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PassPorter News
News, Announcements, Updates, and
Tips
December
20, 2007 * Issue 7.51
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: Tree Trimming
Travel Feature:
iPhone, I Travel: Take Your Trip to the Next Level With iPhone
Disney Feature:
Dining Review: Crystal Palace
Updates: What's
New and Changed
Tips: Card
Carrying Disney Fan, Picture That Parking Spot, Pack Those Ponchos
Captain's
Corner: Gingerbread Carousel
PassPorter
PhotoPick: Yak and Yeti Dish
Q&A: How do
we handle a 17 year old and an 18 year old who want to hang out together on our
cruise?
Our Sponsors:
We Recommend...
====================================================
FROM THE
AUTHORS: Back From MouseFest!
====================================================
Hi,
{{user("firstname")}}!
While Channukah
festivities were lost to us this year amidst the never-ending whirl that was
MouseFest, we are home for the remainder of the holiday season. There's a fire
on the hearth as we speak, the tree is alit in the family room, ornaments still
packed in their storage bins, awaiting Ally's arrival from Florida (right after
the beginning of her holiday school break). Okay, we've had to let Alexander
put up a couple of ornaments when he's had an irresistable need to decorate,
but we can't cheat Ally of all the fun! We'll be celebrating Christmas Eve with
Jennifer's family, Dave's parents arrive Christmas Day, ;Dave's Mom will
celebrate her birthday with us a few days after that, and before we know it the
new year will be here!
We hope that
you, too, have many holiday traditions and activities you'll be able to enjoy,
whether with family, friends, or on your own. And for those of you who are
heading for, or are already at, your favorite Disney destination ... Enjoy
Disney's magical way with the holidays!
In this season
of giving, we are so grateful for what YOU -- our wonderful PassPorter readers
-- have given to PassPorter. You've generously bestowed your support, tips,
stories, news, experiences, and friendship. Thank you for making PassPorter
part of your happiest days and most magical moments. As a thank-you gift, we've
created free gift tags for you featuring our favorite Disney holiday photos.
You can download your free gift tags in The Gallery at http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/passporters-club-gallery/146047-free-holiday-gift-tags-disney-photographs.html#post1864614
While few of
you are currently thinking about your next vacation, just a few days after the
used wrapping paper has gone out in the trash (or recycling), many folks will
start doing just that. When those Winter/Spring Break, Easter, or even summer
vacation dreams appear before your eyes, PassPorter's Walt Disney World 2008
and our other books and e-books will be ready for you -- just drop by the
PassPorter Store at http://www.passporter.com/store/2008.aspx
We're pleased
to announce our latest e-book, "PassPorter's Festivals and Celebrations at
Walt Disney World," by Thomas Cackler, which is now available in the
PassPorter Store as well as through the PassPorter's Club. This new e-book is a
83-page overview of all the wonderful and magical festivals, celebrations,
parties, and holidays at Walt Disney World. Included are beautiful color photos
and tips on maximizing your experience at the festivals and celebrations.
Congratulations to Thomas Cackler and Carrie Hayward on their first project
with PassPorter! To learn more about the Festivals and Celebrations e-book, get
a sample page, and view the table of contents, visit http://www.passporter.com/wdw/festivals-celebrations.asp
PASSPORTER'S
CLUB UPDATE
* More than
1000 vacationers (wow!) are now enjoying access to all our e-books,
e-worksheets, and super-sized photo archive images -- thank you for your
continued support!
* Our latest
e-book, "PassPorter's Festivals and Celebrations at Walt Disney World by
Thomas Cackler," is available for Club Passholders to download free of
extra charges: http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/passporters-club-gallery/144369-new-e-book-passporters-festivals-celebrations-walt-disney-world.html
* Two new
screen layouts -- Winter and Christmas (complete with falling snowflakes) --
are available for Club Passholders: http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/passporters-club-gallery/144250-new-layouts-winter-christmas.html
* More details
at http://www.passporter.com/club
In this issue, PassPorter
Author Jennifer Marx geeks-out over her new favorite electronic device in,
iPhone, I Travel, and PassPorter Feature Columnist Cheryl Pendry desribes one
of her "bear-y" favorite eateries, the Magic Kingdom's Crystal
Palace. Finally, Jack Skatt is back with a brand-new Walt Disney World Treasure
Hunt. Enjoy!
Jennifer and
Dave
PassPorter
Publishers and Authors
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Fan Travel by 12/31/07
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TRAVEL FEATURE:
iPhone, I Travel: Take Your Trip to the Next Level With iPhone
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by Jennifer
Marx, PassPorter Author
Are you ready
to take your travels to the next level? Try an Apple iPhone. An iPhone on a
trip is like Internet on a computer. With iPhone along, you're virtually always
connected to a myriad of resources that can improve your travel and enrich your
experience. I became an iPhone user in early October (a birthday present -
thanks, Dave!) and fell in love with it within a week. This was no mere toy or
fun gadget. When I took the iPhone on our recent MouseFest trip to Walt Disney
World and the Disney Cruise Line, I was amazed at how useful and essential my
iPhone quickly became.
You've probably
heard of the iPhone already. If not, on the surface the iPhone is a cell phone
with a sophisticated touchscreen, built-in iPod, and Internet access via wi-fi
as well as the exclusive carrier (AT&T in the U.S.). (Between wi-fi and the
AT&T Edge data network, there's almost always a way to connect to the
Internet without fuss or added cost.) I think the iPhone name is a bit of a
misnomer, because it's the iPhone's non-cellphone features that I use the most.
The iPhone is really so much more than a cell phone, and so unlike other cell
phones, even those with touchscreens, media players, or web browsing. If you
haven't seen the iPhone, you haven't seen anything yet. (More on how to see an
iPhone at the end of this article.)
So how does the
iPhone improve your travels? Allow me to relate my personal experience on my
recent travels:
Checking the
Weather FAST: The iPhone has a built-in weather checker (based on Yahoo.com
weather data) that you can set for a multitude of locations. Before I left, I
added Orlando as one of my locations and got the six-day forecast within
seconds. While I was there, I checked the weather frequently -- the iPhone was
so much faster than waiting for the Weather Channel (on TV) to display the
local forecast (which meant more time in the parks!). If you're the type who
wants more detailed weather data, you can either search for it via the Safari
web browser on the iPhone or just bookmark this nifty Weather for iPhone web
app: http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/iphone/weather/?zip=32830
Tracking
Important Events: The iPhone's Calendar function allowed me to enter the dates
and times of important events that I didn't want to forget in the excitement
and distraction of MouseFest. I could determine how far in advance I wanted to
be reminded of each event. When the event time drew near, the iPhone alerted me
by vibrating and chirping.
Watching the
Time: Speaking of alerts, the iPhone's Clock feature is really useful when
travelling. I used the iPhone's Clock to set wake-up alarms for various days
(different times for different days with different alarm sounds). I also used
the Clock's Timer function to keep track of when my washer and dryer cycles at
the guest laundry would finish and alert me that it was time to change loads.
There is also a World Clock, so you can see what time it is around the world,
and a Stopwatch, so you can see how it really takes to get through Haunted
Mansion.
Finding My Way:
The iPhone's Map feature helps you locate addresses, which is convenient when
you need to make a last-minute Walgreens run. You can also use it for driving
directions and satellite views. I even used it once as a geography cheat when I
couldn't remember which state Boston was in (to my own defense, I was very
tired at the time). The iPhone would have saved me earlier this year when I got
lost driving around Orlando to a Toys 'R Us store!
Checking Park
Times and Menus: While most of us pre-plan our trips to the best of our
abilities, sometimes unforeseen events require us to make a u-turn... and the
iPhone is so helpful in these instances. For example, we changed our plans one
evening and scrapped the "adult's night out" to spend more time with
Alexander. But we hadn't planned for it and didn't know what parks might be
open. I pulled out my trusty iPhone, tapped the Safari icon, tapped my
DisneyWorld.com bookmark, and within moments had pulled up the park hours (and
happily discovered that there were Extra Magic Hours at Magic Kingdom). I used
the iPhone later in the trip to check out the menu (thanks to AllEars.Net) at
Yak & Yeti. I did this countless times during the trip, quickly and simply.
I'll even admit to a little recreational reading on the web during some
downtime.
Sleeping With
Ambient Sounds: Despite how often I travel, I sometimes find it hard to sleep
in a hotel room. I used to bring along a travel clock with nature sounds to
lull me to sleep, but no more thanks to my iPhone! I now use the iPhone's iPod
feature to store and play various relaxing music and ambient soundtracks. I
just set the iPhone on the nightstand next to me, plug it in to charge it, tap
the iPod icon, tap the "Relaxing Ambient" playlist I've created, and
tap Shuffle for a random selection. It plays the music through its built-in
speaker and turns off when all songs have been played. I've also got some
audiobooks in my iPhone for more mental stimulation, as well as some
Backyardigans and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse TV show episodes for Alexander (I can't
tell you how useful that has been at times!). Those of you who use an iPod more
extensively than me would probably get even more use out of this feature.
Taking Pictures
With the Camera: The viewscreen on my regular camera broke a few days into the
trip, so if I hadn't had the easy-to-use camera on the iPhone, I would have
been a very unhappy traveller. The iPhone's 2-megapixel camera is simple --
there's no flash or zoom -- but it's designed quite well regardless. I was
amazed at the photos I could take with the iPhone's little camera. While I
would never recommend that it replace a regular digital camera, it worked quite
well in a pinch. I actually took more than 1500 photos with it while on my trip
-- I noticed no slowdown or lag, found the photos really easy to browse
through, and there was still plenty of room left on the 8 GB hard drive. Here's
one of my favorite photos taken on my iPhone:
Photo Link: http://www.iphoneslide.com/photos/z/2/o/z2olsfww3p9dotrk_lg.jpg
Mt. Everest at
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Staying in
Touch With Folks Back Home: The iPhone's shutterbug aspect leads me into the
biggest reason I love my iPhone -- the iPhone puts the Internet in my pocket.
While I was on the plane ride down to Orlando, I got the bright idea to share
the photos I took on my iPhone camera with the folks who had to stay behind by
setting up a real-time photo blog. That evening I set it up (it requires a
WordPress.com blog and the iPhoneSlide.com service -- both free) and began
using it immediately. Suddenly I was sharing my experiences with thousands of
people as they happened (I called it a "Window Seat") and I felt SO
connected. My family, friends, and readers back home could see the fun things I
saw, all with the touch of a button on my iPhone. I also set up the Mail app on
the iPhone to forward important e-mails so I could stay on top of emergencies
or important news. The Text Message app let me stay in touch with Ally, who was
in school and could not join us on the trip. And the Safari app let me check in
on the PassPorter web site and message board community, and respond to
important issues even when I wasn't within reach of my laptop.
So what's wrong
with an iPhone? Nothing's perfect, though the iPhone's list of shortcomings is
short. It's not inexpensive ($399) and you need to sign a two-year contract
with their exclusive carrier AT&T (in the U.S.) or other carriers
internationally. My monthly bill with fees and taxes (I have the lowest rate
plan) is $67.50, but that includes unlimited data service, so I don't have to
worry when using Safari, e-mail, Maps, etc. Technically speaking, I wish the
Camera app took photos larger than 2 megapixels, though I suspect that will be
introduced in a future version. Some folks claim the data speeds on AT&T's
data network (EDGE) are too slow, but I'm quite happy with them (and I'm not
normally a patient person). The iPhone's design is slick in more ways than one
-- that makes it a bit slippery at times and there's a tendency to drop it --
but if you put a protective case on it as I have, it can be dropped
ocassionally without breaking it (I dropped it several times on this past trip
without any damage).
Should you get
an iPhone? I could go on and on about the iPhone's advantages while travelling,
but let me sum it up with the expression I keep uttering, "I LOVE MY
IPHONE." I urge you to consider getting an iPhone -- if not now, then when
your current cell phone contract expires. The iPhone's price is quickly made up
for by its conveniences -- I calculate that I've saved more than $1000 so far
in gained time thanks to my iPhone. You won't be disappointed.
Want to learn
more? I've started a blog at http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/blogs/7-jennifer%2Bmarx/
with tips on using the iPhone while travelling. Come check it out before you
consider getting an iPhone, then come back when you've got one. If you already
have one, come on by and please let me know you have an iPhone already -- I'd
love to meet fellow iPhone lovers! If you want to check out an iPhone in
person, drop by your local Apple Store (that's how I got hooked) or tag me next
time we're at Disney together! You can also get more information and order an
iPhone online at http://www.iphone.com --
activation is conveniently done at home on your computer!
About the
Author: Jennifer Marx is a bestselling author, webmaster, step-mom to a
teenager, and mother to a pre-schooler. She lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan with
husband/partner Dave Marx and son Alexander.
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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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DID YOU KNOW?
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Disney World Rates are available at MouseEarVacations.com!
Disney Cruise
Line¨ Special Offer
April 26, 2008
- 4 night Bahamian Cruise
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on double occupancy. Ships' Registry: The Bahamas
CST2058090-40
www.MouseEarVacations.com 800-886-8601
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DISNEY FEATURE:
Dining Review: Crystal Palace
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by Cheryl
Pendry, PassPorter Featured Columnist
There are
places in Walt Disney World filled with magic and for all of us. There are some
real favorites, where you know you can head every time to immerse yourself in
the spirit of Disney. For me, one of those places is at the end of the Magic
Kingdom's Main Street U.S.A., just as you head over to Adventureland: Crystal
Palace.
The Crystal
Palace is an iconic building, bridging the gap between two lands in the Magic
Kingdom. Its architecture is fascinating and if you think you've seen something
similar before, you could well be right. It draws from a number of other
existing buildings around the world, including our very own Kew Gardens in
London, along with the Crystal Palace in New York and the Conservatory of
Flowers in San Francisco.
It's something
that's definitely worth taking the time to look at, particularly from the main
path over to Adventureland from the Hub in front of the castle, as usually the
Disney gardeners have some beautiful and exceptionally colorful flowerbeds laid
out in front of it, which make for some wonderful photos.
But don't spend
too long admiring the building from the outside. The real treat is inside! But
be warned; Advanced Dining Reservations (ADR's) are definitely needed here.
It's only on very quiet days that they're likely to be able to fit you in if
you decide on the spur of the moment that you want to eat here.
And the reason
why is the popularity of a certain bear and his friends. The Crystal Palace is
the best place at Walt Disney World to find Winnie the Pooh, along with Tigger,
Piglet and my personal favorite, the ever so wonderfully gloomy donkey Eeyore.
They reside here all day long for breakfast, lunch and dinner, just
disappearing off towards the end of lunch, as they've got to get ready to
appear in the afternoon parade. Fair enough.
So why do we
love this place so much? Contrary to popular belief, it's not just because my
favorite character resides here, although I'll be honest, that does help! The
magic for us is more the fact that every time we come to eat here, be it for
breakfast, lunch, or dinner and whether it's just the two of us, or with a couple
of friends or a big group of people, we always seem to have a good meal and,
perhaps just as importantly, a wonderful time with the characters.
There have been
some truly special memories here over the years - from Eeyore presenting me
with my birthday cake and wishing me a happy birthday to Pooh Bear desperately
trying to get past our table and getting stuck behind one of our group's chairs
and then having to be pulled free, to the incident with Piglet, where my
wayward husband, who's never been much of a fan of the poor pig, was eating
bacon as Piglet arrived. Mark set to work on Piglet's arm with knife and fork,
which required a full blown apology down on his knees before he was forgiven.
Even writing that just brings the memories back and brings a smile to my face.
Somehow the characters here always seem to go above and beyond the call of duty
to really have fun with you and to make it a truly special meal.
And then
there's the other important ingredient to any meal -- the food. It's an eat as
much as you like buffet throughout the day, with the food obviously changing
between meals and the prices doing likewise, increasing as the day goes on.
Breakfast is pretty much as you'd expect it to be, with lots of traditional
items, but also a great selection of fruits and cheeses, alongside the hot
items. We're not huge breakfast fans, preferring instead to snack and then have
big lunches and dinner and, for us, that's where the Crystal Palace really
comes alive.
Lunch and
dinner have similar menus, albeit with some items only appearing at one meal or
the other. For example you'll only find the peel and eat shrimp and soups on
the dinner menu. Having said that, both meals bring some wonderful salads and
dressings, along with a selection of cold meats and cheeses, a wide range of
vegetables, some good pasta, rice and noodle dishes, with a stunning range of
main courses. You wouldn't necessarily expect to find items such as green Thai
curry chicken or fruit and vegetable tofu curry at a character meal, but we have
found them here, and there are more straightforward dishes for less adventurous
eaters, such as chicken, steak, pork and salmon. The fish here has always been
superb and I'm told by those who eat meat that there are no complaints on that
front either.
Then there are
the desserts and it's definitely worth saving some room to sample these. The
kids will love the sundae bar (in fact they'll probably enjoy all the offerings
on the children's buffet) and as an ice cream-loving adult, that's another area
I can recommend, but don't miss the other desserts. Choices are likely to
include delicacies such as mango flan, banana bread pudding, apple cobbler or
perhaps some of my favorites, like the double chocolate brownies and pineapple
upside down cake.
Suddenly, having
remembered all the fun interaction with the characters and the wonderful food,
I find myself wondering how long it is to our next visit there. Then I
remember, by the time you read this, I'll be at Walt Disney World and may very
well be enjoying the offerings at Crystal Palace as you read!
Breakfast,
costing $18.99/adults and $10.99/children aged 3-9, is open from 8:00 am until
10:30 am, followed immediately by lunch ($20.99/adults and $11.99/children)
between 11:30 am and 3:00 pm, and finishing with dinner ($27.99/adults and
$12.99/children) from 4:00 pm to park closing (rates during Holiday Season 2007
are temporarily higher).
About the
Author: Cheryl and husband Mark live in England and love to travel,
particularly to America. They were on the first 11 night sailing of the Disney
Magic around the Mediterranean and are currently in Walt Disney World enjoying
the holiday season.
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. Also check out
our Article Collection at http://www.passporter.com/articles for more great
information!
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DID YOU KNOW?
You Can Arrive
at Walt Disney World in Style!
Airport Meet
& Greet, luggage help, free car seat
Free 30-minute
grocery stop with
airport
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Special! $5.00
off airport round-trip
Use Discount
Code: PassPorter News
Call 888-GO TO
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or visit http://quicksilver-tours.com
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UPDATES: What's
New and Changed
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Here's a few
relevant news items:
Disney Vacation
Club members received some great news at the annual member meeting! DVC members
staying at DVC resorts on points will get free Internet access in 2008. Members
will also have access to Member Services on Saturday and Sundays, World
Passport Collection will allow exchanges of less than seven days with fewer
points, and members can purchase Magic Your Way passes via Member Services.
Rix Lounge, at
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, is open for business. A 300-seat lounge that
will feature music, appetizers, and specialty drinks, Rix is the first lounge
of it's kind to be located outside of Downtown Disney / Pleasure Island. Rix
was created to give the conventioneers that Coronado Springs attracts a
nightlife option within the resort.
On Tuesday,
December 18, a 44 year-old man died while riding Expedition Everest at Disney's
Animal Kingdom. While no cause of death has been determined, the ride was
inspected on Tuesday morning prior to opening and was said to be operating normally. The ride is now closed
while officials investigate. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and
friends affected. For more information on this story, check out this Orlando
Sentinel article: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/orl-bk-disneyaccident12182007,0,7179266.story?coll=orl_tab01_layout
Walt Disney
World announced the construction of a new health and wellness center for cast
members and their families. The center will open in 2009 and is for cast
members and their dependents who participate in the company's health benefits.
The center will feature primary care physicians as well as other health care
providers, a lab, a pharmacy, a radiology center for basic x-rays, as well as a
same-day day care center for the use of patients. The center will be open
extended hours and weekends to accommodate cast members varied schedules.
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
==========================================
DISNEY TIPS
FROM FELLOW READERS
==========================================
Our readers
deliver a wealth of information! Here are the winners in this month's tip
contest:
CARD CARRYING
DISNEY FAN
"I bought
color index cards. I put the date, park we were going to, and park hours on the
top of the card (for each day we were there). Under that I wrote my table
service meal info (name of restaurant, time, and confirmation number). Under
that I wrote down which restaurants I could use my counter service credits at.
I then covered the card in clear shelf paper. When I went to the parks I put
the card in my fanny pack and had all the info I needed about my dinning in one
place. Since I had it covered in the clear shelf paper I could ride water rides
(Splash Mountain, Kali River Rapids) without worry that the card would be
destroyed. It worked like a charm."
-- contributed
by Kyle L.
PICTURE THAT
PARKING SPOT
"When you
park in a Disney parking lot, you may have more trouble finding your car than
you think. As you head toward the trams, take a digital picture of your car and
the surrounding ones. Then photograph the number of your row. Should you get
lost at the end of a long day of touring, you'll be glad you did."
-- contributed
by Win S.
PACK THOSE
PONCHOS
"Don't
forget to pack your own ponchos for the trip. We bought packages of ponchos at
the dollar store that we were able to toss at the end of our daily Walt Disney
World summer rain shower. This way we didn't have to spend lots of money at the
parks for ponchos, we didn't have to carry wet ones back to the hotel, and
while everyone else was hiding in the stores we were able to run from
attraction to attraction. Don't let the rain slow you down! "
-- contributed
by Diana B.
>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
==========================================
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:
"Ho ho ho!
I'm in the Christmas mood this week! I took a festive tour of the Disney resort
hotels to enjoy their holiday decorations and gingerbread creations. I was in
awe of the lifesize gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian. And I really
admired the intricate detail in the miniature gingerbread village at the Yacht
Club. But my favorite by far was the lifesize gingerbread carousel that
actually spins! I found this delightful carousel in the ... (rest of text
obscured by smears of chocolate icing)."
In which Disney
resort hotel will you find the lifesize gingerbread carousel? For bonus points,
locate the photographic evidence in the PassPorter Photo Archive and post a
comment with the photo!
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!
Congratulations
to Christi Kuhn who was the winner of last week's trivia contest! Christi was
the first person to identify the location of the Goofy Periodic Table of
elements as Goofy's Candy Co. in Downtown Disney and the Atomic Symbol for Goofonium
as Gf. MaryEl8775 was the first person to find the photo in the Photo Archive
and post a comment. To view the original clue, see http://www.passporter.com/news/news121307.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
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PASSPORTER
PHOTOPICK
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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 PhotoPick:
Yak and Yeti
Dish
contributed by
Dopey007
PhotoPick Link:
http://www.passporter.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/3621
You can
nominate photos for 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 at
http://www.passporter.com/photo-upload-guidelines.asp
Top 5 Photo
Contributors:
chezp - 536
photos
Meggera - 347
photos
Dopey007 - 178
photos
imadisneygirl -
171 photos
bradk - 171
photos
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Q & A WITH
JENNIFER & DAVE
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D1sney Dad
asks: "We are planning on taking a 4 day cruise in 2009 with my daughter
who will be 18.2 years old and her friend who will be 17.8 years old. We are
wondering if they will both be able to partake in the teen program for 17 year
olds or will the 18.2 year old be excluded? Do they check ages for the teen
areas? Would the 17.8 year old be allowed in the adult pool and such areas?
Would the 17.8 year old be allowed in the dance clubs?
Both will have
just graduated from High School. I know that these are a lot of questions but
we would like to know what they will and will not be able to do with each
other."
Dave and
Jennifer answer: "Disney has the birth dates of all passengers (everyone
will have to present passports by then), so there's no getting around age
limits at the teen club and kids clubs (and fortunately, at the bars as well).
It's all coded right into the Key to the World cards. Disney does not allow
kids who are too old for the programs to participate. Considering how divisive
it would be for the friend to participate in Teen Club activities while your
daughter couldn't, assume that the Teen Club, teen beach, and teen excursions
are out. If the 17 year-old tries to go ashore in a port of call without your
permission, she'll be stopped before they can leave the ship.
When it comes
to the adult pool and the dance clubs... It's really a matter of their
behavior. Don't do anything that would lead the crew to ask for ID, and a
nearly 18-year-old will probably get away with it. Act in a manner that annoys
the adults in the area or attracts the attention of the crew, and that'll be a
different story.
Rules are
rules, regardless, so you and the girls have to appreciate that there's a real
downside to poor behavior. If you intentionally plan to stretch the rules, you
have to be ready to deal with the potential consequences. The cruise line can
and will resort to "house arrest" for teens that misbehave - that'll
fall squarely on your daughter's friend, while your daughter will for good or
bad, have more leeway as an adult.
Effectively, if your daughter's friend is excluded from the adult areas
due to their behavior, that excludes your daughter as well (unless she doesn't
mind losing a friend). If your daughter's behavior attracts the attention of
the authorities and therefore "outs" her younger friend, that's not
going to go down very well, either.
Meantime, since
it's still a ways to go before that cruise, it may not be easy for any of you
to project their behavior 18 months or more from now. Will they be mature
beyond their years, or in a mood to blow off post-graduation steam?
Good luck! I
don't have to worry about this for another three years!"
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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