From the Authors: We Have Treasure

Travel Feature: Hershey, PA

Disney Feature: Disney's Polynesian Resort

Updates: What's New and Changed

Tips: Tired Tootsies, Easy On The Ears, Matching Munchkins

Captain's Corner: Red Barns' Radio

Q&A: Should I book one larger stateroom or two smaller staterooms?
 

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Updates:
What's New and Changed

Here are a few of the new developments at Disney·

Disney has announced a new attraction to be added to The Living Seas at Epcot in Fall 2006. The Seas with Nemo & Friends will use technology to add the stars of "Finding Nemo" to the real marine life currently residing in the aquarium. The former Sea Cabs from SeaBase Alpha will be transformed to become Clamobiles which take you on a trip with Mr. Ray and his class. "Students" can expect to meet Dory, Bruce, Marlin, Squirt, Crush and, of course, Nemo along the way. 

Continuing on this "Finding Nemo" theme, Disney has announced that Finding Nemo: The Musical will replace the recently closed Tarzan Rocks show in the Theater In The Wild at Disney's Animal Kingdom by the end of 2006. Disney has recruited some top Broadway talent to create new songs, and the onstage presentation has been inspired by Disney's Lion King on Broadway.

Barely noticed among the other announcements made at the April 7 grand opening of Expedition: Everest is that Disney's Magical Express service will continue to be free-of-charge for the foreseeable future. The service provides complimentary bus transportation between Walt Disney World hotels and Orlando International Airport for Disney hotel guests. While Disney had announced earlier that it had reached agreement with Orlando International Airport on extending Disney's Magical Express (originally set to end later this year), there was no mention then of whether Disney would continue providing it on a complimentary basis. Good news for guests, bad news for other ground transportation providers.

Aretha Franklin has been added as the headliner of the Tom Joyner Family Reunion concert series. The Reunion will be Labor Day weekend 2006 and also features performances by performers such as Kirk Franklin and Sinbad.

Warwick Davis, star of Return of the Jedi (Wicket the Ewok), will host this year's upcoming Star Wars weekends at the Disney MGM Studios. Davis will appear every weekend in addition to two other Star Wars personalities. The schedule so far: May 19-21 - Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), Rick McCallum (Producer), May 26-28 - TBA, 
June 2-4 - Jay Laga'aia (Captain Typho), TBA, June 9-11 - Jeremy Bulloch (Bobba Fett), Temura Morrison (Jango Fett)

The Disney Cruise Line has changed the Room Service menu, adding Southwestern/Mexican accents. The new menu is posted on the PassPorter Disney Cruise Line message board.

>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:

TIRED TOOTSIES
"Bring along some foot soak.  (John's Foot Soap is my favorite.) After a long day in the parks, fill your bathtub half full and add the foot soak. One or two can sit on the edge of the tub and soak those tired feet. You'll be amazed how great you'll feel afterwards."
-- contributed by Sue F. (smf614@...)

EASY ON THE EARS
"Earplugs have become a lifesaver in this family. Our 4 year old daughter is sensitive to loud noises and sound. On our daughter's very first trip to Walt Disney World last October, she became very distressed and held her hands over her ears on her first couple of rides due to the loud nature of the rides. She was not enjoying herself at all. We picked up a pair of earplugs at a local drug store. After that, my daughter was unstoppable!! The rides did not hurt her ears any longer, and she could still hear everything. They are available at most drug stores."
-- contributed by Brian Winn (morrow52@...)

MATCHING MUNCHKINS
"We have four children and when we tour the parks, we dress the kids in similarly colored tops (bright yellow, for example). This makes them easy to spot and our group pictures turn out great!"
-- contributed by Pam I. 

>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:

"At last! I hold in my hands the first copy of the new PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World book. Good day, good day. Now I need to get the word out to my fellow treasure hunters. I've put in a call to Red Barns, the Rowdiest Rooster on the Radio. I'm sure he'll broadcast this good news to the town! So get your radios out and tune in to W-... (rest of text obscured by celebratory cake)"

What are the call letters for Red Barns' radio station near Goofy's Barnstormer? 

Congratulations to Christy Vermillion who was the winner of last week's treasure hunt game! Christy correctly identified the color of the bride's flowers as white. 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!

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 will release the book -- "PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World" -- on April 17, 2006. You can order the new book today at http://www.passporterstore.com.

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Q & A:
With Jennifer and Dave

wishingonastar asks: "I have been dreaming of a Disney Cruise. I would love to go on a Disney Cruise December 2008 or January 2009 to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. My children at that time will be 15, 14 and 10. Would it be best to book a cabin large enough for all of us or book two smaller cabins instead? Any ideas on cost?"

Jennifer and Dave answer: "Generally, it'll be cheaper to go in January than December. Usually, it'll be cheaper to book two staterooms in Categories 8 or 9 (outside, porthole) than to book one Category 4 "Family Suite" that sleeps five. If you must have a verandah (Categories 1-7), then you may find the Category 4 is more economical than two Category 5-7 staterooms (but it can be a close call). There's almost never a circumstance where a suite (Categories 1-3) is cheaper than two staterooms of any other kind, but you may be willing to spend the extra money for the space and amenities.

There's really no such thing as an 'average' cost in the cruise industry. The rates for each category of stateroom will vary, based on demand. You have to make direct comparisons, based on a selected sailing date. The range of rates displayed at the Disney Cruise Line web site will give you a general idea, and we have additional information in our Disney Cruise Line guidebook, but that will only take you so far. Ultimately, the number of families that want/need a Category 4 stateroom on a given sail date is what really matters."

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 is now published weekly. 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 is 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 use at www.passporter.com. 

For details and our article submission guidelines, please e-mail news@passporter.com. Articles about Disney and general travel are welcomed!

The Great American Chocolate Town: Hershey, Pennsylvania
by Melissa Calamera, Guest Contributor
 

“Hershey chocolate, Hershey chocolate, it’s a Hershey chocolate world. Wherever you go, no matter how far, you’ll always see a Hershey bar. Hershey chocolate, real milk chocolate. Hershey, the great American chocolate bar.” If I were to make a soundtrack of my travel experiences, this song would be the first track. Growing up in New York City as the child of travel lovers, my family and I were always searching for the perfect family-friendly theme park. We did not need to search long or far, though. On our very first family vacation, when I was only three years old and my brother was a year and a half, we drove three hours south and enjoyed all of the fun activities and unique adventures available in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Since our first trip in 1990, my family and I have visited the “Sweetest Place on Earth” four times. Once as a toddler, once was with extended family, one was as a grade-school aged child, and once as a teenager. I had an amazing time on all four of my vacations, proving that Hershey truly is a place for all age groups and party sizes. I can honestly say that Hershey feels like a second home, and with an endless array of things to do, from theme parks to petting zoos to chocolate spas, I could continue visiting the “The Great American Chocolate Town” for many, many years to come. 

The first thing to do when it comes to planning a Hershey, Pennsylvania vacation is to pick a place to stay. The obvious choice here would be the Hotel Hershey. Looking more like a mansion than a hotel, the Hotel Hershey sits atop majestic mountains and amongst regal fountains. Class and sophistication are the name of the game here, with luxury and top-notch customer service being the top priorities. Lavish would be the best way to describe the hotel’s décor, with golden Italian sculptures and refined paintings lining the walls. The Hotel Hershey is actually the only hotel in the central Pennsylvania area to win the AAA Four Diamond award. Don’t expect any stuffiness, though. You’ll find more kids whose hands are covered in chocolate here than in any other hotel in the world! Rates vary by season, with Value Season rates (running from January 1 – April 14) starting at $259 a night and Summer Season rates (running from May 26 – September 3) starting at $379 a night. More information can be found at http://www.hersheyhotel.com.

If you’re looking for something slightly less expensive, the Hershey Lodge is a great alternative. Located only three blocks away from Hershey Park, the Hershey Lodge is a chocolate lover’s paradise. With chocolate themed décor, artwork, and color palettes, the feeling of the lodge is definitely snug and sweet. Comfort reigns supreme here, with the entire lodge having a very down-to-earth and cozy feel. Warm lighting, an inviting lobby, and a cheerful staff add to the ambiance of the lodge, truly making you feel as if you are right at home. There are four restaurants located in the lodge, as well as two lounges, an indoor and outdoor pool, tennis courts, and an on-site miniature golf course. The Hershey Lodge is also Pennsylvania's largest convention resort, and has been repeatedly certified by J.D. Power and Associates as, “An Outstanding Guest Experience.” Rates at the Hershey Lodge also vary by season, with Value Season rates (running from January 1 – April 14) starting at $169 a night and Summer Season Rates (running from May 26 – September 3) starting at $259 a night. More information can be found at http://www.hersheylodge.com .

Once you’re accommodations are set, it’s time to hit the parks! The first part of any Hershey vacation should surely be a visit to Hershey Chocolate World , a fun attraction located right next door to Hershey Park. An array of Hershey characters will greet you as you at the entrance, as well as the sweet, lingering smell of fresh chocolate. There are several attractions located at Hershey Chocolate World, with the most popular of them being the Hershey Chocolate Tour. It is a free ride during which your group sits in a large candy kiss-shaped car and is taken around a replica of the Hershey Chocolate Factory. Riders get to see how Hershey chocolate is made, from the sweetening process to the packaging and marketing routine. Don’t miss the free samples at the end!

Right next to the Hershey Chocolate Tour is the Hershey’s Really Big 3D Show, an interactive 3D experience in which guests learn the history of The Hershey Company before watching a Broadway-style production starring Hershey bars, candy kisses, and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Unexpected surprises and hilarity ensue in this uproarious and witty musical review. Tickets are $5.95 for adults (ages 13 – 61), $3.95 for children (ages 3 – 12), and $4.95 for seniors (ages 62+). Also located in Hershey Chocolate World is the Factory Tour Experience, a chance for children to make their own Hershey chocolate, and Trolley Works, a breathtaking train ride through the gorgeous mountains of Hershey, Pennsylvania. 

After learning a little bit more about Hershey chocolate it is time to experience the main event, Hershey Park ! Known as the “cleanest and greenest” park in the world there is something for everyone here, ensuring that the entire family will have a truly exceptional time. Thrill seekers will love the Storm Runner, a premier roller coaster in which guests shoot out of the loading platform at 70-miles per hour in only 2 seconds flat. It is a rush like no other! Water lovers will enjoy the unique Roller Soaker, a ride that is part roller coaster and part water ride. Riders dip, turn, and race along a suspended track while guests on the ground shoot giant water guns at them. But don’t worry, riders can get their revenge by dumping up to four gallons of water on unsuspecting guests below!

Children are not forgotten at Hershey Park, with a variety of classic and unique attractions geared towards the younger set. Kids will enjoy the carousel, railroad train ride, and bumper cars. Another great favorite for children is the Turnpike, a driving attraction for kids who still have quite a while to wait before getting their actual drivers license! There are two tracks here, the Sunoco Classic Cars and the Sunoco Speedway, allowing mini-drivers to maneuver both a classic 1900’s period buggy and a race car. If you’re looking for attractions the entire family could enjoy, Hershey Park features the Kissing Tower, offering panoramic views of the entire Hershey area, and Hershey Park’s very own monorail. 

Hershey, Pennsylvania is truly a unique town. With candy kiss-shaped light posts and the sweet smell of chocolate always lingering in the air, you will never forget where you are. Besides Hershey Chocolate World and Hershey Park, Hershey is also the home of Zoo America (a large wildlife park), the Hershey Bears hockey team, the Giant Center sports and concerts arena, four PGA certified golf courses, and the Hershey Spa (the perfect place the get a chocolate body wrap or take a white chocolate bath). More information on the various attractions can be found at http://www.hersheypa.com . The possibilities here are truly endless, ensuring that your trip will leave you truly believing that Hershey, Pennsylvania really is the “Sweetest Place on Earth!"

Melissa Calamera is a freshman in college whose true passion is travel. She is currently planning her fourth trip to Walt Disney World for this coming summer, and cannot wait to again experience all "The World" has to offer.
 

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's Polynesian Resort
by Kara Costello, Guest Contributor
 

From the minute you set foot in the Great Ceremonial House at Disney’s Polynesian Resort, you feel as though you have been transported to a beautiful, tropical island. You are surrounded by lush foliage, tropical birds, and a stunning waterfall. And you’re still in the lobby! Wait until you explore the rest of the resort.

The Great Ceremonial House is the main building of the Polynesian, and houses all the services a guest could need - check-in, guest services, shopping, and restaurants. There are no guest rooms in the Great Ceremonial House – these are spread out among the 11 longhouses: Tonga (which houses the suites), Aotearoa, Fiji, Tuvalu, Hawaii (the concierge building), Samoa, Niue, Rarotonga, Tokelau, Tahiti, and Rapa Nui. Disney is currently renovating the rooms at the Polynesian, one longhouse at a time, with very little disturbance to guests. The renovations to the guest rooms include the addition of flat-screen TVs and upgraded bedding. The rooms are spacious, with plenty of space in the drawers and closets. Many rooms have balconies or patios. Some even have a direct view of Cinderella Castle.

The location of the Polynesian makes it perfect for Magic Kingdom fans. You can take the small resort launch across the lake, or the monorail, which stops at the Grand Floridian and then the Magic Kingdom. You can also walk from the Polynesian to the Ticket & Transportation Center to catch the Epcot monorail. Buses depart from outside the Great Ceremonial House to the Disney-MGM Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Downtown Disney, and the water parks. 

Say you’re taking a day off from the theme parks and are wondering what there is to do at the Polynesian. Plenty! The Polynesian has two pools - one quiet pool, and the main resort pool, a themed pool located beyond the Great Ceremonial House. The themed pool has a smoking volcano waterslide, and is zero-entry, meaning you can walk right in, just like you would at the beach. No more steps or ladders to climb down. There is a snack bar located just to the side of the volcano pool, for sodas, tropical drinks, and quick snacks. 

Speaking of snacks, you have plenty of options for snacking if you can tear yourself away from the pool. Located on the ground floor of the Great Ceremonial House is Captain Cook’s, a quick service location that serves great burgers, chicken strips and more. They also have a fairly new “Grab & Go" section with prepared foods ready to go. Upstairs in the Great Ceremonial House, there is a coffee bar located right near the monorail station, perfect for a quick cup on your way out to the parks. 'Ohana and the Kona Café are the table service restaurants of the Polynesian. Lilo and Stitch host breakfast at 'Ohana, while at dinner, it’s an all you can eat feast with skewers loaded with grilled pork, beef, chicken, and turkey. The Kona Café, in addition to their great menu, has amazing desserts. In the mood for a show with dinner? Check out the Spirit of Aloha Polynesian Luau, held nightly in Luau Cove, weather permitting. The Luau, while recently re-invented, has been entertaining guests since the resort’s opening in 1971. 

Want to work off some of those calories? Then hit the shops! There are several stores located in the Great Ceremonial house, where you can purchase anything from artwork (Wyland Galleries), to clothing (BouTIKI) to souvenirs (Trader Jack’s) to snacks (Samoa Snacks.) You may even find a grass skirt for sale! 

Still looking for something fun? Kids can burn off extra energy on the playground or in the arcade. Or you can rent a boat from the marina to take a cruise around the Seven Seas Lagoon or Bay Lake. There is always something fun to do at the Polynesian.

At night, the tropical ambiance is just amazing. The Polynesian’s pathways are lit by flaming torches, while Polynesian music wafts through the air. Find a spot on the beach or boat dock and watch the Electric Water pageant float by. Make sure you don’t miss the great views of the Magic Kingdom’s Wishes fireworks show, which can be seen from several points on the Polynesian property.

All in all, the Polynesian has everything a great resort could offer, plus easy access to Disney magic to boot. If you choose the Polynesian for your next Disney vacation, you will have a wonderful time. Aloha!
 

Kara Costello lives in South Boston, MA, and works for an HMO when not planning her next Disney vacation.

We've heard from fans of a number of resorts - but not all of them! Here is your chance to make your case - why is your favorite Disney resort the best resort of all? Send us an e-mail at news@passporter.com for details on how to contribute an article to convince the rest of us.
 

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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 vacation plans.