PassPorter News
News, Announcements, Updates, and Tips
January 2003 - Issue 3.1
~ Happy New Year ~
PassPorter.com -
http://www.passporter.com
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Welcome to PassPorter News, an online newsletter about PassPorter
travel guidebooks, the Walt Disney World Resort, and the Disney
Cruise Line!
PassPorter News is available by free subscription to all readers
and friends of our labor of love -- PassPorter travel guidebooks.
Learn About PassPorter Guidebooks:
http://m1e.net/c?12912793-NOT11b6CVr...poIkwkhKjV3%2e
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In This Newsletter
* From the Authors: PassPorter Gathering & MouseFest 2003!
* Travel Feature: New Airline Security Requirements
* Disney Feature: MurderWatch Mystery Theater/Grosvenor Resort
* Updates: What's New and Changed at Walt Disney World
* Tips: Towels at Water Parks, Holding Mail, Car Seats
* Q&A: Airlines With Port Canaveral Check-In
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Did You Know?
The new PassPorters are coming soon... and each pre-order gets a
free bottle strap!
For a limited time, we're including a free bottle strap with each
pre-order of PassPorter Walt Disney World 2003 (any format) or
PassPorter's Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line (any format),
compliments of MouseEarVacations.com! Just put in a pre-order and
we'll add in the free bottle strap. (If you already placed a
pre-order, don't worry -- you'll get a bottle strap, too.) The
bottle strap is similar to those sold in Disney's parks --you
just slip it over a bottle's neck and slide to fit. Our thanks to
MouseEarVacations.com for making this possible for our readers!
Learn more and pre-order your 2003 editions:
http://m1e.net/c?12912793-eGfAdc8maD...-vCKqPfQLl91XM
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FROM THE AUTHORS: PassPorter Gathering & MouseFest 2003
Hi, Jennifer!
Our PassPorter Gathering in 2001 was great fun, and we know that
many of you wanted us to repeat it this last December -- alas,
other commitments and the new cruise guide kept us too busy. But
we're delighted to announce that we're hosting another PassPorter
Gathering at the end of this year!
PassPorter Gathering 2003, which is a proud part of MouseFest
2003 (along with RADP, All Ears Net, and others to be announced),
will be held this year from November 30-December 8, 2003 on land
& sea! The first four days are aboard the Disney Wonder for a
4-night cruise. And then we follow it up with four nights on land
at Walt Disney World! We're still in the process of planning
events, but we already know we'll be holding a fun treasure hunt
on Walt's Birthday (December 5), probably as a "safari hunt"
throughout Disney's Animal Kingdom.
We invite YOU to join us! PassPorter Gathering and MouseFest 2003
is open to everyone, you can go to as many or as few events as
you like, and most events are free (outside of things like park
admission). You can make your own travel arrangements, or use
MouseFest's travel agent -- MouseEarVacations.com -- for
excellent rates and perks. They also have special offers that
expire on Jan. 20 and Jan. 31, like free copies of PassPorter.
Whether you're already planning a vacation in December, or just
like the idea of joining us, this is a great chance to meet us,
make some new friends who share your interests, and participate
in some unique activities at Disney!
Learn more about the PassPorter Gathering:
http://m1e.net/c?12912793-PfgpZdRFNK...-i.IV0joKJfXqE
We hope to see you there!
Thanks,
Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter Travel Press
P.S. Staring with this issue, each of our newsletters will have
TWO features -- one on general travel, and one related to
Disney vacations. We hope you find this helpful!
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FEATURE: Airline and Disney Cruise Security Updates
by Dave Marx
Travel, and especially air travel, has become more challenging
since 9/11. Airport security procedures seem to be in a constant
state of flux. The latest changes came on 12/31/2002, when U.S.
law required that all baggage (checked and carry-on) be inspected
prior to departure. These ever-present changes are hard enough
for frequent flyers, but when a family‚s first flight takes them
to their first visit to Walt Disney World, the situation must be
far more daunting.
While this newsletter is too brief to contain a full primer on
airline check-in and security procedures, we hope these tips on
hot topics for vacation travelers will help ease your mind and
prepare for your journey. Note: These recommendations may become
outdated very quickly, so always check with your airline a few
days before you depart, to learn the latest conditions for your
trip. A trip to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
Travelers & Consumer Web site at
http://www.tsa.dot.gov/public/theme_home1.jsp is also a great
idea. Also, note that this article focuses on domestic travel
within the U.S. Requirements for travel outside the U.S. will be
different, and are generally beyond the scope of this article.
Documentation: Have government-issued photo ID for every traveler
17 and older, and keep it handy, as you‚ll have to show it
frequently. If children traveling with you have the same last
name, the parent or guardian‚s photo ID will be enough. It can
help to have a birth certificate for each child, but it‚s rarely
necessary. We suggest passports for all adults and children who
expect to travel on a regular basis, as there‚s no better form of
ID out there.
At many airports you‚ll be required to present a boarding pass
at the passenger security checkpoint. Tickets, confirmation
slips and itineraries may not be accepted. Some airlines now let
you print your boarding pass at their Web site, and you can now
often get a boarding pass at curbside check-in and/or at
e-ticket check-in kiosks in the terminal, as well as at the
regular ticket counter.
Passenger Security Checkpoint ˆ This is the checkpoint between
the main terminal and the gate area. Did you know it‚s illegal to
bring any prohibited item to the checkpoint? While you may have
the option to dispose of the item(s), security personnel also
have the option to arrest you! If circumstances allow, you can
leave the security line to put the prohibited item in your car or
make arrangements with the airline to transport it as checked
baggage. However, if you choose to abandon the item at the
checkpoint, you can‚t get it back.
It‚s Not a Joke - Of course, we‚ve known for years that it‚s
illegal to joke about bombs, hijacking and related matters at the
airport. Be sure your children (especially pre-teens and teens)
know this, too. One adolescent joke at the checkpoint can put a
real crimp in your vacation.
Passing Through the Scanners ˆ The metal detectors are more
sensitive than they used to be. Here are some of the items that
routinely trip the alarms: Small change, keys, eyeglasses, belt
buckles, jewelry and body piercings, underwire bras, surgical
implants (orthopedic screws and plates included), shoes with
metal shanks (you often won‚t know this until the alarm goes
off), and clothes with metal studs or buttons. If you‚re wearing
a coat you‚ll have to remove it and send it through the X-ray
scanner. We suggest transferring all items in your pockets into a
purse, waist pack, briefcase, zippered coat pocket or similar
item before your reach the checkpoint, to speed your progress
through the line. If you know your shoes will trip the alarm,
remove them and run them through X-ray. And who needs an
uncomfortable underwire poking into her ribs anyway? Consider a
sports bra, and travel in greater comfort.
Traveling with Children - It pays to mentally prepare your
children for the inspection. They‚ll have to put their toys and
other prized possessions through the X-ray machine, and pass
through the metal detector. Infants and small children are
subject to inspection, just like the grownups. An unexpected
wanding or pat-down can be traumatic for everyone in the family,
so be sure children know what to expect, as it can happen to
them, too. If they‚re big enough to walk through the scanners
unaided, encourage them to do it, but also consider the chaos if
your child dashes off on his/her own (send one adult through
first, followed by children, with an adult bringing up the rear).
Inspections and Privacy ˆ Inspections and screenings are
mandatory. If you refuse to comply with an inspection, you‚re off
the flight. You may not even be warned of this possibility before
it happens. If you have concerns about passing through the
scanners, talk to the inspector prior to entering. Passengers
with small children, disabilities, medical implants, religious
concerns, and the like will have a much easier time if they tell
the inspectors up-front, and discuss the best way to proceed
through inspection. Passengers with medical pacemakers are
advised to carry the appropriate ID with them (although it‚s not
required). You can request a private inspection, should an
inspection be necessary. The inspectors are trained to respect
religious and medical sensitivities, and same-gender inspectors
will be provided except in extraordinary circumstances.
Individuals with body piercings may want to remove them prior to
travel, as the jewelry will have to be removed (in privacy) if it
trips the scanners. You can read much more about these issues at
the TSA Travelers & Consumers web page -
http://www.tsa.dot.gov/public/theme_home1.jsp .
Film ˆ The TSA has a separate fact sheet on this topic.
Professional and advanced amateur photographers may want to read
the entire thing, at
http://www.tsa.dot.gov/public/display?theme=56 . Here are a few
key points for all travelers:
Do not pack film in your checked luggage; the screening equipment
can damage undeveloped film.
The X-ray equipment at the passenger security checkpoints
(carry-on items) should be safe for film speeds lower than 800
ASA/ISO, but each time a roll of film passes through the
equipment, more damage can be done. Even the TSA warns that five
trips through the scanners are more than any roll of film should
receive. The scanners may not be strong enough to ruin "regular"
film, but they can degrade image quality, especially after
multiple scans, and can hurt many special-purpose films (medical,
professional photo, etc.).
You can ask that film be hand-inspected. The TSA asks that you
re-package film in clear plastic containers to speed the
inspection, and recommends against using lead-lined bags for
carrying film, as these bags will still have to be opened and
inspected. (Lead lined bags may still be advisable for trips out
of the U.S., as procedures differ in other countries.)
To avoid these complications, we suggest you buy and process your
film while on vacation. All Disney resorts and the Disney Cruise
Line have next-day processing services, or you can mail exposed
film to a processing lab. This may cost more, but those photo
opportunities can be priceless. Once the film has been developed,
it can‚t be damaged by the scanners.
Locking Checked Luggage ˆ Now that the TSA is screening all
checked luggage, there‚s always the possibility that your luggage
will have to be opened for inspection (whether the TSA is
hand-inspecting all luggage at your airport, or if your bag must
be opened for further inspection following an electronic scan).
In most cases, this will not be done in your presence. The TSA
recommends that you not lock your checked luggage, as the lock
may have to be broken and will not be replaced. If it‚s necessary
to open a bag for inspection the TSA places a colored seal on the
luggage afterwards, and a notice inside the bag to advise you
that the bag has been inspected. The TSA is working on a program
to provide color-coded security seals to all passengers. If the
TSA then has to inspect the contents of a bag that color-coded
seal will be replaced by a seal of a different color. Until that
new system is in place, the TSA recommends you use plastic cable
ties, available at most hardware stores. These inexpensive ties
can be used like a lock to hold zippers closed, and can be
removed easily by the TSA. You can open them later with a
scissors or nail clipper (see the next section).
Not-So-Prohibited Items ˆ Many personal items that had been
prohibited in carry-on luggage can now be brought on board. These
include round-nosed scissors, nail clippers, nail files,
tweezers, knitting needles, and eyeglass repair kits including
screwdrivers (larger screwdrivers are still prohibited).
"Personal care or toiletries aerosols" in small quantities are
also allowed. The full list of prohibited items changes
regularly. The current list can be downloaded or viewed at
http://www.tsa.dot.gov/public/display?theme=12 . Of course, the
major prohibited items are still all on the list. As has been the
case for a while, knives, hand tools, and sports items like
baseball bats, hockey sticks and golf clubs must go in your
checked baggage.
Whew! That‚s a lot of stuff, but with a bit of advance knowledge
you‚ll fly thorough the preliminaries and your fellow passengers
won‚t be delayed behind you.
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DISNEY FEATURE: Mystery MurderWatch & Grosvenor Resort
MURDERWATCH MYSTERY DINNER THEATER
We‚ve been hoping to attend this staple of Orlando‚s dinner
theater scene for many years, and finally had our chance this
past December. Your evening begins, middles and ends at
Baskerville‚s, the buffet restaurant at the Grosvenor Resort on
Walt Disney World‚s Hotel Plaza Blvd. (see our report on the
Grosvenor, below). As dinner progresses, guests meet some of the
entertainers and various suspicious characters who will play a
part in the mystery to come. You may have a chance to chat with
characters, enjoy a song from a sexy chanteuse, witness an
emotional outburst from a jealous boyfriend, or spy suspicious
behavior from some very shifty characters. Sure enough, by the
time you‚ve finished dessert, a heinous crime has been
committed, and everyone in the audience has been recruited to
help solve the mystery.
We‚d rather not spill the beans on the specifics of a mystery
that we ultimately failed to solve (other guests had that honor).
In fact, the producers of the show have developed a variety of
mysteries, so that even repeat "sleuths" will find a new
challenge (or at least a new twist) with each visit. What we can
say is that we were on our own for most of the investigation, but
when it finally came time to assemble the clues and solve the
case, diners were divided into several teams. Members of the
winning team received modest prizes, along with the satisfaction
of a case well-solved.
The cast of the show works very hard to involve the guests and
ensure that everyone, regardless of age, has a good time. The
entire production is very tongue-in-cheek, filled laughs and
light-hearted entertainment, so parents should have no problem
bringing the kids. The mysteries are also intended for everyone‚s
enjoyment˜you don‚t have to be a Holmes or even a Watson (as
Jennifer learned) to solve the crime. In fact, a mystery fan
looking for a good, logical crime to solve will definitely be
disappointed. Whimsy wins out over brilliant deduction here.
The guests around us seemed to be having a good time, and we
"pros" also were engaged and entertained. We think in terms of
entertainment value, food quality and overall satisfaction,
MurderWatch Mystery Dinner Theater ranks behind Disney‚s Hoop de
Doo Revue, but can hold its own against Disney‚s Polynesian Luau,
and beats Medieval Times hands down. Why? The show at Hoop de
Doo, corny though it may be, is loaded with high energy
entertainment value, and the audience gets roped into all the
merriment. The dinner is simple, all-you-can eat fried chicken,
ribs and fixin‚s, but it‚s a crowd-pleaser. The show at the Luau
(although it‚s due to be overhauled) isn‚t nearly as
entertaining, and few guests are pleased by the all-you-can-eat
Polynesian dinner. Medieval Times in Kissimmee is definitely not
our cup of mead. The show starts impressively, with pageantry and
showmanship, but we detest the way the evening‚s entertainment
descends into its gratuitously middle and end (tournament combat
doesn‚t have to be "to the death"). In the end, the show‚s most
likely to entertain professional wrestling fans. On top of that,
the food and service is the bare minimum needed to satisfy the
audience. Not only was the food mediocre, but I was still hungry
at the end. MurderWatch, in its plain hotel dining room setting,
feels a little down-scale compared to the Disney shows, but the
good humor and enthusiasm of the cast, and the engaging plot make
for a very enjoyable evening. Similarly, though we don‚t give the
buffet a high rating (see below), most guests will be happier
with this traditional menu than with the Luau‚s uninspired
offerings.
MurderWatch Mystery Dinner Theater is held twice on Saturday
evenings at the Grosvenor Hotel, on Hotel Plaza Blvd., just
across the street from Downtown Disney. Guests at Disney resorts
can take the bus to the Downtown Disney Marketplace stop, and
cross Buena Vista Blvd. near the Once Upon a Toy shop. The
Grosvenor is the first hotel on the left (north) side of Hotel
Plaza Blvd. Tickets are $35/adult, $15/child. Call 800-624-4109
for reservations.
GROSVENOR RESORT
This past December we spent several nights at the Grosvenor
Resort, on Walt Disney World‚s Hotel Plaza Blvd. Although many
of us don‚t include the Grosevenor and its fellow Hotel Plaza
Blvd. hotels in our lists of "Disney" resorts, all these hotels
are on Disney property, and can offer a variety of Walt Disney
World-related amenities not available to off-property hotels. We
thought it was high time we gained some first-hand experience at
these hotels, and we decided to start with the Grosvenor, as we
received a great off-season discount. We booked a "standard"
room at $79 per night through Walt Disney World Central
Reservations. Not bad, if you consider that it‚s a short stroll
from Downtown Disney, and the rooms are as large as most
on-property Deluxe resorts.
The hotel has a main, high-rise tower, and two low-rise wings.
Rooms in the tower are accessed from indoor hallways, like a
traditional hotel, but the wings are motel-style ˆ rooms are
accessed from outdoor walkways. Otherwise, rooms in the wings are
comparable to rooms in the tower. We, as it turns out, got a
ground floor room in one of the wings. The view of the large,
grassy courtyard would have been delightful, if we could have
opened the drapes. Unfortunately, as at Disney‚s Value and
Moderate resorts, fellow guests walk right past your window.
Inside, the room was quite spacious and comfortable, but
otherwise disappointing. It had two full beds, a desk, generous
drawer space, and a medium-screen TV. At the far end of the room
was a mirrored sliding door concealing a clothes bar (with too
few hangers), a small refrigerator (at no extra charge), a small
safe standing on a painted steel pedestal ($2 per night extra if
you want to use it), and a single-sink vanity. A separate
bathroom adjoined the vanity. The furnishings were nondescript,
in a somewhat outdated style. In general, the room was clean and
in good repair but worn-looking, but there was some rust around
the base of the safe‚s pedestal, the room‚s heating/cooling
system was noisy and lacked oomph, and the carpet by the door was
wet from the rainwater seeping in. Later, hotel management took
us on a tour of the hotel. The rooms we were shown in the tower
looked to be in much better condition, although the styling was
still the same.
The lobby reminds us of a typical urban hotel lobby, with
generous seating areas and a typical, dark brown Formica front
desk area. Nearby is a Disney-run shop, selling the typical
selection of Disney merchandise and theme park passes. A broad
staircase lead up to the restaurants on the next floor, and one
corner of the lobby had been converted into a 24-hour convenience
store, offering refrigerated sandwiches, hot soup, and a variety
of breakfast and snack items. Just outside the lobby is a very
convenient waiting area for the buses to the theme parks.
Altogether, this lobby (and the rest of the hotel) could have
been anywhere else in the world, and didn‚t feel a thing like
Walt Disney World.
Recreation facilities looked quite decent, but the weather and
our schedule didn‚t let us try them out. There‚s a good-sized,
un-themed outdoor pool, and an adjoining hot tub. Nearby are two
tennis courts. These are set amidst lush lawns ornamented by
statues of the hotel‚s symbol, a gryphon.
Dining on the floor above the lobby is convenient, but again,
nondescript. The hotel‚s owner's wife loves Sherlock Holmes, a
theme that is carried-out in Moriarity‚s, the hotel‚s dark pub,
and Baskerville‚s, the buffet restaurant open for breakfast,
brunch, and dinner. (Baskerville‚s is the site for the Murder
Watch Mystery Theater that we reviewed above.) Signs and displays
in the anteroom between these establishments set the Baker Street
theme, and an entire, glassed-in room displays Holmesian
memorabilia. Alas, the execution of these themes isn‚t quite up
to Disney standards. We consumed an uninspired buffet dinner and
an equally uninspired Sunday brunch at Baskerville‚s. While the
food was fresh, of good quality and reasonably prepared, no items
were particularly noteworthy. Selection was good, though, with
good roast beef, several fish selections, several pastas, a good
selection of veggies, plus chicken and pork selections. Brunch
was also predictable, with mostly average breakfast items. The
eggs Benedict (one of my "test" items) was actually decently
made, but again, no awards. Food service here and in the lobby
was all several notches below what we expect of a Disney resort.
With all the restaurants a short walk away at Downtown Disney,
there‚s little reason to dine here, other than convenience.
All together, we can only give a conditional recommendation to
this hotel. First, it has not a whit of the kind of vacation
magic we look for. It‚s not likely to enhance your visit to Walt
Disney World--it simply provides a convenient place to rest your
head. As such, it can provide substantial value if you can get
the kind of price we did (lower than the rack rate at Disney‚s
Value resorts) or better. You also get a refrigerator (worth $12
per night at a Disney-owned resort), and the hot tub, health
club, tennis courts and full-service restaurants Disney‚s Value
resorts lack. You‚ll probably be happier in the Tower rooms, with
their grand views, convenience to the lobby, and the indoor
hallways. Avoid the wings if at all possible. Despite the value,
when we transferred from the Grosvenor to one of Disney‚s Value
resorts (All=Star Music), we felt we were moving up, rather than
down. You may also want to price your business meetings here. The
hotel has a large grand ballroom (divisible as required), and a
variety of suites configured perfectly for convention hospitality
(sitting room with connecting guest rooms).
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UPDATES: What's New and Changed
The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex has announced a new,
two-day admission pass that includes admission to the Space
Center Visitor Complex, plus the Astronaut Hall of Fame, a bit
down the road in Titusville. The Space Center Visitor Complex
took over operation of the Hall of Fame in 2002, and reopened the
attraction in December, after $700,000 in renovations. While you
can still purchase single-day admission to either the Visitor
Complex ($28/adults, $18/children 3-11 plus tax) or Hall of Fame
($13.95/$9.95, plus tax), the new, two-day "Maximum Access Badge"
at $33/adults, $23/children, plus tax) looks like a much better
value. We already consider the Visitor Complex to be a two-day
attraction, so the addition of the Hall of Fame is icing on the
cake. This new pass gives you unlimited access to both
attractions for two consecutive days, for just $5 (adults and
children) more than the Visitor Center's single-day admission.
This is a super deal if you can spend two days exploring space
exploration.
(Our thanks to All Ears Newsletter for alerting us to this news.
Be sure to subscribe to their excellent newsletter at
http://www.allearsnet.com)
Things To Do: Hear some news? Send it to us at
news@passporter.com.
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TIPS: From Fellow Disney Fans
BRING TOWELS TO WATER PARKS
"Waterparks charge towel rental and that can be costly if there
are several of you. We discovered that you can take your resort
room towels with you. Just ask the housekeeper for extra towels
and they will glady comply. A tip for this service is not
necessary, but always appreciated." -- Contributed by Jean
Alexander (alexjaj@aol.com)
HOLD THAT MAIL
"Before you leave for Disney, don't forget to have the post
office hold your mail. Simply go to
http://www.usps.gov and
complete the online hold request. No more waiting in line at the
post office!" -- Contributed by Vicki S.
CAR SEATS
"If you're planning to fly and your infant/toddler will be having
their own seat and car seat, it's a good idea to have the car
seat model number and the manufacturer's telephone number on
hand. That way if your airline decides to check to see if it's
approved for use on airplanes you'll be able to provide the
necessary info. It's also a good idea to let your towncar service
or shuttle service know you're bringing your own car seat. That
way you won't have to worry about the age or safety of their
seats and they won't have one already hooked up in the car for
you!" -- Jessica Sims (disney@btc-bci.com)
Notes: Send us your tips! You may see them in this newslette and
win a copy of PassPorter! Visit:
http://www.passporter.com/wdw/contest.htm
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Q & A: With Jennifer and Dave
In this column we answer your frequently asked PassPorter and
Disney questions.
A reader asks: "Can anyone tell me if Northwest Airlines has a
place at the port to check your luggage after you disembark from
our Disney Cruise? It sure would help not having to lug it around
for the day while we go to Downtown Disney!!"
Dave replies: "You're in luck! The current list of airlines
offering check-in at Port Canaveral terminal is: American, Delta,
Northwest, US Air, Continental"
Things to Do: Send us your questions about PassPorter or Walt
Disney World and we'll do our best to answer them! E-mail:
questions@passporter.com
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