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December 21, 2006 * Issue 6.49 |
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 In
This Newsletter
From the Authors:
Happy Holidays!
Travel Feature:
Charleston, South Carolina: The Historic District
Disney Feature: Disney's
All-Star Music Resort
Updates: What's
New and Changed
Tips:
Eye Catching Car, Ponchos - Not Just For Rain!, Let It Rain
Captain's Corner: Christmas Scene
Q&A: Can
I pay "cash" for some meals while on the Dining Plan in order to save credits?
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Updates:
What's
New and Changed
Here are a few items of relevant news:
Artist Point at Disney's Wilderness Lodge will now
host a Dine with a Disney Imagineer Dinner. This is a group dinner so you
will most likely be seated with other guests. This event can be booked 60 days
in advance by calling 407-WDW-DINE. The cost for adults (ages 10+) is $110.80
including tax and gratuity. Diners will have a choice of soup or salad, one of
three entrees, and one of two offered desserts. The dinner is recommended for
guests ages 14 and over. A credit card is required to hold this reservation and
a 48-hour cancellation policy applies.
Major League regular season baseball is coming to Orlando! The Tampa Bay
Devil Rays will play three "home" games against the Texas Rangers at
Disney's Wide World of Sports, May 15 - 17, 2007. Tampa Bay season ticket
holders will be offered comparable seats as well as preferred parking and other
perks. To purchase tickets, visit
http://www.devilrays.com.
Shiver me timbers! Pirates will be taking over the Seven Seas Lagoon at Walt Disney World this May. There will be a three-day merchandise event concurrent with the opening of the next Pirates of the Caribbean movie. The event will be held at the Contemporary Resort. Tickets go on sale on January 11 at 2:00 pm. Get more details here or phone 407-827-7600.
Our thanks to AllEarsNet.com
from which we get some of our news leads.
>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 deliver a wealth of information! Here
are the winners in this month's tip contest:
EYE CATCHING CAR
"Many folks used rental cars when on vacation, and many cars look alike. My
sister would always put something bright and gaudy on the dash board to help her
car stand out so she could pick out her rental at a distance. Makes things a bit
easier in those giant parking lots." (Editor's Note: If your
rental car has an antenna, a Mickey Antenna Topper can be used to help
distinguish your car as well! I always bring one from home so that it is
different than whatever versions they are currently selling at the parks.)
-- contributed by Pete G. (fishn84128@...)
PONCHOS - NOT JUST FOR RAIN!
"It got very, very cold one evening of our last trip, so to protect my elderly
mother from the elements, I put a rain poncho on her under her coat. This
provided a windbreak, and also helped keep her body heat in. She wasn't
completely comfortable, but was much better off than she would have been without
it. This tip will work for anyone in your group."
-- contributed by Carol R.
LET IT RAIN
"If it's raining (but no lightning) take advantage and go to the water
parks! You're going to get wet anyway and the park will be less crowded."
-- contributed by
Cori F.
>Notes: 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 or PassPorter name badge pin.
Here is this week's journal entry:
"Christmas is almost upon me and I yearn for the warmth of hearth and home. I found a reasonable facsimile today, which made me feel
somewhat better. It was a cozy scene with a large Christmas tree, family, and a turkey in the oven. The family dog (I believe his name was Rover) was
tied up in a big, red bow. There was even a cat sleeping on the presents at Grandma's feet. Trish got a pair of ski boots! Despite all this cheer, I think perhaps
the scene was a bit
*too* heart warming, as I'm sure I caught a whiff of burning meat.
Where is this Christmas scene?"
Send your full answer to jackskatt@passporter.com
-- the winner will be notified by e-mail and announced in the next newsletter,
along with the correct answer!
Congratulations to Patricia A. who was the winner
of last week's treasure hunt game! She correctly identified
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor Comedy Club as the new club opening and the
Tomorrowland Metropolis Science Center as the full name of the old science
center. To view the original clues, 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
Skatt. The new "PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World" book
is now available! You can order the book today at http://www.passporterstore.com.
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Q
& A:
With Jennifer and Dave
Brian asks:
"My wife and I leave on
Saturday for our first Disney Christmas trip. It is also our first time using
the dining plan. We are planning on paying for some meals, in order to save our
dinner credits for "signature" restaurants. If we pay using our room key, how do
we prevent from being charged one of our dining credits? Do we just tell the CM
ahead of time?"
Dave & Jennifer answer:
"Yes, tell your
server that you want to pay "cash" (or charge to your room) rather than use a
Dining Plan credit.
However, I also caution you against using Dining Plan credits for Signature
Dining experiences. You rarely get as much value for your money as you would if
you used those credits for single-credit meals.
2007 PassPorter Walt Disney World has extensive tools for evaluating the value
of various meals on the dining plan. If you have it, I encourage you to take
advantage of those features. If you don't... I'll bet the book will pay for
itself on the value of the dining plan advice alone."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 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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From
the Authors: Happy Holidays!
Hi, {{user("firstname")}}!
Chanukah candles have been aglow for nearly a
week, Christmas is nearly upon us, and the New Year is just around the corner.
Where has the time gone? Here in the PassPorter office our travels have
temporarily (and happily) come to a halt after business trips to Washington DC
in May, Walt Disney World in June, Allentown PA in July, the Mediterranean in
September and October, Disneyland in November, and MouseFest at Walt Disney
World and on the Disney Wonder in December. For a change, we're nesting -
preparing our home to welcome family from around the country.
We wish all of you the best of holidays and all the
joys that the season brings. Whether you have a bit more snow than you hoped
for, more rain than anybody deserves, or will be entirely bereft of snow (as it
will be here in Southeast Michigan), we hope that by week's end you'll be safe,
warm, and snug -- in your homes or wherever your travels may take you.
While you've probably got bigger things on your
To Do list at the moment (like stocking the fridge and wrapping gifts), you may
still be interested to know that the new edition of PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line guidebook
is now available for pre-order and is expected
to arrive around January 22, 2007. The new edition is 336 pages (our longest yet!) with in-depth information on all 2007 ports, including the
special Mediterranean and repositioning ports. As an added bonus, readers who pre-order the guidebook through us will receive the Mediterranean
cruise sections (over 70 pages) in a preview PDF file as an immediate download.
And with Spring Break right around the corner (the realization will hit you on
or about December 26),
PassPorter Walt Disney
World 2007 is in stock and orders from the PassPorter Store are shipping on the next
business day. Place your order today at
our online store. And don't forget to use the 20% off coupon code at
the bottom of this issue of PassPorter News!
Again, whether you'll be traveling to Walt
Disney World, Disneyland, or cruising on the Disney Magic or Wonder during
Christmas/New Year's week, visiting family, or cozying-up at home, we wish you
all the best of holidays.
In this issue of the newsletter veteran
contributor and incredibly well-traveled Brit Cheryl Pendry takes us on a delightful tour of
Charleston, South Carolina and Maureen Austin sings the
praises of Disney's All-Star Music Resort. Enjoy!
Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter Authors
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Did You Know?
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Special Mouse Fan Savings!
Happy Holidays!
From Our Family to Yours!
Walt
Disney World Resort® - 4 Nights
Apr 18-22, 2007 - From only $202 pp
Includes a Disney Gift Card too!
If this doesn't quite fit
your needs,
ask us about customizing your stay!
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Travel
Feature:
Charleston, South Carolina: The Historic District
by
Cheryl Pendry, Guest Contributor and PassPorter Message Board Guide
As the place where the
American Civil War started and with a history dating back to 1670 and the days
of the English settlers, Charleston certainly has a rich and varied history.
It’s that history that is the city's main attraction, bringing in nearly four
million visitors each year.
Any visit to
Charleston needs to include the beautiful Historic District. At the southern end
of downtown Charleston, it overlooks the harbor to the east. As you drive through, you're transported back a couple of hundred years in time, helped by the gas lamps that still stand on the sides of the
streets.
East Bay Street and Meeting Street are the places to head to find historic homes and
it's immediately clear that this has always been a rich and affluent area. There
are plenty of highlights here, but perhaps the one that most people head
straight for is the Nathaniel Russell House, now a National Historic Landmark.
Russell was one of the city's wealthiest merchants and construction of the
house, considered at the time to be one of the finest residences in Charleston,
took five years. Perhaps what sets it apart from other buildings in the Historic
District is the sheer beauty of the property, both inside and outside, with a
formal English garden to explore. If you're visiting on a Sunday, be aware that
the Nathaniel Russell House is only open in the afternoon, from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm.
Perhaps the
highlight - and certainly the most photographed part - of East Bay Street is the
stunning Rainbow Row. Look at any rack of postcards in Charleston and without
doubt, an image of these brightly coloured colonial townhouses will jump out at
you. The idea of bright pink, blue and yellow historic buildings may sound
unappealing, but it's a sight worth seeing, although getting photographs
yourself isn't easy due to all the trees in front of the properties.
That's a theme that continues down towards the Battery, a stunning tree-lined
area, where almost every building is worth taking a look at, whether it's
listed in the guidebook or not. There must be few places in the world where there
are so many beautiful buildings all next to each other and all preserved for
generations to come.
The Battery
itself got its name from its former military use and even today, you can see
cannons lined up, facing the harbor As you stand there, you can understand why this area was so important for
armies. The view over Charleston Harbor and the Cooper River are beautiful. Standing there on a beautiful day, it's
almost impossible to imagine that this place was ravaged by Hurricane Hugo in
1989, which flattened 60 buildings in downtown Charleston and took the roof off
the Nathaniel Russell House.
As well as
historic homes, Charleston is packed with something else - churches, which is
how it earned its nickname of the "Holy City." The easiest way to see that is to
take to the water, on one of the many cruises that are offered. It's also a good
way to get some of the best views of the Battery, and you can combine your
cruise with
lunch or dinner. Another great way to take a look at Charleston is on a carriage
ride - and trust me, you'll also become a tourist attraction, with people snapping photos
as you ride by. Horse drawn carriages make for a great
photo, especially if you can catch them as they trundle past one of the
beautiful colonial buildings.
The historic
district of Charleston is also a great place to shop. The Old City Market is
three blocks long and home to all sorts of traders and their goods, including sweet grass
baskets, a traditional craft that was first brought to the area by slaves from West Africa. If you
think that the price tag is a bit high, it's worth remembering that the baskets
can take days or weeks to make.
From there,
it's worth heading down East Bay Street, which is home to a range of art
galleries. If you're struck by the beauty of Charleston, this is the place to
head for to take a piece of it home with you.
Charleston has
much more to offer than just the Historic District. Fine plantation homes
are nearby, and Fort Sumter, where the first shots of the American Civil War
were fired, stands in the middle of the harbor.
But whatever you do on your visit to Charleston, be sure to head for the
Historic District. The number and quality of colonial houses here is almost
unrivalled in America, and as you walk or take a carriage ride through the area,
you almost expect to come face to face with one of the original English
settlers. There are not many places in the world where you can say that.
About the Author:
Cheryl and husband Mark live in England and love to travel, particularly to
America. They've recently returned from a two week visit to Walt Disney World
and Hilton Head Island, during which they visited Charleston and Savannah.
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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.
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You Know?
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Click here to request a quote!.
*Offer based on double occupancy.
Ships' Registry: The Bahamas
CST2058090-40 www.MouseEarVacations.com 800-886-8601
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Disney Feature:
All-Star Music
by
Maureen Austin, Guest Contributor and PassPorter Message Board Guide
For those looking for the
benefits and magic of staying at a Walt Disney World Resort but at an affordable
price, All-Star Music may have you singing a tune! Opened after All-Star Sports,
this sprawling 1900+ room resort offers an array of amenities and Disney magic
to each of it's guests.
Located in the Animal Kingdom Resort area of
Walt Disney World property, the resort is themed to bring guests in sync with
different genres of music. Each section within the resort has a musical theme,
complete with accentuating décor in guest rooms and huge icons near the
buildings and in the courtyards. If you are a country music fan, you might find
yourself at home in the Country Fair section. Jazz Inn and Rock Inn offer
theming specific to these types of sounds and theater buffs might find
themselves in heaven in the Broadway Hotel section.
Guest rooms at All-Star
Music are classified as either standard or preferred. Standard rooms are located
throughout the property, while preferred rooms are located in the Calypso
section. While preferred rooms do cost a bit more, for your extra dollars put
you into buildings conveniently located near Melody Hall, the central hub of activity
for the resort.
Accommodations in standard or preferred rooms include 2 double beds, a small table
and chairs, as well as a small dresser. The rooms accommodate 4 people and a
child under 2 in a crib. As with all Disney's Value resorts, these are the smallest rooms of any of the Disney resorts
at 260 sq. feet.
Summer 2006 brought some exciting changes to All-Star Music. Family Suites that
accommodate up to 6 plus one child were added to parts of the Jazz and Calypso
sections. The suites are available in both standard and preferred locations.
Twice the area of a standard room, these suites feature a queen bed, sofa sleeper and two convertible twin beds along
with a kitchenette. One of the biggest advantages is not one but two full
bathrooms, a real plus for large families!
While there is no full
service restaurant on site at All-Star Music, Intermission Food Court offers
several food stations with a variety of offerings for breakfast, lunch, dinner,
and late evening snacking. In addition, there is a pizza delivery service
should you feel like taking a break and eating in your room. You can pick up a
refillable mug here for $11.99 and refill it as many times as you wish during
your stay.
Recreation offered here
includes two pools (Guitar and Piano, shaped like these two instruments for an
extra dose of whimsy) as well as a playground, game room and shopping at Maestro
Mickey's in Melody Hall. Need help with tickets or dining arrangements?
No problem! Visit Melody Hall for guest services and check-in. Also at Melody
Hall is the origination point for Walt Disney World transportation from the
resort. Bus service departs for all the Disney parks and Downtown Disney. Some
bus routes make several stops. If you are wishing to journey to another resort,
you'll need to make transfers, which can take up to an hour so do plan
accordingly.
Be sure to take advantage
of the many photo opportunities that abound at this unique resort! Grab a drink
and stroll among the many sections then strike a pose near the giant cowboy
boots or jukebox.
The All-Star Resorts are
popular with families as well as large groups so some areas, especially ones in
which there is more activity, may be noisier than others. Those looking for
quieter spots might do well to request rooms in Country Fair. Rooms facing away
from pools also provide a little more solace.
2006 rates for All-Star
Music begin at $79 and 2007 rates for rooms begin at $82. The Family Suites
start at $179 in 2007- all of these rates do not include 13% sales and lodging
tax. Always ask your travel agent or Disney Reservations about any possible
specials or discounts that might be available to you during your stay such as
AAA, CAA, Annual Passholder or Florida Resident.
About the Author: Maureen is the Co-Owner of
Ears To You Travel as well as a
PassPorter Message Board Guide.
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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.
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