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PassPorter News
News, Announcements, Updates, and
Tips
April 19,
2006 * Issue 6.14
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:
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In This
Newsletter:
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From the Authors: Springtime in Tree Town
Travel Feature: Quebec City
Disney Feature: Pregnant At The Mouse House
Updates: What's New and Changed
Tips: Traffic Tie-Up, Stretch Out, Scrap
Savers
Captain's Corner: Where Has My Greek Goddess Gone?
Q&A: Where do you keep your stuff at the
Water Parks?
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FROM THE
AUTHORS: Springtime in Tree Town!
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Ah! Spring has really, finally come to our home
base of Ann Arbor, Michigan! The red buds on the maples are giving way to that
first blush of green, our lawn is sprouting (gotta mow it very soon), we've
been pressure-washing our deck, our tulips will bloom within the day, and we're
getting out for walks around the neighborhood and through the nearby nature
areas nearly every day. Dave in particular is looking forward to visits to Ann
Arbor's Nichols Arboretum. The
"Daffodil Line," a living art project that zigzags through the
"Arb's" meadows, is beginning to bloom, the azaleas and rhododendrons
will follow soon afterwards, and by late May/early June the huge Peony Garden
will be in its full glory. We may not make it to Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival this year,
but we're doing pretty nicely right around home.
We're very pleased to announce that all pre-orders
of PassPorter's Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line 4th Edition and PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World have been
shipped, and all new orders are going out the next business day! If your
pre-ordered copy hasn't arrived yet, drop an e-mail to orders@passporter.com, or phone
877-929-3273 weekdays 9:00am - 5:00pm ET and we'll check package tracking for
you.
In this
edition of the newsletter, Julia Elzie takes us to one of Dave's favorite
places, Quebec City, Canada, and Allison
Gleicher shares her experiences being Pregnant at the Mouse House. 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
Land/Sea Combo Deal
You asked for
it, you got it! Here's a combo deal for those of you lucky enough to be doing
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Getting the deal is simple -- just add both a cruise guide (paperback, refill
kit, or deluxe kit) AND a Walt Disney World guide (spiral, refill kit, or
deluxe kit) to your shopping cart in our online store. At checkout, enter this
code: DCLWDW, and you'll get 25% off the list price of BOTH books.
Please note
that this offer cannot be combined with other coupons, discounts, or offers.
Please also note that the discount is not valid on just the looseleaf text sets
of either the cruise guide or the Walt Disney World guide.
Order today
and save at:
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TRAVEL
FEATURE: Quebec City
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by Julia Elzie, Guest Contributor
Quebec City has been described as a little bit of
Europe in North America. Its French heritage is evident on every corner, from
the gabled buildings to the cobblestone streets to the magnificent cathedrals.
French is the primary language of business and of Quebec Citys residents, but
Quebec is distinctly French and Canadian, and fiercely proud of its heritage
and independence.
Quebec City is located along the St. Lawrence River
and was first founded by the Iroquois, followed by French explorer Jacques
Cartier in 1535. It became a fur-trading post around 1608 with Samuel
Champlains arrival to the area. The fur trade made Quebec City into a major trading
center and control was sought by the French and English. The quest for control
led to several military battles at the Plains of Abraham and the Citadel,
located around Quebec City. Finally, French Canada fell under English control
in 1759 after the conflict at the Plains of Abraham, became an independent
colony and ultimately, a part of the sovereign nation of Canada.
Quebec City is a pedestrian-friendly city and with
good shoes, it can easily be toured on foot. The old fur-trading city,
Basse Ville, is along the river, and offers a beautiful tour of the history and
development of Quebec City. The oldest buildings are closest to the river and
as the fur trade expanded, the city was built and expanded back from the river.
The architecture changes in style and sophistication as one moves back and away
from the river. The rooftops are at a steep slant to allow Quebecs snowfall to
slide off in the winter. Window panes are smaller than usual, reflecting the
practical need to avoid breakage during the transatlantic crossing from France.
The people of Quebec City are proud of their history and cultural diversity,
reflected in a stunning mural on the side of one of the buildings near the main
shopping area of Quartier Petit Champlain. The fur trade, influence of the
Catholic faith, the four distinct seasons and the French, English and First
Nations residents are depicted in the mural. Walking through the streets of
Basse Ville is a journey through history.
After Basse Ville had expanded to the Cliffside,
the residents began to build into the upper city of Quebec (Haute Ville).
Guarded by tall, stone walls, Haute Ville is the only European-style fortified
city in North America. Quebec City has stunning views and one of the best ways
to enjoy them is by riding the funicular elevator from the Basse Ville up the
steep side of the cliff, arriving to the Terrasse Dufferin, outside of the
castle-like Chateau Frontenac - one of the hotels the Chateau in the Canada
Pavilion at Epcot is designed to resemble. The hill is steep, so take the
funicular up the hillside and take the very steep, but manageable Breakneck
Stairs on the way back down to Basse Ville. The Chateau Frontenac is arguably
the most photographed landmark in Quebec City and most people see its picture
in their minds eye at the mention of Quebec City. With its gables and turrets,
the Chateau Frontenac is spectacular. It is worth a visit to see its
breathtaking magnificence and to have lunch or afternoon tea at the very least.
For the best introduction to Quebec City, splurge
and enjoy a carriage tour with a friendly, knowledgeable driver and guide. The
drivers are warm and outgoing and a wealth of information about Quebec City.
While these tours are somewhat pricey, it is an once-in-a-lifetime experience
and the best way to get to know the main areas of the city. Afterwards,
consider a guided walking tour or simply pick up a self-guided walking tour
brochure from the Visitors Center.
Quebec City has some of the best museums in Canada.
There is Quebecois history at the Musee de la Civilisation, regional art at
Musee National des Beaux-Arts du Quebec, a historical show with sounds and
light at Musee du Fort and French culture at the Musee de lAmerique Francaise.
Children will enjoy the three-dimensional history lessons at the Quebec
Experience. The Citadel, overlooking the river, was built by the British Army
and holds military memorabilia from the various battles for control over Quebec
City. In addition, spectacular cathedrals, especially the Notre Dame du Quebec,
are tributes to the influential clergy members who contributed to the growth of
Quebec City. Historical museums are also available as tributes to the nuns and
priests who have spent generations educating First Nations and French Canadian
children. After time inside museums, children and adults will enjoy outside
time at the Cartier-Brebeuf National Historic Site, which was the location of
explorer Jacques Cartiers 1535 winter camp. It is close to the main areas of
Quebec City and offers a glimpse of an Iroquoian longhouse, plenty of grassy
and open space to stretch legs or burn energy and wonderful storytelling
sessions. Another fresh air alternative is taking the ferry from Quebec City to
the town of Levis, directly across the St. Lawrence River, for spectacular
views of the city and especially, Chateau Frontenac.
All of this learning and sightseeing can build an
appetite and Quebec City has a myriad of restaurants and cuisine to suit every
taste. It has some of the best and most sophisticated food in North America. Be
sure to try as many French Canadian dishes as possible, such as wild fowl or
game (try cipaille, a pie with meat and vegetables or toutiere, a meat pie),
and poutine (French fries with cheese curds and gravy). Seafood is also
delicious, with choices such as seafood bisque or pot-en-pot, a dish with
seafood and potatoes. For dessert, try maple pie, also known as sugar pie or
tarte au sucre or trempette, which is maple syrup soaked bread, topped with
whipped cream or crme fraiche. Of course, quiche, crepes and croissants with a
caf au lait are also delicious and widely available at cafes and bistros
throughout the city. [Editors Note: Summertime visitors shouldn't miss the
fresh strawberries when in season. They're grown just miles away, and are quite
delectable.] A leisurely meal provides the opportunity to sit, enjoy the
beautiful scenery and European ambiance and watch people throughout both Haute
Ville and Basse Ville.
Shopping is wonderful and plentiful in Quebec City.
After leaving behind the more touristy shops, visit the local boutiques and
art galleries for memoirs of Quebec City. Some of the most authentic
handicrafts will be available at the farmers market at Marche du Vieux Port
along with beautiful produce. The Quartier Petit Champlain in Vieux Quebec is
among the oldest shopping districts in North America. Vieux Quebecs Rue
(Street) St. Paul and Rue St. Jean offer art galleries, many filled with First
Nations handcrafts. In addition to the gorgeous handcrafts and arts, maple
syrup and maple syrup products are sold, along with Inuit (Eskimo) carvings.
All will bring back happy memories of Quebec City.
With its history, cultural sights, magnificent food
and French language, Quebec City is a beautiful taste of Europe in North
America.
Julia Elzie is
a travel consultant with Andavo Travel and specializes in family travel. For
more information, please visit her web site at http://www.juliaelzie.com, contact her
by phone at 208-362-6789 or by e-mail at jelzie@andavotravel.com.
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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: Pregnant At The Mouse House
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by Allison Gleicher, PassPorter Message Board Guide
and Guest Contributor
Its always wonderful taking a Disney vacation -
the exciting rides, the long treks through the parks, late nights indulging in
the culinary masterpieces... Well, most of those things wont happen if you
ever go to Disney World while pregnant. Dont get me wrong, you can still have
an excellent time but it will be a different experience, I can guarantee you
that! In December 2000, I was carrying twins. At the time I already had two
small children but with my husband and both my parents along for the trip, I wasnt
lacking for help.
I made sure the trip was planned for the cooler
months in Florida. Carrying around 30 pounds of pregnancy weight would not have
gone over well in 98 weather. It was very important in the planning stage to
make sure that the weather was going to be comfortable for me. I knew I had the
chance of seeing highs of about 65 and lows about 40. Ahhh, just right
My next concern was where to stay. I didnt want to
have to travel far from our room to our activity. It had to be a resort close
to all the action. Someplace with reliable transportation to the parks?
Someplace comfy, quiet, spacious but smack-dab-in-the-middle-of-all-the-fun?
The Wilderness Lodge? Absolutely! What more could you ask for? It had
everything I needed - the comfort of home, good transportation, and
tranquility. A little piece of heaven, I tell ya.
So, I had my three assistants, good weather and the
perfect resort. What else did I need? Besides the usual of comfy clothing and
good walking shoes I had to remember to have healthy snacks and lots of water
to bring with me to the parks. I found it convenient to have a snack bag of
something like trail mix in the diaper bag and a bottled water I could refill.
Both would keep up my energy levels and mood.
There was also going to have to be more breaks
during the day. Maybe not necessarily going back to the hotel, but sitting on a
bench for a few minutes made for a relaxing break. A pregnant woman has got to
be able to put her feet up several times a day. There are so many beautiful
spots in every park to just stop, have a seat and people watch. I had never
taken the opportunity to really slow down before on a Disney trip. I saw the
whole Disney experience from a different point of view and you know what? I
liked it! I discovered places I had never seen before; I saw performers and
acts I never stopped to watch. I also did a lot more shopping. It was an
indoors, slow paced, quiet activity - good for the blood pressure. Yeah that
was it! Good for the ol blood pressure.
Something else I had never done before while on a
Disney vacation was laundry. With two kids and three adults at Walt Disney
World for 10 days, I volunteered for laundry duty. After the children fell
asleep, I would sneak downstairs to the laundry facility where I found a lot of
other moms. We would sit around and gab for a while, and when the others had
finished and gone back to their rooms, I would tip toe out to the hot tub to
soak my feet! The view of the back of the lobby from the pool area was breathtaking.
I had my own (well, it seemed like my own) private viewing spot for one of the
most beautiful sights in all of Walt Disney World. I had the whole pool/hot tub
area to myself. No noise, no husband, no kids, no one asking me for anything. I
got to soak in silence. I think I did laundry every night of that trip!
As I said, I was able to experience Disney from a
completely different angle during this trip. Slower pace, more quiet
activities, less running around and no thrill rides. But we did indulge one of
my favorite things to do at Disney - EAT!!! There was a culinary adventure
around every corner. With Disneys wide variety of eateries I was a happy
Momma! I added a lot of favorite restaurants to my list during this trip. The
Cape May Buffet at the Beach Club Resort was a place for a family to enjoy
dinner. There was something to please everyone in my family and I got to eat to
my heart's content! Another great restaurant was the San Angel Inn in the
Mexico pavilion at Epcot - beautiful scenery, quiet atmosphere, and good
Mexican food. (Especially good if youre craving spicy foods!) I was very
impressed with this restaurant.
Despite the limitations of going to Disney while
pregnant, you can see the benefits clearly outweigh them. If you are planning a
Disney trip while your pregnant do just that, PLAN. A little preparation goes a
long way. Congratulations and good luck
(For more information on traveling to Walt Disney
World while pregnant, check out PassPorters Walt Disney World For
Your Special Needs by Deb Wills
and Debra Martin Koma.)
Allison is a
Co-Guide of the Using Your PassPorter Forum on the PassPorter message boards,
as well as being the mother of two beautiful boys.
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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 Fitness Centers onboard the Disney Magic and Disney
Wonder now feature pre-loaded iPod Shuffles for guests to use during their
work-out. The iPods are loaded with 67 "work-out tunes," upbeat
tracks by artists such as Madonna, The Killers, Paul Oakenfold, Black Eyed
Peas, Outcast, Gwen Stefani, and
U2.
PassPorter's Walt Disney World for Your Special
Needs authors Deb Wills and Debra Martin Koma will be appearing on Comcast
Network (CN8) Tuesday May 9. They'll be on "Your Morning," a
news/magazine program that runs from 9:00 am - 11:00 am. Deb and Deb will be
discussing Disney on a Budget. Unfortunately, we don't know when the segments
will appear during those hours. If you have Comcast On Demand, you may be able
to catch the program in the Get Local section of the On Demand listings.
Comcast's CN8 is available in much of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast on Comcast
cable systems in and around Richmond VA, Baltimore MD, Delaware, Pennsylvania,
New Jersey, and New England. If you're a Comcast subscriber, we hope you'll
tune in!
The Epcot International Flower & Garden
Festival begins this week on April 21 and runs through June 11, 2006. The
opening festivities begin at 9:30 on Friday, April 21, directly behind
Spaceship Earth and will include the unveiling of the new Art Of Disney Stamp
Series featuring four of Disney's most famous couples - Belle and the Beast,
Cinderella and Prince Charming, Lady and The Tramp and, of course, Mickey &
Minnie! Topiaries featuring the images from the stamps have been designed and
will be displayed as part of the festival.
The Festival also includes the Flower Power Concert
Series featuring performers from the 60's and 70's. Here is the schedule:
April 2124 - The Nelsons
April 2527 - The Buckinghams
April 28May 1 - Gary Puckett
May 24 - The Grass Roots starring Rob Grill
May 58 - Paul Revere & The Raiders
May 911 - The Association
May 1215 - Davy Jones
May 1618 - The Tokens
May 1922 - B.J. Thomas
May 2325 - Felix Cavaliere's Rascals
May 2629 - The Guess Who
May 30June 1 - Tony Orlando
June 25 - Arlo Guthrie
June 67 - The Turtles featuring Flo &
Eddie
June 811 -
Herman's Hermits Starring Peter Noone
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
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Our readers
are a wealth of information! Here are the winners in this month's tip contest:
TRAFFIC TIE-UP
"If you plan on attending Catholic Mass at
Mary Queen of the Universe, you may want to leave as soon as Mass concludes to
avoid the traffic jam that occurs or spend time visiting the shrine until the
traffic clears."
-- contributed by Annette Bush (apbush@...)
STRETCH OUT
"To help combat the achiness of a day on my
feet, usually in the heat, I like to do a series of stretching exercises upon
returning to the hotel. (Make sure you check with your doctor or trainer to see
which ones would be best for you.) By stretching out all of my major muscles
and back, I find that I sleep much better and it really eases the aches that
can ruin a good night's sleep after a long day in the parks. Plus, it feels
really good!"
-- contributed by Priscilla P.
SCRAP SAVERS
"For all you scrapbookers out there:
1. Keep a daily log
2. Keep every scrap of paper you come across,
receipts, etc.
3. Disney Dollars look really nice in scrapbooks
4. Get extra copies of maps
5. Take lots and lots of pictures - don't forget to
get those pictures off your favorite rides, and your resort."
-- contributed
by Amy H.
>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.asp .
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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.
Here is this
week's treasure from Captain Skatt's Journal:
"My dear friend Red Barns of W-A-C-K-Y fame
has turned me on to the joys of statuary. I spent that last exploring the
various statues around the World. I'm flabbergasted at how many I am finding.
There's one in particular that I'd passed a million times but never noticed.
The statue appears to be of Greek origin -- it puts me in mind of one I
happened across at the Louvre. This Greek goddess couldn't be farther from a
museum, and yet she lights a warm glow in even the coldest of hearts. I snapped
a photograph of her to remember her fine form. Alas, I was so mesmerized by her
curves that I cannot remember where I found her."
Use the link below to see the photo of the statue:
http://www.passporter.com/news/jackskatt0419.htm
Where will you find this statue?
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 Bob McGowan who was the winner of last week's treasure hunt game! Bob
correctly identified the call letters for Red Barns' radio station as
W-A-C-K-Y. To view the original clues, see the last newsletter at http://www.passporter.com/news/041306.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. PassPorter's Treasure
Hunts at Walt Disney World" is now available! You can 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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njpoppins asks: "I know this might sound silly
but where do you keep your stuff at the water parks? I know there are lockers,
but if we take our own beach towels and put them on chairs, will they be
"safe"? And what about our passes? I will have a Key To The World
card with the Dining Package on it. Will I have to trek back to a locker to get
our card if we get hungry or thirsty and wish to use one of our snack options?
Is a locker your only option?"
Jennifer and Dave answer: "I've yet to
experience anyone taking anything, but I also don't push my luck too far.
Resort pool towels and the water park's rental
towels are the same. These are most likely to be "at risk" since
they're not unique. How could you prove someone has "your" rental
towel? If you bring hotel room towels you may do better, but folks will
recognize them for what they are. Folks seem to respect private property -
beach towels, sandals, etc., but there are no guarantees.
Generally, I
keep everything but my immediate needs in a locker. Room key, maybe a few bucks
in cash, sun screen, towel, cover-up, sandals, eyeglasses - none really need to
be waterproof. It pays to be a guy - my swim suits usually have
zippered/velcroed pockets suitable for the room key and cash. The waterproof
neck "safes" are helpful if you don't have pockets. You can also get
neck lanyards with a clear, ziplock closure for your room key. I'm not a fan of
carrying a camera. There's sand everywhere, and just a few grains of it are
enough to wreck a camera. If you want to bring one, get a waterproof case for it
- those work for sand, too.
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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