From the Authors: Springtime in Tree Town

Travel Feature: Quebec City

Disney Feature: Pregnant At The Mouse House

Updates: What's New and Changed

Tips: Traffic Tie-Up, Stretch Out, Scrap Savers

Captain's Corner: Where Has My Greek Goddess Gone?

Q&A: Where do you keep your stuff at the Water Parks?
 

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Updates:
What's New and Changed

Here are a few of the new developments at Disney·

The Fitness Centers onboard the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder now feature pre-loaded iPod Shuffles for guests to use during their work-out. The iPods are loaded with 67 "work-out tunes," upbeat tracks by artists such as Madonna, The Killers, Paul Oakenfold, Black Eyed Peas, Outcast, Gwen Stefani, and 
U2.

PassPorter's Walt Disney World for Your Special Needs authors Deb Wills and Debra Martin Koma will be appearing on Comcast Network (CN8)  Tuesday May 9. They'll be on "Your Morning," a news/magazine program that runs from 9:00 am - 11:00 am. Deb and Deb will be discussing Disney on a Budget. Unfortunately, we don't know when the segments will appear during those hours. If you have Comcast On Demand, you may be able to catch the program in the Get Local section of the On Demand listings. Comcast's CN8 is available in much of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast on Comcast cable systems in and around Richmond VA, Baltimore MD, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New England. If you're a Comcast subscriber, we hope you'll tune in! 

The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival begins this week on April 21 and runs through June 11, 2006. The opening festivities begin at 9:30 on Friday, April 21, directly behind Spaceship Earth and will include the unveiling of the new Art Of Disney Stamp Series featuring four of Disney's most famous couples - Belle and the Beast, Cinderella and Prince Charming, Lady and The Tramp and, of course, Mickey & Minnie! Topiaries featuring the images from the stamps have been designed and will be displayed as part of the festival. 

The Festival also includes the Flower Power Concert Series featuring performers from the 60's and 70's. Here is the schedule:
April 21–24 - The Nelsons 
April 25–27 - The Buckinghams 
April 28–May 1 - Gary Puckett 
May 2–4 - The Grass Roots starring Rob Grill 
May 5–8 - Paul Revere & The Raiders 
May 9–11 - The Association 
May 12–15 - Davy Jones 
May 16–18 - The Tokens 
May 19–22 - B.J. Thomas 
May 23–25 - Felix Cavaliere's Rascals 
May 26–29 - The Guess Who 
May 30–June 1 - Tony Orlando 
June 2–5 - Arlo Guthrie 
June 6–7 - The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie 
June 8–11 - Herman's Hermits Starring Peter Noone 

Our thanks to AllEarsNet.com from which we get some of our news leads.

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

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Disney Tips:
From Fellow Readers

Our readers deliver a wealth of information! Here are the winners in this month's tip contest:

TRAFFIC TIE-UP
"If you plan on attending Catholic Mass at Mary Queen of the Universe, you may want to leave as soon as Mass concludes to avoid the traffic jam that occurs or spend time visiting the shrine until the traffic clears."
-- contributed by Annette Bush (apbush@...)

STRETCH OUT
"To help combat the achiness of a day on my feet, usually in the heat, I like to do a series of stretching exercises upon returning to the hotel. (Make sure you check with your doctor or trainer to see which ones would be best for you.) By stretching out all of my major muscles and back, I find that I sleep much better and it really eases the aches that can ruin a good night's sleep after a long day in the parks. Plus, it feels really good!"
-- contributed by Priscilla P.

SCRAP SAVERS
"For all you scrapbookers out there:
1. Keep a daily log
2. Keep every scrap of paper you come across, receipts, etc.
3. Disney Dollars look really nice in scrapbooks
4. Get extra copies of maps
5. Take lots and lots of pictures - don't forget to get those pictures off your favorite rides, and your resort."
-- contributed by Amy H.

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

Want more Disney tips? We've collected 500 of the tips submitted by readers over the past six years -- most have never been published before. All have been edited for accuracy and categorized. The "Disney 500" are available in e-book form for immediate download. For details, visit the PassPorter Store.

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Captain's Corner:
Treasure Hunting Game

Play our fun and quirky treasure hunting game, hosted by Captain Jack Skatt from our upcoming book, "PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World." 

The Captain makes a study of the delightful details -- sometimes hidden, sometimes in plain sight but often overlooked -- at Walt Disney World and aboard the Disney Cruise Line. Using notes from his journals, he will lead you to this "treasure" at Disney with clues, questions, photos, or riddles. Your challenge is to discover the answer by searching your memory, visiting Disney, or even just looking really hard on the Internet. If you think you've found the answer, e-mail it to jackskatt@passporter.com -- the first person to correctly submit the FULL answer will receive a free PassPorter enamel pin or PassPorter name badge pin.

Here is this week's treasure from Captain Skatt's Journal:

"My dear friend Red Barns of W-A-C-K-Y fame has turned me on to the joys of statuary. I spent that last exploring the various statues around the World. I'm flabbergasted at how many I am finding. There's one in particular that I'd passed a million times but never noticed. The statue appears to be of Greek origin -- it puts me in mind of one I happened across at the Louvre. This Greek goddess couldn't be farther from a museum, and yet she lights a warm glow in even the coldest of hearts. I snapped a photograph of her to remember her fine form. Alas, I was so mesmerized by her curves that I cannot remember where I found her."

Click photo to enlarge

Where will you find this statue? 

Send your full answer to jackskatt@passporter.com -- the winner will be notified by e-mail and announced in the next newsletter, along with the correct answer!

Congratulations to Bob McGowan who was the winner of last week's treasure hunt game! Bob correctly identified the call letters for Red Barns' radio station as W-A-C-K-Y. To view the original clues, see the last newsletter.

If you enjoy treasure hunts, we've got an entire book with over 100 distinct treasure hunts and over 1500 questions, complete with clues and contributions from Captain Skatt. The new "PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World" book is now available! You can order the book today at http://www.passporterstore.com.

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Q & A:
With Jennifer and Dave

njpoppins asks: "I know this might sound silly but where do you keep your stuff at the water parks? I know there are lockers, but if we take our own beach towels and put them on chairs, will they be "safe"? And what about our passes? I will have a Key To The World card with the Dining Package on it. Will I have to trek back to a locker to get our card if we get hungry or thirsty and wish to use one of our snack options? Is a locker your only option?"

Jennifer and Dave answer: "I've yet to experience anyone taking anything, but I also don't push my luck too far.

Resort pool towels and the water park's rental towels are the same. These are most likely to be "at risk" since they're not unique. How could you prove someone has "your" rental towel? If you bring hotel room towels you may do better, but folks will recognize them for what they are. Folks seem to respect private property - beach towels, sandals, etc., but there are no guarantees. 

Generally, I keep everything but my immediate needs in a locker. Room key, maybe a few bucks in cash, sun screen, towel, cover-up, sandals, eyeglasses - none really need to be waterproof. It pays to be a guy - my swim suits usually have zippered/velcroed pockets suitable for the room key and cash. The waterproof neck "safes" are helpful if you don't have pockets. You can also get neck lanyards with a clear, ziplock closure for your room key. I'm not a fan of carrying a camera. There's sand everywhere, and just a few grains of it are enough to wreck a camera. If you want to bring one, get a waterproof case for it - those work for sand, too. "

Have a question? Post it at http://www.passporterboards.com -- and if you're lucky, you may find that folks have already asked and answered the same question that's on your mind!

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Future Newsletters:
Want To See Your Name in Print?

Big News! PassPorter News is now published weekly. This means we need more articles than ever! We're on the lookout for guest columnists who want to contribute articles to this newsletter. No professional writing experience is necessary, just a desire to share your experience with others! Not only is this a great way to give something back to the PassPorter community, but you get to see your name in "print" and receive a $25 gift certificate for use at www.passporter.com. 

For details and our article submission guidelines, please e-mail news@passporter.com. Articles about Disney and general travel are welcomed!

Hi, {{user("firstname")}}!

Ah! Spring has really, finally come to our home base of Ann Arbor, Michigan! The red buds on the maples are giving way to that first blush of green, our lawn is sprouting (gotta mow it very soon), we've been pressure-washing our deck, our tulips will bloom within the day, and we're getting out for walks around the neighborhood and through the nearby nature areas nearly every day. Dave in particular is looking forward to visits to Ann Arbor's Nichols Arboretum. The "Daffodil Line," a living art project that zigzags through the "Arb's" meadows, is beginning to bloom, the azaleas and rhododendrons will follow soon afterwards, and by late May/early June the huge Peony Garden will be in its full glory. We may not make it to Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival this year, but we're doing pretty nicely right around home.

We're very pleased to announce that all pre-orders of PassPorter's Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line 4th Edition and PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World have been shipped, and all new orders are going out the next business day! If your pre-ordered copy hasn't arrived yet, drop an e-mail to orders@passporter.com, or phone 877-929-3273 weekdays 9:00am - 5:00pm ET and we'll check package tracking for you.

In this edition of the newsletter, Julia Elzie takes us to one of Dave's favorite places, Quebec City, Canada, and Allison Gleicher shares her experiences being Pregnant at the Mouse House. Finally, Captain Jack Skatt returns with a new treasure hunting game. Enjoy! 

Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter Authors

Quebec City 
by Julia Elzie, Guest Contributor
 

Quebec City has been described as a little bit of Europe in North America. Its French heritage is evident on every corner, from the gabled buildings to the cobblestone streets to the magnificent cathedrals. French is the primary language of business and of Quebec City’s residents, but Quebec is distinctly French and Canadian, and fiercely proud of its heritage and independence.

Quebec City is located along the St. Lawrence River and was first founded by the Iroquois, followed by French explorer Jacques Cartier in 1535. It became a fur-trading post around 1608 with Samuel Champlain’s arrival to the area. The fur trade made Quebec City into a major trading center and control was sought by the French and English. The quest for control led to several military battles at the Plains of Abraham and the Citadel, located around Quebec City. Finally, French Canada fell under English control in 1759 after the conflict at the Plains of Abraham, became an independent colony and ultimately, a part of the sovereign nation of Canada.

Quebec City is a pedestrian-friendly city and with good shoes, it can easily be toured on foot.  The old fur-trading city, Basse Ville, is along the river, and offers a beautiful tour of the history and development of Quebec City. The oldest buildings are closest to the river and as the fur trade expanded, the city was built and expanded back from the river. The architecture changes in style and sophistication as one moves back and away from the river. The rooftops are at a steep slant to allow Quebec’s snowfall to slide off in the winter. Window panes are smaller than usual, reflecting the practical need to avoid breakage during the transatlantic crossing from France. The people of Quebec City are proud of their history and cultural diversity, reflected in a stunning mural on the side of one of the buildings near the main shopping area of Quartier Petit Champlain. The fur trade, influence of the Catholic faith, the four distinct seasons and the French, English and First Nations residents are depicted in the mural. Walking through the streets of Basse Ville is a journey through history. 

After Basse Ville had expanded to the Cliffside, the residents began to build into the upper city of Quebec (Haute Ville). Guarded by tall, stone walls, Haute Ville is the only European-style fortified city in North America. Quebec City has stunning views and one of the best ways to enjoy them is by riding the funicular elevator from the Basse Ville up the steep side of the cliff, arriving to the Terrasse Dufferin, outside of the castle-like Chateau Frontenac - one of the hotels the Chateau in the Canada Pavilion at Epcot is designed to resemble. The hill is steep, so take the funicular up the hillside and take the very steep, but manageable “Breakneck Stairs” on the way back down to Basse Ville. The Chateau Frontenac is arguably the most photographed landmark in Quebec City and most people see its picture in their mind’s eye at the mention of Quebec City. With its gables and turrets, the Chateau Frontenac is spectacular. It is worth a visit to see its breathtaking magnificence and to have lunch or afternoon tea at the very least.

For the best introduction to Quebec City, splurge and enjoy a carriage tour with a friendly, knowledgeable driver and guide. The drivers are warm and outgoing and a wealth of information about Quebec City. While these tours are somewhat pricey, it is an once-in-a-lifetime experience and the best way to get to know the main areas of the city. Afterwards, consider a guided walking tour or simply pick up a self-guided walking tour brochure from the Visitors Center. 

Quebec City has some of the best museums in Canada. There is Quebecois history at the Musee de la Civilisation, regional art at Musee National des Beaux-Arts du Quebec, a historical show with sounds and light at Musee du Fort and French culture at the Musee de l’Amerique Francaise. Children will enjoy the three-dimensional history lessons at the Quebec Experience. The Citadel, overlooking the river, was built by the British Army and holds military memorabilia from the various battles for control over Quebec City. In addition, spectacular cathedrals, especially the Notre Dame du Quebec, are tributes to the influential clergy members who contributed to the growth of Quebec City. Historical museums are also available as tributes to the nuns and priests who have spent generations educating First Nations and French Canadian children. After time inside museums, children and adults will enjoy outside time at the Cartier-Brebeuf National Historic Site, which was the location of explorer Jacques Cartier’s 1535 winter camp. It is close to the main areas of Quebec City and offers a glimpse of an Iroquoian longhouse, plenty of grassy and open space to stretch legs or burn energy and wonderful storytelling sessions. Another fresh air alternative is taking the ferry from Quebec City to the town of Levis, directly across the St. Lawrence River, for spectacular views of the city and especially, Chateau Frontenac.

All of this learning and sightseeing can build an appetite and Quebec City has a myriad of restaurants and cuisine to suit every taste. It has some of the best and most sophisticated food in North America. Be sure to try as many French Canadian dishes as possible, such as wild fowl or game (try cipaille, a pie with meat and vegetables or toutiere, a meat pie), and  poutine (French fries with cheese curds and gravy). Seafood is also delicious, with choices such as seafood bisque or pot-en-pot, a dish with seafood and potatoes. For dessert, try maple pie, also known as sugar pie or tarte au sucre or trempette, which is maple syrup soaked bread, topped with whipped cream or crème fraiche. Of course, quiche, crepes and croissants with a café au lait are also delicious and widely available at cafes and bistros throughout the city. [Editors Note: Summertime visitors shouldn't miss the fresh strawberries when in season. They're grown just miles away, and are quite delectable.] A leisurely meal provides the opportunity to sit, enjoy the beautiful scenery and European ambiance and watch people throughout both Haute Ville and Basse Ville.

Shopping is wonderful and plentiful in Quebec City. After leaving behind the more “touristy” shops, visit the local boutiques and art galleries for memoirs of Quebec City. Some of the most authentic handicrafts will be available at the farmer’s market at Marche du Vieux Port along with beautiful produce. The Quartier Petit Champlain in Vieux Quebec is among the oldest shopping districts in North America. Vieux Quebec’s Rue (Street) St. Paul and Rue St. Jean offer art galleries, many filled with First Nations handcrafts. In addition to the gorgeous handcrafts and arts, maple syrup and maple syrup products are sold, along with Inuit (Eskimo) carvings. All will bring back happy memories of Quebec City. 

With its history, cultural sights, magnificent food and French language, Quebec City is a beautiful taste of Europe in North America. 

Julia Elzie is a travel consultant with Andavo Travel and specializes in family travel. For more information, please visit her web site at http://www.juliaelzie.com, contact her by phone at 208-362-6789 or by e-mail at jelzie@andavotravel.com.
 

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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Pregnant At The Mouse House
by Allison Gleicher, PassPorter Message Board Guide and  Guest Contributor
 

It’s always wonderful taking a Disney vacation - the exciting rides, the long treks through the parks, late nights indulging in the culinary masterpieces... Well, most of those things won’t happen if you ever go to Disney World while pregnant. Don’t get me wrong, you can still have an excellent time but it will be a different experience, I can guarantee you that! In December 2000, I was carrying twins. At the time I already had two small children but with my husband and both my parents along for the trip, I wasn’t lacking for help. 

I made sure the trip was planned for the cooler months in Florida. Carrying around 30 pounds of pregnancy weight would not have gone over well in 98º weather. It was very important in the planning stage to make sure that the weather was going to be comfortable for me. I knew I had the chance of seeing highs of about 65º and lows about 40º. Ahhh, just right…

My next concern was where to stay. I didn’t want to have to travel far from our room to our activity. It had to be a resort close to all the action. Someplace with reliable transportation to the parks? Someplace comfy, quiet, spacious but smack-dab-in-the-middle-of-all-the-fun? The Wilderness Lodge? Absolutely! What more could you ask for? It had everything I needed - the comfort of home, good transportation, and tranquility. A little piece of heaven, I tell ya.

So, I had my three assistants, good weather and the perfect resort. What else did I need? Besides the usual of comfy clothing and good walking shoes I had to remember to have healthy snacks and lots of water to bring with me to the parks. I found it convenient to have a snack bag of something like trail mix in the diaper bag and a bottled water I could refill. Both would keep up my energy levels and mood. 

There was also going to have to be more breaks during the day. Maybe not necessarily going back to the hotel, but sitting on a bench for a few minutes made for a relaxing break. A pregnant woman has got to be able to put her feet up several times a day. There are so many beautiful spots in every park to just stop, have a seat and people watch. I had never taken the opportunity to really slow down before on a Disney trip. I saw the whole Disney experience from a different point of view and you know what? I liked it! I discovered places I had never seen before; I saw performers and acts I never stopped to watch. I also did a lot more shopping. It was an indoors, slow paced, quiet activity - good for the blood pressure. Yeah that was it! Good for the ol’ blood pressure. 

Something else I had never done before while on a Disney vacation was laundry. With two kids and three adults at Walt Disney World for 10 days, I volunteered for laundry duty. After the children fell asleep, I would sneak downstairs to the laundry facility where I found a lot of other moms. We would sit around and gab for a while, and when the others had finished and gone back to their rooms, I would tip toe out to the hot tub to soak my feet! The view of the back of the lobby from the pool area was breathtaking. I had my own (well, it seemed like my own) private viewing spot for one of the most beautiful sights in all of Walt Disney World. I had the whole pool/hot tub area to myself. No noise, no husband, no kids, no one asking me for anything. I got to soak in silence. I think I did laundry every night of that trip!

As I said, I was able to experience Disney from a completely different angle during this trip. Slower pace, more quiet activities, less running around and no thrill rides. But we did indulge one of my favorite things to do at Disney - EAT!!! There was a culinary adventure around every corner. With Disney’s wide variety of eateries I was a happy Momma! I added a lot of “favorite” restaurants to my list during this trip. The Cape May Buffet at the Beach Club Resort was a place for a family to enjoy dinner. There was something to please everyone in my family and I got to eat to my heart's content! Another great restaurant was the San Angel Inn in the Mexico pavilion at Epcot - beautiful scenery, quiet atmosphere, and good Mexican food. (Especially good if you’re craving spicy foods!) I was very impressed with this restaurant. 

Despite the limitations of going to Disney while pregnant, you can see the benefits clearly outweigh them. If you are planning a Disney trip while your pregnant do just that, PLAN. A little preparation goes a long way. Congratulations and good luck…….

(For more information on traveling to Walt Disney World while pregnant, check out PassPorter’s Walt Disney World For Your Special Needs by Deb Wills and Debra Martin Koma.)
 

Allison is a Co-Guide of the Using Your PassPorter Forum on the PassPorter message boards, as well as being the mother of two beautiful boys.

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Did you enjoy this article? Have questions? E-mail us at news@passporter.com or visit http://www.passporterboards.com to discuss your Disney vacation plans.