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In
This Newsletter
From the Authors: Fireworks!
Travel Feature:
Florida
Keys: Marathon & Big Pine
Disney Feature: Virtual
Magic Kingdom
Updates: What's
New and Changed
Tips: Disney
Music Magic, Sticky Note Shuffle, Trek to TTC
Captain's Corner: Clock Tower Clues
Q&A: How
efficient is Disney's Magical Express Service?
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Updates:
What's
New and Changed
Here are a few of the new developments at Disney:
Walt Disney World will be celebrating the Fourth
of July in style with fireworks at THREE parks and Downtown
Disney! On Tuesday, July 4 2006, a special Fourth of July fireworks show
at the Disney-MGM Studios will commence at 9:00 pm, followed by Fantasmic!
at 10:00 pm. Epcot will add a special holiday finale to the nightly
IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth show at 10:00 pm. The Magic Kingdom
will present a special version of the Fantasy In The Sky fireworks show
at 9:00 pm. Later that night, Downtown Disney will host a new Fourth of
July fireworks show that begins at midnight. If you are staying at a resort
near Downtown Disney, you may want to bring ear plugs! The fireworks can
be heard from nearby resorts.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
had it's World Premiere at Disneyland on June 24, 2006. Guests also got a sneak
peek at the re-furbished Pirates of the Caribbean attraction, which re-opened to the public at Disneyland
on June 26 and will re-open at Walt Disney World on July 7 (the same day the movie opens). A webcast
of the premiere with footage from the
attraction (including a clip of Johnny Depp meeting Captain Jack Sparrow)
and interviews with the Imagineers involved in the "enhancement" of the
attraction can be found on MSN.
The Disney Cruise Line hosted a group of
school children from the Cayman Islands who were winners of the 2006
Jiminy
Cricket's Environmentality Challenge (JCEC).
The third-year class from George Town Primary School, the sixth-year class
from St. Ignatius Catholic School and the eleventh-year class from John
Gray High School attended an award ceremony aboard the Disney Magic where
they posed for pictures with Jiminy Cricket and enjoyed a special tour
of the ship. The JCEC is a program that encourages students in Florida,
California, Hong Kong, and Grand Cayman (areas where Disney has a corporate presence) to learn more about how they can help create a healthier
environment.
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:
DISNEY MUSIC MAGIC
"If planning, reading, watching and shopping Disney
is just not enough to keep you pacified as you wait for an upcoming Disney
trip, then try tuning in! About 3 months ago I discovered
Walt
Disney World Park Music being played on Live
365 Internet radio and haven't looked back since. I play it all day
at work and even sometimes at home on the weekends. Not only has it pacified
my desperate waiting for my upcoming trip, but dare I say, it's also changed
my daily outlook. I know that sounds corny but it's true. Listening to
happiness all day has effected the way I react to people and things. I
find myself whistling Disney tunes and taking that extra step to help others
because, it's the Disney Way!" -- contributed by Cindy T. (Idlewylde@...)
STICKY NOTE SHUFFLE
"I have found a wonderful way to do the 'rough draft'
part of planning my Walt Disney World itinerary for the week. First I draw
out a calendar for the week I plan on going on a large piece of graph paper.
(I turn the paper sideways, so that I can fit all my days without crowding
them together.) Next, I write down EVERYTHING I want to do on the smallest
size available of sticky note paper. Each item gets its own sticky note.
And when I say I write down everything, I mean everything! I do one for
each time I want to visit a theme park or water park, Extra Magic Hours,
Downtown Disney, special meals, fireworks, parades, resorts I want to visit,
places I want to shop, recreation, etc. It's also easier if you use a different
color paper for different things - yellow for the parks, green for meals,
purple for fireworks, parades, blue for recreation, etc. Then it's easy
for me to just put the note on the day and time that I want to do a certain
thing! And since plans ALWAYS change in the beginning stages of planning
a Walt Disney World vacation, I can easily move the note around to work
out the best itinerary for us! This is much easier that writing it down
and then erasing things a million times. And, unlike doing an itinerary
using a computer, you can easily carry it around with you and make changes
and move things around as you get new ideas!" -- contributed by Amanda
H. (mandabeads@...)
TREK TO TTC
"If your party is leaving the Magic Kingdom at park
closing time and your car is parked at the Ticket and Transportation Center
(TTC) and both monorail lines appear way too intimidating you can also
try the boat to the Polynesian resort. Once you disembark at the Poly,
walk towards the Great Ceremonial House (the large reception hall in the
middle of the resort - it's the tallest building) and then bear left.
Follow signs to the Tokelau and Rapa Nui buildings, and you will see signs
for a walkway to the TTC. Follow that walkway, and you will be able to
catch the tram to the parking lot." -- contributed by Leah R. (bwbelle@...)
>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 honor of the first PassPorter reader to earn an official
treasure hunter badge (Mirjam Rohleder), I travelled to her home country of Germany. In all honesty,
I only went to the German pavilion, but I was able to experience German culture! I enjoyed German musicians
while relaxing on the fountain in the village square with a Lowenbrau beer in one hand and a bratwurst in the other.
As I was enjoying this delightful repast, the clock tower struck 2:00 pm. And what a surprise I received! When the
clock struck the hour, ... (rest of text obscured by mustard)"
What does the clock tower in Germany do at the top of the hour?
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 Regina Tipton who was
the winner of last week's treasure hunt game! Regina correctly identified
grass as the covering of the seating area besides the Kringla Bakeri og
Kafe. 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
Martinvols asks: "How efficient is Disney's Magical
Express service? How long will it take to get from the airport to our hotel?"
Jennifer and Dave answer: "Travel from the airport to Walt Disney World is very
efficient - there's a huge staff on hand to make everything run like clockwork.
Travel from Walt Disney World to the airport is as slow
as it ever was when Mears was fully in charge. The only "crew" is the bus
driver, who has to wrangle the loading of all baggage and passengers. Once
you arrive at the airport you'll be dropped at a single bus stop on Level
1, and must make your own way (with baggage, if you couldn't check it at
the resort in advance) to flight check-in on Level 3. As a result, the
scheduled pickup is typically 3 - 3.5 hours prior to flight time.
In short, Disney has substantially improved the airport
to resort link, but has done little to change the resort to airport link."
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 Authors: Fireworks!
Hi, {{user("firstname")}}!
Can you believe it? The Fourth of July is less than a week away! We hope you
have your plans all set, whether it's watching the hometown parade and fireworks
display, or heading out of town to the mountains, beach, lakes, city, forest or
theme parks. Wherever you go, you can be sure there will be a spectacle in the
skies (check our Updates column for the Walt Disney World
fireworks low-down). While we admit we'd rather not brave the heat and crowds at
Walt Disney World, the fireworks at Magic Kingdom will be especially dramatic,
with the entire park being surrounded by exploding shells at certain times
during the show.
This past weekend we
drove north, for three nights of camping on the shores of Lake Huron, within
sight of the majestic Mackinac Bridge,
Mackinac Island, and
Mackinaw City (yes, the spellings are
different). We took a side jaunt to Sault Ste. Marie on Michigan's Upper
Peninsula to watch freighters pass through the famous
Soo Locks that connect Lakes Superior and Huron, and to revisit memories of
our
Panama Canal passage last year. And of course, we ferried over to Mackinac
Island for the day, to enjoy that island's car-less streets, fried Great Lakes
whitefish, and famous fudge. (OK, so there's nothing unusual about Mackinac
Island fudge - it's the same recipe as you find everywhere else - but tradition
is tradition!) For the first time, we even took a horse-drawn carriage tour
about the island. One of these days, when we've sold enough books, we'll book a
stay at the Grand Hotel. Altogether, it
was a delightful break from the office.
In other news, Captain Jack Skatt informs us that PassPorter reader Mirjam Rohleder has earned her
treasure hunt badge! Mirjam is the first to complete and submit the Earn-Your-Badge Treasure Hunt
(see pages 153-155 of PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World book). She received 168 points! She sent in photos of herself
posing with the Treasure Hunt book around the world, a postcard to Captain Jack Skatt, autographs
from Snow White, Donald Duck, Captain Hook, and Laguna Gator. She did a great job and really earned
her "gold" badge, which she'll receive in the mail shortly. Congratulations, Mirjam! Who will be next
to earn their treasure hunter badge? Could it be you?
In
this
edition of the newsletter Maureen Austin returns with the second part of her
tour through the Florida Keys,
and PassPorter Guide Robin Krenning-Capra confesses her addiction to Disney's
free Virtual Magic Kingdom online game. As always, Captain
Jack Skatt returns with a new treasure hunting game. Enjoy!
Jennifer
and Dave
PassPorter Authors and Publishers |
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Did
You Know?
PassPorter Disneyland
is Here!
The brand-new PassPorter
Disneyland Resort and Southern California Attractions guidebook has
arrived both at our warehouse and in bookstores around the country. Our
first edition contains all the great features that have made our Walt Disney
World guidebook so popular -- flap maps, full-color pages, resort maps,
fold-out park maps, photos, ratings, tips, memories, stickers, labels,
tabs, and, of course, 14 organizer PassPockets.
The guidebook covers the Disneyland Resort in super
detailed depth, and also add in detailed information on Universal Studios
Hollywood, Universal CityWalk, Knott's Berry Farm, Knott's Soak City Water
Park, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, and LEGOLAND.
For readers on the grand tour, we also include San Diego Zoo, Wild Animal
Park, and Balboa Park, as well as more attractions in the Anaheim area,
Hollywood, along the Pacific Coast Highway, on California beaches, and
in nearby San Diego.
We've heard back from folks who've received their
new books -- here are a few of our favorite comments:
"I love the the way it helps me organize my vacation
plans." -- Holly B.
"Very comprehensive!" -- Alan T.
"Very informative about the Disneyland area."
-- Sonia K.
"It is so helpful, I can hardly wait to go to
Disneyland." -- Debbie C.
"I love the information and organization. The
PassPorter has been a great help with planning my previous WDW trips. I
am excited to use my new PassPorter to plan for our Disneyland and Southern
California vacation. Thanks!" -- Paula H.
Learn more and order today at:
http://www.passporter.com/dl/guidebook.htm |
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Travel
Feature:
Unlocking The Magic of The Florida Keys: Marathon
and Big Pine (Part 2 of 3)
by Maureen Austin,
PassPorter Message Board Guide Guest Contributor
(Note: The first installment of this series
appeared in the May
3, 2006 edition of this newsletter.)
Let’s get back on the road as we continue
to make our way and discover more of the natural beauty found in the Florida
Keys!
Head about 50 miles south of Key Largo
and you’ll find yourself in Marathon. The name has rich Florida history
in its three syllables. Henry Flagler, an industrialist whose influence
is found all over the state, built a railroad with a passageway through
the Keys. The task was daunting and he often called it a marathon - thus
the name for this area was born.
Diving, snorkeling, fishing, and other water
sports are a big claim to fame for this little island. Popular beaches
include Sombrero Beach as well as Coco Plum Beach, which is frequented
by visitors and locals alike.
Animal enthusiasts and eco tourists will
find special pleasure in a visit to Crane Point Hammock. Here you can check
out the Marathon Wild Bird Center, where injured or ill birds of the Keys
find time and treatment so they may be returned to the wild. Don’t depart
Crane Point before visiting the Museum of Natural History. In addition,
an adjacent children’s museum provides wonderful exhibits to teach your
little ones (and you too!) about the many animals that call the Keys and
Florida home.
Marathon certainly welcomes golfers, with
a host of private courses. Some of the private clubs boast reciprocity
agreements with other clubs across the country - so if you’ve got the links
on your mind and your agenda, phone ahead to inquire.
Smaller is better in Marathon and this
holds true for accommodations in the area. Live Florida-style by checking out some of the traditional conch-style cottages available
for rent. You can also choose among smaller, family run inns for unbeatable
Florida hospitality.
Time to island hop on over to Big Pine
Key. Travelers who enjoy a leisurely pace to touring and taking it all
in will especially feel at home here.
One of this area’s best attributes is an
obvious stop, but stunning just the same. Bahia Honda State Park has beaches
of pristine sand and gorgeous waters that are so incredible, it’s frequently
named one of our country’s best beaches. You’ll find all
sorts of delightful shore and water activities to please every member of
your family.
Amidst the natural beauty of the beaches and
pines for which the island is named for, you’ll find an enchanting species of
deer for which the area has also become famous. Key deer abound here and there
are opportunities to view them in their natural habitats.
Kayakers will find an absolute haven here,
with many tour operators and rentals available for kayaking and other water sports,
too.
Looe Key is known for its amazing panorama
under the water with some of the best snorkeling and diving south of Miami.
In addition, get your groove on while under the water every July - dive
down and attend the Underwater Music Festival! Elvis has left the building
folks, and is playing among the fish!
Accommodations range from conch-style cottages
to
fish and dive camps to inns and motels. You’ll note the absence of large
high rise hotels and resorts in the area, and as many locals will tell you,
that’s all part of the charm.
Ready to plan your adventure? More
information and resources for good travel planning are a click away.
http://www.thefloridakeys.com/bigpine/index.html
http://www.thefloridakeys.com/marathon/index.html
http://www.visitflorida.com/destinations/area.php/ca=54
http://www.bahiahondapark.com
About the Author: Maureen Austin is co-owner
of Grand Getaways Travel and
a proud Florida native. Born in South Florida and having lived all over
the state, she enjoys writing about the Sunshine State's many attractions
and natural beauty. .
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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:
Virtual Magic Kingdom
by Robin Krening-Capra,
PassPorter Message Board Guide and Guest Contributor
Looking for a way to fill the void we all
feel between Disney trips? Want to make new friends who love Disney as
much as you do? Do you miss walking around the parks and visiting the lands?
Come on, we all know you are dreaming of that next
Disney vacation. It’s okay to admit that you are a true Disney addict and
crave the sights, sounds, and smells of the parks. You can even admit to
ordering the next planning DVD just so you can glimpse the parks.
Knowing we all suffer "park withdrawal," Disney has
designed an online multiplayer game called Virtual
Magic Kingdom, or VMK, to help fill the void. The game opened on May
23, 2005 and allows players of all ages to live the Disney magic from home.
To play VMK, you create an account by submitting an e-mail address and picking
a character name. Next, you choose your character’s gender, hair style
and color, facial features, and even its skin tone. Picking your first
outfit is fun, with many wardrobe choices. My character can even wear glasses so
she can see where she is going! Finally, you choose one of six rooms so
you can design your own guest room.
Once your character is properly clothed, you enter
the Virtual Magic Kingdom where you will be known as “Guest” until your
character’s name is approved. Upon entering VMK, you notice it’s designed
around the lands of the Disney parks, Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Main Street,
Adventureland, and Frontierland. It also has guest rooms. Players explore
VMK by traveling via paths or the monorail, a journey that reminds
you of the real parks.
Each land contains mini-games at which the player
earns credits needed to purchase items from the inevitable Disney gift
shop. Miss the Jungle Cruise? Visit the mini-game Jungle Cruise in Adventureland,
where you will take pictures of animals with the virtual camera you bought at the
virtual VMK Central. While you won’t see Johnny Depp, you can play Pirates
of the Caribbean and shoot cannonballs at opposing pirates. Is your dream
to be the 1000th ghost in the Haunted Mansion? Play the Haunted Mansion
game in Frontierland (there's no Liberty Square/New Orleans Square here) and vacuum ghosts to earn points. (This is my favorite
game because I can always tell my husband that I am vacuuming – he doesn’t
need to know I am vacuuming virtual ghosts!) You can even search for and
take pictures of Hidden Mickeys while you explore VMK.
VMK has Disney Characters who acknowledge you when
you enter their rooms. The characters, such as the Yeti, Captain Blackheart,
and the three Hitchhiking Ghosts, welcome you with their own little silly
greetings. The Characters have even been known to wreak havoc by sending
players on exciting treks through the Virtual Magic Kingdom.
It wouldn’t be Disney without the gift shops, so
of course these, too, can be found in VMK. Yes, you can make purchases of
virtual clothes, furniture, posters, and pins! Players compete in mini-games,
which award credits towards the purchases. Players can also visit Disney Characters
for daily credits.
Your virtual purchases are used to clothe your character,
decorate your guest rooms, and add to your pin collection. Miss purchasing
clothing in a Disney shop? Have no fear; VMK sells virtual clothing items
as well! There is a wide variety of everyday clothes, such as bottoms,
tops, shoes, and hats. VMK will also sell special items, such as Princess
dresses and crowns, space suits, diving helmets, Expedition Everest climbing
gear, cowboy outfits, and Haunted Mansion suits, amongst other items. Often times the special clothing items are only sold
for a short amount of time before they are pulled from the shelves, making
them virtual collectors items.
There is a variety of items for furnishing your
guest room, such as a thrones, rocking chairs, Madame Leota globes, posters,
rugs, and water fountains. Players decorate their rooms to create a fun
place to hang out with friends and play games. Awards are even given for
best-decorated or themed rooms.
Pin collectors are not forgotten at VMK and pins
can be purchased in shops or won in games. The pins reflect different Disney
attractions and resorts. Special pins are awarded for finding Hidden Mickeys, discovering Disney Characters for the first time, or reaching
a certain level in a mini-game.
My favorite pins are the Magic Pins, which allow players
to briefly activate a special effect. With a double click of the mouse,
a player can teleport, drive a car, or turn into a snowman, bat, or pirate.
My favorite Magic Pin is the Dancing Inferno, which makes the player appear
to be dancing in a ring of fire. Inferno is only given in staff games and
is quite rare. When I won my Inferno, I was so excited I could barely type
“thank you” to the staff member!
One of the goals Disney had when creating VMK was
to draw people into the parks. By creating in-park quests, Disney hoped
to lure the addicts from the virtual park to the real parks. In June 2005,
both Disneyland and Walt Disney World opened up VMK Central. Here players
explore the parks to complete in-park Quests. These treasure hunts send
players through the parks in search of answers to questions about park
attractions. To participate in the Quests, the player must download a Quest
from the VMK web site before leaving home (Quest sheets are not given out
at the parks) and exchange it for a Quest card at VMK Central. Once you
correctly complete the Quest you are awarded cards that contain codes for
virtual items.
Disney also encourages those of us who are addicted
to VMK to make purchase in certain shops in the real parks. Buy candy and
receive a card with a code for a Virtual Penny Press. Purchase a hat at
a certain shop and earn virtual gold Mickey ears.
What do players do with the stuff they purchase or
win? Trade! Players are able to trade items they no longer want for items
they either collect or want for their virtual character. It can be exciting
to finally trade for an item you have been looking for. Who needs baseball
cards when you have virtual VMK items to trade?
The question many parents have when allowing their
children to play VMK is whether it’s safe or not. Rest assured VMK is very
safe for players of all ages. VMK is monitored by staff members who can
be identified by VMK_ or HOST_ in their names. Staff members not only host
fun games and events, they are immediately available when a player calls
for help. The staff members monitor conversations and will ban players
who are not following the VMK values. Asking for personal information
is not allowed and will get players banned. Community Members also help
monitor the game. Most importantly, the VMK dictionary is quite limited
and prevents players from using numbers and many words.
While designers of VMK haven’t quite figured out
how to get the smells of the parks to us through VMK, they have captured
the magic for those of us who cannot get to the parks. VMK may have been
designed with children as the focus; however, many of the friends I have
met on VMK are adults and are fellow Disney addicts. Regardless of age, VMK
allows the player to relive the magic of Disney.
My name is Robin, and I am a VMK addict!
About the Author: Robin is a PassPorter
Message Board Guide and is addicted to Disney and VMK. She and her husband
teach middle school in a suburb of Denver, Colorado.
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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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