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PassPorter News Brought to you by PassPorter Guidebooks
 August 25, 2005 * Issue 5.16

In This Newsletter

From the Authors: Greetings From Onboard the Disney Magic in the Pacific Ocean

Travel Feature: Soarin' Over South Africa 

Disney World Feature:  Everyone, Start Your Engines!

Updates: What's New and Changed

Tips: Fabric Finders, Clean Showers, Pass the Popcorn 

Q&A: Cruising with a child under 3?
 
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Updates:
What's New and Changed

Here's a few of the new developments at Disney·

Ariel's Grotto at Disney's California Adventure will be host to the "Disney Princess Celebration" character lunch and dinner beginning on August 16, 2005. Not to be outdone, Minnie Mouse will be hosting a character breakfast over at Disneyland. "Breakfast in the Park with Minnie and Friends" will be held at the Plaza Inn on Main Street U.S.A. Advance Dining Reservations are available up to 60 days in advance by calling 714-781-DINE (3463). 

A list of tentative narrators for this year's Candlelight Processional has been announced:
Rita Moreno - Nov 25-27
Phil Donahue - Nov 28-30
Haley Joel Osment - Dec 1-3
Cicely Tyson - Dec 4-6
Jim Caviezel - Dec 7-9
Eartha Kitt - Dec 10-12
Lou Diamond Phillips - Dec 13-15
Harry Hamlin - Dec 16-18
Marlee Matlin - Dec 19-21
Gary Sinise- Dec 22-27
Steven Curtis Chapman - Dec 28-30

Tickets for the Candlelight Processional Dinner Package go on sale on August 15, 2005 and can be booked by calling 407-WDW-DINE (3463). 

The Disney Magic now has wireless Internet like its sister ship, the Disney Wonder. Hot spots are decks 9 & 10, the atrium on decks 3-5, the Promenade Lounge, and Studio Sea. Pricing is $.75/minute, $55 for 100 minutes, or $105 for 300 minutes. There is no unlimited plan. It is working well, and Guest Services provided a detailed instruction sheet for connecting which was very helpful. And it's thanks to the wireless access that we can send this newsletter, as we're currently onboard the Disney Magic!

You can view our page-by-page list of updates and corrections for the new PassPorter Walt Disney World 2005 Edition at http://www.passporter.com/
customs/bookupdates.htm.

>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:

FABRIC FINDERS
"Before a trip I go to the fabric store and buy a small remnant of oddly colored fabric. I cut this into strips and tie a strip to every piece of luggage, camera bags, purses, backpacks, coolers, etc. Because I choose an unusual colorful designed fabric I can easily spot our items wherever they may be. I bring extra strips with me on our vacation for those extra Disney shopping bags you always have at the end of a trip. If we check into or out of our Disney resort and store our luggage while enjoying the park for a few more hours we can always tell the Cast Member that our luggage and bags are the ones with the strips of "pink material with green balloons" on it, or whatever the design maybe."
-- contributed by Beverly Goff (figmentfan@...) 

CLEAN SHOWERS 
"I'm not a total nut about germs but every time I get in a shower in a hotel I think about the cleanliness of the shower curtains. That's when it occurred to me -- before my next trip I went to the local dollar store and bought a shower curtain liner and hooks. They pack neatly in my suitcase and don't weigh much. Now when I take a shower in my hotel I know I have a clean shower curtain and because it only cost $1 I can throw it away the day we pack up to leave."
-- contributed by Ella (elizaberry33@...) 

PASS THE POPCORN
"When we went to the parks last year, we splurged for the popcorn in the plastic containers instead of the disposable boxes. This cost a few extra dollars, but I kept them, brought them home and cleaned them. Now when we have movie night at home, we pop our microwave popcorn and serve it in our Disney World containers! It really is a trip down memory lane for us!"
-- contributed by Leanne P. (leanne@...)

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




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Q & A:
With Jennifer and Dave

jacq78 asked: "My question is for anyone that has gone on a Disney Cruise with a child under three. (My nephew will be 2 at our travel date.) It seems to me that all activities are for children 3 and older. Will he and his parents be able to really enjoy themselves? Is it better to wait until he is 3 or just go ahead and have the cruise? Will they be able to participate in many activities?"

Jennifer and Dave answer: "We've already cruised three times with our son (who has just turned one) -- in fact, we're cruising with him right now (we're on the Magic's 2-week Panama Canal itinerary). While it's certainly a different experience than we have when we cruise as a couple, it works very well. We've also cruised several times with relatives who had toddlers at the time, and find their experiences to be consistent with our own.

One of the benefits of the Disney cruise is that the infants and toddlers nursery (Flounder's Reef) actually operates for a substantial part of the day and evening (typically noon to 4 pm and 6 pm to midnight), and it has a full-time staff of infant/toddler specialists. On other cruise lines you may find that their nursery is only open for limited hours, and may be staffed by part-timers from other departments. For example, on our recent Carnival Glory cruise, nursery services were only available from 10:00pm to 3:00am, after regular "Camp Carnival" activities were over for the day. The Camp Carnival counselors gave us a clear message, "We want your kid to be sleeping when you bring him here."

While it's true that you can only make a limited number of Flounder's Reef reservations in advance, they keep a lot of space open for spur-of-the-moment childcare, too. I can't promise that they'll always have space, but we've been able to work with the times they have available.

Disney's philosophy behind care for toddlers and infants is pretty sound. There are lots of family-friendly activities on board, so there's little problem if parents never use the nursery. However, it doesn't make much sense to create many activities specifically for families with children under three (although there are sometimes a few on the schedule) - kids of this age develop and change so quickly that few kids would be at the right stage to enjoy a particular activity. This is also an age when it's more appropriate for children to play with their parents than with other children.

Also, parents with children in this age group aren't always ready to let go. Back in December when Alexander was four months, his Flounders Reef experience was the first time someone other than a relative had watched him. Jennifer was more than a little apprehensive about leaving Alexander at Flounders. I ended-up slipping down to Flounder's on a pretext ("Did we leave enough diapers?") so that I could peek in and report back to Jennifer to set her at ease.

Overall, if parents with infants/toddlers are planning to cruise on any line, Disney should be at the top of their list. And if parents want a lot of "grownup time" while cruising, they should consider traveling with some family/friends who are willing to take a turn watching the baby, or leave the baby home with grandma and grandpa. However, if they want a "family cruise," I can't imagine having a more magical time than on Disney." 

>Have a question? Post it at 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?

We're on the lookout for guest columnists to contribute articles to this newsletter. No professional writing experience 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 details and our article submission guidelines, please e-mail news@passporter.com. Articles about Disney and general travel are welcomed! 

 


From the Authors: Greetings From Onboard the Disney Magic in the Pacific Ocean

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

Excuse us while we put down the Mickey bars we just received from stateroom dining and let us send you warm greetings from the Disney Magic on its voyage from California to Florida through the Panama Canal! Yes, that's right, this newsletter is hot off the wireless Internet onboard the Disney Magic and we're having the time of our lives! If you'd like to read more about our experiences onboard this historic cruise (we've heard a rumor Roy Disney got onboard yesterday in Acapulco), you can read our live trip report at:
http://www.passporter.com/panamacanalcruise

Back on the homefront, the release on our new Special Needs guidebook is going wonderfully! The book has gotten warm welcomes from folks around the Internet, a rave review from Bob Sehlinger (author of "The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World"), and a very high Amazon sales ranking! The guidebook, "PassPorter's Walt Disney World For Your Special Needs," is in stock in the PassPorter Store and with Amazon.com. Bookstores will probably need another week or two to get it in stock.

In this edition of the newsletter, Michelle Mangio gives us a stunning look into the exotic country of South Africa, and Jacque Boyles shares her adventures on the Richard Petty Driving Experience. Excellent articles... and great for those armchair travelers among us. Enjoy!

Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter Travel Press

 


 
 


Did You Know? All PassPorters Ship Next Day!

The 2005 editions of all our PassPorter guidebooks are now in stock and shipping: PassPorter Walt Disney World 2005, PassPorter's Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line 3rd Edition, and PassPorter's Walt Disney World For Your Special Needs are now shipping next business day when ordered by 8:00 pm ET the night before. (We should note, however, that we're down to the last couple hundred copies of our PassPorter WDW 2005 edition, but we just re-stocked on our Disney Cruise Line edition because the first printing sold out in just two months!) If you've been waiting to order your copy, now is the perfect time!

Everyone gets a 15% discount and if you've already got a copy of PassPorter, you can register it to get a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of any PassPorter guidebook.

Order your copy today at:
http://www.passporterstore.com/store


Travel Feature:

Soarin' Over South Africa
By Michelle R. Mangio, owner of Magical Escapes Vacations and a "Fundi" South Africa Expert

Imagine for a moment... you are winding down a road that seems removed from the rest of civilization, twisting among low-lying trees and vegetation until -- suddenly -- the Lodge appears before you, thick thatched roof and dark wooden timbers over a welcoming entrance. You step inside to see a glimpse of African luxury and décor. Across from you, you can see the savannah through the huge window, and the fire pit where you are asked to gather at night to tell stories, enjoy the stars, and immerse yourself in the experience of the African safari. But first you are taken to your room, where windows and balconies overlook the grasslands. You can barely contain your squeal of delight as a giraffe lifts its head up and seems to look right at you.

Where are you? For most of us, this would be your entrance to Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge in Walt Disney World, a deluxe resort designed to transport the experience of an African safari lodge to sunny Florida. But what you were really experiencing was your first moments on a safari in Kruger National Park, located deep in the heart of South Africa.

For most Americans, Africa is synonymous with Safari. Whenever I think of that destination, my mind conjures up images of wind-swept grasslands where lions lounge, elephants and giraffes graze, and a cheetah dashes by on a high-speed chase after a zebra. And while no South African experience would be complete without a Safari, there is much more to this amazing destination.

So close your eyes for a moment and imagine (okay, read all of this first, and then close your eyes and imagine...)

We'll start with Kruger National Park, a vast stretch of wilderness larger than the country of Israel, home to the largest diversity of wildlife in all of Africa: more than 640 mammal and bird species, and over 300 different types of trees. Luxurious private reserves surround its borders, offering game lodges reminiscent of Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge with one notable exception: small size, often limiting its clientele to no more than 20 guests at a time. Under a brilliant star-filled sky, you gather for a barbecue, tell stories, sing songs, and then embark on a night game drive led by experienced guides.

You continue on, soaring over Blyde River Canyon, the only green canyon in the world. You stop for a moment to gaze out over "God's Window," arguably the worlds most breathtaking view as you look over a series of canyons, escarpments, mountains, and the interior plateau stretching out endlessly before you.

Onward you go, to the capital of Johannesburg, an amazingly energetic city of great shopping, fine dining, and night life that continues well on into the day. But it's also a city steeped in history, with roots to the Apartheid movement, the birthplace of Nelson Mandela, and the World Heritage site "The Cradle of Mankind," where you can view the fossilized remains of the man-like creatures from which human beings evolved. 

You find yourself next on the pristine beaches of the warm Indian Ocean. The eclectic city of Durban provides a little bit of something for everyone, and is also home to the largest aquarium in the southern hemisphere, Ushaka Sea World. Enjoy the diversity of world cultures in this city through its architecture, dining, shopping, and arts, or lounge on one of the many pristine Blue Flagged beaches in the area. Along the way to your next destination, stop at the "living museum" of PheZulu, where you can experience Zulu culture, including traditional cooking, thatching, spear making, and dancing.

Now you zip across to the other side of South Africa, to the cooler Atlantic coast. The Garden Route takes you from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town, where your imagination is captured by tangled forests fading into purple mountains, dramatic cliffs that tumble into the sea followed by long stretches of sandy beaches. In sheltered coves, you can even watch dolphins and whales at play. In the small towns dotting the region, you can choose from a dizzying array of adventure activities, art galleries & museums, and craft centers.

Southward your grand adventure takes you, to the "Mother City," Cape Town, ranked as one of the top destinations of the world. This amazing and lively city will capture your heart and soul with all it has to offer: culture, wine & vineyards, breath-taking scenery, pristine beaches, leisure activities of all sorts. Whether your desire is to stay in a country inn or spa nestled among the vineyards, take a trek into the national parks to view a waterfall, or soak up the culture, dining, and shopping of an energetic South African city, Cape Town and its environs has it all.

Now you can close your eyes, and picture all that we just saw. Are you ready to escape away to Africa now? Would you believe that this is only the tiniest fraction of what South Africa can offer?

It's an ideal location, in a sub-tropical climate nestled between the warm Indian Ocean and the cooler Atlantic. This Mediterranean-style climate, coupled with its large area and varied landscape, ensures that South Africa always has an area that is reliably warm (without being too sweltering) for your vacation. The best time to visit South Africa very much depends on what you wish to do while there. For example, the best safari season is August to October, while viewing humpback whales is best August to December. If you enjoy scuba diving or surfing, visit April to September, but December to March is best for beach combing on one of South Africa's many pristine beaches.

Because of the enormous size of South Africa, as well as the varied destinations and activities available, working with a South African Expert is the best way to ensure that your vacation matches your dreams. On South Africa Tourism's web site, you can search for a "Fundi," an expert on South Africa certified by their tourism board. There are only about forty-six experts currently in the U.S., but you can be certain that by working with one of them, your vacation will be more than you imagined it could be.

It is a long flight to Johannesburg or Cape Town; nearly 18 hours direct from the US. Many travelers fly first to Europe, for a brief sojourn before departing on an overnight flight to South Africa. You want to stay at least a week, though many packages offered to the region are ten to fourteen days in length.

South Africa is an exciting and hot destination. While certainly more expensive than a trip down to the Animal Kingdom Lodge in Florida, as this destination grows in popularity, the costs of a South African getaway are also coming down. And there are activities and accommodations for all budgets available.

The next time you walk into Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, imagine what it would be like to step into a real safari lodge, deep in the heart of South Africa. It may have seemed an impossible dream, but it's no longer so far out of reach; this amazing destination offers 360 degrees of possibilities for your vacation dreams.

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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 travel plans.




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Walt Disney World Feature:

Everyone - Start Your Engines!
by Jacque Boyles, Guest Columnist 

I have been a NASCAR fan for nearly 30 years. So when I read about Richard Petty Driving Experience, or RPDE, at Walt Disney World Speedway I knew I had to try it. RPDE puts you in a NASCAR "Cup" style stock car, either as a passenger or behind the wheel.  I love to drive, so I called 1-800-BE-PETTY and made a reservation for the 8 lap "Rookie Experience."

As I drove through the tunnel to the Speedway infield, I got goose bumps thinking that this was how real race drivers get to the track. At RPDE everyone knew how nervous this "Rookie" was and they put me at ease. There was the usual waiver, but it was carefully explained so I was comfortable signing it. I was fitted for a fire suit to wear over my clothes (they have all sizes!). Since it gets hot in the car and I'd be crawling in and out of the window, I wore my favorite NASCAR t-shirt and shorts. Because the floor in the car gets hot, I wore sneakers and socks to protect my feet. While I waited for the driver's orientation, I read the inscriptions on photos of celebrities who have done RPDE at WDW. My favorite was Michael J. Fox, whose picture said "Sorry about the car!"   

I watched a safety and orientation film and then was introduced to the instructor, a licensed NASCAR driver. Next there's a van ride around the track to see the "driving line" marks on the pavement. The instructor told me I would be in my own car with him in a car on the track in front of me. The first couple of laps he'd evaluate my driving ability, slowly increasing the speed. If he felt that I was capable of handling it, I could go as fast as 145 mph! He explained the colored instructional flags I'd see from the starter's stand, his hand signals and what to do when I saw them. Then he told me I couldn't pass him -- well, darn! How about a little bump draft? That's not allowed either.

Finally, there on pit road, my machine waited, a 600 HP stock car painted Petty blue and red. I was fitted for a helmet and it was time for someone to get in the car. This was one time when I heard "Ladies first" that I didn't argue. Professional drivers make getting in and out of a stock car look so easy. I just wanted to do it without falling on my head or looking completely ridiculous. Well, I didn't fall on my head and my boyfriend said that I looked "cute." It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I'm vertically challenged, so the worst part for me was getting my rear up to the windowsill -- after that I got through the window feet first and settled into the seat. At this point the steering wheel isn't installed and the seat is set up for someone in the 6' range, so I had plenty of room for maneuvering. One of the RPDE pit crew was there to assist, but thankfully I didn't have to call on him. The pit crew guy helped me get everything adjusted. These stock cars have a standard shift transmission, so I had to be able work the clutch properly, and it would help if I could see out the windshield! The pit crew had plenty of cushions and they got me comfortable in the car.    

Safety is very important in racing, so the pit crew went over all the safety equipment. I sincerely hoped I wouldn't need to remember how to do any of these things, but it was comforting having it all explained. They made sure my harness was securely buckled and that I knew how to unbuckle it in the unlikely event that I needed to get out in a hurry. They showed me the engine kill switch, how to drop the safety net over the driver's window, how to disconnect and remove the steering wheel and how to set off the fire extinguisher bottle

Helmet on, safety harness buckled and tight, window net up and latched. Lady, start your engine! I hit those toggle switches, the engine roared to life and I felt that raw power running through me. I had a few seconds to get used to this feeling and it was time to roll out of the pits. I put it in first gear, slowly let out the clutch as I gave it some gas (I didn't want to stall) and I was moving off pit road and on to the track

Walt Disney World Speedway is a one mile long track. During the van ride, it seemed huge and almost overwhelming. When I started coming up to speed, the track got small in a hurry and those corners came up pretty fast. Going in to the third turn on the second lap, I felt this huge smile breakout on my face -- this was more fun than Test Track and Tower of Terror combined! The instructor waved me to come up and we picked up speed and he kept waving me up and picking up speed, I was hitting my marks, and I felt like I was flying.  

All too soon, that checkered flag waved and I had gone back to the pit. The pit crewman patted me on the helmet and shoulder and told me I did great. Then I managed to get out of the car without falling on my head. My boyfriend said when I turned around I had a smile on my face like he had never seen, and I was yelling that I wanted to do it again! The instructor shook my hand and told me I did great, and then we went to the pit box to see the telemetry from the drive.  My fastest average lap speed was 125! The RPDE crew all congratulated me and gave me a certificate with my top lap speed on it.  

I wanted to do it again. I didn't have enough money for another 8 laps, but I had enough for the 3 lap Ride Along. I signed up and I got a discount because I had done the 8 laps. I buckled in, the driver climbed in, shook my hand, buckled in, fired up the car, put it in gear, let out the clutch and I was slammed back in the seat! We must have hit 145 by end of the back straight. And I know we were only millimeters from the wall! Okay, it was probably inches - maybe 10, but it looked like 6 and felt like 1. The driver kept looking to see if I was okay and I know I was grinning like a crazy woman.   

I've done some neat things at Walt Disney World since 1971, but this was, by far, the coolest! If you're looking for a new thrill, try the fastest ride at Walt Disney World, Richard Petty Driving Experience at the Speedway. You don't have to be young (I'm 50-ish), and you don't have to be big and strong (I'm only 5' tall), and you obviously don't have to be a guy. If you're not sure about spending money on driving, try the Ride-Along first. One of my friends did and now she's saving money to do the Rookie Experience. Ladies, don't let the men have all the fun! Everybody -- Start Your Engines!

To book the Richard Petty Driving Experience, call 800-BE-PETTY (237-3889). Check out http://www.1800bepetty.com for more information.

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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 planning your Disney vacation.


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