From the Authors: California, Here it Comes!

Travel Feature: Viva Las Vegas!

Disney Feature: Making The Most of Your Meal: Enjoying the Trip to the Restaurant

Updates: What's New and Changed

Tips: Love that LYNX, Californian Dreamin', Credit Card Call

Captain's Corner: The Spirit of Individualism

Q&A: Is it worth it to bring my Camelbak?
 

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Updates:
What's New and Changed

Here are a few of the new developments at Disney:

The Disney Cruise Line finally announced publicly that it is offering wireless Internet service on both the Disney Wonder and Disney Magic (service was actually introduced on the Magic in Summer 2005, and on the Wonder in Fall 2005). Most public areas offer access including the Promenade Lounge, Cove Cafe, Studio Sea and the open areas of Decks 9 and 10. Rates start at $.75/minute but packages of 100 minutes can be bought for $55 and 250 minutes are $100.  "Traditional" internet access will continue to be available to those traveling without their laptops in the Promenade Lounge, Cove Cafe and teen clubs (Aloft on the Disney Wonder and the Stack on the Disney Magic). (See pages 144 and 145 of PassPorter's Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line 4th Edition for more information on wireless Internet service.)

The President of the Disney Cruise Line, Tom McAlpin, has been named to the Board of Directors of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life threatening illnesses. The Walt Disney Company grants more than 5,000 wishes per year and has worked with the Make-A-Wish Foundation for over 25 years. For more information on the Make-A-Wish Foundation, check out http://www.wish.org. 

Annual Passholders will have a chance to try out a couple of the Disney Vacation Club Resorts at a great rate this summer: $159 per night! Available most nights July 5, 2006 - August 5, 2006, this rate is offered at Disney's Old Key West Resort and Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. A similar deal is also available for the same dates at Disney's Boardwalk Inn or Disney's Beach Club and Disney's Yacht Club: $189 per night. The booking code for these deals is EZT. Annual Passholders can book these rates by calling (407) 560-PASS (7277). 

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:

LOVE THAT LYNX
"On our last trip to Walt Disney World we discovered LYNX, the public bus system in the Orlando area. For instance, if you want to shop at the Main Gate Flea Market on US 192 for great deals on souvenirs for the folks at home (or clothing, luggage, electronics, etc. for yourself) you can catch Bus 56 from the Walt Disney World Transportation and Ticket Center for a mere $3.00 round trip. Children 6 and under are free! Buses run every 30 minutes. Better yet, for $3.50 you can get a day pass valid from 4:00 AM until 3:00 AM the following day. If you plan multiple trips off-property you might want to get a 7-day pass for only $12.00. Want to go to Sea World? Bus 50 from the Walt Disney World Transportation and Ticket Center will get you there. Want to visit WalMart for groceries, clothing you forgot to pack, etc.? Bus 56 will take you there. Planning a visit to Universal Studios? LYNX can get you there and back. You can contact LYNX at (407) 841-LYNX (5969) for information or visit their web site at www.golynx.com. Just think of all the things you can do (or buy!) with the money you'll save from not having to rent a car!" -- contributed by Tish & Tony I. 

CALIFORNIAN DREAMIN'
"It is often a good idea to break up a full day at Disneyland with an afternoon break to escape the heat and recharge before enjoying the park at night. If you don't have a room, remember you don't have to be a hotel guest to enjoy the cool comfort of the Grand Californian lobby. We like to stroll over to the hotel through California Adventure, get a drink at the lobby bar, make ourselves comfortable on one of the many sofas and listen to the hotel's pianist work his way through the Disney songbook. We've even taken naps sitting in the overstuffed chairs! For kids, the hotel also provides storytelling and Disney videos in the lobby. It's a great place to get off your feet and gear up for the next adventure." -- contributed by Carrie H. 

CREDIT CARD CALL
"Before setting out on a trip, but especially a cruise that takes you out of the country, call your credit card company and let them know you are traveling. Often if the credit card company sees several purchases from different places on consecutive days they will think your card has been stolen and will stop further charges. You can avoid unpleasant and embarrassing surprises at the cash register by letting them know your itinerary ahead of time." -- contributed by Shelly A. 

>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:

"In my ongoing quest for the best Disney statuary, I traveled around the large lagoon to the American pavilion. Inside the classic Georgian-style pavilion is a delightful show that celebrates the American spirit. And along the walls are 12 life-size statues on pedestals. Each statue represents a spirit of America, such as Freedom, Heritage, Pioneering, and so on. I won't admit it in public, but my favorite is the cowboy statue (Spirit of Individualism). I really admire rugged individualism, and he's quite a handsome statue. Even the items he holds in his hands are appealing. All in all, one of my favorite statuary in the World."

What two items is the Spirit of Individualism statue holding in The American Adventure theater?

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 Holli Goetz who was the winner of last week's treasure hunt game! Holli correctly answered that 2 of the buddha statues near Kali River Rapids still have their heads. To view the original clues, see last week' s 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

pkt771 asks: "I'm making my first trip to Walt Disney World in September and I know it'll be hot. I'll need to carry a few items so a backpack will be needed. Does it make sense to bring my Camelbak instead of bottles of water or buying water there? Is it worth it?"

Jennifer and Dave answer: "Actually, water fountains are quite plentiful at the parks, and most serve refrigerated water. You'll find fountains outside every restroom, and in assorted other locations. You can ask for water at most counter service restaurants, too. Disney knows that a hydrated guest is a happy guest. 

While some folks don't like the taste of the local tap water, I have no problem with it. However, if you do prefer bottled water, then a Camelbak seems like a perfectly suitable way to do things.

To me, carrying several quarts of water around with you at a place like Walt Disney World is a good way to work up an extra sweat, especially on a hot day. It's sorta like sending a rocket into outer space - most of the fuel is needed to lift the weight of the fuel, not the rocket. If I was hiking someplace where clean water was scarce, or heat and exertion was so high that constant hydration was necessary, a hydration system would be a necessary choice. Generally, though, exertion levels are moderate to low at Walt Disney World (you really shouldn't be racing around commando touring-style on a hot summer day), and with water, water everywhere... traveling ultra-light makes more sense to me than carrying all that water around."

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")}}! 

While we were in our nation's capitol last week the spiral edition (and deluxe refill kits) of PassPorter Disneyland and Southern California Attractions arrived in our warehouse! Wahooo! Pre-orders have been shipping out over the past several days, so if you ordered in advance you should be seeing your book very soon. Alas, the deluxe edition of our Disneyland book was on a separate shipment from Hong Kong, and won't arrive for at least a few more days. We'll have an update for you next week. Even so, we are able to fill our deluxe edition pre-orders, so no worries. (If you ordered your deluxe edition from Amazon or a bookstore, however, you may need to wait a bit longer.)

While much of our last week in Washington, D.C. at Book Expo America was taken up with the business of books, we along with toddler Alexander and Jennifer's mother had a few chances to enjoy the pleasures of that great city. After setting up our exhibit on Thursday, we thought we had plenty of time to enjoy the National Zoo. We hopped on a nearby Metro subway and were there in no time flat, only to learn that the zoo was closing at 4:00 pm for a fundraising event! No matter, we still managed to make the most of it.  The weather was perfect and crowds were thin. Alexander enjoyed watching the pandas. Mama was up a tree, and her very big baby was happily sitting on the ground, munching stalks of bamboo. Our baby also spent some time staring-down an emu, marveling at a giraffe, and wondering why Mommy and Daddy were so excited to see the jaguar. We also spent some time strolling along nearby Connecticut Avenue through the charming Cleveland Park and Woodley Park neighborhoods. We could easily spend a month on that stretch, exploring all the tempting local restaurants and shops. Later that evening we all went to the National Postal Museum for a travel publishing reception. It's a small but very interesting museum next to Union Station, part of the Smithsonian, with historic airmail planes hanging from the ceiling, and a railroad mail car and various delivery vehicles arrayed beneath them. It may not have the drama of the Air and Space Museum, but it's charming nonetheless. Friday night we walked from our hotel to nearby Chinatown for a fabulous feast of Spanish tapas and paella (what, no dim sum?) with Deb Wills, Deb Koma, and their loved ones, and returned to the same neighborhood Sunday night after the show closed for a fishy feast at the D.C. branch of legendary Legal Sea Foods of Boston. Altogether, the mix of business and pleasure was surprisingly enjoyable, made even better by a very successful trade show.

In this edition of the newsletter, PassPorter Message Board Guide Cheryl Pendry takes us to that other adult fantasyland, Las Vegas, and first-time contributors Yvonne and Sam Mitchell show you how to make getting to dinner  at Walt Disney World a delightful adventure. Finally, Captain Jack Skatt returns with a new treasure hunting game. Enjoy! 

Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter Authors

Viva Las Vegas!
by Cheryl Pendry, Guest Contributor and PassPorter Message Board Guide

Exquisitely themed hotels, some of the finest dining, and a wide range of attractions -- it may sound just like the description of a Disney resort, but it can equally be applied to the gambling capital of the world, Las Vegas. 

It’s a city that is known for much more than just gambling and is working hard to attract families – and there’s certainly plenty for all ages to do. Yes, there are thousands of opportunities to try your luck, but you don’t have to put a cent into the slot machines or a chip on a poker table to have a good time. If you’re traveling with children, then it’s probably best to avoid the casinos altogether anyway, as they’re not keen on any young eyes seeing gambling. 

If you’re planning a trip to Vegas, the first thing to decide is when to go. The major resorts on the Strip have hundreds of different rates throughout the year, so try out a range of dates and see which comes out the cheapest. You may be surprised at the results – I certainly was, with the Easter weekend being the least expensive time for us to visit. 

And when it comes to places to stay, Vegas doesn’t just have hotels, it has mega-resorts. The largest, the MGM Grand, boasts just over 5,000 rooms and if you took on the arduous job of staying in every room and suite, it would take you nearly 14 years. The MGM Grand is unusual amongst the big name hotels, with only limited theming. Perhaps in that respect, it’s least similar to Mandalay Bay at the southernmost tip of the Strip, whose tropical beach enjoys machine-generated waves lapping on the shore. 

From the tropics, you can travel to just about anywhere in the world in the space of just a couple of miles. The Luxor draws on the history of Egypt with its landmark Sphinx in front of a 30 story-high glass paneled pyramid. Just two resorts further along, the New York skyline dominates, with its own Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge. Unusually, even the casino at the New York New York hotel is themed, based on Central Park (complete with trees), and just the regular drone from the slot machines to disrupt the idyllic park scene. 

MGM's Monte Carlo and Caesar's Paris casinos are further up the Strip, including replicas of the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe, while opposite, you can journey into Italy at the Bellagio. It’s claimed it cost $2.5 billion to build and this is indeed an opulent hotel, with glass flower chandeliers to greet you when you enter the lobby and the second largest casino in Vegas (the honor of the largest goes to the MGM Grand). 

Italy is also represented by two other resorts, Caesar’s Palace, based on Rome at the height of its power and The Venetian, complete with the Grand Canal, St. Mark’s Square and gondoliers. Add to this line up the pirate-inspired Treasure Island and the heights of the Stratosphere Tower, the tallest free- standing observation tower in America, and the Strip has to be the world’s most varied byway. 

There’s plenty to see and do at each resort. Each has a wide range of restaurants and there were no disappointments at any that we tried.

Some of the finest shopping can be found in Vegas, too. For the higher end of the market, don’t miss the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian, full of designer names. Just a little farther up the Strip the Fashion Show Mall lists Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue and Macy’s amongst its 120 stores. The Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace are also well worth a visit, if you’ve got any money left after your visit to the slots! 

During daylight hours, the resorts are mainly family- oriented. Highlights include the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay, one of the best aquariums we’ve ever visited - very light and airy and filled with over 2,000 marine animals, including a dozen species of shark. Other animals can be found at the MGM Grand’s free lion habitat, while the Mirage is home to dolphins and tigers. 

Thrill seekers have plenty to occupy them, from the Manhattan Express which loops past the New York skyline to the absolutely terrifying High Roller Roller Coaster and Big Shot, both at the Stratosphere and only for the bravest of souls. 

Night-time is really when Vegas comes alive, and that’s something worth bearing in mind. Because of our jet lag from the long flight from the UK, we found it hard to stay awake late and did miss out as a result. Most resorts have something happening in the evening, free of charge, as well as the big shows. A volcano erupts outside of the Mirage, while the Sirens stage their sea battle at Treasure Island. Merlin battles the dragon at Excalibur and fountains dance to music at the Bellagio, although as we discovered to our disappointment, the water show is canceled in high winds. 

If you do want to see one of the big shows at Vegas, be prepared to spend a lot of money for the top tickets and be prepared to book early. Although you might get lucky with a same-day cancellation, many of the big names sell out well before the night of the show. Top names include Celine Dion at Caesar’s Palace, the Blue Man Group at The Venetian and no less than four Cirque du Soleil shows, soon to be joined by a fifth. There are also major-name musicals out here, including Mamma Mia, We Will Rock You, and Hairspray. Of the shows we experienced – all of them Cirque du Soleil productions – the one most worth seeing (in our humble opinion) is the water based “O” at the Bellagio. It’s something we will definitely return to Vegas to see. 

And that’s the thing with Las Vegas. I don’t think one visit could ever be enough. We were there for four nights and didn’t see or do nearly everything we wanted to. In that respect, it is just like Disney. Vegas also caters to everyone these days - whether you’re a family, a couple or with friends, there are plenty of things to see, do and eat. I can guarantee one thing. Once you’ve been, you’ll want to go back to do all the things you didn’t have time to do! 

Cheryl and husband Mark live in England and love to travel, particularly to America. They’ve recently returned from a two week tour of the west coast, which included Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego. 

Making the Most of Your Meal: Enjoying the Trip to the Restaurant 
by Yvonne & Sam Mitchell, Guest Contributors 

The growing popularity of the Disney Dining Plan has made for a lot of questions on the PassPorter message board about Disney’s hotel restaurants and how to get to and from them. When someone asks a question about travel to one of the restaurants, it’s always about how to get there the quickest or shortest way. But going and eating at the restaurants on property can be more than a meal - it can be a truly magical experience. Walt Disney World is so vast, there are things you will never see or get to do if you always take the shortest or quickest route. So to make your dining experience more enjoyable, why not slow down and plan an adventurous or fun route around your meal plans? It gives you a chance to experience more of the wonder of Walt Disney World.

Here are a couple examples you can try or use them as starting points to make up your own routes:

Example Route One: Dinner at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Leave a few hours early and take the bus to the Magic Kingdom. Have you ever thought of getting on the monorail and riding it all the way around and back? Well now is the time to do it! If you have kids, or are a kid at heart, ask a cast member at the monorail terminal if you can ride with the driver. It is first come, first served, so you may have to wait on this seat, but a ride in the front seat of the monorail is a special memory and a great place to get pictures. We were lucky enough to get a fun "driver" who took the funniest picture with our daughter. He asked us not to tell her until the pictures were "developed" (downloaded for those of you in the 21st century). It was a picture of her (all smiles of course) "driving" the monorail with him behind her in a perfect pose of prayer (as in we pray we'll all survive).

There are some things that can only be seen from the monorail. As the monorail approaches Disney’s Grand Floridian, be on the look out for the Disney Wedding Pavilion on the right hand side. You just might catch a glimpse of Cinderella’s Glass Coach carrying the new bride to her wedding. Be ready to snap some pictures.

(Special photo opportunity: As the monorail leaves The Grand Floridian Terminal, be on the lookout for the white buildings in the trees to the left. This is the staging area for Cinderella’s Glass Coach where the white horses are hooked up to it.)

Get off at the Magic Kingdom and go to the boat docks directly in front and take the boat to the Wilderness Lodge. The boat ride is relaxing, so hold your partner's hand and enjoy. If you have kids, the boat ride will be exciting for them.

At the Wilderness Lodge dock, take the boardwalk up and to the left and stop at Fire Rock Geyser. It goes off every hour from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm. This also gives you a great view of the Silver Creek Springs pool area. Follow the path up along the pool to the waterfall. Are you wondering where the water is coming from? Follow the path up to the Lodge and go inside and there on the left is Silver Creek hot spring coming right up out of the floor. 

From here Artist Point is down the hall to your right. Whispering Canyon Café is straight ahead on the right across the lobby. If you have time before your dinner reservation, check out the awe inspiring 82 foot tall stone fireplace. It’s simply amazing.

For a special treat for couples after your dinner, take the same path out of the Lodge and down by the pool. At Trout Pass pool-side bar, take the path to the right down to the beach. You can take a romantic barefoot stroll through the white sand or relax in a beach chair and watch the Electrical Water Pageant that crosses Bay Lake nightly.

Example Route Two: Dinner at Downtown Disney or Pleasure Island

For those shop-a-holics, here's a route that's sure to please. Make dinner reservations at one of the many wonderful restaurants available to you at Downtown Disney or Pleasure Island. The new Raglan Road offers Irish food with a twist and live music every night. Plan on leaving your hotel a couple of hours prior to your reservation. 

Start at the Downtown Disney Marketplace and enter The Art of Disney store. Spend time watching a real Disney animator doing what he or she does best, as they create characters right before your eyes. Walk around and browse the art. Don't forget to make a wish and dream about what you'd buy if you could afford anything in the store. Share those ideas with family members - maybe they can make that dream come true for you someday! 

Everyone loves Christmas! How about a stroll through Disney’s Days of Christmas? Get into the Christmas spirit and buy your first ornament of the year. Who cares if it's July! Have pets at home? Disney Tails provides all kinds of goodies for your pets. Any pup would be proud to wear one of the adorable Disney "outfits" available. I personally had a ball buying Lady and Tramp merchandise for my mother, who's a big fan! 

How about Mickey's Mart? Everything is under $10! How many times have we said to our kids, "OK, one thing, as long as it's under $10?" They'll have a ball figuring out what to get. You just might find a neat souvenir for yourself!

The Lego Imagination Center offers hours of free entertainment. You can take your children to the giant Lego table where they can build to their heart's content. But an even BETTER idea is leave the kiddos with one parent building the Lego’s while the other parent makes a run through World of Disney, the largest Disney Store in the world. Ship everything home for a reasonable fee and surprise everyone at the holidays! Having worked up an appetite (and most likely a hefty credit card bill), head for dinner. 

These are just a couple samples of the hundreds of routes possible around Walt Disney World. Taking the “long road” to your restaurant will open up a lot more of Walt Disney World for you and your family to experience in the time that you have.

Yvonne (Tinkerbelz on PassPorter Message boards) runs the family antique jewelry business, and is a full-time mom. She was a peer reviewer for PassPorter's Walt Disney World for your Special Needs. She's been to Disneyland and Walt Disney World 25+ times. Sam (DVC_Increda_Man on the PassPorter boards) was a little reluctant to go to Walt Disney World for the first time in 2005, but enjoyed it so much that he is now a proud DVC owner. They are looking forward to their Walt Disney World vacation at the end of May.
 

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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.