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PassPorter News
News, Announcements, Updates, and Tips
March 23, 2006 * Issue 6.10
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: Vacation's End!
Travel Feature: Pin Trading: Not Just For Disney
Disney Feature: Animal Kingdom Lodge
Updates: What's New and Changed
Tips: Address Labels, Flag Family, Rest Stops
Captain's Corner: A Wee Bit of Hunt
Q&A: What type of luggage locks can I use on our Disney cruise?
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FROM THE AUTHORS: VacationÕs End
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We're baaaack! We did indeed have a relaxing,
magical vacation in Orlando. This time we packed up the minivan and drove down
I-75, watching spring slowly unfold as we made our way south from Michigan. At
first, we saw only the barest hint - the reddish tinge of budding maple trees.
By the time we reached Kentucky the redbud trees were covered in tiny, purple
blossoms, and in Georgia, daffodils were blooming and Dave's brother's lawn was
just a day away from its first mowing of the season! A week later we
experienced this all in reverse, watching the clock tick backwards to a gray,
cold Michigan winter. Yes, the calendar ticked forward to "spring"
the day we returned to work, and there are a few crocuses poking through the
mulch, but if the groundhogs are smart, they'll snooze for a while longer.
While we were in Orlando we attended a Disneyana
show in Celebration, relaxed, dined with fellow guidebook authors, relaxed,
took our first ride on Expedition: Everest, relaxed, shared an All-Star Vacation
home with family, relaxed, checked-out the new "Western Beltway" (Florida 429), relaxed... The weather was perfect, the company
was great, and the parks were everything we've come to love. Watch for a little
trip report of our time at the All-Star Vacation home next week!
Meantime, back in Michigan, our printer's staff was
hard at work, and the "proofs" of PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt
Disney World and the fourth edition of our Disney Cruise
Line guidebook were ready for our approval the day after we got
back home (everything's on track for their April release dates). Our thanks go
to our intrepid assistant Nikki, who held down the fort while we and her
brother Chad were off in warmer places.
If you're interested in or simply curious about our
upcoming Treasure Hunts book, check out this new page with information and some
sample treasure hunts: http://www.passporter.com/hunts
We're also pleased to announce that we've expanded
our Disneyland forums in the PassPorter Message Board in anticipation of the
release of the new PassPorter Disneyland Resort and
Southern California Attractions guidebook in May. We've added five new forums to help you
home in on the topic that interest you most! Please stop by and visit the new
forums at: http://www.passporterboards.com
In this edition of the newsletter, Justine Fellows
describes her family's Olympian introduction to the art of pin trading, and Dawn Dobson shares her love of Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. (Imagine! There are actually days when her family
doesn't visit a theme park!) 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 Ð Our Best Yet!
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. This edition is proving so popular that we've had to go back for a
reprint of more books already! We're not out of stock quite yet, and our new
shipment of books arrives soon.
Learn more and order today at:
Shop at http://www.passporterstore.com/store
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TRAVEL FEATURE: Pin Trading: Not Just at Disney!
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by Justine Fellows, Guest Contributor
Pin trading has taken off at Disney but it's not
where I got hooked. My husband was the Bobsled Track Operations Manager for the
2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. He worked almost 6 years to get the
track ready for the Games and during that time the Salt Lake Olympic Committee
would frequently give him pins marking significant countdown dates, events, and
milestones. He would bring them home and I would tuck them away in a drawer, as
they didn't quite fit in with my fashion sense. As the Games drew closer more
pins arrived and though I was grateful, I still didn't get it -- until the
Games began.
With my husband occupied with work, I bundled up my
three-year-old daughter and decided to give this whole Olympics thing a try. We
hopped on a bus and headed up to Main Street, Park City (only a few miles from
our home at the time). The Olympic mascots were parading up and down the
street, everyone was decked out in Roots gear, and there were jugglers, live
music, food, even people carrying hot chocolate dispensers on their backs! Not
the Main Street I had frequented for the last 10 years. I was soon drawn to a
colorful, lively display outside an enormous tent put together by Coca-Cola.
Inside, little groups gathered around tables, a nice place to have a Coke but
it didn't seem there was much else to it, until we looked closer.
Everyone was carrying or wearing felt squares,
bandanas, hats, scarves -Ð all filled with pins. My daughter and I moved in to
get a feel for what was going on. Ah ha! Pin trading!
On our next trip up to Main Street our pins were
neatly organized, tucked away in the fanny pack and ready to trade. First step,
learning the etiquette:
- Never interrupt a trade
- Never feel bad if the person you ask to trade
says no
- Always ask where the trader is from and chat a
bit
- Always offer up extra pins to people who are new
to pin trading and explain to them how to get started.
Second step, learn what pins are Òin.Ó The current
Olympic pins are the hottest items. Pins from the last Olympics are
"out." The FBI, CIA, local police and fire all have their own pins
and these are hard to come by. To me they may as well be Olympic Gold! By the end
of the week I had recruited my best friend into the hunt for pins and our
target was law enforcement. On our quest, we met hundreds of fascinating
people. (My best friend beat me out by collecting 7 CIA, FBI and law
enforcement pins. I got five and yes, I did find time to go to many amazing
Olympic events as well!) My three-year-old daughter also got into the action
and learned how to say hello in many languages. Pin trading opened the door for
conversations that would surely have otherwise been missed; a man at his third
Olympic games here to watch his daughter compete, a surly CIA agent from
Pennsylvania watching out for our safety, a talkative family from my hometown
in New Jersey. It was wonderful!
Though the treasure hunt to find the best pins,
especially security ones, was an absolute addiction, I was mostly attracted to
trading as a conversation starter. Both children and adults, especially those
from many different cultures, were now meeting and exchanging stories. This is
what the Olympic Games are all about!
Of course, there is the commercial aspect to pin
trading both at the Olympics and Disney. Pins are expensive and starting even a
small collection can cost big bucks. I recommend purchasing some pins on eBay
before you leave for your Disney trip. It's best to buy pins that your kids
won't necessarily become attached to (like those of their favorite character)
and make sure that they are official Disney pins so that you can trade with
park employees. (Look for the Disney logo on the back of the pin.) You don't
need many; our total collection consists of about 15 pins. What differs from
the Olympics is that Disney park employees always say yes to a trade as long as
you are trading an official Disney pin. If your child wants one of the pins on
a cast member's lanyard it will always be exchanged for whatever Disney pin you
offer, no haggling. One park employee searched for a pin for my daughter
because he knew she was looking for Simba. He tracked us down in the parade
crowd to give it to her! Magic!
Each year we choose a theme. On our last visit it
was The Incredibles and our quest was to collect all of the characters. This
year my now seven year old has decided to change the theme and trade out The
Incredibles for anything to do with horses or dinosaurs. That should be a
challenge! It may be hard for me to give up Edna Mode but I can always get her
back next year. I encourage my children to go beyond a quick trade and start a
conversation with the park employee or fellow trader -- it's a wonderful way
for kids to learn the art of conversation, manners and as an added bonus the
ability to recognize who to go to if they are ever lost. Pin trading also gets
the whole gang to slow down and look beyond the next ride and explore more of
the magic of Disney!
Justine works in education, has two outgoing
daughters and looks forward to spending a week in Disney each spring!
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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 travel plans.
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DISNEY FEATURE: Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort
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by Dawn Dobson, Guest Contributor
Turning the corner into the Animal Kingdom Lodge
drive is like beginning a journey to a far off land. The vision of the thatched
roofs and massive carved wood structure invites you to explore this phenomenal
deluxe resort even further. Step through the doors and you are greeted with an
intoxicating fragrance of smoky woods, coriander, and other exotic spices that
are delicately used in the resortÕs restaurants, Boma, Jiko, and the Mara. As
you lift your eyes to take in the massive lobby, you may even gasp at the rich
beauty that awaits you. But this is only the beginning. If you take your time
and look to your feet, you will see beautiful, intricate floors, inset with
medallions. The lobby is filled with comfortable furniture that invites you to
relax and enjoy the peaceful retreat from the frenetic pace of the parks.
As you pass through the lobby, take note of the
works of art, including the Igbo mask, the only one of its kind to leave
Africa. Pass down the stairs at the far end of the lobby and even more
surprises await you as you enter another worldÉthe world of the savanna.
giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, Tommies (ThomsonÕs Gazelles), and more await you as
you step out onto Arusha Rock. Pass the fire pit and explore the habitats of
these fascinating creatures. Along the way, make sure to take time to visit
with the cast members. They love to talk about their homes in Africa and you
will see their faces light up as they tell you stories and share their customs.
Even if you are just visiting, it is worthwhile to come in the evening, around
10:00 pm (check with the resort for times) and experience the savannah through
night vision goggles. It is astonishing what can be seen in the dark.
We have always been fortunate to have a savannah
view room and one of my fondest memories is sitting on our balcony, rocking my
youngest child to sleep to the sound of a wildebeest just at our feet, grazing
and chewing the grass. It was so quiet and peaceful; we could actually hear the
grass tearing and its teeth chewing. Where else in America, but at the Animal
Kingdom Lodge? Even if you are in a standard or pool view room, there are ample
viewing areas for the savannas. Sometimes, after my children and husband are
asleep, I will sneak out into the corridor with my laptop or journal to record
my thoughts for the day, sitting on a bench by the window watching the zebra
graze or the Ankole cattle nuzzle their young.
The zero-entry pool is a pleasure for everyone. My
children can play and slide while I wade, and babies giggle as the water gently
laps their toes. The lush landscaping and surrounding kraal (corral)
construction of the resort makes you feel a world away. Take time to experience
the programs the resort offers as well. My children both participated in Òbead
activitiesÓ where they learned about flamingos, animal tracking, music, and
more while earning beads for a necklace. At the conclusion of the final activity,
they were allowed to choose a ÒtotemÓ bead and to talk with a cast member from
Africa about what the children could do to make our planet a better place. How
exciting to watch them enjoy learning from people whose homes are half a world
away! Even a full weekend of just resort time wasnÕt enough to experience all
the Animal Kingdom Lodge has to offer.
There are three dining options and we have enjoyed
two -- Boma (buffet) and the Mara (counter service). We find the food to be
fresh, tasty, and reasonably priced. I now make many of our favorites at home
to remind us of the scents and flavors we experienced. We have not yet had the
pleasure of dining at Jiko, but plan to remedy that on our next visit. Often,
after our meals, we wander into Zawadi Marketplace, the LodgeÕs shop that is so
much more than just a gift shop. Items here range from the traditional stuffed
Mickey to traditional African-carved stone eggs. Beautiful wooden giraffes and
intricate masks can be purchased for much less than you would expect. There is
so much to see that we usually have to make several trips just to enjoy the
craftsmanship of the African people. The selection is so diverse that I have
had no trouble finding beautiful souvenirs for my African-inspired
office-on-a-budget.
Many people express concern that the resort is Òtoo
farÓ or ÒinconvenientÓ, and it is fairly distant from all theme parks but
Disney's Animal Kingdom. That, however, is also the beauty of it. An advantage
is that buses are not shared with another resort, so transportation is quite
easy. There is nothing quite as relaxing as passing through the doors and being
greeted with that marvelous aroma after a long day in the parks. Quiet,
peaceful, exotic, and beautiful... Animal Kingdom Lodge is our Walt Disney World
home.
Dawn is a scrapbook and tie dye designer who
homeschools two of her four daughters and is always looking for an excuse to
talk about Walt Disney World!
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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:
Finally! After months of hints and rumors, the Disney
Cruise Line has announced the schedule for the Disney Magic during the summer
of 2007: 10 - and 11 night Mediterranean cruises departing from Barcelona,
Spain with stops in Italy and France. In addition to the Mediterranean cruise,
there will be two 14 night trans-Atlantic repositioning cruises. The eastbound
cruise departs from Port Canaveral on May 12, 2007 and the westbound cruise
departs from Barcelona, Spain on August 18, 2007. Disney will start accepting
reservations for these voyages on April 4. For pricing and more information on
ports of call, check out the Disney Cruise Line's web site or contact your travel agent.
DING!, SouthWest's Airlines low airfare finder, is
now available for Macintosh users. The programs runs in the background on your
computer and alerts you to fare sales and special offers just for DING! users.
DING! is available to download at http://www.southwest.com.
The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority has extended
it's contract with Disney to allow Walt Disney World to continue providing Magical
Express shuttle service between Orlando International Airport and Walt Disney
World resorts through 2011. Magical Express service was originally schedule to
end in December 2006 at the end of the "Happiest Celebration On
Earth."
Our thanks to AllEarsNet.com for some of these 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
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Our readers are a wealth of information! Here are
the winners in this month's tip contest:
ADDRESS LABELS
"Print out address labels before you leave,
that way you you can send postcards without lugging around an address book. You
won't risk leaving anyone out and all your friends and family love you for
sharing the magic!"
-- contributed by Paula L.
FLAG FAMILY
"If you are staying at the Wilderness Lodge,
ask at check in about being the "Flag Family" of the day. You and
your family may get to help the Lodge's Ranger rise or lower the flags that fly
over the resort. It's a great treat for the kids and don't forget your camera-
the views are amazing!"
-- contributed by Jeffrey Grodzicki (grodzi9@...)
REST STOPS
"Remember that this is a vacation, not a
marathon. Plan for an exciting vacation, but also PLAN for rest. Be prepared to
take time away from the parks on an extended visit. Kids who are tired can't
remember to have a great time - they only remember that they are tired."
-- contributed by Jessica
>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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CAPTAIN'S 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:
"My most recent adventure was at a keyboard
rather than tooling about the parks. I was asked to write a wee bit of a
treasure hunt for the upcoming 'PassPorter's Treasure Hunts
at Walt Disney World' guidebook information site online at http://www.passporter.com/hunts/. The hunt is
just three questions long and not terribly difficult, but the last question
could be a stumper. Let's hope those who undertake my hunt read the entire
information site -- I've hidden the answer in ... (rest of text garbled by
computer)Ó
What is the answer to the third question in the
"Captain's Coupon Hunt" at the guidebook information site?
Congratulations to Ben Benavidez who was the winner
of last week's treasure hunt game! Ben correctly identified the price of the
carousel in Downtown Disney as $2. To view the original clues, see the last
newsletter at http://www.passporter.com/news/news/031606.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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katydid asks: "My husband and I will have a
room at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge while our son and his family are at Fort
Wilderness. Will we be able to invite the two children (ages 6 and 7) to
stay the night so their mom and dad can have a night out to themselves? I know
we would have fun showing them around our resort but I don't want to break any
rules. I won't even mention the possibility to them unless it would be allowed.
"
Jennifer and Dave answer: "This shouldn't be a
problem at all. It's done all the time. The main thing is that you're not
exceeding the posted capacity of the room, and since they're under 19, there's
no extra charge for them. As a courtesy to the front desk, you could let them
know what's happening (our grandkids are staying over with us tonight while we
babysit). I can't imagine there being any issues."
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?
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Big News! PassPorter News is now published weekly.
This means we need more articles than ever! We're on the lookout for guest
columnists who want 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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