PassPorter News - October 27, 2005

Hi, {{user("firstname")}} -- Here's your copy of the latest PassPorter newsletter, per your subscription request. -- Thanks, Jennifer & Dave

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PassPorter News

News, Announcements, Updates, and Tips

October 27, 2005 * Issue 5.20

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: New Books!

Travel Feature: Paris is For Travel Lovers

Disney World Feature: Amtrak Auto Train

Updates: What's New and Changed

Tips: Avoiding Wallet Woes, Candy For Breakfast?. Cooler Cosmetics

Captain’s Corner; Old Brachy

Q&A: What size rental car?

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FROM THE AUTHORS: New Books!

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

We have several items of book news to share with you...

First, our shipment of new PassPorter Walt Disney World guidebooks (2006 edition) is enroute to our warehouses and, most importantly, on time! They'll be here by the end of November. This will be the first time we've ever received them in November! Today we received our advance shipment of 2006 editions -- the color looks really fabulous, as does the rest of the book. We created a sneak peak of the new color pages for you -- take a look at http://www.passporter.com/peek.htm .

Next, we're happy to announce our first ever e-book: "PassPorter's Disney 500: Fast Tips for Walt Disney World Trips." This is a 113-page, low-cost e-book filled with over 500 tips from our readers, hand-picked from 3000+ we've received over the last six years. The tips are all edited for accuracy, categorized, and sorted into logical order. All proceeds from the sale of the e-book go back into our community! For more information, visit http://www.passporter.com/wdw/disney500.htm . A big hat's off to the many readers who contributed tips to this e-book -- this is good stuff!

In other news, MouseFest 2005 is fast approaching... just over a month away now! You won't believe how many fellow Disney fans are attending, how many Disney communities are participating, and how many events are planned! If you'll be at Walt Disney World between 11/30 and 12/3 and/or on the Disney Wonder between 12/4 and 12/8, or just want an excuse to go, check out http://www.mousefest.org for the list of events and attendees!

In this edition of the newsletter, PassPorter message board Guide Cheryl Pendry is back with a wonderful article on Paris. And another PassPorter message board Guide, Dianne Cook, offers helpful information on taking the Amtrak Auto Train to Florida. Captain Skatt is also back again with a new treasure hunt game to solve. Good luck!

Enjoy!

Jennifer and Dave

PassPorter Travel Press

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DID YOU KNOW?

Get a PassPorter for $1

It's time for our annual earlier edition offer! Get a copy of PassPorter Walt Disney World 2004 (spiral edition, complete with 14 organizer pockets) for just one buck, plus shipping/handling. Our $1 PassPorter is a GREAT introduction to the PassPorter concept. The information is a bit out-of-date at this point, but there's still a lot of good stuff in there and it'll give you a feel for our style and coverage. Plus, the fold-out color park maps, pockets, worksheets, and resort maps are always useful. Limited quantities are available. For more information and to get your $1 PassPorter, visit http://www.passporterstore.com/store/onebuckpassporter.aspx

The 2005 editions of all our PassPorter guidebooks are now in stock and shipping: PassPorter Walt Disney World 2005, PassPorter's Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line 3rd Edition, and PassPorter's Walt Disney World For Your Special Needs are now shipping next business day when ordered by 8:00 pm ET the night before.

The 2006 edition of PassPorter Walt Disney World is now available for pre-order, with an expected release date in late November. Our 2006 edition will feature full color throughout the book!

Everyone gets a 15% discount and if you've already got a copy of PassPorter, you can register it to get a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of any PassPorter guidebook.

Order your copy today at:

http://www.passporterstore.com/store/

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TRAVEL FEATURE: Paris Is For Lovers

(Travel Lovers, That is!)

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By Cheryl Pendry, PassPorter Message Board Guide

Mention romantic destinations around the globe and the chances are that Paris will feature in most people's top 10. It's also a destination that usually makes any top 10 list of the cities that you should visit around the world, so what makes it so special? Cheryl Pendry takes you on a trip down the Seine and through café society…

My husband and I are fortunate enough to live almost halfway between London and Paris, two of the most popular and beautiful city destinations in the world. Although much of London’s beauty is in its history dating back more than a thousand years, the beauty of Paris has a more recent grounding, with its most famous landmarks dating from the last couple of hundred years.

Of those landmarks, the one which springs most readily to mind is probably the Eiffel Tower. Originally constructed for the Centennial Exhibition of 1889 by Gustav Eiffel, who also designed the Statue of Liberty, at first the tower wasn’t a popular addition to the French capital and was seen as a hideous eyesore.

On my visit to the city in the early 1990’s, I will admit to being one of those who wasn't too keen on it, but that was when the tower had suffered a serious lack of attention. With the arrival of a new Millennium, it has been spruced up and just like the Empire State Building, is now beautifully lit at night and makes a stunning addition to the skyline. On our most recent visit, the metal framework even seemed to glow during the day. The “Queen of Paris” is once again looking regal!

But admiring it from outside is only half the fun. To fully appreciate this structure, you have to head for the top for views of Paris. As it’s the first stop on many visitors' itinerary, it's best to get there first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon and to cut the queues further, you can climb the stairs to the first level. It isn’t as daunting as it sounds (or looks!) and the climb only takes about five minutes.

Once you've seen the city stretched out in front of you, you get a better idea of the geography of the place. Cut in half by the River Seine, the roads radiating like a star from the Arc de Triomphe just north of the river can clearly be seen.

Originally planned by Napoleon I as a monument to his military success, the Arc de Triomphe was never completed in his lifetime, but now stands at the west end of the Champs Elysees. It's possible to climb to the top of this monument and although nowhere near as high as the Eiffel Tower, it still gives a unique and very different perspective of the city. And once at the top, you can see one of Paris' biggest problems -– traffic.

You'll quickly learn that the car is very much king in this city and the pedestrian is a poor relation. Although things have improved somewhat, crossing the road still requires taking your life in your hands to a certain extent and there’s no point in attempting to reach the Arc de Triomphe by tackling the traffic. Instead, a pedestrian subway system takes you there.

From there, it's a pleasant, albeit very long stroll down the Champs Elysees, one of Paris’ most popular places to shop and eat. Cafés abound along this street and this is one part of Paris life that shouldn’t be missed. It may not be cheap to sit outside, enjoying a drink and watching the world go by, but it’s a wonderful way to spend your time and take a break.

The other end of the Champs Elysees gives way to the beautiful Tuileries garden, offering superb views back to the Arc de Triomphe and further down to the famous Louvre museum. Best known for the woman with her enigmatic smile, the Mona Lisa, the Louvre is housed in an intricate building, which has in recent years been joined by a giant glass pyramid in the courtyard housing the museum’s main entrance.

Containing one of the world’s largest art collections, it may surprise you to know that the Louvre is so big that many visitors to Paris decide to skip it altogether, as they don’t have the time to spare to do it justice. And I’m ashamed to say that I’m one of those people. It’s not a cheap museum to visit and like many others, I’ve never had the time to visit it properly.

Perhaps that’s because one of the things I must always do on any trip to Paris is take in a trip down the River Seine. I'm a lover of river cruises anyway and believe they’re one of the best ways to see any city, but in Paris, many of the major attractions line the riverbanks, including the Eiffel Tower, Louvre and the Tuileries gardens. Other sights you can see from the water include the Conciergerie, with its imposing round towers, a prison for nearly six centuries and the beautiful Notre Dame, famed for the Hunchback story and so beautifully worked into the Disney movie of the same name. This is another sight that’s undergone significant restoration in recent years and is looking better than ever.

It's certainly worth a visit inside to see the superb architecture and, after resting your feet on the river trip, if you're feeling brave, take the 387 spiral steps to the 75 meter high north tower -- the view is worth it!

There are more steps at Paris’ other most famous church, the Sacre Coeur in Montmartre, on the hills above Paris. On a hot day, the steps beneath the church will be packed with people enjoying the views over the city.

If it strikes you that Paris involves a lot of steps to get to a lot of the good views, then you’d be right. Fortunately it also involves lots of good food, allowing you a chance to rest your feet after all those steps. Whatever type of food you’re after; the chances are you’ll find it in this city. The French are a nation who loves their food, so there are lots of fine places to eat. Cheap dining, like many cities around the world, can be found, but you have to hunt hard. One of our favorites is the café on the top level of Samaritaine 4, one of Paris’ biggest department stores. Offering views over the River Seine, it also offers reasonably priced, good quality lunches and is always a regular call for us on our visits.

There’s so much more to Paris and I’ve only scratched the surface. You could easily spend a week here and still have things to see – trust me; I speak from experience on this! Museums abound on most subjects, including the amazing inside out building at Centre Georges Pompidou, home to modern art, there are churches, squares and boutiques everywhere you look and outside of Paris, more wonders await.

Versailles, the monumental palace built by Louis the sixteenth, is probably the most decadent palace in the world. Situated to the southwest of Paris, it’s a 35 minute train ride from the city center, but well worth the traveling time. If I say that there are 2,000 acres of grounds, containing 80 miles of rows of trees and 210,000 flowers are planted there every year, you start to get an idea of the enormity of the place. But the stunning figures are reserved for inside the palace. With 700 rooms, more than 2,000 sculptures and 6,000 paintings, you can see why this is one of France’s great treasures. And I haven’t even mentioned the gold or the chandeliers in the palace! If you’re in the area for a long enough period of time that you can take a day out of Paris, then this is the place to head for.

Of course, there’s also Disneyland Paris, but that’s another story!

Some useful websites on Paris:

Visit Paris http://www.visit-paris.com/homeus.html

The Paris pages http://www.paris.org/

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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 travel plans.

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WALT DISNEY WORLD FEATURE: How Would Walt Travel?

The Amtrak Auto Train

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by Dianne Cook, PassPorter Message Board Guide

We all know how much Walter Elias Disney loved trains. How about you? Would you love to have your car with you at Walt Disney World but dread driving I-95? Then perhaps the Amtrak Auto Train is for you. You travel from Lorton, Virginia to Sanford, Florida while taking in the sights and your vehicle comes right along with you.

The Auto Train leaves Lorton around 4 PM and arrives in Sanford at approximately 8:30 AM. The train accepts passenger cars, oversized vehicles and even motorcycles. You may pack as much as you like in your car but keep any valuables with you. You will not have access to your car during the trip so plan on taking what you will need for the overnight trip on board with you. It’s always a good idea to have a spare key or remote with you in case your keys get accidentally locked inside.

There are many options for traveling on the train. Coach passengers enjoy the Bi-level Superliner, which has wide reclining seats that give you plenty of legroom. Each seat has a footrest, a leg rest, and an individual reading lamp. You will be provided with a pillow and a lightweight blanket.

You also have a choice of sleeping car accommodations. The deluxe rooms are on the upper level only and are accessible by narrow stairs only. They sleep up to three adults with a single upper bunk and a larger lower berth. These rooms also have a private restroom/shower and sink. A deluxe suite is available which are two deluxe rooms connected by a door which is opened for an even larger area. On the lower level are the standard bedrooms for two adults and the family room, which can accommodate two adults and two small children. There is limited space for luggage. Also on the lower level is an accessible bedroom for passengers with mobility impairments. This room sleeps two and has a sink, a vanity and a toilet within the room. An attendant is available on each car to offer you assistance with luggage and to put down your beds.

Meals are included in the cost of your fare and are served in the dining car. Dinner is your choice of five entrees -- a beef dish, a fish dish, a poultry dish, a vegetarian dish, or a chef's special. There are “choo choo chewies” with macaroni and cheese for the younger ones and this is also available in an adult portion. Tossed salad with your choice of dressing, rolls, red/white wine, soft drinks, coffee and tea complete the meal. Choose from a selection of five desserts. Dinner is served on china and cloth napkins for the sleeping car passengers. Breakfast is continental and you have your choice of cold cereals, warm muffins and bagels, fruit, orange juice, milk, coffee and tea.

Soon after checking in and deciding on your mealtime, you will board. An hour prior to departure, a wine tasting is offered in the lounge car. This includes your choice of a red, a white or blush wine. Also available are trays of cheese and crackers and vegetables and dip. The lounge car is also available for reading, playing cards or simply relaxing. A movie is shown twice every evening. There are always apples, oranges, coffee, tea, cookies and snacks available. You may also purchase alcoholic beverages, pizza, peanuts, and other foods from the bar. The lounge is non-smoking but there is a smaller smoking area on the lower level.

The Auto Train is a great way to see the country. From the Civil War battlefields of Virginia to the South Carolina lowlands to the Palm trees in Florida, you will see some of the most interesting sights in the southeast. Some points of interest are the Potomac River in Lorton, VA. Quantico, VA is home to the famous FBI training facility. In Fredericksburg, VA the train crosses over the Rappahannock River, which is the river that George Washington tossed the silver dollar across. It is also here that General Lee’s army repelled Union forces in 1862 in the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. Next is Ashland, VA. Can you imagine riding a train right down the middle of the Main Street? This is what happens here. You can also see Randolph-Macon College. Your journey continues through Richmond, VA (the state capital) and you can see the James River.

The Auto Train stops in Florona, SC for a crew change (not attendants -- but conductors, etc.) and the train is fueled and watered. Then on through Charleston, SC whose black waters are said to be the cleanest in the south, then continuing southward, the train passes Savannah, GA and through Jacksonville, FL and on to Sanford, FL. One of the best parts of the trip is the conductor announcing these different sights as you pass through.

Once the Auto Train arrives in Sanford, the unloading process begins. The cars containing the vehicles are separated from the passenger portion of the train and are taken to the unloading area. It may take up to 90 minutes until the last automobile is unloaded. Hop in your car and begin the 40-minute ride to Walt Disney World. You arrive rested and ready to head to the parks.

For more information on the Auto Train, call 1-877-SKIP-I-95 or go to http://www.Amtrak.com .

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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 planning your Disney vacation.

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UPDATES: What's New and Changed

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Here's a few of the new developments at Disney:

The California Grill at Disney's Contemporary Resort recently began requiring credit card information when making your advanced dining reservation. A $20 per person cancellation fee will be assessed is for any cancellations less than 24 hours prior to your reservation or for any no-shows.

Disney's Martial Arts Festival returns to Disney's Wide World of Sports complex this weekend, October 28 - 30, 2005. Competitions will be held in American Kenpo, Japanese and Okinawan Classical Karate, Chinese martial arts and many others. Admission for spectators ages 10+ is $18/day or $28 for a three-day pass. Admission for guests 3 - 9 is $12/day or $22 for a three-day pass. Children under three are free. For more information, check out www.disneyworldsports.com .

You can view our page-by-page list of updates and corrections for the PassPorter Walt Disney World 2005 Edition at http://www.passporter.com/customs/bookupdates.htm.

>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:

AVOIDING WALLET WOES

"When touring, don't bring your wallet or purse with you. Leave it in your hotel room safe. There is no need to have all of your credit cards or other identifying information on you. Keep your license in your pocket and spread out your cash between pockets and travelers. Also keep a hidden stash of cash on you that you keep as emergency money."

-- contributed by Robert Taylor (zap800@...)

CANDY FOR BREAKFAST?

"Goofy's Candy Co. in Downtown Disney has an area next to the cash register that offers large danish and pastries, bagels, coffee, etc., that you can purchase and save for a great breakfast the next morning in your room. The cost was extremely reasonable and all were very delicious and filling. They even include butter and cream cheese along with utensils and napkins. These sweet treats also came in handy to keep in our room to satisfy a late evening sweet tooth craving after being in the parks all day."

-- contributed by Susan F.

COOLER COSMETICS

"If you are staying at the Fort Wilderness Campgrounds and are tent camping, keep your deodorant, lipstick, lip gloss and other cosmetics. in a cooler to keep them from melting in the Florida heat "

-- contributed by Michelle (mishka214_2000@...)

>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? We've collected 500 of the tips submitted by readers over the past six years -- most have never been published before. All have been edited for accuracy and categorized. The "Disney 500" are available in e-book form for immediate download. For details, visit http://www.passporter.com/wdw/disney500.htm .

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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 upcoming 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:

Today's big find are the immense, fossilized bones of a dinosaur. A Brachiosaurus, to be specific. Unbelievably, it is 52 feet tall and 80 feet long! This treasure is the gateway to my fame and fortune, I am sure. I had to leave my treasure -- which I've fondly named "Old Brachy" -- at the dig site when the sun set, but I plan to return tomorrow. It is imperative that I remember the location of the fossils. The bones are on the ... (rest of text obscured by fossil dust and a flattened french fry)

So... where is Old Brachy at Disney's Animal Kingdom? (Be specific -- spelling counts)

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 issue's treasure hunt game! Robert correctly stated that the "ready-made shower" was the "Singing in the Rain" umbrella on Streets of America at Disney-MGM Studios. To see the original clues, see http://www.passporter.com/news/news101305.htm .

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. We expect to release the book -- "PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World" -- in a couple of months. Watch this space or http://www.passporter.com for more information!

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Q & A WITH JENNIFER & DAVE

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luv2plan asks: "We have a full-sized rental car reserved with National -- I believe it's an Impala which I have read has good trunk space. The price is great, but our family of four adults and one 4-year-old child is now worried we're not going to fit with all our stuff (regular luggage stuff, but it will be Dec., so I'm sure we'll pack more long pants, jackets, etc.). So they had me book a Cadillac too, which would be nice to have but is of course twice the price. Any opinions on whether you think we can all fit in the Impala? And has anyone ever kept two car reservations right up until you get there and picked the one that works better for you?"

Jennifer and Dave answer: "If you step-up from the Impala, I'd recommend a minivan. I'm not a big SUV fan. I've owned an SUV, but I currently own a minivan -- there's no comparison between the two when it comes to capacity.

For what it's worth, Alamo/National estimates an Impala will hold 3 large suitcases and 2 small. A luxury car (Buick Park Avenue or equivalent) is said to hold 4 large suitcases and 2 small. Either way, it's a far sight less than the amount of baggage folks are allowed to bring with them on the plane. The capacity they show for an SUV is 4 adults and 1 child (perfect for your group), plus 4 large bags and 3 small. The minivans are shown holding 6 adults and 1 or 2 children, plus 3 or 4 large bags and 1 or 3 small bags - however, with 4 adults and 1 child in your party, that means there's actually room for several more bags than they show, making the minivan the winner. "

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?

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We're on the lookout for guest columnists to contribute articles to this newsletter. 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. For details and our article guidelines, please e-mail our newsletter editor, Sara Varney, at news@passporter.com . Articles about Disney and general travel are welcomed!

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