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January 4, 2007 * Issue 7.01 |
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 In
This Newsletter
From the Authors:
Vacation Planning Season Begins!
Travel Feature:
Kent, England
Disney Feature: All
Star Movies
Updates: What's
New and Changed
Tips:
Surrogate Scavenger Hunt, Excellent E-Book Tip, I.D. Idea
Captain's Corner: No More Stains!
Q&A: Is
there a rental car office near the Disney Cruise terminal?
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Updates:
What's
New and Changed
Here are a few items of relevant news:
Disney will unveil the new version of the
Disney.com web site on January 8, 2007 at the Consumer Electronics Show in
Las Vegas.
Beginning on January 1, 2007, the age restriction on most Pleasure Island
night clubs has been raised to 21 and over. Those under 21 may still visit The
Adventurer's Club and The Comedy Warehouse if accompanied by an adult, and no
age restriction exists for Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant.
Dates have been announced for the 2008 15th Annual Walt Disney World Marathon.
The event includes a marathon, half-marathon, Family Fun Run 5K and a Health
Expo and will be held January 10 - 13, 2008. Registration begins January 8,
2007, the day after this years marathon weekend ends.
Our thanks to AllEars.net
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
Our readers deliver a wealth of information! Here
are the winners in this month's tip contest:
SURROGATE SCAVENGER HUNT
"My kids (ages 12 and 7) and I were in dire need of a good Mickey fix, but we
don't have a trip planned in the foreseeable future. Luckily, friends of ours
were heading down to Walt Disney World soon. We made them a scavenger hunt! We
gave them a list of items to find (things like "something from a place far
away", "something Mickey-shaped", and "something that made you smile"), and we
emphasized that most of the things they find should be free. There were a few
items that would need to be purchased ("something we can eat!") so we included a
small amount of cash to cover any costs. We also gave them a few of our pins to
trade, asking that they send us some of the new pins they obtained from trading
but also that they keep some for themselves. When they finish their trip,
they'll box up all their treasures and send them to us (we paid postage). We
hope they'll have fun on their scavenger hunt, but best of all we'll get our
Mickey fix! We can't wait for our package to arrive."
-- contributed by Jen K.
EXCELLENT E-BOOK TIP
"I booked a Disney Land and Sea vacation and am constantly looking for new
tips for my trip. I found a ton of tips in the PassPorter e-books and wanted to
combine them with my travel books. Rather than carrying the Disney World and
Disney Cruise e-books with me, I got a little creative. I printed out the
e-books and cut out the tips I liked the most. I then taped these tips to a
blank sheet of paper (plus Disney clip art) and copied it. This made each page
customized with all the tips I liked the most! I also made then small enough so
that the papers fit neatly into my PassPorter."
-- contributed by Diana B. (dianan_nali2@...)
I.D. IDEA
"For helping to be reunited with your kids (think toddler to early
school age) in the event you get separated, the iron on transfers are a great
idea. We ordered a bunch of these online for a few dollars and they more than
made up for the cost in peace of mind. We had the following printed "Smith
Family, if found please call cell XXX-XXX-XXXX". Instead of placing them in a
hidden location, we ironed them on in the middle of back of the boys t-shirts.
This way they didn't pick them off, yet knew where they were if they needed to
show someone. In addition, we didn't give away their first name to a stranger as
we only listed our last name on the tag. We love this idea for any event where
there are lots of people. We always carry our cell phones so having that number
on the tag works well. And if you don't like these as a fashion statement after
your trip, they peel off with a little help."
-- contributed by
Carrianne B.
>Notes: Send
us your tips ! You may see them in this newsletter and win a copy of
PassPorter!
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 or the PassPorter store. 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.
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Captain's
Corner:
Treasure Hunting Game
Play our fun and quirky treasure hunting game, hosted
by Captain Jack Skatt from our book, "PassPorter's
Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World."
The Captain makes a study of the delightful details
-- sometimes hidden, sometimes in plain sight but often overlooked -- at
Walt Disney World and aboard the Disney Cruise Line. Using notes from his
journals, he will lead you to this "treasure" at Disney with clues, questions,
photos, or riddles. Your challenge is to discover the answer by searching
your memory, visiting Disney, or even just looking really hard on the Internet.
If you think you've found the answer, e-mail it to jackskatt@passporter.com
-- the first person to correctly submit the FULL answer will receive a
free PassPorter enamel pin or PassPorter name badge pin.
Here is this week's journal entry:
"It's once again time to set my new year resolutions. This year I resolve to keep more notes on where I've found
my treasures at Disney. To that end, I've decided to buy a new journal -- this old dog-eared diary has more stains, rips, and smears of who-knows-what
than... well... nevermind. Yes, anyway, I stopped at a little writer's shop near the commissary and looked about for a new journal. They had books, music, and a small
coffee counter, but no journals. I will continue hunting.
Where is this shop and what is its name?
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 Glenn T. who was the winner of
last week's treasure hunt game! Glenn correctly identified
the spider web at the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set at the Disney-MGM
Studios. To view the original clue, see
last
week's 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. The new "PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World" book
is now available! You can order the book today at http://www.passporterstore.com.
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Q
& A:
With Jennifer and Dave
jswalker1992 asks: "We are going to be
flying into Florida the night before we leave for the cruise. We are going to
rent a car and drop it off before the cruise. I believe that I read somewhere
that there is a Budget close to the terminal, is that correct? Would that be
located in Cape Canaveral? Has anyone been able to purchase their rental through
someplace like Priceline where it is a bit cheaper, or do we have to go through
Budget?"
Dave & Jennifer answer: "Budget, Dollar and
Avis all have agencies in the Port Canaveral area that offer free shuttle
service to and from the cruise terminal (you may have to search on "Cape
Canaveral," "Port Canaveral," or "Cocoa Beach" to find the agency listing at the
car rental web sites). National/Alamo also has an office but does not offer free
shuttle service, so you'd have to factor-in a cab fare as well.
Shop your best deal. By all means, try Priceline if you wish - just be sure that
the deal is so good that you can afford to pay cab fares if you "win" an agency
that doesn't provide a shuttle. We've used all the above agencies at Port
Canaveral at one time or another. Sometimes it'll pay to keep the car and park
at the cruise terminal ($10/day), but it has never worked out that way for us.
We've always dropped the car off, and picked up a new rental on the trip back.
As to the security of the parking lot... while I would trust the safety of the
car itself (the lot is fenced and guarded), I wouldn't leave personal effects in
the car."
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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Future
Newsletters:
Want
To See Your Name in Print?
PassPorter News is published
weekly, and this means we're always in need of articles! We're on the lookout
for guest columnists who want to contribute articles to this newsletter.
No professional writing experience is 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 for use at
www.passporter.com.
For details and our article submission guidelines,
please e-mail news@passporter.com.
Articles about Disney and general travel are welcomed!
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From
the Authors: Vacation Planning Season Begins!
Hi, {{user("firstname")}}!
Happy New Year! Our best wishes from the PassPorter family for a happy, healthy, and
prosperous new year!
With the new year comes the start of vacation planning season -- more vacationers start planning for their upcoming vacations
in January than at practically any other time of the year! So to kick things off right, we want to make it easy for
folks to get their new PassPorter guidebooks and we're offering this cool deal:
Get free USPS Media Mail shipping in the PassPorter Store from now to Monday, January 8, 2007. Just select Media Mail as your shipping method -- no coupon or discount code needed. Free Media Mail shipping expires at midnight ET on Monday and is only valid for shipment within the U.S. This is a great time to pre-order the new cruise guide, pick up the new 2007 edition of PassPorter Walt Disney World, or upgrade to a deluxe. Order your new books at: http://www.passporterstore.com/store
Over the holiday break, we considerably expanded PassPorter's online article collection which now houses more than 100 feature articles -- all about Disney and travel in general. Check it out at http://www.passporter.com/articles
In this issue of the newsletter, veteran
contributor and native Brit Cheryl Pendry takes us on a tour of her home county,
Kent, England, and Maureen Austin reports on the popular
All-Star Movies Resort. Enjoy!
Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter Authors
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Did You Know?
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& FREE extras for MouseFest 2007!
Kick Off
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Get a
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Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World®"
Just book a minimum 4-night vacation
Valid for bookings made 01/01/07--01/31/07
Visit
us at: www.MouseFanTravel.com
*One book per
reservation will be sent with documents. Valid for 2007-08 travel.
Click for full details CST207807440
- As to Disney artwork: ©Disney
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Travel
Feature:
Kent, England
by
Cheryl Pendry, Guest Contributor and PassPorter Message Board Guide
With America and Britain
sharing a common language and history, perhaps it's no surprise that travelling
between our two countries is so popular.
Most people
heading east to the United Kingdom are coming for one thing -- London. But
there's so much more to the country than that and a new transatlantic service,
operating out of Norfolk, Virginia, allows visitors to discover that for
themselves.
Operating
weekly between May and October, the service will fly into Kent International
Airport on the southeast coast of England. Just over an hour's drive from the
outskirts of London, this airport is an attractive alternative to Heathrow and Gatwick.
Particularly because it's so quiet, which means no long waits to get through
customs. But it's also situated by some beautiful places, which are well worth
exploring.
Kent is a
county -- the British equivalent of a state -- whose history goes back 2,000
years. Home to Roman invasions and the place where
St. Augustine first
came ashore to establish Christianity in Britain, that history can still be seen
today in
Richborough Roman Fort and
Canterbury Cathedral.
The Cathedral,
just 16 miles from the Kent airport, is one of the area's most popular tourist
spots and with good reason. The name is known worldwide not only as the mother
church of the Anglican community and from Chaucer's famous Canterbury Tales, but
also as where Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in 1170. More than that,
it's an impressive building and one that can easily rival the likes of
Westminster Abbey or St. Paul's Cathedral.
Closer to the
airport, there's even more history to be found in Broadstairs, a coastal town
that was the favorite
holiday retreat of Charles Dickens. Bleak House, where he wrote David
Copperfield, still stands, overlooking the beautiful Viking Bay below. The
Dickens House Museum on the cliff top was once the home of Miss Mary Pearson
Strong, on whom Dickens based much of the character of Miss Betsey Trotwood in
David Copperfield. The author's links with the town are celebrated every June
during the
Dickens Festival, which sees performances of his plays and parades of
costumed Dickensian characters.
It's easy to
see why Dickens fell in love with this town, with its array of quaint shops,
narrow roads and seven beautiful beaches that offer a range of activities from
surfing to donkey rides. During August, the town is filled with music from
international Folk Week, which attracts over 100,000 visitors each year. Some of
the best folk acts from the UK and Europe perform. Even better, many of the
performances are free to attend.
A little
further down the coastline is the beautiful
harbor
town of Ramsgate, the only place in Britain that can boast a Royal Harbour.
Awarded the status in 1820 by King George IV in appreciation of the hospitality
he received, the harbor
remains one of the most picturesque in the country, surrounded by hundreds of
buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th century. This
is a town packed full of stunning architecture. By evening, it comes alive with
bustling cafés and restaurants along the waterfront.
The town's
maritime past is celebrated at the Ramsgate Maritime Museum. As well as looking
at the development of the history of the area, this museum is packed with items
rescued from shipwrecks from the nearby
Goodwin Sands. Many of these date back to the Great Storm of 1703 and provide a
fascinating look at warships from centuries gone by. It's also the site of the
unique Ramsgate Meridian, the site where the town's own mean time, 5 minutes and
41 seconds ahead of London,
was calculated. It makes Ramsgate the first place in the country that can
rightly claim to celebrate each New Year!
There's more
maritime entertainment with powerboat racing in July, when the top competitors
race just off the coast. That's followed by the Ramsgate Regatta Week in August,
one of the country's biggest sailing regattas. In 2007, the Royal Temple Yacht
Club which organizes the regatta will celebrate its 150th
anniversary. The club was first founded on the Temple Steps in London (which is
how it got its name), before moving down the coastline to Ramsgate 40 years
later.
Kent is also
the place to explore some of Britain's finest coastline with 14 sandy bays, some
quiet and romantic, some lively family beaches, in a 26 mile stretch of
coastline. Home to some of
Europe's most
unusual wildlife, the area was also described by artist JMW Turner as having the
"loveliest skies in Europe.” The sunsets are something to see.
Of course, the
area wouldn't be complete without its own castle. Dover, famous for its white
cliffs, is also home to an ancient castle that played a key role in defending
the country during World War Two. The secret wartime tunnels underneath
Dover Castle became the nerve center
for Operation Dynamo, launched in May 1940, to rescue British forces and French
troops from the beaches of Dunkirk in Northern
France. As the Nazis took hold of mainland Europe, 338,000 were saved; almost
ten times the original estimate of 45,000 troops that it was believed would be
rescued. It's a fascinating place to visit. You can't help but wonder how so
many people coped with living in the dingy tunnels while commanding such a
successful operation.
The medieval
town of Sandwich, with its city walls and period houses, is probably known more
widely for the food of the same name.
Rumor has it that the
sandwich was invented here. Nearby are three stunning golf courses, St.
George's, Prince's and the Royal Cinque Ports, all of which have hosted the
British Open Championship in their time.
And if that
isn't enough for you, getting over to France for the day is easy enough, with
ferries running from Dover. Or perhaps you'd rather take a car over on Eurotunnel or let the train
take the strain, with both options allowing you to enjoy the Channel Tunnel
between Britain and France.
With so much
history, such beautiful coastlines and fine dining and sporting opportunities,
it's perhaps no surprise that Kent welcomes something like four million visitors
each year. Now, with new flights starting straight from Virginia, the potential
is there to welcome many more.
To find out
more about Kent and the flights into Kent International Airport, visit:
http://www.hoptoengland.com/
About the Author:
Cheryl
and husband Mark live in Kent and regularly explore the area they live in. They
also love to travel and their next trip will see them taking the inaugural
Disney Cruise Line around the Mediterranean.
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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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Did
You Know?
Great Cruise Rates are available at
MouseEarVacations.com!
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Disney Feature:
Disney's All-Star Movies Resort
by
Maureen Austin, Guest Contributor and PassPorter Message Board Guide
The magic of Disney films is the
delightful theme for Disney's third value resort - All-Star Movies. Built as the
final (so far...) portion of the All-Star Resorts, this 1900+ room resort offers
big "blockbuster" fun on a small "independent film" budget. Whimsical accents
throughout the resort and the many amenities make this an ideal choice for
families. Located in the Animal Kingdom Resort Area, this resort is extremely
popular in the value category, so make your reservations early if this will be
your home base while at the World.
The action starts in Cinema
Hall. This is the central hub for the resort where you can find check-in, guest
services and a well equipped gift shop. In addition, the food court offers a
wide variety of dining choices throughout the day and evening including pizza
delivery to your room until midnight. There is no full
service restaurant on site. Kids will especially enjoy the arcade and
playground.
Bus transportation to all
the Disney theme parks as well as Downtown Disney and the water parks is
provided. Resort to resort transportation is also available; however this
requires a transfer at Downtown Disney or the Ticket &Transportation
Center. Be sure to allow plenty of time for this when making any plans that
take you from AS Movies to another resort.
>The resort is divided into
5 fun and very "Disney” sections. Herbie fans will enjoy the section devoted to
everyone's favorite VW Beetle in the Love Bug section. Those guests partial to
Buzz, Woody and the gang will go head over heels for the Toy Story Section. As a
fitting tribute to one of Disney's finest animated works, Fantasia is also a
section all its own. Filling out the resort are the Mighty Ducks and 101
Dalmatians sections.
Guest rooms are small but
adequate for a family of four. Rooms average 260 square feet and have either 2
double beds or a King bed. Accommodations for the physically challenged are
available in the King bed layout. Bathrooms are also on the small side. Décor
matches the theme of the section but is imaginative and colorful. When my son
and I stayed at All-Star Movies years ago, he was absolutely enchanted with our
room in the 101 Dalmatians section. A color TV, clock radio and also a table and
chairs are in each guest room. Categories for rooms are standard and preferred
locations. Standard rooms can overlook a courtyard or parking lot. Preferred
location at All-Star Movies (in the 101 Dalmatians section) are rooms located
close to Cinema Hall for easy access to guest services and amenities. Preferred
location rooms cost a little more but many guests feel this is worth the price.
Laundry facilities are also available at the resort.
The pools at All-Star
Movies are bright and colorful. You can take a dip at two different locations -
Sorcerer Mickey welcomes you to the water at the Fantasia pool located just
behind Cinema Hall. The Mighty Ducks section also has a "quiet" pool that tends
to be less crowded.
Rack rates for 2007 begin
at $82 per night for a standard room and go up, depending on the season. Be sure
to ask your travel agent or Disney Reservations about any discounts which may be
available such as Annual Passholder, Florida Resident or AAA/CAA just to name a few.
About the Author: Maureen is the Co-Owner of
Ears To You Travel as well as a
PassPorter Message Board Guide.
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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 vacation plans.
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