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PassPorter News
News,
Announcements, Updates, and Tips
July 19, 2007 * Issue 7.29
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: Back from Harrisburg!
Travel Feature: Marseilles
Disney Feature: Disneyland Paris
Updates:What's New and Changed
Tips: Deodorant Dilemma, Finding Figment, Keeping Cool
Captain's Corner: Floored
Q&A: Are there a lot of bugs at Fort Wilderness?
Our Sponsors: We Recommend...
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FROM THE AUTHORS: Back from Harrisburg!
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Hi, {{user("firstname")}}!
A whole week has gone by, and so has MagicMeets in
Harrisburg, PA. We had a great time there reconnecting with old friends and
acquaintences and making many new friends. Dave had a great turnout at his talk
on Disney Dining, loads of folks came by our exhibit table, and all in all, we
had a grand old time. Sunday we and about a hundred other MagicMeets attendees
reconvened at nearby Hershey Park, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
Allie began and ended her day on some of the park's big rides, while Mom, Dad,
and Alexander took in some of the plentiful toddler-friendly attractions. By
mid-afternoon thunderclouds were beginning to gather and we headed for the car
for the eight-hour drive back to Ann Arbor. We plan to attend next year's
MagicMeets -- we hope to see you there, too!
PassPorter Store News: Our Free MediaMail Shipping Special
is back from now until Monday, July 23 at 11:59 pm ET. This is a great way to
save on your PassPorter guidebooks! You can even use it to pre-order at 2008
edition, so long as you place your pre-order during the free shipping period.
For details, visit http://www.passporterstore.com/store/freeshipping.aspx
Cool Stuff: We're pleased to welcome two new
sponsors/partners to PassPorter.com: The first is the CARES flight belt, which
you may remember from our travel gear review back in May. We use the CARES
flight belt with our son Alexander (you can see him in the photo below) and
highly recommend it to our readers who want to keep their young kids safe while
flying. The second partner is Disney Movie Rewards, which is for those of us
who buy/watch Disney movies (that'd probably be most of us!). It's a neat
rewards program that gives you points which you can redeem for cool Disney
stuff. Check them out when you get a chance.
CARES: http://www.kidsflysafe.com/track/track.php?tag=PASPTR&dest=/index.php
Disney Movie Rewards: https://register.go.com/bvhe/disneymovierewards/register?BAC-707acqFAN&att=passport
PASSPORTER'S CLUB UPDATE
* Nearly 800 vacationers are now enjoying access to all our
e-books and e-worksheets -- thank you for your continued support!
* Our new e-book, "PassPorter's Disney Character
Yearbook," is available for Club Passholders free of extra charges! Get
more info at http://www.passporter.com/disney-character-yearbook.asp
* A new e-worksheet for MouseFest Agenda is now available
for Club Passholders in The Gallery.
* More details at http://www.passporter.com/club
On the Air: Dave will be interviewed for the JB & Morgan
Show on WIRN - World Internet Radio Network. As soon as we know when the
interview will be on the air (and be available for download), we'll let you
know right here!
In Print: Check Friday's USA Today (7/20/07) for an article
on air travel with young children. Dave was interviewed and, who knows, he may
even make it into the article.
MouseFest Park Schedule: For those of you joining us for
MouseFest 2007, you can now consult the MouseFest Park of the Day schedule at http://www.mousefest.org -- stay tuned for
more MouseFest announcements in the weeks and months to come.
In this issue, it's off to France we go! Feature Columnist
Cheryl Pendry returns to the Mediterranean for a tour of the port city of Marseilles, and Elizabeth Shannon sings the praises
of Disneyland Paris. Finally, Jack Skatt is back with a brand-new Walt Disney
World Treasure Hunt. Enjoy!
Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter Publishers and Authors
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Book by 7/31/07 & get a Disney Gift Card
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Ask us about exclusive land packages too!
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TRAVEL FEATURE: Marseilles
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by Cheryl Pendry, PassPorter Featured Columnist
Marseilles is a city that's in the midst of a huge change.
That's practically the first thing we learned on the tour we took during our
day in the city's port.
It's certainly not a place that boasts many, if indeed any,
guidebooks to its name and as a result, out of all our ports of call on the
Disney Magic's tour of the Mediterranean, Marseilles was probably the one I
knew the least about beforehand. Therefore, if I'm honest, I really wasn't
expecting that much from the place. I mean, after all, if no one can be
bothered to write an entire book about the place, there can't be that much to
it, surely? How wrong you can be.
Our half-day tour of Marseilles quickly took us through the
history of the city, as we drove towards it. The first thing we learned was
that it's the oldest city in France, dating back to the sixth century BC and
much of its trade over the years has come through its impressive port. As we
made our way from that port, we were also told about the Marseilles of more
recent times. Only a decade ago, it was known as a major stop in the illegal
drug trade and the city was falling into disrepair. A lot of money from the
European Union, and a fast train service linking Marseilles with much of the
rest of France (and even London through the Eurostar train through the Channel
Tunnel) has helped to change all that.
Today it's a thriving place, with much of city life centered
around the beautiful Vieux Port (Old Port). As well as being a picture
postcard, with hundreds of yachts docked here, it's also home to a daily fish
market, with a series of restaurants and shops lining the harbor. City Hall is
also here, dating from the 17th century, complete with a bust of King Louis
XIV, best known for his extravagant palace Versailles, near Paris.
Vieux Port is a pleasant walk and allows you to mingle with
local residents, but it's important to keep your wits about you, as there are
unfortunately pickpockets at work, as there are in many parts of Europe. On our
tour, one woman told us she had only put her camera down for a second, but
that's all it took for it to disappear.
Despite the beauty of the Vieux Port area, you have to do
some work to get the best views of Marseilles. If you look upwards from the
harbor, you'll see a church, complete with a huge golden statue of the Virgin
Mary, dominating the landscape. Set on top of a hill at the highest point of
Marseilles, the Notre Dame de la Garde Basilica replaced a fort, which had
previously been on this spot, with a chapel. Consecrated in 1864, it was
another sixty seven years before the statue was added on to the church, in
front of crowds estimated at 300,000 people. The statistics are truly
staggering - at nearly 30 feet tall, a total of nearly 30,000 sheets of gold
leaf were required to gild the statue.
This is another example of how the city is changing. We were
told that a major restoration project on the church had only been completed a
matter of weeks beforehand and the interior is certainly stunning, following
all that repair work over the last couple of years. But perhaps the most
stunning aspect to this church is actually what's outside it. As you'd expect
from its position overlooking Marseilles, it offers spectacular views down to
the city sprawling beneath you. Although it took quite a lot of energy to walk
the 180 steps to reach the church, the view was well worth the exertion!
Having got your exercise for the day, a great way to unwind
is by sampling some of the superb offerings at one of the local patisseries. Of
course, France is famous for its cakes and desserts - and for good reason!
There's certainly nothing more French than picking out some wickedly good
treats in a cake shop and then enjoying them, sitting by one of the main city
streets while watching the world go by.
Something else Marseilles is famed for is its soap. It may
seem like an ordinary everyday product, but what they produce here is very
different from what you usually find on the supermarket shelves, much bigger
and more scented and makes for a good souvenir.
Although Marseilles is far from being a city that's familiar
to most visitors to France, there's no doubt that's set to change over the next
few years, as more and more people discover this beautiful port on the south
coast of France. Despite any reservations I had beforehand, Disney definitely
made a good choice when they decided to put into port here on their
Mediterranean cruise.
About the Author: Cheryl and husband Mark live in England
and love to travel, particularly to America. They were on the first 11-night sailing
of the Disney Magic around the Mediterranean and are now looking forward to
returning to Walt Disney World in December.
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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: Vive la DiffŽrence - Disneyland Paris
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by Elizabeth Shannon, PassPorter Guest Contributor
It's been seven long years since I was in Walt Disney World.
Living in southern England though, I have been able to keep my magic levels
topped up with frequent visits to Disneyland Paris.
The question most Walt Disney World veterans have about the
parks in Paris is "What is the difference?" So I thought I'd give you
a flavor of all things French.
Where do I start? In Paris they have two parks; Disneyland
Park, which is similar in layout to Magic Kingdom, and the Walt Disney Studios.
Note the first difference -- no "MGM" here! There is also a small
area of shops and restaurants called Disney Village and a range of Disney-owned
resorts on site.
The main difference you notice is that this is a dual
language resort -- French and English. It means that many of your favorite
rides are dubbed into French. It's a bit disconcerting the first time you hear
a French Pirate of the Caribbean or a French C3PO!
They actually do the language thing pretty well. You can
play 'identify the ride' from the French name...so who can guess "Cherie,
j'ai retreci le public"? (In case your French is as bad as mine it's
'Honey, I Shrunk the Audience.)
The next thing many people notice is the castle. It's not
Cinderella Castle, but Sleeping Beauty's Castle (Chateau de la Belle au Bois
Dormant). It is smaller than the Magic Kingdom's castle; a pink confection of
towers and turrets much loved by little girls and those of us who are a tad
older.
There is no restaurant in the castle, but in the dungeons
beneath you find a most impressive, enormous and very realistic
Audio-Animatronics dragon. From time to time he awakes, roars, and blows steam
from his nostrils. Lying in a pool in the cavernous dungeon, he is scary enough
to frighten many a young guest.
Have I mentioned the weather yet? Well I'm not sure if the
Disney executives knew when they chose Paris for their European park, but it
has a higher rainfall than Glasgow in Scotland! Unlike the torrential but brief
downpours in Florida, the rain can go on all day and is often accompanied by
COLD weather.
However, Disney has been most clever in designing the park.
There are covered walkways behind both sides of the shops that line Main
Street, and these continue on into Adventureland, Frontierland, and Fantasyland
with hardly a gap.
And let me tell you of some of my favorite cold weather
days. There is the time it snowed -- Main Street has never looked so pretty --
though riding Thunder Mountain was akin to having high speed dermabrasion! Nor
is there anything better than warming your hands on a cup of hot chocolate and
eating a delicious French pastry from the Main Street Bakehouse. Then was the
time when we came out in the evening and it was really misty. We rode on the
Thunder Mesa Riverboat and the park, twinkling out of the haze, looked so
romantic and magical I could have cried.
Now did I mention my favorite ride, Thunder Mountain? It's
called Thunder Mesa in Disneyland Paris, and ... I have to break it to you ...
this ride is much better than the Florida version, in my opinion. The ride is
located in the middle of a lake and you go under the water on the outbound and
return journeys at a terrific speed. I draw the line at Space Mountain but my husband
Mike rides it. They fire you out of a huge canon on the side of the ride and he
says the start is very similar to the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster take off -- once
again it exceeds its Orlando counterpart in our opinion.
Other than the languages, many of the rides are just the
same as in Florida, but Walt Disney Studios Paris does boast a couple of unique
theatre shows. In CineMagique a member of the audience, who is being berated by
a cast member for using his cell phone, ends up going through the screen and
appearing in the film! The film shows the history of cinema by having him
interact with the on-screen characters first in a silent movie (where he
realizes he can't speak and is in black and white), and then with the same
leading lady he travels through different genres of film until they reach a
happy ending.
Now for a whirlwind trip around some more differences ...
hold on tight!
* Tomorrowland is transformed into Discoveryland and is
decorated with Jules Verne-style theming.
* The entrance to Walt Disney Studios is a huge undercover
area that looks like Hollywood by starlight.
* Sad to say but the French just don't wear ears -- if you
see anyone in Mickey Ears they are almost certainly British or American!
* In the parks you can hold unlimited FASTPASSes, so first
thing the most speedy runners rush around and collect handfuls of them.
* The cast members do their best but struggle to get the
ethos; no-one does Disney like a keen American cast member!
* There are no room-only reservations at the resorts; in common
with most European hotels, all serve an inclusive and delicious Continental
buffet breakfast.
* The Disneyland Paris premier resort is the Disneyland
Hotel, which is right part of the park gates and looks at the railway and down
Main Street beyond. At this resort characters come to breakfast every morning
-- that's right, a free character breakfast!
* And last of all, Disneyland Park is the only 'Magic
Kingdom' park worldwide that serves alcohol. (The French will not eat a meal
without wine, and who can blame them?)
And on that subject, I have to finish with a quick
restaurant review! The most beautiful place to eat in Disneyland Paris is
undoubtedly the Blue Lagoon Restaurant. The diners sit in a Caribbean nighttime
scene that overlooks the river at the start of the Pirates of the Caribbean
ride. In some ways like the San Angel Inn at Epcot [Ed: but even more like the
Blue Bayou Restaurant at California's Disneyland], the boats drift by,
fireflies flicker, and the sounds and smells of a Caribbean evening surround
you. The food is good but the ambiance is better! Nothing beats coming in from
a cold Paris evening, peeling off layers of coats, hats, scarves, and sweaters
and sitting down to enjoy a tropical evening.
So which would I choose to visit? Well for me nothing beats
Walt Disney World. It is big, beautiful and full of the Disney spirit...but I
must admit, Disneyland Paris does have a magic all its own.
About the Author: Erin is an Executive Assistant and long
time Disney enthusiast. She is looking forward to her next visit and first stay
at Pop Century in October 2007 before returning to the Wilderness Lodge for the
holiday season in December 2008.
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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DID YOU KNOW?
You Can Arrive at Walt Disney World in Style!
Airport Meet & Greet, luggage help, free car seat
Free 30-minute grocery stop with airport round-trip
Special! $5.00 off airport round-trip
Use Discount Code: PassPorter News
Call 888-GO TO WDW
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UPDATES: What's New and Changed
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Here's a few relevant news items:
CORRECTION: In last week's Wilderness Lodge article, some
incorrect information was published. The opening date of the Lodge was 1994 not
1997 and the pricing structure of the soda mugs and bike/boat rentals has
changed. Mugs are now $11.99, bike/boat rental is subject to change. Contact
the resort for current pricing. We regret the errors.
The Jedi Training Academy show that is part of Star Wars
Weekends, continues to take place daily outside Star Tours at Disney-MGM
Studios. Recent newspaper reports suggest this may become a permanent addition!
The queue at Soarin' has some new games to keep guests busy
while waiting in line. These interactive games take place on the large video
screens that previously featured nature photos and trivia questions.
Tickets for the 2007 Disney Golf Classic, taking place at
Disney's Palm & Magnolia golf courses November 1 - 4, 2007, are now on
sale. Tickets are available for purchase at http://disneyworldsports.disney.go.com/dwws/en_US/spectators/detail?name=Spectators2007DisneyGolfClassicEventInfoEventDetailPage&CMP=OTC-vgolfclassic1001&bhcp=1
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:
DEODORANT DILEMMA
"If you are tent camping at Fort Wilderness Resort and
Campground in the summer months, make sure to put your stick deodorant in a
cooler. I had mine in my bag in the tent, and the hot summer days melted it.
Not only did I have to pay twice what I would have at home for a new one, I had
melted deodorant on many of the clothes I brought! So keep your stick deodorant
out of the heat!"
-- contributed by Michelle U.
FINDING FIGMENT
"If you are a fan of Figment from Journey Into
Imagination, he has his own air-conditioned place for having your picture taken
with him. It is called Figment's Place and it's located behind the jumping
fountains outside of the ride and lab. You walk on the outside of the rope that
leads to Honey, I Shrunk the Audience. There is information on the door. Inside
are some of the crazy signs that Figment has on his house tour in the ride and
some fun house mirrors to keep you busy if there is a line."
-- contributed by Liz M.
KEEPING COOL
"Trying to stay cool at the Disney parks? Our family
fills a two-gallon zip lock bag with washcloths and ice from the machine at the
resort. It was easy to carry and definitely a refreshing way to beat that hot
Florida heat!"
-- contributed by Holly P.
>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:
"Here are some interesting tidbits I learned on my
wanderings today.
* Ginger has long been used as a medicinal herb.
* The Chinese produce 40% of the world's watermelon crop.
* An apertif stimulates the appetite before dinner."
Fascinating stuff!"
Where in Walt Disney World will you find this information
printed?
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 Lisa Safko who was the winner of last
week's trivia contest! Lisa was the first person to identify the carpet as
being at the All Star Music Resort. To view the original clue, ssee last week's
newsletter at http://www.passporter.com/news/news071207.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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TheThomasFam asks: "Are there a lot of bugs at Fort
Wilderness?"
Dave and Jennifer answer: "The only time we recall the
bugs being bad was when we were out in the boonies on an evening hayride (the
presence of the horses probably helped, too). Around the campsites and other
public areas things are remarkably tame. I can't say bug-free, but the only
time we've wanted repellent was on that hay ride. OK, the beach area can be a
bit of a problem around sunset, too -- think about repellent if you're planning
to watch the Electrical Water Pageant."
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):
Mouse Fan Travel -- MouseFest 2007 Cruise Offer! Book by
7/31/07 & Get a Free Disney Gift Card
MouseEarVacations.com -- Disney Cruise Line special offers -
MouseFest 2007 - Special Onboard Scrapbook Event - Supplies Provided!
Quicksilver Tours & Transportation -- Save $5 off
airport round-trip transportation in a town car
Thank you, sponsors!
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