From the Authors: 2005 Editions

Travel Feature: A Few of My Favorite Things: Fall in Northern New England

Disney Feature: A Grand Gathering

Updates: What's New and Changed

Tips: First Aid Kit, Safety Tips for Kids, Parking Place Reminder 

Q&A: PassPorter stickers, Wireless Internet Access
 

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Updates:
What's New and Changed

Here's a few of the new developments at Disney·

Annual Passholders will get a sneak peek at Stitch's Great Escape!, the Magic Kingdom's newest attraction, on November 5, 6, & 7, 2004. There will be a limited edition Passholders Stitch Pin available (only 5000 available, $10.50 per pin) which can be purchased at Mickey's Star Traders and Merchants of Venus. Valid Passholder ID required. 

Super Soap Weekend 2004 will be held November 13 - 14, 2004 at Disney-MGM Studios. Susan Lucci will be the star attraction during this weekend of autograph sessions and special events featuring the stars of ABC Daytime Soap line-up. For more details call the Super Soap Hotline at (407) 397-6808. (And look for an article on making the most of Super Soap Weekend in the next edition of PassPorter News!)

>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 are a wealth of information! Here are the winners in this month's tip contest:

FIRST AID KIT
"Before touring the parks, put together a small first aid kit, and learn how to use it.  Band-Aids, moleskin for blisters, sunburn lotion, a triple-antibiotic ointment (like Neosporin), a pair of tweezers, nail clippers, some antiseptic wipes and a few aspirin and antacids take up very little room and can be wonderful to have in the right (wrong?) situation.  Walt Disney World first aid stations are well equipped but there is only one per park. Add any extras that might be necessary or comforting for your party.  Include a paper listing everyone's allergies, emergency contacts and doctor's phone numbers.  This park-friendly pack might not meet every possible need you can imagine but will be helpful for most of the little emergencies which are most likely to occur while away from your room." - contributed by Richard B.  (richardbonyak@...)

SAFETY TIPS FOR KIDS
"1. Discuss a meeting place if anyone should get lost; explain to child to go into a store or get a Cast Member to help them
2.  Provide your children with whistles and teach them that should they lose you, they should blow the whistle
3.  Use walkie-talkies inside the parks for emergency purposes - choose a channel and instruct child on how to use the device
4.  Go to a local store and purchase ponchos of color other than the yellow ones distributed at Walt Disney World
5. Have your children carry around a small note card with your cell phone number, resort info, any medical info, etc.
6. Most parents have pictures of their kids in their wallets and this can be of assistance to Cast Members when searching for a lost child." - contributed by Jim P. (jpap12@... )

PARKING PLACE REMINDER
"With all the different parking lots in Walt Disney World, it is sometimes hard to remember which area you parked in on any given day.  Now that I have a digital camera, I take a picture of something prominent near my car (for example the sign showing which lot we're in).  At the end of the day, I just scroll back if I can't remember, and there is my clue to locating my vehicle.  When I am back in my car, I can delete my picture and start again the next day!" - contributed by Pat K. 

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

Q & A:
With Jennifer and Dave

In this column we answer your frequently asked PassPorter and Disney questions.

 

June asks: "I just bought my PassPorter; found out about it on the Internet and went right over to Barnes and Noble and picked it up. It is wonderful, but I'm not quite sure what to do with the small square icon stickers. I'm a stickler for following the rules, so I want to do it right."

Jennifer answers: "The small square stickers in the back of PassPorter Walt Disney World can be used in any way you like. We intended that readers might like to use them to 'highlight' information on pages or pockets in the book (i.e., use the birthday cake sticker on the pocket that includes a priority seating for a birthday meal, or use the airplane sticker on the travel worksheet page, etc.). You could also just use the stickers to decorate your PassPockets, or let the kids have fun 'planning' by putting stickers throughout your book. Whatever works for you!"

Stephanie asks: "Is there wireless access (specifically in the rooms) at Port Orleans Riverside? We're thinking we need to take the laptop (to download all the photos!), and it would be nice to post them on ofoto for family while still on the trip!?"

Dave answers: "Internet access has been rolling-out at various WDW resorts for the past year. More and more are offering wired high-speed access (conventional Ethernet connections) in the rooms, and some are offering Wi-Fi as well.

I checked with the Grand Floridian (where we stayed back in May, and enjoyed wired in-room access but saw no mention of Wi-Fi). There, the Wi-Fi is available in the main lobby and concierge lobby areas, while the in-room access is wired. I'm going to guess that the situation will be similar at the other resorts listing Wi-Fi.

I did a spot check of the current resort pages at the official WDW site, and while Wi-Fi is mentioned at some, the availability of wired access is not necessarily listed at those that do offer it. As the roll-out is still going on, I suggest you contact your resort directly in the days before you travel - the situation is changing rapidly."

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 Get Published?

We're on the lookout for guest columnists to contribute articles to this newsletter. 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 details and our article guidelines, please e-mail news@passporter.com. Articles about Disney and general travel are welcomed!

Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter Travel Press

Going to Disney World in 2005 but want to get started planning now? Order our deluxe combo deal to get a 2004 deluxe edition now at 20% off, and the 2005 updated text and covers in January at 50% off. To order, visit:
http://www.passporterstore.com/store/
deluxecombodeal.aspx

A Few of My Favorite Things: Fall in Northern New England 
By Joy Gray, Guest Columnist and MouseEarVacations.com Travel Consultant
 

When and For How Long?
The first step in planning any vacation is choosing when to visit.  I, along with thousands of tourists, think early fall is the top pick!  The arrival of autumn brings a chill to the air and with it the glorious foliage that New England is famous for. "Fall foliage season" officially begins the last week of September and continues through the week of Columbus Day.  Hotels are more expensive during this period, but well worth the price when you consider the scenery and the variety of activities available. 

How long should you stay? A long weekend will give you time to sample one of my favorite areas, while a week will allow you to sample all three.

Check for special events (and/or foliage conditions) during your stay by visiting the official state tourism web sites: 
http://www.visitmaine.com/home.php 
http://www.visitnh.gov/ 
 http://www.travel-vermont.com/ 

Getting There
If you choose to fly, Manchester Airport (MHT) in New Hampshire is centrally located and offers the widest range of flights available north of Boston.  Discount carrier Southwest offers multiple daily flights into Manchester, including non-stops from Nashville, Chicago and Orlando. All the major rental car companies have on-site airport locations and you will find the area easy to navigate. 

Amtrak is one of my favorite ways to see New England, particularly in the fall. This can be one of the best ways to see a lot of area in a little amount of time, and the tracks all seem to follow especially scenic routes in this part of the country. Visit http://www.amtrak.com, click on Routes and check out the Vermonter, the Ethan Allen Express, the Downeaster, and the Acela Express to see the schedules. 

Must See Vermont
From Manchester, head up I-93 North to I-89 North.  Make this drive in daylight hours so you can enjoy the scenery. Take a break at Vermont Exit 1 off of I-89 and stop at Quechee Gorge for a quick peek. If you have younger children, you may also want to visit Quechee Gorge Village, which boasts a train and antique carousel, as well as a small but enjoyable toy museum. 

Enjoy your break, but don't stay too long, you still have a little driving left to do. Your destination is Stowe, a quaint village that is a wonderful year-round destination. Just 2.5 hours north of Manchester via car (non-stop), Stowe offers a relaxing atmosphere and ample activities for those of us who wish we were physically fit, but aren't quite there. Note: If you choose to travel Amtrak, the Vermonter conveniently stops near both Quechee Gorge and Stowe. 

Stowe is located ten miles off of I-89 at exit 10.  Got a sweet tooth?  The Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream factory is right off of exit 10 and boasts an ice cream shop and tours.  For information on the factory tour schedule call 1-866-BJ-Tours - operating hours vary depending on time of year. The tour is short and enjoyable, and kids who don't usually enjoy factory tours can be placated by the free ice cream at the end! 

For lodging, consider the budget and family friendly Commodores Inn -- a family-owned establishment with some of the friendliest 'crew' members in New England. My six year old daughter loved this Inn for the lake out back, which features complimentary paddle boats, canoe, and kayaks for guest use. The Stowe Yacht Club races remote controlled model yachts weekly on the lake from May to November. 

Slightly more upscale (and expensive) is the Stoweflake Inn and Spa. Be forewarned, they just completed a major addition to the spa that includes Sanctuary Lounges and an Aqua Solarium complete with indoor waterfall -- you may not want to leave! 

If only the best will do, overlooking Stowe is the Trapp Family Lodge (remember the Trapp family from "The Sound of Music"?)  One of Travel & Leisure's 500 Best Hotels of the world, this property is worth a visit even if you don't stay there.  Day visitors are welcome to tour the main floor of the lodge and the grounds, or to dine at the Austrian Tea Room. 

As for activities, one of my favorites is the Stowe recreation path.  If, like me, your idea of mountain biking is to ride a bike on a relatively flat, paved surface with mountains in the distance· this is for you!  Rent roller blades or touring bikes (training wheels and tagalongs available) and cruise this scenic 5.5 mile paved trail along the West Branch River.

For the less ambitious, try a drive up Route 108 through Smuggler's Notch (closed in winter).  Warning, this is not for the faint of heart - and the driver needs to pay attention to driving, not the scenery!  Have your camera ready. 

Horseback riding, hiking, gondola rides and farm tours are also available within minutes of Stowe.  There is so much to do; your challenge will be deciding what to do in your available time.

Must See New Hampshire
Where can you ride a Cog Railway to the home of the "World's Worst Weather"? In the White Mountains of New Hampshire! Also enjoy family-friendly hikes complete with a waterfall at the end, shop tax-free at the North Conway outlets, ride an aerial tramway, or visit one of three family-friendly theme parks: Storyland, Santa's Village, or Six Gun City. Be sure to check park schedules online to see if the parks are open during your visit.

If you have ever considered staying at an old country inn, or a bed and breakfast, this is a great place to try it out. The historic Eagle Mountain House in Jackson, NH offers great views. We also like The Covered Bridge House Inn B&B in Glen, which boasts its own privately owned covered bridge and some of the friendliest innkeepers we've ever met. 

My husband is a rail fan and so, by default, am I. We especially enjoy this region. The Cog Railway, the Hobo Railroad, Clark's Trading Post, the Conway Scenic Railroad  and the Hartmann Model Railroad  will all score points with the train lovers in your family.  Many offer special holiday and foliage season packages, so be sure to check online for details.

Unfortunately, with all of the great rail excursions available, Amtrak does not operate in this area, so if you are traveling Amtrak, you will need to connect via motor coach or rental car.

Must See Maine
Finish off your New England tour by visiting the Atlantic coast in southern Maine, which includes the now famous town of Kennebunkport. Take a boat tour from Kennebunk Marina and see if you can catch a glimpse of any of the Bush family!

Don't miss seeing the Cape Neddick "Nubble" Lighthouse. Have your camera ready and dress the kids in nice (coordinating) colors, because you will want to snap some family photos here. 

Rail fans need not despair, Amtrak services this area on the Downeaster, plus the Seashore Trolley Museum and the Maine Narrow Gauge Railway and museum are great fun. 

If by now the kids need something just for them, they will love York's Wild Kingdom which combines zoo and amusement park facilities in one location. 

Shoppers will want to stop at the Kittery outlets or venture North a bit to Freeport (home of LL Bean). The return drive to Manchester from Kittery is approximately 90 minutes if you drive like me, an hour if you drive like my husband. 

For more information about activities mentioned in this article, check out these web sites:

http://www.visitwhitemountains.com
http://www.storylandnh.com
http://www.santasvillage.com
http://www.sixguncity.com
http://www.cog-railway.com
http://www.hoborr.com
http://www.clarkstradingpost.com/railroad.html
http://www.conwayscenic.com
http://www.hartmannrr.com
http://www.lighthouse.cc/capeneddick
http://www.trolleymuseum.org
http://www.mngrr.org
http://www.yorkzoo.com

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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 travel.

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Our "Grand Gathering"
by Dorie Haggerty, Guest Columnist and Disney Addict

Where can you dance the night away with a Disney character-led conga line? Where can you sample food from Around the World all in one place? Where can you have a special meet and greet with Captain Hook, Mr. Smee and Peter Pan himself? Where can you watch the new "Wishes" fireworks from the Seven Seas Lagoon? At the new Magical Gathering - Grand Gathering events!

Our Magical Gathering Trip came about from a simple question from my mother-in-law.  "I was thinking of taking the grandchildren to Walt Disney World later this year.  Can you help me plan?"  Let me tell you, she didn't have to ask twice! I pulled out my trusty PassPorter planning guide and started showing her "the world." During one of our conversations, my mother-in-law mentioned how much the airfare would be for seven of them (she and six grandchildren).  I said, "You could drive down."  She then asked the most wonderful question, "Would you want to drive us down?" The Disney smile came upon my face and that was it.  There would be eight of us going -- nine if my husband wanted to join the fun -- and 10 if we included my daughter who was working at Walt Disney World.

Then I remembered Magical Gatherings. I had received in the mail a Vacation Planning Kit on how to plan a Magical Gathering. I just threw it in a drawer because my family of five did not add up to eight!  But now, the fun begins!

The Magical Gathering program is a wonderful way for a group of family or friends to enjoy special events being offered at Walt Disney World.  And for those of us who love to plan - it offers an online personalized planning site (http://www.disneyworld.com and click on Magical Gatherings for the fun to begin!).  First off, you register your group with Walt Disney World Travel Company (800-828-0228).  There is a specialized group of cast members assigned to the Magical Gathering program.  They are available to help with all aspects of your vacation - accommodations, dining, tours, special Grand Gathering events, and more!
 

After registering, I received a Magical Gathering group number. This would be used in making all of the reservations for our vacation. I was able to go on-line, download the Magical Gathering planner and register our group. The online service is awesome! I was able to keep a schedule of events for the trip, chat with other group members and print out a detailed list of events for our vacation.

The Magical Gatherings site explains in detail all of the Grand Gathering events offered to groups of eight or more.  At first sight, I thought they were rather expensive and was not sure if we would do any, but the events sounded so magical!  I thought that for my mother-in-law to experience even one of them with her grandchildren would allow them to create memories for a lifetime. So I penciled in two Grand Gathering events for our trip. I thought my mother-in-law would look at the price and say, "No way," but she didn't!  She trusted me to make the decisions for the trip. And now that the trip is over, there is no doubt in any of our minds that our Grand Gatherings events were absolutely magical and will be remembered for a lifetime!

Our first "Gathering" was the International Dinner and IllumiNations Dessert Reception. This is a must! It was absolutely wonderful! It is expensive -- $59.99 per person, but well worth the price!  Madame, a very magical lady who gets to know you and later uses any information she obtains to introduce your group during dinner, met our group at the door of Epcot's Odyssey Center. We were seated inside and at the table was a nice surprise -- a Magical Gatherings IllumiNations pin!  Our waitress welcomed us and took our drink orders, and off we went to experience the most delicious buffet in the entire world! There were nine stations with foods from various countries around World Showcase. And the special Grand Gathering touch -- it wasn't only buffet style; each station had its very own chef cooking food on site!  While we ate, there was a Grand Gathering DJ. He played music and told jokes all through dinner, and after dinner we sang, danced and laughed!  We also had two very special guests lead us in a conga line:  Goofy and Minnie Mouse. We had photo opportunities galore.  And on our way out to IllumiNations we were able to get a group photo with the characters. 

We were then led by lights to a special area just for the Grand Gatherings participants where we came face to face with a delicious display of desserts from around the World Showcase. We enjoyed the desserts as we waited for the start of the show. After IllumiNations, the cast members didn't rush us out.  We were able to sit and listen to the music playing, talking and eating more (those of us who had room!)  As everyone was leaving, all we heard were compliments!  The cast members only had smiles on their faces, no problems whatsoever!  As we walked out of Epcot, our family, too, only had smiles!  We never imagined all of the wonderful experiences that filled us with magic!

Our second Grand Gathering event was the Magical Fireworks Voyage. When I scheduled the event, I thought it was a slightly expensive but neat way to see the new fireworks show, Wishes. When it was over, our group thought $29.99 per person was a bargain for everything we experienced! This Grand Gathering is held at the Contemporary Resort dock. Upon arrival, we were given yet another Magical Gathering pin - this one a ferryboat with fireworks! Then the fun began!  We were treated to a chocolate (and fruit) dessert bar hosted by Nestle. There were hot and cold drinks as well.  While we were munching, two special guests arrived: Mr. Smee and Captain Hook!  Once again we had wonderful photo opportunities!  It was soon time for our cruise to begin and we headed to our boat.  Because it was raining, we were each given a chocolate chip cookie in case we got hungry!  Like we ever could be after the wonderful dessert buffet we just enjoyed!  The cruise starts with the Electrical Water Pageant and then on to see Cinderella Castle and Wishes! It was breathtaking! Pixie dust just sprinkled all over us! The fireworks were wonderful. And just when you think it's over, nope not yet. On the way back to the Contemporary dock we were asked trivia questions and given prizes for the right answers! And in true Disney style, all of the children on the boat were given a prize -- a Peter Pan book -- even if they didn't answer a trivia question. And guess what? It still wasn't over! We were met by one more special visitor - Peter Pan, himself!  We were able to take group and individual photos with him and he signed each and every autograph book. As we walked away from the boat dock, my mother-in-law said, "Thank you for making our trip so magical!"

And it was. After these two wonderful events, I was sad that I had not planned any of the other Grand Gatherings for our vacation. I can only imagine the magic they entail!  My only problem now: Where do I find eight people to go again? 

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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 Magical Gatherings.