PassPorter News
News, Announcements, Updates, and Tips
January 2003 - Issue 3.2
~ Disney Cruise Issue ~
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://www.passporter.com/wdw/about.htm
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In This Newsletter
* From the Authors: New Guidebooks and PassPorter Gathering
* Travel Feature: Disney Cruise Security Updates
* Disney Feature: One in a Million Cruise: Highlights of Our
Recent Cruise
* Updates: What's New and Changed at Walt Disney World
* Tips: Ground Transfers and Room Service
* Q&A: February Weather on the Cruise
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Did You Know?
For a limited time, we're including a free bottle strap with
each 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
(or 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://www.passporter.com/2003.htm
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FROM THE AUTHORS: New Guidebooks & PassPorter Gathering
Greetings!
We're pleased to report that the 2003 Walt Disney World spiral
editions are now in stock! They arrived on Monday, and our
warehouse has been busy filling orders all week. If you ordered a
spiral edition only, chances are good that it's already been
shipped. We'll be mailing out e-mail confirmations of shipment
very soon. And if you've been waiting to order, feel free to
order now -- new orders ship in 1-2 business days.
We're still waiting to receive the looseleaf/deluxe editions,
however we expect them very soon. If there will be a significant
delay, we'll be sure to send e-mail to everyone who pre-ordered.
Thanks for your patience!
The Disney Cruise Line guidebooks are on schedule and looking
good! We expect to have them in our warehouse beginning February
15 and be able to ship soon thereafter.
Just a reminder that tomorrow is the last day to get a free
PassPorter when you book your PassPorter Gathering ocean-view
cruise and/or deluxe resort reservations through
MouseEarVacations.com. After Friday, you can still book at the
great rates, but the PassPorter won't be included.
The PassPorter Gathering (part of MouseFest 2003) runs from
11/30/2003 - 12/8/2003. Come meet us, a bevy of other Disney
guidebook authors and webmasters, and hundreds of fellow Walt
Disney World fans, either on the cruise, at Walt Disney
World, or both!
Learn more about the PassPorter Gathering:
http://www.passporter.com/gathering.htm
Thanks,
Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter Travel Press
P.S. In honor of our new guidebook, this issue is almost
exclusively dedicated to Disney Cruise Line topics. We'll
return to our regular mixed topic format in two weeks!
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FEATURE: Disney Cruise Line Security Updates
by Dave Marx
[This is the second part of a series on security updates. The
first part was published in our last newsletter on January 9.]
Security screening practices on the Disney Cruise Line are a bit
different than they are for air travel, and because cruise travel
takes you out of the states, U.S. Customs adds additional
complexity to the process. Disney Cruise Line began screening all
luggage--checked and carry-on, earlier in 2002. Here's what you
can expect, and how to prepare:
We strongly recommend that you carry passports plus photo ID,
rather than birth certificates and photo ID alone. Keep a second
form of photo ID in your stateroom, just in case you lose your
primary ID.
When you drive up to the Disney Cruise Line Terminal in Port
Canaveral, have photo ID ready for every adult in your vehicle.
Security checks may begin when you enter the parking lot.
All carry-on items go through security screening before you enter
the terminal, and all checked baggage is scanned prior to
departure.
Items that are not allowed in carry-on bags are almost always
prohibited in checked luggage, too, as passengers have access to
all luggage once aboard. The definition of "prohibited" is very
different than for air travel, too. While some items are obvious
safety concerns, others may simply interfere with other
passengers' enjoyment (and the convenience of the cruise line,
too, it would seem).
If the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) considers an
item a weapon, assume that it's banned. However, other items on
the Disney Cruise Line list include kites, surfboards, fishing
gear, skateboards, in-line skates, bicycles, video game consoles,
and VCRs (you can't hook them up to the stateroom TV anyway).
Golf clubs are allowed if they're brought as checked luggage and
then kept in the stateroom (no putting or driving on board,
unlike some ships). If you or your kids plan to bring any
sports-related gear, phone Disney Cruise Line first.
If your checked luggage contains a prohibited item it will delay
delivery of your luggage to your room and the item will be held
at the terminal until you return from your cruise. You'll receive
a letter in your stateroom, describing the item(s) that were
removed, and the procedure for reclaiming it. I packed a
Leatherman-type folding tool in my checked luggage back in
September 2002 (it was OK in my airline checked bags, after all).
My bags arrived in my stateroom an hour after the ship sailed,
minus the tool. I almost missed my chance to dress for dinner,
and for a while, I wasn't sure I'd see my bags at all! If you
have any doubts about an item, phone the Disney Cruise Line.
Carry your Key to the World card at all times. It will be needed
whenever you enter or leave the ship. You will also have to
present photo ID at most ports of call, along with your Key to
the World card.
Many customs functions (customs clearance when entering St.
Thomas, over-limit customs declarations when returning to the
U.S.) that might once have taken place ashore now take place on
board your ship. Ship's personnel will advise you of all current
requirements and procedures.
Don't take fresh fruit and other foodstuffs off the ship in Port
Canaveral. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture inspectors will seize it.
Whew! That's a lot of stuff, but with a bit of advance knowledge
you'll sail thorough the preliminaries and your fellow passengers
won't be delayed behind you.
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DISNEY FEATURE: A One in a Million Cruise
Highlights of Our Recent 3-Night Disney Cruise by Jennifer Watson
Five days ago we disembarked from the Disney Wonder and exhaled
happy, contented sighs. Yes, we snuck away for a mid-winter break
and barely told a soul - it was to be a no-work trip! But we had
such a great time that we wanted to share the highlights of our
cruise with you, along with tips on making such magic happen on
your cruise, too! Enjoy!
"CONGRATULATIONS, DAVE!" (or how Dave won the cruise)
"Dave Marx, you're a million point winner!" Those words,
accompanied by thunderous applause, were the start of our cruise
adventure. On May 21, 2002, Dave became the 32nd million-point
winner at "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire--Play It!" at Disney-MGM
Studios (see our separate trip report for the details at
http://www.passporter.com/wdw/millionpointwinner.htm). Originally
the grand prize was a trip for two to New York City to see a
taping of the network show. But when the show format changed this
past fall, Disney decided to also change their prize to a 3-night
Disney Cruise. We were informed of the change in the fall, much
to our delight. Dave received his free cruise voucher in the mail
in December. After the New Year, when we had a fairly good idea
of when we'd have time to slip away for a weekend, we faxed in
our request to sail on January 23! A few days later we received
confirmation that space was available on that cruise (which also
happened to be the Annual Passholder Cruise). The package Dave
won was all-inclusive -- Disney paid for the cruise fare, the
flights, and the gratuities. Whatta deal!
TIP: Try your hand at "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire-Play It!"
when you're next at Walt Disney World - you could win a cruise,
too! To learn the trick to getting into the hot seat more
frequently, read the tips in our April 2001 Trip Report:
http://www.passporter.com/trip0401da...ip0401day4.htm
TOO MUCH REST LEADS TO NO RELAXATION (or how we overslept)
Our flight was at 7:30 am on Thursday morning, so we packed our
bags the night before and set the alarm for 4:00 am. We both had
some problems getting to sleep -- we often go to sleep at 4:00
am. We eventually fell asleep after midnight. I woke up during
what I thought was the "middle of the night" and happened to
glance at the clock. 5:38? Oh no! The alarm hadn't gone off and
we'd overslept. We leaped out of bed and raced to get going. I
took a 3-minute shower while Dave dressed and took the bags to
the car. We hurried Kippi (our dog) into the back seat, and off
we went! It took us only 15 minutes from warm bed to freezing
car. We went through a quick checklist to make sure we had
everything crucial with us while we dropped off Kippi at a
friend's house for the weekend. Then we were off the airport. We
breathed a sigh of relief when we realized that we were going to
make it in time.
TIP: Double-check -- no, triple-check -- that your alarm is
properly set. And then set a backup alarm on your watch or in
your handheld organizer. You may also want to ask a friend or
family member to give you a call, if you aren't getting up
too early.
FLYING THE DISNEY SKIES (or how the Disney Air Program
works and doesn't work)
Thanks to the fact that our package included air, this would be
our first time flying through "Disney Air" and we were looking
forward to learning more about how it works. About a week after
our cruise was booked, a Disney representative called us to
inform us of our flight schedule. It turns out we were going to
fly U.S. Air, which is unusual for Detroit to Orlando. And, sure
enough, it wasn't a direct flight -- we had a stopover in
Pittsburgh. Yuck. We asked if we couldn't get a direct flight,
and they said they would have booked us a direct flight but they
were no longer available for our travel dates. And when we called
the airline to check on our seat assignments, we discovered that
we were not sitting next to each other for two of the hops. Ouch!
So while we're certainly not going to complain -- after all, this
was a free cruise -- we also were not terribly impressed with
Disney's arrangement of our air travel so far. At the airport,
however, check-in went smoothly. We boarded a little
"puddle-jumper" plane for our first leg to Pittsburgh. After
taxiing to the runway, the plane had to go back to the terminal
for de-icing. So we arrived in Pittsburgh 30 minutes late... and
we had only 30 minutes to board our plane to Orlando. We
speed-walked through the Pittsburgh terminal and just made it
onto the plane. After an uneventful flight to Orlando, we arrived
on time and in good spirits. We found the Disney Cruise Line
representatives in the main terminal (just past the security
checkpoint). We checked in with the reps and then we were
escorted down to level 1, where we boarded a DCL motor coach. We
didn't have to bother with our luggage -- DCL's luggage tags
meant our bags went from the airport to the ship without our
intervention. And, sure enough, the luggage arrived in our room
around 3:30 pm without a hitch. The return trip was equally
seamless. We checked in for our flight at the cruise terminal
(near the motor coaches), handed over our bags, and they were
waiting for us when we arrived in Detroit.
TIP: If possible, arrange your air travel on your own -- it's
often less expensive and you have more control over flights. If
you must use a connecting flight, try to get a layover of at
least 90 minutes just in case your first flight runs late. Better
yet, arrange to fly in the night before your cruise leaves.
THE CRUISE GUIDE MAKES WAVES
During check-in at the cruise terminal, a cast member noticed our
PassHolder pouches and asked about PassPorter. We mentioned that
we we'd just finished writing a guidebook to the Disney Cruise
Line and she got very excited. We showed her the book, and she
brought her manager over to look at it as well (we'd brought a
"dummy" version with us to have on the cruise -- it was a
photocopied version made at Kinko's). After making a fuss over
the book, she told us she'd tried to get us a stateroom upgrade,
but the ship was completely fully and there was nowhere to move
us. That was a nice thought, though!
DAVE'S MAGNETIC ATTRACTION (or how Jennifer surprised Dave)
Dave beside our stateroom door
Dave and I agreed this trip should be completely R&R. But I
decided to throw a couple of more R's in there -- reward and
recognition of Dave. So before the cruise, I scanned some of the
things Dave received when he won Millionaire, such as his
million-point pin and his fake boarding pass. I also found the
Millionaire logo and a photo I'd taken of Dave in the hot seat. I
printed these out onto sheets of inkjet magnet paper (available
at office supply stores) and cut out each image. I also printed
out letters to spell "Congrats, Dave!" I hid the magnets in our
carry-on so I'd have easy access to them once aboard.
I did two other sneaky things before we departed. One was to
purchase a metallic tinsel banner that read "Congratulations!"
Upon this I taped printed mages of the Millionaire logo and
Dave's million-point pin. The other surprise was ordering a gift
from Disney, which would be waiting for him when he arrived.
When we got into our stateroom, a huge box was perched on the
bed. Dave immediately investigated and discovered the message
"Congratulations on being a million-point winner! Love, Jennifer"
The box was mostly filled with packing material, but among it was
a watch, pair of binoculars, water bottle, and straw beach mat --
all with the Disney Cruise Line logo. While Dave was playing with
his new toys, I excused myself and stepped outside our stateroom
with my magnets. I arranged them on the outside of our stateroom
door. They looked great, and plenty of people remarked on them
while I was putting them up. Dave didn't notice the magnets until
later, when he left the room. He was very pleased, and I took his
photo in front of the door for posterity. The banner I put up a
little later, while Dave was distracted. All in all, he was happy
and it worked out well!
TIP: Make your own magnets for your next cruise. It only takes
10-15 minutes and the impact is great. If you don't have
something to celebrate, how about a "Bon Voyage!" theme? You can
find some travel-related clip art at
http://dir.coolclips.com/Travel/
DAVE WINS AGAIN (or how Dave won at Bingo)
Dave doesn't really strike me as a Bingo person, but he was
enthusiastic about trying a game. So on our first day we arranged
to meet in WaveBands for the first bingo game of the cruise. I
met up with him during the first game -- he had bought a value
pack (five three-card games for $20). You can also get a single
pack (five one-card games) for $10 each. There were perhaps 100
other people playing, so with only five games to win, the chances
weren't great. Nevertheless, on the third game Dave did win...
$99 to be exact. We were astounded and happy.
TIP: Give Bingo a try. The odds of winning are better earlier in
your cruise (when there are fewer people playing) and when you
purchase a value pack. Kids can attend and help their grown-ups
play, but they can't collect winnings.
TOPLESS DANCING (or how Dave impersonated The Village People)
Breaking with tradition, Dave and I danced during 70s Night at
WaveBands on the first night of the cruise. After a few songs,
the crew announced that anyone who'd been given key chains should
come up to the stage. Unbeknownst to me, Dave had received a key
chain so he dutifully trudged up to the stage. He and four other
guys were ushered out of the room. (Dave adds: We spent that time
rehearsing, and we each got a free shot of booze to boost our
courage.) While they were gone, other lucky participants were
drafted into lip-synching and dancing contests. Once those were
finished, the crew announced that we had special guests... and in
strutted five men -- all without shirts and decked out like The
Village People. Dave was among them, wearing nothing more than a
police cap (well, he had pants and shoes on too). He did a great
job of dancing and lip-synching to "YMCA," and I thoroughly
enjoyed the show! Alas, I have no pictures of it, but as Dave
says, some images are better as memories.
TIP: Get out and dance at the start of the 70s and 80s Nights on
the cruises. You (or your spouse/family member/friend) may get
picked to perform -- and maybe even get a free shot. These events
make great memories!
BINGO! BINGO! (or how Dave beat the odds... again)
Can you even believe it? On our second day, Dave played Bingo
again, while I observed. And on his second game, he won again.
How much this time? $107! I couldn't believe his luck!
TIP: Don't listen to pessimists like me when they say, "you've
already won once, you won't win again." You can't win if you
don't play!
THE SPA STATEROOM (or how Jennifer slept and showered at the spa)
One of the first things I did once I was aboard was purchase a
3-day pass for the Tropical Rainforest in the Vista Spa. The pass
cost $30 and allowed me unlimited use of the Tropical Rainforest
during the cruise. The Tropical Rainforest has two steams rooms,
one large sauna room, two aromatic showers, and heated tile
loungers. I've visited the Tropical Rainforest on virtually every
past cruise and absolutely love it. This is the first time I'd
gotten a pass for the length of the cruise, though. I first used
it right after the Sailaway Party, and then four times over the
following two days. I visited the spa in the morning before
breakfast (it opens at 8 am) so I could start the day out right
and take a long, leisurely shower. While there are two aromatic
showers and one regular shower in the Tropical Rainforest room, I
preferred the regular showers in the locker rooms. They have
excellent water pressure, luxurious 9" wide shower heads, and a
handy dispenser of soap, shampoo, and conditioner. And the
sleeping part? More than once I fell into a light doze while
relaxing on one of the heated, tiled recliners in the Tropical
Rainforest. Ahhhhhh.
TIPS: Try out the Tropical Rainforest for a day ($15), and if you
like it, get the cruise-long pass at $10/day (if it makes sense
money-wise). You can also use the Tropical Rainforest for an
extra $7 with most spa treatments. All cruisers can use the
locker rooms and regular showers at no charge (great if there's a
line for your stateroom shower). Just ask for a locker basket at
the reception desk!
BINGO! BINGO! BINGO! (oh yes!)
You've probably already guessed -- Dave won at Bingo again!
That's three for three. He didn't win the snowball jackpot, but
he did rake in another $108 bucks, for a total of $314 for the
three games. I guess this really was a one in a million cruise!
DAVE'S COMMENTS -- While Disney didn't do anything during the
cruise to recognize my acheivement at Millionaire, Jennifer did a
wonderful job of turning my prize into a special event. (Thanks,
sweetheart!) No matter what the occasion, don't forget that you
can make your own magic!
We had the dubious pleasure of cruising on a weekend of
record-breaking cold weather. We went from near-zero temperatures
in Michigan to a windswept, chilly cruise, with daytime highs in
the mid-50s. My hat's off to Jennifer, who bravely walked with me
along Nassau's blustery waterfront while I visited some
out-of-the-way sights.
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UPDATES: What's New and Changed
We've heard a rumor (thanks, MichelleC) that some drink prices
will be lower at Walt Disney World. The word is that 20 oz. Coke
products will drop from $2.50 to just $2.00, bottled water will
drop a dollar to $1.50, and Powerade will drop to $2.50 (from
$3). If anyone can substantiate this, please let us know!
For the first time in 14 years, Central Florida was treated to
snow flurries on Friday, January 24. Flurries were reported in
Port Canaveral, but not near Walt Disney World.
A new exhibit is slated to appear in Innoventions, sponsored by
the American Farm Bureau Federation. The exhibit is expected to
give guests a feel for what it's like to live and work on a
modern-day farm.
Suntrust Out, BankOne In. The ATMs (cash machines) at Walt Disney
World are now run by BankOne (the same bank that is offering the
new Disney Visa card).
The Diamond Horseshoe Saloon Revue at Magic Kingdom will close on
February 1. After renovations, it will re-open with a new show,
"Country Character Round-Up." The opening date is unknown, nor is
it clear if the attraction will continue to be called the Diamond
Horseshoe or if it will be re-named.
(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
START THE MAGIC AT THE AIRPORT
"If you are going on a Disney Cruise, pay the extra money for
their ground transfers and let them start the magic right at the
airport! We LOVE being greeted by the Disney Cruise Line cast
members in their uniforms, and never get tired of seeing "our"
beautiful buses waiting for us! The Magic starts the minute you
board the bus!" -- contributed by Cheryl S.
ORDER FREE ROOM SERVICE
"Order room service for a midnight snack! Remember, it's free
(and don't forget to tip the crew member who brings the goodies
to you!). We do this every night, saving left-overs for the next
afternoon (if there are any!). This gives us a chance to share
some quality family time, revisiting our experiences from that
day. We talk about our favorite meals, and what event took place
on board which we especially enjoyed. It really is a great time
to wind down and just relive the magic on the Disney Cruise!" --
contributed by Cindy Seaburn
>Notes: Send us your tips! You may see them in this newsletter
>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.
WildforWD asks: "I know about how cold it gets at Walt Disney
World in February, but it is much colder on the ship? At night
with all the water and breeze, will we need long sleeves?
Sweaters? Or, heaven forbid, a coat??"
Dave replies: "When the ship is in motion, you're looking at
the equivalent of a 20 knot breeze minimum up on open decks. In
short, a windbreaker and sweater plus sweat pants/warmups will
always be welcome if you want to walk outdoors while the ship
is underway.
Temperatures in the Caribbean are substantially warmer than
they'll be in Orlando, thanks to the tempering effect of the
water. Ocean surface temperatures run around 80 degrees, even
when the air temperature drops far lower.
Speaking of which, if you have the weather we just experienced on
our recent cruise, bring your parkas. It was below freezing
overnight on the mainland, and even Key West set a new record low
on Friday night (Jan. 24)--45 degrees! Daytime temperatures
(before wind-chill) were in the mid fifties/low sixties, and
there was little sun to temper things. To top it off, the winds
Friday in Nassau were fierce--easily 20 knots, sustained. Nobody
wanted to go near the water, and even the waves inside the harbor
were kicking up to around four feet or more and breaking hard
against the sea wall. Fortunately, things were better Saturday
for Castaway Cay, but everyone was still wearing long pants and
sweatshirts, at the least."
>Things to Do: You can check the long-range forecast for your
>ports of call before you cruise, at
http://www.weather.com
>Send us your questions about PassPorter, Walt Disney World,
>and/or the Disney Cruise Line and we'll do our best to
>answer them!
E-mail:
questions@passporter.com
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