PassPorter News - August 23, 2007

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PassPorter News

News, Announcements, Updates, and Tips

August 23, 2007 * Issue 7.34

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

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In This Newsletter:

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From the Authors: One Buck PassPorter is Back!

Travel Feature: Florence

Disney Feature: Beating The Post-Trip Blues

Updates: What's New and Changed

Tips: Taxi Troubles, Read & Remember, Automatic Autographs

Captain's Corner: The Award Plaque

Q&A: Can we rent a car and drive ourselves around St. Martin?

Our Sponsors: We Recommend...

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FROM THE AUTHORS: One Buck PassPorter is Back!

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Hi, {{user("firstname")}}!

Last week's $1 Older Edition PassPorter offer was a huge success -- every one of the 2006 spiral editions of PassPorter Walt Disney World we had in the warehouse is gone to a new home! If you missed out on this opportunity, you may still find something of interest in our Closeouts Department at http://www.passporterstore.com/store/closeouts.aspx

For those of you interested in our upcoming 2008 edition of PassPorter's Walt Disney World, you can get a downloadable file with 34 pages from the 2008 edition ... FREE! The file includes a page from each of our chapters, including several maps and worksheets, plus a closer look at a PassPocket. There's also a discount coupon code included! To download your Sneak Peek file, visit http://www.passporter.com/wdw/guidebook.asp -- and don't forget to place your pre-order to ensure you're among the first to get a copy at http://www.passporterstore.com/store/2008.aspx

PassPorter's Open Mouse for Walt Disney World and the Disney Cruise Line is right around the corner, too! We have a free Sneak Peek PDF with more than 40 pages also available at http://www.passporter.com/wdw/openmouse/guidebook.asp

PASSPORTER'S CLUB UPDATE

* Almost 900 vacationers are now enjoying access to all our e-books and e-worksheets -- thank you for your continued support!

* Our newest 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 Disney Dining Plan meal credits is now available for Club Passholders at http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/passporters-club-gallery/133805-new-e-worksheet-disney-dining-plan-plus-five-diners-ten-days.html

* More details at http://www.passporter.com/club

MouseFest News: Thinking about joining us at the MouseFest fan gathering this December? We now have special MouseFest room rates available! MouseFest has arranged for a special discounted rate at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort for MouseFest! Stay near the heart of MouseFest action within walking distance of Epcot(r), Disney-MGM Studios, Disney's BoardWalk entertainment district, Disney's Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf courses, and Saturday's MouseFest's Mega Mouse Meet at the Walt Disney World Dolphin. To learn more, visit http://www.mousefest.org . And check out the MouseFest event schedule , also at the MouseFest.org web site. New meets are being added to the schedule on a regular basis -- there are 17 events on the MouseFest Cruise, and more than 50 events at Walt Disney World so far ... including several PassPorter-hosted events! In fact, at least ten of our PassPorter Guides (moderators) are attending, as are MANY PassPorter members and readers! Stay tuned for more MouseFest announcements in the weeks and months to come.

On the Air:

Radio listeners in California's San Bernadino/Los Angeles/Palm Springs region can hear Dave this coming Tuesday, August 28 at 7:15am Pacific Time, on "Baxter in the Morning" on KCAA 1050AM.

Radio listeners in the western part of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and nearby northeast Wisconsin can hear Dave Friday morning, September 14 sometime between 6:00 am and 10:00am Central Time on "Sam in the Morning" on WJMS 590AM.

In this issue, our globe-trotting featured columnist Cheryl Pendry hits the Riviera for an exploration of glamorous Monaco, and guest contributor and PassPorter message board Guide Sue Kulick describes the pleasures of a romantic, adults-only vacation on the Disney Cruise Line. 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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TRAVEL FEATURE: Lifestyles of The Rich and Richer: Monaco

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by Cheryl Pendry, PassPorter Featured Columnist

Some places in the world just reek of money. Perhaps it's the yachts that are more like mini cruise ships or maybe it's the prevalence of Ferraris and Lamborghinis on the roads, but you just know that to live there, you need to rich and not just a little bit rich, but amazingly rich. Monaco is one of those places.

This is quite a place and unlike anywhere we'd ever visited before. It's surrounded by France, but it's an independent principality with a monarchy, just like the UK, that dates back seven centuries. Not that there's much to govern; this is the second smallest independent state in the world, covering just 485 acres (the honor for the smallest goes to Vatican City in Rome). Don't be deceived by the size of this place. It's also the world's most densely populated country and, amazing as it seems, it's actually home to more than 30,000 people. From what we saw while we were there, I'm guessing a lot of them have rather large cash reserves.

Our first stop on our visit was the Royal Palace, but getting there is an adventure in itself. I'd heard that Monaco was built on a rock and the first thing you learn when arriving on a bus is just how tall that rock is! Bus parking is right at the base of the rock and then you take escalators and elevators, all carved into the rock, before arriving in what must rank as one of the most beautiful parts of the world.

The first sight that greeted us was the Oceanographic Museum and, although we didn't have time to go inside, from what we could gather, its home to one of the best aquariums in the world. From there, it's a quick five minute walk to the palace and as soon as you walk into the square in front of the palace, you can immediately tell that this is a country that's very proud of its heritage, with the national flag flying everywhere.

Looking like a fairytale castle from outside, the first part of the palace you come to when you go inside is the Courtyard of Honours with the Monumental Flight of Steps as its centerpiece. Looking at the steps, it's impossible to believe that these were carved from the same slab of Carrara marble. We stood there for some time, just admiring the courtyard and soaking in the view. Sadly, like most palaces of the world these days, no photos are allowed.

The design of a lot of the palace rooms you see on the tour is similar to many you'll find throughout Europe, but there aren't many palaces that have a Gallery of Mirrors that makes the room seem as if it goes on forever. The tour finished with the Throne Room, the setting for state events in Monaco since the 16th century. What struck me was the portrait of the Royal family, the Grimaldis, painted just before the tragic death of Princess Grace in the early 1980s. Everyone stood there mesmerized in front of it for some time, just taking in every detail and lost in their own thoughts.

No visit to the Royal Palace is complete without seeing the Changing of the Guard ceremony, but be sure to stake a spot at least 20 minutes before it starts, as it's a very popular event to watch and crowds build quickly. Especially unfortunate during the heat of the Mediterranean summer, there's also no shade to watch the ceremony, so be sure to apply plenty of sun tan lotion before settling down to enjoy this.

From the vantage point in front of the palace, it's also worth taking a look down. On one side of the square is the Port of Monaco, and there are more superb yachts on the other side in the newly formed Port of Fontvieille, which was reclaimed from the sea in the 1970s. These really are picture postcard views and it's hard to drag your eyes away from these scenes as you stand there dreaming of enjoying life here.

The other part of Monaco that draws most visitors is Monte Carlo, most famous for its casino and opera house, a building that dates back to 1878. The building bears more than a passing resemblence to the stunning Opera House in Paris, partially down to the fact that both were designed by the same architect. It's certainly a great deal more refined than any casino you'll find in either Las Vegas or Atlantic City, as is shown by its location.

In the same square as the Casino stand grand hotels, including the stunning Hotel de Paris, all with the same beautiful facades as the casino. Add to that the Casino Gardens and Terraces, which form the main part of the square and it's easy to imagine that you've stepped straight into the middle of Paris - with the only giveaway being that there isn't enough traffic here!

Shopping is a fun passtime in Monte Carlo, although in truth, you're more likely to be browsing than buying. Most stores are familiar designer names and some even have staff at the door who almost appear to be checking to see if you should be admitted or not. When you see some of the price tags, you can understand why. This is not the place to head for if you're looking for a bargain!

Monaco is truly a unique country and even if it is amongst the smallest countries in the world, the best part of a day here isn't enough to explore everything that this beautiful part of the world has to offer. After spending time here, it's not hard to understand why so many celebrities and wealthy businesspeople head here to make it their home.

About the Author: Cheryl and husband Mark live in England and love to travel, particularly to America. They're now looking forward to their next visit to Walt Disney World in December, having just cruised around the Mediterranean on the Disney Magic.

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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: Disney Cruise Line: Not Just for Kids!

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by Sue Kulick, PassPorter Message Board Guide and Guest Contributor

We were sitting at the diner, enjoying our coffee and French toast, and extolling the virtues of our latest travel adventure to anyone who would listen. We were fresh from a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise on the Disney Magic, and what a wonderful time we had!

While going on and on about the magic that is a Disney cruise, a patron from the table behind started telling us about a Caribbean cruise he had been on. I asked what cruise line, and he named one of the other cruise lines. He then followed that up with "I took an adult cruise, not a Disney cruise."

Hmmmm...

To a lot of people, the very word "Disney" conjures up visions of children laughing, characters hugging, and the general joy that comes with childhood. So naturally, this vision would spill over into a Disney cruise. It must be all giggles and diapers and sticky, jelly-covered fingers, right?

Well, nothing could be further from the truth.

Yes, a Disney cruise can be a magical family vacation. But it can be, and it was for us, a wonderful adult experience.

We began our adventure in a stateroom with a navigator's verandah. This little slice of heaven allowed us to sit out and overlook the deep blue sea, various ports of call, and even one tropical depression named Andrea by ourselves, with not a child in sight. I had surprised my husband with a little stateroom gift, which included a cheese and fruit platter and a bottle of Asti Spumante. We were well on our way to enjoying a "grown-up" cruise, and we hadn't even left port yet!

We had chosen the early seating, so we were seated with a lot of families; however, there is the option of the late dining rotation, which will have fewer children and more adults. And the dinner choices make you think you are on a gourmet dining experience. You can also forgo the whole dining room experience for a change, and have in-room dining. We had breakfast delivered to our room on our last full day, and we felt like royalty, dining privately al fresco while the ship docked at Castaway Cay.

And while we are on the subject of dining, did I mention Palo? Palo is the adults-only dining experience on both of Disney's cruise ships. You must be 18 to get in, no ifs, ands, buts, or children. A seven-night cruise offers chances to go for dinner, champagne brunch and high tea at Palo. We did dinner and brunch; both meals were outstanding, upscale, delicious and definitely adult!

So what about entertainment? Well, the first thing you will notice is that deck 9 is divided into three distinct and separate areas. There is the kiddie area, complete with Mickey's pool, and then there is the family area, complete with Goofy's pool. But keep going...further down the ship is Quiet Cove, the adults-only pool area. Here you will find plenty of lounge chairs, comfortable seats, two hot tubs, and the pool, all reserved for guests over the age of 18. You can get a drink from Signals bar, or sip a quiet double latte from The Cove Cafe, a coffee bar, also exclusively for the enjoyment of the adult crowd!

Not far from Quiet Cove is one of the Disney Cruise Line's highlights, The Vista Spa and Salon! Here you can get a massage, work out on state of the art equipment, get a manicure, enjoy a spa treatment or relax in the Tropical Rainforest Room. And guess what? Adults only!

And how about night time? Well, Disney is of course known for its great family entertainment, and the shows are geared that way at the main, Walt Disney Theatre. But after the last show, head on down to Beat Street (the Magic) or Route 66 (the Wonder) for some kid-free entertainment. There are comedy shows, illusionists, live music and themed party nights. Do your disco best and you might get to be one of the Village People live and on stage!

You can also end your night with a relaxing drink in the Promenade Lounge. While this is not an exclusive adults-only area, musical entertainment and drinks provide an adult atmosphere. We sat here several nights, and never really noticed any children.

Of course, part of the fun of a cruise is the shore excursions. While there are few "adult only" shore excursions, you can choose carefully. Or, you can do a port-of-call on your own! This is what we opted to do at Key West. We spent a relaxing day wandering the city, with lunch at Margaritaville and several wonderful side trips. On Grand Cayman, we did the Rum Point Beach adventure, which was family oriented, but by the time we found our place in the sand, we might have well been the only ones on the island! And Castaway Cay has its share of adult-only spots as well. Take the tram past the family beach and head out to Serenity Bay, the adults-only beach, complete with its own bar and barbecue. Grab a few chairs or a hammock and enjoy the crystal blue waters. For a real treat, book a couples massage in the open air cabanas! (These need to be booked in advance, but they are wonderful!) When you get hungry, you can eat at the open-air adult barbecue, right at Serenity Bay. This dining alternative means you never have to leave the adult area, even to eat! And there are a few things on the adult buffet that aren't on the family buffet, including salmon and steak!

So there you have it! A relaxing adult time provided by one of the world's foremost leaders in family entertainment. Your cruise can be as adult or as family oriented as you want to make it. Either way, you are sure to have the experience of a lifetime!

About the Author: Sue Kulick is a resident of the Pocono Mountains and an avid Disney fan. She and her husband, Steve, live in a log home with their Golden Retrievers, Cody and Belle and their cat Tigger.

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:

Annual Passholders will get "enhanced access" to the Haunted Mansion when it reopens next month after an extensive rehab. From park opening until noon on September 14 and 15, the attraction will only be open for Annual Passholders. The general public will be admitted beginning at noon on both days.

According to Screamscape.com, the Welcome Center, merchandise areas, and seminars offered at this year's Epcot International Food & Wine Festival will take place in the Wonders of Life pavilion. Guess that means no hope of going to the Party for the Senses then riding Body Wars! (Not that one would want to...)

Chef Mickey's will be hosting a lunch buffet August 28 - September 8 and September 16 - 22 between 12:30 pm - 3:00 pm. (Last reservation time is 2:40 pm.) The cost is $20.99 (ages 10+) and $11.99 (ages 3-9). This offers another option for those folks traveling during the very popular Free Dining Plan promotion and Little Ones Travel Time.

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! This week a great question was posted on the PassPorter message boards by member debrabrown: "We are preparing ourselves for our inquisitive 4-year-old to ask, 'Mommy, Daddy, why doesn't Mickey or the other characters talk?' What do you tell your kids when they ask?" Here are some of our favorite responses:

MelissaL: "In the transition from animated to live, the characters had to give up their voice (just as the Little Mermaid did in order to go from fins to feet)."

LoriMistress: "The characters are saving their voices for shows. Mickey has to perform in front of thousands of people and he doesn't want to disappoint anyone."

GinaButtrfly: "There are so many children from all parts of the world that they never know who will understand the words, so they use hugs and gestures. (By the way, Mr. Met -- our beloved baseball mascot -- lost his voice ROOT ROOT ROOTing for the home team which is why he can't talk. My kids had no problem believing that.)"

>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:

"Yesterday I went snorkeling. While I was taking a break on the surface, I noticed a blue jacket of nautical design lying on some rocks nearby. It seemed familiar, and I eventually placed the jacket as belonging to my amigo Donald Duck. I've rarely seen Donald without his suit and now I'm worried about him. I can't help but picture a naked little duck running around! I need to find him!"

Photo Link: http://www.passporter.com/news/donalds-jacket.jpg

Where is this jacket located?

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 Martin Puller who was the winner of last week's trivia contest! Martin was the first person to identify the location of the plaque as being in the Plaza Rose Garden. It was awarded by All-America Rose Selections for "maintaining an outstanding public rose garden." He gets bonus points for sending a photo as well! To view the original clue, see last week's newsletter at http://www.passporter.com/news/news081607.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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mousestruck asks: "Our family is traveling with my cousin this fall. We have the Disney Dining Experience and my cousin will be on the Disney Dining Plan. All our dining reservations are for one large party. Will it be a problem getting separate checks for our party? I want to make sure all my dining plans aren't messed up since we'll be paying differently, and I didn't realize this in advance. Do I have to call Disney Dining to let them know that one member of our party is on the meal plan?"

Dave and Jennifer answer: "There shouldn't be a problem with separate checks. I can't count the number of times we've done that. The server will do what he/she has to do, and there has never been a requirement that everybody at the same table must be on the same plan. Just let your server know what's happening when you first sit down, to help things go smoothly at the end.

Also, no need to call Disney Dining about the person on the meal plan. As far as I know, the only reason they ask that question when taking reservations is to collect statistics."

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 -- Walt Disney World Resort Special Offer - Special discounts on Magic Your Way packages

Mouse Fan Travel -- Deals on MouseFest by Land or MouseFest by Sea

ALL STAR Vacation Homes -- Choose from more than 150 homes within 4 miles of Disney World

Thank you, sponsors!

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