyes was priceless. (And to think I almost just
took another picture of a Mickey on parade.)"
-- contributed
by Kenny White (kenny@...)
LIGHT THE
NIGHT
"When
staying in a Cat 10, 11, or 12 inside cabin on a Disney cruise it is very dark
with the lights off. Keep the bathroom light on and close the door while
napping during the day or sleeping at night. You get enough light from under
the door to move around and the bathroom door stays closed unlike the sliding closet
doors. Glow necklaces work well and give kids a little light close by to make
them comfortable if they wake up during the night."
-- contributed
by Carol D.
SECURITY
SPEED-UP
"To get
through the theme park bag check lines quickly, get your bags ready by opening
every compartment up and get your camera out. Also make sure that everything in
your bag is plastic and that there no glass and nothing sharp."
-- contributed by Matt Chenuz
(m.c.chenuz@...)
>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? We've
collected 500 of the tips submitted by readers over the past six years -- most
have never been published before. All have been edited for accuracy and
categorized. The "Disney 500" are available in e-book form for
immediate download. For details, visit http://www.passporter.com/wdw/disney500.htm .
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CAPTAINÕS CORNER: Treasure Hunting
Game
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Play our fun and quirky treasure
hunting game, hosted by Captain Jack Skatt from our upcoming 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 treasure from
Captain Skatt's Journal:
ÒI've been
ruminating on the notion of an exclusive treasure hunter's club for my fellow
hunters. Wednesday evenings work well for me, but where could we all meet? I
did stumble upon another odd little club last week, which appeared to have
recently opened. If I'm not mistaken it was a drinking club. There was even an
unusual ritual involving someone named Beverly, I believe. Perhaps this club
would be a good spot for my meetings. It was called ...Ó (rest of text obscured
by a sticky substance with a bitter smell that appears to have been spit out)
So what is the
name of the club?
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 Terrie Braun
who was the winner of last newsletter's treasure hunt game last week! Terrie correctly
identified the shop as "It's a Wonderful Shop." To view the original
clues, see the last newsletter.
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. We expect
to release the book -- "PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney
World" -- in a couple of months. Watch this space or http://www.passporter.com
for more information!
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Q & A WITH JENNIFER & DAVE
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Shawn S. asks:
"Someone suggested bringing a bike lock to lock your stroller to something
when you go on rides so nobody steals it. I thought about it, mainly because if
it does go missing, whether on purpose or honest mistake, I am greatly inconvenienced.
Anyone ever do this? "
Jennifer and
Dave answer: "I've never heard of it, never seen it, and we haven't
thought of doing it ourselves. In all my time 'covering' Disney I can't recall
one complaint about a stolen privately owned stroller (rental strollers get
'swapped' from time to time, which is why you should keep your receipt with
you). Strollers don't always stay where you put them, though. Cast members move
strollers into and around the stroller parking areas while folks are on
attractions.
Ultimately, do
what makes you comfortable. If that means running a bike lock through the
wheels of your stroller so they won't turn, go ahead. That'll be enough to stop
any accidental and nearly all intentional 'incidents.' I don't recommend trying
to lock it to a fixed object, though. As I mentioned, cast members need to move
strollers around, and if it's a matter of public safety (like making space for
crowd movement), I wouldn't count on finding your lock in one piece when you
return.
A theme park is a lousy place for
this kind of theft, as all thieves must exit through a very secure 'choke
point.' It's not like someone can stuff a stroller into a backpack to evade
discovery.Ó
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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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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Copyright (c) 2005 - MediaMarx,
Inc. / PassPorter Travel Press, PO Box 3880, Ann Arbor, MI 48106