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PassPorter News
News, Announcements, Updates, and Tips
August 17, 2006 * Issue 6.31
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: Book Updates
Travel Feature: San Francisco
Disney Feature: Tokyo DisneySea
Updates: What's New and Changed
Tips: Photocopy Park Passes, Candid
Camera, Plant PassPorters
Captain's Corner: Painting Place
Q&A: What activities are available
at Tri Circle D Ranch?
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FROM THE AUTHORS: Book
Updates
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Hi, {{user("firstname")}}!
Looking for updates for your
PassPorter? We now have recent updates for the PassPorter Walt Disney World
2006 edition and PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line (4th Edition) online. You'll
find both (as well as updates for earlier editions) at http://www.passporter.com/customs/bookupdates.htm .
Our thanks to Nikki and Chad who worked hard to get these updates together!
In a recent newsletter, we mentioned that we
recently added a discount code just for you -- our wonderful newsletter
subscribers! We claimed that you could find the 20% discount code at the very
bottom of your E-MAILED copy of the newsletter, but it turns out the code only
appeared to those subscribers who received text versions of the newsletter, not
HTML versions. The good news is that we've fixed this problem and your code is
now at the bottom of this e-mail (look for the words "NEWSLETTER COUPON
CODE"). This code won't won't show up in the online newsletter copies (if
you're reading this online, sign up for our free weekly newsletter at http://www.passporter.com/news.htm ). The code
does appear in your subscription confirmation e-mail if you subscribed after
8/1/06. The 20% discount code should be entered during checkout at our Online Store to receive
20% off the list price of PassPorter guidebooks.
We're hearing that staterooms are going fast for
the MouseFest Cruise 2006 (Disney Wonder, December 3-7). If you've been
considering this cruise, we urge you to look into booking very soon.
This edition of the newsletter takes
you to the Pacific Rim. Frequent contributor Cheryl Pendry handles the American
side, with a visit to San Francisco. Sharon Lin takes us to Japan, for a tour
of Tokyo DisneySea. Then, back on the East Coast, Captain Jack Skatt serves up
a new treasure hunting game at Walt Disney World. Enjoy!
Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter Authors and Publishers
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TRAVEL FEATURE: A San Francisco Treat
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by Cheryl Pendry, PassPorter Message Board Guide
and Guest Contributor
Travel to most cities in the world and
the first thing that usually strikes you is how bustling they are. New York,
London, Los Angeles Ð all busy places with lots going on. So when you first get
to San Francisco, itÕs a bit of a culture shock.
San Francisco was the city that
thousands of people flocked to during the original ÒSummer of LoveÓ in 1969 to
Òturn on, tune in and drop outÓ and perhaps thatÕs why it maintains a laid back
feel today. No-one seems to be in a hurry, except for the tourists, trying to
cram in everything that there is to see here.
Apart from the laid-back way of life,
the other thing you notice soon after arriving here is the geography of the
area. Hills are everywhere here and although itÕs a compact city to walk
around, the hills can be exhausting. What may only appear a couple of blocks
away on the map can become a hike that leaves you gasping for breath if you end
up having to head up one of the cityÕs infamous hills.
For exactly that reason, itÕs a good
idea to make Lombard Street one of your first stops. Head to the top of Lombard
Street and then walk down the worldÕs most crooked street. With a 27¡ incline,
if you do decide to try and struggle your way up this road, then spare a
thought for vehicles. The eight twists and turns had to be added in the 1920s
to lessen the gradient, so that cars could use this street. These days, itÕs
somewhere that any visitor with a car should make a beeline for. Nearly every
car you see going down Lombard Street has passengers on board with cameras or
video cameras in hand. Pedestrians can make their way down Ð or up if youÕre
feeling very active Ð on the steps at the side of the street.
If you donÕt have a car to experience
Lombard Street Ð and with the sky high parking charges in San Francisco, thatÕs
no bad thing Ð you can even turn your journey there into a tourist attraction,
by using San FranciscoÕs unique cable car system. First launched in 1873, the
cable cars were developed to help deal with the amazingly steep hills in the
city. Working on a system of moving cables that run under the ground, the real
star on each car is the gripman. He's the one who starts and stops the cars,
requiring a lot of strength and good reflexes. ItÕs perhaps not surprising that
only a third of candidates pass the training course.
These days there are three lines, two
of which start off from the turntable at Powell and Market Streets, to the
south of downtown, by Union Square. Both take you up towards the FishermanÕs
Wharf area. The other line runs east to west through the Financial District and
Chinatown. Both routes offer plenty of sights along the way, as well as helping
to get visitors around the city and, for the bravest, thereÕs added excitement
from jumping on board, standing on the boards and clinging on to the poles on
the outside of the car. ItÕs something that everyone should experience on their
trip to the city.
Tickets are $3.00 each way for everyone
over the age of five. Seniors and the disabled can get a discounted rate of
$1.00 between 9pm and 7am, but the more cost-effective way to get around is to
buy a passport, which also allows you to ride on the bus and streetcar systems.
They cost $9.00 for one day, $15.00 for three days and $20.00 for seven days.
Perhaps the most popular cable car
destination is FishermenÕs Wharf. Although some people feel that this area has
become too commercial, it still has a lot of charm. YouÕll never go hungry or
be without a souvenir for long in this part of the city! The less commercial
attractions include the sea lions that bask on the famous Pier 39, and San
Francisco Maritime, a historic park run by the National Park Service, which
includes a range of historic maritime vessels, a museum, and a fascinating
visitorÕs center.
Walk a little further along and youÕll
come to Ghirardelli Square, a definite Òmust-doÓ for every chocolate lover.
Although you wonÕt find candy bars made here now, theyÕre still for sale, are
certainly worth sampling, and may prove to be an excellent source of souvenirs
for everyone back home!
This area offers some superb views out
to what may well be San FranciscoÕs best known landmark Ð the Golden Gate
Bridge, although count yourself lucky if you can see it without the famous fog
that often enshrouds it. The fog is formed where cold ocean water meets the
heat of the Californian mainland. When the Golden Gate Bridge opened in 1937,
it was the worldÕs longest and tallest suspension structure and today around 40
million vehicles use its six lane highway each year. You donÕt need a car to
cross the bridge, though. Pedestrians and cyclists can use the sidewalks during
daylight hours, but bear in mind the bridge is 1.7 miles long, so be sure to
wear comfortable shoes!
For many years, the Bay Bridge, which
connects San Francisco to Oakland, has been the poor relation to the Golden
Gate Bridge, but now thatÕs all changing. At a cost of $6.3 billion, a new
bridge is being built and is due to be completed in 2012. In the meantime,
traffic continues to use the old Bay Bridge, damaged in the 1989 earthquake,
and itÕs a fascinating drive, allowing you to see how construction is
progressing.
Having now mentioned the dreaded ÒEÓ
word, itÕs worth saying something about the prospect of earthquakes that
constantly haunts this city. ItÕs no doubt on the minds of many visitors to San
Francisco, but there are plenty of words of advice as soon as you arrive. We
found our TV in our hotel had an entire channel dedicated to earthquake
preparation and much of it is common sense. If youÕre inside and in bed, then
stay there. If not, keep away from windows, hanging objects or tall furniture
and try and find cover under a strong table or desk or drop to the floor and
cover your head and neck with your arms. If youÕre outside, then move to a
clear area and try to not to stop under power lines, near trees or buildings.
ItÕs also worth keeping a set of clothes by your bed to be fully prepared Ð and
it helps to get you moving in the morning!
San Francisco really is unlike any
other city in the world - easy going, but full of hills that really are hard
work, a unique transport system that is one of the cityÕs biggest tourist
attractions, and itÕs definitely a place not to be missed on any tour of
California.
(Next week, Cheryl will devote an
entire article to Alcatraz. Will she and her husband Mark escape "The
Rock"?)
About the Author: Cheryl and husband
Mark live in England and love to travel, particularly to America. TheyÕve
recently returned from a two week tour of the west coast, which included
Disneyland, Las Vegas, San Francisco and San Diego.
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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 AROUND THE WORLD FEATURE: Tokyo DisneySea
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by Sharon Lin, Guest Contributor
Less than a week after my visit to the
newly-opened Disneyland in steamy Hong Kong, I am standing outside Tokyo
DisneySea as the early April breezes blow in from the ocean.
Tickets and Getting There:
Tokyo Disneyland Resort (DisneySea and
Disneyland are separate parks) offers an After Six ticket for only ´2900
(~$26USD.) It costs about ´410 (~$4USD) to get to DisneySea from the central
Tokyo Station, so for a night's entertainment in Japan it's not a bad deal.
Tokyo Disney ticket centre, a little slice of Disney in downtown Tokyo with
familiar music and princess paraphernalia, is located in the Hibiya area. The
friendly Cast Members there tell me that After Six tickets go on sale after
5:00 pm at both the centre and the parks. I take an English map and walk to
Ginza, take an MTR (one of TokyoÕs sleek high-speed trains) to Tokyo Station, a
Keiyo train to Maihama, and the Disneyland Resort rail to the park gates. As I
felt in Hong Kong, I think Walt Disney would be so pleased to see the lovely
high-speed trains going to his parks.
At 5:48PM, we are herded into
double-file lines by a cast member named Kondo, who clearly has the Disney
spirit even though I don't understand much of what he says. He has everyone
else in stitches and when a little girl laughs at him, he comes back to shake
her hand and plays around with her and others some more. The security check is
efficient because they come to you with a flashlight; it's not done at a table.
After only twenty minutes inside the
gates of Tokyo DisneySea, I already think that it's the most detailed, themed
park of them all. It's gorgeous at night, but I bet it's beautiful in the
daylight. The central feature is Mysterious Island, a volcanic peak rising beside
the sparkling Mediterranean Harbor, with its water and light shows. The park
has sections devoted to various seaportsÑthe American Waterfront (a big
steamship and shops), Lost River Delta (exotic thrill rides), futuristic Port
Discovery, Arabian Coast (think Epcot's Morocco but bigger and even more
oasis-like), and Mermaid Lagoon (tamer children's rides.)
Warning: Ride Spoilers ahead!
For my first ride I jump in the single
rider line at Raging Spirits, which cuts a 50-minute standby wait to just five
minutes - for a two minute ride. Probably the parkÕs most extreme ride, it has
three medium drops and one loop through mist, but otherwise it's just a faster
Space Mountain. Tokyo DisneySea is on the water, and the wind is really
starting to kick up. I'm wishing that I had my scarf. I have a 50-minute, warm,
indoor wait for Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull, which is
well worth the wait. The track is similar to Dinosaur at Animal Kingdom but the
vine-covered temple theming is incredible, especially the sound effects. The
ride is very dark, with lots of skulls, snakes, and screaming. Of course, I
don't understand what Animatronic Indy says, but that is OK. I just don't know
what to expect, which can be fun.
Next up is Mysterious IslandÑ20,000
Leagues Submarines, one of my late, lamented Walt Disney World favorites, is
great and different here, with a sea alien storyline at the end. I figure out
that it's just a Òsitting and looking at things rideÓ with bubbles between the
double-paned windows. There are controls like in Mission:Space (I am position
#9), but just for show. The design of this attraction is just so amazing that
the Walt Disney World classic is almost weak in comparison.
The highlight of the night is Journey
to the Center of the Earth, one of the best rides EVER. It starts out with a
queue similar to Tower of Terror, and for a brief moment in the elevator I
think it's a standing-up version of Tower of Terror, and wonder where the
safety restraints are. But it's just an "elevator" (like the former
"hydrolators" at The Living Seas in Epcot) to the loading area. The
ride vehicles are like Indy or Dinosaur, but very stylized. I get a front seat.
It starts off innocently enough, riding through scenes from the Jules Verne
story such as the Mushroom Forest, but it soon turns rough. (I think that it's
notable that in Japan, there are only safety warnings, nothing about dark or
scary situations. At least not in English or Chinese. I guess for a population
that's faced Godzilla and Mothra so many times, there's not much left to be
scared of!) There are more chambers, then a big roaring monster. At least I
think that's the big thing sticking out at the end ˆ la Dinosaur (my eyes were
sort of closed.) But it doesn't end there! The drop is HUGE, plunging into
complete darkness. There are some other sizable drops before and after but the
big one feels as long and steep as Splash MountainÑexcept dry. I don't know how
they do that in this vehicle. The drop goes OUTSIDE and around Mysterious
Island mountain. ItÕs an awesome ride.
Shaking with glee, I head to the
jewel-like Arabian Coast and do Sindbad's Seven Voyages, which is like a
technologically-advanced, non-politically-correct It's a Small World. Then I do
Flounder's Coasters, a roller coaster for kids similar to Goofy's Barnstormer.
I can't find the Jumpin' Jellyfish ride, and although I would love to do
Journey to the Center of the Earth again, in the interest of research and
variety, I head to gleaming Port Discovery.
By now it is quite windy, appropriate
for StormRiders, a motion simulation ride with water effects. The story is
typical DisneyÑa renegade American captain disobeys higher-ups, takes guests on
an unauthorized mission, and disaster threatens but is averted. At least that's
what I gathered from the shouting and my limited grasp of Japanese. I get
pretty soaked because there's a constant drizzle after the audience flies into
the storm. StormRiders ends up being my last attraction because by the time I
exit, Journey to the Center of the Earth is on FastPass-only and I want to end
on a high note.
Looking back at the map of that park,
it seems like an amalgam of Walt Disney World in Orlando and the original
Anaheim Disneyland, with an extensive Fantasyland, Critter Country, and a World
Bazaar instead of Main Street. Tokyo DisneySea is not a very ÒDisneyÓ park in
that I didn't see any character meet-and-greets or Hidden Mickeys like I found
in Hong Kong Disneyland, but it maintains a very Disney (and very Japanese)
atmosphere of incredible theming and fine service.
In short, Tokyo DisneySea is an amazing
Disney property that any fan should try to see at least once. I know that when
I visit Japan again, I may try to see Disneyland as well, but I will definitely
go back to this Disney gem by the sea.
About The Author: Sharon Lin has been
to Walt Disney World 10 times and is looking forward to her next trip in
October 2006.
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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 relevant news items:
The restrictions placed on carry-on
luggage last week in the wake of the London terror threat have been updated. A
new list of prohibited items and exceptions can be found on the TSA web site.
These security measures are causing minor delays at some major airports so as
always, check your airlines web site prior to departing for updated information
on how far in advance you should check-in.
The schedule of celebrities scheduled
to narrate this year's Candlelight Processional at Epcot has been announced.
Nov 24-26 David Robinson
Nov 27-29 John O'Hurley
Nov 30-Dec 2 Rita Moreno
Dec 3-5 TBD
Dec 6-8 TBD
Dec 9-11 Steven Curtis Chapman
Dec 12-14 Maureen McGovern
Dec 15-17 Kirk Cameron
Dec 18-20 Lou Diamond Phillips
Dec 21-23 Cuba Gooding Jr.
Dec 24-26 Gary Sinise
Dec 27-30 Marlee Matlin
Performances are held every evening at
5:00 pm, 6:45 pm and 8:15 pm in the America Gardens Theatre. (Those of us
attending MouseFest this year will need to wait a little longer to learn who we
will have the opportunity to hear!)
The Candlelight Processional Dinner
Package can now be reserved by phoning 407-WDW-DINE
With the heart of Hurricane Season upon
us, Walt Disney World has announced a new Tropical Weather Policy, which allows
guests greater flexibility in canceling or re-scheduling their trips in the
event of severe weather. If a hurricane warning is issued by the National
Hurricane Center for either the Orlando area or your home area within seven
days prior to your scheduled arrival, you may call Disney to reschedule or
cancel your trip without penalties. This policy does NOT apply to airfare or
other third-party services booked through Disney, so be sure to check with
individual providers for their cancellation policies.
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:
PHOTOCOPY PARK PASSES
"Make copies of the front and back
of your park tickets before you leave home and keep it in your PassPorter and
maybe even leave a copy with a friend or family member that they can fax to you
just in case you lose a ticket. This will be especially helpful with parents of
teens and preteens that insist on holding their own things but have problems
keeping track of them." -- contributed by Felicia S. (shaniasmom@...)
CANDID CAMERA
"Remember to take lots of candid
photos of children and family members. The memories are far more sentimental
when you see a natural smile or laugh instead of a posed one." --
contributed by Sarah P.
PLANT PASSPORTERS
"I have three children, ages 13,
15, and 2. I was really excited about planning our trip to Walt Disney World and
checked out all the books available at the library, including the PassPorter.
Although I tried to get my older girls involved, they were not interested.
Instead of forcing the issue, I left copies of the books in different areas of
the house and in the car. The girls started glancing at the books. Then one
night my oldest started reading the PassPorter and got excited about the ride
descriptions, reading them off to me and checking off all the ones she wanted
to see. Now they are as excited as I am to plan our family vacation!" --
contributed by Peggy W.
>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 new 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:
"I've decided to refine my
artistic skills, if one can call my chicken scratches and finger painting
skills. Looking about, I found the perfect place! It has a place to draw and
paint, and even these 'magical' bottles of paint that are so vibrant they seem
to glow from inside!"
Where can you find these
"jars of paint" 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 Terri Daugherty who
was the winner of last week's treasure hunt game! Terri correctly the shark in
last week's photo as hanging from the ceiling in the pre-show area of "The
Voyage of the Little Mermaid" show at the Disney-MGM Studios. To view the
original clues, see last
week's newsletter at
http://www.passporter.com/news/news081006.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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luvmygrlz asks:
"Has anyone visited Tri Circle D Ranch at Fort Wilderness Resort &
Campground lately? What would you suggest as the best time to visit? What sort
of activities are offered and did you enjoy them? Do I need to call ahead of my
schedule for any of the activities? I thought this might be a fun filler/rest
activity to get away from the parks for a while with my daughter."
Jennifer and Dave
answer: "Yes, we were last at Tri Circle D Ranch in June. The ranch is
split between two areas of the resort. The trail rides are out by the front
entrance. Reservations are a good idea. You probably don't have to call that
far in advance, though. The rest of the 'ranch' is the petting farm, which is
at the opposite end of the resort, near Pioneer Hall (site of Hoop De Doo).
There's nothing you need to reserve, and a half-hour to an hour is about as
much time as you could manage to spend there. There are pony rides, but
otherwise, the only activity is walking around the ranch, visiting the animals.
There are lots of other things to do at Fort Wilderness Campground, but if you try to find them listed under "Tri Circle D Ranch" you'll be out of luck. There are also hayrides, carriage rides, all sorts of boat rentals, fishing excursions, the nightly campfire singalong (and free movie), Hoop De Doo Revue, Mickey's Backyard BBQ, and I'm probably forgetting something. Many of these do require reservations, but some are walk-up. Check with WDW Recreation (407-WDW-PLAY) for most activities, and Disney Dining (407-WDW-DINE) for reservations for Hoop De Doo and the Backyard BBQ."
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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