From the Authors: Greetings From Washington, D.C.!

Travel Feature: Renting A Vacation Home

Disney Feature: Fort Wilderness

Updates: What's New and Changed

Tips: Snack Pack, Puddle Play, Time-share Share

Captain's Corner: Kali's Buddhas

Q&A: Is there a "real" barbershop at the Magic Kingdom?
 

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Updates:
What's New and Changed

Here are a few of the new developments at Disney:

The Magic Your Way Dining Plan Snack Credit has been expanded to include most individual, non-alcoholic food items available in the theme parks for $4 and under (pre-tax). Look for the Dining Plan logo in the menu of counter service restaurants and snack cart locations to help you identify which items may be purchased using your snack credit. Word of "Mouse" is that Disney is still getting the signs up on all the food carts so ask a Cast Member if you have any questions.

Beginning July 1, 2006, Disneyland visitors will have a new way to travel between Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood. Universal Studios has contracted with Gray Line, a passenger bus company, to provide twice daily shuttles from Anaheim-area hotels to Universal Studios Hollywood. This service will be free to Guests who have purchased a full-price admission ticket to Universal Studios either through Gray Line directly, a participating hotel concierge or online through http://www.universalstudios
hollywood.com
or http://www.coachusa.us

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will be starting early this year with the first party taking place on September 15. This event which requires separate admission will be held on September 15, 22, 29, October 2, 5, 6, 10, 12, 16, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24, 26, 27, 30, 31. Admission purchased in advance for all parties between September 15 and October 26 will be $39.36 for ages 10 and up and $31.90 for ages 3 - 9. Admission for the October 27, 30 and 31 parties will be $45.75 for ages 10 and up and $35.95 for ages 3 - 9. Children under three are admitted free of charge. Annual Passholder and DVC member discounts are available for select dates. Call (407) WDISNEY to purchase tickets.

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:

SNACK PACK
"With picky eaters in tow, I had to find a way to transport items which needed to be stay cool. Much to my delight, I found a smaller version of the soft thermal bags usually found in grocery stores. I found the smaller version (.59 cents) in the deli section of our local grocery store. They are kept near the rotisserie chickens, and they are meant to be a way to keep your hot, cooked chicken warm when transporting it from the store to your home. I placed my children's favorite hummus, along with some pita bread and small reusable ice packs, in this small bag -- one for each child -- and we used them on the flight to Orlando. They were easy to transport, and the children had their very own 'lunch bags' with other goodies inside as well. The ice packs came in handy nightly to soothe our swollen feet (we had a refrigerator in our hotel room)." -- contributed by Maria B.

PUDDLE PLAY
"If it starts to rain, stay in the parks and play in the puddles! Lots of guests leave any of the Disney parks if a little rain ruins their day. If you stay, wait lines can be shortened and you can have a great time getting on all the rides quickly." -- contributed by Jeanne Semrad (jeanneluvsmusic@...)

TIME-SHARE SHARE
"Don't be afraid to mention your plans to visit Disney around family or friends. You never know who may have a Florida timeshare going unused! Turns out my own parents still own the timeshare they bought in Kissimmee when we were kids in the '80s. They rarely go anymore; they either bank the week and take it some other time, rent it out to someone else, or skip it entirely! You might know somebody who would gladly give/rent to someone they know, rather than have it go empty or be rented to strangers! All we have to pay is a modest $50 "guest" fee since we're not the actual owners." -- contributed by Shelley B. (midnightrose227@...)

>Notes: Send us your tips ! You may see them in this newsletter and win a copy of PassPorter!

Want more Disney tips? For Walt Disney World fans, we've collected 500 of the best tips submitted by readers over the past six years. All have been edited for accuracy and categorized. For details, visit the PassPorter Disney 500 info page or the PassPorter store. For Disney Cruise Line fans, we have an e-book with 250 cruiser tips, as well as a special cruise line comparison section and seven customized packing lists. For information, visit the Disney Cruise Clues info page.

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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 new book, "PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World."

The Captain makes a study of the delightful details -- sometimes hidden, sometimes in plain sight but often overlooked -- at Walt Disney World and aboard the Disney Cruise Line. Using notes from his journals, he will lead you to this "treasure" at Disney with clues, questions, photos, or riddles. Your challenge is to discover the answer by searching your memory, visiting Disney, or even just looking really hard on the Internet. If you think you've found the answer, e-mail it to jackskatt@passporter.com -- the first person to correctly submit the FULL answer will receive a free PassPorter enamel pin or PassPorter name badge pin.

Here is this week's treasure from Captain Skatt's Journal:

"After my journey to the rock dragon in Disney's Animal Kingdom last week, I wandered over to Kali River Rapids. I recalled several Buddha statues in the grass, visible as you make your way to the river. I spent some time there, observing these quiet yet majestic statues and pondering why some of them are missing their heads. Acid rain? Looting? Statue poachers? Ah, I'd probably lose my head too if I watched tourists walk past me in a single file line day after day after day. Anyway, I can no longer recall just how many of Kali River Rapid's Buddha statues are missing their heads. Ah, well, any excuse to visit again."

How many buddha statues still have their heads?

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 Catmom444 who was the winner of last week's treasure hunt game! Catmom444 correctly identified the rock dragon as being located in the water near the bridge leading to Camp Minnie-Mickey. 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

Carrie_10k asks: "We'll be going to Walt Disney World for my son's eighth birthday. He could really use a haircut before we leave. However, I heard of people taking their little ones for their first haircut at a barber shop in Magic Kingdom. What is the name of this barber shop? Is it a fully operational barber shop, or just for first haircuts? If it is a "real" barber shop, what is the cost for a child's cut? Is this barber shop worth it for me to wait to see my child's eyes again until we are at Magic Kingdom (in other words, do they give good cuts)? "

Jennifer and Dave answer: "It's full service for a turn of the 20th century barber shop. You know, the kind of place ladies weren't seen, back in the day. It would have been cigar smoke, the daily newspaper, a game of checkers, shelves full of personalized shaving mugs... Actually, I've never seen a guy get lathered up and shaved with a straight razor (although they do have them for trimming). There isn't a posted price for a "shave and a haircut" (and no, Roger Rabbit is not going to come bursting out of hiding to complete the phrase). But for a basic adult's or child's haircut (even without colored gel or glitter - this old fogey doesn't do that kind of thing), it's a fine place to stop. They charge $2 more than my local "chain" hair cutter, which is pretty darn reasonable in my book.
If you're looking for salon-style services there are several salons and spas at the resorts."

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!

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

We're here in Washington, D.C. for the big Book Expo America annual convention. We're networking, schmoozing, and meeting new and old friends. Tomorrow is the start of the convention itself and we've got a full schedule of book signings (four this year!) and meetings. Deb Wills and Debra Martin Koma of AllEarsNet.com fame and co-authors of "PassPorter's Walt Disney World For Your Special Needs" are joining us to do some autographing and networking of their own. It's shaping up to be a great event!

The poll is still open to vote on whether you'd like to see us publish a PassPorter for New York City or Hawaii in 2008. Please vote at our NYC or Hawaii Poll page.

In this edition of the newsletter, PassPorter Message Board Guide Christina Radvon offers helpful tips and information on renting a vacation home. Rob Seilert gives us a wonderful review of Fort Wilderness Resort at Walt Disney World. Finally, Captain Jack Skatt returns with a new treasure hunting game. Enjoy!

Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter Authors

Renting A Vacation Home: 101
by Christina Radvon, Guest Contributor and PassPorter Message Board Guide

Have you ever considered renting a vacation home, but thought it was only something for those people who qualify as rich and famous? Reconsider! Renting a vacation home is one of the most relaxing options for an overnight or week-long stay, especially for larger families. Families of five get the fuzzy end of the lollipop at many hotel chains. They either have to book two rooms, or get a cot and spend a week tripping over one another and sharing one tiny bathroom. Not to mention all the big bucks spent on meals for five or more!

Vacation homes provide room to spread out, a kitchen to prepare less expensive meals (including a fridge so you can actually buy groceries to SAVE money!), plenty of rooms and beds for everyone, a yard to let the kids run wild and free, and -- best of all -- the price is comparable (often less!) per night to a hotel room(s) for the same number of people.

Renting a vacation home is simple. Vacation home listings can be found online, in phone books, even through Realtor's offices. One of the best ways to find a vacation home is by word of mouth. If an acquaintance mentions a great vacation home stay, ask questions about the area, the sights, the home itself. Get the number and call to find out more. Another great way to find a vacation home is through professional references. Many points of interest like national parks and amusement parks have local lodgings pages on their web sites. Search the lodgings listings to find more information about rental agencies and private home owners.

There are lots of questions you'll want to ask such as:
-When/what day is check-in/check-out?
-Do I need to provide bedding/pillows/towels?
-Is housekeeping between renters provided or will I be responsible for cleaning and leaving the house as I found it?
-Are cleaning supplies available for quick clean-ups in case of spills or messes as well as for a bigger cleaning on check-out day?
-Is off-street parking available?
-How many parking spaces are available per rental unit?
-How many guests can the rental unit accommodate?
-Do you provide a short-term lease or is the arrangement less formal?
-Do you take credit/cash/local checks/out-of-state checks/cash-only?
-Can you provide me with directions to the rental unit as well as to nearby points of interest and basic necessities like the gas station, emergency services, and the grocery store?
-Are all the comforts of home provided (washer/dryer, dishwasher, full-size fridge, microwave, range, outdoor grill)?

If a renter can’t or won’t answer any of your questions, simply move on to the next listing. If you get a good feeling and your questions are quickly answered, proceed with your booking!

The next task for many renters is figuring out how to cram everything you’ll need into one vehicle! Renting a home and road tripping seem to go hand-in-hand. Many rental homes do require you to provide all your own bedding and towels which can take up a monstrous amount of space in your luggage! You’ll need to get creative with your packing (pack half as much if there are a washer and dryer available) and, possibly, rent or purchase a rooftop cargo carrier to hold all the extras. The new space-saving bags that roll out the excess air without a vacuum are great for saving space when packing blankets and pillows. Be sure to buy the extra-large bags. You’ll need some elbow grease to get the pillows in and roll out the air, but they fluff up like new when you arrive and unpack! The rooftop cargo carrier also gives you the opportunity to take along a larger, more comfortable stroller or wagon for younger kids or sporting gear/toys for older kids. And a rental home has plenty of space to roll that stroller right inside at the end of a long day. No tripping or middle-of-the-night toe-stubbing and muttering either!

Some vacation homes offer that extra level of service: real housekeeping between renters. If you can find a rental with that option available, you’ll probably spend a bit more, but driving and hauling all the extra stuff won’t be necessary.

Whatever options are available to you, make the most of a relaxing stay by treating yourselves to a few meals out and enjoy some down time at the end of each day talking about all your activities and fun times. As you and your family of sit around the living room, talking about your exciting adventures, you’ll wonder how (and why!) you ever managed the expense of two hotels rooms or crammed yourselves into one tiny room.

Chrissi is a PassPorter Message Board Guide and lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and 4-year-old son.

Fort Wilderness: A Resort Full of Adventure
by Rob Sielert, Guest Contributor

When you pull into Disney’s Fort Wilderness, it’s like being transported back to the pioneer days. Well, without all the danger and with a lot of modern conveniences! This Walt Disney World resort has so many things to see and do; it’s almost like a theme park itself. For the family that enjoys the great outdoors, there’s no better place to stay on Disney property.

Let’s start with the options for lodging. This is the only Disney resort where you can actually bring your own! Fort Wilderness is broken into several camping loops. Most are for people with tents or Recreational Vehicles (RV’s), while others have cabins available for rental. The first time my family and I vacationed at Fort Wilderness, we rented an RV. We had never stayed in an RV before, let alone renting and driving one, but we were up for the adventure. Luckily, we received thorough training from the rental place before we were sent off to fend for ourselves. Everything worked out great, and it was definitely a unique and fun way to spend our week.

The next time we stayed at Fort Wilderness, we were feeling even more adventurous -- we brought our tent with us on the plane. We were very glad that our baggage arrived on schedule! The highlight for our son was the toad we discovered under our tent while breaking down camp on the inevitable sad last day of our Disney vacation. The toad kept him entertained while Mom and Dad were busy packing up.

Another option for lodging is to reserve one of the cabins, which sleep up to six people.

Fort Wilderness is one of the nicest campgrounds you will ever find. The sites are kept very clean, and the staff is always friendly and helpful. One of the biggest differences between this and other campgrounds are the comfort stations. That’s Disney-speak for rest rooms and showers. They are all roomy, air-conditioned, and from my experience, clean. There are also ice machines, so it’s easy to keep your cooler stocked.

One of the great things about Fort Wilderness is the amount of activities available. There’s truly something for everyone here. How about fishing, boating, canoeing, and horseback riding? Not enough for you? Okay, how about swimming, tennis, basketball, horseshoes, and bike riding. Still not enough? How about a visit to the Tri-Circle D Ranch, where you can visit the horse barn (be sure to look out for some neat old photos of Walt himself) or visit the petting farm. There are even pony rides for the kids. How about a leisurely nature walk? You’re sure to see peacocks, squirrels, and lizards. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a deer or two. And I saved the best for last. How about a campfire sing-a-long with Chip and Dale, followed by a Disney movie in the woods, all for free. Yes, it’s true - a fun event for the whole family at Walt Disney World that’s absolutely free. Be sure to get there early, as seating is limited. You can even bring your own marshmallows to roast on the campfire or buy some and a roasting stick while you’re there. You can also catch the Electrical Water Pageant every night, weather permitting, from the dock at the marina. This is a light and music show presented from floating barges right on Bay Lake.

Fort Wilderness is a big place. Luckily it has its own internal bus system. There are three main bus routes that run from one end of the resort to the other. All three make a stop at the Outpost Depot and Settlement Depot, where you can catch a bus to the parks or Downtown Disney. You can also catch a ferry at the marina for a fun ride to the Magic Kingdom. While it’s possible to walk or ride a bus to any destination within the Fort Wilderness resort, you may also choose to rent or bring your own golf cart.

One of the most popular dinner shows at Walt Disney World is located at Fort Wilderness. The Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue is an old west stage show with a cast of lovable characters. This is an annual event for my family and is always the first Disney-related thing we do when we arrive. Here you’ll be fed with all-you-can-eat portions of salad, fried chicken, ribs, bread, corn, baked beans, and strawberry shortcake for dessert. Soft drinks are included with the meal. The show starts with a few song and dance numbers, including old west classics like “Darlin’ Clementine.” The cast interacts with the crowd, asking for people celebrating anniversaries or birthdays, and then they make up clever rhymes about where the people are from. The show is a little corny at times but very fun and enjoyable. My 8 year old son has seen it several times and always has a great time. It’s nearly impossible not to have a good time here, and you’ll probably find yourself humming the “Hoop-Dee-Doo” theme song on your way out. There’s also Mickey’s Backyard BBQ, where you will enjoy the same basic food served buffet style. The big difference here is that Mickey, Minnie, Chip and Dale work their way from table to table for hugs and photos. A band plays country favorites as well. After dessert, join Mickey and friends in front of the stage for some dancing lessons. Other dining options include the Trails End Restaurant, which has a delicious buffet, or Crockett’s Tavern, which has good food as well but a more limited selection.

While you’re in Fort Wilderness, be sure to check out one of the two trading posts. They both feature t-shirts, hats, mugs and other items with the Fort Wilderness logo on them. They also have a limited selection of other Disney souvenirs, as well as a small amount of groceries, etc. You can even enjoy a friendly game of checkers by the fireplace in the Meadow Trading Post.

If you happen to be lucky enough to visit during the month of October, be sure to ask about the Haunted Hayrides. They usually start around mid-October and run through the end of the month. You’ll board a wagon that can seat around thirty people and is pulled by two very large and intimidating black horses. Along the way you pick up a storyteller who entertains you with the legend of Sleepy Hollow. You pull up alongside Ichabod Crane, before he mysteriously disappears. As you continue along the path and round a corner, who’s that across the bridge? It’s the Headless Horseman himself! The wagon picks up speed to try and outrun him, but he keeps getting closer and closer, all the while swinging his sword trying to get your head. You escape at last, and everyone has their heads intact. For a more intense ride, sit in the back where you’ll be even closer to the Headless Horseman. My son rode this when he was 5 and absolutely loved it. He talked about the “Headless Headler” for weeks. Be sure to consider how your child handles scary rides before signing up for this. In my opinion, it’s well worth it and is definitely one of our favorite Walt Disney World memories.

I hope I’ve given you at least a few reasons to visit Disney’s Fort Wilderness resort, or perhaps even stay there. There are plenty of activities for everyone’s tastes. I hope you have as much fun as my family and I do.

Rob Sielert is a certified Disney nut, known to family and friends as “Mr. Mouse.” He often daydreams about how cool it would be to live on Disney property. Fort Wilderness is his favorite resort, and he and his family can’t wait for their upcoming trip to Walt Disney World in December.

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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.