| November 19, 2009 * Issue 9.47 |
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In This Newsletter
From the Authors: 2010 Editions are Coming 'Round the Mountains!
Travel Feature: Salem, Massachusetts
Disney Feature: Victoria and Albert's
Updates: What's New and Changed
Tips: Castaway Club Platinum Benefits, ,
Captain's Corner: 13 Minutes
PassPorter PhotoPick: Aerial View of Downtown Disney
Q and A: Do you know the daily rate for the new Cabanas being built on Castaway Cay?
Our
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Updates: What's New and Changed
Here are a few items of relevant news:
Disney Parks Mobile Application Now Available Verizon Wireless customers can now download the "soft" version of the Mobile Magic application for $9.99 for 180 days by using the "Get New Applications" function on their phone or by texting "Magic" to 2777. Mobile Magic will show FASTPASS return times, attraction wait times and character locations. Standard download, data and message charges apply. The application will be available for more phones and with more functionality in January 2010. This updates page 300 of PassPorter's
guidebook
Disney's Wide World of Sports to Change Name On February 25, 2010, Disney's Wide World of Sports will officially become the ESPN Wide World of Sports. Among other changes, the All Star Cafe will now be known as the ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill, the new ESPN Innovation Lab (already open) is working on creating new products for TV viewers and a new broadcast center with a direct link to ESPN headquarters in Bristol, CT has been built. This updates page 300 of PassPorter's
guidebook
Our thanks to AllEars.net and MousePlanet.com from which we get some of our news leads.
Hear some news? Be a 'PassPorter Reporter' and send it to us!
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Disney Tips: From Fellow
Readers Our readers deliver a wealth of information! Send us your tips! You may see them in this newsletter and win a copy of PassPorter! And you never know -- your tip could even appear in a future edition of a PassPorter guidebook.
CASTAWAY CLUB PLATINUM BENEFITS ' PassPorter Reader Mary K. recently sent us this write up of her recent experience as a Castaway Club Platinum Member:
I just sailed on a three night Bahamas cruise on the Disney Wonder. As a platinum guest, I wanted to share some of the perks that I received.
We checked in at concierge check in and were given boarding pass number one. As soon as suite guests boarded, we boarded. Also, lanyards are now color coded into silver, gold and platinum. Most guests on the ship appeared to be silver.
Upon arriving in our stateroom, we got the same gift as all levels of castaway club members, but the first evening, we received another platinum gift. It was a box of chocolates, leather travel document case, luggage strap and a list of a few other things:
A. A choice of either - a full tray of fruit, shrimp cocktail, cheese platter or sparkling wine. (We selected the wine as fruit and cheese trays are available from room service and shrimp is on lunch buffet. Wine was the best choice for us.)
B. A merchandise offer; if you spend $100 or more in one purchase at treasure ketch or mickeys mate, you get a $25 credit back.
C. An invitation for an inside look at the Castaway Cay animal program. We were instructed to meet Wilson, the animal program manager at 3:30 at the Stingray Hut. Upon arrival, there were only three sets of guests. Wilson talked about the animals and answered questions about Castaway Cay in general.
D. We also went to Palo and got our dinner service fee of $15 per person taken off of the bill. Although only one of us was a platinum guest, both fees were taken off the bill.
E. I booked another cruise while on board and also found out that platinum guests receive a larger onboard credit for booking on board. We booked an August 2011 cruise on the Dream and received a $200 onboard credit for a five night cruise!
It was great to finally be recognized like other cruise lines do for their guests!' -- contributed by Mary
'' -- contributed by
'' -- contributed by
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 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. (Please note: Players can win once every three months.)
Here is this week's journal entry:
"I consider myself a patient man. I am willing to wait in the standby line of almost any attraction at Walt Disney World. But today my patience was no match for my superstitions. While approaching one of my favorite rides, I glanced at the wait time sign ... 13 minutes! No, nope, no siree, I won't stand in any line that's 13 minutes long. I'd rather drop dead."
Where at Walt Disney World might you find an attraction with a wait time of 13 minutes?
For bonus credit, locate the photo in the PassPorter Photo Archive and post a comment with the photo!
Congratulations to Pat A. who was the winner of last week's trivia contest! Pat A. was the first person to
identify the answer to last week's clue as along the river in Camp Minnie Mickey in Disney's Animal Kingdom (he has a sandwich and apple in his lunchbox). Bonus credit goes to countrycathy as the first person to locate the photo in our PassPorter Photo Archive. To view the original clue, see last week's newsletter.
Send your full answer to jackskatt@passporter.com -- the winner will be notified by e-mail and announced in a future
newsletter, along with the correct answer!
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PassPorter PhotoPick Each issue we choose a special photo from thePassPorter Photo Archive which highlights something beautiful, interesting,
humorous, or timely at Disney or around the world. Here is this issue's PassPorter PhotoPick:
 Aerial View of Downtown Disney Photo by alisonhinsley
(click the photo or link to see a larger photo with details)
You can nominate photos as a PassPorter PhotoPick by giving ratings in the PassPorter Photo Archive (you'll need to be logged in to do this). If you'd like to contribute your own photos to the Photo Archive and be considered as a PhotoPick, please read our Photo Upload Guidelines for details and benefits.
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. . . . . . . | Q and A: With Jennifer and
Dave
hunnybe asks: "Is there any idea of the daily rate for the new Cabanas that are being built on Castaway Cay?"
Dave answers: "I suspect we won't know pricing until it's time for them to open the bookings for the completed cabanas. We could look at the pricing Disney is offering for the new cabanas at WDW's water parks (about $250/day if I recall correctly), but since the level of service will be different, I don't think I want to go out on that limb."
Did our message board members agree with Dave? To see other answers that hunnybe received, check out the rest of the thread on the PassPorter Message Boards..
Have a question? Post questions 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?
PassPorter News is published weekly, and this means we're always in need of articles! 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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Our Sponsors: We Recommend... PassPorter only accepts advertising from services of the highest
quality -- we recommend these companies because we use them ourselves. Please support our sponsors and, in turn, support this newsletter! This week's sponsors
are (in order of appearance):
MouseEarVacations.com -
FREE Nights at the Walt Disney World® Resort
Mouse Fan Travel -
Dream-ing of a Disney Cruise in 2011? Book the Disney Dream!
Quicksilver Tours & Transportation -
$5.00 off airport round-trip town car!
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|  |  | From the Authors: 2010 Editions are Coming 'Round the Mountains!
Hi, {{user('firstname')}}!
Every year at this time we use this space to track the shipping progress of the latest edition PassPorter's Walt Disney World from our printer in Hong Kong to our warehouses in the Midwest. As of today, all three (yes, 3) big, honkin' shipping containers are in the U.S. and rolling on the railroad, two bound for our book distributor in Tennessee, and one bound for our warehouse here in Michigan. They're getting so close we can smell their "new book scent!"
Free Electronic Edition of 2010 Guidebook For All Pre-Orders!
Would you like to start reading and planning now while you wait for your pre-ordered copy of PassPorter's Walt Disney World 2010 to arrive? Now you can! We've put the entire book into our new online book browser for you to flip through, search, and zoom into. To access the electronic edition, look up your PassPorter Store order number (check your confirmation e-mail), login, and go to the PassPorter Book Browser (enter your order number when prompted). Step by step directions on how to do this are at the 2010 Pre-Order Center page! Tip: Anyone who pre-orders a copy of the 2010 edition through the PassPorter Store has access to this electronic edition, so if you pre-order right now, you'll get immediate access also!
PassPorter Coupon for Facebook Fans
Become a "fan" of the official PassPorter page on Facebook and get a 30% discount coupon good for PassPorter books and products in the PassPorter Store! Get all the details at our Facebook page -- coupon expires November 23, 2009.
Updated E-Book: PassPorter's Disney Vacation Club Guide
A second revision of PassPorter's Disney Vacation Club Guide for Members and Members-To-Be is ready for download. Changes include the newly released 2010 points charts for Disneyland, the Concierge Collection, the Disney parks outside the US, Adventures by Disney, and the World Passport Collection, along with updated point prices and the latest information on the perks available to DVC members. If you purchased the e-book from our online store, you can download the revised version by going to the PassPorter Store, logging into your account, locating the e-book in your Order History, and clicking the download link. If you're a member of PassPorter's Club, just head over to the Club and download from The Reading Room, as always.
Sneak Peek at PassPorter's Walt Disney World 2010
We've posted a cool sneak peek of PassPorter's Walt Disney World 2010 on the PassPorter.com front page. We're using a new technique for displaying the sample pages -- the pages actually flip! -- and we think you'll really enjoy it! Meantime, as we reported last week, the real books have been delayed on their way out of Hong Kong. The current estimated arrival at our warehouse is around Thanksgiving. Let's hope that schedule works out, because we'd really rather not feel like turkeys. If you've pre-ordered the new edition and are traveling in November or December of this year, contact us so that we can properly prioritize your shipment or change your order. We also thank all of you in advance for your loyalty and forbearance.
Note: For those viewing this newsletter online or in another Flash-friendly location, here's that sneak peek of the 2010 edition we mentioned above. Can't see it, go here toPassPorter.com's front page!
New E-Book: PassPorter's Walt Disney World for British Holidaymakers

We're pleased to offer a "brit" different view of Walt Disney World with the debut of PassPorter's Walt Disney World for British Holiday Makers by Cheryl Pendry, one of our intrepid Featured Columnists for the PassPorter newsletter and co-author of our recently released Disney Vacation Club Guide e-book, too! This comprehensive, 260-page e-book covers every aspect of visiting Walt Disney World from the United Kingdom. It takes you through your entire visit, from the planning stages to working out the best way to get there and get around, with details about arriving in America, passports and immigration, duty-free allowances, driving in the States, and staying in touch while you're away.
As well as looking at all the Walt Disney World resorts, PassPorter's Walt Disney World for British Holiday Makers has details on some of the hotels most commonly featured in British holiday brochures for Lake Buena Vista, the International Drive area, Kissimmee, and Universal Orlando. PassPorter's Walt Disney World for British Holiday Makers also explores the other Orlando theme parks that British visitors head to, with detailed information on the attractions and dining options at Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Universal CityWalk, SeaWorld, Discovery Cove, Aquatica, and Wet 'n Wild. Two of the most popular day trips from Orlando—Busch Gardens in Tampa and Kennedy Space Center in Cocoa—are covered, too. Among the e-book's other features are a look at the chain restaurants in Orlando, coverage of the shopping options around the area, and information on airport hotel and parking packages so you can start your holiday in a more relaxed frame of mind. Plus, handy clip-and-save currency conversion rate tables give you a guide to how much your pound might buy you in the States.
So how do you get a copy of PassPorter's Walt Disney World for British Holiday Makers ? The e-book is currently available as a regular membership benefit for members of PassPorter's Club (this is a great time to join!). You can also purchase this e-book at the PassPorter Store. Want a peek inside the e-book? You can browse a bit of it online at http://www.passporter.com/wdw/brits.asp.
New PassPorter's E-Books Browser
Ever wish you could browse PassPorter's e-books like you do one of our print books? Now you can with PassPorter's E-Book Browser, a new and nifty online feature that offers sneak peeks of all our e-books to anyone! To see it in action, visit http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/view.php?pg=ebooks-browser . Each of our eleven e-books is available, and each has a sneak peek offering anything from 7%-10% of the actual e-book! The E-Books Browser has fun features like the ability to "flip" pages as you would in a real book, amazing search capabilities, print functions, and the ability to share the sneak peeks with a friend! Another neat thing about the E-Books Browser is that if you're already a PassPorter's Club passholder, you can view the FULL version of the e-books in all their glory right there -- just be sure you're logged in when you view e-books. It's as easy as that!
PassPorter's Club
Update
- More than 1500 vacationers are now enjoying access to all our e-books, e-worksheets, and super-sized photo archive images. Thank you for your continued support!
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In this issue, PassPorter Featured Columnist Sue Kulick shares information on Salem, Massachusetts. Then PassPorter Featured Columnist Cheryl Pendry gives us a glimpse into Victoria and Albert's. Finally, Jack Skatt is back with a brand-new Walt Disney World Treasure Hunt.
Jennifer and Dave Marx PassPorter Founders and
Authors
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Travel
Feature:
Salem, Massachusetts: History, Halloween & Hauntings! Sue Kulick, PassPorter Featured Columnist
Probably the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about Salem, Massachusetts is witches. Scary witches in pointy black caps that get around on brooms while petting black cats! Well, you might be surprised to learn that Salem in a lot more than that. In fact, it is a great spot to get away for a long weekend.
The City of Salem was founded in 1629 in the sea-battered Cape Ann area. Roger Conant and a small group of settlers wanted a permanent home, and the fertile area on the mouth of the Naumkeag River was chosen. The name was an interpretation of "Shalom," which means peace in Hebrew.
The little village thrived and grew, increasing in population and prosperity. However, this prosperity was not without its own problems, and soon religious beliefs, rivalry among towns, and a group of young ladies in need of attention spawned the famous witch trials of 1692.
When the dust settled from that, Salem went back to being a growing harbor town. With its prime location, it became the sixth largest American city of the 18th century. In the early 1800s, novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in Salem, and by the mid 19th century, Salem was thriving as a manufacturing center. In 1914, a devastating fire swept through the town, destroying 400 buildings and leaving thousands homeless.
Salem floundered for a number of years, but in the mid 1970s a revitalization of the town began, and is still ongoing. Today's Salem is a working harbor, a tourist destination and a funky place to live and work.
So what does Salem have to offer? Let's begin with the history. The 1692 witch trials were a huge part of America's history, reflecting the times and the tribulations that the early settlers lived in. It wasn't magic, but it was mayhem. You can visit sites like the Salem Witch Museum, which gives you the background of the witch trials with a little fun thrown in. For a real taste of 17th century witch hunts, don't miss Cry Innocent!, a theater production put on by the theater students of Gordon College. It's 1692, and Bridget Bishop, a local tavern owner, has been accused of witchcraft. YOU are the jury! Don't miss this unique theater opportunity. The Witch Dungeon Museum will give you a recreated tour of the dungeons and of Gallows Hill. One thing you will take away from this tour is the deplorable conditions these imprisoned accused witches had to endure. This is a re-creation, but it is very true to life. The real dungeons were discovered in the 1960s when the telephone company was excavating for its new building. They were buried beneath the ground, and despite an attempt to save this huge piece of history, construction went on and the dungeons were destroyed.
If it's Salem history you are interested in, there is plenty that doesn't include alleged witches. Spend some time at Pioneer Village, also enacted by the students of Gordon College. You will be transported back to 17th New England, complete with period costumed actors and all the comforts of village life. Don't miss the Peabody Essex Museum, a highlight of our trip. Full of the art and history of New England, it also has local artwork and an ever changing array of exhibits. When we visited, some of the original witch trial documents were on display, and you never know what treasures you might find.
Another not-to-be-missed attraction is The House of Seven Gables. The house was built in 1668 and inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne to write his famous novel. You can tour the house and the grounds, as well as visit the home where Hawthorne was born. The house is a museum, and holds plenty of artifacts and literary works.
Of course, Salem is also known for its maritime history and attractions. The National Park Service operates the Salem Maritime National Historic Site, with a museum, tours and the Derby Lighthouse. The Schooner Fame operates out of Pickering Wharf Marina, and tours the harbor three times a day in season. There is also The Salem Ferry, operating between Salem and Boston. It's a nice, scenic, 45 minute cruise across one of America's prettiest harbors. For a relaxing afternoon, climb onboard any of the Essex River Cruises for a few hours of natural beauty.
OK, so it's really the witch in the pointy hat that you are interested in, right? In that case, you must be here for Salem's Haunted Happenings. Every October, Salem takes Halloween to a new level. In addition to all the regular events, there are psychic fairs, Halloween parties, ghost tours, and night time revelry. Tickets sell out in advance, so it's best to plan early. The atmosphere is fun and frivolous, a good time to let yourself have the kind of Halloween fun that you haven't had since you were a kid. Haunted Happenings is family-friendly during the day and early evening, and adult-friendly at night. It's a great getaway for all ages!
One of the best resources on Salem is The Official Visitors Guide. Packed with information, prices, schedules, accommodations, and dining options, you can plan your whole vacation here.
Salem is a quaint New England town steeped in history and haunting. As the locals say "Stop by for a spell." You'll be glad you did!
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About the Author: Sue Kulick is a resident of the Pocono Mountains and an avid Disney fan. She and her husband, Steve, live in a log home with their Golden Retrievers, Cody and Belle and their cat Tigger.
Questions, feedback, or
corrections about this article, or just want to give kudos to the author? Share a comment here or e-mail
us at news@passporter.com. Also check out our Article Collection for more great information!
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Victoria and Albert's: A Disney Dining Review Cheryl Pendry, PassPorter Featured Columnist
One thing Disney is very good at is persuading you to spend money whenever you visit any of their theme parks around the world. Something else Disney is very good at is providing first class customer service and breathtaking food. Put all of that together at the one of the most exclusive Disney restaurants in the world and you've got the basis of Victoria and Albert's.
Fittingly, Victoria and Albert's is located at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, the most expensive hotel on property at Walt Disney World, where everything just screams opulence from the moment you arrive. Located on the second floor at the back of the main lobby, Victoria and Albert's is a place that's very much hidden away and there's good reason for that. It's an exclusive place and, for men to enter, a jacket is a must. It's a policy that Disney takes seriously, as we've seen men turned away only to return red-faced a few moments later complete with the required jacket. For women, cocktail dresses or fine tops and pants are the norm and it's one of the few places where you can give an outing to the finest dress in your wardrobe without feeling out of place. On the occasions we've dined at Victoria and Albert's I've felt almost like a real princess, dressed in my finery, with people looking at me.
As soon as you enter Victoria and Albert's, you realize this is a very different environment from any other Disney restaurant. For starters, you won't see any children under the age of 10, thanks to a policy introduced in 2008. The lighting is intentionally dark to add the ambiance, although I must admit on occasions I have found it a little too dark for my liking and it certainly makes taking photos in there an interesting challenge. Using a flash is a must, but to do so almost feels disrespectful to the other diners there, as Disney has worked so hard to create a romantic atmosphere. That's added to by the harpist who plays at times during your meal.
So to the important part – the food. The first thing to say is that this is not a cheap meal. In fact, it's anything but. The prix fixe menu is now $125 and if you want to sample the Chef's Table, that will set you back $165. They also offer a wine pairing, which I sampled on our most recent visit there, which is $60. That may sound steep, but having tried it, I can recommend it. I expected to literally sample a small amount of wine to go with each course, but not all! A full glass was presented each time. It is very easy to roll out of the restaurant following that, so it's not an option that will work for anyone who's planning on driving afterwards.
Before you arrive for your meal, you'll get a call from the team at Victoria and Albert's, usually a day or so beforehand, to check for any allergies. Don't be afraid to mention even the smallest thing, as they really will work around you. I don't eat meat and was presented with a beautiful selection of either fish or vegetarian dishes, while my husband's allergy to dairy products was handled wonderfully. It was fascinating to compare our menus to see what they had come up with for each of us. It's worth mentioning here that the menus will also be personalized with your name on it and the details of any special event you're celebrating, which is a lovely touch.
It's very hard to say what will be on your menu when you dine at Victoria and Albert's, as it changes every day, as you'd expect from a top class restaurant. Each course usually has two or three choices for you to pick from. Everyone does at least start with the amuse bouche (small bite meant to tempt your palate) and then six more courses await you. At first, that sounds almost daunting and you imagine that, by the third or fourth course, you'll be stuffed full and feeling sick. Not a bit of it. Just as you finish the final mouthful of dessert, you feel satisfied, as if you've had a good meal, but not too much. It's amazing how the chefs do that, and it's a real talent.
To give you an idea of the food you might get – and do bear in mind that I don't eat meat and my husband has a dairy allergy – here's what we were lucky enough to experience on our most recent visit to Victoria and Albert's. Our first course choices were Ohio Tomatoes with Costa Rican Hearts of Palm, Niçoise Olives and Ahi Tuna, and Long Island Duck with Tuscan melon, Grains of Paradise, and Minus Eight Vinegar. The second course choices were Diver Scallop with Asparagus and Cauliflower and Saffron Emulsion, and Colorado Lamb with Wild Mushroom Ragout, Porcini Pasta, and Truffle Foam. The next course saw my husband opting for the Diver Scallops I'd had for the second course, as oddly they were offered to both of us in different courses, while I had the roasted pumpkin cream with squash ragout.
Then you get to the main course and here we went for John Dory with Roasted Delicata and Pumpkin and Styrian Pumpkinseed Oil, and New Zealand Elk with Potato Gnocchi and Veal Sweetbreads. Next is the course that gets your pallet ready for dessert and I had the guava gelato with micro garden mint and my husband had the specially prepared cheese plate. Yes, even with a dairy allergy, the chefs at Victoria and Albert's had thoughtfully put together a cheese plate that he could eat. That's the sort of attention to detail you get here.
The final course, always the best, is dessert and our choices were the Hawaiian Kona Chocolate Soufflé, and Poached Pear with Cassis Mousse and Spiced Cake. Every course was absolutely superb. I will be honest, some of the names are daunting and you do wonder what on earth you'll be presented with, but as soon as you take a mouthful, all the flavors blend together perfectly. We quickly learned to implicitly trust the chefs here, as all the choices are first class.
So how long does the whole dining process take? Unbelievably, it's about three hours long in total, but it doesn't feel like that at all. It feels like a well-paced meal, with just enough time in between each course.
Quite simply, this place does not disappoint. It is Disney's finest dining experience and rightly so. Everything is outstanding and the food is unbelievable. If you can afford to try Victoria and Albert's, you owe it to yourself to do so, as it's a decision you won't regret.
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About the Author: Cheryl is the author of the new e-book, PassPorter's Walt Disney World for British Holidaymakers, as well as Co-Author of PassPorter's Disney Vacation Club Guide: For Members and and Members-To-Be. Cheryl and husband Mark live in England and love to travel, particularly to Disney, and they have made numerous visits to destinations across America and Europe. They recently completed their tour of every Disney theme park around the world, which culminated in their visit to Japan, including the Tokyo Disney Resort.
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