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In
This Newsletter
From the Authors: Back
From "The Mouse"
Travel Feature:
Puppy
Love: Traveling With Your Furry Friends
Disney Feature: No
Strings: Solo Travel at Walt Disney World
Updates: What's
New and Changed
Tips: Quick
Change Bags, Suction Cup Space Savers, Camera Care
Q&A: Turtle
Talk With Crush
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Updates:
What's
New and Changed
Here's a few of the new developments at Disney·
All "One Park for One Day" Passes sold beginning
December 2, 2004 will expire January 8, 2005.
Disney has announced a new ticket plan for Walt Disney
World - "Magic Your Way". Beginning January 2, 2005 park tickets
will be custom tailored to your stay. The longer your stay, the less expensive
your per day cost is. For more information, check out the
Walt Disney World web site.
Also beginning in January, the Extra Magic Hour
is changing. Each day one park will open one hour early OR stay open 3
hours late in order for guests of Disney Resorts to keep enjoying the magic.
Valid park admission and hotel ID required. No word yet on if this will
replace E-ride nights.
And last but not least, Disney has announced a new
Dining
Plan. Disney hotel guests utilizing the "Magic Your Way" package can
add-on a dining option that provides 2 meals and a snack available at over
100 restaurants throughout Walt Disney World.
>Things To Do: Hear some news?
Send it to us at
news@passporter.com
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Disney
Tips:
From Fellow Readers
Our readers are a wealth of information! Here are
the winners in this month's tip contest:
QUICK CHANGE BAGS
"Make diaper packages to take to the parks! In a
large ziplock place a diaper and a couple of wipes that are in a smaller
baggie. When it is time to change a kid, just grab a package and
run to the bathroom. No need to search for anything and everything
can just be tossed! Plus you have a nice "stinky proof" bag for a
messy diaper!
-- contributed by Kate G.
SUCTION CUP SPACE SAVERS
"It's a great idea to pack some suction hooks --
these can be used in the shower for drying swim wear and other wet clothing. Depending on your family size, you may not have enough room on the drying
line!" -- contributed by Angie J.
CAMERA CARE
"Always make sure that your camera is in good working
order before you begin your magical adventure to Disney. In addition, it
would be wise to develop at least one roll of film while you are there
to confirm that it is indeed in proper working order. On our last
trip our camera was broken, but still taking pictures. We did not
realize that we had a problem until we developed the film and found that
all of the pictures were completely blurred. It was too late at that
point to recapture the moment. This could have all been avoided had
we developed at least one roll of film during our stay." -- contributed
by Karen F.
>Notes: Send
us your tips ! You may see them in this newsletter and win a copy of
PassPorter!
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Q
& A:
With Jennifer and Dave
Everyone is buzzing about the new
Turtle Talk With Crush exhibit at Epcot's Living Seas. For vacationers comments,
see our
Going Behind the Scenes forum on the PassPorter message boards. Here are
Dave's comments: "Jennifer and I finally got to see
it yesterday. In a word, FANTASTIC!!!!"
"While the presentation is aimed at smaller kids (the seven and under set), the
whole thing is funny, charming, entertaining, educational and so filled with
"Gee whiz" on the tech side that I have to consider this a "Don't miss"
attraction, no matter what your age."
"Consider; this is a computer-generated image, swimming in a fully-animated
environment on a wall-sized screen. Like the talking trash can or Colonel
Critchlow Suchbench at the Adventurers Club, there has to be a talented, human
performer behind the scenes, watching the guests via video camera and
interacting. However, unlike anything else you've ever seen, this character has
an impressive range of emotional and facial expression, and remarkable range of
motion. His beak (lips) moves in perfect sync with his words. In the show we
attended, Crush was bummed-out, grinned and winked, beamed with enthusiasm....
To do this sort of thing in real time is nothing short of amazing."
"In a lot of ways, this show is a techno-cool version of Pocahontas and Her
Forest Friends at Animal Kingdom, which has to be one of the weakest attractions
at WDW. Both attractions try to educate and entertain kids by using cute,
accessible animals. Both have audience interaction. But the resemblance ends
there."
"One of these days this technology will undoubtedly be everywhere - at every
museum and zoo (for educational purposes) and who knows where else for selling
products, etc. It's an ingenious way of adapting the technology used in animated
films like The Polar Express (human actors whose motion and expressions are
captured on video and converted to animated characters). The same techniques
were also used to animate Gollum in The Lord of the Rings, and to create
"avatars" in virtual reality games."
"HOWEVER, to see it done real-time, with "fine detail" like lip movements and
facial expressions, without a whole crew of technicians and dozens of computer
processors working for hours to produce a finished minute of film (it wouldn't
be affordable as a "small" attraction at WDW if it did).... I'm definitely blown
away!"
"Hats off to anyone involved in developing this attraction!"
Jennifer, Dave and family have been busy at MouseFest
2004. Check out Dave's reports direct from the Disney Wonder at http://www.passporterboards.com
Have a question? Post it at http://www.passporterboards.com
-- and if you're lucky, you may find that folks have already asked and
answered the same question that's on your mind!
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Future
Newsletters:
Want
To Get Published?
We're on the lookout for guest columnists to contribute
articles to this newsletter. Not only is this a great way to give something
back to the PassPorter community, but you get to see your name in "print"
and receive a $25 gift certificate. For details and our article guidelines,
please e-mail news@passporter.com.
Articles about Disney and general travel are welcomed!
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From
the Authors: Back From "The Mouse"
Hi, friends!
When last we met, the Marx family was packing and preparing for MouseFest
2004 -- cruising on the Disney Wonder and playing at Walt Disney World with our
fellow Disney fans. Well, we've been "There and Back Again," (to borrow the
original title of hobbit Bilbo Baggins' travel journal), and are busily catching
up in the office and preparing for the upcoming holidays. While our report on
MouseFest will have to wait for the next newsletter, this trip was also our first
opportunity to check out a variety of changes on the Disney Wonder and at Walt
Disney World, and was our first Disney trip with an infant. Briefly, baby
Alexander is a real trouper. You wouldn't think travel skills could be
inherited, but it sure seemed that way. Our little one made his first jet
flights with nary a whimper, and he soaked-up all the new and strange
experiences with ease (more on all of this in that upcoming report). Meantime,
Disney continues to serve-up new wonders. The new teen and adult areas on the
Wonder are great additions, although with the busy MouseFest schedule, we had
little time to enjoy them ourselves. Back at the theme parks we had our first
chance to experience Stitch's Great Escape and to see the latest "Finding Nemo"-themed
changes at Epcot's Living Seas.
Alas, we were hardly thrilled by Stitch. The former "Alien Encounter" at
Magic Kingdom was a favorite of ours, and while we understand that Disney wanted
to make that creepy thrill experience kid-friendly, they fell short on
kid-friendliness and substituted a weak story line that simply peters-out at the
end. We have nothing against kid-friendly attractions -- when Disney is doing its
job right, the kid-friendly attractions possess a charm that more than
compensates for the lack of "grown-up" features. In this case, the charm never
arrives, and the kids are still faced with scary periods of extended darkness
and the prospect of being shot at by laser cannons! Fortunately, it appears that
Disney can revise this attraction with relatively little technical difficulty or
expense. Let's hope they spend some time fine-tuning, very soon. Meantime,
over at Epcot's "Living Seas," the "Finding Nemo" makeover continues, with great
success. New this trip is an exhibit about sharks, hosted by Bruce, the shark
who swore off eating fish in the Pixar/Disney motion picture. The exhibit is a
delightful mix of whimsy and education. Too bad 12-year-old, shark-obsessed
Allie was too busy riding Mission Space and Test Track to catch this exhibit.
But even better than Bruce's shark lesson is "Turtle Talk with Crush." The sea
turtle that talks like a surfer dude, dude, is host of a brilliantly executed
question-and-answer show. I've already written a bit about this on the
PassPorter message boards, which we've repeate d
in the Q & A section of this newsletter.
So, may all your upcoming holidays be happy and
healthy, and we look forward to seeing you again in the new year.
Thanks for being part of the PassPorter
community,Jennifer
and Dave
PassPorter Travel Press
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Did
You Know? Save
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Travel
Feature:
Puppy Love: Traveling
With Your Furry Friends
By Melissa Calamera,
Guest Columnist and Animal Lover
Travel is my passion. From the time I was
5 years old I've enjoyed experiencing the family-friendly attractions along
the east coast. From Disney World to Hershey Park, Busch Gardens to Lake
George, the New Jersey Shore to the Catskills, there is nothing more exciting
-- the thrill of seeing new things, meeting new people, gaining knowledge
through first-hand experiences and broadening your horizons in a way that
will live on in memory sends a chill of exhilaration through my bones.
While my love of travel dominates my mind and hopes for the future, there
are many things that have to be considered in order to make a family vacation
possible -- especially when the family includes a beloved pet. In 1999 my
family decided to get a dog, a small Shih-Tzu named Oreo, who quickly became
an important part of our lives. With the added responsibility of a dog
we decided that it would not be the best idea to travel since we couldn't
bear the idea of boarding her or leaving her at home. So for six years
we put our family vacations on halt. Why, you ask? Because we did not know
about the plethora of options available to travelers who would like to
vacation with their pet.
All over the country are hotels, condos,
resorts, and campgrounds that accept pets as members of the family, catering
to all desires and budgets, as well as theme parks, shopping centers, city
parks, beaches and other tourist attractions that allow pets to accompany
you on your visit. There are also endless web sites out there to help you
get started, with the best tips, tricks and advice on how to thoroughly
enjoy your vacation while also keeping your pet safe and satisfied.
As with any other vacation, first you must
decide where you would like to go. Don't let your pet dominate this decision
-- there are pet-friendly accommodations and facilities in all areas nationwide,
although there do tend to be more options available in big cities. Love
the mountains? The Hilton Lake Placid Resort in Lake Placid, New York accepts
pets and is nestled cozily amongst the Adirondack Mountains. Does the beach
float your boat? Long Beach, California is the home of Recreation Dog Park,
where dogs of all sizes are allowed to roam the beach freely. Love the
non-stop action of a big city? New York City is home to hundreds of
pet-friendly hotels, parks, shops and even restaurants, many of which give
you pet free souvenirs and special menus. If the thrill of theme parks
is what gets you going, then the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Studios Florida,
located in Orlando, the theme park capital of the world, should be your
first option, since leashed pets are allowed to roam the grounds freely
and enjoy special in-room services.
Once you decide where your vacation travels
will take you, it's time to decide where to stay. There are several different
chain hotels, as well as privately owned luxury resorts, that are pet-friendly.
If you're on a strict budget, the Choice Hotels Company offers a variety
of options, including accommodations at Comfort Inn, MainStay Suites, Roadway
Inn, and Econo Lodge hotel chains, most of which accept pets. (For more
information visit choicehotels.com) Hilton resorts nationwide allow
pets to accompany you on your trip, offering in room services such as pet
toys, menus, beds and even spas. The Lancaster Host Resort is another beautiful
option - located in the heart of Amish Country, pets are accepted for an
extra $5 a night, and the all-inclusive resort is only 45 minutes from
the family-friendly Hershey Park. Visit
petsaccepted.com for more options
and an endless selection of pet-friendly hotels to fit all budgets.
If you really want to give your pet the
ultimate vacation, you could take part in pet-centered activities, programs
and gatherings located across the country. Every November the "People &
Pooch Pajama Party" is hosted in Carefree, Arizona, featuring caricatures,
booths, games, rides and attractions for both families and their pets.
The "Auburn Doggie Derby" is held every September in Auburn, California,
where a doggie race, food and fun picture opportunities allow your pets
to be the main attraction. Every October, Franklin, North Carolina in the Appalachian
Mountains is the home of the "Annual Leaf Looking Camp for You and Your
Dog," a week-long adventure that teaches both you and your
pet how to live long, healthy lives by using natural remedies.
Whatever type of vacation you choose, always
make sure that your pet is well cared for and safe. Regardless of your
destination, be sure to have your pet's medical history on hand, including
their documented vaccinations and check-up information. Never leave a dog
alone in the car - this is extremely dangerous and illegal in many
states. Be sure to arrange a time for housekeeping to clean up your room
when you are staying at a hotel -- make sure your pet is either kept safely
away in a carrying case or cage, or take the pet out of the room. If your
pet is on a special diet be sure to bring their food along, as well as
medications and any toys or beds that would help them to feel comfortable
and more at home.
As long as you're prepared, you can enjoy
a fun and exciting family vacation along with your pet. Pick an interesting
location, a fabulous accommodation, make your reservations and get going!
For more information, "Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA Petbook," written and
published by AAA Travel Experts, is a great resource that includes all the ins
and outs of traveling with your pet, as well as accommodations and special
pet-friendly attractions. So start packing -- don't forget the
doggie food -- and get ready for the vacation of a lifetime!
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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 plans.
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Disney
Feature:
No Strings: Solo Travel at
Walt Disney World
by William J.
Garmer Jr., Guest Columnist
I never particularly thought of myself
as Pinocchio. I was always more the Peter Pan type in my mind -- I didn't
want to grow up. Still don't, in fact. But when I began taking solo trips
to Walt Disney World, I got that wonderful feeling of 'no strings' so strongly
that I found myself avoiding Sea World for fear of the whales!
What is it about a solo trip that is so
appealing to me? Well, in order to understand that, you have to understand
what my non-solo trips are like.
My first trip to Walt Disney World was
in August of 1990. My friend Frank and his wife Terri went to Orlando several
times a year to visit Terri's family in Kissimmee. Frank's enthusiasm for
the Disney parks was so infectious, when they invited me to join them,
I jumped at the chance.
I wound up tagging along with Frank and
Terri on more trips over the next couple of years. But as much as I enjoyed
those trips, I always had a desire to try WDW on my own. Growing up I went
to local theme parks (Hershey Park or King's Dominion) every year. By the
time I was 13 or so I was allowed to wander those small parks alone. This
was a great feeling for me, freeing me from the need to ride only those
rides that my family wanted to ride. On all my trips to WDW with friends,
I always felt it would be impolite to ditch them.
My friends and I have similar, but not
identical, taste in attractions and rides. They like thrill rides and roller
coasters a lot, but I was always a "Coaster Chicken" (until Frank tricked
me onto Space Mountain in 1990, but that's another story). My friends are
very energetic and like to keep moving all day on a vacation, but I like
to slow down and smell the roses, maybe even read a book or watch some
TV. To Frank watching TV on vacation is only something you do to see tomorrow's
weather report, and reading a book is a form of heresy!
Finally in early 1999, I decided to make
a solo trip. I picked my dates, planned the trip out in advance, made all
my reservations, and sat back to wait for the trip to arrive.
Aside from a few day-trips and overnights,
this was the first time I had ever taken an out-of-town trip on my own.
Added to the usual anticipation of a Disney trip was the added "specialness"
of flying, which I love but don't do very often. The fact that my outbound
travel day was my thirtieth birthday, and that my last two nights in Orlando
would be my first at a Disney Moderate (the Caribbean Beach Resort) contributed
to my excitement as well.
That trip was everything I had hoped it
would be and more. Having been to WDW so many times before, I was fairly
knowledgeable about the resorts, parks, and attractions, but for the first
time ever, I was able to experience them at my own slower pace, in whatever
order I decided, and to repeat a few of my favorites -- none of which I
could do when touring with friends.
I had several completely new experiences
on that trip, beginning with flying alone to a city 900 miles from home
and checking into a hotel by myself. I've never been afraid to do things
by myself, but I'd always had a safety net of family and friends to call
upon that would not be there in Florida. Still, I was not terribly afraid
of getting on the plane and flying away because I truly enjoy the experience
of flying. But when I got off the plane and made my way toward the main
terminal, I had my one and only moment of apprehension. As I looked out
the windows and saw palm trees, it drove home the knowledge of just how
far away from home I really was.
I took a few seconds to look out the windows
and reassure myself that even though I was far from home, I was in a place
that I knew very well, that I had visited many times before. By the time
I got to my hotel, the Days Inn Lake Buena Vista, all I could think of
was what to enjoy next.
I was apprehensive about driving myself
around Disney World and the surrounding area, because I tend to get lost
on unfamiliar streets. But since I was staying at an off-site hotel for
the bulk of the trip, I felt that I had no choice but to rent a car rather
than rely on shuttle buses or taxis. Driving was not an issue, however,
only navigation. With the help of a few good maps, I was able to get to
my hotel without getting lost, and to drive around WDW and even up to Universal
Studios during the week with only a few wrong turns.
I also found myself feeling a little awkward
about eating in full-service restaurants alone. On that first solo trip,
I only ate in one sit-down place, an off-site Sizzler, and stuck with counter-service
the rest of the time. I have since overcome that discomfort, because I
have found that wait staff in most restaurants, especially WDW restaurants,
make a special effort to engage solo diners in conversation and to make
their dining experience comfortable and enjoyable. I have also found a
wonderful side-effect of dining alone - getting into a WDW restaurant with
no advance Priority Seating is far easier for one person than for a group!
On subsequent solo trips I have gotten into most restaurants with little
or no wait.
Another new experience was taking a behind-the-scenes
tour. I signed up a few months ahead of time for "Hidden Treasures," a
tour of the World Showcase at Epcot, and as it turned out, the tour group
that day was only five strong, so our tour guide was able to answer a lot
of our questions in much greater detail than he would have with a larger
group. Tours like this were not something I had ever considered when I
traveled with my friends, because none of them had ever wanted to try one.
I found myself spending a lot of time simply
sitting on benches, watching people go by. I really enjoyed sitting around,
enjoying the Disney atmosphere, examining little details, listening to
the background music, and relaxing in the warm Florida sunshine.
And I was able to go back to some of my
favorite attractions and repeat them, while skipping some of those that
I didn't care to try, just like my solo expeditions at other theme parks
when I was a kid. Instead of forcing myself onto Tower of Terror because
my friends wanted to go on, I repeated Star Tours. Instead of spending
an hour in an arcade being bored while my friend Rick played video games,
I wandered through shops and stores. And instead of hanging around as my
friend Frank talked fish with the Cast Members at the Living Seas, a subject
that has always left me high and dry, I went over to the Wonders of Life
and saw Cranium Command again.
Since that trip in 1999, I have made five
more solo trips, and have another in the works for next April. I'm now
as hooked on solo trips as I am on trips to Walt Disney World. Hopefully
I will be able to not only continue taking those trips for years to come,
but to share the fun with others who may want to try solo trips, but feel
nervous about traveling or touring WDW alone. I can assure you, there is
nothing to be nervous about, and the wonderful benefits of a solo trip
will soon eliminate any fears you might have.
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Check out William's trip
reports on his web site:
http://cablespeed.com/~wgarmer/
Did you enjoy this article? Have
questions? E-mail us at news@passporter.com or visit http://www.passporterboards.com
to discuss planning your solo trip. |
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