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In
This Newsletter
From the Dynamic Duo: Behind the Scenes at PassPorter
Travel Feature:
Harvard
University
Disney Feature: Making
The Most of the Disney Dining Plan
Updates: What's
New and Changed
Tips: "Minnie"-mize
Kids Meals, Walk A Mile In Your Own Shoes, Create A Cruise Box
Captain's Corner: Toontown Patriarch
Q&A: Can
you purchase travelers checks with a credit card?
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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 program aimed at families
with pre-school aged children called Magical Beginnings. Beginning
on August 13, 2006 and going through September 30, 3006, special packages
will be available that include the Disney Dining Plan for free. During
this 7 week period, Walt Disney World will also feature special concerts
and live entertainment for young ones including The Wiggles live at Walt
Disney World August 29 - September 1.
Also as part of Magical Beginnings, Walt Disney World
Resort Guests will be offered special edition Extra Magic Hours
in Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom in the mornings prior to park opening.
Attractions geared at pre-school riders will be open such as Dumbo, It's
A Small World and Pooh's Playful Spot.
A new character dining experience for pre-schoolers
has been announced as well. Playhouse Disney pals such as JoJo and
Goliath, and the Little Einsteins will be featured at Hollywood & Vine
at the Disney-MGM Studios.
West Coasters, fear not! Disneyland has not
been left out of the Magical Beginnings program. Special packages,
early entry into Fantasyland and character interactions are all part
of the celebration at Disneyland as well. Mickey's Toontown Morning
Madness, an interactive character experience exclusive to package guests,
offers families a chance to meet The Mouse himself up close and personal
in Toontown an hour before the area opens to the general public.
For more info on Magical Beginnings, check out the
Magical Beginnings web site.
PassPorter's Walt Disney World for Your Special
Needs authors Deb Wills and Debra Martin Koma will be appearing
on Comcast Network (CN8) Tuesday May 9. They'll be on "Your Morning,"
a news/magazine program that runs from 9:00 am - 11:00 am. Deb and Deb
will be discussing Disney on a Budget. Unfortunately, we don't know when
the segments will appear during those hours. If you have Comcast On Demand,
you may be able to catch the program in the Get Local section of the On
Demand listings. Comcast's CN8 is available in much of the Mid-Atlantic
and Northeast on Comcast cable systems in and around Richmond VA, Baltimore
MD, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New England. If you're a Comcast
subscriber, we hope you'll tune in!
Our thanks to 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
Our readers deliver a wealth of information! Here
are the winners in this month's tip contest:
"MINNIE"-MIZE KIDS MEALS
"Eating at the restaurants can get expensive if
your children don't eat all of their food. My kids are too excited about
returning to the rides to really eat their whole meal, so we've started
buying one meal which they split. The meals are large enough for two and
nothing gets wasted. They also both get enough to eat and are ready to
head off to more fun in the park."
-- contributed by Michelle Piner (pjames624@...)
WALK A MILE IN YOUR OWN SHOES
"Beginning a walking program before you go
to Walt Disney World will help your legs get in shape before you walk those
many miles in the parks. Wear the shoes that you will be wearing in the
parks so you can break them in and prevent blisters."
-- contributed by Rita D. (hottwirlerchica@...)
CREATE A CRUISE BOX
"Prior to cruising I made a "cruise box" and put
things in that I thought I would use (travel-size lotions, extra sunglasses,
special earrings for dinner, etc.). Then when I get ready to pack, I weed
out the things that are not really necessary and use them for other trips."
-- contributed by Denise H.
>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:
"In my continuing exploration of Disney statuary, I ventured over to Mickey's Toontown Fair in search of it. Red Barns
had mentioned that a statue of the founder and mayor of Toontown Fair was in the town square and I had to see this for myself. Interestingly,
the founder and mayor of Mickey's Toontown Fair is not Mickey Mouse himself. The statue itself was
easy to locate and Toontown's residents seem to take pride in it. Did you know the founder of Toontown is also the great-great-great-grandfather of
Huey, Dewey, and Louie?"
Who is depicted in the Toontown Fair statue?
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 Denise Thompson who was the
winner of last week's treasure hunt game! Denise correctly identified the
statue as being on New York Street in the Streets of America section of
the Disney-MGM Studios. (Extra credit for sending a photo of the statue!)
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.
The new "PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World" book is now
available! You can order the book today at http://www.passporterstore.com.
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Q
& A:
With Jennifer and Dave
hygienist asks: "I am trying to get organized
for our upcoming trip, and was considering getting travelers checks, but
would like to buy them using our Disney Visa to get the reward points.
I know that you can't pay for a money order with a credit card, but was
not sure about travelers checks."
Jennifer and Dave answer: "Generally, no.
You usually can't "buy" cash of any sort with credit cards for several
reasons. Credit card companies make a lot of their money by charging the
merchant (typically) 2-3% of the value of each purchase. So, if you bought
travelers checks, you'd have to pay about $103 for every $100 dollars in
travelers checks (plus the customary traveler's check fee) to compensate.
However, credit card company rules and some state laws state that merchants
cannot charge extra for credit card purchases, so the traveler's check
issuer loses money by exchanging credit for cash. When you are allowed
to get travelers checks, the credit card company considers it a cash advance,
not a credit purchase. If you read the fine print, you'll find that you
generally don't get reward points on cash advances (and you pay through
the nose in other ways).
Why go through the trouble of purchasing travelers
checks when you've already got the credit card? Are you trying to rack-up
the rewards points before you travel? For domestic travel, I've seen no
benefit to carrying travelers checks over credit cards. Both are comparably
safe, both are relatively simple to replace if lost or stolen. I'll take
travelers checks on trips out of the country since I need cash to exchange
for various foreign currencies."
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!
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From the Dynamic Duo: Behind the Scenes at PassPorter
Hi, {{user("firstname")}}!
Hello from Nikki and Chad, the brother-and-sister, behind-the-scenes team at the PassPorter studio. We're writing this week's newsletter while
Jennifer and Dave bask in the bright sunshine (okay, well, technically they are refinishing their deck).
Nikki: Although it is sunny with no clouds here in Ann Arbor, Michigan, it is a far cry from the beautiful Orlando sunshine.
Currently the weather icon on my desktop is showing a temperature of 65 degrees. Ok, but not warm enough to suit me.
Speaking of "me," I have not introduced myself. I'm Nikki, also known as Poor_Eeyore on the PassPorter message boards.
Disney is my passion, so what better place to work than here at PassPorter? Chances are if you've called PassPorter, you've spoken to me. Remember me now?
I was the sweet one that took care of all of your needs! Ha ha! We like to keep it fun here in the office--after all, we do deal with Disney everyday.
Besides, it's family here, and family and Disney go together like Pooh and Eeyore. Oh yeah, for the record, Eeyore is my favorite Disney character.
I'm going to pass you over to my dear brother who will formally introduce himself and give you a little taste of what I work with on a daily basis.
Chad: As I am usually behind-the-scenes, this is a new experience for me. For those of you that do not know me, my name is Chad (GrumpysStepkid on the message boards)
and I work here at the PassPorter Northern Command Center. Kind of like the "hatch" on ABC's "Lost," except I don't have to type 4 8 15 16 23 42 every 108 minutes.
The major drawback of working for PassPorter is the constant reminder of Walt Disney World. It makes me want to go every single day.
When not working, I like to spend time with my wife Kim, our two beautiful girls Megan and Natalie, and a furry ball of cocker spaniel named SammieJo.
I am so glad that spring has sprung here. I can get outside, putter around the house, and drive with the windows down.
Note: If you tried to place an order or browse or store
Thursday between 2:30 and 9:30 pm, we were having technical difficulties -- but all is fine now! We apologize
for the inconvenience. If you tried to order the special AllEarsNet's Ears the Deal 2-For-1 special (free copy of "PassPorter's Disney 500" tips e-book with any purchase of
"PassPorter's Walt Disney World For Your Special Needs," you may place this order now at http://www.passporter.com/wdw/
specialneeds/guidebook.htm
In this edition of the newsletter,
Cheryl Pendry takes us to Boston for an exploration of
Harvard University and environs, and Joan Finder offers an excellent primer on making the most of the Disney Dining Plan. Finally, Captain Jack Skatt returns with a
new
treasure hunting game. Enjoy!
Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter Authors
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Did
You Know?
PassPorter Land/Sea
Combo Deal
You asked for it, you got it! Here's a combo deal for those of you lucky
enough to be doing both Walt Disney World and the Disney Cruise Line (or
just dreaming of it). Getting the deal is simple -- just add both a cruise
guide (paperback, refill kit, or deluxe kit) AND a Walt Disney World guide
(spiral, refill kit, or deluxe kit) to your shopping cart in our online
store. At checkout, enter this code: DCLWDW, and you'll get 25% off the
list price of BOTH books.
Please note that this offer cannot be combined with other coupons, discounts,
or offers. Please also note that the discount is not valid on just the
looseleaf text sets of either the cruise guide or the Walt Disney World
guide.
Order today and save at:
http://www.passporterstore.com/
store/combodeal.aspx |
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Travel
Feature:
Harvard University: Bringing Cambridge to America
(Part Three of the University Cities Series)
by Cheryl Pendry,
PassPorter Message Board Guide and Guest Contributor
In this third and final part of articles
looking at some of the most famous universities amongst visitors, as well
as students, we move away from Britain and the dreaming spires of Oxford
and Cambridge and follow much the same journey as the first settlers did,
by heading for Boston.
In the same way that Cambridge University
was started by scholars who left Oxford after a fight with local townsman,
Harvard University owes its roots to a similar situation. The first English
immigrants to settle in Boston arrived in 1629 and just seven years later,
a college was founded in the city. But it was thanks to a Cambridge graduate
that the place grew to become one of the most prestigious universities in the world.
John Harvard was born and raised in south
London and studied at Emmanuel College, gaining his degree when he was
just 20. Ten years later, he emigrated to Charlestown in Boston, following
in the footsteps of many of his classmates, but after just 16 months working
as a clergyman he contracted tuberculosis and died. His name lives on
to this day, thanks to his donation of 400 books and around
£800. In today’s money, that would be about £75,000 or $140,000.
And that was enough to set Harvard on its way.
But there were to be none of the dreaming
spires of Cambridge and Oxford for this new university. Instead, more functional,
red brick buildings, still with a beauty of their own, emerged over time
around Harvard Yard, which today, is home to 13 of the 17 freshman colleges
at the University. As you walk 'round the yard, you can’t help but think
what a great place this must be to spend your first year at college.
I was fortunate to live on a campus university in my first year away from
home, but nothing as beautiful and historic as this.
Today, the oldest of those buildings is
Massachusetts Hall, dating from 1720, which was designed as a residence
for students. Although some lucky freshmen are still housed on the upper
floors, the first three floors now house offices of the President of the
University, its Provost, Treasurer and Vice Presidents.
The Hall’s colorful history also saw it
housing 640 American soldiers during the siege of Boston, and it isn’t the
only hall at Harvard Yard to have military connections. Just a few steps
away, Hollis Hall was used as a barracks by George Washington’s troops
during the American Revolution.
Of course, the colorful history of Harvard
continues to this day. We were fortunate enough to be shown around by a
friend of mine, who’s a professor there, and he shared one or two tales
about what the students get up to. Perhaps the most common pranks involve
the John Harvard statue. Commemorating the man who started the university,
he sits overlooking Harvard Yard, but often finds himself with some additional
decorations, such as leis. Tradition suggests that if visitors to Harvard
rub one of the feet of the statue it will bring them good luck, and that’s
exactly what many do. Let’s just say, from what I heard from my professor
friend, it may not be a good idea.
Other superb buildings worth a visit in
Harvard Yard include the Memorial Church. If you think it looks familiar
at first glance, there’s a good reason for that - it copies earlier styles,
and its steeple is based on the Old North Church in Boston’s North End.
Directly opposite the Memorial Church is
Widener Library, Harvard’s main library. With more than three million books
and 65 miles of book shelves, it’s one of America’s biggest libraries and
it’s also one of the country’s most secure. Unless you’re a Harvard student
or member of staff or perhaps a visiting scholar, you won’t get in and
even if you can get inside, you’ll be subject to bag checks on the way
out just to ensure that you haven’t taken anything out that you’re not
entitled to. From outside, it’s certainly a dominating building.
Although Harvard Yard is at the heart of
the University, just like Oxford and Cambridge, Harvard sprawls over a
far wider area. Head north and you’ll find a number of faculty buildings
– some of which are exceptionally traditional and obviously date back many
years, such as the Law Library and the Memorial Hall complex. Housing the
Sanders Theater, which hosts a calendar of performances throughout the
year, the real jewel here is Annenberg Hall. Unfortunately, its opening
hours for visitors are exceptionally limited, but first year students dine
here and enjoy what is probably Harvard’s greatest hall, inspired by the
great halls of Oxford and Cambridge. Again, what a great way to enjoy your
first year at college!
New buildings are being added to Harvard
all the time, and some of the newest additions are also pretty impressive.
For example, the entrance of the Maxwell Dworkin computer science building,
opened in 1999, has some very unusual angles to it.
Other places worth visiting are the various
museums at Harvard. Our tour took us to the Harvard Museum of Natural History,
home to hundreds of examples of animals, all of them stuffed – many still
with us today, but some now long extinct. Although some look decidedly
odd and others are just downright eerie, it’s still a fascinating collection
and gives you a good idea of the size of many beasts that you normally
can’t get close to.
The highlight here is the collection of
glass flowers with 3,000 models representing 850 species. When you see them,
you’ll immediately understand why it’s no surprise that the most commonly
asked question is “are they real?” That was certainly the question that
first popped into my head when I saw them.
If you’re in Boston over a weekend, visit
the Natural History Museum on a Sunday morning, as entry is free until
midday. The same applies to the neighboring Peabody Museum of Archaeology
and Ethnology. The name of this museum may sound dull, but it’s got some
fascinating exhibitions about American Indians and excavations in Peru.
If art appeals to you, then another museum
you shouldn’t miss is the Fogg Art and Busch-Reisinger Museums, based around
an Italian Renaissance courtyard. Its galleries trace the history of art
from the Middle Ages to the present day.
If all of this sounds a bit too academic
for you, then rest assured, Cambridge is also a thriving town, with Harvard
Square at its center. It’s a fascinating place to watch students going
around their business. If books are your thing, then unsurprisingly, you’ll
find bookstores with an amazing collection of titles, covering just about
every subject you can think of.
Restaurants here are cheap – and good –
perhaps because they’re trying to attract the students. We found a particularly
good Indian restaurant here and enjoyed a superb buffet for only $10 per
person.
While Harvard may differ considerably in
looks from both Oxford and Cambridge, all three university cities share
a lot in common. They all have a range of buildings and museums to explore
and there’s history awaiting you around every corner, but there’s more
to them than that. With thousands of students in each university, you get
the sense of walking into a large community and if you can, it’s always
best to visit during term time, as it gives you a real idea of what it
might be like to study at one of these prestigious institutions.
Having been to each of these cities out
of season, don’t discount the idea of a visit in the winter. The weather
may be cold, but if you’re lucky enough to have a dry day with clear skies,
then that can make for some superb photos and you won’t find yourself amongst
thousands of other visitors.
Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard, without
exception, have become much more than just places to learn over the last
few hundred years. They’re also all superb places to visit which you can
learn about all sorts of subjects or just soak up the unique atmosphere
that each one has to offer.
Cheryl is a PassPorter
message board guide and lives in England. She loves to travel and enjoys
exploring her own country, the rest of Europe and America. A frequent visitor
to both Oxford and Cambridge, she also took a trip to Boston in 2005, where
she was able to explore Harvard.
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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:
Making The Most of the
Disney Dining Plan
by Joan Finder,
Guest Contributor
Ah, those three magic words. I’ll
always remember the Valentine’s Day when those three delightful words first
made my cheeks blush and my heart flutter …or more accurately, made my
tummy growl and my mouth water: Disney … Dining … Plan. These three
little words sum up one of Disney’s newest and most innovative offerings,
one proving almost as popular as Expedition: Everest. But just as those-in-the-know
quickly discover that a little homework can make the Disney park experience
even more enchanting, a little bit of knowledge can make the Disney Dining
Plan (DDP) an even better value. The key to making the most of the Disney
Dining Plan can be found by considering each of those three scrumptious
words.
Disney: The Disney Dining
Plan was introduced last year as an add-on option to Walt Disney World
resort guests booking the “Magic Your Way” vacation package. For each night
of your package stay, for each guest on the package, the plan includes
one table service meal, one counter service meal and one snack. Unlike
most vacation meal plans, the meals don’t have to be used one per day but
may be used in any combination over the course of your stay. You might
use 2 or 3 table service credits on the same day, or save your snack credits
to use four at a time. The credits are coded into your room key/park pass.
After each meal, you will be given a receipt showing you exactly how many
credits you have remaining in each category. Simple as …well … pie!
Dining: Currently priced
at approximately $38 per adult (ages 10 and up) and $11 per child (3-9),
the plan can be a great savings. It’s certainly possible to eat at Disney
and spend less, but this plan allows you to truly “dine” and experience
some of Disney’s better establishments for just a bit more than you would
pay subsisting on hot dogs and French fries.
A table service meal allows each
diner a choice of appetizer, entrée, dessert, and non-alcoholic
beverage, and covers tax and gratuity. While table service credits can
be used for breakfast, lunch or dinner, using the credit for dinners will
maximize your dollar value. A typical dinner in most Disney table service
restaurants will average about $35 and, with tip and tax, can easily cost
$50 or more. One table service credit is just that - one meal - whether
it is a $15 breakfast or $50 dinner.
Disney offers a wide array of beautifully
themed restaurants with surprisingly gourmet food. The restaurants are
often an attraction in and of themselves, not to mention a relaxing respite
from the crowds, noise and heat. The DDP provides an incentive to try new
places and new food choices, such as seaweed in Teppanyaki or Maple Crème
Brulee in Le Cellier. Savor those expensive entrees, enticing appetizers
and rich desserts without feeling guilty about the cost per item. For those
of us who typically order from the “right hand side of the menu” to save
money, it is a rare pleasure to order whatever tickles our tummy.
Generally, anything on the menu is usually included in the plan, although
some specialty items may be restricted. Just ask before you order. The
servers at Disney are very familiar with the plan, and will gladly explain
the choices to you. This is especially true for counter service meals,
where there seems to be more inconsistency. For example, at Cosmic Rays
literally anything on the menu, including the ribs/chicken combo platter,
is an option, but for some reason at Kringla Bakeri og Cafe the “lunch
platter” is not available on the DDP.
Of course, value, like beauty,
is in the eyes - or in this case - the taste buds of the beholder. In some
cases, you may choose to sacrifice a bit of monetary value for a memorable
experience. Disney has designated certain establishments as “signature
dining experiences”. These locations, such as Cinderella's Royal Table
and California Grill, will use two table service credits for one meal.
If atmosphere and magical memories are of utmost importance to you, then
the credits are certainly well used. Likewise, most character meals are
included in the plan. While a character buffet may not equal the dollar
amount spent on a la carte dinners elsewhere, the chance to spend quality
time with Mickey, Minnie and the gang may be better than a lottery win.
Even for those of us who have left the autograph books behind, a breakfast
at Crystal Palace before park opening, with photos of us in front of the
castle with no one else in sight, may be priceless. The key is to determine
what will make you the happiest guest in the world!
One word of caution: some counter
service establishments may offer both snacks and meals. Snacks are limited
to soda, water bottle, coffee, single-serving chips, ice cream, popcorn
or fruit only. Anything more may cost you a counter service credit. Be
sure to clarify your options, or you may find your morning muffin and coffee
gobbling up the credit you had planned to use for lunch. Sometimes it may
still be worthwhile to pay out-of-pocket for that special must-have item,
the Main Street Bakery cookie or Dole Whip, rather than using a counter
service meal credit. Generally, your best monetary value is to eat a very
light breakfast - bringing cereal bars or bagels from home to eat in your
room or grabbing a danish in the food court - and save the counter service
credit for an early lunch. Consider sharing one counter service breakfast
and then splitting a lunch. Or get a counter service breakfast, skip lunch
and have an early dinner. The portions at Disney eateries are ample, to
say the least. Within a few days, most guests on this plan are gaining
a pound or two. You definitely won’t starve!
Plan: It is no accident
that Disney terms this the Dining PLAN, as opposed to the Dining Feature
or the Dining Experience. The immense popularity of this plan has filled
restaurants that would previously accommodate walk-ins even on the busiest
of days. You must book your advanced dining reservations as early as possible,
especially for dinners. You can always try to make last minute changes
if necessary, but if you want table service dinners or character meals,
reservations are now essential. Magic Kingdom actually puts a sign near
City Hall advising guests if dinner seatings are no longer available and
often lists limited openings for lunch at the table service restaurants.
Many a family may find themselves disappointed without those valuable reservation
numbers in hand.
Of course, the ultimate method
of making the most of the DDP is to take advantage of the occasional promotions
in which Disney includes the DDP at no charge as an incentive, usually
for late summer/early fall off-season travel periods. This is planning
at its best! But whatever the season, with careful planning, you’ll find
the DDP is a culinary treat and affordable luxury. Bon appetit!
Joan Finder is hungrily
anticipating her lucky 13th visit to Disney World this December for MouseFest
2006, where she plans to taste her way around the World Showcase and savor
the delicacies of the Bahamas.
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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. |
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