 |
|
 In This Newsletter
From the Authors: Summertime!
Travel Feature: Tokyo Disneyland
Disney Feature: Tusker House at Disney's Animal Kingdom
Updates: What's New and Changed
Tips: Planning Parties, Important Information, Terrific Totes,
Captain's Corner: The Cat that Hated People
PassPorter PhotoPick: Epcot - Sunset Over World Showcase Lagoon
Q and A: Is the Castaway Cay Island Cruise still offered?
Our Sponsors: We Recommend...
| . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . |
Cool Links:
Stuff and Services
We encounter many Disney- and travel-related products and services. From among those we try, a few are good enough to use ourselves and recommend to you:
SCOTTEVEST.com - Travel clothing with TONS OF POCKETS for the trip of your life!
KidsFlySafe.com - CARES FAA-approved safety harness for planes
| .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Updates:
What's New and Changed
Here are a few items of relevant news:
New Dessert Party At Magic Kingdom. The Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station is now host to the Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert Party, held nightly now through August 28th, 2009. This party begins an hour before Wishes (check the schedule for times) and includes a self service dessert buffet. The location offers prime viewing for Wishes. The dessert party is $17.99 per adult (ages 10+) and $9.99 per child (ages 3-9). Reservations can be made by calling 407-WDW-DINE. This updates page 207 of PassPorter's Walt Disney World guidebook
Stitch's Supersonic Celebration closing June 27, 2009. The show, which just debuted in May 2009, has been canceled. No word on what will be in this outdoor theater in the future. This updates page 122 of PassPorter's Walt Disney World guidebook
Princess Diana Exhibit at Downtown Disney. "Diana - The People's Princess," an exhibit presented by The People's Princess Charitable Foundation, will include artifacts from Diana's life as well as actual dresses worn by Diana. The exhibit will run from early July through November 30, 2009. Tickets can be purchased at the exhibit and will be $14.50 per adult and $5.00 per child. This updates page 179 of PassPorter's Walt Disney World guidebook
Our thanks to AllEars.net and MousePlanet.com from which we get some of our news leads.
Hear some news? Be a 'PassPorter Reporter' and send it to us!
| . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . |
Disney Tips:
From Fellow Readers
Our readers deliver a wealth of information! Send us your tips! You may see them in this newsletter and win a copy of PassPorter! And you never know -- your tip could even appear in a future edition of a PassPorter guidebook.
PLANNING PARTIES
'My husband, 11-year-old son, 7-year-old daughter, and I are about to leave for Walt Disney World in two days! We have taken our children there twice and they love it. This time we were worried they would not be as excited as they were in the past. Boy were we wrong! From the beginning they were more excited but I've done little things to get them more excited. I started planning Disney Movie Nights. I'd pick a movie then plan this whole night around it with special foods, decorations, and activities. For example for Lady and the Tramp night we had spaghetti. For Stitch we had our own little luau with traditional Hawaiian foods, leis, and decorations. For Toy Story night we had pizza since in the movie they go to Pizza Planet. The possibilities are endless! It has gotten the kids so excited that now two days from our trip they are a bit disappointed that mommy has had to stop having Disney nights to get ready for the trip!'
-- contributed by Brandi
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
'If you are taking a child that is not yours (niece/nephew, grandchild, neighbor's child, etc.) on the family vacation, there are a few things you may have missed. You are going to want a copy of their insurance card/prescription card, if it's a copy you will need the front and back of the cards. Also it will be in your best interest to have a document signed by both parents (if possible) and notarized. This document should state that you have permission to have the child(ren) with you and permission to obtain the necessary medical care. You will also need a list of their medications and allergies (drug/food). You should also have at least 2-3 numbers to contact the parents. The facility or physician may want to speak to the parent, if the medical care may be extensive.'
-- contributed by Kelly
TERRIFIC TOTES
'In an effort to be as "green" as possible, I purchased a reusable tote (the small ones that can be folded up and stored inside its own little pouch and clipped onto a larger bag) at The Magic Kingdom last year on our trip. It was great for carrying purchases and made me feel better about using less bags. So, on our trip this year, I made sure that I packed it. I tucked it inside my backpack and took it with me everywhere I went. Not only did I find that it was helpful for carrying purchases, but this year it truly saved my backpack from being ruined in rain storms and on water rides. Before getting on a water ride, I simply opened up the tote and put my backpack inside it. Once the ride was over, I folded up the tote, put it back in its pouch, tucked it back inside my backpack and off I went. It was great for carrying around wet ponchos, too. From now on, I will always have one of these reusable totes with me!'
-- contributed by Dodie
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.
| . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . |
Captain's Corner:
Treasure Hunting Game
Play our fun and quirky treasure hunting game, hosted by Captain Jack Skatt from our 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. (Please note: Players can win once every three months.)
Here is this week's journal entry:
"Ah, I do love a good cartoon. And, of course, Mickey Mouse and his pals are my favorite. But I will admit to having a fascination with some oddball toons. Give me a cartoon with a looney cat on a crazy mission -- like catching that mouse who can't be caught -- and I'm happy guy! So imagine my surprise when I spotted 'The Cat That Hated People' the other day while drinking my milkshake! What a hoot!"
Where at Walt Disney World can you watch'The Cat That Hated People' cartoon?
For bonus credit, locate the photo in the PassPorter Photo Archive and post a comment with the photo!
Congratulations to Catherine L. who was the winner of last week's trivia contest! Catherine was the first person to identify the location of the photo in last week's clue as a shop in the Canada pavilion in Epcot's World Showcase. Bonus credit goes to Paige L. as the first person to locate the photo in our PassPorter Photo Archive. To view the original clue, see last week's newsletter.
Send your full answer to jackskatt@passporter.com -- the winner will be notified by e-mail and announced in a future newsletter, along with the correct answer!
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
PassPorter PhotoPick
Each issue we choose a special photo from the PassPorter Photo Archive which highlights something beautiful, interesting, humorous, or timely at Disney or around the world. Here is this issue's PassPorter PhotoPick:
 Epcot - Sunset Over World Showcase Lagoon
Photo by Dopey007
(click the photo or link to see a larger photo with details)
You can nominate photos as a PassPorter PhotoPick by giving ratings in the PassPorter Photo Archive (you'll need to be logged in to do this). If you'd like to contribute your own photos to the Photo Archive and be considered as a PhotoPick, please read our Photo Upload Guidelines for details and benefits.
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Q and A: With Jennifer and Dave
coasterwiggs asks: "The Castaway Cay Island Cruise is listed in my PassPorter as an excursion but is not on DisneyCruise.com. Has it been discontinued?"
Dave answers: "Excursions come, excursions go, and some excursions come back again. I haven't heard about an official 'discontinuation.' It's certainly possible that there hasn't been enough interest, or they may be having staffing troubles. I didn't think the excursion had very good prospects when I first saw the description - Castaway Cay isn't a particularly large or scenic place, so such a cruise wouldn't have a whole lot to offer. I haven't seen any cruiser reviews of it, but that's often the case with excursions that don't catch folks' interest -- there aren't enough people doing it to generate a useful number of comments."
Did our message board members agree with Dave? To see other answers that coasterwiggs received, check out the rest of the thread on the PassPorter Message Boards..
Have a question? Post questions 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!
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Future Newsletters:
Want To See Your Name in Print?
PassPorter News is published weekly, and this means we're always in need of articles! 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!
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Our Sponsors:
We Recommend...
PassPorter only accepts advertising from services of the highest quality -- we recommend these companies because we use them ourselves. Please support our sponsors and, in turn, support this newsletter! This week's sponsors are (in order of appearance):
Mouse Fan Travel - Special Onboard Credit Offer on Disney Cruise Line!
ALL STAR Vacation Homes - Choose from more than 150 homes within 4 miles of Disney!
PassPorter Travel Press - 2010 Editions in Pre-Order Soon
|
|
|
|
|
From the Authors: Summertime!
Hi, {{user('firstname')}}!
Well, school's out for summer (but not forever, no matter what the Alice Cooper song might say), pre-vacation activities are ramping up in anticipation of the July 4th holiday, business activities seem to be slowing down in the summer heat (well, maybe not here, where our 2010 Walt Disney World and Disneyland guidebooks are in production)... Yes, another seasonal transition is upon us! If your PassPorter guidebook has been in "planning mode," there's a good chance it'll be moving into "touring mode" sometime soon. We wish you well, whatever the upcoming weeks may bring!
Now Available! PassPorter's Disney Vacation Club Guide for Members and Members-To-Be
New E-Book Now Available!
PassPorter's Disney Vacation Club Guide is a comprehensive e-book covering every aspect of the Disney Vacation Club in detail and answers the most commonly asked questions to help you decide whether the Disney Vacation Club is the right investment for you. This includes a self-calculating table that will show you exactly how many years it will take you to break even on the Disney Vacation Club's initial costs and annual dues based on the number of points you want to buy and the price you would otherwise pay for a hotel room. The e-book also explores the club's points system -- including how to buy, bank, and borrow points -- and how to choose the right Use Year and Home Resort for you. Many PassPorter readers contributed their photos so we could include them in the e-book. For those who are already DVC members, the guide brings together everything you need in one place, including a look at all the ways you can spend your points, lists of the various member benefits, and interactive worksheets for tracking your contracts, points, and reservations.
PassPorter's Disney Vacation Club Guide is available for immediate download by PassPorter's Club members (this would be a great time to join PassPorter's Club!) and lists for $7.95 in the PassPorter Store!
Festivals and Celebrations E-Book Updated!
PassPorter's Festivals and Celebrations at Walt Disney World e-book has been completely revised for 2009. If you purchased it from our online store, you can download the revised version by going to the PassPorter Store, logging into your account, locating the e-book in your Order History, and clicking the download link. If you're a member of PassPorter's Club, just head over to the Club and download from The Reading Room, as always. The revisions include new events, more pictures, and the latest pricing information, plus fresh ideas for celebrating your own magical milestones at Walt Disney World. Many thanks to author Thomas Cackler and editor Carrie Hayward!
PassPorter's Walt Disney World 2010 Editions Now Available for Pre-Order!
We're pleased to announce that you can pre-order your copy of PassPorter's Walt Disney World 2010! The new editions are due out in November, just like last year. And like last year's special anniversary edition, we're keeping the popular glossy photo section in the back and updating it with new reader photos. We're also adding more color photos throughout the book. You can get a sneak peek at some of our changes at our PassPorter's Walt Disney World Guidebook Information Center, which also offers pre-order links, at http://www.passporter.com/wdw/guidebook.asp
Contribute To Our 2010 Editions!
We're working on both the Walt Disney World and Disneyland editions of PassPorter for 2010! And, as always, YOUR input is very important -- it's one of the things that makes PassPorter unique and valuable. We encourage you to take some time to contribute a tip, story, photo, and/or rating -- it really makes a difference! To learn how to contribute, please view the details on our message boards. We look forward to seeing your contributions!
PassPorter's Club Update
- More than 1500 vacationers are now enjoying access to all our e-books, e-worksheets, and super-sized photo archive images. Thank you for your continued support!
- Our new DVC e-book is coming very soon and will be made first available to Club passholders as soon as Monday, June 15, 2009 -- watch your inbox for details!
|
In this issue, PassPorter Featured Columnist Cheryl Pendry shares information on Tokyo Disneyland: A Japanese Twist On An Old Favorite. Then PassPorter Featured Columnist Sue Kulick gives us a glimpse into Tusker House at Disney's Animal Kingdom: A Dining Review. Finally, Jack Skatt is back with a brand-new Walt Disney World Treasure Hunt.
Jennifer and Dave Marx
PassPorter Founders and Authors
|
|
Did You Know?
Follow Sara Varney's Sara's Snippets
at MouseFanCafe.com
Check it out!
Disney Cruise Line® - Book A Verandah
Get up to $700 onboard credit
Select dates June-Aug 2009
3-day $300 / 4-day $400 / 7-day $700
Visit us at www.MouseFanTravel.com
Mouse Fans Choose Us for
Fee-Free Vacation Planning
*Offer is limited, subject to availability and restrictions apply - CST207807440
Click for full details As to Disney artwork: ©Disney Ships' registry: The Bahamas
|
|
Travel Feature:
Tokyo Disneyland: A Japanese Twist On An Old Favorite
Cheryl Pendry, PassPorter Featured Columnist
For as long as I can remember, it's been my ambition to visit every Disney theme park in the world. It's something that I thought would take many more years than it did, after we were able to squeeze in a trip to Hong Kong Disneyland much earlier than I'd originally anticipated. That left Tokyo Disney as the final destination for us. We headed there this spring.
It is home to two theme parks, Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. Of the two, Tokyo Disneyland is the original park, dating from 1983, so we were lucky enough to be there for the tail end of their 25th anniversary celebrations.
Essentially, Tokyo Disneyland park is a version of the Magic Kingdom. The pattern is that the first theme park to be built at any new location will be based on the Magic Kingdom – or should I say the original Disneyland park in Anaheim – as in Tokyo's case, that's very the model they used. For example, anyone familiar with the very first Disney park in the world will instantly be at home here, when you see sights such as Snow White's Grotto, featuring statues of Snow White and each of the seven dwarves around a water feature. Equally, the sight of New Orleans Square and Critter Country as two of the park's themed lands is something that will instantly remind you of California, while the theming of their Toontown is equally very similar to what you'd find in California's Disneyland park.
Equally, huge parts of the park will be very familiar to any Disney fan – and perhaps one of the biggest surprises is the fact that all the signs and the names of the various buildings, restaurants and shops are all written in English. The only places you'll see any Japanese characters are on restaurant menus or perhaps inside the shops themselves and, even then, it will be alongside an English translation.
'm guessing the reason that you don't see any Japanese around each of the lands is because of Disney's complete dedication to getting the theming of their parks right. For example, Frontierland remains a Wild West-style town from the days of the American frontier, as the name suggests. The idea of spying Japanese in here would be ridiculous, and it's the same everywhere else you go.
Having said that, don't imagine that Tokyo Disneyland is just a clone of the other parks around the world. Every version of the Magic Kingdom is very different, offering mainly the same old favorites you find at each park, but also a selection of unique and very different rides. That difference actually starts the minute you enter the park. After passing through the security checks and the initial floral displays, which celebrated the resort's 25th anniversary when we were there, you enter Main Street – undercover! It's a brilliant idea, as it does tend to rain a lot in Japan throughout the year, although finding this section of the park under a roof does take some getting used to and is a bit of a shock when you first see it.
There are no different lands in this park, but there are some anomalies when it comes to the location of some of the various attractions. Here, the Haunted Mansion is located in Fantasyland and it's a very surreal experience to see it looming behind Dumbo the Flying Elephant! I'm not sure it worked for me personally, but it was certainly a unique sight to behold!
Talking of unique sights, I was keen to visit some of those attractions that you won't find anywhere else in the world. One of those was one of the newer attractions, a twist on the familiar Enchanted Tiki Room. This one still features the birds that you know and love from the original version, but it now also stars an animatronic Stitch, who's exceptionally popular in Japan. He's a great addition and breathes new life into this old favorite without destroying the original show too much.
It was here that we came across a great Japanese invention, handheld translator devices, which were an immense help in understanding the show. As the name suggests, they translate everything from Japanese to English and you just hold to them. They were absolutely invaluable every time they were offered to us.
Sadly, one of the other unique attractions here, Pooh's Hunny Hunt, which attracts massive lines from opening until closing, was shut for rehab during our stay, but I do know from my reading that it's meant to be head and shoulders above either of the Pooh rides in the American parks. We also weren't able to sample the new Monsters Inc. ride, which I assume will be similar to the one at the California Adventure, as that opened shortly after we left.
However, we were lucky enough to be one of the last to see the Mickey Mouse Revue, which came here from Walt Disney World when the park opened in 1983. It's now closed for good to make way for Mickey's PhilharMagic, but it was a lot of fun. When it opened, it had the most Audio Animatronic characters ever for a Disney attraction. After a short tour through Mickey's history in Japan, you get to see the Revue itself, a musical show with all the numbers in Japanese – and when that includes Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo, that can be a very surreal experience!
Something else that's very different to any other Disney park – and definitely merits a mention - are the wild flavors of popcorn they have here. Although I'd read about this in the guidebooks, the first time we saw curry popcorn, my eyes nearly popped out of my head. However, we quickly learned not to knock this uniquely Japanese fancy, as chocolate and strawberry popcorn became real winners with us!
It's not just the food that's different here. The characters come out unannounced and just mingle with the crowds. It's only in Japan with their culture of waiting patiently that this approach could ever work, and it was a delight to see. One of the biggest delights was the characters you don't see anywhere else in the world and when we saw all seven dwarves out on parade, I think we had the biggest smiles you've ever seen!
Although Tokyo Disneyland, like so many of the Disney parks around the world, is based on exactly the same concept, it's still got plenty to commend it and it's a park that I'm very glad we got the chance to see. But, as you'll discover in a future newsletter, there was more to come when we headed to the resort's other theme park: Tokyo DisneySea!
Reader Comments (49) - New! Comment on this article
View Article Online | Download Free Article PDF
About the Author: Cheryl and husband Mark live in England and love to travel, particularly to Disney, and they have made numerous visits to destinations across America and Europe. They recently completed their tour of every Disney theme park around the world, which culminated in their visit to Japan, including the Tokyo Disney Resort.
Questions, feedback, or corrections about this article, or just want to give kudos to the author? Share a comment here or e-mail us at news@passporter.com. Also check out our Article Collection for more great information!
|
Did You Know?
ALL Star Vacation Homes -
Hospitality has a new home
Choose from more than 150 private pool vacation homes within 5 miles of Disney World. Game Rooms, Home Theatres, Multiple Master Bedrooms, Computers, Kitchens, and More. All for the same price or less than staying in a hotel! PLUS free heated pool and Disney ticket specials with every reservation!!
Special for PassPorter News readers:http://www.allstarvacationhomes.com/ |
|
Disney Feature:
Tusker House at Disney's Animal Kingdom: A Dining Review
Sue Kulick, PassPorter Featured Columnist
One of the benefits of traveling to Disney sans spouse is that you get to try all the different places that they may not like. My husband, Steve, is a wonderful man, but when it comes to food, he likes it plain and simple. So on my recent solo trip, I decided to check out a few places that he might not be adventurous enough to sample. One of these was Tusker House.
Not all that long ago, Tusker House transitioned from a counter service eatery to a buffet. In my opinion, Animal Kingdom was sorely lacking in food choices, and the addition of Tusker House as a sit down venue could only improve things. Although I had eaten here as a counter service and enjoyed it, I was anxious to see what they now offered.
Our lunch reservation was for 11:30 a.m., the first lunchtime seating. We arrived a bit early, and they were still cleaning up from the breakfast buffet. Tusker House now serves "Donald's Breakfast Buffet," which was originally served at Restaurantosaurus, located in DinoLand. The breakfast, characters and all, moved over here in November of 2007, leaving Restaurantosaurus to go back to its counter service roots.
We checked in at the podium. Despite the beehive activity going on in the buffet area, they allowed us to go in, look around and take some photos. The theming for Tusker House is much the same as it was. You feel as if you are walking into an African market place. The warm, muted colors are evident in the wall art, the ceiling drapes and the décor. Each food service area appears to be in its own individual market stall, leaving you with the impression that you are shopping for fresh goods on a cool summer day! Even the high ceiling conveys that marketplace feel.
Soon, we were seated. The tables are the same as they were, warm wood, heavy chairs and a continuation of the open-air market feeling. Our server, Melissa, was there quickly and took our drink orders. She explained a few things about the buffet, and we were ready to go! I was anxious to see the offerings, and to see if this would be a place that Steve might actually enjoy.
I started at the salad area. There were American favorites, such as Caesar salad and mixed greens. I decided I could get those anytime, so I tried a few of the more exotic dishes; the Tunisian couscous salad and the tomato and cucumber salad with mint and yogurt dressing. The food was fresh and delicious. There was also a selection of breads, including pita, served with several different condiments. These were also very fresh and tasty.
Steve doesn't eat salad, but would have liked the large bread selection. OK, that's one!
Then it was on to the main part of the buffet. They were still bringing a few items out, so that meant…two trips! I started with the salmon and the carved pork loin. My side dish choices were then orzo pasta, couscous, veggies (which were delicious and I found out later, infused with saffron), and mashed potatoes. That was round one! Round two included the sliced sirloin, Basmati rice and some more veggies. Some of the items I didn't try were the rotisserie chicken, seafood stew, and vegetable samosas. All the food was fresh, hot and very good.
Hmmm… Steve would love the carving station, the chicken, the mashed potatoes, and yes, he loves orzo! That's two!
Tusker House also offers a children's buffet. It has the standard children's fare on it, such as macaroni and cheese, corn dog nuggets, and chicken drumsticks. It is in its own station amidst the rest of the buffet. I did score a few corn dog nuggets to balance out my African-themed meal. I did notice a few adventurous children trying some of the adult food, also. It was good to see that this option was available to them, as one complaint from parents at Walt Disney World is that the children's menu at many restaurants is far too limited for their children's tastes. This was a nice mix for both the mac and cheese crowd and the "let's-try-some-of-the-couscous" crowd.
Steve likes mac and cheese, too. That's three!
Finally, it was on to dessert. The dessert station is located in the middle of the serving area, almost as if it was an afterthought. It is set up in a sort of circle pattern, and the desserts are decadent! There was bread pudding, brownies, tarts, mini cheesecakes, chocolate cake...an amazing variety! And of course, being a buffet, you could have as many as you wanted! I came back to the table with my plate piled high!
Steve likes dessert…that is four…and I think we have a winner!
Tusker House was an awesome dining experience. There was plenty of exotic tastes for the adventurous eater, and plenty of American cuisine for the fussier eater to enjoy. This is definitely a return engagement for me, and now that I know what they have, Steve will be joining me. I think he will like it just as much as I did!
Tusker House is in Animal Kingdom, so park admission is required. The cost for lunch is $21.29 for adults and $11.71 for children. Dinner is $28.75 for adults and $13.84 for children. This includes tax and a non-alcoholic standard beverage, but not gratuity. Seasonal pricing may be in effect from 5/24 to 7/12, increasing the cost by a few dollars. Hours are 11:30-3:30 for lunch, and 4:00-5:00 p.m. for dinner. Animal Kingdom closes at 5:00 p.m. most nights. The lunch menu and the dinner menu are essentially the same.
Tusker House is worth a try. You will not be disappointed!
Reader Comments (49) - New! Comment on this article
View Article Online | Download Free Article PDF
About the Author: Sue Kulick is a PassPorter Message Board Guide (rescuesk). She and her husband Steve live in a log home in the Poconos with their dogs Cody and Belle and their cats Tigger, Rocky and Adrian.
Questions, feedback, or corrections about this article, or just want to give kudos to the author? Share a comment here or e-mail us at news@passporter.com. Also check out our Article Collection for more great information!
| |
|
