==========================================
PassPorter News
News, Announcements, Updates, and Tips
PassPorter.com -
http://www.passporter.com
==========================================
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:
==========================================
From the Authors: Bonjourno!
Disney Feature: Lessons Learned
Updates: What's New and Changed
Tips: A Pin Plan, Half the Park, Half the
Stress, Stroller Strategy
Captain's Corner: Rain, Rain, Go Away
Q&A: What are the benefits of splitting
your stay between two Disney resorts?
====================================================
FROM THE AUTHORS: Bonjourno!
====================================================
Hi, {{user("firstname")}}!
Bonjourno from the
We are now just about halfway through our week-long Mediterranean research
cruise and doing well, albeit quite tired! The Mediterranean itinerary is an
exhausting one, with ports of call nearly every day. And as we're doing shore
excursions at each port to squeeze in as much research as possible, we're
exhausted. We'll have a full report on our ship (Royal Caribbean's Voyager of
the Seas) when we return, along with many photos -- I think between the two of
us we've already taken over 2000 photos. Here's a little sneak peak: So far we
have visited four ports --
Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter
Authors and Publishers
- - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
DID YOU KNOW?
Great Disney
Cruise rates are available from MouseEarVacations.com
Disney Cruise Line¨ Special Offer
April 21, 2007 - 7 night - W. Caribbean
Save up to $496* per cabin compared to current Disney pricing.
Other dates available.
Click here to get a quote for April
21, 2007
*Savings
based on double occupancy. Ships' Registry: The
CST2058090-40 www.MouseEarVacations.com 800-886-8601
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
========================================================
DISNEY FEATURE: Lessons Learned
========================================================
by Justine Fellows, Guest Contributor
Kids can see right through you. I have been working
hard on my 7 year old daughter to try and get her to loosen up - enjoy life,
live for the moment. She has a tendency to want things to be perfect, and if
they aren't, she will clam up and get grumpy. A great example is whenever we
come across an outdoor fountain with kids splashing around and having a great
time. If she isn't in a bathing suit, she is not going near the water. We
recently had a major breakthrough outside the
A week later, I was confronted with an almost identical situation, only
this time it was me without the bathing suit in a lake near our house. My
daughters and mother were happily swimming, encouraging me to come in with just
shorts and a t-shirt. I wanted to go, but it went against every obsessive
compulsive bone in my body. My daughter said, "Mom, you made me do
it!" And she was right. She saw right through me! I let go and went for it
and had a wonderful swim as well an important life lesson: It's ok to enjoy
yourself.
So how does this pertain to a trip to Disney? It's probably obvious, a
trip to Disney is the time to let go and let your kids see the kid in you. I
recently saw some photos of my friends' husband in Disney. In every picture he
could have easily been mistaken for Grumpy! She said that he was miserable. I
started to wonder how many parents go to Disney because it seems like some item
on their checklist, ÒThings they have to do with their kids before they
graduate from high schoolÓ. How many parents think of it as a responsibility,
not a family vacation?
To me, Disney is not a mandatory sentence but a true family vacation.
It's a place where we find something for everyone, that we take time to share
in each others joy.
So here are a few things to think about before your trip.
1) It will not be perfect, but the way you react to imperfection will
make it enjoyable and memorable. Easiest example: rain. If you run back to your
hotel annoyed, so will your children. If you decide to throw on a poncho and
take advantage of short lines and splashing in puddles, your kids will always
remember that you made the best of a situation.
2) If you are worried about embarrassing yourself, donÕt. This is Disney
- we all look like big kids! Hug a character, participate in the banter at 50Õs
Primetime CafŽ, volunteer to be a character in Snow White's story- your toddler
will look at you in awe, your kids will find you heroic and your teens will
cover their faces and laugh.
3) Wear a little Disney. I make it a rule not to wear Disney clothes.
I'll admit it, I'm a clothes snob. But when my daughter's bought me a Minnie
Mouse t-shirt with "Sassy" written on the back, how could I resist? I
love it. And where else in the world is it practically the dress code to wear
your favorite characters?
4) Plan. Even if you are just a few days out, get together as a family to
plan your trips to the parks, activities at your resort and other special
excursions. Let everyone have a say. While you are there, step back and share
their experience. If it's something they do alone, ask questions, look at
pictures, and buy them something special to remember their excursion. If it's
something that is not your cup of tea, give it a try. Let yourself go, even if
it's a ride on the
5) No whining. We have a rule in our family, when ever a kid whines we
stop, all sit down and work on "changing our voice". This pretty much
means take the whine out of what you are saying. What's the issue? Hunger,
exhaustion, heat? Take the time to find the root of the problem and then make
sure you take care of it, even if it means leaving the park early. It will make
for a more enjoyable trip for everyone in the end.
6) Do something different. Try the Segway tour, rent a boat to see
Illuminations, pick something that you never imagined doing or just indulge in
doing something you love. Last year we took the "Behind the Seeds"
tour for our 7 year old who loves gardening, we planned an hour to play in the
new Winnie the Pooh play area for our 2 year old, we sent my husband off for 18
holes of golf and I enjoyed my favorite place, The Adventurer's Club, while the
kids had a babysitter.
Maya Angelou once said, "I've learned that you can tell a lot about
a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost
luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights." Our children learn too, so
stop before you react, let go and enjoy!
About the
Author: Justine, the author of PassPorter's Disney Speed Planner:
The Easy Ten-Step Program, works in
education in
- - - - - - - - -
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.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
DID YOU KNOW?
If you book your vacation with
MEI & Mouse Fan Travel by Oct 31,
we'll make a donation to Deb Wills fund
for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.
~ Walt Disney World Resort¨
Nov to Dec Magic Your Way Package
5 nights from $369* - Book by
Valid most nights
Visit us at: www.MouseFanTravel.com
*Per person/double occupancy, subject to availability
CST207807440
Click for full
details. As to Disney artwork: ©Disney
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
========================================================
========================================================
by Kathy Davis, Guest Contributor
In celebration of our fifth anniversary, my husband
and I recently booked two nights at the Disneyland ResortÕs deluxe hotel, the
Grand Californian. It was the perfect place to escape, even though we live only
thirty minutes from
You enter the Grand Californian through two sliding stained-glass doors, which
depict a typical
The Grand Californian was designed by architect Peter Dominick, who also
designed the Wilderness Lodge and the Animal Kingdom Lodge at the Walt Disney
World Resort. The design is from the Arts and Craft Movement of the late
nineteenth and early twentieth century, and draws from such influences as Frank
Lloyd Wright and Charles and Henry Greene. The interior design was done by
Richard Brayton, who used the talents of many artisans to reproduce the look
and feel of the Arts and Craft Movement. It is the priciest of the three hotels
at the Disneyland Resort but we thought it was well worth the extra money.
Our room overlooked the wedding garden and Paradise Pier in DisneyÕs California
Adventure park, and was off the Great Hall, rather than one of the wings. I
enjoyed the spacious hallways surrounding the Great Hall, as well as the music
from the lobby, which was still not loud enough to be disturbing. Even in the
morning, this location was fairly quiet. The Grand Californian is definitely a
deluxe hotel, with evening turn-down service and a luxurious bathroom. The
dŽcor is inspired by the Arts and Craft Movement, so wood of various hues
abounds. There are many ÒextraÓ touches, such as wallpaper and borders; there
are repeated uses of both the California poppy and the rose as motives.
We elected to take a tour of the hotel to learn more about the dŽcor of the
Arts and Craft Movement, which was advertised on a daily calendar, left by the
turn-down service. This tour is appropriate for teens and adults. Maria, from
Guest Relations, escorted us through the lobby, the Hearthstone Lounge, the
pool area, the Storytellers CafŽ and the
The Grand Californian has two table-service restaurants: the casual Storyteller
CafŽ, which features character dining, and the Zagat-rated #1
The
Naturally, the landscaping and the pool reflect careful theming. Three gates,
each different and designed by
Trees are in fact abundant all over the hotel property, as suits a hotel whose
design strives to bring the beauty of the Redwood forest to southern
Guests at the Grand Californian have a private entrance into California
Adventure, right across from Grizzly River Rapids. This was one of the most
satisfying parts of the vacation for us. We rode Grizzly River Rapids twice in
succession, got completely soaked, and zipped back to our room for dry clothes
and shoes! Having the special entrance made you feel like a
We had two minor complaints during our stay at the Grand Californian. The
Monorail was closed for refurbishment, but the in-room Guest Book still
encouraged guests to use their resort ID to enter
For anyone more interested in the architects and designers of the Arts and
Craft Movement, Wikipedia has a
surprisingly good discussion of the Movement, as well as articles on all of the
historical individuals mentioned here.
About the
Author: Kathy Davis is the executive director for a non-profit youth orchestra
in southern
- - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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.
==========================================
UPDATES:
What's New and Changed
==========================================
Here's a few
relevant news items:
On
The list of narrators for the 2006 Candlelight Processional appears to be
complete. (For now at least. Narrators are often subject to change!)
Nov. 24-26 - NEW! David Robinson
Nov. 27-29 - John OÕHurley
Nov. 30-Dec. 2 - Rita Moreno
Dec. 3-5 -
Dec. 6-8 - Brian Dennehy
Dec. 9-11 - Stephen Curtis Chapman
Dec. 12-14 - NEW! Maureen McGovern
Dec. 15-17 - NEW! Kirk Cameron
Dec. 18-20 - Neil Patrick Harris
Dec. 21-23 - NEW!
Dec. 24-26 - Gary Sinise
Dec. 27-30 - Marlee Matlin
Chef Jens Dahlmann, previously Executive Chef at Flying Fish Cafe, is the new
Executive Chef at the California Grill at Disney's Contemporary Resort.
Our thanks to http://www.allearsnet.com from which we
get some of our news leads.
>Things To Do: Hear some news? Send it to us at
news@passporter.com
==========================================
DISNEY TIPS FROM FELLOW READERS
==========================================
Our readers are a wealth of information! Here are
the winners in this month's tip contest:
A PIN PLAN
"I absolutely love pins! In fact, I love them so much I refuse to trade
them. I buy pins that have a special meaning for myself and my husband; for
example, our hotel, one for each park, our favorite
rides/attractions/characters, etc, and any in general that I fall in love with
(for example a pin of Mickey ears that's actually fuzzy!). I then frame them in
a shadow box and hang them on my wall. But here's the catch: How do you
remember all the pins that you've already bought so that you don't duplicate
them? (After all, they're not cheap!) Make a pin album - take a picture of your
pins and make sure you carry it with you. P.S. Don't forget to take a new
picture for every trip as the pin collection has a tendency to grow!"
-- contributed by Lisa B. (beachcourt@...)
HALF THE PARK, HALF THE STRESS
"When I go to Disney, I divide the parks in half. I usually do everything
on one side of the park when I go on one day, then I return another day to do
the other half. I get to ride what I want, usually multiple times, without
having that panicked "gotta do everything today" feeling. I enjoy it
more and it lowers the vacation stress level." -- contributed by Kelly A.
STROLLER STRATEGY
"There are so many strollers at the theme parks. We tie a bright red scarf
to ours so it's easy to spot when leaving a ride, show or restaurant." --
contributed by Teresa E.
>Notes: Send us your tips! You may see them in
this newsletter and win a copy of PassPorter! Visit:
http://www.passporter.com/customs/contest.htm
>>Want more Disney tips? For Walt
Disney World fans, we've collected 500 of the best tips submitted by readers
over the past six years. All have been edited for accuracy and categorized. For
details, visit the PassPorter Disney 500 info page at
http://www.passporter.com/wdw/disney500.asp
>>For Disney Cruise Line fans, we
have an e-book with 250 cruiser tips, as well as a special cruise line comparison
section and seven customized packing lists. For information, visit the Disney
Cruise Clues info page at http://www.passporter.com/dcl/cruiseclues.asp
==========================================
CAPTAIN'S CORNER: Treasure Hunting Game
==========================================
Play our fun and quirky treasure hunting game,
hosted by Captain Jack Skatt from our new book, "PassPorter's Treasure
Hunts at Walt Disney World."
The Captain makes a study of the delightful details
-- sometimes hidden, sometimes in plain sight but often overlooked -- at Walt
Disney World and aboard the Disney Cruise Line. Using notes from his journals,
he will lead you to this "treasure" at Disney with clues, questions,
photos, or riddles. Your challenge is to discover the answer by searching your
memory, visiting Disney, or even just looking really hard on the Internet. If
you think you've found the answer, e-mail it to jackskatt@passporter.com -- the
first person to correctly submit the FULL answer will receive a free PassPorter
enamel pin or PassPorter name badge pin.
Here is this week's treasure from Captain Skatt's
Journal:
"Apparently the weather gods were not smiling
on my journey as it began to rain while I continued my exploration of the World
Showcase. I remembered that I was not far from the home country of the inventor
of the first rainwear, my old friend...(rest of text obscured by rain
drops)"
Who created the first
rainwear and in which country can you purchase his creations?
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 Robert Burnett who was the
winner of last week's treasure hunt game! Robert correctly answered that the
god in the
Send your
full answer to jackskatt@passporter.com -- the
winner will be notified by e-mail and announced in the next newsletter, along
with the correct answer!
If you enjoy
treasure hunts, we've got an entire book with over 100 distinct treasure hunts
and over 1500 questions, complete with clues and contributions from Captain
Skatt. ÒPassPorter's Treasure Hunts
at Walt Disney World" is now available! You can order the new book today
at http://www.passporterstore.com/store/1587710269.aspx
====================================
Q & A
WITH JENNIFER &
====================================
tio marco asks: "For our next trip, I'm considering
splitting our stay between the Polynesian and Wilderness Lodge. What are your
feelings? Anything we should be aware of, particularly with the dining plan?
Obviously packing mid-week will be a drag, but are there any other downsides?
We both have our favorite deluxe resorts and I'm really thinking this is the
best way to enjoy them both and make everyone happy."
Dave answers: "We split stays all the time,
but for us it's part of the job - experiencing all the resorts. After a while
it can get tiring when it's not just for the fun of it (so make sure it'll be
fun for everyone in your party).
There shouldn't be a heavy impact on the dining plan. You pay for each night of
your stay, not for each day, so you shouldn't be over-paying. The main thing is
to budget your credits appropriately (all the credits from your first stay
expire at the end of your "moving day"). We normally send one member
of our party to the new resort first thing in the morning to check in (while
everyone else heads to the parks), and then he/she meets everyone else at the
park. That way, you'll have full access to your new pool of dining credits as
well as whatever is left from the first resort. As to the missing luggage issue,
I recommend you start phoning your new resort at around
Have a question? Post it at http://www.passporterboards.com -- and if
you're lucky, you may find that folks have already asked and answered the same
question that's on your mind!
===================================
WANT TO
===================================
PassPorter News is now published weekly, and this
means we need more articles than ever! We're on the lookout for guest
columnists who want to contribute articles to this newsletter. No professional
writing experience necessary, just a desire to share your experience with
others! Not only is this a great way to give something back to the PassPorter
community, but you get to see your name in "print" and receive a $25
gift certificate.
====================================
PassPorter News is only sent to those who have
subscribed to it through our Web site or at
the time of an order,
registration, survey, or contest.
If this newsletter was forwarded to you by a
thoughtful
friend, please join us! You can subscribe at:
http://www.passporter.com/news.htm
Please ask your questions and help each other in
our
Message Board Community:
http://www.passporterboards.com
Copyright (c) 2006 - MediaMarx, Inc. / PassPorter
Travel Press,
ഀ