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In
This Newsletter
From the Authors: Great
Start to the New Year
Travel Feature:
Washington D.C.
Disney Feature: Travels
with Nonny - Walt Disney World with your Grandchildren
Updates: What's
New and Changed
Tips: Clap
for Clips, Mini-Meals, Bring Binoculars
Captain's Corner: The
First Rule - Second Clue
Q&A: How
do you schedule your meal times?
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Updates:
What's
New and Changed
Here's a few of the new developments at Disney·
The Walt Disney Company has agreed to acquire Pixar
Animation Studios, the studio responsible for such hits as "Toy Story"
and "The Incredibles". The deal is expected to be complete this summer.
World of Disney in Downtown Disney will celebrate
it's 10th anniversary with the opening of 3 new sections - the Bibbiddi
Bobbiddi Boutique, which opens on April 5, is where your child can feel
like a Princess while having their hair or make-up done. From there,
they can proceed to the Princess Room for all the latest in Princess
fashions. In ore of an adventurous mood? Then head over to the Adventure
Room to create your own pirate hat, explore cowboy, pirate and space
gear or try your hand at a video game.
>Things To Do: Hear some news?
Send it to us at
news@passporter.com
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Disney
Tips:
From Fellow Readers
Our readers deliver a wealth of information! Here
are the winners in this month's tip contest:
CLAP FOR CLIPS
"Small but useful items to bring are medium or large
binder clips! They are great for closing up snack bags, which get stale
quickly in the Florida humidity. They are also great for corralling bills/papers,
hanging up towels or clothes to dry, holding a blanket closed over a stroller
etc. They are much sturdier and more secure than any of the other bag fasteners
I have seen, and probably have many more uses, if you put your mind to
it!"
-- contributed by Colleen Trapp-Warner (cgwarner@...)
MINI-MEALS
"Split meals! My husband and I would agree on eating
the same thing and we would split it. We would then be able to walk
around the park without feeling so full. Smaller meals work out great,
and it ends up saving you money!"
-- contributed by Jennifer
BRING BINOCULARS
"If you have some lightweight binoculars, bring
them along! You can use them to look at the parades, fireworks, characters,
and use them to "look around" your resort - especially if you stay at or
visit the Animal Kingdom Lodge."
-- contributed by Leanne P.
>Notes: Send
us your tips ! You may see them in this newsletter and win a copy of
PassPorter!
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 the PassPorter
Store.
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Captain's
Corner:
Treasure Hunting Game
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:
"I went on safari again today with great success.
I photographed two bongos in the bushes, as well as a family of hippos
in the pond. At one point our safari jeep stopped to allow a particular
graceful giraffe to stroll across the road and I snapped several stunning
shots. Luckily for me (and the giraffe), our safari driver understood those
all important rules of behavior, especially that crucial first one that
states ... (text obscured by giraffe drool)
So, again, what is the first rule of behavior
on the Kilimanjaro Safaris?
Congratulations to Cindy Lamb who was the winner
of last newsletter's treasure hunt game last week! Cindy correctly identified
the first rule of behavior on the Kilimanjaro Safari as "The Animals have
the right of way." To view the original clues, see
the
last newsletter.
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!
To view the original clues, see
the
last newsletter.
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 early
2006. Watch this space or http://www.passporter.com
for more information!
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Q
& A:
With Jennifer and Dave
pthomas asks: "As I read about how to go about planning
ADRs, Character Meals, etc. I can't help but wonder how to know what time
would be best? Other than trying to plan a TS restaurant dinner during
a particular fireworks display I wouldn't have a clue what time to schedule
reservations. Especially lunch! How do you choose your meal times?"
Jennifer and Dave answer: "This depends on your normal
family rhythms. You don't want a bunch of hungry, ornery kids. If you're
early risers, try to keep on that schedule. Most full-service lunch spots
open at 11:30am, and between avoiding the noontime crush and the early
riser's normal needs, that's a perfect time for lunch. Ditto for dinners
- 5:30pm is the typical time for first dinner seatings. Come noontime and
6:00pm-7:00pm, reservations (and counter service) will be in especially
high demand, the restaurants will be noisiest, servers the most overburdened...
If your bodies normally want food at those hours, consider an earlier snack
and delay your meal an hour or so.
We tend to be late risers around here, so we usually
dine a bit past the most popular meal times.
Note that if you're crossing time zones, "usual"
mealtimes for your body clocks may be very different that the time on the
clock on Cinderella Castle. Consider adding mid-morning and mid-afternoon
snacks to your plans."
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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Future
Newsletters:
Want
To See Your Name in Print?
Big News! PassPorter News will be
going weekly beginning this month. This means we need more articles than
ever! We're on the lookout for guest columnists 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.
For details and our article submission guidelines,
please e-mail news@passporter.com.
Articles about Disney and general travel are welcomed!
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Great Start to the New Year!
Hi, {{user("firstname")}}!
We are really excited here at PassPorter! Ah, where to begin?
First, the first edition of PassPorter
Disneyland and Southern California Attractions is in the final stages
of peer review and proofreading, and those reviewers (including MousePlanet's
Lani Teshima, Rebekah Moseley from LaughingPlace.com, Michelle Smith, "The
Fabulous Disney Babe," Bruce "Zazu" Metcalf, and a dozen other Disney experts)
are doing a fabulous job. We're just weeks away from being able to send
the book off to our printer in Hong Kong, and we're feeling really, really
good about the way the book has come together.
Next, we're being bowled-over by the sales of PassPorter
Walt Disney World 2006. Thanks in part to the efforts of our wonderful
new distributor, Publishers Group West, and in part to the earlier release
date for the book (timing is everything), sales are already way ahead of
last year's edition. So good, that we've already ordered a second printing
from those folks over in Hong Kong (we are keeping them very busy this
year!). Recently, PassPorter was the sixth bestselling travel book nationwide
at a large bookstore chain, and it's consistently among the top 1,000 books
of any kind at Amazon.com.
We're also working on the fourth edition of PassPorter's
Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line. If you've taken Disney shore
excursions you can do us a great service -- take our
Shore
Excursion Survey as soon as you can! Move fast, we want to have that
book in the stores by March!
What else, what else? Book updates! We've just finished the latest
round of revisions to our free,
online
book updates. Included is the first update list for
PassPorter
Walt Disney World 2006, which features a downloadable PDF replacement
of pages 116 and 117, fully revised to cover Disney's recent park pass
rate hikes.
Generally, guidebooks in their eighth edition don't garner a lot
of reviews, but fellow Disney author Kevin Yee posted a very nice (and
unexpected) review of PassPorter Walt Disney World 2006 at
MiceAge.com.
Thanks, Kevin! Kevin's got a new book coming out soon, too --
101
Things You Didn't Know About Walt Disney World. You can read all about
it over at Amazon.com. And speaking of reviews,
PassPorter's
Walt Disney World for Your Special Needs recently received yet another
glowing review (authors Deb Wills and Deb Koma did do a fantastic job),
this time from http://www.linkup-parents.com.
Altogether, the joint is jumpin' here at PassPorter headquarters. Maybe
that's why temperatures have been above normal here in Michigan these past
few weeks. ;-)
In this edition of the newsletter, PassPorter Message Board Guide and
frequent newsletter contributor Cheryl Pendry shares her recommendations
for a visit to the Eternal City, Rome. Then, first-time
contributor Erin Broemel shares her tips for visiting Walt Disney World
without
breaking the bank. Finally, Captain Jack Skatt returns with a
new
clue for a stumper of a question. Enjoy!
Jennifer
and Dave
PassPorter Authors
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Did
You Know?
PassPorter 2006 Garners
Great Reviews!
The new 2006
edition of our PassPorter Walt Disney World guidebook now features
a full-color interior along with the most up-to-date text, new TeenTips
and ToddlerTips, and new photos and magical memories. We've already heard
back from folks who've received their new books -- here are a few of our
favorite comments:
"I just wanted to let you know how much I love
the new PassPorter! Thanks for adding the toddler tips! I have a 2 year
old and a 9 month old. This is a great feature. Thanks for including pictures
of yourselves as well. It keeps it "real" in my opinion." -- Andria
"I love the pockets and your personal experiences
and advice about making the trip the best experience possible. Thank you
so much for this wonderful tool." -- Bari
"I love the color, the pictures, and the new magical
memories. The tips on the rides have given us great guidelines." -- Lisa
Everything! I am a planner and this book really
helped me plan my first ever Disney trip in 2004. We are going back and
I don't need to plan as much, but the book is a must! I loved the map,
the meal worksheet, the priorty seating worksheet. -- Jennifer
Learn more and order today at:
http://www.passporterstore.com/store |
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Travel
Feature:
Washington D.C. : Monumental
Moments
by Cheryl Pendry,
PassPorter Message Board Guide and Guest Contributor
Certain cities
are known for certain things. Los Angeles means movies to most people,
New York City is known for its fast pace of life and its shops, while Boston’s
the place to head to for Colonial history. It’s the same thing with Washington
DC. Think of the city and the chances are that certain things will come
to mind. Politics perhaps – after all, it’s home to the White House and
the Capital, as well as much of the federal government. Maybe it makes
you think of museums, with the Smithsonian specials lining the Mall. For
me though, DC is all that and much more.
Whenever I think
of the city, I think monuments. There surely can’t be another city in the
world that can boast so many memorials, some to former Presidents, others
remembering those who gave their lives in war. It’s a collection that seems
to grow every time we visit DC and best of all; it’s a collection that
can be visited either on foot or by Tourmobile
which is authorized by the National Park Service.
The best starting
point on the tour, appropriately enough, is the memorial to America’s first
President. Completed in 1885, the Washington Monument is the simplest looking
in the city, an obelisk built of marble, granite and sandstone, but building
it wasn’t a simple task. Originally started in 1848, the money ran out
and construction was halted only one third of the way up. The centenary
of the Declaration of Independence brought additional funds and allowed
work to resume more than 20 years later.
Since its completion,
the Washington Monument has undergone several restorations, the most recent
a major two year program of repairs and cleaning in the late 1990’s, which
saw the Monument encased in specially designed scaffolding. Although it
made for some unique photos at the time, I prefer the refurbished Monument,
which now looks far cleaner than it did a decade ago.
The improvements
made during that refurbishment aren’t just external. The elevator on the
way down now slows at points and the lights inside dim, so that you can
see a selection of the commemorative stones in the exterior wall, which
were donated by individuals, states and nations during the Monument’s construction.
Of course, that’s not the only reason to visit the Washington Monument.
It’s superbly placed in the center of the capital, offering stunning views
from all four sides, with the Jefferson Memorial to the south, the Lincoln
to the west, the White House to the north and the Capitol and Mall to the
east. Be sure to bring your camera and video camera and plenty of film
or digital storage. You’ll always take more photos here than you think.
Once at the top
of the Monument, you can stay as long as you like, but getting there can
be a challenge. Same day tickets are available free of charge from the
ticket kiosk at 15th street and although there’s little problem with walking
up and being handed a ticket out of season, peak time visitors might want
to reserve their tickets for a $1.50 service charge and $0.50 shipping
charge. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/wamo
From here, you’ve
got two options to tour the rest of DC’s main monuments. Either buy a ticket
for Tourmobile, which allows free all day re-boarding or the other option
is to put your best foot forward and walk. It’s not a walk for the faint
hearted however and appearances can be deceptive. Memorials have a habit
of looking closer than they are, trust me, I speak from bitter experience
about that!
Heading west from
the Washington Monument, you quickly come across the newest addition to
the collection. With a pool and fountains in its center, the World War
II memorial, opened in 2004, has two pavilions at each end, one representing
the Atlantic and other the Pacific, symbolizing how the war was fought
across both oceans. Four thousand gold stars in the middle commemorate
the 400,000 Americans who died in the war, while sculptures at each side
of the entrance recall scenes of America at war.
In the walk down
to the Lincoln Memorial, there are more tributes to those who have lost
their lives in combat over the years, in the shape of the Vietnam Veterans
Memorial, two long triangular black walls, covered with the names of those
gave their life in this conflict. This is perhaps the most simple of Washington’s
war memorials, but one of the most striking, with families often leaving
flowers by the names of their loved ones.
The Korean
War Veterans Memorial is nearby and depicts 19 soldiers on patrol, with
a black granite wall to the south, etched with the images of more than
2,000 veterans. Although all of DC’s monuments are lit up at night and
all well worth a visit, it is this one that sticks most in my mind. The
statues appear as if they are coming out of nowhere as you walk up to the
Memorial and that’s perhaps exactly the idea this was meant to convey.
In between these
two war memorials is the Lincoln Memorial, surely one of DC’s best known
spots, thanks to its many cinematic appearances. Before this was built,
the whole area was a very different site, with the swampy area around the
building drained when work started in 1914. Overlooking the Reflecting
Pool and facing toward the Washington Monument and the Capitol, there’s
nowhere better to sit down and rest from all that walking than on the steps
of this grand memorial. Inside, the impressive 19 foot marble statue of
Lincoln watches over the city, surrounded by 36 columns, the number of
states during Lincoln’s Presidency.
Head south-east
from here and you’ll find the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial on the
banks of the Tidal Basin. The most recent Presidential tribute, this open
air memorial takes you through four distinct rooms, each representing one
of the President’s terms of office. Each room has granite “walls” with
quotations from FDR inscribed in them and a theme throughout all the rooms
is water, sometimes in quiet pools and other times cascading. It’s quite
a sight to see it frozen over in winter, making the whole place eerily
quiet.
Continuing southwards
around the Tidal Basin, you find another of the Presidential monuments,
the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. This is the furthest out of the main city
and it’s a quite a walk to get here to the main area, but it’s well worth
a visit, particularly in the spring time, when the Japanese cherry trees
are in full bloom around the Tidal Basin.
A walk, or bus,
back to the starting point of the Washington Monument will take you past
the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and US
Holocaust Memorial Museum, another place to stop and remember the terrible
events of years gone by.
Now where else
in the world can you travel back over 300 years in time, stopping at so
many different places to remember stops along that journey? That’s why
DC is all about memorials and monuments for me and may that never change.
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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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Disney Feature:
Travels with "Nonny":
Walt Disney World With Your Grandchildren
by Jane Buie,
Guest Contributor
I sit at my desk with fingers poised, reluctant
to strike the first key, hesitant to touch the mouse. I know that when
I begin, the photos will stop and my memories will be on hold. The invention
of the digital camera is in sync with my evolution as a grandma, “Nonny”
as they call me. Through my screensaver, memories of previous Disney trips
pass by and I am mesmerized.
There’s a picture of my oldest granddaughter,
Caylie, when she first met Minnie Mouse. Another photo of Caylie, now almost
5, is from our recent trip, 6 weeks ago. She’s coming around Big Thunder
Mountain, holding up her arms, and laughing hysterically. Other photos
pass. There's Colton, almost 2, as he reaches for the hook on the end of
the Captain's arm. I see the youngest granddaughter, Bella, who recently
made her first trip to Disney World at 6 months. She’s laughing at Baloo
just outside the shops on Main Street. Such wonderful memories bring me
to my grandchildren each time I sit down to check e-mail or conduct online
business.
I know there are grandparents who aren't
sure they can manage a trip to Disney World. Can I handle my grandchildren?
Do we know each other well enough to get along? Will they respect my authority?
If the answer is yes, then start planning.
Where in the World do we stay? A travel
agent can be helpful but you can also call Disney reservations yourself
to schedule a room or a package, including tickets. We stay on Disney
property, just for the convenience. Usually, one or both of my daughters
will accompany us, since my sweet husband feels he must stay behind and
tend the home fires.
We keep active annual passes because we
visit WDW several times each year. Caylie is old enough to have her own,
which makes her quite happy. Travel from Houston is 1000 miles one way.
We usually travel by automobile and it helps that my Suburban has a built-in
video/TV. We depart Houston early, usually around 3 AM, fully stocked with
snacks, water, portable lap trays, and videos. The children will sleep,
giving us 4 or 5 hours of uninterrupted driving. It’s more sensible to
trade drivers, making the trip in one day. The children are restless and,
if we stop for the night, they find it hard to return to their car seats
the next day. Amazingly, we can make this drive in about 17 hours.
Alternatively, airplane travel is great.
It saves time and wear on the children and grandparents. However, you must
make certain that your little ones are flight worthy. There’s nothing like
trying to control an 18 month old who wants to get down and run. Disney's
Magical Express shuttle is wonderful from the Orlando airport to the hotels.
It’s available only if you’re staying at a Disney Resort. They’re reliable,
free, and efficient, helping with strollers, luggage, and wayward children.
Disney offers many hotel choices but,
as a Nonny and Disney veteran, there’s nothing like convenience and proximity.
The three hotels on the MK (Magic Kingdom) monorail line are simply the
best. Most of the recent articles that I have read are about economizing,
making the most of your money during your visit. However, beyond saving
money is another important factor - saving your sanity. Of these three
deluxe hotels, the Contemporary is the most reasonably priced, followed
by the Polynesian, and the Grand Floridian. Ask for discounts with an annual
pass, AAA membership, or others. It’s well worth the money. Consider this:
you’re in the Magic Kingdom and your 3 year old grandson is having a meltdown.
Its nap time and the bus back to your resort will take at least an hour.
You fold the stroller, try to find a seat, and make several stops before
you reach YOUR hotel. You must control your temper while your grandson
continues to lose his. Conversely, staying on the monorail line, you can
be in air conditioned comfort, shoes off, kicked back in 15 minutes, AND,
you needn't fold the stroller! After resting, you can quickly return, sanity
restored, for the Spectromagic Parade and Wishes.
Having stayed in most hotels on property,
I find the Polynesian is simply the best, hands down. The grandchildren
love the volcano pool and they enjoy the bold bunnies along the beautiful
walkways. From the Poly, you can walk to the Epcot monorail and Magic Kingdom
ferry boat, or quickly catch the Magic Kingdom monorail. If you aren’t
hurried, the launch from MK will take you across the lagoon for a different
view of Disney property. The Poly is undergoing renovations and the new
rooms are marvelous. The best kept secret is that the rooms there are big,
especially in the three newer buildings (long houses). We love Tokelau
and Tahiti but have a new favorite, Rapa Nui. The private parking lot is
just outside the long house, unlike the other long houses that you access
from the main parking lot. You can drive your vehicle up to the front door
to unload your luggage, saving you the cost of a bellman! Rapa Nui is one
of the long houses that has already been remodeled. Also, if it's
early enough in the day, you can request a certain building and floor when
you check in. We haven’t been disappointed yet.
Entry into the parks has been eased by
carrying a clear back pack. Everything is visible, making it a quick trip
through security. We bring snacks, hand sanitizer, and filtered water bottles.
I carry a portable three legged stool to sit on for parades, giving my
old knees a rest. Add a digital camera, extra battery, and we are set.
At night we throw in sweaters for the children. With the baby, a second
clear backpack is her diaper bag. Everything is accessible and the security
guards love it! They have even held up one of our backpacks and yelled
for the crowd to look and take note. Embarrassing but flattering!
We take strollers for each child. Even
though Caylie is grown up (in her own mind), she will collapse into her
seat as we walk. It's easy to store things underneath and most strollers
now fold to a very tight package for airplanes or buses. Luckily there's
no need to collapse them on the monorail. We frequently ask Colton, the
toddler, to push his own stroller, letting him work off excess energy.
Strollers can be rented at each park, so take heart if you don't have one
available for travel. And, if YOU get tired, strollers make a convenient
place to lean as you walk.
Our favorite parks are Magic Kingdom and
Epcot. They seem to have the most favorable "fun to walking ratio".
No matter what parks you choose, be prepared for a Disney meltdown. It
happens to most ages and will probably strike your grandchild, too. This
is translated as a fully blown tantrum stemming from nothing and usually
occurring on the second or third day. I attribute it to over stimulation.
The meltdown will pass and, if you're lucky, it's a good time to go back
to the room for a nap. It's helpful if you can schedule some down time:
a walk around the hotel, a swim, or just TV time. It offsets the excitement
that makes children so "goofy". Have fun and enjoy. That’s what grandparenting
is all about!
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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 vacation plans. |
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