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 In
This Newsletter
From the Authors: It's Here! It's Here!
Travel Feature:
Walkin'
In A Winter Wonderland
Disney World Feature: That's
a Scrap!: Preserving Your Disney Vacation Memories
Updates: What's
New and Changed
Tips: High-lighting
Hints, Moleskin Madness, I-95 Information
Q&A: DVC
rentals for a large group?
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Updates:
What's
New and Changed
Here's a few of the new developments at Disney·
As of Sunday, January 6, 2005, Pleasure Island
started testing new ticket policies. A "'Single Club Ticket" for any
club (EXCEPT the Comedy Club and The Adventurers Club) will cost $10.60
including tax. These single-club tickets are only available for purchase
at Pleasure Island or Downtown Disney Guest Services. The price for the
"Multi-Club Ticket" has increased to $22.32 including tax. The "Annual
Passport" price has increased to $59.59 including tickets for new tickets
and $48.94 including tax for renewals. A new option for the "Annual Passport"
is the "Annual Pass Plus Guest". This pass allows the passholder to bring
one guest into Pleasure Island with them. The cost of this pass is $105.44
including tax and $89.46 for renewals.
The Pirates IN The Caribbean theme
party that debuted on the Disney Magic on November 2004, set sail
on the Disney Wonder in late January 2005. Replacing "TROPICALIfragilistic"
this event is a full evening of food, fun and mayhem pirate-style, that
will have you singing, "Yo Ho, Yo Ho!" in no time.
The notice required to make special dietary requests
at some Walt Disney World restaurants has changed. Resort table service
restaurants now require 72 hours notice to accommodate special
dietary needs such as allergies to gluten, shellfish, soy, dairy, buts,
or eggs. You can make these dietary requests by calling 407-WDW-DINE.
>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 are a wealth of information! Here are
the winners in this month's tip contest:
HIGHLIGHTING HINT
"My husband and I are taking turns going through
the PassPorter. I'll use one color highlighter, and he'll use another.
That way we can see what each other is most interested in and saves long
discussions later (Like: "I didn't realize you were so interested in (you
name it!). Why didn't you tell me?") Remember you are there
for fun, not headaches."
-- contributed by Jennifer S.
MOLESKIN MADNESS
"Put moleskin on the nosepiece of your glasses (prescription
and sunglasses) so that they don't slip down while walking in the parks
during hot days."
-- contributed by Beverly Simmons (spunkygal@...)
I-95 INFORMATION
"My husband and I have traveled by minivan twice
from Maryland with our daughter (she was 8 on our last trip). About
a 2 weeks before our trip I go to the I-95 exit information guide at www.usastar.com.
The website includes information on gas prices, rest stop, dining and lodging
information for each state along I-95. I print the information I feel is
useful out and put it into a binder with dividers labeled accordingly."
-- contributed by D. Hoffman (drkhoff@...)
>Notes: Send
us your tips ! You may see them in this newsletter and win a copy of
PassPorter!
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Q
& A:
With Jennifer and Dave
Disneynutinlondon asks: "I've decided to try and
organize a Family Trip for Easter 2007. Hopefully there will be 11 of us.
We would really need 6 bedrooms. I would like to stay in the Epcot area
as I like walking to Epcot but I really don't want 6 separate hotel rooms.
Is it possible for a non DVC member to use the facilities?"
Dave answers: "All the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) properties are available
as regular room rentals (at least, here in the States they are - I don't
know what Disney offers in the UK). I think this is by far the most common
way for non-DVC members to use the facilities. Points rentals probably
are less frequent. There's also an advantage to cash room rentals - you
get daily housekeeping service. DVC points users get housekeeping on a
less frequent schedule.
Regardless, whether it's with point rentals or cash,
it's tough to get the Epcot-area resorts at a discounted rate. You stand
a much better chance of doing that at Old Key West. Also, the villas there
are more spacious.
You could probably house your group in three one-bedroom
villas (each sleeps four - a king bed in the bedroom plus a sleeper sofa
in the living room). The two-bedroom and three-bedroom arrangements are
far harder to come by and are far less frequently discounted.
In terms of cost, six regular rooms often will cost
less than any combination of villas. The advantage of the villas is the
extra living space. It's very awkward to socialize as an entire family
in a regular guest room, but the villas afford the chance for lots of "quality
time" for the family group."
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 Get Published?
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 news@passporter.com.
Articles about Disney and general travel are welcomed!
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From
the Authors: It's Here! It's Here!
Hi, friends!
How many of you have stayed up until all hours of the night, waiting for your
wayward child to come home? If you have, you have some sense of the relief we
feel right now... the 2005 Edition
of PassPorter Walt Disney World is finally in our warehouse
and starts shipping today (Friday)!
We're not sure whether we ought to recount all the misadventures our 40-foot
cargo container full of books went through on its way from Hong Kong to
Michigan, arriving six weeks later than anticipated... Oh, what the heck, here's a brief version of the tale.
A communications mix-up with our printer in
Hong Kong delayed the container's shipment by two weeks. Yep, it missed the boat
from China. That delay brought the books to the Port of Los Angeles just in time
for January's torrential rains and mud slides that washed out most of the rail
lines in and out of California. As our container had to travel the rails from LA
to Detroit, it meant a delay of several weeks until the rails were clear and the
backlog in the port was eliminated. The container finally arrived in Detroit,
only to encounter a four day delay in assigning the container's delivery to our
warehouse to a local trucker. After a bunch of phone calls, we finally got some
action. Just as we thought we were finally in the clear, on this past Monday, a
week after the container had arrived in Detroit, on the very the day our
delivery was scheduled, the local truck drivers staged a one-day protest against
the rail yard for being so slow to dispatch container shipments (making the
drivers sit around, idle and unpaid). Once the the job action was over, our
delivery had to be rescheduled. The container finally arrived, safe and sound,
first thing yesterday (Thursday) morning What a relief! That container is soooo
grounded, but we're really glad to have the books home safe, where they belong.
Now, of course, they've got to leave again,
bound for their permanent new homes. We hope you enjoy them!
Nuts and bolts? We've got a huge backlog of
pre-orders, so it'll probably be sometime next week before all the pre-orders
have been shipped (don't forget that Monday is a postal holiday, President's Day). Unless there's a known emergency due to an imminent Disney
vacation (in which case we'll give your order extra special handling), we'll be
shipping out pre-orders in the order we received them. So, if it's been so long
since you ordered that you can't remember the order date, your pre-order will be
among the first to ship! We'll be updating everyone via e-mail as their pre-orders
ship. If you've been waiting to place
your order until the books were in stock, please understand that the folks with
pre-orders have "dibs." Once all the pre-orders have been shipped we'll start
shipping new orders, probably sometime around the middle of next week or so.
Thanks to everyone for being so patient and
supportive during our delivery crisis. We know how badly you've wanted your new
books, and we're truly touched by the cooperation and understanding you've shown
towards us. Thank you so much!Jennifer
and Dave
PassPorter Travel Press
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You Know? Special Savings at Borders and Waldenbooks
OK, this is going to seem a little odd, seeing
that we run an online bookstore ourselves, but here goes...
We have a really warm spot in our hearts for
the folks at Borders and Waldenbooks. They were the first chain bookstores to
carry PassPorter, way back when, and they've always been very supportive. (Not
that many other stores haven't been fabulous for us, but aren't you always a bit
sentimental about your first date?)
Anyway, the folks at Borders and Waldenbooks called us to invite our staff and
customers to a special "appreciation" sale on March 4-6. Print-out and bring
this coupon (URL) into a Borders or Waldenbooks/Brentano's store on those dates,
and you'll get 20% off on "almost everything in the store." Yeah, there is some
fine print involved (for instance, DVDs are 15% off), but you'll probably find a
way to put the coupon to really good use. Don't worry about loyalty to your
friends here at PassPorter - there's a world of books and music out there that
have nothing to do with us, so shop with a clear conscience.
Please note that you probably won't find the
new PassPorter Walt Disney World 2005 in the store - it takes several weeks for
our books to go from our warehouse to the distributor and thence to the book
stores. But if you do happen to find a PassPorter there, feel free to buy it. We
make out OK in any case. Download and print-out the
PDF file at:
http://www.passporter.com/borders_big_savings.pdf
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Travel
Feature:
Walkin' In A Winter
Wonderland
By Melissa Calemera,
Guest Columnist and Native New Yorker
While visions of sand and crystal waters
may cloud your mind in the midst of a blistering cold winter, there is
a place where cold air is a catalyst for magical memories. A place full
of towers that scrape the sky, sparkling lights, romantic carriage rides,
and soft white snow as far as the eye can see. Winter in New York City
has enough pixie dust to rival your favorite fairy tales, and all your
dreams of a true winter wonderland are only a cab ride away.
When most people think of visiting NYC
in the winter, visions of Rockefeller Center instantly come to mind. With
fabulous window displays, cozy cafes, and a world famous Christmas tree,
Rockefeller Center is the perfect place to start when it comes to your
winter getaway. If you visit during the Christmas season, travelers of
all faiths will love the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. First displayed
in 1933 to help brighten the Depression-darkened days, the tree has become
a NYC winter tradition. To truly appreciate the festivities surrounding
the tree, line up with hundreds of other smiling faces to witness the tree-lighting
ceremony which takes place the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Musical
numbers, celebrity guests and Olympic ice skaters all lead to a truly dazzling
display of lights at the end of the night. While in Rockefeller Center
be sure to spend an hour or two at the Rockefeller Center skating rink.
Frequented by the Not Ready for Prime time Players on "Saturday Night Live",
the rink at Rockefeller Center is open from November 1 to April 8 and admission
is generally $9 for adults and $7 for children for a four hour session,
but admission may vary. Check www.rinkatrockcenter.com
for up to date information before you arrive.
Another popular winter destination in New
York City is Central Park. Whether you're in the mood for a relaxing stroll
or action-packed activities, Central Park is full of fun for the young
and the young at heart. Wollman Rink, owned and operated by the Trump Organization,
is one of the most popular recreational facilities for NYC locals and tourists
alike. Located at 59th St. and 6th Ave. the skating rink offers a spectacular
view of the city as you skate your cares away. Prices are $8.50 for adults
and $4.25 for children on weekdays, and $11 for adults and $4.50 for children
on the weekends. Visit www.wollmanskatingrink.com
for more information. Another popular activity in Central Park is a
romantic carriage ride. Departing from Central Park South between 5th and
6th Avenues, as well as at the Southern end of Central Park across from
the Plaza Hotel, rides cost $34 for the first 20 minutes, and $45 for a
45 to 50 minute tour. Bring a blanket and cuddle up with your sweetheart
for a truly unique and breathtaking tour of some of the most beautiful
sites in the city. Go to www.centralparkcarriages.com
for more information.
There are endless ways to have fun in New
York City during the winter months. Love to sample world-renowned cuisine?
Visit during Winter Restaurant Week which takes place the last two weeks
in January every year. With over 200 participating restaurants, you can
enjoy a three course lunch for $20.12 or a three course dinner for only
$35. For the next three years the proceeds from Winter Restaurant Week
will go towards New York City's bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Visit www.nycvisit.com for more information. Love cozy cafes? Check out
the world famous Serendipity III Cafe. Known for its tasty grill, Frozen
Hot Chocolate (as seen on Oprah) and celebrity sightings, the cafe even
inspired a hit movie starring Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack. More information
can be found at www.serendipity3.com.
Love the action and excitement of football?
Take in a game at Giants Stadium. Home to the New York Giants
and the New York Jets, Giants Stadium is located just a short train ride
away from Manhattan in nearby Meadowlands, NJ. Tickets sell fast, though,
so be sure to get yours in advance. Visit www.giants.com
for more information and ticket sales.
Whatever you wish to take away from your
New York City winter vacation, you are sure to leave with boundless memories
and limitless ideas for trips in the future. Regardless of the weather,
come take advantage of all the city has to offer during the winter season.
Along with ice skating, carriage rides, tree lighting ceremonies, and the
other winter-specific activities found here, you can also experience Broadway
shows, historic buildings, cultural museums and the other top notch attractions
available for your enjoyment in the city year-round. So don your winter
jacket, put on those gloves and don't forget your earmuffs - the winter
wonderland that is New York City is waiting!
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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 vacation plans.
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Walt
Disney World Feature:
That's a Scrap!: Preserving
Your Disney Vacation Memories (Part Two)
by Bay Loftis,
Guest Columnist and Scrapbook Aficionado
Before You Start Spending Those Disney
Dollars
Now for the really fun part -- you've done
your preparation in terms of camera choice and a list of photos you really
want to get while you're in the middle of the magic. Now you get to think
about shopping!
When I started scrapbooking, Disney offered
two sheets of acid-free stickers that were appropriate for scrapbook use.
That was it! They did have photo albums, but they were filled with the
least archive-friendly PVC page protectors, or worse, magnetic pages.
Disney has caught on to scrapbooking,
and there are now tons of products available in stores all over the World.
You can buy albums, printed papers, pre-printed title blocks, decorative
stickers, and even cute, Mickey-icon-shaped paper fasteners (often called
"brads"). Entire scrapbook kits are available in an array of styles and
prices, with colored, acid-free/lignin-free cardstocks (acid-free/lignin-free
papers will not "yellow" or turn brittle as quickly as regular paper) and
paper die-cuts of Mickey balloons and Cinderella Castle.
Keep in mind that many of the patterned
papers and embellishments available in the World aren't available at your
local craft store, so if you see something you just can't live without,
go ahead and buy it while you're there. Worst case scenario, you can probably
find it online or on eBay for a slight mark-up.
[Note from Jennifer: Another excellent source for Disney-themed scrapbooking supplies is Creative Memories, which has Mickey albums, a disney package of stickers and papers for quick scrapbooks, and a new Princess collection. You can get more information and find a Creative Memories consultant who has these supplies at http://www.creativememories.com.]
If budget is a concern, you should know
that you don't have to make your scrapbook using only Disney-themed papers
and embellishments. You can find cheaper supplies close to home, and use
your own creativity to make your scrapbook pages. The same applies to your
individual taste -- if Pooh stickers aren't your particular "pot of honey",
use colored pencils to sketch a border that suits your style.
Before You Fill Your PassPockets
The last -- and most critical -- step in
preparing to scrap your dream vacation is collecting memorabilia to fill
your scrapbook. I'll warn you -- Walt Disney World is full of things to
cram into a book. Just the freebies alone will make your head spin and
the binding on your album bulge and groan.
One memento to consider taking with you
is your door decoration. If you're the sort of person who decorates your
door anyway, think "archival" before you start. Using long-lasting, acid-free,
lignin-free papers and decorations makes it much easier to pop that sign
into your scrapbook. Don't forget to take pictures while it's on the door!
Also take some small envelopes with you
for small items. You can buy pixie dust (Mickey-shaped glitter), but the
sentimentality of actual pixie dust collected at the back of Cinderella
Castle is unparalleled. If you put pixie dust in your suitcase, it may
or may not make it into your scrapbook, but if it's sealed in an envelope,
it's much harder to miss later on.
Similarly, a large manila envelope or expanding
folio for large paper items is invaluable for keeping things safely flat
and un-crinkled. If you're really picky, take a shipping tube with you
and roll large menus and maps for shipping home.
[Note from Jennifer: Our readers tell us that PassPorter's PassPockets are also excellent for storing items during a trip, plus it keeps them organized chronologically for scrapbooking when you get home.]
A good rule to follow is the "rule of threes":
If it's an item you may want to put on a page, get three -- one to cut up,
one to mess up, and one to remain intact. Park maps, entertainment guides,
festival guides, resort maps, and menus all fall into this category.
Many items that you just want to keep are
not strictly archival and may, in fact, turn yellow and brittle over time,
but I'm going to recommend that you get them, anyway, for sheer novelty
in later years. Napkins, coasters, parking permits, shopping receipts,
meal receipts, and paper or plastic bags fall into this category.
Once you get home, you can do several things
to try to "fix" the acidity and lignin in these items, to varying degrees
of success. The scrapbooking market has a spray that you can purchase (which
is really very expensive) called Archival Mist. You can try to buffer these
items (except the napkins, which would disintegrate) in a bath of one part
water to one part Milk of Magnesia or you can color laser-copy the less
"archive-able" mementos.
But truth be told, you can simply tuck
these things into one of many clear envelopes or "sleeves" to affix to
your scrapbook in its original condition.
Some things you might like to pick up as
additions to your scrapbooks:
- Postcards
- World Showcase Passports
- World Showcase KidCot crafts
- Stickers (the individual sort that Cast
Members give away all over the World)
- Character autographs
- Swizzle sticks from resort lounges
- Safety trading cards (We first encountered
these during our November, 2003 trip and got them from Cast Members at various
attractions -- they're illustrated safety tips on baseball-card
sized snippets of cardstock)
- Character meal priority seating slips
- Attraction photo slips (the kind you
get after you've had a photo taken on a ride, but haven't decided yet if
you're going to buy it)
- Pleasure Island wristbands
- Special ticket event wristbands (Mickey's
Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, etc.)
- Pressed pennies and quarters
- Pixie dust
These are just a few things to help you
get started. Your own tastes and fond memories should dictate what you
collect for your scrapbook, so don't hesitate to start a collection that
deviates from this list!
Websites & Other Sources for Scrapbooking
Tips
- The PassPorter Message Boards have a
forum devoted to crafts! http://www.passporterboards.com/ubb/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=UBB28
- An excellent beginner's how-to article
by Maureen Spell is at http://www.scrapjazz.com/topics/Scrapbook_Basics/Getting_Started/
- One of the most popular scrapbook websites,
Two Peas In A Bucket -- http://www.twopeasinabucket.com
- Magazines and periodicals that you may
want to read are often available at stores all over the U.S. Check out
Creating Keepsakes, Better Homes & Gardens' Scrapbooks Etc.,
Memory Makers, Paperkuts, or Simple Scrapbooks for
lots of advanced technique instruction and inspiration.
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Bay Loftis is a free-lance
writer whose art and articles have appeared in publications such as "Better
Homes & Gardens Scrapbooks Etc.", "Legacy" Magazine and "Memory Makers"
idea books.
Did you enjoy this article? Have
questions? E-mail us at news@passporter.com or visit http://www.passporterboards.com
to discuss creating your Disney scrapbook. |
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