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PassPorter News

News, Announcements, Updates, and Tips

June 7, 2007 * Issue 7.23

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: Golden News

TravelFeature: The Smoky Mountains

Disney Feature: A Party For The Senses

Updates: What's New and Changed

Tips: Ice, Ice, Baby; End of Day Excitement; Double Dryers

Captain's Corner: Golden Trophy

Q&A: Should I take my good camera on shore excursions?

Our Sponsors: We Recommend...


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FROM THE AUTHORS: Golden News
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Hi, {{user("firstname")}}!

We're back from Book Expo America with some very happy news! PassPorter Disneyland and Southern California Attractions won first-place gold in ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Awards, triumphing over 18 other finalists in the travel guide category. Read the full article at http://www.passporter.com/articles/passporter-disneyland-award.asp . To celebrate, we're offering an extra-special deal on the prize-winning book, as follows:

FREE MEDIA MAIL SHIPPING + $10 OFF DISNEYLAND GUIDEBOOKS!
To celebrate PassPorter Disneyland's gold award, you can get free USPS Media Mail shipping on all orders placed between now and June 11, 2007 at midnight ET. And to help you get a copy of the award-winning PassPorter Disneyland, we're also taking $10 off the Disneyland guidebooks for phenomenal prices -- this offer also ends on Monday, June 11, 2007. For detail, visit http://www.passporterstore.com/store

During the Book Expo show, we autographed hundreds of copies of our guidebooks for the booksellers and librarians attending the show. Things went so well at those autographing sessions that, for the first time in PassPorter history, show administration had to close-off our autographing queue while we were signing our Disneyland guidebook to make way for the next autographing author!

As with most conventions and trade shows, we also had a chance to advance PassPorter's fortunes in the industry (that effort went very well, as our reputation now proceeds us), and to meet and re-connect with our colleagues in travel publishing. Bob Sehlinger of Unofficial Guides fame, a long-time friend of ours, was exhibiting his Menasha Ridge Press books just up the aisle from us, and we got to meet Liliane Opsomer, one of Bob's co-authors on The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World With Kids. We also reconnected with Kelly Monaghan, author of the Universal Orlando and The Other Orlando guidebooks we sell here in the PassPorter Store. Kelly and his wife, Sally Scanlon, also publish Steve Barrett's Hidden Mickeys and Lou Mongello's Walt Disney World Trivia books, but Steve and Lou weren't in attendance. Both of us were able to meet travel publishing legend Arthur Frommer, who was on hand to celebrate the 50th anniversary of "Europe on $5 a Day," the book that single-handedly re-made the travel publishing industry after World War II. Dave also chatted with Rick Steves, whose guidebooks to Europe top the travel bestseller lists and whose PBS TV series and NPR radio show are seen and heard by millions. We were also fortunate to have the assistance of Sara Varney (this newsletter's editor), Debbie Wright (PassPorter message board guide), and Carolyn Tody (Jennifer's mother) during the event!

Actually, since PassPorter Walt Disney World is currently the third-bestselling guidebook to Walt Disney World (behind Birnbaum's and the Unofficial Guide) and one of the top selling travel books nationwide, we found that our own reputation had a way of proceeding us, no matter who we talked to in travel publishing. Altogether, we had a very satisfying and fruitful Book Expo.

PASSPORTER'S CLUB UPDATE
* Nearly 650 vacationers are now enjoying access to all our e-books and e-worksheets -- thank you for your continued support!
* TWO new e-worksheets -- House and Pet Sitter Instructions and Daily Park and Reservations Coordinator -- are available for download in the Club. We now have 35 e-worksheets in our library.
* New Passholder Perk Coming Soon!: Super Sized Photos! We are testing the possibility of sharing our massive photo collection online -- and allowing Club Passholders the ability to see the photos super-sized (up to 25 times larger, or at a resolution of up to 2000 pixels). For more details and to see 150 super-sized, original images of Fort Wilderness, visit The Parlor
* More details at http://www.passporter.com/club

Peer reviewer and friend Bruce Metcalf has nearly finished his live trip report of his trans-Atlantic crossing and first Mediterranean itinerary cruises on the Disney Magic. To read his live reports, visit http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/sharing-your-adventure-disney-cruise-reports/127931-25-days-disney-magic-europe.html

Meet us in person: Will you be at July's sold-out MagicMeets event in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania? We sure will! We'll be on hand to meet, greet, and maybe put on a presentation or two.

In this issue, Michelle Clark introduces us to some of the attractions of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Featured Columnist Cheryl Pendry nibbles on some of the delights at A Party for the Senses at Epcot's Food and Wine Festival. Jack Skatt also offers a stumper of a treasure hunt this week, but he was kind enough to provide an extra clue. Enjoy!

Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter Publishers and Authors

P.S. Jack says to peek at http://www.passporter.com/news/trophyhint.jpg


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TRAVEL FEATURE: The Great Smoky Mountains
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by Michelle Clark, PassPorter Guest Contributor

Looking for an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life? A great destination for a weekend getaway or a family vacation is the Great Smoky Mountains. Situated at the North Carolina/Tennessee border, the Great Smoky Mountains or the Smokies are part of the Appalachian Mountains and are home to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Some 521,000 acres were set aside as a National Park in 1934. With over 9 million visitors to the park each year, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited National Park in the country. This is largely due to the fact that over half of the U.S. population is located within a days drive of the park. U.S. Highway 441 travels through the park and is the most utilized route to enter the Great Smoky Mountains.

The Smokies are a true nature preserve, with forest comprising nearly 95 percent of the national park. Approximately 1,600 black bear make their home in the park, and whitetail deer are plentiful. Bird watchers will delight in the 200 species of birds native to the park. Recently the National Park Service reintroduced elk and river otters into the park. There are over 1,600 different wildflowers native to the Smokies, more than any other national park.

As you travel on U.S. Highway 441 you will encounter many beautiful scenic views of the Smokies. Newfound Gap (elevation 5,048 feet) is the lowest drivable gap or pass in the park. There is plenty of parking at Newfound Gap, so be sure to stop and check the view. Clingmans Dome at 6,643 feet is the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as well as the highest point in Tennessee. You can take the half-mile hike up to the observation tower at Clingmans Dome. On a clear day you can see seven states from the tower! The hike is steep but paved and pretty easy to maneuver. Bring a jacket along, even in the warmer months it can be a bit chilly at the top.

The park itself provides a variety of activities for day trips or vacations. There are over 800 miles of hiking trails inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. These trails range from short nature trails to longer backwoods hikes. If you desire something in between, there are several 1.5 to 2 mile hikes that will reward you with fabulous scenic views of the mountains or waterfalls. Horseback riding is another popular activity in the park. There are several riding stables in the area that offer guided riding tours in the mountains.

The Oconaluftee River at the southern end of the park near Cherokee and the Little Pigeon River near Gatlinburg are popular with trout fishermen. Open season for trout fishing runs April 1 through November 30, and a license and permit are required to fish. These can be obtained at the Park Welcome Center for fishing in Tennessee. If you plan to fish the Oconaluftee in the Cherokee Indian Reservation you will need to purchase a separate North Carolina license, available at a number of stores and locations in Cherokee.

Picnic and camping facilities are available inside the park. Need to cool off? White water rafting on the Pigeon River is another popular activity in the area. You can make reservations for your rafting trip with several area outfitters. The dense foliage of the forests in the Smokies provides spectacular colors in the fall, drawing large numbers of leaf watchers. The roadways in the park can be packed on autumn weekends with cars lining up to view the changing leaves.

One of the most popular destinations inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park is Cades Cove. Cades Cove is a valley tucked deep inside the Smokies that was originally inhabited by a group of pioneer settlers. Many of the original log homes and other buildings dating back to the 1800s have been preserved and can be toured today. Cades Cove is accessible by an 11-mile one-way loop road. There are three churches still standing in Cades Cove that can be reserved for church services. Our local congregation has visited Cades Cove and held a service in one of the old church buildings. Sitting on backless pine benches is quite different than the padded pews we have today! The biggest draw of Cades Cove is not the old settlement buildings but rather, the plentiful wildlife. One trip around the loop road can easily reward visitors with glimpses of dozens of whitetail deer and possibly even a bear. Approximately halfway around the loop is a visitor center with restrooms. There is a large meadow next to the visitor center that is perfect for picnics. Since Cades Cove is extremely popular and has only a one-way road, traffic can back up during the busier seasons. Biking and horseback riding is also allowed on the loop road.

New visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park will benefit from a stop at the Sugarlands Visitor Center located on U.S. 441south of Gatlinburg. Nearby is Little River Road, which leads to Cades Cove. Here you will find information on all the park has to offer. The center has plenty of maps and brochures. You can also view a short film about the park and view a preserved animal exhibit in the nature museum. There is a bookstore and gift shop inside the visitors center along with restrooms and vending machines.

Most hotels and restaurants in the Great Smoky Mountains area have brochure stands with literature on a variety of attractions in the area. There are an abundance of coupon books for some of the area attractions as well.

The Smokies offer a variety of activities for visitors from all walks of life, any time of the year. There is sure to be something to please everyone!

Here are some helpful sites when planning a trip the Smokies:

National Park Service
http://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm

Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce
http://www.gatlinburg.com

Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism
http://www.mypigeonforge.com


About the Author: Michelle Clark is a confessed theme park junkie and the mother of three teens who share in her thrill ride obsession. She is also a Co-Guide for the Library forum on the PassPorter Message Boards.


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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. Also check out our Article Collection at http://www.passporter.com/articles for more great information!


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DISNEY FEATURE: Party For The Senses
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by Cheryl Pendry, PassPorter Featured Columnist

If you're a food lover like me and you want an exclusive evening of fine wine, food, and entertainment while you're at Walt Disney World, then you'll probably be thinking about getting tickets for the Party for the Senses.

Held on Saturday nights during Epcot's Food and Wine Festival, party tickets don't come cheap. In 2005, the price was $95 per person, but the following year that rose dramatically to $125 per person. For ages, we wondered whether this event could be worth the money. After all, we were talking about three hours and that's a lot of money for that little time. Then again, it's fairly comparable to the price of tickets for some of the biggest stage shows these days. Well, that's the logic I used anyway, when deciding whether to take the plunge. Working on the theory that you only live once, two tickets were booked for the night of Saturday, October 28. So having made the decision to go for it, was the party worth the money we paid? The answer is an unequivocal yes.

The party is held in what was once the Millennium Village (remember that?) between Canada and the UK in the World Showcase. These days the space, now known as the World Showplace, is only open for special events, and it's massive. There seemed to be hundreds of people waiting outside before the party started, but once we got inside, it never once felt crowded and there were plenty of tables.

As we walked in, we were given a program, detailing the foods and wines available, the chefs responsible for them, and the restaurants they work in. Although a number were understandably from Disney, there were also many other names from across the country. We avidly studied the guides to work out exactly what we wanted to sample.

My main concern had been whether there would be enough options for me as a non-meat eater. I needn't have worried; there were plenty of fish and vegetarian dishes on the menu - and of course, desserts - and I literally tried every dish I could. In that respect I felt lucky, as I had just about enough choice. The meat eaters in our party admitting that the choice of goodies on offer was almost too much to pick from!

The first thing you notice is that you get very small portions of food to sample, but that's not a bad thing, as you may come across the occasional item that you don't like. You can also go back to any section as many times as you like. By the end of the evening, having lost count of the amount of different foods I'd sampled, I felt as if I'd had a really good meal and left there feeling pretty full.

To give you an idea of some of the items that have been available to sample in the past, we tried such delicacies as curry of wild American shrimp with lemon grass-steamed Basmati rice by Jens Dahlman from the California Grill, grilled lamb with salsa verde, roasted garlic cauliflower mash, and Feta cheese by Adam Levine from the Contemporary Resort Conventions and Catering, and a white chocolate mousse with a citrus glaze from Deran Lanpher from the Boardwalk Bakery.

Or how about squash souffle on a phyllo cup with hazelnut Creme Anglais, spicy squash Shooter with brandy cream, and squash roulade with watercress salsa by Edgardo Ruiz from Disney's Grand Floridian Catering and Conventions? Maybe the duck and chicken Polpetine with caramelized onions and truffled basil pesto by Maurice Bonhomme from Pave Caldo in Chicago is more to your liking? Or perhaps the smoked eel and duck ravioli with celery and apple salad by Brooke Vosika from the Four Seasons Hotel in New York appeals instead?

If, like me, you're getting hungry just reading that list, you would definitely enjoy the party. And here's where the warning comes -- if none of those food names excite you, then maybe Party for the Senses isn't for you.

What about the other aspects of the party? In each section, you'll find wines to complement your food. If you're worried about getting a little light headed by the end of the night, or you don't drink alcohol, then water and coffee are on hand as well.

In between all the sampling of the food, there were also performances by artistes from Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba. As you'd expect from such a high caliber show, you'll watch the performers in awe. It's a good way of finding out what La Nouba is all about, as anyone who's seen it will tell you that it's not the easiest show to explain! You'll also see Cirque du Soleil performers wandering around during the evening, which is a piece of additional magic.

We all know that Disney puts on a wonderful show and Party for the Senses is no exception to that rule. Yes, it's a pricey night out, but it's also a magical night out and you really are in for a treat for your senses. It may not be the sort of thing that you can afford every night, but it's definitely something worth sampling at least once.


About the Author: Cheryl and husband Mark live in England and love to travel, particularly to America. Their last visit to Walt Disney World was in the fall, when they enjoyed both the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot and the Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom.



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. Also check out our Article Collection at http://www.passporter.com/articles for more great information!


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UPDATES: What's New and Changed
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Here's a few relevant news items:

Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure has announced plans for a new "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" land. Set to debut in late 2009, the land will feature Hogwarts, the Forbidden Forest, and Hogsmeade Village. Locations from the forthcoming final installment of the series may also be included.

Celebrating a birthday or other special occasion while at Walt Disney World? Guests who wish to request a personalized cake for the occasion can now call the new "Cake Hotline" at 407-827-2253 and place an order. 48-hours notice is required. Prices vary according to the type of cake chosen. A 6-inch, non-personalized cake is available upon request at the podium of your restaurant with no advance notice and costs $12.50 plus tax.

Performers for the Eat To The Beat Concert Series that takes place during Epcot's Food & Wine Festival, have been announced. Shows take place each night in the America Gardens Theater at 5:45 pm, 7:00 pm, and 8:15 pm. The schedule is subject to change.

September 28 - 29: Al Stewart
September 30 - October 1: Otis Day and the Knights
October 2 - 3: The Beach Boys
October 4 - 6: The Original Family Stone
October 7 - 9: Sheena Easton
October 10 - 13: Starship starring Mickey Thomas
October 14 - 16: David Cassidy
October 17 - 18: Little Richard
October 19 - 21: TBD
October 22 - 25: The Four Tops
October 26 - 27: The Village People
October 28 - 30: The Outlaws
October 31 - November 3: Jon Secada
November 4 - 6: Chubby Checker and the Wildcats
November 7 - 8: The Contours featuring Sylvester Potts
November 9 - 11: David Sanborn

Our thanks to AllEars.net and MousePlanet.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:

ICE, ICE, BABY
"This will sound like I'm such a cheapskate, but about a two weeks before we leave for our trip, I start to freeze some ice cubes and store them in a large plastic baggie every day or two until we leave. This way, I don't have to think about buying ice bags before we leave. We always pack our cooler the morning of our trip and this way the ice is already at the house ready to use."
-- contributed by Camille T.

END OF DAY EXCITEMENT
"Prior to traveling to Walt Disney World I printed gift tags on my computer using Disney font and attached them to small Disney gifts I had purchased near my home. Each day I was the last to leave our hotel room and I left a gift from Mickey/Goofy/Minnie/Donald to each child. Rather than be disappointed to be going to bed they were very excited (after the first night anyway) to see if the characters had visited their room with a surprise. On our final morning they left a thank you note to the characters (which I hid away to relive the memories in years to come)!"
-- contributed by Ky R.

DOUBLE DRYERS
"When we travel to Disney I always bring a blow dryer with me and there is usually one in the room. This way if our sneakers get wet I have a blow dryer for each shoe. I have also used it to dry a cloth baby carriage."
-- contributed by Jo Ann L.

>Notes: Send us your tips! You may see them in this newsletter and win a copy of PassPorter! Visit:
http://www.passporter.com/wdw/tipsandstories.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 book, "PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World."

The Captain makes a study of the delightful details -- sometimes hidden, sometimes in plain sight but often overlooked -- at Walt Disney World and aboard the Disney Cruise Line. Using notes from his journals, he will lead you to this "treasure" at Disney with clues, questions, photos, or riddles. Your challenge is to discover the answer by searching your memory, visiting Disney, or even just looking really hard on the Internet. If you think you've found the answer, e-mail it to jackskatt@passporter.com -- the first person to correctly submit the FULL answer will receive a free PassPorter enamel pin or PassPorter name badge pin.

Here is this week's journal entry:

"In honor of the gold award recently bestowed upon PassPorter Disneyland Resort/i>, I went out in search of a suitable trophy. I happened to find a majestic looking golden trophy (see below) which reminded me of those delightful spitting Tiki gods in Adventureland. Alas, the trophy is behind lock and key -- as well as plate glass -- and a photo was all I could manage to get."

Photo: http://www.passporter.com/news/trophy.jpg

Where will you find this golden trophy in Walt Disney World?

Need a hint? Search this newsletter for another photo link which will give you a hint as to the trophy's location!

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 Renee DeWeese who was the winner of last week's treasure hunt game! Renee correctly identified the shop that Jack visited to purchase his snack as the Candy Cauldron in Downtown Disney. The witch featured on the sign is holding a candied apple. To view the original clue, see last week's newsletter at http://www.passporter.com/news/news053107.htm#captain

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 Jack Skatt. Get more details on "PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World" book at http://www.passporterstore.com/store/1587710269.aspx



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Q & A WITH JENNIFER & DAVE
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kdevoe asks: "I will be going on my first cruise in May 2008. I love taking pictures while I am on vacation, but I have one question. During the excursions and while on the beach, should I leave my good camera on the ship and take a disposable camera? I want to get great pictures, but I don't want to ruin my good camera. Are there lockers on the beach or in the vicinity of the excursions?"

Dave and Jennifer answer: "Sorry, you won't find lockers at Castaway Cay or for most excursions (there are always exceptions, though).

A disposable is one way to go, although it may not deliver the quality you desire. They do make fairly inexpensive protective bags for cameras (something like a zip-lock, only better) that are suitable for beach and moisture protection. You can shoot without removing the camera from the bag. That might be enough for your needs. If you're worried about security... go with something you're willing to lose."

Have a question? Post questions 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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PassPorter News is published weekly and we're always on the lookout for good quality Disney and travel articles! We seek 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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OUR SPONSORS: We Recommend...
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PassPorter only accepts advertising from services of the highest quality -- we recommend these companies because we use them ourselves. Please support our sponsors and, in turn, support this newsletter! This week's sponsors are (in order of appearance):

MouseEarVacations.com -- Disney Cruise Line special offers

Mouse Fan Travel -- Magic Your Way with FREE Dining Specials

Quicksilver Tours & Transportation -- Save $5 off airport round-trip transportation in a town car


Thank you, sponsors!



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Copyright (c) 2007 - MediaMarx, Inc. / PassPorter Travel Press, PO Box 3880, Ann Arbor, MI 48106
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