From the Editor: More Greetings from Sunny Florida!

Travel Feature: Adventures by Disney: Wyoming

Disney Feature: Disneyland: Fabulous at 50

Updates: What's New and Changed

Tips: Diaper Duty, Spray Sunblock, Try TiVo

Captain's Corner: Eating On Echo Lake

Q&A: Is there an electronic PassPorter?
 

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Updates:
What's New and Changed

Here are a few of the new developments at Disney:

The new Family Suites at Disney's All-Star Resort did not open as scheduled this week. Guests who arrived at check-in expecting to stay in the Suites were offered a choice of two rooms at the All-Star Resort, accommodations at Fort Wilderness or a full refund. The Suites are  expected to open sometime this week but guests with reservations should contact the resort for verification. 

The Disney Vacation Club is celebrating two milestones this year - welcoming "home" their 100,000th Member family and celebrating the program's 15th anniversary this fall. The official 15th Anniversary celebration will begin in October 2006, details to be announced. 

Construction is set to begin by the end of 2006 on two new hotels owned and managed by the Hilton Hotel Corp. in the Bonnet Creek area adjacent to Walt Disney World. A 1,000 room Hilton Hotel and a 500 room Waldorf Astoria are scheduled to open during the summer of 2009. 
 

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:

DIAPER DUTY
"We just took our 6 month old son on his first trip to the World this May and stayed at Saratoga Springs.  Since we didn't have daily trash pick up I was worried about having smelly diapers in the room. While I was packing I stuffed our sneakers with plastic grocery bags I had saved. I put a bag on the door handle of our room to collect diapers and every time we left the room we would take the bag and throw it out in the trash can by the elevators. We never had a diaper smell in our room and the bags were easy to pack." -- contributed by Laurie T. 

SPRAY SUNBLOCK
"If you have kids, it can be a hassle to put suntan lotion on everyone before heading out to the parks in the morning. To speed things up I bought the continuous spraying suntan lotion. It costs a bit more but saves so much time." -- contributed by Kalli M.

TRY TIVO
"If you own a TiVo there is a new feature called Product Watch. You can pick products that you want to get special video features about. In the travel & leisure section, I picked Disney vacations, and in the brand section I picked all the Disney categories. To my surprise the TiVo downloaded some Disney videos which I have only seen on Disney Resort TV. It included one of my favorites, the Walt Disney World top 7 best attractions. Now I have a little Disney magic that I can watch at home." -- contributed by Holli G. 

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

Want more Disney tips? For Walt Disney World fans, we've collected 500 of the best tips submitted by readers over the past six years. All have been edited for accuracy and categorized. For details, visit the PassPorter Disney 500 info page or the PassPorter store. For Disney Cruise Line fans, we have an e-book with 250 cruiser tips, as well as a special cruise line comparison section and seven customized packing lists. For information, visit the Disney Cruise Clues info page.

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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 new 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:

"Having enjoyed a wee respite in the pool, I headed off to see if I could catch up with a legendary fellow explorer. I'd heard he was giving demonstrations of his archaeological skills in a show of some kind. On the way, I realized my exertions had worked up an appetite and I stopped at a Diner near Mr. Jones show. A charming lake-side Diner was housed in a boat named... (the rest of text is obscured by what appears to be smeared mustard)"

What is the name of the boat that houses the Dockside Diner?

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 Peggy Johnson who was the winner of last week's treasure hunt game! Peggy correctly answered that the baseball diamond is in the pool at the Home Run Hotel at Disney's All-Star Resort. To view the original clues, see last week' s 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

lisamarch asks: "I LOVE my PassPorter. But I'd really really love being able to type things into my computer and then print them out for our trip. The PassPorter templates I see on your web site look to be something I could print out and then write on (as in with pen/pencil). I think I'd prefer something on my computer, where I could edit and reprint, etc. I want to use the info boxes that are in my PassPorter, but I am looking for a template to use on the computer - also so I can save my itinerary electronically; email it to house sitter and emergency contacts; etc. Any suggestions? Thanks!"

Jennifer and Dave answer: "By the sounds of things, it's not really an all-electronic PassPorter you're looking for, but downloadable versions of the worksheets that can be typed in. This is actually a possibility with PDF documents (the format we use for our downloadable forms), but we have to do some experimentation before we can make any promises.

Meantime, if you have Adobe Acrobat (full product, not Acrobat Reader), you should be able to type into any PDF that hasn't been "locked" by the person who created the document. Try opening our forms in Acrobat and see if you can use them in their current condition. I do not recommend you get the full version of Acrobat just for this purpose - it costs substantial money.

I know that all sounded a bit technical....

We'll do some experimentation in the upcoming weeks, and if we're all lucky, we'll have downloadable files that you can modify/type in without having to buy additional software. Just hang in there!"

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")}}! 

Jennifer and Dave are still in Florida on what they describe as a "commando all the way" research trip. You think you're tired? In an effort to ensure the accuracy of the next edition of PassPorter Walt Disney World Jennifer and Dave have made it their goal to hit each and EVERY attraction in all four parks! Not to mention they are doing it with three kids in tow - Allie, Alexander and Dave's niece Melanie. They have completed their run through the Magic Kingdom and MGM-Studios and just have a few attractions at Epcot and the Animal Kingdom to go before they leave. 

Dave reports that they have had the chance to meet many PassPorters. Those bold enough to introduce themselves to our favorite authors find themselves the recipients of new PassPorter pins! (So if you're reading this in Walt Disney World, keep an eye out over the next day or two!) Dave also mentioned that the evening Extra Magic Hours are being "religiously attended." In fact, according to him there is no visible drop in park attendance during the first two hours of the Extra Magic Hours!

Jennifer and Dave will be back next week with details on their experience with the Disney Dining Plan and lots of other great information. In the meantime this edition of the newsletter features first-time contributor Gincy Heins, who shares her Adventure by Disney to Jackson Hole with us and PassPorter Message Board Guide Cheryl Pendry, who shares her recent trip to Disneyland. Finally Captain Jack Skatt returns with a new treasure hunting game. Enjoy! 

Sara Varney
PassPorter News Editor

Adventures by Disney: Jackson Hole, Wyoming
by Gincy Heins, Guest Contributor 

Does a fun family tour on a bus with strangers and their children sound like an impossible dream? Then you haven’t been on an Adventure By Disney! Last summer my family and I had the vacation of a lifetime when we joined strangers who are now friends on “Disney’s Quest for the West” in Wyoming during the preview year.

In typical Disney fashion, this trip had nothing but the best food, hotels, activities and Adventure Guides. Even the motor coach in which we traveled was excellent with a “kneeling bear” feature that lowered the entrance of the bus to make it easier to step on board. Every desire was anticipated and before you could get hungry or thirsty, food and water were offered throughout the trip. 

But don’t think that just because this was a group event that everyone had to do the same thing. There were always options for those who did not want to participate in something.  For example, one day we took a boat ride across Jenny Lake to hike up to Inspiration Point. People had the option of hiking all the way to Inspiration Point or completing a shorter hike. Later in the trip at the ranch, people could relax, learn to fly fish or go horseback riding. 

The food, whether served in a restaurant or under the trees, was delicious! The accommodations, whether in a national park, western town, or on a ranch, were excellent, and the transportation, whether horse, bike, motor coach, or boat were unparalleled.  Transportation ranged from the “A Ticket” boat ride across Jenny Lake to the “E Ticket” white water rafting trip!

On our first day, upon arriving at the airport in Jackson Hole (the only airport in the country to be located in a National Park) we were greeted by one of our Adventure Guides and our motor coach driver. They gathered us and our luggage onto what was to be our home on the road for the next week. We were taken directly to our room at the Wort Hotel in downtown Jackson Hole where we spent the first two nights. The rooms in this old, historic hotel were beautiful, yet rustically decorated to fit in with the history of the hotel. The first evening everyone in our group met in the lobby of the hotel for introductions, and then we walked down the street past the famous antler arches in downtown Jackson Hole for a private catered dinner eaten outside accompanied by the sound of western music. Dinner was followed by a game, which gave people the opportunity to mix a little more and get to know each other. Our group consisted of four couples traveling without children and four couples traveling with children or grandchildren. 

After a picnic lunch at String Lake, our first guide joined us. The guides know the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone inside and out and filled our heads with more information than we knew existed. Frequent stops were made along the way from the Grand Tetons to Yellowstone at places like the West Thumb Geyser Basin where each guest was supplied with headphones. Through the use of these headphones, the guide could be at the front of the group telling about the area, and everyone in the group could hear, despite a strong blowing wind. Laser thermometers were passed around among the children so everyone could see the actual temperature of the water in the thermal features.

A special evening was planned for the children. They had a wonderful time with the guides, playing games and participating in activities while eating some of their favorite foods. This also provided the parents with an “adults only” evening to spend socializing with the other guests on the trip.

Watching Old Faithful was an amazing spectacle! It’s a sight that has to be seen in person to be fully understood. Everywhere you turn in Yellowstone, nature provides one surprise after another. Whether it’s the wildlife such as moose, buffalo, deer, or bears, or the still standing trees burned in the fires of 1988, there are astonishing sights everywhere you turn.

Our last few nights were spent at the Spotted Horse Ranch. Every family had their own beautiful cabin. Each cabin had a breathtaking view and seemed isolated from the others although they were no more than a couple of minutes apart. From our cabin, we gazed over a meandering river to a beautiful house on a hill. Fresh cookies were always available for snacking, meals were family style in the main ranch building and on the last evening, dinner was under the stars by the campfire. 

Early one morning, the group gathered in jackets, cups of coffee in hand, to watch as the ranch’s horses were rounded up from the hills and driven across the bridge to the stables.  We were all picking out the horse we wanted to ride later that day.

And by this time, we did feel a lot like a family! Everyone got along so well on the trip.  Never once did the children whine or complain about anything. When our Adventure ended, addresses were exchanged and tears were shed as we said good-bye to new friends. A reunion trip is already planned for next summer at Walt Disney World!

For more information on this, or any of the other Adventures by Disney, please visit their web site at www.adventuresbydisney.com.

Gincy is currently busy planning a trip to Walt Disney world with her family. 

Disneyland: Fabulous at 50
by Cheryl Pendry, Guest Contributor and PassPorter Message Board Guide 

I doubt there are many 50 year olds who can party like Disneyland. At the center of the worldwide Happiest Celebration on Earth, Walt’s original park is enjoying a resurgence of interest across the globe, with many people thinking there’s no better time to visit – and I’m proud to say that I fall into that category. 

My last visit to Disneyland was in 1987 with my parents - a fleeting one day visit and not one that I have particularly fond memories of. As someone who was bought up on a diet of Walt Disney World, with all its space, arriving in Disneyland was something of a shock. No build-up, no crossing a lake to get to the Magic Kingdom. You just arrived. The entrance was around the corner from motels, fast food places and the park was completely surrounded. 

It’s amazing how all that can change in 20 years. The arrival of a second park – the California Adventure – means that now there’s some mystery as you approach the resort. It’s finally hidden away and your anticipation can grow in the same way it does in Florida. Now with three onsite hotels, the Downtown Disney complex and two parks, it really is a resort and it’s one that’s popular with the locals. Be warned – the parks are busy during the weekends! If you can time your trip for during the week, you’ll be able to achieve more.

So what about the parks? Those of you reading this that have never been to Disneyland are probably wondering whether it’s like the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Well, yes and no. The lands are laid out in a similar way, but things look very different as you walk up Main Street USA. Sleeping Beauty’s Castle is beautiful, but very small. That’s how Walt wanted it. He didn’t want people to feel that the castle was towering over the masses, but it’s clear that the Imagineers have learned, with future castles acting as more of a focal point in the park. 

We all know that much was learned from the Disneyland Park. Walking around, you can understand why Walt wanted a much bigger site in Florida. The park is compact, almost to the point of being too small in places. Walk out towards the Rivers of America and you can see differently themed lands almost collide. At least it makes for less walking than you’d get in Orlando! 

The focal point seen from much of the park is the Matterhorn – a ride not re-created in any of Disney’s other parks and it’s not the only unique Disney attraction. One that surely must be exported to other parks soon is the Indiana Jones Adventure. It’s similar in style to Dinosaur in the Animal Kingdom, but is far superior both in theming and the overall ride effect and is something not to be missed on any Disneyland trip.

Other unique rides include Alice in Wonderland in Fantasyland, a fun filled ride through the classic movie, and the sailing ship Columbia which allows you to take a step back in time on a journey around the Rivers of America. And let’s not forget Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin in the fun filled Toontown, an area you can believe was tailor made for cartoon characters. 

There’s a lot that’s obviously the same, but even when the attraction names are familiar, there are still differences. Beehives, not honey pots, populate the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, with the scenes in a different order. Snow White remains very much the scary version that’s now disappeared from Walt Disney World. From the new addition to the Jungle Cruise – I won’t spoil the surprise, as there’s nothing better than watching people’s reactions to it – to the floating head of Madame Leota in the Haunted Mansion, there’s a feeling everywhere that this is not a 50 year old park, but one that’s recently been given a lot of love and care. 

Yet, in spite of the recent renovations and rehabs, the history of Disneyland is everywhere. The Enchanted Tiki Room proudly displays Walt’s name and his presence can be felt throughout the park, from the opening ceremony in which you hear his words from opening day to the candles still burning in the windows of one of the buildings along Main Street. If you love Disney, there’s nothing like walking round the only park that Walt enjoyed after its opening. 

The celebrations are also everywhere, from the golden ride vehicles, which make for some great photo opportunities, to the addition of new or improved attractions, such as Space Mountain and Disneyland – the first 50 years, showing in the Main Street cinema. But perhaps the best tribute to 50 years of magic here has to be the nightly fireworks show, Remember, Dreams Come True. 

We always say that fireworks never seem as good as they are in Walt Disney World. After all, how can you top Wishes or Illuminations? Well, Remember does. It brings in so many new effects not seen in either of the other two shows and tells the story of Disneyland throughout the years. Watching it from Main Street, we could hear people all around us, joining in with the most famous lines from familiar attractions like the Haunted Mansion, the Pirates of the Caribbean and the Disneyland Railroad. Everyone was enjoying the magic of today, while remembering the magic of years gone by. 

It’s clear that Disneyland has a special place in the heart of many of its visitors and it’s also obvious that many of them return time and time again. Having seen the magic from Walt’s original park, I can understand why. 

Cheryl and husband Mark live in England and love to travel, particularly to America. They’ve recently returned from a two week tour of the west coast, which included Disneyland, Las Vegas, San Francisco and San Diego. 

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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.