From the Authors: Newsletter News and a New Column!

Travel Feature: Travel in Troubled Times

Disney Feature: Hilton Resort in Walt Disney World: A Review

Updates: What's New and Changed

Tips: Earplugs for Kids, Ponchos, Notes for Next Times

Q&A: Non-U.S. Cruisers, Traveling to WDW in May

Contests: Newsletter Contest Winner

Survival Disney: How to Survive Being Stuck on "It's a Small World"

Updates:
What's New and Changed

Epcot's Future World closing time has been cutback from 7:00 pm to 6:00 pm, with three attractions remaining open until 7:00 pm (Spaceship Earth, Test Track, and Honey, I Shrunk the Audience).

Beginning August 21, 2003, Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge will replace the Wilderness Lodge as one of the resorts in the land/sea Disney Cruise Line packages. Essentially, that means that land & sea package guests who plan to book stateroom categories 4-7 and arrive on or after August 21 can choose to stay at the Beach Club, Polynesian, Swan, Dolphin, or Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge for their land portion.

All Ears Newsletter reports that a new interactive toy, Pal Mickey, will be available for rental or purchase at Walt Disney World beginning in April. Pal Mickey is a talking toy that entertains and educates as your tour the parks. It recommends attractions, gives reminders about parades and shows, and plays games. Pal Mickey will cost $8/day to rent or $46.94 + tax to purchase, and should be available in the resort hotel and park gift shops. (Our thanks to All Ears Newsletter for alerting us to this news. Be sure to subscribe to their excellent newsletter at http://www.allearsnet.com)

Michael Eisner confirmed that a new thrill ride (rumored to be called Expedition: Everest or Forbidden Mountain) is slated for Disney's Animal Kingdom. The roller coaster will supposedly be a wild ride through the Himalayas and could open as early as 2005.

Owners of our new Disney Cruise Line guide: The stateroom details chart on pages 74-75 has been updated! Visit http://www.passporter.com/dcl/updates.htm to get the latest guidebook updates and download the stateroom chart.
 

>Things To Do: Hear some news? Send it to us at
news@passporter.com.
 

Disney Tips: 
From Fellow Readers

KEEP IT MELLOW
"Earplugs have become a lifesaver in this family. Our 4 year old daughter is sensitive to loud noises and sound. On our daughter's very first trip to Walt Disney World last October, she became very distressed and held her hands over her ears on her first couple of rides due to the loud nature of the rides. She was not enjoying herself at all. We had picked up a pair of earplugs at a local drug store for our daughter's flight, and we went back to our room to retrieve them. After that, my daughter was unstoppable!! The rides did not hurt her ears any longer, and she could still hear everything. They are available at most small drug stores or Wal-Mart retail stores." -- contributed by Brian Winn (morrow52@mindspring.com)

STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD
"When it rains, Disney park stores sell yellow ponchos to help unprepared guests. But so many adults and children buy and sport these ponchos that the sidewalks look like a sea of yellow. It would be easy to lose track of members of your party because everybody looks the same! Tell everyone in your traveling party -- especially the kids -- that if they get separated from you during a rainfall, they should take their poncho off. It's much easier to find a child that is not blending into the sea of yellow ponchos!" -- contributed by Kimberly S.

RECORD YOUR MEMORIES
"At the end of a Disney day, journal in your PassPorter, including all you've seen and done. We purchased a PassPorter for our trip in Sept 2002 and I journaled just because I wanted to use it as part of my scrapbook. I didn't realize how handy PassPorter would come in until we planned a last minute trip for the end of March 2003! I was able to go back to the PassPorter and read what worked for us and what didn't; what we should and should not pack; and what rides and restaurants were our personal favorites. It was so nice to relive those magical moments and the thoughts we experienced on that trip." -- contributed by Sue S. 

>Notes: Send us your tips! You may see them in this newsletter and win a copy of PassPorter!
 

Q & A: 
With Jennifer and Dave

Cheryl asks:
"What forms of identification do non-US travelers need to have to board the Disney Cruise Line ships?"

Dave replies:
"Passport and appropriate visa (or visa waiver) are required for non-U.S. citizens, with an exception for Canadian citizens. Canadian citizens may use a certified birth certificate plus government-issued photo ID instead of a passport. (We still recommend passports for all travelers, as they simplify your border crossings.) As with U.S. citizens, Canadian citizens that have a passport do not need a birth certificate. Photo ID is always worth having, however, regardless of whether you also have a passport. I suggest you bring a second photo ID, as you'll be surrendering your passport when you check in for your voyage."

Carla asks:
"I am planning a trip to Disney in May. The best dates for us would be May 10-15, 2003. Can you tell me if this is a crazy time to go as far as crowds or if it is pretty mild as children are still in school."

Jennifer replies:
"This is actually a great time to visit Walt Disney World! The parks aren't crowded between Easter and Memorial Day as school is still in session, and the weather is typically very nice (warm weather, low rainfall). May is the regular season at the hotels, so it isn't quite as inexpensive, but it isn't bad, either. I was on a Disney Cruise and at Walt Disney World at this time last year and I really enjoyed both!"

>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!
 

Newsletter Contest
Winner Announcement

We are pleased to announce that the next winner in our PassPorter Newsletter Contest is...

kurtztk@... (full e-mail address concealed for privacy)

If you recognize this e-mail address as yours, send an e-mail to news@passporter.com to claim your $10 gift certificate to use anywhere in the PassPorter Travelers Store at http://www.passporter.com/store/

If you're subscribed to this newsletter, you're already entered into the contest. If not, what are you waiting for? Subscribe at http://www.passporter.com/news.htm
 
 

Survival Disney:
How to Survive Being Stuck on "It's a Small World"

by Brant Wigginton
All-Around Trivia King and Message Board Guide for Going Behind the Scenes forum (http://www.passporterboards.com)

(Disclaimer: This article is intended "just for fun" and does not imply that you're likely to get stuck on "It's a Small World." Statements made in this article do not necessarily represent the views of PassPorter Travel Press. No small dolls were harmed during the creation of this document. Not recommended for persons with sugar-restricted diets. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle, heavy equipment, or Splash Mountain. May cause irritability, sleeplessness, or deafness after prolonged use. Printed on recycled electrons.)

You’ve just about had your quota for "It’s a Small World" as you enter the final scene. Suddenly, WHAM!, your boat bumps into the boat ahead of you and no one is going anywhere for a while. Here's how to make it relatively unscathed through this bleak situation.

1.  Remain calm and stay seated.

The common initial reaction of being stuck on this ride is to panic. Fear of listening to the same lethargic lyrics for more than ten minutes typically leads to a primal desire to flee the boat, right into hostile territory. Wait inside the vessel and take slow deep breaths.

2.  Signal for help.

There is no video surveillance on this attraction, but if there is no indication of timely assistance, it is possible that a maintenance engineer might spot a signal. The gestures most likely to get a Disney cast member’s attention are taking flash photos, spilling popcorn, or stopping in the middle of a row. 

3.  Establish a working social structure.

Assuming a leadership position will help avoid anarchy within your boat. After hearing "Iiit’s a smaaall world aaafter all" thirty-dozen times, it will not be a world of laughter for very long.

4.  Fend off boredom as best as you can.

"I Spy" is an excellent game to play if stranded on "It’s a Small World," as there are so many characters and props. If all else fails, pretend to be a desperado.  Ask the person next to you, "Got yer six-shooters?" Then pull out imaginary pistols and take out as many dolls as you can. 

5.  Start a group sing-a-long to drown out the music.

If stuck for an extended period of time, the never-ending cycle of repetitive choruses can crack even the strongest of wills. A loudly belted alternative will break the monotony for a while. "Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate’s Life for Me" is an effective choice.

6.  Do not drink unpurified "It’s a Small World" water.
If rescue teams have not arrived by the time dehydration starts, remember that the river beneath your boat could be considered toxic and only contains the basic elemental traits of water. This liquid must be boiled for at least five minutes before it is potable.

Although the probability of being stuck on "It’s a Small World" for this long is very unlikely, you now know how to survive this not-exactly-the-best-case scenario! 
 

What do you think of this new column? Send your feedback to editor@passporter.com.
 

Hi, friends!

In our last newsletter we mentioned the possibility of publishing our newsletter every week, and asked you to let us know what you thought of it. We received LOTS of votes -- thank you! So far, our readers are just about 3:1 in favor of a weekly PassPorter newsletter.

Before we make a final decision on the newsletter, we'd like to keep the voting open for at least a week longer. So if you didn't vote, this is your opportunity -- your vote does count. How do you vote? Just send a blank e-mail to one of the following e-mail addresses:

Send the newsletter once every two weeks -- e-mail: news-same@passporter.com

Send the newsletter once every week -- e-mail: news-more@passporter.com

Many readers have offered to write articles (thank you, thank you!), and we hope to treat you to a wide array of helpful topics in upcoming newsletters. Our first article submission appears in this newsletter, as a matter of fact. We're delighted to introduce Brant Wigginton, whom you may already know as Joe Carioca, our message board guide for the Going Behind the Scenes: Trivia and Rumors forum. Brant contributes a brand-new, just-for-fun column titled "Survival Disney." Could you survive being trapped on "It's a Small World" without going insane? Find out how to survive this worst-case scenario (and get in a few laughs!) in Brant's column, later in this newsletter!

If you're interested in contributing to this newsletter, e-mail editor@passporter.com and we'll send you our article submission guidelines!

Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter Travel Press

P.S. We're hard at work on the manuscript for PassPorter Disneyland Resort and Southern California, due out later this year. To create the best guidebook, we need your input... specifically, we need your Disneyland and Southern California vacation tips and stories! If we use your tip or story in our guidebook, we'll give you full attribution and send you a free copy of the guidebook. Submit your stuff at http://www.passporter.com/dl/tips.htm

Our PassPorter Goodie Bags are back in stock! And they now sport our new luggage tag design: a flexible, translucent blue plastic tag with the PassPorter logo, the words "World Class Traveler," and a slide-in card for your contact information. Luggage tags are only available in our Goodie Bags, which also include a PassHolder Pouch (for holding passes, receipts, cash, and pens while touring and cruising), two PassPorter Pens, and a limited edition PassPorter Cloisonne Pin. Everything in the Goodie Bag is discounted 20% for everyone, too! You can order one at http://www.passporter.com/online-store/0966899453.asp

Plus, we're still giving away a free bottle strap with every order! Our thanks to MouseEarVacations.com for making this possible for our readers.

Learn more and place an order at:
http://www.passporter.com/store/

by Dave Marx

Home is the place where you feel safest and most secure. So when the latest newscast highlights the dangers found beyond your doorstep, your first instinct is to hunker down even deeper into your "comfort zone." In some parts of the world, that comfort zone rarely extends beyond the borders of a home town or village. For globe-trotting Americans, the comfort zone has been much larger, but it has been shrinking dramatically.

International travel, whether for business or pleasure, has plummeted. People are vacationing much closer to home—often not even traveling great distances within their own countries. They’re driving to local or regional attractions, rather than flying to more distant destinations. While this can be a boon to often-overlooked local sights, it also means we’re seeing less of far-off places and their people. Travel is one of the best ways to bridge the gaps between cultures and build a peaceful world. It is a small world after all, but that’s very easy to forget when you won’t leave your own back yard.

As you may have heard, the airline industry, still staggering from the effects of 9/11 and the weak economy, has been dealt yet another blow by the Iraqi war. As always in time of war, travelers want to stay close to home. Airlines throughout the world are laying-off workers, slashing flight schedules, and begging their governments for financial relief. My heart goes out to all these airline workers, who are, more than anything else, victims of our fears.

Last week, a member of the PassPorter Posts message board community finally asked the question I had been expecting for some time—just how safe is a Caribbean cruise during this time of war with Iraq? My answer was a bit too long to repeat here, but I hope you take the time to check it out.

I just returned to Michigan from a 4-day visit to my family in New Jersey--ten hours of solo driving in each direction. One of my favorite ways to pass the long hours is a good "talking book." On this latest drive I listened to the BBC’s marvelous radio production of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. Here’s Bilbo Baggins, all comfy and cozy in sheltered Hobbiton amidst the green fields, manicured gardens and familiar folk of The Shire. Then, in walks Adventure in the form of a tall, mysterious wizard and 13 treasure-hungry dwarfs. In less than 48 hours, our timid little friend is swept beyond his wildest imaginings, on an adventure that takes him to some of the darkest and most fearsome places and through some of the greatest dangers a storyteller can conjure. Through it all, Bilbo grows stronger and more confident, and we find that, just as the wizard Gandalf knew from the start, little Bilbo has what it takes to face-off with dragons and to journey to "there and back again." Now that Bilbo knows what lies beyond his doorstep, his world has become a wondrous place.

I can’t promise you that travel is or ever will be completely safe and secure, or that your inevitable mishaps will all have storybook endings. But I can assure you that it’s harder to live an entire life in the shadow of fear than it is to face those fears and expand your "comfort zone." There’s a wide, wonderful world out there, and you’ll be the better for seeing it. Instead of being paralyzed by, "What’s the worst thing that can happen?" ask yourself, "What’s the best thing that can happen?" When your journey is done, you and your family will stand a little taller, knowing that the world doesn’t overflow with demons and dragons—and that you can face the occasional crisis when it does appear.

We certainly hope you don't have to cancel your Disney trip, but should it happen, here are the latest cancellation policies:

Now through April 18, 2003, guests who have booked a Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort vacation package with an arrival prior to June 2 will be allowed to change or cancel their land-based arrangements without penalty. The temporary policy applies to new and existing bookings made through the Walt Disney Travel Company, Disney Central Reservation Offices (CRO), or through your travel agent.

For guests who have booked a Walt Disney World Resort room-only vacation, the cancellation penalty will be waived for arrivals through April 23 if the room is canceled before April 18. For guests who have booked a Disneyland Resort room-only vacation, the cancellation penalty will be waived for arrivals through April 21 if the room is canceled before April 18.

Any deposit or full payment that has been paid will be fully refunded provided you change or cancel your vacation before April 18. Note, however, that Disney is unable to waive cancellation penalties for third party products such as airline tickets, rental cars, or non-Disney-owned resorts. You should check with those suppliers directly to learn their separate cancellation policies.

Note that Disney Cruise Line has not changed their cancellation policies.
 

by Jennifer Watson

I stayed at the Hilton Resort at Walt Disney World on March 9-10, 2003. In truth, I was expecting to be disappointed by my stay at the Hilton -- I'd just cruised on the beautifully-appointed Disney Wonder. Besides, I tend to be a bit of a Disney resort "snob," preferring to stay only at Disney resort hotels. Instead, I was delighted by the Hilton, my room, the pool area, and the transportation! I stayed just one night, but I would have been happy to extend my stay. So for those of you out there wondering if this on-property, non-Disney resort is worth it, my answer is a resounding YES!

Why the Hilton Resort?
I was looking for an inexpensive yet upscale hotel for the last night of my vacation. So I used Priceline to bid on a resort hotel near Walt Disney World (see our article on Priceline at http://www.passporter.com/articles/priceline.htm). My bid of $71/night was accepted by the Hilton -- a great price! I hear that some vacationers have successfully bid on the Hilton at rates as low as $60/night. Do note, however, that Priceline charges a $6/room processing fee and the Hilton has local taxes of 11%/night. If you're not comfortable using Priceline, rack rates start at $189/night in the off-season, but we've seen rates on Expedia.com and Travelocity.com as low as $170/night, and rates on Orbitz.com as low as $116/night.

Ambience at the Hilton
The first thing you'll notice about the Hilton is how close it is to Downtown Disney—you can see it when you pull up to the resort, and the Downtown Disney Marketplace entrance is just a five-minute walk away. The 10-story hotel is set on 23 nicely landscaped acres. The pink-and-aqua exterior is unassuming, but the marble-floored lobby is large and well-appointed. While there is no theme at this resort (unless you consider "upscale business tropical" to be a theme), the hotel is tastefully and even playfully decorated.

Checking In at the Hilton
Check-in went very smoothly, and I felt no less welcome because I'd received that great Priceline rate. I was asked if I wanted to use the fitness center for $8/day. I declined. A note in my check-in booklet also informed me that the in-room safe would cost $4/day if I wanted to use it.

My Room at the Hilton
Of the 814 rooms in the Hilton, I stayed in room 601 -- a standard, non-smoking room with two double beds. In addition to the two beds, the room boasted a work desk with a two-line phone, a comfy chair, an armoire with TV and minibar, a large closet with organizer shelves, hanging rods, iron, ironing board, a safe, and a marble-topped vanity outside the moderately-sized bathroom. On the sink was a hairdryer, coffeemaker with a complimentary bag of coffee and Neutrogena toiletries (shampoo, condition, lotion, mouthwash, face soap, bath soap, and a shower cap). The room was fresh and clean, the beds were comfy, and the decor was subtly tropical. The room felt quite luxurious. I understand that the hotel's room were renovated from 1998-2002, and this room clearly felt up-to-date. All of the hotel's rooms are accessed by interior hallways, but none appear to have balconies. Our room did have a large window overlooking Interstate 4, but north- and west-facing rooms on the 6th-10th floors have a view of Downtown Disney, with Magic Kingdom visible in the distance. The hotel also has 200 rooms with king-size beds, and 48 rooms in the hotel are handicapped-accessible. There are also specialty guest rooms, such as the upgraded Hilton HHonors rooms (with business features), alcove rooms with sitting areas, Japanese guest rooms (with tea, robes, slippers, and Japanese newspapers), suites, and concierge tower rooms.

Amenities at the Hilton
Gee, what doesn't this hotel have? Other than a Disney theme, pretty much everything else is here... and then some. Three restaurants, two lounges, one 24-hour deli, one pool cafe/bar, 24-hour room service, fitness center, hair salon, several shops, an Avis rental car desk, a coin laundry, a game room, two heated outdoor pools, two hot tubs, kids wading pool, an ATM, business center, and conference/meeting rooms. Four special amenities deserve mention:
1. Extra Magic Hour perk (to get into a theme park an hour early on a given day) -- the Hilton is the only non-Disney hotel (other than Swan and Dolphin) to offer this perk.
2. Disney character breakfast every Sunday morning.
3. Free bus transportation to the theme parks, water parks, and even Downtown Disney (more on that next).
4. A Disney gift shop in the lobby.

Transportation at the Hilton
Free buses are available to the theme parks, water parks, and Downtown Disney. A sheltered bus stop is in the rear of the resort, just past the Avis rental car desk. The buses pick up every half hour, starting one hour before park opening to two hours past park closing. I noticed for separate buses, one each for Magic Kingdom, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Downtown Disney, and Epcot/Disney-MGM Studios (which shared a route). Unlike the Disney buses used at the Disney resorts, these are like traditional touring buses, and hence more comfortable. Onboard monitors display advertisements for nearby attractions, as well as information on the hotel's perks. It was here that I learned about the "Downtown Disney Resort Area Hotel Passport" which supposedly had information and coupons in it (more on that later). The transporation was efficient, though we did have to wait for the bus driver to take a break between Epcot and Disney-MGM Studios -- we waited on the bus for about 15 minutes.

Passport Coupon Booklet
You should receive a "Downtown Disney Resort Area Hotels" coupon booklet when you check-in, but if you do not, request one. Coupons in the 2003 booklet included Pleasure Island (20% off admission), Finn's Grill at the Hilton (50% off second entree), Richard Petty Driving Experience (10% off), MurderWatch Mystery Theatre ($5 off), Wyndham Palace (10% off spa service and drink discounts in the lounge), Medieval Times (10% off admission), Grosvenor Resort character breakfast, Cirque du Soleil (savings on souvenir packs), etc. The savings on Pleasure Island alone can be a big help!

Dining at the Hilton
I didn't have time for much more than a quick lunch from the deli, but I did notice that there were a LOT of dining choices. Benihana is a Japanese teppenyaki steakhouse and sushi bar open from 2:00-10:00 pm. Finn's Grill offers steak and seafood from 5:30-11:00 pm. Covington Mill Restaurant is a family restaurant open for breakfast and lunch from 6:00 am-3:00 pm, with a character breakfast every Sunday from 8:00-11:00 am. Mainstreet Market is a 24-hour deli with sandwiches, ice cream, and convenience items (sodas, cookies, snacks, etc.). John T's is a sports bar with cocktails and appetizers, open from 3:00 pm to Midnight. Mugs is a wine bar and coffeehouse serving Starbucks coffee. Rum Largo is the pool bar/cafe with pizza, salads, and sandwiches (open as weather permits). The room service menu is extensive. And let's not forget all the restaurants at nearby Downtown Disney, too!

All in all, I highly recommend this resort... especially if you can get a room here for under $100. It's a great, upscale alternative to Disney's value and moderate resorts, and you can't beat it's proximity to Downtown Disney. And when you add in the transportation, character breakfast, Extra Magic Hour, and Disney gift shop, you've got something very similiar to a Disney resort hotel.

To read this article online and view photos from our trip, visit:
http://www.passporter.com/articles/hilton.htm

Basic Hotel Information:
The Hilton at the Walt Disney World Resort
Address: 1751 Hotel Plaza Boulevard, Orlando, Florida 32830
Phone: 866-608-9330, 800-445-8667, or 407-827-4000
Check-in time: 3:00 pm / Check-out time: 11:00 am
http://www.hotel-inside-the-park.com

Have you stayed at the Hilton? Send us comments on your experience so we may share them with other PassPorter travelers! E-mail: feedback@passporter.com