 |
|
 In This Newsletter
From the Authors: MouseFest Here We Come!
Travel Feature: Celebration, FL
Disney Feature: First Aid While On A Disney Vacation
Updates: What's New and Changed
Tips: Key Swap, Snacking Around The Food & Wine Fest, Perfect Parade Viewing
Captain's Corner: Beach Scene
PassPorter PhotoPick: Sunset on Castaway Cay
Q&A: How big are the bathtubs on DCL?
Our Sponsors: We Recommend...
| .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Updates:
What's New and Changed
Here are a few items of relevant news:
CORRECTION: "May" and "Flower", the two turkeys pardoned by President George W. Bush last week will be spending the rest of the holiday season in the backyard of Mickey's Country House. They will live out their lives at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Playhouse Disney - Live On Stage! will be closed January 2 - 27, 2008 while the show is revamped using new characters from current Playhouse Disney shows. Walt Disney World has teamed up with the University of Florida and the Florida Health Care Coalition to conduct a year-long diabetes study on cast members at the Walt Disney World Resort. Up to 1,000 volunteer cast members who either have diabetes or are at risk for diabetes will work with endocrinologists to monitor and treat their condition. The goal of the study is to improve the identification and treatment of diabetes, a disease which affects over 20 million Americans.
Our thanks to AllEars.net and MousePlanet.com from which we get some of our news leads.
Hear some news? Be a "PassPorter Reporter" and send it to us!
| . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . |
Disney Tips:
From Fellow Readers
Our readers deliver a wealth of information! Here are the winners in this month's tip contest:
KEY SWAP
"My husband and I like to rent a car while at Walt Disney World. This past trip, we stood in the pouring rain while I dug through my bag for the keys. After that we devised a plan. When we parked the car I would trade him our camera (small enough to fit in his pocket) for the car keys. The keys would then go into the camera case which was then put in my bag. Finding the camera case was much easier to find in my bag than the keys!"
-- contributed by Stephanie D.
SNACKING AROUND THE FOOD & WINE FEST
"My husband and I visited Walt Disney World this year. The first few days of our trip we went to Epcot for the Food and Wine Festival. We noticed that the tastings at the various country kiosks were part of the snacks on the Disney Dining Plan. Our original intention for the snack points was to use them for the ever important water. However, since the costs of the tastings range from $1.50 to $4.50 we began to use our snack credits for anything over $3.00. Also, to make our credits go farther we shared our tastings so we could taste more on less money. I don't know if Disney will do this again next year, but it worked great this year."
-- contributed by Allison P.
PERFECT PARADE VIEWING
"We accidentally stumbled upon the newly opened Yak & Yeti in the Animal Kingdom on its second day after opening. We wandered in just before the 4:00 parade and were given the best table for dinner and a parade view! Ask for table 7 which is on the ground floor in the front corner overlooking the parade route. Many tables will have obstructed views of the parade but table 7 has a straight view down the street over the bridge to Discovery Island. The soundproofing of the restaurant is very tight so we were able to watch the parade yet relax and not hear any outside noise."
-- contributed by Elizabeth L.
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.
| . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . |
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 or PassPorter name badge pin.
Here is this week's journal entry:
"After last week's painting discovery, I set out to find more delightful paintings in the World. A short walk from Epcot brought me to a sunny parlor with several pretty paintings on the wall. As I was studying one particularly enchanting beach scene, I spied a familiar ship and even more familiar cloud formation in the shape of Mickey Mouse himself. What a find!"
Where will you find this painting? For bonus points, locate the photographic evidence in the PassPorter Photo Archive and post a comment with the photo!
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!
Note: Captain Jack Skatt is "on vacation" next week and the winner of this week's game will appear in the December 13 issue.
Congratulations to Melissa Littman who was the winner of last week's trivia contest! Melissa was the first person to identify the location of the painting as between the United Kingdom and France pavilions and the subject of the painting as Les Chefs de France. Melissa was also the first person to find the photo in the Photo Archive and post a comment. To view the original clue, see last week's newsletter.
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.
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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:
Disney Magic - Sunset at Castaway Cay
contributed by OffKilter_Disneymom
(click the photo or link to see a larger photo with details)
You can nominate photos as a PassPorter PhotoPick by giving ratings in the PassPorter Photo Archive (you'll need to be logged in to do this). If you'd like to contribute your own photos to the Photo Archive and be considered as a PhotoPick, please read our Photo Upload Guidelines for details and benefits.
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Q & A:
With Jennifer and Dave
Maleficent SLR asks: "Can anyone tell me if the bathtubs in the staterooms on the Disney Cruise Line are actually large enough for an adult to bathe in?"
Jennifer answers: "I have taken many baths in the stateroom tub and I'm certainly no pixie. If you're the type who likes a bath at the end of the day, it does the trick in a no-frills sort of way. And, I must admit, I still enjoy the novelty of taking a bath at sea."
Have a question? Post questions at http://www.passporterboards.com -- and if you're lucky, you may find that folks have already asked and answered the same question that's on your mind!
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Future Newsletters:
Want To See Your Name in Print?
PassPorter News is published weekly, and this means we're always in need of articles! We're on the lookout for guest columnists who want to contribute articles to this newsletter. No professional writing experience is necessary, just a desire to share your experience with others! Not only is this a great way to give something back to the PassPorter community, but you get to see your name in "print" and receive a $25 gift certificate for use at www.passporter.com.
For details and our article submission guidelines, please e-mail news@passporter.com. Articles about Disney and general travel are welcomed!
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Our Sponsors:
We Recommend...
PassPorter only accepts advertising from services of the highest quality -- we recommend these companies because we use them ourselves. Please support our sponsors and, in turn, support this newsletter! This week's sponsors are (in order of appearance):
MouseEarVacations.com -- Disney Cruise Line Special Offers
Mouse Fan Travel -- New WDW Offer! Free Ticket Upgrade
ALL STAR Vacation Homes -- Choose from more than 150 homes within 4 miles of Disney World
Thank you, sponsors!
|
|
|
|
|
From the Authors: MouseFest Here We Come!
Hi, {{user("firstname")}}!
After a year of planning, MouseFest 2007 is almost here! We leave on Friday, embark on the MouseFest cruise on Sunday, and begin the festivities at Walt Disney World next Thursday. This year's event promises to be bigger and better than ever, and we're all very excited! If you'll be joining us, have a safe trip and see you soon! If you're staying home this year, consider joining PassPorter Guide Chrissi at a No-Go-MouseFest Chat on Satuday, December 8 at 9:00 pm ET. With nearly 300 PassPorter readers and members attending, we're sure there'll be many trip reports and photos, too!
Big News! We have a brand-new PassPorter e-book -- PassPorter's Festivals and Celebrations at Walt Disney World by Thomas Cackler. This e-book is available now for PassPorter's Club passholders, FREE of extra charges -- the e-book is now posted in the Club's Reading Room! The e-book will become available for purchase for just $4.95 in the PassPorter Store on Thursday, December 6. Visit the e-book information page to learn more and see a sample page!
The new PassPorter's Walt Disney World 2008 copies are all settled in, pre-orders are shipped, and new orders now ship the next business day. This is a good time to start placing orders for PassPorters as holiday gifts. If you order before December 5, you can choose Media Mail for low shipping rates and be assured it will arrive in time for the holidays. Visit the PassPorter Store to start your shopping.
You can read more about PassPorter's Walt Disney World 2008 at http://www.passporter.com/wdw/guidebook.asp, where you'll also find two new features: our "real-time" reviews from readers and our dynamically-generated book updates to which you can contribute. (Yes, we already have some updates listed for the 2008 edition). Order your own copy at http://www.passporterstore.com/store/2008.aspx
In this issue, PassPorter Feature Columnist Cheryl Pendry gives us a delightful peek into Celebration, Florida, and PassPorter Guide Sue Kulick is back to give us tips on getting first aid on vacation. Finally, Jack Skatt is back with a brand-new Walt Disney World Treasure Hunt. Enjoy!
Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter Publishers and Authors
|
|
Did You Know?
Great Walt Disney World Rates are available at MouseEarVacations.com!
*Savings based on double occupancy. Ships' Registry: The Bahamas
CST2058090-40 www.MouseEarVacations.com 800-886-8601
|
| |
Travel Feature:
Small Town Done Disney: Celebration, Florida
by Cheryl Pendry, PassPorter Featured Columnist
Sometimes it's very difficult to drag yourself away from the wonders of Walt Disney World. After all, with four theme parks, two water parks and more restaurants and shops than you could ever visit on one vacation, why would you need to leave this wonderland?
Because our trips to Disney usually last longer than the average stay, we tend to venture off property more than most and one of our favorite stops is very nearby to Disney World and had a huge dose of pixie dust in its development. That's because the Walt Disney Company was the organization responsible for developing the entire town.
Walt himself came up with the original dream of an Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow towards the end of his life. He saw it as a way of coming up with new ideas for urban living and made a film, spelling out what he would like to see. That included a monorail system, a city center where the pedestrian took priority over vehicles, apartments, houses and areas of green expanse, known as "green belt," to break up the residential buildings.
As we all know, EPCOT evolved into the second theme park to open at Walt Disney World, but it was far from the vision that Walt had originally spelled out. Yes, it looked at technology of the future and also brought together cultures and nations from around the world, but there was no-one living here, one of Walt's core ideas. But Walt's dream got a second chance when Celebration came along.
The first homes started to appear in 1996 and, since then, the community has continued to grow. It's fair to say that every time we visit the town, more has been added. Celebration is now a sprawling town, complete with its own facilities, including schools, churches, shops, restaurants, cinema and even its own town hall. If you ever need urgent medical treatment while staying at Disney, Celebration has its own hospital, a beautiful facility, which we spent some time at last year. Although it's never nice to have to go to the hospital, particularly when you're on vacation, they do try hard here to make the experience as pleasant as possible. (See our article on First Aid in Walt Disney World below!)
So, you may be wondering, why on earth would I want to visit a town, when there are so many great things to explore at the Walt Disney World resort? Well, although Celebration is a town, it's much more than that. As soon as you enter it, you realize that it's nothing like you've ever seen before. It really is an ideal version of the town you'd love to live in, with white picket fences and immaculately kept gardens, with beautiful houses set back from the road in lovely pastel colors.
Every time we go there, I can't help but compare it to Main Street USA. OK, so it's not the same, but they share the same general idea. This is an idealized version of how towns should be (at least in Walt's vision) and takes you back in time to the turn of the 20th century. That's even more obvious when you understand that Celebration was built with the idea of the pedestrian, rather than the car, being king. It's an odd concept to wrap your head around, particularly as you drive into the town. You'll find that you have to take extra care and slow down more than you normally would, which after you get used to it, is a pleasant change, as the slower speeds allow you to take in the wonderful scenery all around you.
Celebration isn't just somewhere for people to live though. It also recognizes the value of the visitor and that it's going to have an appeal to outsiders, especially with its Disney links and, as a result, the town plans for visitors, with special events throughout the year. If you're there in the spring, you can enjoy festivals of spring art, American Pie or even Posh Pooches. The summer brings 4th of July celebrations, while the fall is the time to enjoy Oktoberfest. In December, snow falls every night without fail with celebrations when they light the tree at the beginning of the month and at the end of the month to see the New Year in.
The shops, cafes and restaurants are also well worth exploring. We've spent many happy mornings or afternoons, just browsing around. Because Celebration has a slower pace of life and is a relatively quiet town, it's a pleasure to visit the shops. You won't find crowds of people here, but what you will find are unique outlets, where you might just pick up something a little bit more unusual.
Some of our favorite spots to head for include Day Dreams. You can't miss this place - just look for the two teddy bear topiaries outside. Inside, you'll find a wonderful assortment of collectibles and gifts. Further down Market Street are the Market Street Gallery, with home decor items and a selection of year round Christmas items, and the Village Mercantile, the place to get Celebration logo merchandise.
Other unusual shops include the wonderfully named Reading Trout Books in Front Street with thousands of new and used books and magazines and the Dog Bark Bakery in Celebration Avenue, the place to get a special treat for your four legged friend.
And if you want to add lunch or dinner to your visit, there are lots of places to try, with some, such as Cafe D'Antonio, the place to head for Italian food, the Columbia Restaurant, serving up Mediterranean food, and the Celebration Town Tavern, boasting wonderful lakeside views.
Perhaps those final words really sum up what Celebration is about. Because this town has been designed by Disney, there are just so many wonderful extra touches everywhere you look. It's clear a lot of thought went into designing this town, from the restaurants overlooking the picturesque lakes to the individual houses, with their beautiful pastel colors, to the lack of domination here by the car. All of these combine to make you feel as if you've stepped back in time and yet, you're only a few minutes away from the hustle and bustle of Walt Disney World itself.
Getting to Celebration from Walt Disney World couldn't be simpler. Take the 192 towards Kissimmee and then follow the signs, turning right on to Celebration Avenue. The town center is well signposted.
About the Author: Cheryl and husband Mark live in England and love to travel, particularly to America. They were on the first 11 night sailing of the Disney Magic around the Mediterranean and are now looking forward to returning to Walt Disney World in December.
- - - - - - - - - - -
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!
|
Did You Know?
At Mouse Fan Travel® you get our
Signature Services & NO agency fees!
New Offer! Free Ticket Upgrades
Walt Disney World® Resort
4-nights from $385* - Book by 12/15/07
Valid most nights 1/01/08 – 3/15/08
Ready for a no-obligation quote?
Visit us at: www.MouseFanTravel.com
*Per person/dbl occupancy, 3-night minimum, subject to availability
Click for full details. - CST207807440 -As to Disney artwork: ©Disney
|
|
Disney Feature:
First Aid While On A Disney Vacation
by Sue Kulick, PassPorter Message Board Guide and Guest Contributor
You've planned a magical vacation to the Happiest Place on Earth, Walt Disney World! You've planned, packed and primped; you are anticipating a wonderful vacation as you embark on your journey.
But what happens when things don't go exactly as planned? What happens if you have an illness or an injury while on vacation? It's comforting to know that Walt Disney World First Aid can help get your vacation back on track.
Several years ago, my husband Steve did a not-so-smart thing. We enjoyed a delightful dinner at Fulton's Crab House, and Steve really wanted to have the lobster. So he did. Problem is - he is allergic to lobster. While it is not a severe allergy, it is enough to cause him discomfort. About an hour after eating, we were strolling around Pleasure Island when he began to have symptoms. We decided to look for some help and found that Pleasure Island has paramedic teams walking around, waiting to help people! They took us to a quiet area where they assessed Steve and took his vital signs. I actually had Benadryl with me, and he was stable enough that he could take the medication and not require any further intervention. It was extremely reassuring to know that even in a night club area such as Pleasure Island, help was so close.
Any park can produce a team of EMS professionals from seemingly out of nowhere. While they are not quite as evident in the Magic Kingdom or the other parks as at Pleasure Island, the many secret and side doorways throughout the parks offer entry to the help you might need. They also have access to transport vehicles if you need assistance to get to help. Serious emergencies that require a trauma center are transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center; less emergent cases are transported to Celebration Hospital. If you'd like to read more about emergency response at Walt Disney World, you can read about the Reedy Creek Emergency Services team here: http://www.rcid.org/Dept_Emergency.cfm
Suppose you are walking around and develop a headache? You enter a gift shop and see lots of Mickey ears but no aspirin. What do you do? Ask the Cast Member at the front desk. At the larger gift shops, he or she can produce a large box of first aid remedies. (They call it "candy for grown-ups" because it actually looks like a candy box!) They average about $2.00 a packet and only contain one dose, but it is much easier than heading back to your room. They carry almost all over-the-counter medications.
First Aid is located in several places in the parks, and these are noted on the maps in your PassPorter. It's a good idea to make note of the locations. You don't want to be ill or trying to care for a sick child and trying to find First Aid all at the same time. If you need assistance and cannot make it to First Aid or do not know where first aid is, alert any Disney employee and they will call for help for you.
[Editor's Note: You can request small doses of medicines like ibuprofen and acetomenophen for headaches and other pains at the First Aid Stations, free of charge.]
But what happens if you get 1200 miles from home and find you have left your blood pressure medication on your night stand at home? Please, don't try to go the entire trip without your medication. There are numerous pharmacies in the area that can help. My personal recommendation is Turner Drugs. They are located on Vineland Road, and for a small fee will deliver a prescription to your resort. You call them, they call your pharmacy back home to verify your prescription, and they deliver the amount you need till the end of your vacation right to your resort. They will charge the fee right to your room! Your prescription will be held for you at the front desk.
And what if you get sick on the Disney Cruise Line? I can tell you from firsthand experience that the care here, like everything else, is exemplary. Tucked way down in the bowels of the ship (Deck 1) is a non-descript doorway that says "Health Center" with the standard Red Cross on the door. When you open that door, you are greeted by a standard doctor's waiting room. A nurse takes your information, and soon you are in to see the doctor. He will give you an exam, but there is so much more available if necessary. A Disney Cruise ship has the equivalent of a small emergency room hidden away down there. Emergencies ranging from a seasick child to a minor cardiac event can be handled. And in the unlikely event that you need to be airlifted off of the ship, this is where your journey and treatment would begin.
Steve once again was the recipient of medical care on our 2007 cruise. He injured his neck somehow and could not move when he woke up. We hobbled down to Guest Services, where we explained the situation. They sent us off to the Health Center, where the physician actually opened a bit early to be able to accommodate us. After some treatment and some medication, Steve began to feel better, and was back to his old self by the next day.
Now, this is not a free service, nor do they take insurance. The staff will give you a copy of your bill to submit to your insurance company, but be prepared to have a minimum of $112 added to your stateroom charges.
You never think that bad things can happen while on vacation, but they can, and they do. It's nice to know that you will be in competent hands if the need arises!
About the Author: Sue Kulick is a resident of the Pocono Mountains and an avid Disney fan. She and her husband, Steve, live in a log home with their Golden Retrievers, Cody and Belle and their cats Tigger and Rocky.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
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!
|
Did You Know?
ALL STAR Vacation Homes -
Experience the ALL STAR Difference
Choose from more than 150 homes within 4 miles of Disney World. Game Rooms, Home Theatres, Multiple Master Bedrooms, Computers, Kitchens and More. All for the same price or less than staying in a hotel! PLUS free heated pool & Disney ticket specials with every reservation!!
Special for PassPorter News readers:
http://www.allstarvacationhomes.com/
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
