From the Authors: 2005 Edition Status, Updates, and More

Travel Feature: A Change of Pace: Tampa/St. Petersburg 

Disney World Feature: And They Lived Happily Ever After: A Disney Intimate Wedding

Updates: What's New and Changed

Tips: Repeat Photo Offenders, Flip Your Lids, Film Finder

Q&A: Nassau Shore Excursions; When To Buy New PassPorters
 

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Updates:
What's New and Changed

Here's a few of the new developments at Disney·

The Guest Services desks at the Walt Disney World Resorts are being replaced by Lobby Concierge desks. Very similar in function to the former Guest Services, Lobby Concierge staff will be available to assist you with dining and recreation as well as ticket sales. The Front Desk staff will continue to assist you with check-in and any issues with your room. This program is being introduced to the resorts over the next few months while the front desk of each resort is altered to accommodate this change. 

A new character breakfast geared towards boys will be tested over Mother's Day Weekend at Walt Disney World. The Mother's Day Brunch at Epcot will feature Disney "Heroes" such as Mickey Mouse. Aladdin, Hercules, Peter Pan and others. This event will take place on Saturday, May 7, 2005 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. and Sunday, May 8, 2005 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Call (407) WDW-DINE for Priority Seatings. Rumor is they are going FAST!  

Magic Your Way tickets now include an option for 8 - or 9-day tickets. Prices are available at www.disneyworld.com. If you have recently purchased tickets, note that you can upgrade your tickets anytime within 14 days of purchase. Changes can only be made at Walt Disney World parks or resorts, not over the phone or online. 
 
You can view our page-by-page list of updates and corrections for the new PassPorter Walt Disney World 2005 Edition at http://www.passporter.com/
customs/bookupdates.htm.
 
>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:

REPEAT PHOTO OFFENDERS
"My family and I have visited Walt Disney World nine times over the last seven years. After so many trips, it's hard to take pictures that don't feel repetitive. I mean how many pictures can you have of your children on Dumbo or standing in front of Cinderella Castle? Walt Disney World is great about continuing their themes (even on the bathroom doors) so we thought we would have picture taking themes, too! One year, we had a cast member take our picture as we were getting on rides (make sure you have your camera out and don't take much time to pose 'cause they have to keep the ride lines moving). My son, Hunter, was only one when we took our first trip so he was unable to ride many of the rides. As he got older, we took his picture in front of the HEIGHT RESTRICTION plaques of each ride he was now able to ride."
-- contributed by Lisa McBride (JMcBrideHouse@...) 

FLIP YOUR LIDS
"Save the plastic lids from your drinks, the kind with the "x" cut out for a straw. Invert the lid and insert your frozen juice pop or Mickey Bar, no more messy hands or drips on clothes!" 
-- contributed by Laura C. (cg_laura@...) 

FILM FINDER
"When you have snapped your last picture, remove your film, and place in canister. Put a sticker on that canister -- if you carry more than two rolls of film, you will know which film was used."
-- contributed by Elaine B. (ginger1snap@...)

>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

Roxanne asks: "We're going in March on the 4-day Disney cruise. We've read through the Nassau shore excursions and have tentatively decided to do the historic city tour rather than the Ardasta Gardens and city tour. If we do the city tour and are done around noon, since we are in port for several more hours, what is the easiest way to get over to Atlantis to see the shops? We didn't want to do the harbor tour since the walk up to Atlantis sounds like too much for my mom. Is it possible and can we even get in? We wouldn't be swimming but would like to see the place for future cruises for when the boys are older."

Jennifer answers: "The easiest way is to Atlantis is by taxi. They are constantly coming and going from Atlantis, so availability should not be difficult assuming you pick one up from the pier after your city tour.

Yes, you can get into Atlantis -- the shops and casino are open to the public. The beach and water park areas are reserved for hotel guests and those with special access, however, so don't expect to be able to visit those. You may be able to tour the aquariums, however -- check with the representatives in the lobby about getting a day pass. You can get more information on Atlantis at http://www.atlantis.com."

Joan asks: "My family and I are taking a Walt Disney World vacation in July 2006. Do you make a new version of the PassPorter every year? I was wondering if I should buy now or wait until Jan or Feb 2006. Or should I buy the 2005 version and then will there be 2006 updates? I've never bought one so I'm very excited to get one."

Dave answers: "We do publish a new edition of PassPorter Walt Disney World every year, typically in late December or early January (though this year's was later due to shipping delays). Whether you buy the 2005 or 2006 edition depends in part on when you plan to make your hotel reservations, as our hotel coverage is so helpful. If you don't intend to do that until early 2006, then you may as well wait for the 2006 edition. If you want to get started earlier than that, perhaps the 2005 will serve you better. We publish updates for the 2005 edition at our web site until we release the 2006 edition, so you will be able to keep up-to-date with the changes at Disney."

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!

The new 2005 editions of PassPorter Walt Disney World are now shipping next business day when ordered by 8:00 pm ET the night before. We've worked through our pre-order backlog and orders are shipping out quickly now. If you've been waiting to order your copy, now is the perfect time!

Everyone gets a 15% discount and if you've already got a copy of PassPorter, you can register it to get a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of any PassPorter guidebook.

Order your copy today at:
http://www.passporterstore.com/store/2005.aspx

A Change of Pace: Visiting Tampa/St. Petersburg
By Maureen Austin, PassPorter Message Board Guide and Co-Owner of Grand Getaways Travel

It might surprise visitors to Tampa to learn that this buzzing central city was once a quaint Indian fishing village. Famous explorers Ponce de Leon and Hernando de Soto began incredible journeys of adventure and discovery here -- and you can do the same!

Located just little over an hour's drive west of the Walt Disney World Resort, the Tampa-St. Petersburg area has wonderful attractions and charm to offer you on your next visit to Florida. Tampa is not only one of the most culturally and ethnically rich communities in the Sunshine State, it also has stunning natural beauty beyond compare. 

Tampa offers a chance for everyone in the family to go wild! Check out Busch Gardens Tampa. Combining fascinating animal experiences and some of the country's best thrill ride coasters, this is sure to be a must do for the entire family. If you are planning a visit to Sea World in Orlando, inquire about a combination ticket. Sea World and Busch Gardens are both Anheuser Busch Adventure Parks and you may be able to save some money by buying a multi park pass. Visit http://www.buschgardens.com and http://www.seaworld.com for more information.

Don't stop with Busch Gardens. Tampa has several other wonderful attractions worthy of a visit. Take a dive down near coral reefs without getting wet at the Florida Aquarium. Among the many fantastic exhibits in this state-of-the-art facility is a coral reef. As you progress through the exhibit you encounter different depths and see how the landscape changes. You can also find more than 5000 species of animals. The Florida Aquarium loves your kids - there are plenty of hands on experiences for the wee ones. Visit http://www.flaquarium.org for more information. 

Take a relaxing stroll among flowers indigenous to Florida and the butterflies that love them at the University of South Florida's Botanical Gardens. The gardens are open daily and will provide some much needed relief to your soul as well as your pocketbook - admission is completely free! Get more information from the Botanical Gardens' website at http://www.cas.usf.edu/garden.

If warm sand beaches and the gorgeous Gulf of Mexico are softly calling your name, you'll find them an easy drive from Tampa in St. Petersburg and Clearwater. Fort De Soto Park was recently named a top beach in the U.S. This particular area boasts 900 unspoiled acres and 7 miles of pristine beach. In addition to restrooms, concessions and other amenities at the beachfront, you can also take advantage of the park's biking and skating trails. There are many other parks and beachfront areas to discover and they all can be seen at http://www.floridasbeach.com.

Also be sure to leave time in your itinerary to visit what is probably the most culturally diverse area in Tampa as well as Florida. Ybor City offers an incredible district full of shopping and dining as well as nightlife and history. This lively area became home to the cigar industry when in the 1800's a man by the last name of Ybor brought his cigar manufacturing company to Tampa and offered jobs to thousands of immigrants from all cultures, who worked side by side. 

If there is a sports lover in your family, Tampa is sure to please. Tampa is home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, in addition to other spectator sports across the area. Golf enthusiasts will definitely find their bliss. Tampa hosts several major tour events including the PGA's Verizon Classic. Tampa offers courses that will be up to par for the novice or the advanced player. 

To list and describe all that Tampa has to offer you on your vacation would have us all reading here for quite some time. Instead, visit the Tampa Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau site at: http://www.visittampabay.com where you can also find excellent information on accommodations, restaurants, shopping and much more. Be sure to visit Orlando's neighbor for a change of pace and fantastic vacation memories!
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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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And They Lived Happily Ever After: A Disney Intimate Wedding
by Lori Drury, Guest Columnist and Newlywed

I first went to Walt Disney World during the summer of 1972 as a little girl and was immediately hooked on this enchanted place. When I met my husband, I knew instantly that he was my Prince Charming. He proposed to me on St. Valentine's Day, and we couldn't wait to start planning our wedding. I had seen various television shows where couples had gotten married at the Magic Kingdom or Disney's Wedding Pavilion, and I thought it would be truly magical to do the same. After all, what little girl doesn't dream of being a princess for a day? My husband had never been to Walt Disney World before, but he was instantly intrigued when I brought up the idea of exchanging our vows there. We had both been previously married with large, traditional weddings and so agreed that we wanted something small yet elegant. With both of our families being from out of town, getting married in either place would have left someone out. 

We knew how costly weddings could be, so our first concern was that a Disney wedding would be too expensive. While it is true that the sky is the limit when planning a Disney wedding, we were pleasantly surprised by how affordable they can be as well. We started our planning by going to http://www.disneyweddings.com and reviewing the information available on the various wedding packages. 

The Intimate Wedding package was perfect for our needs. Intimate ceremonies start at $3,500 with a minimum four-night stay. And the best part of all is that a Disney Wedding Coordinator handles all of the arrangements, which can really alleviate the stress that comes with planning a wedding. Intimate Weddings are designed for smaller parties of up to 8 guests, including the wedding party. 

Once we set our wedding date, the next step was to choose a location. There are five choices for Intimate Weddings - Disney's Wedding Pavilion at the Grand Floridian, Sunset Pointe at the Polynesian, the Wedding Gazebo at the Yacht Club, Sea Breeze Point at the Boardwalk, and Sunrise Terrace at the Wilderness Lodge. We chose the Wedding Gazebo at the Yacht Club for our special day. 

Once we decided when and where we wanted the ceremony, we spoke with a representative from Disney Weddings who checked to make sure our choices were available. We had to choose a resort at this time, and we picked Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. Everything was all set once we sent in our deposit of one night's room and tax. 

Shortly thereafter I received an e-mail from our Wedding Coordinator. She made the planning a snap and was always available to answer any questions. Her first e-mail included several attachments with detailed information about the various elements of our wedding package. 

Our package included all of the basic elements of traditional weddings, but with that extra Disney touch. We were provided with the names of several officiants who were experienced in presiding over Disney wedding ceremonies. We contacted a few different officiants until we found the one who seemed like a good fit for the type of ceremony we wanted. Most of the officiants provided sample ceremonies, but since Toby and I wanted ours to be more personal, we took some extra time and wrote our own ceremony. 

For the wedding cake, we were able to choose from several different cake flavors and scrumptious fillings, and we received a keepsake Mickey and Minnie cake topper as well. A bottle of champagne was provided for our first toast as husband and wife. My bouquet and my husband's boutonniere were also included in the package, and there were again different styles and colors to choose from. Since my dress was embellished with various shades of pink Swarovski crystals, I requested a French-style bouquet with different shades of pink roses that complemented my dress quite nicely. 

A very talented violinist provided the music for our ceremony, reception and, most importantly, our first dance. Again, we were given a list of suggested selections from which we could choose. And to capture all of the special moments, Disney provides a basic photography package that includes twelve prints in an embossed wedding folio. This was the one element of our package that we chose to upgrade, and for an additional cost we received a beautiful album with forty 5X7 photographs. We also decided to splurge for Disney's videography services since our families were unable to attend our wedding. This included two video cameras that were positioned at different angles to record every magical moment and we were extremely pleased with the finished product. 

Another element of our package was a four-hour chartered limousine to take us to and from the ceremony. Since we had made a dinner reservation for later in the evening at Narcoossee's, we chose to extend the limousine to pick us up after Wishes and bring us back to our hotel in style. 

To make our special day even more stress free, our Wedding Coordinator arranged a professional hair styling and manicure with Disney's cosmetology services for an additional charge. These services were performed right in our hotel room, so I really felt pampered!

Of course, no trip to Walt Disney World would be complete without spending some time in the parks. Theme park admission is also included in the Intimate package. 

Intimate Weddings can be arranged as far in advance as 12 months or in as little as 21 days. Another component of the package is a personalized wedding website that gives your guests all of the information they need for making plans to attend your special day. And shortly after the wedding, there is a link on your website for friends and family to view and purchase photographs. 

All in all, a Disney Intimate Wedding is a great choice for a destination wedding that is stress free, all inclusive, and a great value for the price. There are options to upgrade almost every detail included in the basic package, but for the most part we found that the basic elements fit our needs. Looking back, it was everything "simple yet elegant" that we dreamed of and more, and proves that fairy tales really can come true.

[Read about authors Jennifer & Dave's Intimate Wedding at Walt Disney World on May 1, 2004 at our message board.]

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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 planning your Disney wedding.