From the Authors: Guidebooks Update & Animal Kingdom's Birthday Event

Travel Feature: Keeping the Magic and Memories Alive

Disney Feature: Walt Disney World 2003 Book Updates

Updates: What's New and Changed

Tips: Marking Mugs, Paint Chips in Scrapbooks, Videotaping in Room

Q&A: Memorial Day Week Crowds, Disney Cruise Time Zone Changes

Contests: Newsletter Contest Winner

Survival Disney: Feedback on New Column
 

Updates:
What's New and Changed

SORCERER'S HAT REOPENING
The rehab under the Sorcerer's Hat at the Disney-MGM Studios is almost finished! Disney erected construction fencing beneath the hat several months ago in order to remove the 100 Years of Magic Logo and the Discover the Stories Behind the Magic interactive kiosks and to update the gift shop. Word has it that the expanded shop could be ready as early as April 11, 2003. Keep checking for confirmation of the reopening date! 

PORT ORLEANS DEJA VU
For the second time in two years, Disney is temporarily closing Port Orleans Resort’s French Quarter for "rehab." This section of the resort was also closed soon after 9/11, and reopened May 31, 2002. Back then Disney claimed to be making guest room renovations, so we (and other commentators) have to wonder what remains to be fixed-up. (Disney did make changes to the Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory food court). Regardless, with guest bookings at Walt Disney World down again thanks to the economy and the war in Iraq, Disney can take this opportunity to consolidate its operations at the resort by operating only a single front desk/hospitality building and temporarily reassigning roughly 1/3 of the Port Orleans staff to other facilities.

All guest room furnishings and decorations at Port Orleans resort are scheduled to be refurbished during the next two years, starting with New Orleans-styled French Quarter. All of French Quarter (including restaurants, pool, and shops) will be closing May 4, 2003 for approximately six months. That 1008 guest room section should reopen in time for the 2003 Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Years season. Guests with reservations for French Quarter during the closure period will be contacted by Disney and offered alternate accommodations.

Rehab of the 2048 guestrooms at Port Orleans Riverside will begin in early 2004, after the holiday season. All guest amenities including restaurants, pools and shops will remain open. No more than a few Riverside guest buildings will close at a time, starting in the Magnolia Bend "mansions." There will be buildings open in both Magnolia Bend and Alligator Bayou throughout the rehab.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANIMAL KINGDOM!
Disney’s Animal Kingdom celebrates its 5th birthday on April 22, 2003. Dave will be attending a media event for the birthday celebration, and promises to include a report of the festivities (and a sneak peek at new stuff to come) in our April 24, 2003 newsletter.

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

Disney Tips:
From Fellow Readers

MARK YOUR MUGS
"Take along an indelible marker. We've found many uses for it on our vacations. It's especially useful for personalizing refillable mugs from the resorts and the cruise. Mark your mugs and you won't mix them up." -- contributed by Amanda S.

PAINT CHIPS FOR SCRAPBOOKS
"Have you seen the new Disney paint colors at Home Depot? They are wonderful! Even better are the paint chips in the shape of the Mickey icon. I just picked up a bunch in different colors to use in the photo album/scrapbook we will put together when we return from our April vacation! They are a perfect size to write small trip notes on." -- contributed by Ellen G.

TAPE IT AT NIGHT
"Instead of hauling the video camera around, we taped our 5-year-old daughter every evening when we got back to the room. She gave a blow by blow description of the days events and really hammed it up. The video tape is now our favorite souvenir!" -- contributed by Jennifer Bowling (davenjen@cwv.net)

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

Q & A:
With Jennifer and Dave

Gerry asks:
"Do you know how crowded it gets at Walt Disney World the week of Memorial Day?"

Dave replies:
"Most schools in the Southeast start their summer vacation on or just before Memorial Day week, so there's usually a surge of attendance as soon as school is out. If you can switch your vacation to the week proceeding Memorial Day, crowds should be lighter. Also, while I have no hard information to back up my instincts, I suspect that if the war in Iraq has ended by then, there will be a larger than usual surge in attendance Memorial Day week. If the war (and uncertainty) continues, then crowds may be relatively light."

Katerkat asks:
"On the Eastern (and Western, I assume) Carribean cruises, Disney acknowledges that we travel into a new time zone. Everyone has to change their watch, etc. Then on the way back, we all have to change them again. Some cruise lines don't do this. Why does Disney do this time change?"

Dave replies:
"I can't speak for Disney, but there could be several reasons. First, if you're not on local time when you visit a port of call, there's a better chance of the ship leaving port without you. Second (and far less important) is to keep more or less in-sync with sunset and sunrise times. Finally, even if the guests may not be interacting with the outside world, the crew does. I'd think it's harder for the crew to keep two clocks than one."

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 newest winner in our PassPorter Newsletter Contest is...

hflkath@... (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:
Feedback

A big congratulations to Brant Wigginton on the success of his newsletter column, "Survival Disney," which appeared for the first time in our last issue. We received a slew of e-mails, all with glowing comments on the "How to Survive Being Stuck on It's a Small World" article. Here are a few of the comments:

"Too funny! As he has proven so many times -- this guy knows how to write."

"Just wanted you to know I loved Brant's column. I also enjoy his posts in the message board community. Passporter is the best!"

"I loved the article! I especially like the idea of number 4! My daughter loves the ride, the rest of us love the air conditioning of the ride! (I did hear on the radio last year, some one had called in to complain about being stuck on Small World for a 11/2 hours! and the music continued  the whole Time! The author's ideas would certainly come in handy then!)"

"Thanks for making me chuckle! I hope this column continues in each
newsletter!"

"I've been to Walt Disney World 4 times (5 this summer) and have only been on It's a Small World only once--just to say I had done it.  The thought of being stranded on there is enough to make my hair stand on end!  The article was very funny--keep it up!"

"Personally i ADORE "its a small world", my family and I are one of the very few who do, but i thought the "survival" article was hilarious!  Keep up the good work!"

"I thought it was a great article. However it is a little late for us. We DID get stuck on it for about 15 minutes a few years ago.  And on the same trip we got stuck on COP.  We can still sing the song! Thanks for the humor!"

If you missed the column, you can read it in the March 27 issue of PassPorter News. Watch for more great Survival Disney columns from Brant in the future!

Hi, friends!

Things are busy, busy, busy here at the PassPorter Headquarters in lovely Ann Arbor, Michigan (well, it will be lovely when spring finally arrives!) Here are some updates...

As you may know, we sold out of the new Disney Cruise Line field guide within a month and went back for a reprint. The new shipment of books -- with some minor updates -- are scheduled to arrive in our warehouse in about a week. When they're back in stock, we'll update you via our store. In the meantime, the first printing of the guide is still in stock at Amazon and in many bookstores. You can get more information on the Disney cruise guide at http://www.passporter.com/dcl/guidebook.htm

Disneyland, Disneyland, Disneyland! We're knee-deep in work on the new Disneyland guidebook, due out later this year. To focus more completely on the project, we've set up a temporary project office away from the regular office. This means we (or more specifically, Jennifer) may be less available than usual -- but we're still here and still able to answer e-mail. Just give us a little extra time please. And don't forget -- you can get your tip or story published in the new guidebook! Send your contributions to http://www.passporter.com/dl/tips.htm

Disney is hosting a special media-only event for Disney's Animal Kingdom's 5th birthday on April 22. We've been invited, but thanks to our busy schedule only Dave has time to go. Jennifer will hold down the fort, and Deb Koma of All Ears Newsletter is going along with Dave. Expect a report from Dave in our April 24th newsletter, and reports from Deb in the April 29th edition of All Ears Newsletter. Deb Koma is also one of PassPorter WDW's expert guidebook reviewers.

Our PassPorter Message Boards (http://www.passporterboards.com) will celebrate a milestone soon -- we're expecting our 5000th member any day now! A big thanks to all the wonderful members of our message board who come together to make such a friendly, informative community. We're proud to call ourselves members, too! If you haven't visited our boards yet, registration is free and everyone is invited. Come on by and register... perhaps you'll be the 5000th member?

Finally, can you believe that PassPorter.com's 4th birthday is just around the corner? On April 14, the PassPorter.com web site will be up and running for four years! Wow... how time flies. Wasn't it just yesterday that we were slaving away on the first draft, fretting over whether anyone would get this "pocket idea" of ours? Boy, you all sure surprised us with your acceptance of our concept! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter Travel Press

P.S. We have a new guest columnist in this issue -- Sarah Franklin! Her article on preserving memories (scrapbooking) is wonderful. Enjoy!

Yes, Virginia, we really do have a looseleaf, ring-bound edition of PassPorter! Recently, we've heard from many of our readers who'd just bought a spiral edition of PassPorter and were surprised to learn we had a deluxe, looseleaf edition too. We call it a "Deluxe Edition" and we have one for both the Walt Disney World guidebook and the Disney Cruise Line field guide. The deluxe edition is popular with serious planners because it allows you to rearrange, add, and remove pages and pockets... and you can update it with future editions just by removing the contents and adding in a refill kit. You can learn more about the Deluxe Editions at the PassPorter Store.

Don't Forget: We're still giving away a free bottle strap with every order, though we do expect to be out soon! 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 Guest Columnist Sarah Franklin
Fellow Dsiney Fanatic, Creative Writer, and All-Around Disney Collector

Ahhhh....Vacation! Who doesn't live for the moment when you can kick back and leave the hassles of everyday life behind? Some of the best memories are made during vacation. Unfortunately, vacations end, the suitcases are too quickly unpacked and the realities of everyday life return. I often find that although I'm back physically, mentally I relive those priceless vacation memories over and over again. As time passes, however, the excitement and memories fade. One of the best ways to keep the magic and the memories alive is by preserving them in a scrapbook - a combination of photographs, memorabilia, and decorative design elements. With just a hint of creativity and a shoebox full of vacation photographs and memorabilia, you can preserve those memories and the excitement for you and your family!

Each and every scrapbook is like a story -- except it's your story! When you look back through old photographs in an album, don't you wish that you knew a little more about what was happening in those pictures? Imagine if you knew what Grandma was laughing about. Or what your father felt like when that seagull pooped on his head and your mother was standing by, camera in hand, to capture the moment. A scrapbook is your chance to preserve those vacation memories for generations to come! 

Don't worry if you've never before "scrapbooked" -- with the proper knowledge and materials, it's only as complicated as you make it. Whether you are embarking on creating your first scrapbook, or you are a seasoned veteran, here are a few keys for scrappin' those priceless vacation memories! 

The first key to any great scrapbook is, of course, the photographs! Think of your vacation as an opportunity to tell the tales of your travels through photographs from start to finish. Anything and everything is fair game for a scrapbook. Be sure to include photographs of picking up the tickets at the travel agent, packing (overstuffed suitcases are quite photogenic and make for a great scrapbook page - hey you never know when it might be freezing in Orlando in July!!), arrival at the airport/hotel, etc. You might end up taking hundreds of photos, and I guarantee you'll be glad you did! My motto is take pictures first - gasp at the price of developing/printing the film later!

Try not to take too many posed pictures. For example, if Walt Disney World or Disneyland is your destination, taking photos with the characters is always a highlight. In addition to the posed shots, try to get some photos of your child (spouse, friend, etc.) as they approach the characters or the expression on their face as they receive their autograph. Often the "non-posed" shots turn out to be family favorites! One of my favorite photos was taken in Epcot. The characters had just gotten off the double decker bus near China in the World Showcase, and I made a beeline towards Smee (that stuttering sidekick to Captain Hook). Not only did my husband capture my trek towards Smee, but he also snapped photos of Smee and Gepetto (from Pinocchio) fighting over me. The expression on my face says it all - pure Disney bliss! So be sure to capture those unsolicited expressions - they make for a priceless scrapbook page! 

Another key to any scrapbook is memorabilia! Airline tickets, brochures, maps, theme park tickets, menus, receipts, and postcards can all find a home in your scrapbook. A great place to store these items for safe keeping until you get home is in your PassPorter! You can also store mementos from each day in a plastic ziplock bag labeled with the date to organize each day's treasures.

Small trinkets can also be placed in your scrapbook. Craft stores typically carry various size memorabilia pockets in the scrapbooking section. Small seashells, seaweed, flat pebbles, pressed flowers or leaves, pressed coins, and various other trinkets can safely be stored in your scrapbook for future enjoyment. 

Journal your journey! Don't wait until you get the pictures developed to write about your family trip. I like to keep a journal (or my PassPorter!) by the hotel bedside and write about the day's events prior to hitting the sack. Include highlights of the day, favorite events for each family member, first reactions to something new, quotes that come to mind, funny stories, etc. Journal while it is fresh in your mind. Record the good memories and the not-so-good ones! I recently completed a scrapbook page from our first Christmas trip to Walt Disney World. I had been anxiously awaiting Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. The evening arrived and it began pouring down rain. Most events were cancelled, and I was simply devastated. I wrote about my frustrations that evening in the journal as well as what we did to try to make the experience as enjoyable as possible. I then included these notes in my scrapbook next to a not so "zippity-doo-dah" photo of myself wearing a Mickey Santa hat, completely drenched from head to toe and trying my best to enjoy the complementary hot chocolate and cookies (that was about the only thing they didn't cancel!!). Including these notes really invites your family and those enjoying the scrapbook to relive those magical (and not-so-magical) memories. 

Ok, so now you've developed the photographs, you've collected and gathered all of your memorabilia, and you've journaled your journey.....what's next? The final step is the design element. This will require a trip to your local craft store for the necessary supplies. Most craft stores (and even Wal-Mart) have a scrapbooking section filled to the brim with supplies. If you have never scrapbooked before, I recommend taking a beginner's class or purchasing a beginner's guide to scrapbooking. You will also need an album, some type of acid-free adhesive such as photo mounting squares or double sided tape, scissors, a black pen, various kinds of paper and cardstock, and any additional decorative element you find that strikes your fancy! The basic thing to remember is to use acid-free and lignin-free materials - this will protect your photographs from deteriorating over time. There are so many interesting elements to scrapbooking available today, you could easily get overwhelmed! Peruse the aisles of your local craft store for vacation-themed stickers, die-cuts, patterned paper, stamps, ribbon, etc. Disney-themed scrapbooking supplies are also available, both at the parks and in many stores. Be creative - maybe even "travel" outside the scrapbook section for stuff. 

You now have all the key elements to begin your scrapbook: photographs, memorabilia, journal notes from your trip, and the basic supplies and decorative embellishments. Let the creativity begin! Set some time aside each week to begin preserving those vacation memories in your scrapbook. Organize your photos chronologically. As you begin to work on each page, lay out the photos you will be using. You can choose to cut your photos down or into various shapes, eliminating some of the irrelevant space, or you can leave your photos "as is." Select some coordinating paper to mount your photos on or to use as background. Arrange your cropped photos, background paper and selected embellishments and adhere them to your page. Add your journal notes and voila, you've completed the first page in your vacation scrapbook! Don't worry about things being perfect or how messy your handwriting looks. Creating a scrapbook should be a joyous, creative experience, and the vacation memories contained within will be enjoyed by all for many years to come.

Below are some great book resources to start you on your way to creating your vacation scrapbook adventure:

• The Big Idea Book of Disney Memories by Creating Keepsakes
• Scrapbook Basics by Michele Gerbrandt & the Editors of Memory Makers
• Scrapbook Journaling Made Simple by the Editors of Memory Makers
• Making Disney Scrapbook Pages by Hot Off The Press
• A Simple Guide to Designing Scrapbooks by Creating Keepsakes

You can find these books at Amazon.com, MouseMemories.com, or your local craft store or check out some of the web sites below for online ideas and supplies:

http://www.scrapbooking.com
http://www.mousememories.com
http://www.creatingkeepsakes.com
http://www.twopeasinabucket.com
http://www.gracefulbee.com
http://www.dmarie.com
http://www.memorymakersmagazine.com 

Note: We'd love to hear your comments and feedback on this article! Send your thoughts to editor@passporter.com

by Jennifer Watson and Dave Marx

Looking for the latest updates for your PassPorter? The following is a page-by-page list of updates and changes for the 2003 edition of PassPorter Walt Disney World. If you’re looking for updates for previous editions or for the Disney Cruise Line guidebook, you’ll find them at: http://www.passporter.com/customs
/bookupdates.htm

Page 10 - The "BankOne/Disney Affinity Visa Card," now more commonly known as the "Disney Visa," was introduced in March 2003. This Visa Platinum card pays Disney Dream Reward Dollars™ (similar to frequent flyer miles) on all purchases—one point for every $100 in purchases with the card. Points can be applied on a one-to-one basis (one point equals $1) to Disney vacation and merchandise purchases of many kinds, and can also be exchanged for a variety of special Disney offers. Disney also makes special offers that pay additional bonus points. Get more details at http://disney.go.com/visa or phone 1-877-252-6576 and mention card code 7BVP.

Page 17 - The Orlando International Airport has a new Disney Store. It’s located across from the shuttles to gates 60-129. The older Disney Store, near the shuttles to gates 1-59, is still operating.

Page 35 - For a comprehensive guide to tipping (gratuities), see http://www.passporter.com/articles/tipping.htm.

Page 46 - Atlantic Dance Hall changed its format. Rather than Latin music, it now plays Top 40 dance music on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays nights. Live bands are featured on Fridays and Saturdays. The venue is still limited to adults 21 and up, and there is no cover charge. Closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Page 76 - Guests staying at the Polynesian Resort should be aware that the current bus stop in front of the Great Ceremonial House will be replaced by a new bus stop near Tangaroa Terrace (the building between Rarotonga and Rapa Nui on the map—it houses Moana Mickey’s Arcade, the Never Land Club, and the laundry room). We do not yet have a date for the opening of the new bus stop.

Page 81 - Port Orleans is closing in stages for guest room rehab. Port Orleans French Quarter will close first, on May 4. French Quarter will reopen in October or November, in time for the 2003 Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Years holiday season. Portions of Port Orleans Riverside will close starting in early 2004, as the work progresses building-by-building through the resort. Most of Riverside will be open at all times.

Page 95 - (map) The Beach Club Resort guest laundry is located in the small building adjacent to the quiet pool (lower right-hand area of the resort).

Page 99 - The Dolphin Resort will get two new restaurants, "Blue Zoo," opening in the spot of the current Coral Cafe restaurant, and "Fresh," opening in the spot of the former Juan & Only’s. Blue Zoo will be a seafood-oriented restaurant under the direction of Todd English, the chef/owner of 13 restaurants around the country including Olive’s and Fig’s. Blue Zoo is scheduled to be completed by October 2003. See related articles in The Orlando Sentinel and the Orlando Business Journal.

Page 100 - The four-night Disney cruises have two itineraries. One includes a stop at Nassau, a day at sea, and a stop at Castaway Cay. The other replaces the day at sea with a stop in Freeport (the cruise contract with Freeport was renewed until the end of 2003). These two itineraries alternate with one another.

Page 100 - 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.

Page 104 - See our review of the Grosvenor Resort at http://www.passporter.com/articles/grosvenor.htm

Page 104 - See our review of the Hilton at http://www.passporter.com/articles/hilton.htm

Page 114 - Disney Dollars sport a new look for 2003. The bills, which you can purchase at the parks and the Disney Store, feature Mickey Mouse ($1), Goofy ($5), and Donald ($10). Disney theme park castles are featured on the backs of the bills: Sleeping Beauty Castle from Disneyland Resort ($1), Cinderella Castle from Walt Disney World Resort ($5), and Le Chateau de la Belle au Bois Dormant from Disneyland Paris ($10).

Page 115 - The ATMs (cash machines) at Walt Disney World are now run by BankOne (the same bank that is offering the new Disney Visa card).

Page 117 - The Florida Resident "Play 4 Days Pass" is back for summer 2003. From April 1 - September 30, 2003, Florida residents can get four days in Walt Disney World’s four theme parks for just $109/person, plus tax. There’s just one blackout date: July 4. The Play 4 Days Pass is a park hopper, and it can be upgraded to a resident annual or seasonal pass. You can purchase this pass at the theme parks, Florida Disney Stores, and Florida AAA offices (proof of residency is required for each adult). For more information, visit http://www.disneyworld.com/play4days or call 407-WDW4DAYS.

Page 122 - The Disney Gallery in Main Street, U.S.A. closed its doors permanently on March 15. News on what will replace it is not yet available.

Page 131 - The Diamond Horseshoe Saloon Revue at Magic Kingdom closed on February 1. After renovations, it will re-open with a new show, "Country Character Round-Up." The opening date is unknown, nor is it clear if the attraction will continue to be called the Diamond Horseshoe or if it will be re-named.

Page 142 - 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).

Page 147 - The film at Wonders of China is going to be replaced with an updated version! The attraction is currently closed and is expected to re-open on May 22. 

Page 150 - Epcot's Tapestry of Dreams Parade took its last steps on March 1. This popular parade was a revised version of the Tapestry of Nations Parade that debuted in 1999 as part of Disney's Millennium Celebration. There's no official word of a replacement at this time. However, during a recent interview in the New York Times, Anne Hamburger, Disney's executive in charge of theme park entertainment, did mention that a new parade was in development.

Page 159 - Starting November 11, 2002, Who Wants to be a Millionaire--Play It! at Disney-MGM Studios (and Disney's California Adventure) has a wonderful new Grand Prize! Now, if you go all the way and win the million points at this popular attraction (as our very own Dave did, back in May 2001), you win a three-night cruise for four on the Disney Wonder (airfare included, all four guests in one stateroom, some blackout dates apply)! Of course, you still get the other goodies, too--the commemorative pins, million-point medallion, embroidered leather baseball jacket, polo shirt, baseball cap and pin lanyard. Formerly, the Grand Prize included a 3-day trip for two to New York City to watch a videotaping of Who Wants to be a Millionaire and (possibly) meet Regis Philbin, but once the program left the primetime lineup and Regis left the show, that prize didn't seem nearly so attractive (or practical). Prior winners who hadn't already used (or scheduled) the travel portion of their prize (like Dave) have been offered the cruise as an alternative. You can also read the report of the cruise Dave won playing Millionaire.

Page 160 - The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror now has a new computer program, "Tower of Terror 4," which selects one of several different drop sequences at random. You never know which sequence you’ll get until you experience it!

Page 161 - Disney’s Animal Kingdom celebrates its 5th birthday on April 22, 2003. Dave will be attending a media event for the birthday celebration, and promises to include a report of the festivities (and a sneak peek at new stuff to come) in our April 24, 2003 newsletter.

Page 162 - A new Art of Disney store opened on April 1, 2003 in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. 

Page 179 - River Country is not expected to open in 2003.

Page 181 - 2R’s Reading and Riting is now Disney’s Wonderful World of Memories, a scrapbooking supplies emporium. The Garden Center has become Basin, selling all-natural bath and skin care products.

Page 189 - As of March 23, Pleasure Island is closed during the day -- in the past, guests could walk through the nightclub area and browse the shops. Pleasure Island will open at 7:00 pm. Guests who need to walk between Downtown Disney Marketplace and West Side during the day can use the walkway that skirts Pleasure Island. 

Page 194 - The Spa at the Disney Institute is now calling itself "The Spa at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort." 

Page 205 - Beginning April 27, Cinderella's Royal Table has new slightly longer breakfast hours—from 8:00-10:30 am.

Page 213 - Tempura Kiku in the Japan pavilion at Epcot now offers priority seating. Arrangements may be made 120 days in advance like other Epcot restaurants.

Page 215 - Hollywood & Vine no longer serves breakfast and lunch as of March 23, 2003. The dinner buffet remains ($19.99/adult and $9.99/child), but there are no Disney characters. 

Page 222 - The Forty Thirst Street Café in Downtown Disney West Side closed earlier this year. It is expected to re-open as a Wetzel’s Pretzels (like the one in the Marketplace), but we have not yet confirmed that it is open. You can learn more at http://www.wetzels.com.

Page 227 - Beginning January 5, 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian Resort debuted a new lineup of characters for its long running character dinner experience. Pooh and Friends were replaced by Cinderella's Gala Feast. Cinderella is (of course) always on hand, and other characters present may include Prince Charming, the mice Suzy and Perla, the Fairy Godmother, villain Lady Tremaine, and her daughters Anastasia and Drizella. Typically, four or five characters are present at any one dinner. The food at the 1900 Park Fare dinner buffet remains the same (this is one of our favorite dinner buffets at Walt Disney World). Dinner costs $23.99 for adults, $10.99 for children 3-11, and includes soft drink and dessert. Priority seating is available up to 120 days in advance through Disney Dining (407-939-3463).

Page 231 - Lunch is no longer available at Portobello Yacht Club. Dinner hours are now 5:00 pm-11:00 pm.

Page 235 - The long-running Polynesian Luau Dinner Show at the Polynesian Resort emerged from its recent hiatus on February 19 with a revamped show and revised menu.  Renamed "Disney's Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show," the show begins, as always, when guests gather on the lush grounds outside the Luau Cove dinner theater. "Aunt Wini" invites everyone inside for "a celebration featuring the music and dances of the cultures of Tahiti, Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand and Hawaii." Guests feast on an all-you-care-to-eat menu that includes coconut pineapple bread, salad, Lanai roast chicken, barbecued pork ribs, Polynesian rice, fresh veggies, and a new, "Volcano" dessert. A children's menu with popular kid favorites is alsooffered. Soft drinks are included for all. Beer and house wine are included for the adults. Specialty drinks are extra. Pricing and show schedules are unchanged. Dinner is $49.01 for adults, and $24.81 for children 3-11. Shows are held Tuesday through Saturday, at 5:15 and 8:00 pm. Reservations at 407-WDW-DINE (407-939-3463). From the information currently available, it's hard to tell just how "new" the new Luau is -- the description provided by Disney could just as easily have applied to the old show. We'll just have to see for ourselves! Watch for a review from us soon. In the meantime, there is a nice review from a vacationer at http://wdwig.com/luau.htm

Page 236 - See our review of the MurderWatch Mystery Theater Dinner Show. 

Page 245 - Epcot has a new program: the Epcot Seas Aqua Tour. This 2.5-hour scuba-assisted snorkel dive takes place in the Living Seas pavilion at Epcot. Guests do not need to be SCUBA certified to participate. The program is held everyday at 12:30 pm, and each class holds up to 12 people. Ages 8 & up. $100/person. Book up to six months in advance at 407-WDW-TOUR. Deb Wills has a great review of the program at http://www.wdwig.com.

Page 245 - Park admission to Epcot is NOT required to participate in the Epcot Divequest program.

Page 252 - The BoardWalk's Harbor Club childcare center closed its doors on March 16. Guests at the BoardWalk who need nearby childcare can use the Sandcastle Club at the Beach Club. 

Page 256 - The Orlando Rays baseball franchise is moving. 2003 is the last year you can see them play at the Wide World of Sports. The team is moving to Montgomery, Alabama, where a new ownership will operate the team. Visit http://www.orlandorays.com for more information.

Page 256 - The first-ever Walt Disney World Inline Skate Marathon took place on March 30. This marathon may be offered again next year. Visit http://www.disneyworldsports.com for news.

Page 256 - Disney-MGM Studios will host Star Wars weekends again in May, starting on May 16. There should be lots of Star Wars stars and characters, a "Jedi Training Camp" for kids, plus a special Star Wars edition of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire--Play It!" with movie questions and guest star appearances. Get more info at http://www.starwars.com

Page 256 - The 2003 Official Disneyana Convention has been cancelled. Visit http://www.officialdisneyana.com for more information.

Page 257 - Gay Weekend is June 4-8, 2003.

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