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PassPorter News
News, Announcements, Updates, and Tips
May 3, 2006 * Issue 6.16
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: Spring Fever
Travel Feature: Key Largo &
Islamorada
Disney Feature: How To Make The Most Of
Meeting With Mickey
Updates: What's New and Changed
Tips: Shutters Shuffle, Different
Dinner, Adults Alone?
Captain's Corner: Mayan Big Mouth
Statue
Q&A: How can a single parent
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FROM THE AUTHORS: Spring Fever
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Are we obsessed with the outdoors now
that spring has truly come to our corner of Michigan? You bet! The woods out
back morphed from bare branches to a dense, fresh green in just the past week,
we finally had to mow the lawn Sunday (and darn, it looks like it needs it
again!), and we finished-up pressure washing and staining our deck (a two-week
project). It looks gooooood! We're sure many of you can relate, and hope you,
too, have been making the most of the season.
Meantime, it's very quiet here in the office.
Nikki and Chad, who you met last week in this newsletter, are off on a very
brief brother/sister trip to Walt Disney World, thanks to an unbelievable $16
roundtrip, last-minute airfare from Spirit Airlines. Add-in an Annual Pass
discount on their room, and they were golden! They'd have had to spend more on
gas for a drive to Ohio's Cedar Point for this Saturday's Opening Day (May 6)!
Folks, if your favorite airlines offer e-mail newsletters, be sure to
subscribe. You don't know what kind of last-minute deals you may be missing!
On the business front, we popped into
our local Borders book store the other night, and found four different PassPorter
books on the shelves -- PassPorter Walt Disney World 2006, PassPorter's Field
Guide to the Disney Cruise Line 4th Edition, PassPorter's Walt Disney World for
Your Special Needs, and the brand-new PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt
Disney World. As Mushu said in Disney's Mulan, "My baby's all grown up and
:::sniff::: saving China!"
We're also very happy to announce the
debut of a second PassPorter e-book, PassPorter's Disney Cruise Clues. This
downloadable, printable file in PDF format offers 250 great tips for enjoying
your Disney Cruise Line experience. And if that wasn't enough, we throw in an
incredible collection of extras including seven different, customized packing
lists and a huge packing worksheet, comparisons between DCL and other cruise
lines, shopping resources for hard-to-find cruising items, and a pre-teen's
perspective on cruising with Disney. For just $4.95, you can't go wrong! For
information, visit http://www.passporter.com/dcl/cruiseclues.asp
Next week, if we're all very lucky,
we'll have some really exciting news about our Disneyland and Southern
California guidebook. Stay tuned!
In this edition of the newsletter,
Maureen Austin takes us down the road to Margaritaville, with the first of
several articles on the Florida Keys, and first-time contributor Terry Rohrer
shares his tips for making the most of a Meeting with Mickey and other
characters. 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 both Walt Disney World and the Disney
Cruise Line (or just dreaming of it). 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:
http://www.passporterstore.com/store/combodeal.aspx
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TRAVEL FEATURE: Unlocking
The Magic of The Florida Keys:
Key Largo and Islamorada
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by Maureen Austin, PassPorter Message
Board Guide and Guest Contributor
When thinking about South Florida, many
think about Miami and Miami Beach. However, keep heading south and youÕll
discover a part of Florida that is unique and positively special in its own
right. Welcome to 106 miles of island beauty known as the Florida Keys.
Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and Florida Bay, the Keys
have rich history that includes Spanish, British exploration and occupation.
Pirates were also known to be found around these parts back in the day, too.
Equally notorious as the Keys are some of its better known residents, such as
Tennessee Williams, Ernest Hemingway and of course, MargaritavilleÕs own Jimmy
Buffet.
Some refer to the Keys as AmericaÕs
Caribbean. To write a comprehensive article covering every aspect of what the
Florida Keys have to offer is like trying to eat a piece of key lime cheesecake
in one sitting - too rich to do all at once. In this article, weÕll visit Key
Largo and Islamorada.
Just about an hourÕs drive south of
Miami International Airport, you can find yourself in what some consider to be
the dive capital of the world. Home of the Florida Marine National Sanctuary,
Key Largo has a long history of marine preservation. Key LargoÕs many dive
spots are known for exquisite coral and friendly fish, making diving here an
experience unlike any other. Known as the ÒDive Capital of the World,Ó Key
Largo is at the forefront of marine conservation. The nationÕs first undersea
preserve, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, was created here in 1960.
Spear-fishing and coral collection has been banned here for over 40 years,
resulting in incredible marine life Ð an underwater photographerÕs Eden!
If you have a fondness for staying on top
of the water with a reel, youÕll feel right at home in Key Largo. Although many
areas in the sanctuaries are off limits with respect to fishing, there are
other areas to cast into. Charters offer many outstanding opportunities to take
in deep sea fishing, where the catch are some of the worldÕs most sought-after
fish. Tarpon and grouper are just a couple of the prized catches in Key Largo.
Animal lovers and eco-enthusiasts will
enjoy many activities and tours in Key Largo. Many private tour operators conduct
guided expeditions exploring wildlife and environments, including animals and
plant life indigenous to the Keys.
If shopping or art are more your style,
youÕll have no trouble finding paradise in Key Largo. Each April, Key Largo hosts the Art Guild Outdoor Festival,
showcasing works of local artists. In any season, quaint stores await the
shopping enthusiast.
Accommodations range from charming
cottages and family run motels to camping at John Pennekamp State Park, which
has some of the best diving the Keys has to offer.
Continuing south, youÕll reach
Islamorada. Sport fishing reigns supreme here, with most marinas hosting some
of the best pro fishers anywhere, available as guides. Choose between flats or
tackle - you are sure to land a catch youÕll remember!
Sport divers arenÕt left out here
either. Tropical marine life along the coral reef abounds, providing underwater
photographers with colors one can only dream about. Alligator Reef is the home
to the sunken USS Alligator, a 12-gun schooner scuttled in 1822.
Boat enthusiasts will find a wide
variety of watercraft rentals for plying the blue waters of Islamorada.
You can also take in ecotourism in
Islamorada. Head to the back country and check out alligators and manatees.
Florida sea grasses and flats also abound here. Nearby Indian Key is only
accessible by boat or private tour, and is worth the effort to get there. Here,
Native Americans walked for thousands of years.
Accommodations in Islamorada also
include camping, hotels and motels as well as condo rentals. For a change of pace, you can also call
a bed and breakfast home during your stay. Many are traditional masonry conch
houses that have unique dŽcor and styles all their own.
Both Key Largo and Islamorada offer
activities for everyone in the family. Children will love feeding tarpon at
RobbieÕs Marina in Islamorada as well as FounderÕs Park. In Key Largo, the
little ones will be sure to love the water park at JacobÕs Aquatic Center, for
a very reasonable admission price.
Savvy travelers and travel enthusiasts
will find these Keys web sites helpful.
http://www.fla-keys.com/keylargo/
http://www.fla-keys.com/islamorada/
http://www.thefloridakeys.com/index.html
http://www.pennekamppark.com/
In our next article, weÕll continue on
our journey as we explore Marathon and Big Pine Key.
About the Author: Maureen Austin is
co-owner of Grand Getaways Travel and a proud Florida native. Born in South
Florida and having lived all over the state, she enjoys writing about the
Sunshine State's many attractions and natural beauty.
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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: How To
Make The Most Of Your Meeting With Mickey
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by Terry Rohrer, Guest Contributor
You have made the big decision to take
your kids to Disney World. For months you have been planning on how to get
there, where to stay and how much money to budget for souvenirs. You are making
the kids watch every Disney movie ever made so they will know all the
characters.
So you arrive at the Magic Kingdom, and
after walking through the gates and past the train station, you appear on Main
Street U.S.A. The kids are excited and next thing you know you are in line to get
autographs and pictures of two mice in dresses. But your brain freezes - you
donÕt remember their names! You realize that you donÕt have anything to write
with or on, and suddenly before your camera is ready, it is your turn. Now the
kids freeze and try to hide inside your shorts. Just then, you notice the other
parents and kids waiting for their turn. You panic and hold the kids or even
take them up close to get the picture. When you get home, the only picture you
have of your childrenÕs first visit to Disney World is of them crying and
trying to run away from two mice. IÕm going to give you some tips to prevent
this scene and help create lifetime memories.
Getting the perfect picture with the
Characters takes a little planning and some great timing. It all starts before
you leave. There is no ÒmagicÓ age that makes kids want to run up to Mickey or
even just not run away from the famous mouse. A good place to have a test run
is at your mall at Christmas or Easter or at your local Chuck E. CheeseÕs. If they
do not want to get close to the Easter Bunny, then you may have the reaction I
mentioned earlier and you may want to wait before you take that big vacation.
On the other hand, if they run up to Chuck E. Cheese and want to talk, play or
even dance, then be ready for a great vacation.
So now that you know your child is
ready, a little planning is in order. Before you go to Disney World rent, buy
or borrow any Disney movie you can get your hands on. This will help you as you
run into different characters. With a little searching, I found which
characters would be out greeting guests, and where some of them would appear
before we went. But as with all things Disney, this is subject to change. So
just because you found a message board or blog where someone said they found
Snow White next to her attraction in the Magic Kingdom, does not mean that she
will be there during your vacation. Disney changes the character schedule all
the time.
Not all characters appear regularly
each day. If after watching all those Disney movies, they have their heart set
on meeting Aladdin and Jasmine, Disney has a way for you to find out if and
when they will be appearing. Ask any cast member wearing a pin displaying
MickeyÕs white glove. They have a schedule of where and when all the characters
will make their appearances that day.
Also, on each of the park maps, there
will be locations marked with the same MickeyÕs white glove icon. If the map
shows that Captain Hook will be near the Pirates of the Caribbean but you get
there and donÕt see him, just ask any cast member in the area and they will be
happy to help. You may not realize you are 10 feet from where he will be, but
that youÕre just a little early. DonÕt panic, and before you know it he will
appear and be ready to sign an autograph and have his picture taken with all of
you.
All of the Disney characters will have
a ÒgreeterÓ with them. This is a cast member that will help keep everyone who
is waiting to see the characters in line, and the best part is if you ask them,
they will take a picture of your entire family with the character. I find, like
many unofficial family photographers, that when I get home I am not in any of
the pictures! With a little help from the greeter, this doesn't have to happen.
Also, do not let the line or anxious kids behind you make you hurry and miss
something. Be sure to make a list of characters that you want to see, and once
you find them, take all the time you want within reason.
There are a few other things you can do
to enhance your experience. Be sure to have something that the characters can
sign. Disney sells autograph books at almost every store. My wife, who enjoys
scrapbooking, took a small spiral bound card stock book and Sharpie markers for
them to sign with. Your PassPorter also includes several pages for autographs.
Keep in mind, some characters wear very large gloves or some may not be able to
sign at all. Keep a thick marker with you as these are easier for the characters
to hold. If the characters cannot sign, they often have a rubber stamp they can
use.
So youÕve waited in line, and it is
finally your turn with the character. Most everyone will send his or her kids
up to ask for an autograph. Be sure to have your camera ready. Some of the best
photos I have ever seen are taken during the moments before the "big
pose," when they first get to see their favorite star. This is when you
will get the best smiles and the most candid photos. Your child does not have
to be facing the camera to get a great picture. Be sure to get a picture of the
big hug, which they will talk about long after you are home.
Now, to make this few minutes even more
memorable, be sure to let your children talk to the characters. You will see most
parents send the child up, they get the autograph, turn for the picture and
then the parents say ÒLetÕs go!Ó Instead, take a minute and have them or even
you, ask some questions. You will get some great reactions! Ask Minnie why
Mickey has not married her yet. Tell Donald that you think Mickey is number 1.
DonÕt be scared to say ÒTick, tock, tick, tockÓ around Captain Hook. Be sure to
ask Belle what her favorite book is. You will be amazed at what some of the
reactions or answers will be! You will create memories that will last a
lifetime.
Our son loved talking to the princesses
and interacting with them. He took his Beauty and the Beast book for Belle to
read to him. He would wait in line, and then when it was his turn he would let
her read a page. After that, he would go to the back of the line and wait his
turn for her to read another page. We have a ton of pictures of Belle reading
with him. He still talks about it a year after it happened!
Another way to get a great character
interaction is to take advantage of a Character Meal. There are many different
locations and types of meals to choose from Ð breakfast, lunch, dinner, even an
ice cream social. Check out the Walt Disney World web site for information and
call (407) WDW-DINE to make reservations. These meals let you enjoy some great
food, and the Characters will come to your table and interact with you and your
family.
To sum it up, do a little work before
you go and let the kids talk and play with everyone you see. While you are
waiting, be sure to get your autograph book, pens, markers and cameras ready
for the moment that is about to happen. Take lots of pictures and be sure to
get all the autographs you can. Long after the vacation you will be able to
look back and say, "That is Junior with Suzy and Perla!" (the two
mice I mentioned at the beginning of the article, who made Cinderella's gown)!
About the Author: Terry is the father
of two - a 6 year old son whose eyes "light up" when talking with a
Disney Princess ,and a 17 year old daughter. Terry describes himself as
"obsessed with Disney!"
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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:
At 9:02 am on Tuesday May 2, 2006,
Disneyland welcomed it's two-billionth guest (yes, billionth with a
"b!") to visit a Disney theme park. Lucky 12 year-old Emmalee Mason
from Colorado Springs, Colorado was the honored with a golden key and a lifetime
pass to every Disney park in the world. Lifetime passes were also given to
Emmalee's entire family of 10, yes 10, people including Emmalee, her parents,
six siblings and one soon-to-be sibling. Talk about a baby gift!
On Tuesday, Disney announced that,
"by the beginning of summer," Epcot guests will have two Mission:
Space experiences to choose from. Both versions will make the same journey to
Mars, but in one version, the centrifuge-based simulator ride will not spin at
all! No g-forces, no airsickness bags needed - just the thing for anyone with
motion sickness (like Jennifer) or many of the health concerns Disney lists on
its warning signs for the attraction. All guests will enter the same queue, and
once inside will be given their choice of ride experience. This isn't the first
time Disney has done this for a simulator-based attraction, but it's the first
time it's a full-time option. By request, Star Tours can also be experienced
without the motion effects for the benefit of those in wheelchairs and with other
special needs.
Jennifer and Dave Marx were recently
interviewed for a podcast by Mike Scopa, Matt Hochberg, and Mike Newell from http://www.wdwtoday.com .
Episode 94 is available for download now! Check it out for information on
upcoming books, and a behind-the- scenes look at the making of PassPorter.
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!
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:
SHUTTERS SHUFFLE
"On the Disney Cruise, at Shutters
gather your pictures daily in one place for easy selection at the end of your
cruise."
-- contributed by Beth A. (blabak2@...)
DIFFERENT DINNER
"For a change of pace from the
hustle and bustle at Disneyland, there is an Old Spaghetti Factory in
Fullerton. It is just a five minute drive from Disneyland down Harbor Blvd.
Just go north on Harbor to the rail road tracks and it it there on your right.
The food is really good and the price is family affordable."
-- contributed by Tim T.
(timsforgiven@...)
ADULTS ALONE?
"If at all possible, allow
yourself at least one trip without your children. You will see Walt Disney
World in a whole new light. It is an opportunity for you to be a kid again if
only for a few days."
n
contributed
by Debbie A. (debmeg29@...)
n
>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? 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 at
http://www.passporter.com/wdw/disney500.asp
>>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 at
http://www.passporter.com/dcl/cruiseclues.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:
"After my discovery of Cornelius
Coot's statue in the middle of Mickey's Toontown Fair last week, I set out in
search of the elusive Mayan Big Mouth Statue. I heard from my friend Panchito
that this incredible statue was hidden in the sand near a Mayan pyramid. Legend
has it that you can crawl through the mouth of this statue -- when you emerge
on the other side of it, you'll find yourself in the wonderland of Patio de
Recreo. After much searching, I discovered the Mayan Big Mouth Statue at the
dig site in ..." (rest of text obscured by sand and water)
Where is the "Mayan Big Mouth
Statue" at Walt Disney World?
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 Julie Dunlap who was
the winner of last week's treasure hunt game! Julie correctly identified the
statue as being of Cornelius Coot, the great-great-great-grandfather of Huey,
Dewey, and Louie. To view the original clues, see the last newsletter at http://www.passporter.com/news/news042806.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. ÒPassPorter'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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dattman86 asks: "Our family is
going to Disney World in July. We have two younger children who may often need
to be back at the hotel for naps. I am looking for ideas on how to take my
7-year-old twins on rides by myself, especially those rides that will only seat
two at a time like Space Mountain. I don't want to leave them to ride alone for
obvious reasons. Any suggestion on this dilemma?"
Jennifer and Dave answer: "There's
no easy answer if you want to sit alongside your children. However, in almost
all cases, it's easy to sit right behind them. That'll certainly work for all
the Mountains. They're small enough that you can probably fit all three of you
into Buzz (although only two can shoot) and Haunted Mansion. The only rides
that this wouldn't work well for would be Dumbo, Astro Orbitor, and
Tomorrowland Indy Speedway. Moving to the other parks, you'll be completely
cool. Sit a row behind on Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Triceratop Spin, and
Expedition: Everest, everything else will allow at least three abreast."
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 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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If this newsletter was forwarded to you by a
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Copyright (c) 2006 - MediaMarx, Inc. / PassPorter
Travel Press, PO Box 3880, Ann Arbor, MI
48106