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December 28, 2006 * Issue 6.50 |
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 In
This Newsletter
From the Authors:
Happy New Year!
Travel Feature:
Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions: A Travel Agent's Perspective
Disney Feature: Making
the Most of Disney's BoardWalk Resort
Updates: What's
New and Changed
Tips:
Marvelous Maps, Hot Water How-To, Put Away Those Pins
Captain's Corner: Weird Wide Web
Q&A: Do
airlines ever give complimentary upgrades upon request?
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Updates:
What's
New and Changed
Here are a few items of relevant news:
Plans have been announced for a
Walt Disney
Family Museum to be located at The Presidio in San Francisco. The museum
will focus on Walt's personal life and will feature personal artifacts,
video interviews with his contemporaries and family members, and a walk-through
show about Walt's life.
Donny Osmond will be signing autographs at the Disney Outfitters store at
Disney's Animal Kingdom on Friday, December 29, 2006. Osmond provided the
singing voice of Shang in the Disney animated feature movie, "Mulan," and is
currently appearing on Broadway as Gaston in Disney's Beauty and the Beast.
Walt Disney World is again changing the children's menus at their food
establishments, likely in response to guest feedback. Kid-friendly foods such as
macaroni and cheese, hot dogs and chicken nuggets have been reintroduced while
healthy options such as pita pizzas, yogurt and fruit remain. Soft drinks and
French fries are not listed as the main side dish options for kids meals' but
ARE available.
Our thanks to AllEars.net
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:
MARVELOUS MAPS
"I ordered the custom maps from the
DisneyWorld.com vacation planning section (for free). I was expecting to get
copies of the park maps that are available on property. I wanted to use them to
help prepare my four-year-old for the trip. To my wonderful surprise they came
customized with our family's name and included some special attractions that I
had entered as "favorites". They are printed on really nice heavy paper. They
are beautiful! They're almost too nice to use with my daughter!"
-- contributed by Kristine A. (daisyjane1216@...)
HOT WATER HOW-TO
"After a long day walking the parks and standing in line, most people want
to go home and put their legs up. The best thing I found to re-energize my legs
is soaking in a long "hot as I can stand it" bath. The hot water helps loosen
your leg, hip and lower back muscles, while the privacy lets your mind unwind
from all the excitement. As a retired professional wrestler, I know what hot
soaks can do for your mind and body. If your hotel offers a hot tub, that works
too."
-- contributed by Kelly Adkins
PUT AWAY THOSE PINS
"Make sure you secure your lanyards full of pins (or hats, etc.) before
you ride any of the attractions. I've lost a couple of pins because I didn't
make sure they were properly secured or put away before I boarded a ride. But
Disney, in its typical magical fashion, happily offered to replace each one."
-- contributed by
Cami O. (age 12)
>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 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 journal entry:
"My old friends -- the Marxes -- sent me a holiday card with an alarming photo of their son Alexander. Their toddler
is stuck on a huge spider web! And yet, the boy has a grin on his face. I'm wondering if the photo is not all it seems -- the spider web does
seem vaguely familiar. I'm stuck
on where the photo was shot, however."
The "sticky" photo:
Where is this spider web?
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 Pam P. who was the winner
of last week's treasure hunt game! She correctly identified
the Carousel of Progress as the location of the Christmas scene described in
last week's clue. To view the original clue, 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
mistybuchanan asks:
"Does anyone know if
airlines will give upgrades to a different class when you ask? We are going on
our honeymoon and its our first time going to Walt Disney World and we figured
if we asked the worst they could say is no. I have checked and there are only 2
first class seats sold so far...just wondering."
Dave & Jennifer answer:
"Generally, there are
too many people that deserve an upgrade, and too few seats to go around. These
days, nearly every upgrade is paid for in some fashion - either by frequent
fliers spending miles to get the upgrade, "platinum" frequent fliers getting
free upgrades, or coach passengers purchasing upgrades. Spirit sells their
vacant "business class" seats by offering low-priced ($40-$60) upgrades to travelers as
they check in. If those tactics don't fill the seats and they need to
make room in coach class due to overbooking, then they'll start moving coach
passengers forward at no charge. On some airlines, they'll give those seats to
airline employees flying on their discounts, "deadheading" airline crews... just
about anything but give them to regular customers, because that may raise
"unreasonable expectations" among the flying public.
Still, it never hurts to ask."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?
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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From
the Authors: Happy New Year!
Hi, {{user("firstname")}}!
Wow, what a year! We published four new PassPorter books and two new e-books,
got PassPorter to the weekly travel bestseller list more than 30 times,
mailed 50 PassPorter newsletters (with 100 feature articles and 150 reader tips), welcomed over 5000 new members to the
PassPorter message boards, and celebrated the first wedding between two people who met thanks to PassPorter. Wow!
Thank YOU for helping us this past year, and we look forward to a brand new year of magic-making with you!
The new edition of PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line guidebook
is now available for pre-order and is expected
to arrive around January 22, 2007. The new edition is 336 pages (our longest yet!) with in-depth information on all 2007 ports, including the
special Mediterranean and repositioning ports. As an added bonus, readers who pre-order the guidebook through us will receive the Mediterranean
cruise sections (over 70 pages) in a preview PDF file as an immediate download.
PassPorter Walt Disney
World 2007 is in stock and orders from the PassPorter Store are shipping on the next
business day. Place your order today at
our online store. And don't forget to use the 20% off coupon code at
the bottom of this issue of PassPorter News!
In this issue of the newsletter, veteran
contributor and travel agent Maureen Austin answers the
top 10 frequent asked questions about Disney travel and Terry Rohrer reveals the hidden gem that is
Disney's BoardWalk Resort. Enjoy!
Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter Authors
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Did You Know?
Great Cruise Rates are available at
MouseEarVacations.com!
 Disney
Cruise Line®
Special MouseFest 2007 Offer
Book your MouseFest 2007 Cruise (Dec. 2-6) before January 20, and receive up
to
$100 onboard credit per cabin.
Click here to request a quote!
*Offer based on double occupancy.
Ships' Registry: The Bahamas CST2058090-40 www.MouseEarVacations.com 800-886-8601
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Travel
Feature:
Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions:
A Travel Agent's Perspective
by
Maureen Austin, Guest Contributor and PassPorter Message Board Guide
In the years since I have become a travel agent, I've been asked
many, many questions. Some queries come up more often than others and these
questions seemed perfect for a list of Frequently Asked Questions that might
benefit the traveler. Some questions pertain to Disney travel, some are more
general but every question is a good one.
10. Should I fly or drive? You'll see that many of these
questions are the kind that only the traveler themselves can answer but a good
travel agent can point out pros and cons and give you some things to think about
in order to make a good decision. When a client asks me this one, I suggest
considering the cost of a fare versus the time it takes to drive, in addition to
gas, food and other normal parts of any road trip. For some, time is money, and
if that is the case, I generally recommend flying.
9. How do I get the best deal on airfare? Do your homework! I
always recommend a travel fare finder such as Travelocity's Fare Watcher to
notify you of any changes in fares to a specific destination. Sign up for e-mail
sales alerts. If a client is interested in a package vacation to Disney or
anywhere else, we normally check the rates on air that can be bundled with the
package. In many cases, the fares get better if clients book directly from the
airline websites. The key to getting really good airfares is being flexible,
either with dates, times and surrounding airports. I'll use myself as an
example - when searching for fares to Orlando from our regional airport in
December I was disappointed to find nothing under $585 per person. I widened my
search to another airport and got a little more flexible with my departure time-
and poof! I paid $230 per person instead. For a family of six that's more than
worth the hour and a half's drive!
8. What is the best time of year to travel? It depends on where
you are going. Summer is a big travel season to most destinations, but there are
still good deals out there. If you want to take in New Year's Eve on Times
Square in NYC, then you'll pay more for a stay than at other times of the year.
Europe in the fall and winter can be a good value. My husband and I flew to
London on British Airways for an unbelievable fare of $250 per person and got an
excellent deal on a hotel - all for visiting in November. It was a bit cold but
we were treated to superb Christmas lights and decorations and few crowds at
popular sightseeing spots. Again, the key is flexibility - the more flexible
you are, the more travel opportunities are available to you, and at a good price.
7. What kind of vacations can we take that will help keep the budget in
check? You can do this with any kind of vacation if you do some
really good planning. However, I have some clients who prefer to pay for most
expenses up front. These folks are excellent prospects for all-inclusive resorts,
cruises and escorted tours. In most instances, lodging, some or most meals,
entertainment, and transfers are included in the vacation price. Of course, not
every single cost can be eliminated prior to departure. Souvenirs and some
gratuities for example, have to be accounted for while you travel.
6. How much do you charge for your services? This may depend
from agency to agency, area to area. Some agencies do charge consultation fees
that the agency may apply towards your package if you follow through and book
with them. However, most agencies and the agents that work in them are paid by
suppliers (meaning the tour operator, hotel or package vendor) and charge the
client nothing. To avoid any surprises later, ask!
5. Do I really need the trip insurance? Here's another question
that really has to be answered by the traveler, but I recommend it. No matter
how healthy you or other family members may be, the unexpected can happen. In
that event, are you content to lose money? Trip protection helps you recover
some of those losses and also protects you during the course of your vacation,
should something happen while you are on it. Policies are offered by most tour
operators and there are also independent companies offering policies you buy
direct from them. The plans can vary some in terms of coverage, so it's
important to review conditions and policies carefully to find one that meets
your needs. Your travel agent can help you do this.
My favorite vacations to book are of course, Disney destinations! Loving the
magic personally as much as I do, it's easy to get excited and help another
Disney fan make their dreams come true. These next four questions, about Disney
travel are definitely the ones I am asked most often!
4. Where should I stay/should I really stay at Disney? If only
it were that easy to decide, right? It can be a little overwhelming, especially
to clients who are traveling to Walt Disney World in particular, for the first
time. Your budget has to be a consideration. If you book a stay at a resort
that is way beyond your comfort level financially, I assure you it will make it
very difficult to enjoy your vacation (been there and done that). ALL of the
Disney Resorts have their own special attributes but whether you choose All-Star
Sports or the Grand Floridian the benefits, such as Extra Magic Hours, remain
the same. I do recommend staying with Disney. However, I am not paying for that
vacation, so that decision ultimately has to be the travelers. Book
what you can afford and select from that category - there are different resorts
with completely different "feels" in each of the four price categories. From time to time
specials and discounts may become available. In that event, you can move up to
another category or resort if you wish. It's a good idea to let your travel
agent know when you book so they can be searching and ready if a discount
becomes available. Do not book a resort priced higher than you can afford in the
hopes or need for a discount later. Those deals are never guaranteed.
3. How far in advance should we book? As soon as you are ready!
Actually, if you are planning for your toddler's high school graduation trip you'll have to wait just awhile. I usually plan my own trips from 9-14 months
out and I have found most clients approach me to help them plan anywhere from 4
months to 12 months prior. Of course, if the urge for a weekend getaway next
month hits, don't hesitate to contact a travel agent. One caveat about very
advance planning - if you book your Disney trip in one year but actually travel
the next, rate increases may affect the price. This can hold true for any trip,
so be sure to ask if rates are guaranteed.
2. Do we really need to make Disney dining arrangement so far ahead? I
totally empathize here. I mean, really, do we actually know what we want to eat
and when if a trip is still six months away? It's hard, but yes, you really need
to book those meals as soon as the window (180 days for most restaurants) opens.
Sketch out a basic plan as best as you can, especially if park hours are
available, and book. With the increased popularity of the Disney Dining Plan,
walk up seating is harder and harder to get. Please don't set yourself up for
that disappointment! While some dining arrangements require a credit card
guarantee and a 24-48 hour cancellation to avoid a no-show fee, most
reservations can be canceled up until the seating time without issue. I always
ask clients to cancel or have me cancel any dining arrangements they want to
pass on so it opens up tables for other folks.
And the number one question...
1. Is there anything else we should know about to make our trip to
Disney more magical? Usually, my response is, "How much time do we
have to talk?" The possibilities are endless! Advise your travel agent if there
are any family celebrations. Are there members of your family who are especially
interested in trains, or gardening? Do you have any scuba divers in the crew, or
how about race fans? If you answered yes, then there is something at Disney that
will add to their magical time. A good travel agent will take the time to get to
know you and your family while helping you plan, but you, the client, also have to help
your agent do that! I always refer my clients to additional sources they can
review at their leisure, such as PassPorter and also
AllEars.net. If any questions come
up, then they can come back to me for any additional input. Travel planning is a
team effort between agent and client. And the results? Memories that last a
lifetime!
About the Author:
Maureen is the Co-Owner of
Ears To You Travel as well as a
PassPorter Message Board Guide.
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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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Did
You Know?
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Special Mouse Fan Savings!
Wishing you Magic & Joy in 2007!
Walt Disney World Resort® - 4 Nights
Apr 18-22, 2007 - From only $202 pp
Includes a Disney Gift Card too!
If this doesn't quite fit
your needs,
ask us about customizing your stay!
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Disney Feature:
Making the Most of Disney's
BoardWalk Resort
by
Terry Rohrer, Guest Contributor
A hidden gem at Walt Disney
World is Disney's Boardwalk Resort. Most vacationers may not know what
entertainment and dining options are available to guests that are not staying at
the property. We found what this resort offers when a friend wanted to meet us
for dinner but did not have park admission. We decided to meet at the BoardWalk
and have dinner at one of the restaurants.
The BoardWalk Resort is of
course a deluxe property with all the amenities. But what most guests miss is
the actual boardwalk that sits in the back of the resort. There are
restaurants, shops, an ice cream parlor & candy store, and carnival games for
the kids. There is the Atlantic Dance Hall, and Jellyrolls, which is a dueling piano bar for the over 21 crowd.
There are bikes available
for rent to ride around the Boardwalk and Crescent Lake. The path that circles Crescent Lake is 7/8 of a mile
and will take you past five different resorts. It starts at the BoardWalk and goes
past the Swan, Dolphin, Beach Club and Yacht Club resorts. The best part of the
bike ride is seeing these resorts from the back. You get an up-close look at the
best pool on Disney property, the Beach and Yacht Club's
Stormalong Bay. You can even get
a four-wheeled surrey bike that the entire family can ride!
The dining options at the
BoardWalk are wonderful: there is the Big River Brewing Co., the Flying Fish Café, Spoodles and an ESPN Club (for the sports nut in the family). Be sure to check
your PassPorter for the details on what they serve and the costs. We enjoy
Spoodles for the Mediterranean-style pasta. When you see the menu and the amount
of food you will understand why we rent the bike AFTER dinner!
One of the things that
Disney has done to make the night great for the entire family is add
entertainers to the boardwalk. They change them on a frequent basis so that if
you go every night you may experience a variety of entertainers or (at least) not see the same
show as you saw the previous night. Each roving entertainer will stop and perform
their act, and as he or she gets going you will see they have a large crowd
watching. They will get the crowd involved in the act. Our 6 year-old played a
washboard with the Banjo Man, swung a rope with the cowgirl, and helped the
magician with a trick, all in one night.
The entertainers are out
every night from 7:00 pm until
9:00 pm. Disney does not
advertise them or list when or where they will perform, as they are meant to be a
“happy surprise” for the guests. If it rains they are still there but may be a
bit harder to find - they will perform in the lobby of the BoardWalk or in the
restaurant lobbies. If it is raining be sure to keep a look out for them as it will
help pass the time while you wait for a table and keeps the little ones happy
while trapped inside.
The performers include but
are not limited to:
Professor Flapdoodle and
his All American Medicine Pitch
is an original member of the BoardWalk Buskers, who started in 1996 when the
BoardWalk opened. He performs magic with comedy.
Erick Olson and Brian
Staron, who do comedic magic.
The Amazing Carlo (Marek Dudek) who does amazing balancing and sword swallowing.
Bill & Lin Whitmire do a
comedy juggling routine.
Mark Anderson, aka The Musicale Mark and his bicycle piano.
Anthony the Banjo Man
who does comedic banjo tunes.
When you see them perform
be sure to tell them that, "Shy Brady from Indiana says hello." Our son was a bit
shy at first but once he realized how much fun it was to participate he started
talking to all of them, and was a hit. Every time we go back we see someone who
remembers him.
Another neat thing that the
BoardWalk offers is a view of IllumiNations, Epcot's fireworks spectacular. Head
for the west end of the boardwalk near Jelly Rolls and the Atlantic Dance Hall to grab a spot!
You can also see IllumiNations from the bridge between
the BoardWalk and the Swan & Dolphin resorts.
As you can tell, the
BoardWalk is on our "must do" list every trip because of everything it offers.
With all things Disney, the entertainment is subject to change (and usually does)
so check your Times Guide or refer to your PassPorter for more information. You
will have a great time at the BoardWalk and will start to include it in every
trip, like we did after just one trip. Just remember to tell them, "Hi from Shy
Brady in Indiana."
About the Author: Terry is the father of two and is a previous contributor to
PassPorter News.
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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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Copyright
(c) 2006 - MediaMarx, Inc., P.O. Box 3880, Ann Arbor, MI 48106 |
