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PassPorter News
News, Announcements, Updates, and Tips
October 4, 2007 * Issue 7.40
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: DVC,
DVC, and a Little DCL
Travel Feature: Disney
Vacation Club's Hilton Head Island Resort
Disney Feature: Disney
Vacation Club
Updates: What's New and
Changed
Tips: Love That Loose
Change, Safari Club Strategy, Map Magic
Captain's Corner: Disney a
la Hawaii
Q&A: What is the best
way to get from Port Canaveral to MCO?
Our Sponsors: We
Recommend...
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FROM THE AUTHORS: DVC,
DVC, and a Little DCL
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Hi,
{{user("firstname")}}!
The process of planning
the articles that will appear in this newsletter takes many weeks, so we're
beginning to suspect that newsletter Editor Sara Varney has psychic talents (at
least, when it comes to the Disney Vacation Club). Two weeks ago this
newsletter included an article on Disneyland's Grand Californian Hotel (see http://www.passporter.com/news/news092007.htm
), and just before that newsletter went out Disney announced an expansion of
that hotel that will include the addition of Disney Vacation Club villas. Now
this week, Sara pulled off the same trick. Sara arranged for two articles about
Disney Vacation Club, and Disney announced its new DVC resort in Hawaii the day
before we went to press! How does she do it? Is she channeling Madame Leota?
We enjoy looking for the
trends behind Disney's press releases, and it doesn't take a psychic to see a
particularly interesting trend. Just how much of a coincidence is it that
within a few months Disney announces new cruise ships and new resort
developments in the Pacific region? Everyone who follows the Disney Cruise Line
expects that, after its new ships enter service in 2011 and 2012, one ship
(whether one of the two new ships, or the existing Magic or Wonder) will be
permanently assigned to Los Angeles. Naturally, the nearby presence of
Disneyland Resort supports the cruise line's classic Land/Sea vacation
packages. Now, with the addition of Hawaii to the Disney vacation portfolio (in
time for the first new ship's arrival), Hawaiian Land/Sea vacations are also in
the cards (seven-night one-way cruises plus two-three days in either Honolulu
or Disneyland), and even Land/Sea/Land vacations that would include stays at
Disneyland and in Hawaii. (While we expect that most West Coast itineraries
will visit Mexico, special seasonal itineraries to Hawaii and/or Alaska are
certainly in the cards.) Toss in an Adventures by Disney escorted tour, another
hop or two across the Pacific to Tokyo Disneyland and/or Hong Kong Disneyland
(Asia-based Disney fans may appreciate a cruise that departs Honolulu for
Disneyland) ... What's next? In keeping with this Pacific Rim strategy, perhaps
a Disney resort in Alaska to support cruise line visits there (following the
example of other cruise lines)! For those of us who cover the Disney
"beat," life never gets boring.
TIPS AND REMINDERS
* Monday is Columbus Day
-- both our office and the post office will be closed.
* Last week we introduced
a great, new feature at the PassPorter web site -- the PassPorter Photo
Archive! We've added hundreds of photos since then -- check it out at http://www.passporter.com/photos/
* We still have a couple
dozen $1 older edition PassPorter books available. Order at http://www.passporterstore.com/store/one-buck-passporter.aspx
* We're continuing to
collect responses in our Adventures by Disney survey -- thank you to all who've
already completed it. Take the survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=gtNE8ZzyZjZEKY0JmMpalQ_3d_3d
PASSPORTER'S CLUB UPDATE
* More than 950
vacationers are now enjoying access to all our e-books, e-worksheets, and
super-sized photo archive images (see above) -- 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 screen layout --
Halloween (complete with falling jack-o-lanterns) -- is now available for Club
Passholders. Visit: http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/passporters-club-gallery/new-post-140063-new-layout-halloween.html
* More details at http://www.passporter.com/club
MouseFest News:
Registration is now open for MouseFest at http://www.mousefest.org/register !
We've got an all-new registration program this year that offers a host of new
benefits and gives folks a chance to support this great event. Read all about
it! 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, and the list of
people attending just keeps growing! At least ten of our PassPorter Guides
(moderators) are attending, as are more than 135 PassPorter community members
and readers! Stay tuned for more MouseFest announcements in the weeks and
months to come. Visit http://www.mousefest.org
In this "all
DVC" issue, PassPorter community member Jill Koenig describes the
pleasures of Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort, and guest columnist and
PassPorter message board Guide Sue Kulick describes the properties and ins and
outs of the Disney Vacation Club.
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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DID YOU KNOW?
Great Walt Disney World
Rates are available at MouseEarVacations.com!
Disney Cruise Line¨
Special Offer
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Western Caribbean Cruise
Save up to $618* per cabin
compared to current Disney pricing.
Other dates available.
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for April 19, 2008:
*Savings based on double occupancy. Ships' Registry: The
Bahamas
CST2058090-40
www.MouseEarVacations.com 800-886-8601
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TRAVEL FEATURE: Disney
Vacation Club's Hilton Head Island Resort
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by Jill Koenig, PassPorter
Guest Columnist
How could a Disney
vacation possibly be any fun without characters or rides? Come to Disney's
Hilton Head Island Resort in the Low Country of South Carolina and you will
soon discover how.
Instead of searching out
the Yeti on Expedition Everest, you will most likely spend your days gazing
over the gorgeous marsh from your balcony or meandering down the oak-lined
paths that run throughout the resort. The peace, tranquility and simple beauty
of this resort will capture your heart and spirit from the moment that you
check in. Some of our fondest memories of our trip involved just exploring the
resort. Whether it was playing horse shoes with our older daughter on a spot
overlooking the marsh or pointing out the birds to our younger daughter while
walking down the pier, we found delight in the simplest pleasures.
Don't assume that the only
thing to do at the resort is to be awed by nature. When you check in, you are
given a Recreation Activities Calendar that is packed full of activities and
tours for all ages. There are also two pools at the resort: one at the resort
itself and one at the Beach House which is located on the other side of Route
278 (otherwise known as the William Hilton Parkway, the Island's main drag), to
which you can either take a resort shuttle or drive your car.
Each day, we alternated
where we spent our pool time. At the Beach House, we actually enjoyed the other
amenities as much as we enjoyed their large pool. When my husband took our
younger daughter back to our villa for a nap, my older daughter and I played a
fierce game of ping pong and then retreated inside to the cool and comfortable
Surfman's Station for board games. The Big Buoy Arcade is also located at the
Beach House, but outdoor activities kept us too busy. We also spent time on the
beach where a fellow vacationer taught us how to rescue starfish from the pools
that formed on the beach after high tide and return them to their rightful
place in the ocean. My daughter is still talking about saving those starfish.
The resort pool, The Big
Dipper, is located next to The Pool House which is home to the Broad Creek
Mercantile, Tide Me Over snack bar, the Community Hall, Bend & Stretch
Exercise Room, and the Recreation Activity Sign-Up Window. In addition to a
large pool, there is also a winding water slide for the more adventurous and a
baby pool, The Little Dipper, for the tikes in your party. A shuffleboard court
and ping pong tables are also located nearby for when you are ready for a break
from the pool. Within steps of the pool, a 300-foot pier stretches out over the
marsh where you can fish or just take in the beauty of day.
The fun doesn't stop at
this resort when the sun goes down. Our older daughter looks forward to the
nighttime activities the entire day. She and her dad participated in the
Campfire two nights enjoying songs and s'mores. They are still singing the
songs that they learned those nights!
Her favorite activities
starred Disney's biggest commodity in Hilton Head: B'Lou Crabbe. You will not
find Mickey or Minnie at this resort, but B'Lou Crabbe is Hilton Head's answer
to these Disney counterparts. He is not a character in the Disney sense of the
word; instead, he is a gentleman of character who is a jack-of-all-trades and a
lover of magic, music and folklore.
One night he entertained
my older daughter and me with a magic show and then, two hours later, he
thrilled my husband and daughter with ghost stories. Hearing my six-year-old
daughter dramatically recount a ghost story of local legend from my own
childhood was pure magic for me.
One of the biggest
highlights of our trip came about from my daughter's obsession with a certain
dog named Shadow. Shadow is to B'Lou Crabbe what Pluto is to Mickey. She is the
mascot of the resort and has quite a following. As the legend goes, she
belonged to the owner of the land on which the resort was built and she had
free reign over that piece of property. When Disney purchased the land, Shadow
did not want to leave her home and kept popping up during construction.
Shadow's owner finally gave her to Disney since she seemed to belong to the
land more than any one person. You can even see "paw prints" in the
foyer of the villas -- an homage to the mischievous Shadow.
Shadow is a beautiful
golden retriever who is getting a little older, but is still the sweetest dog
you will ever meet. She endures hours of b
eing petted and pulled on
by children without a whimper and greets everyone with a wag of her tail.
Shadow usually makes daily appearances around the resort, so we were excited to
hear one morning that Shadow would be at her dog house, which is located on the
porch of the Live Oak Lodge where you check in. Our villa happened to be only
steps away, so at the appointed time, my older daughter and I stepped out of
our villa and immediately set sight on B'Lou Crabbe and Shadow. For the next
two hours, we sat at B'Lou's feet while he played his fiddle and a mandolin,
sang and told us stories. Of course, there was much petting of Shadow too! It
was an incredible two hours of Low Country magic and it rivaled any show that
you will ever see at Disney World.
Also located in the Live
Oak Lodge is Big Murggie's Den where you can relax in a comfortable leather
chair or play a game of pool. My older daughter beat her dad in checkers one
night in that cozy room.
There are countless other
activities to interest people of all ages: kayaking, crafts, nature walks, and
dolphin cruises just to name a few. Do not worry about being bored if you're
the type of person who does not enjoy sitting on the beach with a book. You can
make your vacation as relaxing or jam packed as you wish.
One of my favorite
activities, eating, is not forgotten on Hilton Head Island. Some of the best
restaurants on the island can be found a short walk from the resort at Shelter
Cove Harbour. During the day, we enjoyed delicious sandwiches from Tide Me Over
at the resort pool and Signals snack bar at the Beach House. Surfman's Sand Bar
at the Beach House serves refreshing tropical drinks and smoothies for the
smaller set. My daughter highly recommends the Cookie Monster smoothie.
Vacationing at Disney's
Hilton Head Resort has become an annual tradition for our family. It's just not
summer if we don't spend at least a long weekend at our favorite Low Country
retreat. Just like Disney World, it has something for everyone in our family.
I spent every evening of
our trip sipping a glass of wine on our balcony while watching the sun set over
the marsh. As day drifted into night, I marveled as the sky turned from orange
to red to purple. Disney's Hilton Head Resort had cast its spell on me once
again.
About the Author: Jill is
a proud member of the PassPorter Message Board where she loves writing trip
reports about her latest Walt Disney World vacation and exchanging advice with
fellow Passporters. In her real life, she works in the Information Technology
department of an insurance company and enjoys reading and cooking. She loves
nothing more than being in her happy place with her husband, Thom, and their
two daughters, Mary Devall and Maddie.
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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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DID YOU KNOW?
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with
MEI & Mouse Fan Travel
by 10/31/07
weÕll make a donation to
Deb Wills fund
for the Avon Walk for
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Special Offer - Walt
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Select Nov to Dec dates
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Just visit us at:
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*Rates based on value
resort, subject to availability - CST207807440
Click for full details. As
to Disney artwork: ©Disney
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DISNEY FEATURE: Disney
Vacation Club: Disney Raises the Timeshare Ba
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by Sue Kulick, PassPorter
Message Board Guide and Guest Contributor
Think you know timeshares?
Think you've heard it all? Think again!
Florida and timeshares go
together like salt and pepper, like hearts and flowers, like, well ... Mickey
and Minnie! As Florida became a popular resort destination, more and more
timeshare companies offered their wares in the land of sun and fun. Traditional
timeshares let you pay for a week or two at a beautiful resort property,
usually complete with kitchen, several bedrooms and all the comforts of home. You
are somewhat limited in your choice of week, and many of the contracts are for
a certain time period, i.e., a week.
In 1991, Walt Disney World
turned the timeshare business in the Orlando area on its ear, introducing a
revolutionary concept in timeshares known as "Resort Ownership". The
Disney Vacation Club (DVC) was born!
The first DVC resort
property was known simply as "The Disney Vacation Club". Today, it is
known as Old Key West, and has an old-time, laid back, Florida theme. It is
done in beautiful pastel and seaside colors, and set around the Lake Buena
Vista Golf Courses. The rooms are also among the largest in the DVC family.
In 1995, DVC added Vero
Beach, and in March 1996, the Hilton Head Island resort was added. These
resorts are not on Walt Disney World property, but an ownership there gave
owners the opportunity to stay at DVC properties at Walt Disney World! And in
summer 1996, DVC opened their second Walt Disney World resort, Boardwalk
Villas. This resort brought back memories of turn of the century Atlantic City.
The family was growing!
In 2000, the Villas at
Wilderness Lodge were opened, themed after the old lodges in the National Park
Service in the 1900s. In 2002, Beach Club Villas was added with its laid back
beach theme. In 2003, DVC started to sell Saratoga Springs, which invoked the
richness and fun of the famous New York State race, and the first buildings
opened in 2004. And this year, the Animal Kingdom Villas, with all their
mystery and excitement, opened for occupancy!
So what is it about DVC
that makes it so unique? Well, first of all, DVC uses a point system to secure
reservations. Each room is assigned a point value, and those values are based
on the size of your accommodation, the resort, the day of the week (weekend
values are higher) and the time of year (or "season" as DVC refers to
them) in which you are traveling. The seasons change slightly from year to
year, but you will always receive a book that will let you know the seasons.
A DVC resort differs from
a regular resort room in that it has different amenities. A studio has a small
kitchenette area, and access to laundry facilities. A one-bedroom has a full
kitchen, a separate master bedroom that sleeps two, and split bathroom complete
with Jacuzzi tub. It also contains an apartment-size washer and dryer. A
two-bedroom contains what a one-bedroom does, plus a second bedroom that can
sleep up to four. In a "lock-off" 2-bedroom, which is a studio
connected to a one-bedroom, you will have a second bathroom and an additional
kitchenette. And for true luxury, there are Grand Villas, which sleep 12, and
are truly an experience!
If you like daily
"Mousekeeping" (housekeeping service), DVC may not be your cup of
tea. You will get "trash and towel" service (change the towels, empty
the trash) on day four of your stay, and a full cleaning on day eight. But
other than that, you are on your own.
And of course, there is
the magic of staying on Disney property. Most other timeshares in the area make
you a "day guest," where you arrive at Walt Disney World by car in
the morning and leave by car each night. But the DVC resorts are on property,
and accessible by boat, bus and all the other forms of Disney transportation.
You can use the resort amenities, including the pool, hot tub, and workout
room. At Old Key West and Saratoga Springs you can park your vehicle outside
your villa, and at Animal Kingdom Villas, Villas at Wilderness Lodge, Boardwalk
Villas and Beach Club Villas, you can take advantage of free valet parking, a
perk available to DVC guests staying at a DVC resort on points.
You can also use your
points to stay at any moderate or deluxe resort on Disney property, at
Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney or Hong Kong Disney. And you can use
you points to take a Disney cruise!
And if you get tired of
Disney, DVC has an exchange program. You can stay at some of the top hotels in
the world (Concierge Collection and World Passport Collection), take a safari
or an Alaska cruise (Adventurer collection), or spend a week at over 450
destinations through an agreement with Interval International (Member
Getaways).
DVC properties are an
ownership, complete with a deed. They are also a contract, with an expiration
date. Currently, contracts for Old Key West, Beach Club Villas, Boardwalk
Villas, Villas at Wilderness Lodge, Vero Beach, and Hilton Head expire in 2042.
(Although Old Key West members are currently receiving lease extension packets
that offers them the option to extend their membership to January 2057.)
Saratoga Springs contracts expire in 2054, and Animal Kingdom Villas contracts
expire in 2057.
Disney Vacation Club
owners have grown to almost 90,000 families since their simple beginnings in
1991. If you'd like to learn more about what is being called "Disney's
Best Kept Secret", stop by one of the DVC kiosks the next time you are at
Walt Disney World. Or visit our active DVC Forum on the PassPorter message
boards any time. We'd love to chat with you and answer any questions you may
have!
[Editor's Note: Disney
recently announced plans to open DVC resorts at Disneyland Resort's Grand
Californian Hotel in 2009, and in Hawaii in 2011 (see What's New and Changed).]
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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DID YOU KNOW?
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Special for PassPorter
News readers:
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==========================================
UPDATES: What's New and
Changed
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Here's a few relevant news
items:
A New Disney Resort in
Hawaii has been announced by Disney Parks and Resorts. To be located at the Ko
Olina Resort and Marina west of Honolulu on the island of Oahu. The new,
21-acre facility will offer a total of 800 hotel rooms and Disney Vacation Club
villas, and is set to open in 2011. Ko Olina is a beachfront resort development
currently offering vacation homes, hotel acommodations, golf, and other recreation.
Marriott operates a conventional hotel and a timeshare resort on the property.
Visit http://dvc.disney.go.com/dvc/miniSite/doorwayToDreams?id=HawaiianResortPressReleasePage
Interested in Hawaii? Read
our feature article on Hawaii at http://www.passporter.com/articles/hawaii.asp
This fall, Disney Cruise
Line will be introducing a new convenience for cruisers - Onboard Airline
Check-In. Guests taking a domestic flight on participating airlines post-cruise
will be able to complete a pre-registration form when they check in for their
cruise at Port Canaveral. Then the day before disembarkation, their boarding
passes will be delivered to their stateroom. Once back at Port Canaveral,
guests proceed directly to Customs, skipping the baggage claim area as their
bags will be delivered directly to their outgoing flight. Once at the airport,
guests go through airport security and on to the assigned gate. The
participating airlines are: AirTran Airways, Alaska Airlines, American
Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Northwest Airlines and United
Airlines/Ted.
Disney Cruise Line
passengers can now pre-pay gratuities for their stateroom host/hostess and
dining room staff up to three days prior to sailing. Cruisers are still free to
charge gratuities on board or pay cash. The option gives cruisers a chance to skip the long lines at Guest
Services at the end of the cruise.
The "Year of a
Million Dreams" has been extended into 2008 and new Disney Dreams prizes
have been announced. The new prizes include:
- A chance for guests to
spend the night inside Disneyland in Walt's Dream Suite. Using architectural
renderings that Walt Disney himself commissioned for an in-park, family retreat
that was never completed, Disneyland Resort is creating a lavish new guest
suite in the parkÕs New Orleans Square. Beginning Jan. 31, 2008 -- and
continuing most nights throughout the year - a different winner will be chosen
through a random process to bring up to five guests to live Walt's dream and
spend that night in the Disneyland Dream Suite inside Disneyland Park.
- A private day at
Disney's tropical island paradise, Castaway Cay.
- A New Year's Eve night
stay inside Cinderella Castle Suite at Walt Disney World Resort.
- A trip to the "High
School Musical 3" film premiere for two winners and up to three guests
each. One prize includes a VIP vacation to Disneyland Resort in California and
the other features a VIP vacation to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida where
the music and excitement of "High School Musical" comes to life in
high-energy shows.
- Become Disney's Grand
Marshal Around the Globe. One winner and up to three guests will be sent on a
15-day whirlwind tour of four Disney destinations -- Disneyland Resort, Walt
Disney World Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland and Disneyland Resort Paris. At each
stop on the magical journey, the winner will serve as Honorary Grand Marshal of
Disney's daily parade.
The 2008 Disney Dreams
Catalog is online with photos and descriptions of all the prizes can be viewed
online at http://www.2008disneydreamcatalog.com/
Port Orleans Riverside
will be offering the seasonal program, Campfire on de' Bayou, on Sunday and
Thursday nights, October 2007 - February 2008 from 6:30 pm until 8:00 pm
(weather permitting). Join Cast Members at the campfire behind the Fishin' Hole
at Ol' Man Island for stories and songs from the bayou. S'mores kits are
available for $5.25 each. No reservations necessary.
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
==========================================
DISNEY TIPS FROM FELLOW
READERS
==========================================
Our readers deliver a
wealth of information! Here are the winners in this month's tip contest:
LOVE THAT LOOSE CHANGE
"Your change can add
up to special memories! We have a 'Disney' bank that we put all of our loose
change in -- it can really add up. This year I split the money between my three
kids and allowed them to pick some special things to do with it. My daughters
(6-year-old twins) went to the Wonderland Tea Party and picked a pearl at the
Japan Pavilion in Epcot. My 13-year-old son splurged on the Sea Raycers and
some special pins for his collection. All three also got the 'Build a Cup'
frozen coke at Club Station Cool. It was a great way to use that 'found'
money."
-- contributed by Pam E.
SAFARI CLUB STRATEGY
"If you do not want
to wait very long to eat at the Rainforest Cafe (at any location, including
Downtown Disney or Animal Kingdom), sign up for the Safari Club. It will
usually get you a table within 20 minutes of your check in. Also, you can get a
discount or a free appetizer with your dinner. It's a great thing to have
especially during busy hours."
-- contributed by Chloe C.
MAP MAGIC
"You may have noticed
that the Disney park maps are sometimes more art than map. Well, if you search
for 'Lake Buena Vista, FL' or 'Walt Disney World' on sites like Google Maps,
you can see a clear satellite image of the Disney Property. This can be a fun
way to acquaint yourself the layout of the parks and resorts, as well as an
interesting, behind the scenes view of the "non-guest" areas. The
resolution is clear enough to pick out individual cars in the parking lots."
-- contributed by Brian B.
>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
==========================================
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:
"After reading about
the new Disney Vacation Club resort to be built in Hawaii, I took a jaunt over
to Disney's own 'Hawaii.' White sandy beaches, swaying palm trees, relaxing
hammocks, tiki torches, and glorious sunsets on a blue lagoon ... it's like
heaven on earth. I photographed 'Hawaii' at sunset as a reminder of its beauty.
I even love the name of it's lagoon ... the (rest of text obscured by water
spray)"
Photo Link: http://www.passporter.com/news/hawaii.jpg
Exactly where was this
photo taken AND what is the name of the lagoon? (For bonus points, post a
comment with the same photo in the Photo Archive)
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 Holli
Goetz who was the winner of last week's trivia contest! Holli was the first
person to identify the location of the photo as the pathway into Adventureland
in the Magic Kingdom. To view the original clue, see last week's newsletter at http://www.passporter.com/news/news092707.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
====================================
twhitemk asks: "What
is the best way to get from Port Canaveral to the Orlando International
Airport? We would prefer not to use the buses."
Dave and Jennifer answer:
"There are three 'best' ways, and one of them is the bus. Different folks
have different preferences. There are what I'd term emotional reasons to
prefer/avoid some of the options, but I won't include them in the analysis.
Bus is very convenient,
and inexpensive for parties for one or two. You don't even have to get your
luggage at the baggage carousel. Seating is reasonably comfortable.
Point-to-point transportation, no extra stops. This is the no-shopping
decision. Downside? The cost for a group of three or more approaches or exceeds
the cost of other alternatives.
Towncar service.
Convenient, cheaper than the bus for parties of four or more, but more
expensive for fewer than three people. A variety of companies offer service
to/from the airport. The driver will meet you at luggage claim (but you'll be
responsible for getting your luggage from baggage claim on level 2 down to to
the car on level 1, since the driver has to go retrieve his/her vehicle from a
parking lot). Comfort? Exceptional for parties of two, not quite as luxurious
for parties of three or four. Downside? Cost for smaller parties, more luggage
handling than you'd have to deal with on the bus, time/trouble to shop for the
towncar service.
Car rental. Thanks to the
heavy competition for car rentals in the Orlando area, this is generally the
most economical for parties of two or more. You have the traditional American
freedom to be in control of your own vehicle, and family car comfort. Downside?
Time/trouble to comparison shop for a rental, pickup and drop off your vehicle,
handle all your luggage at all times, stop for gas (or pay the agency for a
full tank after you've only used about two-three gallons), adequate luggage
capacity for larger parties probably requires a higher-priced minivan rental.
Three 'best'
choices."
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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===================================
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