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 In This Newsletter
From the Authors: That Slow Boat From China, Still Steaming Along!
Travel Feature: El Capitan Theatre
Disney Feature: Organizing a MouseFest Meet
Updates: What's New and Changed
Tips: Less Laundry Lugging, Perfect Plates, Permission to NOT Panic
Captain's Corner: Liberty Square Plaque
PassPorter PhotoPick: Steps of the Lighthouse
Q and A: How is Disney's Iron Horse Cuvee Champagne?
Our Sponsors: We Recommend...
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Updates:
What's New and Changed
Here are a few items of relevant news:
Pal Mickey, the interactive plush toy introduced in 2003, is being discontinued once existing stock is sold out. Pal Mickey's already in existence will continue to work in the four main theme parks at Walt Disney World.
Typhoon Lagoon will close for an extended rehab, from October 26-March 21, 2008. Reportedly, the time is needed to repair a large crack in the main (surf) pool.
Walt Disney World Florist will begin offering in room decorations packages in November. These "What Will You Celebrate"-themed packages will be available for "Birthday Wishes," "Magical Welcomes," "Romantic Congratulations," and more. To order, call Walt Disney World Florist at 407-827-3505.
T-Rex: A Prehistoric Adventure opened last week in Downtown Disney and some of our readers were among the lucky diners. Here is what they had to say:
PassPorter message board member figmentlvr427 reports: "We were lucky enough to go to T-Rex on Monday since my husband works for Disney he got a preview of the meals and such. It was really great inside. The T-Rex is there when you walk in and there are dinosaurs everywhere. They do a meteor shower every 1/2 hour or so and you can see the meteor show on the ceiling. They have an ice cave that turns red during the meteor shower. Even the restroom is themed with dinosaur fossils in it. There are different sections themed after different things. We sat in the Coral under the sea section, there are seats in the ice cave, there is a Sequoia section and the animals and dinosaurs in it are amazing looking."
Reader Michelle F. reports: "We ate at T-Rex on opening night! We were expecting a really long wait but as the restaurant is so large, we only waited about an hour. The show was fantastic. Menu was along the same lines as Rainforest Cafe but enjoyed the overall experience more. Our 6-year-old loved it and we were very impressed."
Readers Ed & Linda B. report: "We had dinner around 9:30 pm on the night of the 15th. Had to wait about 70 minutes but it was worth it. The food was OK but the place is fabulous. Will definitely be going back next year."
Our Featured Columnist Cheryl Pendry reports, "T-Rex is happy to have people inside just to photograph the restaurant. They don't allow videoing, but will happily let you take photos and the staff will chat to you and explain the theming to each of the different rooms."
And PassPorter Message Board Guide iamgrumpy posted a complete trip report about her meal on our message board. Thanks to everyone who wrote in!
Walt Disney World's scrapbooking supply shop The Wonderful World of Memories at Downtown Disney has closed, to be replaced by Design-a-Tee later this fall. Reportedly, Design-a-Tee will also carry scrapbooking supplies. In the meantime, a smaller selection of scrapbooking materials can be found at Downtown Disney's World of Disney.
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:
LESS LAUNDRY LUGGING
"A great way to handle the laundry issue - pack two large plastic bags and use them to collect light and dark dirty clothes, respectively. Treat stains as you add clothes to the bags. When you're ready to launder, throw the bags into your wheeled luggage and transport to the laundry room. Stow clean, folded laundry right in your suitcase(s). Don't forget ziploc bags of detergent and dryer sheets, and enough quarters to fund the washing and drying!"
-- contributed by Joni L.
PERFECT PLATES
"We were looking for a more useful and permanent autograph idea. We wanted something more than would sit in an autograph book, scrapbook, or photo album. What we came up with is this: We bought a "Make-a-Plate" kit. I brought it with us to Walt Disney World and had the characters sign it. We did a Pooh & Pals plate at Crystal Palace and a Mickey & the Gang plate at Chef Mickey's! We added the date when we got home. Now they have a Disney memory that they can use every day!"
-- contributed by Elise M.
PERMISSION TO NOT PANIC
"Don't over stress yourself. It's fine to have an agenda, but if you want to ride Buzz Lightyear four times in a row, don't panic. Just do it! We did!"
-- contributed by Sandi 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:
"I'm back in Walt Disney World after a great sabbatical in Disneyland. Ah, so much to do, so little time. While I was at Disneyland I missed Liberty Square, so I made a beeline for it as soon as I returned. I spent a goodly number of hours just wandering about, taking in all the little details. I particularly like the little, often-overlooked plaque that explains the historic significance of Liberty Square. I'm noting it here as a reminder for later. 'Past this gateway stirs a new nation waiting to be born. Thirteen separate colonies have banded together to declare their independence from the bonds of tyranny. It is a time when silversmiths put away their tools and march to the drums of a revolution, a time when gentlemen planters leave their farms to become generals, a time when ... (rest of text obscured by powdered sugar and funnel cake crumbs)"
What is the rest of the writing on the Liberty Square plaque?
For bonus credit, locate the photographic evidence in the PassPorter Photo Archive and post a comment with the photo!
Congratulations to Deanna B. who was the winner of last week's trivia contest! Deanna was the first person to identify the formula for "The Dip" at Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin as 1 part acetone, 1 part benzene and 1 part turpentine. Bonus credit also goes to Deanna 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:
Steps of the Lighthouse
contributed by tigger1221
(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.
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Q and A: With Jennifer and Dave
wyomom asks: "Has anyone tried Disney's Iron Horse Cuvee Champagne? I am a champagne nut but prefer it to be not too dry. Is it comparable to Dom?"
Dave answers: "By common definition, a Cuvee is a special blend/bottling. There are a variety of ways a vintner can make a particular bottling distinctive -- a bit more/less sugar for the in-bottle fermentation (more/less carbonation), a slightly different mix of grape varieties, etc. It doesn't necessarily mean it's better than their regular stuff, but like any limited-edition product, it tends to increase the price.
Is Fairy Tale Cuvee comparable to Dom Perignon? For me, it's a matter of personal taste and the cachet that comes with a super-premium. Dom is the super premium label for Moet et Chandon, one of the largest, if not the largest champagne producer (Moet, Krug, and Veuve Cliquot are now all brands of LVMH -- Louis Vuitton Moet Hennesey), and is only produced in certain years, when conditions are ripe. Dom gets credit for being the first super-premium champagne. It's rare to produce vintage-year sparkling whites. Most producers find it's much easier to produce non-vintage wines that are blends of several different years' production -- brand-name consistency being more important to the producers over the long run than trying to win the laurels as 'best' in any one year. So, you're paying a lot for the rarity of Dom -- only produced in certain years -- than garden-variety champagne.
I like Iron Horse. Among California champagnoise (sparkling wines produced by the traditional champagne method), it ranks quite highly. Rather than compare it to Dom, it's best to compare it to Domaine Chandon, Moet's own California champagnoise. Iron Horse generally produces vintage wines, rather than non-vintage, so in that sense, there's some comparison to Dom, but since every year is a vintage year at Iron Horse, a vintage year isn't quite so rare (or pricey).
As with other wines, you may not have to spend a lot of money to get a very satisfying bottle of bubbly - the bargain-priced Spanish and Portuguese sparkling whites like Frexinet come to mind - but Iron Horse definitely produces a fine product, competitive with other well-made wines of comparable price.
I used to work on radio commercials with the US marketing people for Cliquot (one of the family members, back before they sold to LVMH). They also produce a vintage-dated special product when harvest conditions are right -- La Grande Dame (1998 is the most recent vintage). I never got to sample it, but I had the chance to enjoy more than a few bottles of their garden-variety Yellow Label, on the house. Ah, those were the days!"
Did our message board members agree with Dave? To see other answers that wyomom 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!
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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 -- New Stop on Decade of Dreams Tour
MouseEarVacations.com -- Onboard credit offer for cruises booked Oct. 13-28, 2008
Quicksilver Tours & Transportation -- $5.00 off airport round-trip town car
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From the Authors: That Slow Boat From China, Still Steaming Along!
Hi, {{user('firstname')}}!
Thanks to online shipment tracking systems, we can follow the progress of PassPorter's Walt Disney World 2009 from our printer in Hong Kong to our U.S. warehouses like some over-sized Olympic Torch Relay. Our two, 40-foot shipping containers, on two different ships, are due to arrive in two different West Coast ports tomorrow (Friday, October 24). If all goes well, the containers will be off-loaded onto rail cars headed east in just a few more days, and if all continues to go well, we expect to start shipping pre-orders of PassPorter's Walt Disney World 2009 in just about two weeks.
As always, we put top priority on delivering pre-orders to folks who will be traveling soon. If you supplied your travel date to us when you placed your order (or contact us now via e-mail to orders@passporter.com or by toll-free phone - 877-929-3273 Mon-Fri, 9:00 am-6:00 pm ET), we'll take that into account. If the delay means we missed your departure date, we'll be in touch to determine your desires (refund, "ship anyway," etc.), and for those whose travel dates are imminent we'll adjust shipping methods at our cost, to ensure the books arrive in time.
PassPorter's Decade of Dreams Tour is going to Disneyland for the Backstage Magic Adventures by Disney on October 13-18, 2009! Our Adventures by Disney package is 6 days/5 nights of VIP treatment -- we'll visit Hollywood landmarks, see how the magic is made at Walt Disney Imagineering, eat lunch on the lot at the Walt Disney Studios, and get a peak behind the fantasy at the Disneyland(R) Resort. The price includes an exclusive group discount and there is an early booking bonus of a $75 Disney Gift Card for the first 10 bookings from our Decade of Dreams travel provider, Mouse Fan Travel. Get all the details, a day-by-day itinerary, and prices at the Decade of Dreams Tour Headquarters. This also means we have selected the dates for the Decade of Dreams Tour visit to Disneyland! Tour festivities at Disneyland will begin on Friday, October 16, 2009 and will continue through Tuesday, October 20. Stay tuned for the schedule of events!
What is 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.
Were you thinking of joining us this December 11th-15th at Walt Disney World and/or on the December 7th-11th Disney Wonder cruise for MouseFest? This 'grand gathering' of Disney online communities, podcasters, bloggers, webmasters, and authors has become a holiday season tradition for many of us, and keeps getting bigger and better every year! If you already have plans to be on the Disney Wonder and/or at Walt Disney World at the same time as MouseFest, definitely check it out. There are all sorts of free activities, and you'll be able to meet a whole lot of really great folks who share your passion for all things Disney.
The MouseFest schedule of events is online over at MouseFest.org. In the past day we've added three new PassPorter meets to the schedule; an Ice Cream Social Wednesday, December 10 on the Disney Wonder; a "Decade of Dreams Tour "kick-off" event at Epcot on Friday, December 12; and a MouseFest farewell meal meet on Monday, December 15. Check the schedule for all the details!. MouseFest attendee registration has been going strong. So far, nearly 600 people have registered, including many members of the PassPorter message board community. Many PassPorter message board Guides will also be on hand, and folks from PassPorter are organizing a bunch of great events to share with everyone who attends. Come on by MouseFest Corner at our message boards to see what your fellow 'PassPorters' are planning, and get a chance to get acquainted.
| 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
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In this issue, PassPorter Guest Columnist Mary Kraemer describes the glories of Hollywood's El Capitan Theatre. Then, PassPorter Featured Columnist Cheryl Pendry details the ins and outs of Organizing a MouseFest Meet. Finally, Jack Skatt is back with a brand-new Walt Disney World Treasure Hunt.
Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter Authors
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Did You Know?
MEI & Mouse Fan Travel is the
Official Travel Planner for
PassPorter's Decade of Dreams
*Offer is limited, subject to availability and restrictions apply - CST207807440
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Travel Feature:
A Hollywood Legend: The El Capitan Theatre
by Mary Kraemer, PassPorter Guest Contributor
Hollywood. Movies. The two words are practically synonymous. Glamorized by the huge studios such as MGM and sweeping cinematic epics such as Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz, Hollywood possesses magic that dazzles people. And yes, its sidewalks are covered with stars that honor the people who have been part of that magic.
Transformed from an agricultural area to the center of cinema, in time, Hollywood tarnished somewhat and became seedy, and is now undergoing a revitalization to become a vibrant place again. Although some of the area boasts impressive new buildings, such as the Hollywood and Highland Center, which features the Kodak Theater--home to the Oscars--there are also lovely original buildings from Hollywood's heyday.
One of the finest examples of Hollywood's past, present, and future glory is the fabulous El Capitan Theatre. Opened in 1926 as a theater for live performances, the El Capitan is mostly known as one of Hollywood's grand movie palaces. One of its notable premieres was Citizen Kane, in 1941.
What's a movie palace, you ask? If you have never had the pleasure of this experience, I will be delighted to share it with you. It's a vastly different--wonderful--experience than going to a movie at the local multiplex!
The first impression of the theater comes from its exterior, with a marquee filled with thousands of lights promoting the movie that's currently playing. That's right - THE movie, not 16 or 20 movies! The El Capitan boasts an ornate Spanish Colonial exterior. After purchasing your tickets at the lovely ticket booth that is in the center of the front entryway, you'll be greeted pleasantly, and admitted into the elaborate lobby area.
One of the special pleasures of a movie palace is the choice between seats in the orchestra level, easily accessed through the lobby, or climbing the thickly carpeted stairs to the balcony seating (I highly recommend this area simply because you can't sit in a balcony at your local multiplex).
If you decide to sit in the orchestra section, you owe it to yourself to take a walk upstairs to see the photo collection in the upstairs hallway, which shows many memorable moments and notable guests from the El Capitan's distinguished history.
Once inside the theater, find your very comfortable seat and take in your sumptuous surroundings. In the 1920s, the El Capitan Theatre's interior cost $1.2 million dollars, and its elaborate East Indian theme is simply gorgeous. In 1989, the Walt Disney Company began a museum-quality restoration of the El Capitan Theatre and did an amazing job of bringing the theater back to its original splendor. It is ornate and beautiful; you can spend quite a bit of time simply admiring the interior.
But Disney did more than merely restore the theater to its original lavish beauty. The stage was improved for performances, dressing rooms were remodeled, and the theater boasts superb projection and sound equipment, as well as the ability to provide some surprise special effects. Seeing a film at the El Capitan assures you of a top-quality viewing experience.
Unlike a local multiplex, where the pre-show time is filled with a loop of annoying ads on the screen, the El Capitan has something special for its guests, a 1920s Mighty Wurlitzer organ! This top-of-the-line instrument was built to provide movie palace guests with the best musical experience available. On each side of the theater, there are two chambers that house the 2,500 pipes that let the sound from this wonderful organ truly impress its audiences with its amazing capabilities. House organist Rob Richards entertains guests with wonderful renditions of favorite tunes, often related to the movie that is about to appear on the screen.
When it is show time, the organ descends through the stage floor, the house lights dim, and then, as if to introduce the movie in a grand style, multiple curtains swirl open to reveal the screen so the show can begin.
Because the Walt Disney Company owns the El Capitan Theatre, first-run Disney movies are shown. Often, the theater is the site of a movie's premiere, and there could be no more perfect place.
On occasion, the El Capitan will add special events to the film, making it an even more special experience. For example, when Pirates of the Caribbean was showing at the El Capitan, the entire theater was 'dressed up' in a pirate theme. From the fort over the marquee that included palm trees and cannons, to the display of props from the film that were available to view throughout the theater and as a walkthrough display in the basement, to the juggling pirates out on the front sidewalk, guests were treated to an extraordinary experience.
Once in a while, the El Capitan Theatre shows a classic Disney movie, and it is such a treat to see those lovely films on the big screen. Other times, the El Capitan takes a playful approach to a popular movie, such as Mary Poppins, and offers 'sing-along' showings, which are a lot of fun (and might also have some unexpected surprises during the show!) Depending on the film, Disney might have a pre-movie show, where live characters will take to the stage and perform. But even if the El Capitan does not add any extras, going to the spectacular theater and seeing a movie with the state-of-the-art projection and sound system is special.
One of my favorite features of the El Capitan Theatre is the ability to purchase tickets online for a future performance. Now, yes, the local multiplex has this capability, but the El Capitan goes one step farther. Although there are general admission tickets available, you can also purchase a specific seat for a particular showing. So, for example, if you are like me, and you adore the first few rows of the balcony toward the center, you can buy those seats in advance. Reserved seats have a higher price than general admission, but there is no stress about sitting in just the right seat without much wait in line (which can be a blessing given the unpredictability of Los Angeles traffic). And reserved seat ticket prices often include a large bucket of popcorn and a soda. (For you Disney collectors out there, the buckets are often themed to the movie that's showing.)
Can this experience get any better? Of course! This is Disney, after all, and adjacent to the El Capitan Theatre is the one and only Disney Soda Fountain and Studio Store. This (new) old-fashioned ice cream parlor serves divine sundaes, cones, shakes, floats, phosphates, and lunch counter-style food in an intimate space that is shared with the Studio Store. (My kids love to browse after we order our ice cream treats, which is, no doubt, part of the design plan!) The soda fountain has table seating, counter space, and even a walk-up cone window for sightseers on the go. Often, the Studio Store offers exclusive merchandise related to the film appearing in the theater.
Convenient, well-lit parking is available in the Hollywood and Highland Center, directly across Highland Avenue from the theater and soda shop. The soda shop offers partial parking validation, subject to availability.
About the Author: Mary Kraemer, a travel consultant with CruisingCo/MouseEarVacations, loves to travel with her husband and four children. She is an avid Disney fan who visits Disneyland several times a year and is looking forward to a fall trip to Walt Disney World and a week on the Disney Cruise Line!
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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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Did You Know?
Have you always wanted to take a Disney Cruise vacation? Well, now is the time!
We are extending a special offer to all new reservations booked between October 13 and October 28, 2008! Depending on the cost of your cruise, you will receive an Onboard Credit between $75 and $600!
Contact your MouseEarVacations.com® Travel Consultant today for further details. Don't have one yet? No worries! Click the Request a Quote button below and one of our experts will be glad to help make your travel dreams come true!
Click here to get a quote!
**For new reservations only, booked October 13-28, 2008; travel must be completed by December 31, 2010. When determining your onboard credit, the credit is calculated on the base price of your cruise and is the price before taxes, transfers, port charges, air tickets, the land portion of a land/sea package and any non-commissionable options and fees.
If the cruise reservation is modified or cancelled, the Onboard Credit amount will be cancelled or adjusted accordingly.
This offer is not valid on select group cruise sailings, and is not combinable with any other offers.
CST2058090-40 www.MouseEarVacations.com 800-886-8601 |
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Disney Feature:
Organizing a MouseFest Meet
by Cheryl Pendry, PassPorter Featured Columnist
MouseFest. Now an annual event, like everything Disney-related, it all started with a mouse. But this particular celebration grew from the Internet and the many Disney web sites and message boards, where people can meet like-minded friends, such as http://www.passporterboards.com And it was PassPorter authors Dave and Jennifer Marx, along with AllEarsNet.com founder Deb Wills who started the ball rolling, with the first official MouseFest in 2003.
Since then it's grown year after year. Just take a look at the official website http://www.mousefest.org and you'll see that in 2007, almost 800 people officially registered and the numbers are growing for this year's event and already stand at nearly 600! MouseFest takes place on land and at sea, starting with a four night cruise on the Disney Wonder, this year from Sunday, December 7 through to Thursday, December 11, followed by five more days of fun at the Walt Disney World resort itself, from Thursday, December 11 to Monday, December 15.
The beauty of MouseFest is that you can participate as much or as little as you like. You could have a diary packed with meetings with like-minded Disney fans or there may only be one or two events that you plan on attending. How do these meets occur? Well, it takes someone to decide to host one and then other people show up (sometimes an RSVP is requested or required).
Of course, the easiest thing to do is just sign up and then turn up, but having been to a couple of different MouseFest celebrations now, I can also tell you that perhaps one of the most fun things to do is to set up your own event. Yes, it may sound daunting and at first, truth be told, it is! But it's also very simple to do and there are lots of people who'll happily help you out, if that's what you need.
To host a meet, there are a few obvious things that you need to decide on first. Where do you want to meet and when and what are you going to do? Keep in mind the plans for the daily park, and the already-scheduled events, which are on the official MouseFest site. The chances are that most people attending will be heading to the chosen Park of the Day, so it's best to schedule your meets to coincide with that. One time when you aren't allowed to schedule a meet is during the Mega Mouse Meet (this year, it's on Saturday, December 13 between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm). You can't hold a "competing" meet at that time for good reason; any other event scheduled at that time wouldn't get much response, as Mega Mouse Meet is the single biggest event on the schedule each year.
Fortunately, the MouseFest scheduling gurus don't allow that to happen, and stand ready to advise on that and all other aspects of your plans.
I've found that it's always best to have a plan in mind, unless you just want to sit around and talk to people, which is a great idea for a meet in itself. However, most folks are at Walt Disney World to enjoy the parks, and most meets oblige. Without a solid plan you'll find yourselves all sitting there, trying to work out what to do next. We've done that in a big group before and it does waste a lot of time.
Ideas could include a meet to go on a particular ride, with one of the more famous meets (but alas, no longer on the schedule) a first-thing-in-the-morning ride on Kilimanjaro Safaris. Or perhaps you could decide to take a stroll around part of Epcot's World Showcase as a group, maybe enjoying some of the food or drink on offer from each country. It could even be a tour of the various different "mountains" in the Magic Kingdom or a bid to see how many times you can drop on the Tower of Terror.
You could also decide to head to a restaurant, either table service or counter service, for a meal. This is an especially good choice for anyone who's heading down to MouseFest solo, as it means that they don't have to eat on their own. On the downside, if you are going to eat at a table service restaurant, you need real commitment from everyone attending that they are going to be there, as reservations will have to be made beforehand. You may also need to strictly limit numbers, as there's every chance you won't be able to book a restaurant for 100 people!
Perhaps the idea of watching IllumiNations or SpectroMagic with a group of fellow enthusiasts appeals? This is something we've done on numerous occasions with great success. Trust me, a whole group of you staking out an area to watch a parade is a lot of fun!
Don't just think about the time that your event starts. You might also want to think about the time you expect it to end; otherwise you may find that it continues all day long. That may not be a problem, but if you have other plans later in the day, then specifying how long you expect it to last may be a good idea.
Of course, a lot of this also applies to the cruise portion of the MouseFest schedule. It's still important to think about what you might want to do, how long it would go on for and whether it will clash with any other big events.
Your meet (and every other MouseFest meet) will be listed on the MouseFest web site, in the printed Pocket Guide to MouseFest that is distributed to all registered attendees, and, for MouseFest Cruisers, the daily events will be listed on the complimentary MouseFest Navigator event schedule that will be delivered to your stateroom each evening. All you have to do is sign up for it on the MouseFest website.
Once you've decided what you'd like to do, propose your event to the friendly folks at MouseFest Corner, the PassPorter community's center for all things MouseFest. Folks will look it over, make suggestions (if they seem necessary), and when everything is pulled together will submit your proposal to the MouseFest scheduling folks. In short order the meet will be up in lights at the MouseFest.org site, for the benefit of all MouseFest atendees.
There are already lots of fun events listed on the official MouseFest web site, so if you haven't checked it out recently, it's definitely worth a look! To all those heading down for MouseFest this year, enjoy yourselves and hopefully I'll see you there when I return in 2009!
About the Author: Cheryl and husband Mark live in England and love to travel, particularly to America. They are in the process of visiting every Disney theme park around the world, having already been to Disneyland Resort Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland and both American Disney resorts. They are now planning for their trip to Japan in the spring to visit the Tokyo Disney Resort.
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Did you enjoy this article? Have questions? E-mail us at news@passporter.com or visit http://www.passporterboards.com to discuss your Disney vacation plans. Also check out our Article Collection for more great information!
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| Did You Know?
You Can Arrive at Walt Disney World in Style!
Airport Meet & Greet, luggage help, free car seat
Free 30-minute grocery stop with airport round-trip
Special! $5.00 off airport round-trip
Use Discount Code: PassPorter News
Call 888-GO TO WDW or visit quicksilver-tours.com
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