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PassPorter News
News,
Announcements, Updates, and Tips
February 10, 2006 * Issue 6.4
PassPorter.com -
http://www.passporter.com
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Welcome to PassPorter News, an online newsletter
about PassPorter travel guidebooks, the
Walt Disney World Resort, and Disney Cruise Line.
PassPorter News is available by free subscription
to all readers and friends of our labor of love --
PassPorter Travel Guidebooks.
Learn all about them:
http://www.passporter.com/aboutpassporter.htm
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In This Newsletter:
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From the Authors: We're Going Weekly!
Disneyland Feature: The Future Feature
Walt Disney World Feature: Beach Club
Updates: What's New and Changed
Tips: Daily E-mails, T-shirt Traditions,
Conduct Contract
Captain's Corner: It Takes a Village
Q&A: Winter Water Temperatures at Castaway
Cay?
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FROM THE EDITOR: New Books Happy Dance
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Hi, {{user("firstname")}}!
We have happy news about three of our books:
We're happy to announce that with this week's newsletter, we'll be
publishing PassPorter News every week! With the impending publication of our
new Disneyland and Southern California guidebook, we've got a much larger
"world" to cover, and as the years progress, we'll be adding even
more destinations to our travel "itinerary." We trust that you'll
prefer a weekly newsletter at a more manageable size to a longer bi-weekly. It
also means that our news updates can be more timely and we can add more fun
features like Captain's Corner.
Our thanks to our hardworking newsletter editor Sara Varney for
enthusiastically taking on this expanded schedule, and to everyone who has
volunteered to contribute articles.
Now, did anybody see the Disney TV ads during the Superbowl (see
What's New and Changed)? The ones with all the Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburgh
Steelers stars rehearsing that famous line, "I'm going to Disney
World," just in case they were named the game's MVP? Simply brilliant
advertising! "I'm going to Disney World, I'm going to Disney World, I'm going
to Disney World, I'm going to Disney World..." They just keep going, and
going, and going.... Can you think of a better mantra? Too bad they weren't all
invited! (OK, for all I know, in some regions they were saying "I'm going
to Disneyland!" We can only speak for what we saw here in Michigan.)
Although the view out our back window is quite snowy, we're happy
to say we got a very warm response to last week's announcements and offers.
To recap, PassPorter Disneyland and Southern California
Attractions is now available for pre-order.
To learn more about the upcoming guidebook, visit http://www.passporter.com/dl/guidebook.htm .
As a special gift to everyone who has waited for us to complete our lengthy
research on this guidebook, we're offering the first three chapters of the
Disneyland guide in an immediate download, free to anyone who pre-orders
through us! The first three chapters are essential for trip planning, making it
easy for Disneyland-bound travelers to the travel and hotel information they
need now. To get the first three chapters now, simply place a pre-order
and download once your order is confirmed.
PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World has also just
become available for pre-order,
and to make way for our fourth edition of our Disney Cruise Line guide (pre-orders
will open soon), we're having a 50% off sale on our current edition of PassPorter's
Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line. Just use coupon code sailaway to get 50%
off the third edition paperback.
You can also use the coupon code sailaway2 to get 50% off the deluxe refill kit.
(Sorry, no discounts available on the deluxe starter kit as they are almost all
gone.) Offer expires March 1, 2006 and quantities are limited. Order at the Disney Cruise Guide
page. Order at http://www.passporterstore.com/store/1587710226.aspx
In this edition of the newsletter, PassPorter author Dave Marx
reports on Disneyland Resort's new and upcoming attractions,
and PassPorter Message Board Guide, DVC member, and frequent newsletter
contributor Cheryl Pendry explains why she loves Walt Disney World's Beach Club and Beach Club Villas.
Finally, Captain Jack Skatt returns with a new treasure hunting game.
Enjoy!
Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter Authors
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DID YOU KNOW?
PassPorter 2006 Garners Great Reviews!
The new 2006 edition of our PassPorter Walt Disney World guidebook
now features a full-color interior along with the most up-to-date text, new
TeenTips and ToddlerTips, and new photos and magical memories. We've already
heard back from folks who received their new books -- here are a few of our
favorite coments:
"I just wanted to let you know how much I love the new
Passporter! Thanks for adding the toddler tips! I have a 2 year old and 9 month
old. This is a great feature. Thanks for including pictures of yourselves as
well. It keeps it "real" in my opinion." -- Andria
"I love the pockets and your personal experiences and advice
about making the trip the best experience possible. Thank you so much for this
wonderful tool." -- Bari
"I love the color, the pictures, and the new magical
memories. The tips on the rides have given us great guidelines." -- Lisa
ŅEverything! I am a planner and this book really helped me plan my
first ever Disney trip in 2004. We are going back and I don't need to plan as
much, but the book is a must! I loved the map, the meal worksheet, the priorty
seating worksheet.Ó -- Jennifer
Learn more and order today at:
Shop at http://www.passporterstore.com/store
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DISNEYLAND FEATURE: The Future Feature
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by Dave Marx, PassPorter Author
Here we are, with the first edition of PassPorter Disneyland Resort
ready to go to the printer, and all I can think of are all the things that are
going to make the new book seem out of date.
OK, we're lucky, the new Monsters, Inc. dark ride opened in
January, so as they say, "It's in there!" And Disney just announced
changes to the classic, Pirates of the Caribbean. In there! But I'm getting
ahead of myself. Let's catch you up on the news, and, what the heck, I'll even
save some space for the hottest notions in the rumor mill.
Disney's California Adventure now has two Pixar-inspired
attractions on the Pixar Pictur... I mean Hollywood Pictures Backlot. The
delightful Turtle Talk With Crush moved into a theater in the Disney Animation
attraction last year. (Like, whoa, when are ya gonna update the attraction description
at the official Disneyland web site to include the turtle, dudes?) The former
Superstar Limos dark ride, certainly one of the park's (if not Hollywood's)
biggest flops, has returned as "Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the
Rescue." The limos have been downgraded to taxis, but the ride experience
has been substantially upgraded with the addition of a story firmly rooted in a
beloved animated feature and sets that are far more than cartoon cut-outs.
Disney even brought Billy Crystal and John Goodman in to record new dialogue.
It may not qualify as an E-ticket, but all reports are that folks are really
enjoying themselves. Next, it'll be, "Mike & Sulley's Scary Daring
Adventures with Mr. Toad and Pooh on a Spin Through Wonderland, the movie
inspired by the dark rides." Not!
Speaking of theme
park rides that inspired Hollywood, on February 2, Disney Parks and Resorts
announced that they'll be enhancing Pirates of the Caribbean (both at Disneyland
and Walt Disney World) in honor of the premiere of the second Pirates of the
Caribbean movie starring Johnny Depp. Both attractions will close in March and
the Imagineers will move in to add Captain Jack Sparrow, villainous Captain
Barbossa, and Davy Jones, a character being introduced in the second Pirates
movie, to the famous crew of scurvy knaves. Disneyland's Pirates will reopen on
June 24, and Walt Disney World's Pirates is slated to reopen on July 7, the
same day the movie opens. The new characters are said to be carefully
interwoven with the familiar cast of Audio-Animatronic buccaneers, interacting
with them (presumably) as if Walt Disney himself had put them there. Jack and
Barbossa will also be pursuing a new subplot of their very own. Disney Imagineers
will also be adding new special effects, and are on a mission to do no harm to
the spirit of this Disney original. May they be chased around in circles
forever by a rolling pin-wielding wench if they mess this up. Yo ho, yo ho....
While we're out to sea, let's sail over to Disneyland's
Tomorrowland, where the classic Sub Lagoon is being transformed by, yes, more
Pixar characters. While the Living Seas at Walt Disney World's Epcot has been
receiving its "Finding Nemo" makeover, Disneyland's Sub Lagoon is
being redone as the "Finding Nemo Sub Voyage." (Had Walt Disney World
not filled its 20,000 Leagues Sub Lagoon with Pooh, maybe they could have had
"Finding Captain Nemo." But I digress.) Disneyland is refurbishing
its fleet of eight submarines and is populating the lagoon with a school of
star fish (and starfish) from the Pixar animated film. Disney promises that the
special effects will be astounding, the details of the story line
ever-changing, and, oh, they're tossing in a volcanic eruption just for good
measure. The new sub ride will surface sometime in 2007. Meantime, you can
groove on the wonderful signs they've nailed to the construction fencing, and
peer down into the lagoon from the monorail platform.
While we're in Tomorrowland, let's consider the recently reopened
Space Mountain (and a fabulous rehab it is)! Disneyland's video promo for Grad Nites 2006 promises the premiere of Rocket (or
Rockit) Mountain, a nighttime version of Space Mountain featuring a rockin'
sound track and all-new visual effects (thanks to Screamscape
for this tip). These goodies seem to have been built into the Space Mountain
rehab from the start, but it seems Disney wanted to keep an extra little
surprise for the second year of the Happiest Homecoming on Earth. Those who
aren't graduating from high school this spring can look forward to riding this
evenings, sometime in June 2006.
The monorail is also set for a major mechanical rehab. Reports are
that it will be in limited service while the rehab is taking place (presumably,
rather than travel around the full loop, it'll go back and forth between
Downtown Disney and Tomorrowland on the same section of "beam" while
they work on the other half).
Meantime, over in Toontown, Goofy's Bounce House is being replaced
by... something Toddler Alexander is likely to enjoy (we'll keep you posted).
That leaves us with... rumors. My favorite? The perennial hope
that Star Tours, the attraction that first wowed me way back in the '80s, will
finally get a makeover to help out around Tomorrowland. (Hey, Space
Mountain/Rockit Mountain, Buzz Lightyear Finding Nemo in the Lagoon, the
monorail... are more than four rehabs required? Why can't they spend some of
this money on another ship for Disney Cruise Line?). Anyway, Star Wars creator
George Lucas has once again been reported to be interested in seeing this
happen, and as always, the pundits note that it's not that hard to work a
runaway tourist shuttle into a pod racing duel-to-the-death - change the movie,
change a few props, reprogram the flight simulator's software... what could be
easier for Disney's Imagineers? Well, I'll believe it when I finally ride it to
infinity and beyond (or something like that).
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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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WALT DISNEY WORLD FEATURE:
Why the Beach Club is the Best Resort at Walt Disney World
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by Cheryl Pendry, PassPorter Message Board Guide and Guest
Contributor
Two things are clear to everyone whoÕs visited a number of Disney
resorts over the years. They all benefit from exceptional theming and are all
very different from one another. But which one is your favorite? PassPorter
message board guide and regular newsletter contributor Cheryl Pendry believes
there can be no argument Š the Beach Club and their Villas are best!
Our love affair with the Beach Club began appropriately enough on
our honeymoon in 1999. We had debated long and hard over where we should stay
for our first visit to a Disney resort, but felt that we couldnÕt justify the
cost of a deluxe hotel. WeÕd never visited one, but surely nothing could be
good enough to warrant spending that much money? We narrowed our choice down to
a moderate and we went for Dixie Landings, or Port Orleans Riverside as itÕs
known today. Our first couple of days there were magical, the grounds were
green and lush and it was a wonderfully romantic place to stay. We knew we had
made the right decision Š that was, until we walked into the lobby of the Beach
Club.
We thought weÕd take the opportunity to find out what was so
special about the deluxe resorts and whether it was worth saving all our money
to stay in one eventually. I was skeptical, but from the second we were met by
Art the Greeter at the front door, I knew that this place was something special.
The spacious lobby with its high ceilings and white balconies looking down from
the second floor gave a relaxed feel, something clearly being enjoyed by those
seated on the series of comfortable chairs, who were just watching the world go
by.
And thatÕs something you can do plenty of at the Beach Club. Head
out through the other side of the lobby and youÕre greeted by white wooden
rocking chairs, with a view over the resortÕs beautifully manicured gardens,
looking towards Crescent Lake and the BoardWalk opposite. Walk a few more steps
and talk a look back towards the resort. From the first time I saw that view,
it bowled me over. The pale blue shade of the buildings were exactly what IÕd
always imagined a beachside villa to look like and the shade was far more
appealing that the dull cream of the neighboring Yacht Club.
Captivated by the theming of the resort on our first visit, it was
time to explore further, and no visit is complete without seeing the resortÕs
main pool, Stormalong Bay. Calling it a pool may be unfair though, itÕs more
like a mini water park, sprawling over a couple of acres with something for all
ages and all abilities of swimmers. Boasting a childrenÕs pool, water slide,
whirlpools in the main swimming area and a deep swimming area providing more of
a challenge to regular swimmers, it even offers a poolside bar in the shape of
Hurricane HannaÕs, if you need a snack or want to sip a cocktail in the
sunshine. But be warned, thereÕs no way that youÕll be able to experience the delights
of Stormalong Bay unless youÕre a guest at the Yacht Club, Beach Club or the
neighboring Villas. You are expected to bring your resort ID for a swim and are
given wristbands showing that you are resort guests before you can enjoy the
facilities. No resort ID, no access to Stormalong Bay Š itÕs that simple.
Having a lot of good places to eat at a resort is another
important thing for us. LetÕs face it, we all have mornings and evenings when
we donÕt want to stray far from our room for a meal Š and we donÕt have to at
the Beach Club. Enjoy character breakfasts with Goofy, Minnie and those
mischievous chipmunks Chip and Dale at the Cape May Cafˇ, just off the main
lobby, which by night serves up a New England-style clambake.
Carry on past the Cape May Cafˇ and youÕll come across a lovely
lounge, MarthaÕs Vineyard, which never seems to be crowded. Wine, beer,
cocktails (even that famous Kungaloosh from the AdventurerÕs Club) can all be
bought here, along with a series of snack items. Out through the doors,
past some of Stormalong Bay and on your right is the home of arguably the best
burgers on Disney property Š and surely the biggest dessert? Both can be found
at Beaches and Cream, a 1950Õs style diner, with its Kitchen Sink, packed full
of bananas, ice cream, cookies, chocolate fudge cake, cream, cherries, nuts and
chocolate sauce. Perhaps itÕs easier to describe whatÕs not contained in it.
Eat every bit of it on your own and youÕll get it for free Š on all our visits
to Beaches and Cream, itÕs not a feat weÕve ever seen accomplished.
A quick walk past the rest of Stormalong Bay into the adjoining
Yacht Club opens up more dining possibilities at the upscale Yachtsman
Steakhouse or the more informal Yacht Club Galley. ThereÕs another lounge to indulge
in just off the Yacht Club lobby called the CrewÕs Cup. And thatÕs before
exploring the restaurants at the Swan, Dolphin or the BoardWalk, all
nearby.
On your way there, youÕll also spot Lafferty Place Arcade,
somewhere you can easily lose the kids and those Ņkids at heartÓ in your family
for a couple of hours, as they enjoy the many games in there. The Ship Shape
Health Club allows you to work out during your vacation or if that doesnÕt
sound like much fun, you can book yourself a massage. ThereÕs even a salon
called PeriwigÕs Beauty and Barber Shop, offering hair, skin and nail care for
more pampering.
But itÕs no longer just about the Beach Club. Recognizing the
appeal of the resort, the Disney Vacation Club started construction work on the
Villas in 2000 and it was fascinating to see them rise from the ground on our
stay at the Beach Club in that year. Obviously, weÕre not the only ones who
love the Beach Club, as the Villas sold out in record time. Similarly themed to
the main Beach Club complex, but with the accent on sea green, the Villas enjoy
their own quiet pool, called Dunes Cove, and public rooms to sit back and relax
in, with one boasting its own TV with cartoons for the kids to enjoy. With the
arrival of the Villas, another communal room was added to the original Beach
Club complex, the Solarium, a delightfully airy conservatory-type room. Again,
it never seems to be busy, but itÕs a lovely place to sit and unwind.
Beautiful theming, the best pool on Disney property, a great range
of restaurants and lots of places to relax and watch the world go by Š what
more could you want from a hotel? How about a location thatÕs so central that
you can walk to two theme parks if you choose to. Epcot is no more than a ten
minute walk from the Beach Club lobby, but if youÕre staying in the Villas or
at the eastern edge of the Beach Club, itÕs more like five minutes. At this end
of the resort, youÕre closer to the park than the resort's marina.
The Marina allows you to catch a boat to either Epcot MGM, or the
BoardWalk, but in reality itÕs nearly always quicker to walk to Epcot. MGM is
another matter. If youÕre a quick walker and thereÕs no boat in sight, you can
walk faster, but the boat is a charming, albeit slow way of getting to MGM. It
is a picturesque routes though, with water views of the Swan and Dolphin along
the way, which eventually gives way to the Tower of Terror and finally the
SorcererÕs Hat as you approach the Studios.
You really couldnÕt wish for a more centrally located hotel at Disney.
Even the monorail resorts canÕt boast excellent transport links to two parks Š
and thereÕs no other hotel where you can walk into a park in just a few
minutes.
WhatÕs not to love about the Beach Club? ItÕs got it all and
thereÕs surely no other resort on Disney property that can compete with its
central location, amazing pool, wonderful theming and range of places to eat.
What do you think?
Do you disagree with Cheryl? Do you think YOUR favorite resort is
better? Tell us why! E-mail us at news@passporter.com for guidelines on how to
submit an article convincing us of the merits of your favorite resort at WDW or
Disneyland.
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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
holiday plans.
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UPDATES: What's New and Changed
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Here's a few of the new developments at Disney:
The Pirates of the Caribbean attractions in both Disneyland and
Walt Disney World will be closing in March for renovations and updates. Captain
Jack Sparrow and his arch-nemesis Captain Barbossa will become the newest
Audio-Animatronic additions to these attractions. Both attractions will re-open
in time for the movie premiere of "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's
Chest" on July 7, 2006 (see The Future Feature
for more) .
Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward did go to Disney World and he brought
teammate and friend Jerome Bettis with him! They were both Guests of Honor at
Disney World on Monday, February 6, 2006.
The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel will be closing their
Club Level lounges on May 1, 2006. The lounges will be renovated and become
hospitality and meeting rooms.
>Things To Do: Hear some news? Send it to us at
news@passporter.com
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DISNEY TIPS FROM FELLOW READERS
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Our readers are a wealth of information! Here are the winners in
this month's tip contest:
EVERY DAY E-MAILS
"My sister and I live about 1500 miles apart and only see
each other every couple of years (usually for a Disney vacation). This year it
will be a cruise on the Disney Wonder. We have planned the entire trip via
e-mail. The trip is still months away and we are zipping e-mails back and forth
everyday in anticipation. At least we don't have to worry about the phone
bill!"
-- contributed by Mary Jane R.
T-SHIRT TRADITIONS
"On our last trip to Disneyland I took along MY first
Disneyland t-shirt, and photographed my son in the same shirt, standing in
front of Sleeping Beauty's castle, 30 years later!"
-- contributed by Taryn M.
CONDUCT CONTRACT
"When
traveling with our kids, we created a contract for them to sign so they
understood how their behavior would affect their vacation. We made it colorful
and decorated it with Disney stickers. We had items on there such as: I
will get to do what I want to do, just not always when I want to do it. I will
eat at the restaurants I'm told to, I will ride rides that may seem to
"kiddie" because my sibling likes them, etc. They signed the contract
a month before the trip and we reviewed it. For fun, we let them create an
adult contract and they wrote, "Don't tell us how to spend our Disney
Dollars," "Don't make us pose with the Princesses," etc.
All in all they behaved remarkably well because they knew what the consequences
would be if they "acted up"."
-- contributed by Carolyn A.
>Notes: Send us your tips! You may see them in this newsletter
and win a copy of PassPorter! Visit:
http://www.passporter.com/customs/contest.htm
Want more Disney tips? We've collected 500 of the tips submitted
by readers over the past six years -- most have never been published before.
All have been edited for accuracy and categorized. The "Disney 500"
are available in e-book form for immediate download. For details, visit http://www.passporter.com/wdw/disney500.htm .
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CAPTAINÕS CORNER: Treasure Hunting Game
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Play our fun and quirky treasure hunting game, hosted by Captain
Jack Skatt from our upcoming 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.
It seems the Captain has stumped you for the first time! No one
got the correct answer to last week's treasure hunt question.
Here is another clue...
Here is this week's treasure from Captain Skatt's Journal:
"So after my daring adventure down the turbulent waters of
the Chakranadi River, enroute to Mt. Everest, my raft washed up on the shores
of a quaint little village. Fluttering prayer flags, an ancient monastery,
lovingly-carved totems, and fearsome yet awesome stone carvings of the mythical
Yeti greeted me in the tiny town. A crumbling sign indicated that this village
was named... (rest of text obscured by candle wax)
So, what is the name of the village at the base of mountain?
Congratulations to Vicki Lynn who was the winner of last
newsletter's treasure hunt game last week! Vicki correctly identified the river
from the Kali River Rapids as the Chakranadi River. To view the original clues,
see http://www.passporter.com/news/news020106.htm
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!
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. We will release the book --
"PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World" -- in April 2006.
You can pre-order the new book today at http://www.passporterstore.com/store/1587710269.aspx
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Q & A WITH JENNIFER & DAVE
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Jitterjet asks: "I'm wondering whether the water will be warm
enough for swimming during our 4-day Wonder cruise next January? "
Jennifer and Dave answer: "Generally, water temperature at
Castaway Cay will be fine. Not the 80 degrees of a heated pool, but usually
it'll be comfortably in the mid 70s. Temporary circumstances can change that
(extended overcast, storm that mixes surface water with deeper layers, really
bad cold snap). So far, only one of our winter visits has had what I'd call
cool waters."
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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WANT TO GET PUBLISHED?
===================================
Big News! PassPorter News is now weekly. This means we need more
articles than ever! We're on the lookout for guest columnists to contribute
articles to this newsletter. No professional writing experience 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.
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If this newsletter was forwarded to you by a thoughtful
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Copyright (c) 2006 - MediaMarx, Inc. / PassPorter Travel Press, PO
Box 3880, Ann Arbor, MI 48106