From the Authors: Happy 5th Birthday, Animal Kingdom!

Epcot Feature: Mission: SPACE Launch Sequence Commencing

Animal Kingdom Feature: Expedition EVEREST : The Secret Revealed

Studios Feature: Something Smells Funny: Tower of Terror 4

Cruise News: "Golden Mickeys" Show, Castaway Cay Excursions

Updates: What's New and Changed

Tips: Trip Tracking, Concierge-Style For Less, Magical Haircuts

Q&A: Cruise Dining Rotation, Monthly Temperature Averages

Contests: Newsletter Contest Winner
 

Updates:
What's New and Changed

PAL MICKEY
Who’s 10 inches tall and is destined to become the most popular tour guide at Walt Disney World? Pal Mickey! Pal Mickey is Disney Imagineering’s latest, plush innovation, a soft, loveable toy that plays games wherever he goes, and becomes an instant tour guide whenever he enters a Walt Disney World theme park. (Read the full article at PassPorter.com: http://www.passporter.com/
articles/palmickey.htm)

NEW SHOW AT THE DIAMOND HORSESHOE SALOON REVUE
Tuesday we learned that the Diamond Horseshoe Saloon will re-open on July 1, 2003. The Magic Kingdom-based attraction closed on February 1, 2003 for refurbishment. When it re-opens, the attraction will have a new name ­ which has yet to be announced ­ and a new show. Character interaction will be a big part of the new show, and audience participation is a definite. We hear that Goofy will be featured in the show, and it may even be named after him. Note that the attraction will not serve food, as it did prior to 2003.

POP CENTURY TO OPEN (FINALLY!)
Walt Disney World president Al Weiss announced Tuesday that the new Pop Century Resort is now taking reservations for its opening on December 14, 2003. Pop Century was originally scheduled to open in late 2001, but its debut was delayed due to the drop in travel after 9/11. First to open will be the Classic Years section, which celebrates the decades of the 1950s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s.  Standard rooms are $77/night and preferred rooms are $87/night (preferred rooms are in the two buildings located nearest to the main building, the 1960s). We’ve visited the resort several times during construction, and expect the resort’s facilities and decor will receive a very enthusiastic welcome. Rumors are already circulating that one of the All-Star resorts may close for refurbishment once Pop Century opens, presumably after the busy holiday season. In the meantime, don’t panic. It’s just a rumor.

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

Disney Tips:
From Fellow Readers

TRACK YOUR TRIP THROUGH PHOTOS
"We came up with a neat idea for our upcoming trip to keep track of our days in the parks, all without writing anything down. We will take a photo of either one of us (or both) as we enter each attraction. That way, we will have a record of the rides we rode and in what order, as well as also refresh our memories when writing our trip report!" -- contributed by Maureen Austin (mokevaustin@earthlink.net)

CONCIERGE-STYLE FOR LESS
"We discovered a marvelous way to get *pampered* equally or better than *concierge*, and very privately, I might add. It's called *room service*! For approximately another $30 per day we ordered coffee and danish or bagels in the morning, and tea, crackers, fruits and cheese at night before retiring. No having to get dressed or get out of bed before having our morning coffee, and being able to relax with a wonderful cup of tea at night before bed on our balcony was sheer luxury! All this for under $200 per night! Concierge on the other hand, costs upwards of $550 or more! I might add that room service is *open* 24 hours a day, too. " -- contributed by Margaret (ladymarganne@the-beach.net)

MAGICAL HAIRCUTS
"This past November we took our grandchildren, Patrick 9 and Martina 6, to Disney World. One of their best memories is having their hair cut at the barber shop in the Magic Kingdom. By the time the barber was finished with Patrick, his once blonde hair was gelled an electric purple with a Mickey Mouse head stamped on the back of his head.  In addition he was pelted with pixie dust several times, much to his enjoyment. Martina got the lovely lady barber who  trimmed her hair and French braided her locks, then she put golden gel in her hair and  showered her with pixie dust several times also. My husband and I, much to our surprise, got the royal pixie dust treatment as well. This royal treatment was the bargain of the day. My granddaughter's do was only $12.00 and my grandson's was only $15.00. Since they had their hair cut first thing in the morning, they were the center of attention everywhere we went. Needless to say, the Bigler family left a trail of pixie dust throughout the park. By the way, the hair cuts were first rate!" -- contributed by Linda Bigler (cajun@udel.edu)

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

Q & A:
With Jennifer and Dave

Carolyn asks:
"We're trying to figure out which dining rotation we'll have for a 7-night Eastern Disney Cruise departing June 14. We have one 6 year old boy. We've seen things that indicate two different rotations. Which is the most likely? We're trying to plan our evening at Palo."

Dave replies:
"The dining rotation (which restaurant you'll be in on which night of your Disney cruise) isn't divulged until you receive your Key to the World card (when you check in at the cruise terminal, or when you check into your resort on a Land/Sea package). However, you can learn whether you're on the early or late seating now. Just call Disney Cruise Line at 888-325-2500. They can usually switch your seating, too. They may also be able to tell you which rotation you're likely to be assigned to, but they can't promise any particular rotation. With a six-year-old you're more likely to start in Animator's Palate, then go to Parrot Cay, then Lumiere's. Rotation isn't as big an issue with the seven-night cruises as it is with the shorter itineraries--you've got plenty of nights for Palo. However, if you'd like to make a change in seating or rotation once on board, you're free to try--there's normally a food-and-beverage staff meet-and-greet the afternoon you sail (sometimes it's held in the same place they'll be taking Palo reservations, sometimes in the Sessions lounge), and you can also talk to your dining room Head Server at any time."

Lama asks:
"I am looking for average monthly temperatures for the Orlando Florida area for the following months: December 2001 & 2002, January, February and March of 2002 & 2003.  I have found sites that will give me daily temperatures but not monthly average temperatures.  If you have this information please send it to me or fax it and let me know where I can go to get this information in the future. Thank you."

Dave replies:
"I haven't been able to find a year-by-year listing of monthly average temperatures, only month-by-month historical averages (averaged over a 40-year period). You can get daily historical data from http://www.wunderground.com . Another great resource is http://www.dca.state.fl.us , which is an excellent collection of weather data resources. I suspect you'll have to download the daily data from http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov , input it into a spreadsheet, and derive the monthly averages for yourself."

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...

drivethrumom@... (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
 
 
 

Hi, friends!

This past Tuesday, April 22, was the fifth anniversary of Disney's Animal Kingdom. My, how time flies! To mark the occasion, Disney invited the local media (and a few out-of-towners) to a one-day celebratory and informational event. Birthdays weren't the only thing on Disney's agenda, though Disney Cruise Line representatives were happy to toot the horn for the cruise line's own, upcoming fifth birthday. We were also promised a "surprise announcement," a preview of the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, and (drumroll, please) a sneak peek at Mission: SPACE, the new thrill ride opening later this year at Epcot. Along the way, we had lots of opportunities to interview Imagineers and other Disney notables; enough that we can promise fascinating articles for many more editions of this newsletter.

Attending the event on PassPorter's behalf were PassPorter co-author Dave Marx; and PassPorter contributor and expert peer reviewer Debra Martin Koma, best known as Senior Editor for the ALL EARS newsletter. See a report from Deb on the new and improved Tower of Terror sequences later in this newsletter. Also watch for reports from Deb in the next All Ears Newsletter on Tuesday, April 29 ( subscribe at http://www.allearsnet.com ).

This newsletter is jam-packed with news -- even a few surprises you probably haven't heard anywhere else yet -- so take your time with it. Exciting times, indeed!

Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter Travel Press

You asked for a combo deal, you got it! Now when you order both a PassPorter Walt Disney World guide and a PassPorter's Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line, you get a better discount! Just "add-on" the second guide when you order your first to get the deal. For example, go to the PassPorter Walt Disney World 2003 spiral guide product page, scroll down a bit and look for the "Special Add-Ons at Great Prices" section, click the "Guidebook + Disney Cruise paperback" option, and then click Add to Cart. The combo deal is equivalent to a 30% discount on the second guide, which is normally only available to our registered users. For more information and ordering help, visit the PassPorter Store.

Tip: Order from us and get a free adjustable 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

The big drawing card at the media event for this reporter was a first look inside Mission: SPACE, the new thrill ride opening next to Test Track, in Epcot's Future World. Reporters were escorted through the attraction, in the company of the Imagineers who designed and are building the ride.

The mood for the preview was set by Walt Disney World President Al Weiss, who announced that the attraction would "soft open" on August 15, and would officially open in October (during a soft opening the ride may open or close without notice). Mr. Weiss apologized for the fact that the Press couldn't actually ride the attraction until August 15, but confided that he did have a chance to ride (it’s good to be President). He reported (with the genuine excitement and delight of a kid) that he thinks this will be one of the greatest attractions in the world, and we don't think he meant just Walt Disney World.

The story of Mission: SPACE takes us about forty years into the future, when Disney and space program experts hope that space flight will be routine for ordinary citizens. Guests will become trainees at the International Space Training Center (ISTC). After a quick course in space flight the trainees are briefed on their training mission and embark on a mission to Mars! They’ll experience all the sounds and sensations of a shuttle launch, including high g-forces and some simulated weightlessness. When they come back to Earth, trainees can move on to the interactive experiences in the Advanced Training Lab, or head out back into the bright Florida sunshine. The Advanced Training Lab is also a haven for everyone (including small children) who has bypassed the thrill portion of the ride (all guests, whether they ride or not, must go through the queue and pre-show areas).

To continue your tour of Mission: SPACE, click below to read the entire, full-length article -- complete with photos --at PassPorter.com:
http://www.passporter.com/articles/missionspace.htm

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Animal Kingdom Feature:
Expedition EVEREST - The Secret Revealed

by Dave Marx

This may be the worst-kept secret in Disney history. While "leaks" and rumors from Disney cast members are fairly common, how often does the company's Chairman spill the beans? Michael Eisner did just that at Disney's annual stockholders meeting back in March.

Yes, rumors of a new thrill coaster (or even an entire thrill "land") for Animal Kingdom have been circulating for a while, but many of us were astounded when Eisner volunteered the information from the podium. When Eisner then asked Disney President Robert Iger whether he should have said something, Iger replied, "You’ve just made a couple hundred people on the Internet happier than they have ever been in their life!" However, when this reporter called Disney’s Media Relations office to confirm Eisner's statement, Disney representatives firmly denied that anything resembling Expedition EVEREST had been officially announced.

"What about Mr. Eisner's statement?" 
"Nothing has been announced officially." 
"Is that the 'surprise announcement' you'll be making at Animal Kingdom on April 22?" 
"No comment."

So, the Media gathered eagerly at 9:30 am, Tuesday April 22, to mark the fifth anniversary of the opening of Disney's Animal Kingdom. After a musical, character-filled introduction, Walt Disney World President Al Weiss stepped to the podium. Naturally, the park’s anniversary celebration came first, so after appropriate words and ceremony from Weiss and the park’s vice-president, Dr. Beth Stevens, the big "surprise" finally arrived. A mountain began to rise behind the stage, like a volcano rising from the sea. Perched atop the flat, fabric cut-out mountain was a terrified Mountaineer Goofy. As the mountain and The Goof rose higher into the air, blustery, snow-filled winds began to buffet the peak...

This article is continued at PassPorter.com:
http://www.passporter.com/articles/everest.htm

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Studios Feature:
Something Smells Funny: Tower of Terror 4

by Debra Martin, ALL EARS Senior Editor

There's an old saying: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Apparently it's a motto the Walt Disney Imagineers haven't heard -- thank goodness! -- because just a few months ago they changed one of Walt Disney World's most popular attractions, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, a fourth time.

If you talk with Theron Skees, show producer for Disney-MGM Studios, you'll find that the most recent changes, which include even more speed, drops and special effects, were made to "bring guests an even more physical experience."

What could be more physical than the feeling of dropping 13 stories repeatedly? Would you believe the addition of other-worldly effects ranging from eerie spectral visions to unexpected gusts of cold air to a specially created smell?

"Yes, we wanted to create a different feeling to this ride," Skees says. "For example, we didn't want just any smell, like burning rubber, we wanted a special smell that was uniquely the Tower's. We actually toyed with quite a few things until we came up with the scent we wanted." Skees notes that his own nose did much of the testing before the "right" combination of scents was settled on. And, he adds, all that sniffing paid off -- Cast Members who tested Tower of Terror 4 a few months back were fooled into believing that "something" was wrong with the ride after detecting the newly engineered "musty" odor.

The "new" Tower of Terror now boasts two totally different ride systems with completely different elements, Michael Tschanz, principal software engineer, explains further. "The ride profiles are different -- sometimes you go up before you drop down, sometimes you don't," he notes. "And the various elements are randomly selected by the Tower ride system itself -- even we don't know which ride you're going to get, which special effects you're going to experience."

Since the Tower has consistently been one of Walt Disney World most popular attractions since it debuted in 1994, one might wonder why the Imagineers feel the need to tinker with it every few years, as they have done.

"We had the new technology, so why not do something with it?" Skees says. "Especially for the real serious fans of the ride, the ones who ride it again and again, and the ones who go on the internet and talk about it, we wanted to give them something more unpredictable."

"Now, with Tower itself actually choosing the various elements randomly, we like to say that the Tower is in Control."

(Editor's Note: Smells like a winner to us! Our thanks to Deb for that savory article. In exchange for this article, Dave will contribute two short articles about Mission:SPACE and Expedition EVEREST to next week's edition of ALL EARS newsletter -- watch for 'em.)

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Cruise News:
"Golden Mickeys" Show, Castaway Cay Excursions

by Jennifer Watson

Buried among the reams of press releases Dave toted back to the office today was a simple press release marking Disney Cruise Line's 5th Anniversary on July 30, 2003. Upon closer inspection of the press release today, we found some buried treasure within it -- two very short mentions of a new show debuting this fall and new Castaway Cay excursions. Here's the scoop:

GOLDEN MICKEYS SHOW TO DEBUT FALL 2003
A brand new, live stage show begins production on the Disney Magic this autumn. The new show, called "Golden Mickeys," is in rehearsal now. Our contact at Disney Cruise Line had no clue as to the new show's storyline, but some digging about on the web revealed a casting call with some hints. From what we understand, a female character named "Ensign Benson" starts the show as the nervous and awkward stagehand. During the show, famous Disney characters such as Tarzan, Pocahontas, Belle, Peter Pan, Nala, Hercules, Quasimodo, Prince Charming, Cinderella, Snow White, and Wendy show up. By the show's end, Ensign Benson transforms into the confident and glamorous star of the show, the Disney Cruise Line's "leading lady." The new show isn't expected to replace any of the current stage shows, but it's possible it will take the place of one of the variety shows. Disney is not yet sure when the show will make its way to the Disney Wonder.

NEW CASTAWAY CAY EXCURSIONS
Four new adventures have been recently added to the roster of Castaway Cay shore excursions. The exact date they were introduced is unclear -- they weren't available on my March cruise, nor have we seen any discussion of them by cruisers online. Here are the new excursions:
 - Seahorse Snorkel Adventure -- Take a 40 min. trip aboard a 63 ft. catamaran to prime snorkeling waters. Don your gear (provided), get a brief orientation, and snorkel for an hour in 3-25 ft. deep water. Rum punch, bottled water, canned soda, and snacks are provided after the snorkel. Two restrooms are available onboard. Cost is $49 (ages 10+) and $29 (ages 5-9).
 - Walking & Kayak Nature Adventure -- Take a 40 min. walk with a nature guide around Castaway Cay and over to the kayak launching area. Paddle about for one hour in two-person kayaks (life jackets provided). Afterwards, swim at a secluded beach for a half an hour. Then take another 20 minute walk back to the tram. Cost is $60 (ages 10+). Note that there are no restrooms along the tour.
 - Glass Bottom Boat Scenic Voyage -- Board a 46-foot, glass-bottom trawler for a one-hour ecotour of the barrier reefs that protect Castaway Cay. The trawler has covered seating, but is one level only and has no restrooms. Bottled water provided. Cost is $25 (10+) and $20 (under 10).
 - Scuba Dive Adventure -- Certified divers can enjoy dive two sites near Castaway Cay. The first dive is 60 feet deep, the second is 40 feet deep. Equipment is provided; wet suits can be rented for $10/person. Guests ages 12-17 must be accompanied by a parent. Cost is $95 (ages 12+).
Full descriptions of these new shore excursions are available at DisneyCruise.com.

Alas, the news we were hoping for -- some special event to mark the cruise line's 5th anniversary -- wasn't among the tidbits in the press release. Disney says they're not doing anything special, but if you hear otherwise let us know at cruising@passporter.com