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PassPorter News
News, Announcements, Updates, and Tips
October 12, 2006 * Issue 6.39
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: We're Back!
Travel Feature: Vero Beach
Disney Feature: Adventures by Disney: Wyoming
Updates: What's New and Changed
Tips: Pass On Pictures, Stop Those Seagulls, Love Those Links
Captain's Corner: Rain, Rain, Go Away (Clue #2)
Q&A: Where
can we view the fireworks at Fort Wilderness?
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FROM THE AUTHORS: WeÕre
Back!
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Hi, {{user("firstname")}}!
Well, we returned home from our Mediterranean
research trip Monday night. What a trip! We took well over 3,000 photos, packed
our PassPockets full of useful information, took countless notes, and will
undoubtedly be sharing tales of our adventures for a long time to come. At the
moment, our thoughts are filled with memories of Barcelona, where we stayed two
extra nights following the cruise. It's a fabulous city, and despite two and a
half full days of exploration we barely managed to scratch the surface. If
you'll be cruising the Mediterranean with Disney next summer be sure to allow
yourself extra time in Barcelona! You can probably count on seeing at least one
article from us about Barcelona in upcoming editions of this newsletter, and we
are working on a full report of our cruise
to be posted soon. Watch this newsletter for details!
Just a reminder: Some of our older edition
PassPorters on close-out are either out of stock, or about to be -- so now's
the time to get your cheap books. These close-outs are available from 65% - 95%
off the list price -- a great deal! To see what we have available, visit the PassPorter Store at
http://www.passporterstore.com/store/closeouts.aspx
We don't want to jinx things, but PassPorter Walt Disney World 2007 is currently
chug-chugging across the Pacific from Hong Kong, right on schedule. If all
continues to go well, we just may start shipping the new books well in advance
of the announced release date. As you undoubtedly know, if you pre-order your copy
it'll be on its way to you within days after it hits our warehouse. Pre-orders
are available at http://www.passporterstore.com/store/2007.aspx
MouseFest just keeps
getting bigger and better. New communities and attendees are being added to the
list all the time - nearly 1500 attendees have now registered! If you'll be on
the December 3 sailing of the Disney Wonder and/or at Walt Disney World between
December 7 and 11 please visit http://www.MouseFest.org to check out
all the great events (nearly all are free), and to register to receive the
MouseFest newsletter. See you there!
In this issue of the newsletter Susan Crawson takes
us on a relaxing visit to Disney's Vero Beach Resort on Florida's
Atlantic coast, and Denny and Doris Thompson share their their recent Adventures by Disney tour of
Yellowstone country. Enjoy!
Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter Authors and Publishers
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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 10/31/06
Valid most nights 11/1/06-12/23/06
Visit us at: http://www.mousefantravel.com/?apid=ptp
*Per person/double occupancy, subject to
availability CST207807440. For full details, visit http://www.mousefantravel.com/?apid=ptp . As to
Disney artwork: ©Disney
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TRAVEL FEATURE: Vero Beach
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by Susan Crawson, Guest Contributor
Did you know that you can enjoy a Disney resort
experience in Florida without setting foot in Walt Disney World? DisneyÕs Vero
Beach Resort, located about 100 miles from Orlando, opened in 1995 yet it still
remains unknown to many Disney fans. A stay at Vero Beach is a wonderful way to
unwind after a few days at Disney World, but it also makes for a perfect
vacation on its own.
DisneyÕs Vero Beach resort is a Disney Vacation
Club (DVC) property, but you donÕt have to be a DVC member to stay there.
Guests can book available rooms and pay cash rather than use DVC points. The
main building, The Inn, has rooms that are similar to those at Deluxe Disney resorts.
There are three villa buildings housing studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom
units, and six three-bedroom cottages. Most rooms face the ocean or have at
least a partial ocean view. Beautifully landscaped grounds maintain some
privacy between the buildings.
ThereÕs very little Disney-themed dŽcor. The most
ÒDisneyÓ spot on the property is the pool area. The pool itself is a very large
free-form Mickey head with a lighthouse slide. Although Playful Pastimes, the
listing of daily activities guests receive at check-in, indicates that thereÕs
only a DJ at the pool on weekend afternoons, thereÕs usually music playing in
this area, and there are often pool games and other activities throughout the
day. The pool is the daytime hot spot of the resort.
Hair braiding, miniature golf, and shuffleboard are
all available in the pool area. Bikes and other sporting equipment can be
rented poolside at Eb & FloÕs. Tennis, archery, basketball, horseshoes, and
barbecue grills are available across the street at the resortÕs lakeside
facility, which can be reached via car, or by walking or biking through an
underground tunnel.
The childrenÕs wet deck at the pool has the Tiger
Lily, a miniature pirate ship, with water cannons and a small water slide. ItÕs
not for the littlest of kids, though, and there is no wading pool. However,
there are wide stairs in both ÒearsÓ of the Mickey-shaped main pool, and thatÕs
where toddlers and their parents can hang out and splash around without getting
in the way of other swimmers.
DonÕt forget the beach. Beach chairs, umbrellas,
cabanas, and some water sports equipment are available for rent on the beach,
which is usually pretty quiet. The tide brings in a lot of shells and youÕll
likely come back from walk on the beach with a pocketful of pretty ones you
just couldnÕt resist. The shop in the Inn lobby sells pail and shovel sets, but
before you buy them, check out the playground at the pool. It seems that a lot
of people leave behind the pails and shovels purchased onsite, and it's fine to
take them to the beach as long as you return them.
The resort has a poolside bar and grill, and a
lounge where staff emphasize that kids are welcome. The lounge has live
entertainment many nights. The two full-service restaurants, Shutters and
SonyaÕs, share a kitchen. Shutters, the more casual of the two, is open daily
and hosts a character breakfast with Goofy and his son Max a few times a week.
SonyaÕs hosts a Sunday brunch and is open Thursday through Sunday for dinner.
For guests staying in quarters with kitchens, thereÕs a Publix supermarket an
easy 10-15 minute drive from the resort.
What shouldnÕt you miss at DisneyÕs Vero Beach
Resort? For guests of all ages, a walk on the beach, the sing-along campfire,
and relaxing on the beach or poolside will do the trick. Our preschooler
preferred the pool, the poolside playground, and the activities for younger
children. There are nonstop organized activities and programs for children from
three years old up until their teens, with quite a few activities limited to
kids age 12 and over, with something to capture almost any childÕs interest.
Active guests wonÕt want to miss the fitness center, tennis, and other water
sports. For those who venture off-property, there are private and public golf
courses nearby as well as Dodgertown, the spring training home of the Los
Angeles Dodgers and the summer home of the minor league Vero Beach Dodgers.
Nature lovers will be interested in the turtle hatching on the beach and can
join the Turtle Patrol (in season) or attend a Sea Turtle Information
Session.
The resort isnÕt just for families with children.
There are plenty of things that adults will enjoy. A poolside massage,
breakfast on the balcony of an ocean view Inn room while watching the sunrise,
or a wine tasting might just hit the spot. Shortly after we visited the resort
as a family, my brother and his wife spent some couple time there, and all of
us had the same reaction Ð we wished we had spent more time at DisneyÕs Vero
Beach Resort and we will definitely be back.
About the Author: Susan Crawson made her first trip to Disney World as a
preschooler in the spring of 1972. She's been back to Disney World and to
Disneyland many times and is looking forward to her first Disney Cruise Line
experience in October 2006. She lives with her husband and two children in New
England.
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Did you enjoy this article? Have questions? E-mail
us at news@passporter.com or visit http://www.passporterboards.com to discuss
your Disney travel plans.
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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 at http://www.mouseearvacations.com/mevdclspecials.php?cpe=Y3A9RW1haWxlciAxMC85LzA2JnM9UGFzc3BvcnRlcg%3D%3D
To get a quote for April 21, 2007, visit http://www.mouseearvacations.com/dclquote.php?id=sevenwestern&dates=2007-04-21&cpe=Y3A9RW1haWxlciAxMC85LzA2JnM9UGFzc3BvcnRlcg%3D%3D
*Savings based on double occupancy. Ships'
Registry: The Bahamas
CST2058090-40 http://www.MouseEarVacations.com 800-886-8601
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DISNEY FEATURE: Adventures By Disney: Quest For the
West
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by Doris & Denny Thompson, Guest
Contributors and members of the MouseEarVacations.com team
[Note: Adventures by Disney is Disney's new
guided vacation travel organization, currently offering a dozen different tours
in North and Central America, and Europe. To learn more, visit www.adventuresbydisney.com or contact
your Disney Specialist travel agent. - Ed.]
Day 1 Ð Wyoming Welcome
After weeks of waiting we were finally on the plane
approaching Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The view of the mountains as we arrived at
our destination was beautiful and heightened the anticipation of the adventure
to come. Upon arrival at the airport, we headed to baggage claim where we were
met by one of our adventure guides, Chris, who accompanied us to the historic
Wort Hotel.
The hotel is breathtaking with its stone fireplaces
and grand lobby. Our room was everything we were hoping for and so much more!
With lodge pole pine furniture, goose down comforters, western fabrics &
dŽcor as well as signature bathrobes, we were in heaven. This room was so comfy
that we didnÕt want to leave, but leave we must because our welcome reception
and dinner are next on the agenda. The reception buffet dinner was laced with
Ògetting to know youÓ type events and before the meal was over we were all fast
friends. So now it was time to relax, put up our feet and get ready for day
two!
Day 2 Ð Grand Teton National Park
Normally this morning would start with a hearty
breakfast and an eight-mile bike ride through old riverbeds and breathtaking
landscapes in the Grand Teton National Park. But due to inclement weather (a
very cold drenching rain overnight) the bike ride was shortened to 6 miles on
paved roads for our group. With our camera ready, we were on our way! The Grand
Tetons peeked through the cloud cover on occasion and we were able to get a few
shots for our scrapbook, but we kept our fingers crossed for at least one good
clear shot before we had to leave. We were rewarded for our effort when we came
upon a herd of over sixty bison. Fall is a wonderful time of year for this
adventure (weather aside) because the deciduous trees are turning their autumn
colors and are in stark contrast to the green of the pines that dot the hills.
Simply beautiful!
After lunch, guests can choose either a gentle
float trip along the base of the Grand Tetons (float trip not available on next
yearÕs itinerary) or a whitewater adventure over class II and III rapids!
Unfortunately, the raft trips had to be canceled due to the heavy rain. Instead
we had a choice to either spend the afternoon shopping or we could visit the
National Museum of Wildlife Art. We chose the museum and were glad we did - the
paintings, sculptures, weavings and other assorted mediums were interesting and
educational.
Day 3 Ð Yellowstone Journey
Following a leisurely breakfast, our Quest for the
West continues. We said goodbye to Jackson and boarded our motor coach bound
for Yellowstone. But Yellowstone would have to wait until after our boat ride
across Jenny Lake and the hike in the Grand Teton National Park.
Upon arrival we ferried across the lake. As we
start our hike we encounter a gradual climb that takes us by spectacular views
of streams, rapids, waterfalls, and letÕs not forget the beautiful colors of
the fall foliage. The high altitudes and thin air are new to everyone in our
group so we stop often for rests and photo ops on our way to the top of the
mountain. For those hearty enough to hike the last leg (very steep, rocky
switchbacks) the reward is a panoramic view of Jenny Lake from the top of
Inspiration Point. Breathtaking!
By this time itÕs spitting snow and we still have
much to see, so back down the mountain we go (which by the way was much easier
than going up!), ferry across the lake and board our motor coach.
Normally at this point our guides, Jennae and Chris, would present us with a
picnic lunch but weather has dictated a change in plans. Instead of a picnic we
opt to eat in the nice warm bus while we move toward Yellowstone.
Beautiful, spectacular, breathtakingÉthese words
all seem inadequate when trying to describe the views and vistas along our
route. There are just no words that do justice to the Tetons and the wildlife
that we saw on this afternoon drive. The moose, elk, and mule deer we spot
along the road seem oblivious to the towering mountains that surround us. After
all, this is just home to them, but to us itÕs like nothing weÕve ever seen
before! We have a few photo op stops and on to Yellowstone West Thumb Basin for
a tour of the paint pots and mud pots. Next stop, Yellowstone Snow Lodge, our
home for the next two nights, but we have no time to dawdle - Old Faithful is
scheduled to erupt in just a few minutes. IÕm sure everyone has seen Old
Faithful on TV but itÕs so much better in person. You hear and feel the rumble
before and during the eruption and our cold temps increased the steam
surrounding the water flow. Just fabulous!
No rest for the weary, our day wasnÕt over yet. The
Snow Lodge and Adventures by Disney had arranged a private dinner just for our
group. Our dining room has a great view with a wall completely full of windows,
so when the snow finally arrived we were dining in the warmth while we watched
it snow outside. Wonderful & relaxing!
Day 4 Ð Trail Blazers
Another chilly Wyoming morning and another day of
adventure! We start our day with a morning viewing of Old Faithful. Stan, a
park tour guide, was to travel with us today and enlighten us with interesting
park details, trivia, and stories of the area. The geyser basin walkways loop
around the Old Faithful area and provide great viewing for a combination of
paint pots and geysers. Although Old Faithful is the most frequent erupting and
well-known geyser, itÕs not necessarily the most majestic geyser. The highlight
of the morning tour was the eruption of Castle Geyser. This geyser only erupts
about every 12 hours but its well worth the wait. Once the eruption started it
lasted well over a half hour and was as picturesque as anything weÕve seen to
date!
We had another hike scheduled this afternoon so we
boarded our motor coach and were off to another geyser/paint pot/mud pot field.
Dinner this evening was an adult-only time at the Old Faithful Inn while Jennae
and Chris joined the children for a special dinner and evening activities.
Day 5 Ð Untamed Nature
TodayÕs morning hike was my favorite to date. The
Grand Canyon of Yellowstone was our destination for a hike at the rim and
viewing of the upper and lower falls. This was a moderate hike with many
viewing and photo op spots that culminated at Artist Point. Walt Disney World
fans will recognize the name Artist Point as the table service restaurant at
DisneyÕs Wilderness Lodge. Now you know the origins of the name. From the
Artist Point lookout we could see back along the canyon to the lower falls and
the view was spectacular! The hike is followed by a picnic lunch and then we
were off to the dude ranch.
We arrived at the ranch around 4:00 pm and were
given our cabin assignments. Yes, thatÕs right; each couple/family would be
spending the next few nights in their very own log cabin! These cabins had
rustic charm with all the comforts of home. The only thing not available in our
cabin was a television but with all there was to see and do I was sure we
wouldnÕt miss it at all! (For any die-hard TV fans, there was a TV in the main
lodge.) After unpacking we spent a few minutes taking in the surroundings then
it was off to social hour and dinner at 7:00 PM.
Day 6 Ð On the Range
After a hearty breakfast, our group met over at the
hitchinÕ post to be paired up with our ride for the morning. This was horseback
riding day and one of the most anticipated activities for all of us. Denny rode
Trapper and I rode Gilroy. Let me just say that before this ride was over
Gilroy and I became fast friends! I personally have never ridden before and was
a little apprehensive. The horses are wonderful and so well trained that even
the most inexperienced rider will feel comfortable in the saddle. After a quick
riding lesson in the corral we were off. I was expecting a nice flat ride over a
meadow or something similar but that was not to be the case. We rode into the
hills, through trees, across open areas, through streams, and down hillsÉ.we
went everywhere! By the time we returned to the ranch it was lunchtime and we
enjoyed swapping riding tales while we ate.
Afternoon activities included your choice of
horseback riding, fly-fishing lessons, hiking, or just relaxing. Although
I was tempted to go riding again, parts of my anatomy were still recovering
from the morning ride so I chose to relax on the back deck of the lodge with a
good book.
We were all to meet for a story telling session at
5:30 PM near the outside barbeque area. We were in for a big surprise! I wonÕt
tell you what the surprise was but be assured that it was something very
special and a great time was had by all!
Day 7 Ð The Wild West
This was our day to explore the ranch and choose
whichever activity tickled our fancy. Many in our group chose to ride horses,
others chose to fish, and still others chose to just relax. This was the last
day of the trip but the surprises were not over just yet. As we gathered for
our farewell dinner Chris and Jennae had a few extra special tricks up their
sleeve for our group!
Even without the ÒMouseÓ around every corner this
trip was truly touched by Disney magic. Whether you take the Quest for the West
adventure or any of the offered itineraries, I highly recommend you choose
Adventures by Disney!
About the Authors: Denny and Doris Thompson are CruisingCo.com/MouseEarVacations.com travel
agents and are looking forward to their next Disney Cruise Line &
Disney World vacation in December for Mousefest 2006.
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Did you enjoy this article? Have questions? E-mail
us at news@passporter.com or visit http://www.passporterboards.com to discuss
your holiday plans.
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UPDATES: What's New and Changed
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Here's a few relevant news items:
The Disney Vacation Club has announced its latest
project - Villas at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. According to
Wednesday's article in the Orlando Sentinel, DVC plans to
convert existing rooms on the 5th and 6th floors of the resort to create 134
units, and add an extra 324-unit building, for a total of 458 units (this is by
Disney's reckoning, which counts two-bedroom units as a single unit - here at
PassPorter we count "lock-offs" - when a two-bedroom is made up of a
one-bedroom and a studio we consider that two units, not one). According to the
Sentinel, the first units will be available in fall 2007, with final completion
in spring 2009.
Celebrate New Year's Eve with Cirque du Soleil! A special
edition of La Nouba will be performed on December 31, 2006 at 6 pm and 9 pm.
What will be different about these performances? A champagne toast, limited
edition program and a special grand finale. Pricing and ticket information is
available at http://www.cirquedusoleil.com
The construction walls blocking the front of The
Seas with Nemo & Friends have come
down in preparation for the Annual Passholder preview this coming weekend,
October 13 - 15.
Be sure to bring your cell phones to the Monsters
Inc. Laugh Floor Comedy Club when it opens
in early 2007. According to a press release from Disney, Guests will be able to
text message jokes for possible use in the show!
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
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DISNEY TIPS FROM FELLOW READERS
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Our readers are a wealth of information! Here are
the winners in this month's tip contest:
PASS ON PICTURES
"Soon after my husband and I were married, we
took our first trip to Walt Disney World. Camera in hand, we took pictures of
everything and everyplace we visited. When recently visiting with our 7
and 10 year old daughters, some 20 years later, we decided to pull all the
photos we had of the earlier trip, and show them to our daughters, but in a
very special way. We placed our photos in "topic" envelopes so that,
for example, when we were standing in line for the "It's a Small
World" exhibit, we pulled the photos of our younger selves riding the
ride. Our girls could not wait for when they could see their now
"old" parents acting really young. They loved it, and the magic will
hopefully continue when they will someday show their children pictures of
themselves taken on their first trip to one of our favorite places on
Earth!"
--
contributed by Maria B.
STOP THOSE SEAGULLS
"When getting funnel cakes from the cart near
the American pavilion in the World Showcase, ask for an extra plate to put over
the funnel cake. The sea gulls will swoop down and steal it off the plate if it
isn't covered!" -- contributed by Ruth L.
LOVE THOSE LINKS
"When traveling with babies/toddlers, I love
to use those plastic links to attach small toys or cups to the stroller or baby
carrier. When the baby drops her toys they don't get dirty on the ground, and
Mom and Dad aren't bending over all day picking them up!" -- contributed
by Suzie L.
>Notes: Send us your tips! You may see them in
this newsletter and win a copy of PassPorter! Visit:
http://www.passporter.com/customs/contest.htm
>>Want more Disney tips? For Walt
Disney World fans, we've collected 500 of the best tips submitted by readers
over the past six years. All have been edited for accuracy and categorized. For
details, visit the PassPorter Disney 500 info page at
http://www.passporter.com/wdw/disney500.asp
>>For Disney Cruise Line fans, we
have an e-book with 250 cruiser tips, as well as a special cruise line
comparison section and seven customized packing lists. For information, visit
the Disney Cruise Clues info page at
http://www.passporter.com/dcl/cruiseclues.asp
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CAPTAIN'S CORNER: Treasure Hunting Game
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Play our fun and quirky treasure hunting game, hosted
by Captain Jack Skatt from our new book, "PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at
Walt Disney World."
The Captain makes a study of the delightful details
-- sometimes hidden, sometimes in plain sight but often overlooked -- at Walt
Disney World and aboard the Disney Cruise Line. Using notes from his journals,
he will lead you to this "treasure" at Disney with clues, questions,
photos, or riddles. Your challenge is to discover the answer by searching your
memory, visiting Disney, or even just looking really hard on the Internet. If
you think you've found the answer, e-mail it to jackskatt@passporter.com -- the
first person to correctly submit the FULL answer will receive a free PassPorter
enamel pin or PassPorter name badge pin.
No one got the right answer from last week's clue!
Here is a new treasure from Captain Skatt's Journal to help you out:
"I can't believe this storm! I've been
tossed and turned and even thrown backwards. It's a good thing my friend (text
obscured by rain drops) invented such wonderful things to help protect me from
the elements!"
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!
If you enjoy treasure hunts, we've got an entire
book with over 100 distinct treasure hunts and over 1500 questions, complete
with clues and contributions from Captain Skatt. ÒPassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World" is
now available! You can order the new book today at http://www.passporterstore.com/store/1587710269.aspx
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Q & A WITH JENNIFER & DAVE
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yakamishi asks: "I
thought I read somewhere that there is a nice spot at Fort Wilderness to view
the fireworks from. Someone said one of the loops had a trail to a nice viewing
area. But it escapes me where I read it or where it is. Can anyone help?"
Dave answers:
"The easiest route (since all the buses go there) is to head for the beach
and pier by Pioneer Hall. Check the Fort Wilderness map in your PassPorter.
You'll see Loops 100, 200 & 300, and between those and the water is
Wilderness Swamp Trail. There's some nice viewing from that trail, too, but
unless you're already staying at those loops (or on a hayride that coincides
with the fireworks - they pause for the fireworks), it's probably easier to go
to the pier."
Have a question? Post it at http://www.passporterboards.com -- and if
you're lucky, you may find that folks have already asked and answered the same
question that's on your mind!
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WANT TO GET PUBLISHED?
===================================
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.
====================================
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