From the Authors:Weathering the Storm

Travel Feature: Travel Challenges Only a Parent Could Love: Flying with Children

Disney Feature: Travels with Charley

Updates: What's New and Changed

Tips: First Aid Kit, Safety Tips for Kids, Parking Place Reminder 

Q&A: Disney Cruise Line excursions for a 5 year old

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Updates:
What's New and Changed

Here’s a few of the new developments at Disney…

A list of Candlelight Processional Narrators has been announced. There are three shows every evening at 5:00pm, 6:45pm and 8:15pm from November 26 to December 30, 2004. The tentative list of 2004 Narrators is:
Rita Moreno (Nov 26-28)
Heather Headley (Nov 29 - Dec 1)
Kirk Franklin (Dec 2-4)
Jim Caviezel (Dec 5-7)
Marlee Matlin/Jack Jason (Dec 8-10)
Joshua Morrow (Dec 11-13)
Hal Holbrook (Dec 14-16)
Steven Curtis Chapman (Dec 17-19)
Edward James Olmos (Dec 20-22)
Gary Sinise (Dec 23-28)
LeVar Burton (Dec 29-30) 

Prices and Restaurants have also been announced for the Candlelight Processional Dinner Package, which includes dinner at certain Epcot restaurants and reserved seating at America Gardens Theater. (The package is not available for the December 5, 2004 5pm show.) This year there are three levels of pricing for this package:
Tier 1: Adults - $28.99 / Child (3-11) - $11.99
 - The Garden Grill Restaurant (The Land)
 - Biergarten (Germany)
 - Restaurant Akershus (Norway)
Tier 2: Adults - $37.99 / Child (3-11) - $11.99
 - San Angel Inn (Mexico) 
 - Restaurant Marrakesh (Morocco)
 - Nine Dragons (China)
 - Rose & Crown Pub and Dining Room (United Kingdom)
Tier 3: Adults - $44.99 / Child (3-11) - $11.99
 - Chefs de France (France)
 - Coral Reef (Living Seas)
 - L’Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante (Italy)
 - Le Cellier Steakhouse (Canada)
 - Mitsukoshi Teppanyaki Dining Room (Japan)
Prices do not include sales tax but DO include gratuity. Priority Seatings can be made by calling (407) WDW-DINE. 

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

Goodie Bags
“I create goodie bags 'from Tinker Bell' before we leave home. During our trip Tinker Bell delivers the gift bags each morning to the children. The bag also includes a letter from the character the children will be dining with that day, and tells them which park they will be visiting.” -- contributed by Kelli Wallace (jkmwallace@...)

Keep The Fluids Flowing
“Since the water at Disney does not taste very good, take along small packets of flavored drink mixes (i.e. Gatorade, Kool-Aid, etc.). It helps keep the fluids flowing.” -- contributed by Dawn H. 

Packing For Your Preschooler
“When traveling with preschoolers, here's a good way to be quick in the morning and get to the park on time.  Take some large zip-lock bags and put an outfit in each one.  Then squeeze the air out and pack enough bags for each day plus a couple of extras.  That way, each morning, your preschooler can choose which outfit to wear without you digging through the suitcase.  Because you're squished all the air out, they pack really easily as well. And dirty clothes can be put back in their bag and marked with an X, ready to take to the resort laundry or home.  This tip keeps my suitcase neat and my preschooler happy and dressed quickly.” -- contributed by Beth N. 
 

>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

Well, Jennifer has been a bit busy with Baby Alexander recently, so she has an excuse for not answering questions lately (Dave will get to his in a minute). Instead of Jennifer’s wisdom, and just for fun, we though we’d point you to a delightful topic at the PassPorter Posts message board. (If you’ve wondered whether you’re the only person who is obsessively protective of your PassPorter, click that link!)

Kelly6320 asks: “What excursions on a Disney Cruise are good for a 5 year old?”

Dave answers: “There are minimum ages posted for most excursions, especially those that are more physically active (snorkeling, sailing, etc.). When you eliminate those that don't permit 5 year-olds, you'll find that mostly sightseeing and beach excursions remain. Beach excursions tend to be the most popular with the little ones. What do they care about architecture, local cultures, shopping or attractive scenery? Still, some sightseeing tours are suitable for little ones - sea life, wildlife, and gardens among them - you'll know what works best for your child. I'd suggest you avoid any sightseeing tours that run more than a couple of hours, unless they're coupled with a visit to a beach.”

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 Get Published? We're on the lookout for guest columnists to contribute articles to this newsletter. 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 guidelines, please e-mail news@passporter.com. Articles about Disney and general travel are welcomed!

Get a 25% discount off the list price of either a Disney Cruise guide and/or a Walt Disney World guide (paperback/spiral/refill kit/deluxe kit). Just use discount code DCLWDW during checkout in our online store! (One discount/coupon per order. Offer expires on August 12.)

To order your copies, visit:
http://www.passporterstore.com/store/

Travel Challenges Only a Parent Could Love: Flying with Children
(Part 2 of a 2-part series)

by Christina Holland-Radvon
Guest Columnist, PassPorter Message Board Guide, and MouseEarVacations.com Travel Consultant

[This is the second in a two-part series on traveling with children. The first part of this article appearing in our previous newsletter, issue 4.10, which you can read at http://www.passporter.com/news.htm ]

Driving

Driving is my specialty. It also happens to be our family’s preferred method of travel. Many of the tips for flying (PassPorter News, 8/26/04) can be applied to driving long distances with kids. The important thing to remember is that your kids are not always going to want to sit in the car for 12 hours straight just because it will get them to Disney 6 hours faster. Breaks are an absolute necessity. A ten to fifteen minute break every hour to hour and a half during the day is a great and reasonable way to keep everyone happy. It does have the unfortunate side effect of taking 2 lifetimes to get to your destination, however.

My husband, Walter, my son, Donovan, and I prefer traveling at night. My husband, as the primary long-haul driver, naps the afternoon before we leave while Donovan and I run last minute errands and go to the park to really wear him out so he’ll fall like a log and sleep like the dead when we pack up the car and start our drive that night at 10:00. In his car seat with a towel propped under the front of the seat to recline him slightly, he’ll sleep a good 8 to 10 hours with no need for a break (and so will Mommy). When we drive to Disney World, we like to stop half way between our home in the Poconos and Orlando in a quiet little town in South Carolina to visit with family. It takes about 12 hours to get there with 3 potty breaks. We spend the day with them, have a long nap while Donovan plays with his great aunt and uncle, then get back on the road late that evening to finish the drive to Orlando (another 8 hours or so). All we’ve done is apply the fly during naptime tip to driving while he sleeps.

Snacks in the car are pretty crucial; especially if you have a husband like mine who doesn’t stop unless he needs to use the restroom or someone is visibly bleeding or has a broken bone that is poking through the skin. Packing a lightweight collapsible cooler can save you tons of money and time. Remember to pack things like juice boxes, small cartons of low fat milk (the lower fat content will make the milk last longer in the cooler), fruit that doesn’t need to be peeled with anything more than fingers - like apples and bananas (avoid choking hazards such as grapes), yogurt or pudding cups with spoons, cream cheese and a plastic knife for spreading, water bottles, or string cheese or cheese cubes. Bring along a small tote bag with snacks like crackers, pretzels, dry cereal, muffins, granola bars, Pop Tarts, Fruit Roll Ups, or mini bagels. And be sure to pack a small plastic bag for trash to keep the backseat clean!

Are We There Yet?!

Yes and thank goodness. Now the fun can begin, right? Wrong! Well, not wrong, but do you have everything you need? Your basic emergency first aid kit, diapers, diaper bag, formula, stroller, baby sling? There’s a lot to bring and a lot to remember!

So let’s start with the basics. You’ll need a stroller. The ones with a parent cup holder and a child snack tray/cup holder are going to be the most comfy for your child and the easiest for you to push with the high push bar and the large storage basket underneath. Umbrella strollers are great if your hotel is a five-minute walk from the park you’ll be spending most of your time at, but if you have to drive back to your hotel or take a bus, you’re going to want to carry more than the barest essentials with you and you’ll need storage space and good sturdy wheels for that. The larger strollers also provide more shade with a little awning to help protect your baby’s sensitive skin from the Florida sun. 

That brings us to our next essential item -- sun block. In the southern U.S. and Caribbean, anything less than SPF 25 is a waste of time for active children who will wear away that sun block in less than two hours of running, playing, and hugging oversized mice. Do yourself a favor and get the Water Babies or Waterproof Coppertone Sport sun blocks. Both have high SPF ratings and are easy to apply with their spray bottles.

Drinks are probably the most essential item you’ll need. Water bottles are great for adults, but kids have a hard time drinking from the tops of those same water bottles. You have several options. Bring along a bottle just for water if you formula-feed. If it’s between feeding times, you can always offer the extra water to keep your child hydrated. 

For nursing babies, take a break, sit down or seek out the baby care center in the park and nurse often -- at least every hour to keep your baby hydrated. Many amusement parks now offer these wonderfully cool areas for nursing privately and changing diapers. The private nursing rooms often include a rocking chair or glider with a footstool or a recliner and most also have a changing table. There is usually a night light in the room so you can turn off the overhead light if your baby needs some quiet down time to nurse and rest in your arms. These baby care centers are a wonderful respite from the park, but be careful! I have been known to doze off in the glider while my son was nursing. My husband had to come looking for me! If you have older children, there is usually a playroom to occupy them, but dad may or may not be able to come in to watch over the older child in the play area. Ask the baby care center attendant when you enter. Your time with baby could be an excellent time for dad to spend alone with an older child doing a more daring ride or a loud show that you would avoid with an infant. If you have a baby sling, this is even easier. You can nurse discreetly and easily while you wait in line, watch an older child on a ride with Dad, or while you walk through the park, mall, or in a restaurant.

If you’re a new nursing mom, you’ll want to decide before your trip whether or not you’re comfortable breastfeeding in public and either learn how to do so discreetly and confidently or pump your milk and bring bottles. Pumping and bringing bottles tends to be more work because you still have to pump every couple of hours during the day to keep up your milk supply. That means at least two, but as many as four or five trips to the baby care center anyway to pump. Nursing at the baby care center will probably be easier and you don’t have to bring all the extra equipment -- including that big old electric breast pump-in-a-bag. As a nursing mom, you also need to remember to drink lots of water -- a half ounce for every pound that you weigh plus an extra 20 or 30 ounces to make up for the milk you’re making for your baby. Also, avoid caffeine and sugar -- they act as diuretics. Baby should be drinking about 20-30 ounces of breastmilk a day. The best way to determine if baby is getting enough milk is to count the number of wet diapers he has. If he has 6 wet disposable diapers or 8 wet cloth diapers, he’s getting plenty of milk.

For older children, ask them often if they are thirsty. Offer water to them whenever you stop to check the map or get off of a ride. A combination spray bottle/hand-held fan is a popular and fun cooling option for children who get cranky and crabby in the sun and heat or just while waiting in line.

Kids need naps and so do you. If at all possible, do your park touring, shopping, or sight-seeing in the early morning or late afternoon. The mid-day sun can be brutal. Take a break back at your hotel ? a nap for the kids, a cool drink for you, and a little time for you to repack the cooler with cold drinks, ice cubes, and hand towels to use for a quick cool down on someone’s forehead or neck.

Last and this is really the most important thing for any family to remember when traveling: Don’t let yourself become exhausted. If you’re feeling tired and warm, it’s time to rest. Don’t keep pushing just because you want to do and see it all. Pace yourself. Seeing everything is not as important as enjoying yourself and your family time on vacation. After all, there’s always next year!
 

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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 travel with children.

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Travels with (Hurricane) Charley

by Kenneth Morrison
Guest Columnist and Hurricane Survivor

We started planning in January for our August family trip to Walt Disney World, staying at Saratoga Springs Resort. We knew the vacation would occur during the severest parts of hurricane season, which begins June 1 and ends November 30. Before the trip, we briefly read that the National Hurricane Center (NHC) predicted six to eight hurricanes, and two to four major storms for the season. We had not thought much about hurricanes hitting us while on vacation. Perhaps we would see rain from a tropical depression or storm, but we thought a hurricane encounter was unlikely. Besides, I checked the NHC website before leaving and read about the next tropical wave then near Africa. It was predicted to pass harmlessly in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

The trip began mostly as planned, with extraordinary rainfall on Saturday and Sunday. We knew heavy rains were typical for August, and we were sure to watch the weather each night to plan effectively for the next day at the Disney parks. Each night the news focused more time on tropical storm Charley, which had not passed harmlessly through the Atlantic after all.

We paid little attention to Charley’s forecast until Wednesday morning, when the NHC announced Charley was a hurricane and likely to hit Florida. We passed this off, knowing hurricanes were unpredictable. Wednesday was an off day from the parks, and we took this time to journey to other resorts, scouting for future trips. We went to the Wilderness Lodge, and walked through this well themed resort area imagining we were at one of the great lodges of the Northwest United States. While walking by Trout Pass Pool Bar, a television tuned to the Weather Channel caught our attention. The forecaster said Charley strengthened, and was heading towards Florida. The information was surreal in the Disney environment, slowing our pace as we dissolved from fantasy to the seriousness of the situation. We drove back to Saratoga Springs, prepared for bed, and watched the local weather. The new forecast showed Charley was likely to hit Tampa as a hurricane, and travel through Central Florida on Friday evening. Without much comment, we got in bed and closed our eyes. However, Charley clouded our dreams.

Waking at 7:00 am on Thursday, we decided to change our park itinerary and dining plans. It was likely Charley would affect Walt Disney World’s Friday schedules. Instead of visiting two parks over two days, we decided to visit Magic Kingdom and Epcot in one day. We arrived at Magic Kingdom about 9am, and visited as many attractions as we could. The park was not crowded and we moved quickly. While my wife and daughters rode Cinderella’s Carousel, I called Disney Dining. A friendly Cast Member handled all my dining change requests easily. When riding the Walt Disney World Railroad a cast member noted the swamp on the left of our track. Disney was draining the water there and at various reservoirs in the World, in preparation for potential flooding from Charley. Although this was the first we heard of Disney’s preparation for Charley, it became apparent it was just a fraction of the effort. That night we returned to Saratoga Springs, and again watched Charley coverage on the news (the only local programming available). The storm had strengthened, and the center was aiming for Disney. We ended the day very tired, having accomplished much, yet worrying what the next day would bring.

We woke around 8:30 am Friday, and noticed the orange voice mail light on our phone. I listened to messages saying the resort was carefully following the track of the storm. In response to the storm, all Disney parks would open at 8am and close at 1:00 pm for resort guests, with the exception of Animal Kingdom and Typhoon Lagoon, which would be closed all day. Disney also closed Downtown Disney for the day. Disney would credit day tickets for resort Guests, following their visit to the parks that day. The resort would provide further communication later if conditions changed. Instead of going to the parks again, we decided to shop off-site, staying close to the resort.

Outside it was sunny, and the air very heavy. We saw preparation for the storm throughout Saratoga Springs. Construction workers busily removed building materials that might become missiles in the high wind, and removed green chain-link fence screens permitting wind to move through freely. They also dismantled cranes and tethered them to the ground. Trashcans were stowed, and lounge chairs stacked and tied to poles. We drove off of Disney World property, and found the traffic outside was very heavy from vacationers and residents rushing to get food and supplies before the storm. Gasoline stations outside of Disney charged customers an extra 40 cents per gallon. After shopping, we returned to the resort and found two loaded flashlights supplied by the resort.

Charley’s first storm band hit us about 2:00 pm. Heavy rains and wind lasted about ten minutes before subsiding. After the storm, we walked to Artist Palette to get lunch and snacks to last through the storm. When asked if the store and eatery would be open later, a Cast Member hesitantly said Disney might close some resort areas to keep guests in their rooms. High Rock Springs Pool was already closed and the resort began to look deserted from the outside. To our surprise, Mickey Mouse, Eeyore, Mary Poppins, Meeko, and Meg from Hercules appeared in the Carriage House to calm Guests and play Goofy Bingo with the children. We returned to our room and found an urgent message the resort slipped under the door with the following important instructions:

- Keep away from the windows and stay on the far side of the room.
- Keep connecting room doors open during periods when privacy is not necessary.
- Do not double lock doors.
- Bring in patio furniture, and leave drapes or blinds closed.
- Do not leave room until notified.

The words cemented the seriousness of the situation.

Charley arrived about 6:00 pm, and gained strength the next few hours. Wind whistled, and rain pounding against the outside door. We watched some of the cartoons Disney provided on resort TV, and often skipped to the local channels showing continuous Doppler radar. Power remained on, except for a couple of short outages. Around 8:30 pm, Doppler radar showed rotation (a possibility of tornado) near Kissimee/St. Cloud, heading away from us to the northeast. Looking out the window, we saw two teenagers running through the grounds in their swim trunks (what were they thinking?). As the storm gained in force we felt the building shimmer slightly, and we moved to the center of the room. Charley’s eye passed over the Disney area around 9:00 pm with sustained winds between 70 to 90 mph. Soon, the wind and rain stopped, and we looked out to see very little damage throughout the resort. We briefly called to tell relatives we were fine and packed for our flight home the next day. Charley moved through the area quickly, and soon we were out of harms way.

Traveling with Charley taught me a few things about trip planning: 

- Encountering a hurricane in the summer while on vacation is unlikely, but possible. Change itineraries when necessary, and watch the weather forecasts throughout your trip. Hurricane forecasting has improved but storms are still unpredictable. 
- Make sure prescription medicines are close, in case you must move or quickly. 
- The resorts have your safety in mind, so it is important to follow their instructions. Although it may be adventurous to walk around outside, doing so could be dangerous. 
- Hurricanes greatly affect air travel. Storms in remote cities could have cascading effects hundreds of miles away. Plan for the worst, and hope for the best.
- If you rent a car, make sure you fill the tank before the storm. It may be difficult getting gas, or you might pay high prices immediately before the storm hits. Getting gas after the storm may be impossible.
- If you have friends or kennels tending to your pets, make sure you inform them of arrival delays. 
- Have one or two family contacts to notify before and after the storm to let them know you are safe, and your location. Do this so they will not worry about you.

Finally, one should marvel at the condition of the Walt Disney World Resort after Charley. Charley inflicted much more damage outside of Walt Disney World, making it obvious Disney’s efforts reduced problems from Charley. Excellent construction techniques reduced or eliminated damage from the storm. We saw a notice on the local TV news that said Walt Disney World employees needed to report the morning following the storm. The fact that most did report, even when they had damage at their own homes, was an amazing testimony to the dedication these people have to guests. I am very appreciative for their dedication and efforts to keep us safe and protected during the storm. The efforts of The Walt Disney Company were exemplary.

(Editor’s Note: For a more in depth article on Ken’s trip during Hurricane Charley, check out http://www.passporterboards.com)

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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 traveling during bad weather.