For a text-only version of this newsletter, visit http://www.passporter.com/news/091108text.htm. 
PassPorter News Brought to you by PassPorter Guidebooks
September 11, 2008 * Issue 8.37

In This Newsletter 

From the Authors: The Return of Free Shipping

Travel Feature: Cedar Point

Disney Feature: Should We Take Our Children Out of School For A Trip to Disney?

Updates: What's New and Changed

Tips: California Adventure Cuisine, Misting Fan Favorites, Lose That Luggage

Captain's Corner: On Chip & Dale's Level

PassPorter PhotoPick: Goofy Has His Head in the Clouds

Q and A: How is Afternoon Tea at the Grand Floridian?

Our Sponsors: We Recommend...
   
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Updates:
What's New and Changed

Here are a few items of relevant news:

The Disney Dining Experience's name changes to Tables in Wonderland, effective September 15, 2008. Disney says the name change is to reduce confusion with other dining "privileges" which bear a similar name (probably the Disney Dining Plan, if we were to guess). The new name does not change any of the current benefits and cardholders may continue to use their current card until it expires, whereupon the new card (if renewed) will reflect the new name.

The Disney Magic is in dry dock right now and will be receiving some exciting enhancements. Quiet Cove, the adult only area on Deck 9, will receive upgrades to Cove Cafe (new seating), the pool area (new waterfalls from the two hot tubs), and the deck area (new teak lounge and deck chairs). The Oceaneer's Club and Oceaneer's Lab will be getting new registration areas that will make check-in more efficient. "Mickey's Splash Zone," a new toddler water playground will be added to the Mickey Pool on Deck 9. It will feature interactive fountains and soft play surface and splash zones for children not yet toilet-trained. The staterooms are receiving 22-inch, flat-screen LCD television sets, which will be mounted on a swivel arm to allow viewing from multiple locations within the stateroom.

Walt Disney World Dining is now accepting Advanced Dining Reservations for January 16 - February 22, 2009. (As we reported in the July 10, 2008 issue, Disney was not accepting reservations past January 15, 2009 in order to implement a new reservation system. No word on the status of the new system.)

Ticket prices for Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba at Downtown Disney will increase as of October 7, 2008. The new prices are:

Category: Front and Center

Adult (Ages 10 & Up) - $117.00 plus tax
Child (Ages 3-9) - $94.00 plus tax

Category 1:  Premium seating sections located center area of the theater
Adult - $102.00 plus tax
Child - $82.00 plus tax

Category 2:
Adult - $83.00 plus tax
Child - $67.00 plus tax

Category 3:
Adult - $67.00 plus tax
Child - $54.00 plus tax

Category 4:
Adult - $53.00 plus tax
Child - $43.00 plus tax

Tickets for La Nouba are available at http://www.cirquedusoleil.com

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!
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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:

CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE CUISINE
"At Disney's California Adventure and not sure where to eat? Take the quick exit near Grizzly River Run and head to Whitewater Snacks for your meal.  It is normally not very crowded and has good, inexpensive, made-to-order food such as nachos, burgers and a variety of kids meals.  Best of all, it is one of the few places at the resort where you can get unlimited free drink refills on sodas!"
-- contributed by Melissa H.

MISTING FAN FAVORITES
"If you are going to be at Walt Disney World during the summer months, then you'll need a fan that is also a water-mister! You can buy them at home in a discount store or at WDW for a little more. However, on our recent trip to Disney, we found that it was much easier, and more cost efficient, to buy one misting fan and regular fans for everyone else. So, instead of paying $5-$10 a piece for the water misting fans, just  let one or two people do the misting while everyone does their own fanning! The smaller fan also easily clips on a lanyard while the water fans are way to heavy! We would put the water mister in the stroller til we needed it, mist everyone down, and then let them take over with their own mini-fans. It was a lot easier on our aching necks (and our wallets). If we needed it in a long line, then someone different would take turns being the 'water-mister' on each ride."
-- contributed by Anecia P.

LOSE THAT LUGGAGE
"Tired of cramped living quarters? Disney resort bell services will hold your empty luggage for you during the extent of your stay. Just call bell services after you've unpacked and ask them to hold your luggage. When you are ready to pack, call them again and have your luggage brought to your room. There is no extra charge for this service (gratuity is recommended). Families of four or more who are planning a week-long or more stay this space-saving service can really help from keeping the walls closing in on you!"
-- contributed by Amy S.

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 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 3 months.)

Here is this week's journal entry:

"The opportunity to visit Disneyland Resort in California has presented itself and I'm now here enjoying the California sunshine and unearthing more hidden treasures! Today when I arrived, I parked the Official Treasure Hunter Hummer in the Disney & Friends parking garage (which I learned is one of the largest parking structures in the world, by the way). I was delighted to note the fanciful signage. Donald Duck glared down at me from a sign indicating the way to the trams, for example. And I was happy to see that Chip & Dale adorned the signs on the level that I parked my vehicle. Only one problem -- I was so busy admiring Chip & Dale that I forgot what level I parked on!"

What level of the Mickey & Friends parking garage do you see signs with Chip & Dale?

For bonus credit, locate the photographic evidence in the PassPorter Photo Archive and post a comment with the photo!

Congratulations to Lesley S. who was the winner of last week's trivia contest! Lesley was the first person to identify the founder and director emeritus of the casting agency as Walter Elias Disney. The Casting Agency is located on Main Street U.S.A. in the Magic Kingdom.  Bonus credit goes to grandmasuzy who was 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! 

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 Jack Skatt. Get more details on "PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World" book at http://www.passporterstore.com.
 
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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:



Goofy Has His Head in the Clouds

contributed by upsashburn

(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.
          
 
chezp 2804 photos
Meggera 711 photos
akleos 568 photos
Dopey007 512 photos
DyanKJ130 326 photos
 
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Q and A: With Jennifer and Dave

Eeyore Tattoo asks:
"Has anyone gone to the Garden View Lounge at the Grand Floridian Resort for Afternoon Tea? Did you enjoy it?"

Dave answers: Yes, some years ago. And yes, I did enjoy it. All those little goodies to snack on, attentive service, genteel surroundings. Quite nice for a relaxed break from the park with the right company. Not the place for a four year-old boy, though. The only way I'll bring Alexander there is if he learns to say, 'Yes, Pater, isn't the lapsang souchong delightful? And do have one of these scones with a bit of lemon curd!' (No, I don't waggle my pinkie in the air when I drink my tea.)"

To see other answers that Eeyore Tattoo received, check out the rest of the thread.


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! 
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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! 
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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 -- Decade of Dream Packages

MouseEarVacations.com -- October 2009 Disney Cruise Special

Quicksilver Tours & Transportation -- $5.00 off airport round-trip town car






From the Authors: The Return of Free Shipping

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

Everyone loves a good deal, and it's time to bring back one of your favorites! From now through 11:59 pm Eastern Time next Monday night (September 15, 2008), we're offering free Media Mail shipping on all new orders placed through the PassPorter Store! Please note that we cannot retroactively apply this discount to orders placed before Thursday, September 11, 2008 at 6:00 pm ET.

PassPorter's Walt Disney World 2009 will arrive in our warehouse in just about a month, so it's a really great time to place your pre-order, be among the first to receive the next edition of our guidebook, and get free shipping in the bargain!

Our very popular PassPorter PassHolder Pouches and PassPorter Name Badge Pins are back in stock. You can't go wrong adding a couple of these to any order you place during this offer!

What else do we have? PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line and its Ports of Call 2008 and  PassPorter's Open Mouse for Walt Disney World and the Disney Cruise Line are also in stock, ready to ship.

Altogether, this is a great time to click on over to the PassPorter Store. Please note that this offer is only good for new orders placed between 6:00 pm ET on Thursday September 11, 2008 and 11:59 pm ET on Monday, September 15, 2008, so hurry!

Tip: If you want to order in-stock items and place a pre-order for PassPorter's Walt Disney World 2009, place two separate orders so your in-stock items will ship immediately.

Meantime membership in PassPorter's Club  just keeps on growing! PassPorter's Club members can download all our great PassPorter e-books, each at least a $4.95 value, for the price of just one e-book purchase! Club members also have access to 40+ interactive, downloadable, electronic worksheets that help you plan and enjoy your vacation, "super-sized" photo downloads from PassPorter's huge photo gallery, a 35% discount on all PassPorter printed books, and more! Club membership is just $4.95 per month, or $44.95 if you decide to come on board for a full year. With that first month's membership you can strip our cupboard bare of great e-books and interactive worksheets. Then you can cancel, or even better (if you happen to be us), continue the subscription to maintain all the club benefits (like a 35% discount on all PassPorter printed books) and qualify for all the new e-books and worksheets we'll be adding to the Club.

Tip: Join the Club now, get your 35% discount, and take advantage of our free Media Mail shipping offer, too!

Were you thinking of joining us this December for MouseFest? Then we have some MouseFest news for you! This year's Mega Mouse Meet will be held at Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Convention Center, and we've also arranged a special lodging deal at Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resort. Have we piqued your interest? Then pop over to the MouseFest.org web site, and read all about it. While you're there, please sign up for the MouseFest newsletter, so you can keep on top of all the MouseFest news.

Will you be joining us for PassPorter's Decade of Dreams Tour? PassPorter is celebrating our 10th anniversary in 2009 in a year-long celebration from coast-to-coast! Everyone is invited and all are warmly welcome to join us at all or part of our celebration. We are combining small parties (meets) with grand, multi-day trips, including a 7-night Disney Cruise, a 4-night stay at Walt Disney World, and a Disneyland visit that includes park time and an Adventures by Disney expedition. See our Tour Schedule for the latest details.

PassPorter's Club Update
  • More than 1450 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 newest e-book, PassPorter's Answer Book is now available for download. This 85-page e-book is full of the detailed, up-to-date information on the topics that really matter to you.
  • More details at http://www.passporter.com/club

  • In this issue,  Guest Columnist Michelle Clark takes us for a visit to that legendary coaster park, Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. Then, Guest Columnist Roger Sauer examines A Vacation Dilemma: Should We Take Our Children Out of School for a trip to Disney? Finally, Jack Skatt is back with a brand-new Walt Disney World Treasure Hunt.

    Jennifer and Dave
    PassPorter Authors

     
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      Travel Feature:

    Cedar Point Amusement Park: Sandusky, Ohio

    by Michelle Clark, PassPorter Guest Contributor


    As a family of coaster addicts, our excitement level increases every time we see Cedar Point Amusement Park featured on the Travel Channel. Cedar Point, considered to be the Promised Land among thrill riders, is the location of the biggest, tallest, fastest, and most extreme rides. Our dreams came true when we planned a trip to Sandusky, Ohio, home to Cedar Point.

    Our first views of Cedar Point lay just beyond the shorelines of Lake Erie, and what a view - coasters of every shape and size with colorful loops, drops, and falls! As we lowered the car windows we were greeted by the sound that is music to thrill-seekers' ears: shrieks and screams of fear and laughter. I've ridden coasters galore at many different parks, but I have to admit that my first views of Cedar Point left me a little weak in the knees. But I had to save face in front of my teenagers-I didn't want them to think Mom was "old!"

    While we knew Cedar Point was the place to find the most extreme attractions, we underestimated Cedar Point as a vacation destination. There are six different and unique lodging choices located on Cedar Point. We opted to stay in the historical Hotel Breakers which has the shortest walk to the park--just a few minutes from our hotel.

    Hotel Breakers was originally built in 1905. Walking into the lobby transports you back in time with the turn-of-the century decor. The rotunda behind the lobby is three stories tall and is a charming place to relax with coffee and a newspaper. Snoopy is a frequent visitor in the lobby and loves to pose for pictures! The newest sections of Hotel Breakers are the Breakers East and Breakers Tower. I recommend either of these sections over the Bon Aire Section, as the Bon Aire rooms are quite a bit older and smaller. One floor of the Tower section has "Peanuts" themed family suites that appeal to younger visitors.

    Besides having plenty of lake-front beach area for water activities, Hotel Breakers has two outdoor pools, one indoor pool, shops, and restaurants at the "Boardwalk", the walkway fronting the beach area. 1950s Boardwalk-themed music can be heard in the background. Beaches 'N' Cream is themed as a 1950s soda shop complete with booths made from '50s cars. TGI Fridays, Pizza Hut Express, and a Japanese restaurant are among the other onsite dining options. You don't have to be a Breakers hotel guest to enjoy these restaurants, as they are easily accessible from the park.

    Besides being within walking distance of the action, another perk of staying onsite is admission to the parks one hour prior to opening to the general public. Hotel guests can also get discounts on park admission.

    But let's get to the point of this whole trek to Sandusky, the coasters! Cedar Point has 76 rides and 17 coasters in all. Here is our must-do list :

    Top Thrill Dragster: By far the tallest attraction in the park, Top Thrill Dragster stands 420 feet tall. Themed as a drag-racing vehicle, Top Thrill takes riders from 0 to 120 mph in 4 seconds, straight up 420 feet, then straight down in a 270-degrees twist--all in 22 seconds! At its completion in 2003 it was the tallest and fastest coaster on Earth. Top Thrill got the most votes from our group as their favorite in the park. Extreme and fun!

    Millennium Force: When it debuted in 2000, Millennium Force was the first coaster to break the 300-foot height mark. Since then taller and faster rides have been created but that doesn't hamper the fun to be found on Millennium, which has several banked turns but no complete inversions. The first hill provides some magnificent views of Lake Erie. Millennium Force was my favorite coaster by far. A tip for non-riders: if you stand at the exit walkway you can get some awesome photos of riders as they race right by you.

    Wicked Twister: This is the most unique coaster I've ever seen, consisting of two spiraled tracks pointing straight up 215 feet tall. The trains embark in the station between the two spirals and travel back and forth between them at top speeds of 72 mph. If you are brave enough to keep your eyes open, you get some unique views of the beach. I wouldn't eat before riding!

    Maverick: One of the newest attractions in the parks, Maverick was voted best new ride in 2007 by the Golden Ticket Awards. Maverick's claim to fame doesn't lie in its speed or height, but on the first drop which falls at a 95 degree angle. While Maverick is definitely a fun ride, the lines for this coaster were the longest we encountered in the entire park, nearly two hours.

    Magnum XL-200: The opening of Magnum XL-200 in 1989 helped establish Cedar Point's reputation as the coaster capital of the world. Its 205-foot-tall hill and 72 mph top speed has been outdone by newer coasters in recent years, but it can still draw out the screams!

    Raptor: Raptor is a hanging coaster with a unique "cobra roll" aspect-an inversion with a 180-degree spiral, then the whole thing in reverse! Raptor has a total of 6 inversions, the most of any Cedar Point coaster. This is not the newest, tallest, or fastest ride in the park but it still draws the crowds as we experienced long waits here.

    Max Air: Max Air isn't a coaster, but it ranks as one of our favorites thrill rides. Imagine a swinging, flying dutchman-type ride coupled with a spinning wheel and you've got an idea of what Max Air feels like! It's actually more intimidating to watch than to ride. I found it incredibly smooth and I really enjoyed the bird's eye views from its top elevation of 140 feet.

    Power Tower: Nearly every park has an attraction with a long drop. Some climb slowly to the top with a quick drop while some have a speedy assent with a slower decline. Power Tower offers both: two sides of the tower quickly blast riders up 240 feet while the other two sides offer a quick drop down. The slow climb really got my heart pounding!

    Cedar Point is geared toward thrill-seekers, but there is plenty for the younger crowd to enjoy as well. There are over 30 children's attractions and tranquil rides including the railroad, antique cars, and Ferris wheel. Frontier Trail, the most themed area of the park, contains authentic log cabins and local craftsmen. The petting zoo is a favorite for kids. There are three carousels in the park, more than any other amusement park on the planet. Four shows are performed daily as well as a nightly fireworks show and patriotic tribute.

    If you want a change of pace from the park, Cedar Point also offers Challenge Park which includes mini-golf, go-carts, and ripcord jumping. Soak City is Cedar Point's on-site water park. Challenge Park and Soak City require separate admission tickets.

    If you're considering a trip to Cedar Point, here are a few recommendations:
    • The available information for trip planning is limited. One online guide, Experience the Point - Unofficial Guide to Cedar Point by Andrew Hyde gives good information on the attractions themselves but only brief summaries of the resorts.
    • Stay onsite! The convenience of being so close to the park is "priceless."
    • Check out Cedar Point's website (http://www.cedarpoint.com) for admission specials. Request a Getaway Guide on their website, which has some valuable coupons.
    • This next tip is for Disney lovers like me: Don't try and compare the two. After I learned to appreciate Cedar Point for its own qualities I grew to love it. The parks and resorts are very clean and the employees are friendly.
    • It would be difficult to enjoy all the major attractions in one day. In two days we didn't experience half of the attractions.
    • The majority of the park is not shaded. Wear plenty of sunscreen and a hat to protect from the sun. Our visit to Cedar Point was a nice change of pace from our previous Orlando theme park trips. We hope to plan a return visit in the future with more time to enjoy all that Cedar Point has to offer! (While I'm still brave enough to do it!)

    About the Author: Michelle Clark is a self-professed thrill ride junkie and the mother of three teens who share in her obsession. Her goal is to experience as many theme parks as possible and stay in every Disney resort before she dies!
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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. Also check out our Article Collection for more great information! 

       
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    Disney Feature:
      
     
    A Vacation Dilemma: Should We Take Our Children Out of School For a Trip to Disney?

    by Roger Sauer, PassPorter Guest Contributor

    Part 1: The Decision

    Three scenarios:

    Family A takes its vacations during the summer when school is out and Dad has his annual two week time off for a trip.

    Family B has two parents working and need to coordinate their times off for a vacation. Needless to say, this sometimes means vacations during the school year.

    Family C has a single parent working a job with no paid vacation. If there is a vacation at all, it must be during off-seasons when prices for lodging are lower. These are invariably during the fall or early winter.

    The decision to take students out of school for any vacation is now driven by numerous social, educational, and economic factors. As a retired school administrator (including service as a high school principal) I was often called on to deal with students whose attendance was impacted by parental vacation decisions. Simply put, my position was that students need to be in school when it is in session. Absenteeism is strongly correlated with lack of success in school. To paraphrase Woody Allen, "Half the secret of success is simply showing up."

    However, as the three scenarios above indicate, times have changed. America may have moved beyond the agrarian calendar that drove its educational system a century ago, but that same calendar refuses to give up the wheel. Just as families have changed, the types of vacations (and even the ability to have one!) have also changed.

    And sometimes the school calendar and vacation windows simply do not cooperate. This means that decisions to take trips during the school year including those to Disney World should be made with foresight and an open consideration of a variety of factors. While there is no one good answer for every situation, what follows is a series of questions that should be discussed as plans are made. Part 2 is a set of activities that can help one maintain an element of educational rigor during a Disney World vacation on school time.

    FAMILY ISSUES:
    • Do parent work schedules allow for time off during non-school periods?
    • Can the family afford vacation costs during school vacation periods (read: Peak Season)?
    • Can the parent(s) properly supervise homework assigned during the absence?
    • Can the parent(s) properly develop a series of activities that take advantage of Disney World and the travel itinerary?
    • How many days will the student remain out of school?
    • Can the trip be scheduled so as to minimize days of school missed? More than a week can set any student back.

    STUDENT ISSUES: These should be answered for every student and more critically for student in grades 6-12
    • Does the student want to go? Your college-bound senior may like the idea but not the timing. Is there a responsible adult available to serve as a guardian in your absence?
    • Has the student been successful in school?
    • Has the student missed more than ten school days in the past year?
    • Is the student enrolled in a performance class (band, choir, and orchestra) or an extra-curricular activity that would be missed during the trip?
    • Is the student in the habit of doing homework on a daily basis?
    • Is the student enrolled in special education, accelerated, or other specialized program?

    SCHOOL ISSUES:
    • What are the state law and district and school policies regarding pre-arranged absences from school?
    • Will the teacher/s assist the student is assigning homework for the trip?
    • Will the student be able to make up work on his return from the trip?
    • Can any element of the Disney World experience be used to supplement or enhance the material covered in specific classes?

    Remember that most educators have worked in a system that starts in the fall, takes winter and Spring Breaks, and shuts down in the summer. It is sometimes assumed by educators that the rest of the world is on this schedule.

    As one can see, the answer to the question posed in the title of this piece is: It depends. My own view is that, if the parents are forced to take time off during school time, they will. But if they have a choice of vacation times, then they need to seriously consider the second and third question sets and weigh the pros and cons. These all lead up to a single compelling question: Can my child afford to be away from direct instruction and participation at school for the duration of the trip?

    PART 2: Educational Opportunities- Those Taken and Those Missed 

    If the decision is made to remove students from school for a trip, it has hopefully been done with the blessing of your student's school and that teachers have cooperated in providing homework in advance. This is not always as easy as it seems; one would like to think that teachers can just whip out the assignment for the next week or two at the drop of a hat -- some can, some cannot. Hopefully, it will not be busy work. On the other hand, are you ready to help Sally with her calculus? Again, the decision for an older student will be in part driven by the student, and Sally might rather be in calculus class.

    But if you have homework with you, your students should be able to do some of it in the car on the way to the World or on the airplane. The educational advantage of this is obvious, as should be the lesson that "play" time sometimes requires "work" time.

    Even if there are no lessons to do, your job as parent-mentor can be enhanced by providing supplemental work materials at a grade-appropriate level. Any bookstore or American Automobile Association store can provide these types of workbooks. And, if the student is old enough, the simple act of reading is beneficial. Bring BOOKS in their carry-ons!

    A couple of years ago my daughter by necessity had to arrange a vacation during school time. My twin grandchildren, Colin and Caitlin, had reading books as well as a journal that they were expected to complete. Each journal had a page with the date at the top. Each filled out boxes on each page covering topics like naming three activities of the day and their favorite event, person, or place of the day. They were also asked to draw something they saw that day. My daughter also had them do the World Showcase tour with Passports to have signed at the Epcot Kidcot stations.

    One key to providing some thinking skills in the trip to Walt Disney World is MAPS. Traveling to Orlando either by plane, train, or automobile can be enhanced by having younger children learn the geography through which (or over which) they are traveling. Maps from AAA can be a godsend. Similarly, the park maps can be used to let children plot their daily activities. Disney makes beautiful, customizable family-specific maps for free and they can be ordered through the Disney World website www.disneyworld.com

    Advanced students interested in art and architecture can learn a great deal though the recently published Imagineering Field Guides to the Walt Disney World parks. And, of course, the parks themselves and especially Epcot and Animal Kingdom can be considered living lesson plans. Even as experienced an educator as I recognize that a trip to Harambe Village is going to be more memorable than Miss Feeny's scintillating lecture on African quadrupeds!

    So the decision is yours to make. But in doing so, be thoughtful about your own family's flexibility to travel, your children's educational needs and maturity, and how YOU can make a school time trip to Disney World educational as well as fun.


    About the Author: A native of Oregon, Roger Sauer is retired from school administration. Since retiring he and his wife Donna have traveled to Europe for Disneyland Paris, to China and Tibet, and most recently, Japan. They have been members of Disney Vacation Club since 1993 and have traveled to Florida once or twice a year since joining. They have three children and five grandchildren. Their next trip to the World will be in December.

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