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PassPorter News
News, Announcements, Updates, and Tips
August 21, 2008 * Issue 8.34
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
==========================================
In This Newsletter:
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From the Authors: $1
PassPorters Still In Stock!
Travel Feature: Redondo
Beach, California
Disney Feature:
Discovering the Magic: Top Ten Tips
Updates: What's New and
Changed
Tips: Babes in Back, Tag
It Twice, Stuff Those Shirts
Captain's
Corner: Little Beauty
PassPorter
PhotoPick: Morning Glory
Q and A: How does the
Disney cruise compare to a Carnival cruise?
Our Sponsors: We
Recommend...
====================================================
FROM THE AUTHORS: Return
of the $1 PassPorters!
====================================================
Hi,
{{user("firstname")}}!
We set new records when we
announced our $1 PassPorter Offer last week! The good news is that we still
have come copies of our 2007 edition left for just $1. These books are in
"new" or "slightly hurt" condition, leftovers sent back to
us by bookstores when the 2008 edition hit store shelves. We offer these great
but somewhat outdated books to our friends on the Internet for just $1 each
(plus shipping and handling). Lots of folks who've never seen a PassPorter can
try one out for a really great price, and people who always loan-out their own
PassPorters and/or recommend the book to their friends and relations can
stock-up on really low-priced gifts. It's even great for us -- not only for the
space saved in the warehouse, but because we've made lots and lots of new
PassPorter friends through these offers (the older edition is a great
ambassador for the newest edition). So, trot over to the PassPorter Store (or
click the $1 PassPorter link, if that's easier), and tell your friends -- this
deal doesn't last forever! When we're out, we're out! Order at: http://www.passporterstore.com/store/onebuckpassporter.aspx
Were you thinking of
joining us this December for MouseFest? Then we have some MouseFest news for
you! This year's Mega Mouse Meet will be held at Disney's Yacht & Beach
Club Convention Center, and we've also arranged a special lodging deal at
Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resort. Have we piqued your interest? Then pop
over to the MouseFest.org web site, and read all about it. While you're there,
please sign up for the MouseFest newsletter, so you can keep on top of all the
MouseFest news.
As we explained in
previous newsletters, sales of PassPorter's Walt Disney World 2008 have
been so good that we have none left in the warehouse (although they are still
in stock -- for now -- at book stores around the country). If you can't wait
for October to get a 2009 edition from us, you may purchase a 2008 electronic
edition (download only) or get a 2007 edition at a close-out price. Refer to
the 2008 electronic edition for the most up-to-date info, and print-out the
pages you'll need when you travel. Rely on the 2007 edition for all our great
planning features, PassPockets, and info that's still pretty darned accurate
and useful.
PassPorter's Disney Cruise
Line and its Ports of Call 2008 is in stock! All new orders of our cruise guide
ship the next business day. Order at http://www.passporterstore.com/store/dcl2008.aspx
Will you be joining us for
PassPorter's Decade of Dreams Tour? PassPorter is celebrating our 10th
anniversary in 2009 with a year-long celebration from coast-to-coast! Everyone
is invited and all are warmly welcome to join us at all or part of our
celebration. We are combining small parties (meets) with grand, multi-day
trips, including a 7-night Disney Cruise, a 4-night stay at Walt Disney World,
and a Disneyland visit that includes park time and an Adventures by Disney
expedition. See our Tour Schedule for the latest details at http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/passporters-decade-dreams-tour-2009/
PASSPORTER'S CLUB UPDATE
* 1400 vacationers are now
enjoying access to all our e-books, e-worksheets, and super-sized photo archive
images. Thank you for your continued support!
* Our newest e-book,
PassPorter's Answer Book is now available for download. This 85-page e-book is
full of the detailed, up-to-date information on the topics that really matter
to you. Details at http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/passporters-club-gallery/new-post-152726-new-e-book-coming-soon.html
* More details at http://www.passporter.com/club
In this issue, PassPorter
Author Dave Marx takes us to Redondo Beach, California for a little California
Dreamin'. Then, PassPorter Author Jennifer Marx offers her top ten tips for
discovering that Disney magic. Finally, Jack Skatt is back with a brand-new
Walt Disney World Treasure Hunt. Have a great week!
Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter Publishers and
Authors
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TRAVEL FEATURE: Redondo
Beach, California
========================================================
by Dave Marx, Author of
PassPorter Travel Guidebooks
Yet another business
journey, to a meeting that could have happened anywhere, but fortunately, it
happened in a somewhere that I'd never visited before. It would be my first
meeting as a new member of the Board of Directors of the Independent Book
Publishers Association . As usual, I've got a half-day of free time amidst
marathon meetings, a growling stomach following a four-hour jet flight, and
just a rough idea of where and how I'm going to satisfy that hunger and my
wanderlust.
This time, I'm in Redondo
Beach, California, just seven miles south of LAX, right off the Pacific Coast
Highway. For an LA-area locale within close reach of the airport, this has a
lot of in-town destinations beat hands down. My temporary digs, the Portofino
Hotel and Yacht Club, is right inside the high, stone jetty of King Harbor, and
claims to be the only oceanfront hotel in Greater Los Angeles. My oceanview
room delivers cool, ocean breezes, a view of the seawall and fishing trawlers,
and the round-the-clock barking of sea lions, who congregate on a mid-harbor
platform built for their pleasure and protection. Generous government spending
resulted in the King Harbor seawall, a delightful waterfront promenade, a handy
municipal car park right on the water's edge topped by a quaint, gray clapboard
district courthouse and a cluster of matching, clapboard offices for the
courthouse square hangers-on. Directly below and adjacent to the car park are
marinas, the two-block long boardwalk (a warren of shops and restaurants
sandwiched between parking garage and marina) and a topsy turvy maze of
interconnected dining/shopping/fishing piers. Just south of the piers is the
broad beach, curving off into the California haze.
I'd arrived from Michigan
primed for seafood, one of my life-long passions. It was nearly noon (but 3:00
pm Michigan time), and it was now my task to settle on one (or more)
establishments. The hotel concierge handed me a fine Redondo Beach Harbor &
Pier Walking Map, which lists nearly 50 eateries from chain establishments like
Cheesecake Factory and Joe's Crab Shack, to egg roll and taco stands,
pizzerias, currascarias, neighborhood luncheonettes, we'll-cook-it-for-you fish
markets, and expense-account-only steak and seafood houses. I boldly stepped
out into the warm sun and cool, ocean breeze. The day couldn't have been more
perfect!
First stop on my travels,
Captain Kidd's Fish Market . Buy your fish by the pound from the market cases,
and they'll cook it up for a $3.50 surcharge that includes two side dishes. Or,
order from the menu. Bring your tray out to atmospheric picnic tables with a
lovely view of the parking lot (a glimpse of the marina and Pacific a bit
beyond). Looks well-worn and authentic, but despite the fish market trappings,
I doubt many people buy fish to cook at home. Definitely a place to try out if I
return, though. I press on, in search of a holier grill. I strolled from King
Harbor at the north down the boardwalk at water's edge, and looped around the
sprawling Redondo Beach Pier, surveying all my choices. At the far south end of
the district is the beach itself, a long, broad crescent ending at the
haze-shrouded Palos Verdes highlands. (Over the hill lies San Pedro, Disney
Cruise Line's temporary home port when visiting California).
National chainfood? No,
I've got to go "local." The fancier places? Why bother, when fish
should be a bargain in a place like this? In a prime spot atop the main pier,
Tony's Fish Market Restaurant didn't look like a market to me, and it was
deader than a five day old mackerel, but the menu had some appealing Italian seafood
specialties. Presumably it's busier at dinner and on weekends. Nearby,
"Old" Tony's on the Pier has been around for over 50 years, and was
just as vacant. Pier Seafood, Pacific Fish Center, Redondo Beach Crab House,
Fun Fish Market? Most had tanks filled with live crabs and display cases with
an assortment of fresh fish and offered an interesting collection of
traditional American dishes, plus several Mexican and Korean seafood
specialties and cafeteria atmosphere. But Quality Seafood, tucked away at the
south end of the boardwalk in the shadow of the upper level of the pier,
reached out and grabbed me with both hands. This is a legitimate commercial
fish market, with long lines of display cases filled with a staggering array of
fresh seafood, any of which they'll cook up for you. I'd be astounded if this
wasn't the source for much of the seafood sold in nearby restaurants. Unlike
the other shops, which had tanks of high-priced Dungeness crab, here the
"Dungies" were outnumbered by only slightly smaller local crabs from
Catalina Island, at an astoundingly small $4.99/lb. (a little sign apologized
for the increased price!!). At around 2 lbs. per fat-clawed crab, I'd call that
quite a meal deal! Most of the many locals were here for steamed crab, their tables
spread with newspaper, strewn with wooden crab mallets, and buried in crab
shells. However, I had other fish to fry. According to the sign,
steamed-to-order crab and lobster took a half-hour, and I was way too hungry.
Right next to crab heaven,
stainless steel vats overflowed with nearly two-dozen varieties of oysters, and
another two-dozen varieties of cockles, mussels, conch, and clams. Like a kid
in a candy shop I ordered-up a raw shellfish mini-feast -- two littleneck
clams, and six oysters. I asked the fishmonger for a selection of local
varieties, and he picked out two Hamma Hammas, two Sunsets, and two Bajas. They
had plenty of beer on tap -- a 20-oz. Stella Artois went down nicely. I found a
nice, sunny table on the boardwalk with a great view of the marina, and tucked
into my little bit of heaven. I had already spent $21, but boy, was it worth
it! Still, eight shells were empty, and my beer was still half-full. What else
could I find to help that beer go down? At the opposite end of the shop was the
prepared/fried/grilled/smoked seafood section. I needed to go
"light," since I still planned to head back to Captain Kidd's for a
sampling of their wares, and dinner would come just a few hours after that. A
nice little side order of fried calamari rings was just $2.15, but then I spied
a $1 treat -- little plastic bags filled with assorted shreds, flakes and
chunks of various house-smoked fish. The baggies weighed in at about a
quarter-pound, while the intact fish were selling in the $15-$20/lb. range. I
call that a bargain, and polished off the dense, smokey fish with the rest of
my beer.
Already happier than the
clams I'd put in my belly, I wandered back up to Captain Kidd's. Here, I
compromised on a fried seafood sampler ($11.99). When my number was called, I
picked up my tray and found a nice, sunny table outside. The platter came with
a couple of large, plank-shaped butterflied shrimp (unfortunately, they looked
like frozen, pre-breaded, but did taste fine), a couple of very sweet
house-made scallops (my mood was improving), and a medium portion of perfectly
prepared fish and chips-style cod (definitely not frozen or pre-battered). I
could choose two sides with that - I got hush puppies (adequate) and for a 50
cent upgrade, a cup of chowder. The counterman suggested New England style, I
suspected the Manhattan would be better, but I went along with him. Like too
many "New England" chowders away from the source, this one had not a
drop of milk/cream and was thickened with flour rather than long-cooked
potatoes. It still tasted OK, but next time, I'll try the red chowder or an
even better-looking cioppino (seafood stew) at only $6 for a 12 oz. serving.
Afterward, I strolled to
the nearby sport fishing pier, a jumping-off spot for fishing excursions and
home to Polly's on the Pier http://www.rbmarina.com/pollys.html, a favorite
spot among locals for casual breakfast and lunch. Polly's was closed (and I was
already stuffed), but the luncheonette-style menu included a few items that may
help explain Polly's popularity, including banana pancakes and omelets with
"real" crab. Next door, the Redondo Sportfishing shop offered daily
fishing excursions ($40-$60), charter boats, and fishing gear rentals (no
license needed for fishing from the pier). I hung around for a little bit,
watching the local pelicans as they watched a half-dozen anglers pull in
non-keepers just slightly bigger than baitfish -- nothing the pelicans
considered worth stealing.
That evening, after
uniting with several compatriots from the board of directors, we headed to our
hotel's fine dining establishment, Baleen Los Angeles. The setting overlooking
the yacht club is the essence of California casual elegance. Everyone was
delighted with their choices, which arrived beautifully plated and easily as
delicious, and a fine value for the money. Some of us sampled a marvelously
savory braised lamb appetizer. My roasted beet and heirloom tomato salad was
very satisfying, and I followed it up with an elegant version of cioppino, with
a rich lobster, saffron, and tomato broth and impeccably cooked samples of
premium fish and shellfish, topped by a pan-seared diver scallop. Dessert?
You've got to be kidding!
So, the sun already having
set over the Pacific, I staggered back to my room, opened the patio door, and
let the cool breeze and barking seals entertain me as I watched the Olympics.
About the Author: Dave
Marx is the author of many PassPorter guidebooks and a newly-elected board
member of the Independent Book Publishers Association.
- - - - - - - - -
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:
Discovering the Magic: Top 10 Tips
========================================================
by Jennifer Marx,
PassPorter Co-Founder and Co-Author
Magic. That elusive,
special-something we've all heard is in abundance at Walt Disney World. Fellow
vacationers rave about it, advertisements tout it, and you seek it. Magic isn't
something to be taken lightly or disregarded. A little magic can make the whole
world sparkle, brighten your outlook, and change your life completely. I have
first-hand experience with the powerful effects of magic at Walt Disney World
-- it encouraged me to follow my dreams of travel writing, transforming my life
into one with its own brand of magic.
Defining magic is
difficult. Everyone encounters it in a slightly different manner, finding it in
their own unique way. Magic for me may be a twilight stroll around the World
Showcase Lagoon, deep in conversation with my best friend. Or it could be a
hearty belly laugh at Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor. Readers of PassPorter have
found magic in last-minute trips, cross-country drives, fireworks, souvenirs,
family time, childhood memories, family photos, polka dances, proposals, and
costumes. (We document some of our readers' magical memories in PassPorter --
check the last page of each chapter for their stories.)
Magic lurks everywhere.
You just have to know how to find it ... and recognize it. To help you design
and experience a magic-filled vacation, we present our top ten magical tips:
1. Plan ahead
I know you've heard this
one before, but it works. Planning ahead works out the majority of the kinks,
leaving opportunities for magic to happen. Let's face it -- no one is going to
feel magical when they're standing in the middle of Main Street at 2:00 pm on a
blistering hot day, figuring out where to get a good meal in a cool place. And
it's hard to appreciate magic when you're worried about money or time. Plan the
basics, take care of the essentials, and leave room for the magic.
2. Don't overplan
If you plan every moment
of your day, you'll limit your opportunities for magic. Some of the best magic
is spontaneous and unexpected -- all the richer because you weren't
anticipating it. It's for this reason that we don't generally use touring plans
in the parks -- we find they are too restrictive and don't allow us the
opportunity to explore and follow the magic.
3. Seek out magical places
This is a tricky one. You
could plan a visit to the World Showcase at dusk based on my magical
experiences there. After all, if I found magic there, perhaps you would too.
You may very well find it, but there's no guarantee, either. Nonetheless, there
are some places within the World that seem a bit more conducive to
magic-making. The best ways to find out about these are to talk to other
vacationers, read their trip reports, and keep your eyes open. Some places have
a special glow about them, as if they've been enchanted by Tinkerbell's wand.
Here are a few of my favorites: - Beside the fountain inside the Mexico
pavilion at World Showcase in Epcot - On a bench near the hedge maze in the
back of the United Kingdom pavilion at World Showcase in Epcot - Adventureland
on a sultry day in the Magic Kingdom - At a table beside Discovery River in
Asia at Disney's Animal Kingdom - In a hammock on the beach at the Polynesian
Resort - Strolling Port Orleans French Quarter Resort at night, when the
"gas" lamps are lit. - Swimming in an empty, heated pool late at
night. - Snuggled in front of a small fireplace overlooking the lobby of the
Wilderness Lodge Resort. - Virtually any place after dark, but particularly the
World Showcase in Epcot and Disney's Animal Kingdom (on those few nights when
it's open).
4. Be friendly
Smile, chat, and be kind
to others -- family, friends, vacationers and cast members alike. Reach out to
others -- everyone has magic to offer. Many vacationers report making new
friends at the park, and we ourselves have had the good fortune to make friends
with many, many people over the years. And our experiences with these people
are some of our fondest memories.
5. Think outside the park
Many of my magical
memories took place outside of a theme park -- while I was traveling to and
from Florida, staying at a resort, dining at a restaurant, or just moving about
the World on a bus or boat. I have a particular fondness for Epcot buses, in
fact. So plan some time out of the parks and explore the rest of the World.
6. Time together, time
alone
Magic is often found in
new company. If you're used to being alone or with a small family, invite a
group or plan a family reunion at Walt Disney World. My first group trip of 35
produced many, many magical memories that I cherish today. On the other hand,
if you're always with other people, take some time to be alone -- with someone
you love or on your own.
7. Remove fear
Fear protects us from
dangerous situations... and also from magical situations. Forever guarding
yourself and your feelings erects a wall around you that magic can't penetrate.
Release your fears ... volunteer to go on stage, say hi to someone you don't know,
dance with Mickey Mouse. As a generally fearful person, I've found that those
times I'm able to overcome my fears produce the most amazing, magical results.
8. Avoid too much
anticipation
If you go to Walt Disney
World anticipating a magical event every hour or so, you'll be sadly
disappointed. Real magic happens much less often, and is all the more special
because of it. In particular, I urge you not to expect cast members to go out
of their way to do something special for you. This is a rare happening, and
hoping for it almost always leads to disappointment, as we've seen over and
over again in letters from our readers. We ourselves never expect special
treatment from cast members, so when it happens we're always delighted and a
little awestruck.
9. Let it happen, and make
it happen
Some magic happens
spontaneously... you just need to be in the right place at the right time and
in the right frame of mind. Encourage this sort of magic by leaving yourself
open to new experiences. More often, magic happens because of something YOU
do... a gift you give to someone, a person you take the time to meet, an event
you arrange. This is the best kind of magic, because it wouldn't have happened
without your efforts and talents. All of the magical memories we share in
PassPorter are of this type of magic -- we applaud everyone who creates their
own magic!
10. Remember the magic.
This tip has two parts.
The first is to document and record the magic your discover on your trip. Why?
Because research has shown that if you write it down or take a picture of it,
you're significantly more likely to remember the event later. Remembering is
paramount -- if you don't recall what happened, the magic will be short-lived
and may as well not even happened. A good part of magic is remembering it
fondly in the years to come.
The second aspect of
remembering the magic is to recall those special magical moments from past
visits and re-visit them on future trips. You may not encounter the same level
or brand of magic, but the association with a special place from your past has
a magic all its own. I still get a little misty-eyed when I wait for a bus at
the Settlement Depot bus stop in the Fort Wilderness Resort, where I shared a
special, very magical moment with two people whom I love.
As you can see, magic --
that special something that warms our hearts and makes us smile for years to
come -- is something you can encourage. And in the end, you may learn how to
bring that magic home to live in your everyday life... as we have.
Dave adds:
Magic is a very elusive
thing. The harder you seek it, the harder it is to find. It's like leaving
cookies and milk for Santa Claus. No matter how long you hide in wait, he never
arrives until you're fast asleep.
I love maneuvering a group
of friends or family into an enchanted place at an enchanted time. I don't make
any promises, I may not even drop any hints, and I definitely don't tell them
everything that may happen. I just sit back, smile, tell them to enjoy the
moment, and the magic unfolds. The less I promise, the more magic I see
reflected in my loved ones eyes.
Things To Do: If you have
a magical memory from a Walt Disney World trip that you'd like to share with
us, send it to us at http://www.passporter.com/customs/tipsandstories.asp. We're
always looking for new stories for our next edition of PassPorter!
About the Author: Jennifer
is the co-founder and co-author of PassPorter travel guidebooks with well over
50 books under her belt.
- - - - - - - - -
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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==========================================
UPDATES: What's New and
Changed
==========================================
Here's a few relevant news
items:
A new date has been added
for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party: October 4, 2008. The full list of
dates is September 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 28, & 30, and October 2, 4, 5,
7, 9, 10, 13, 16, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30, & 31. Wow! Tickets are on
sale now at 407-WDISNEY.
Annual Passholder
discounts and Magic Your Way discount packages were announced last week for
Walt Disney World for travel dates between September 28 and December 23, 2008.
To get details, call 407-WDISNEY.
Food & Wine Festival
special event reservations open next week on Monday, August 25 at 7:00 am ET.
New this year is a Master's Wine Class, City Tastes, French Regional Lunches,
and Bocuse d'Or USA Grand Gala. Reservations for these special events go
quickly, so reserve early at 407-WDW-DINE.
The Night of Joy concert
on September 5-6 is taking place this year at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The
music line-up includes Brandon Heath, Chris Tomlin, MercyMe, Britt Nicole,
BarlowGirl, Rebecca St. James, Matthew West, Rush of Fools, Red, Casting Clowns,
tobyMac, PureNRG, Marcos Witt, Fred Hammond, Mandisa, and Aaron Shust across
three different stages. Get more information at http://www.nightofjoy.com.
Portobello Yacht Club's
new name will be simply Portobello, rather than Tuscan Country Trattoria. We
confirmed this with Levy Restaurant media relations today.
Our thanks to AllEars.net
and MousePlanet.com from which we get some of our news leads.
Hear some news? Be a
"PassPorter Reporter" and send it to us at
http://www.passporter.com/report.asp
==========================================
DISNEY TIPS FROM FELLOW
READERS
==========================================
Our readers deliver a
wealth of information! Here are the winners in this month's tip contest:
BABES IN BACK
"When traveling with
infants who use safety seats on the airplane, don't get seats towards the front
of the plane. If you have seats in the back of the plane it will give you more
time to get the car seat hooked in and the child settled. If you are toward the
front you will be rushed and possibly hold up the other passengers on the
plane. "
-- contributed by Vicki R.
TAG IT TWICE
"If you have had
mulitple Disney trips, you may have multiple Disney luggage tags. I take an old
Disney luggage tag and attach it to a zipper inside my luggage. That way if my
luggage tag on the outside is removed, my informaton will be on a luggage tag
on the inside of the bag. It's nice when you go on a trip and open your luggage
to a little piece of Disney, even if you are in Texas."
-- contributed by Kelly A.
STUFF THOSE SHIRTS
"When packing, put a
few of the roll-up type 'airless' bags (used at home for more space) into your
luggage, but don't use them for your clothes on the way to your trip. I pack my
clothes into them to come home, which gives me a lot of space for Mickey
T-shirts, plush characters, etc. to bring home. Tip: I don't use ones that
require a vacuum, though, for obvious reasons. "
-- contributed by Nancy M.
>Notes: Send us your
tips! You may see them in this newsletter and win a copy of PassPorter! Visit:
http://www.passporter.com/customs/tipsandstories.asp
>>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
==========================================
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:
"I was browsing
through my extensive photo collection today when I came across a little beauty
of a portrait. I'd love to go back and see the original, but I just can't
remember where I took this photo. The only thing that comes to mind is the
smell of garlic ... surely I must be mistaken, though!"
Photo: http://www.passporter.com/news/portrait-large.jpg
Where can you find this
portrait in Walt Disney World?
For bonus credit, locate
the photographic evidence in the PassPorter Photo Archive and post a comment
with the photo!
Send your full answer to
jackskatt@passporter.com -- the winner will be notified by e-mail and announced
in a future 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 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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PASSPORTER PHOTOPICK
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Each issue we choose a
special photo from the PassPorter Photo Archive which highlights something
beautiful, interesting, humorous, or timely at Disney or around the world. Here
is this issue's PassPorter PhotoPick:
Morning Glory at Port
Orleans
contributed by mpwife1523
View Photo: http://www.passporter.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/9248
You can nominate photos as
a PassPorter PhotoPick by giving ratings in the PassPorter Photo Archive
(you'll need to be logged in to do this). If you'd like to contribute your own
photos to the Photo Archive and be considered as a PhotoPick, please read our
Photo Upload Guidelines for details and benefits.
Top 5 Photo Contributors
chezp - 2592 photos
Meggera - 711 photos
akleos - 568 photos
Dopey007 - 512 photos
OffKilter_Lynn - 261
photos
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Q & A WITH JENNIFER
& DAVE
====================================
kcarter1999 asks:"I
started looking into the Carnival vs. Disney cruise lines and of course I want
to do Disney, but the Disney cruise is more expensive (for the 5 of us), so
I've been going back and forth trying to weigh the two which led me back to the
board for some advice. First of all, has anyone ever been on both a Carnival
and Disney cruise? If so, which is better? Second, has anyone been end of
August (Bahamas cruise) and experienced bad weather? If so, was the cruise
cancelled or just delayed or redirected? "
Jennifer and Dave answer:
"Honestly, Disney always wins for us hands down over Carnival. In fact,
they are barely in the same league in one another. Given the choice, we'd
always choose Disney due to is superior service, theming, staterooms, public
areas, etc.
Have you fully priced
Carnival, or are you judging by the basic, double occupancy rate? While Disney
will always come out more expensive, Carnival's rates for kids/additional
guests over two per stateroom are higher than Disney's. Carnival also lacks a program
for kids your son's age -- teens end up hanging out in the public casual
dining/promenade areas in the evening. You'll also find more "small"
charges on Carnival that add up quickly (be sure your quotes include all port
fees and taxes). Consider also that the Carnival ships have casinos, Disney's
do not.
It's almost unheard of for
a cruise to be cancelled due to weather. Re-routed, yes. While August is the
peak of hurricane season, the Caribbean is actually a pretty big place, so
chances are, even if there's a storm when you travel, it may not have a major
effect on your cruise.
If you priced a stateroom
for five, then the rates will be especially high. You'll find that two Deluxe
Outside staterooms will be cheaper, and you'll have more living space."
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?
===================================
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.
===================================
OUR SPONSORS: We
Recommend...
===================================
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 --
Magic Your Way Package Offers
Mouse Fan Travel --
Limited offer for Oct/Dec 2008 Disney Deals
All Star Vacation Homes --
Choose from more than 150 homes within 4 miles of Disney
Thank you, sponsors!
====================================
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