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PassPorter’s Answer Book
PassPorter’s® Answer Book authored by the PassPorter Guide Team edited by Jennifer Marx
©
2008 by PassPorter Travel Press, an imprint of MediaMarx, Inc.
P.O. Box 3880, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 • 877-929-3273 Visit us on the World Wide Web at http://www.passporter.com PassPorter® is a registered trademark of MediaMarx, Inc. Photographs MediaMarx, Inc., unless otherwise noted
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PassPorter’s® Answer Book is not affiliated with, authorized or endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with The Walt Disney Company, Disney Enterprises, Inc., or any of their affiliates. While every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information in this book, the passage of time will always bring changes, and consequently, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for errors that may occur. The author and publisher of this book shall not be held liable for any information (valid or invalid) presented here and do not represent The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney World® is a registered trademark of The Walt Disney Company. This book makes reference to various Disney copyrighted characters, trademarks, marks, and registered marks owned by The Walt Disney Company, Disney Enterprises, Inc., and other trademark owners. The use in this guide of trademarked names and images is strictly for editorial purposes, and no commercial claim to their use, or suggestion of sponsorship or endorsement, is made by the author or publisher. Those words or terms that the author and publisher have reason to believe are trademarks are designated as such by the use of initial capitalization, where appropriate. However, no attempt has been made to identify or designate all words or terms to which trademark or other proprietary rights may exist. Nothing contained herein is intended to express a judgment on, or affect the validity of legal status of, any word or term as a trademark, service mark, or other proprietary mark. PassPorter’s® Answer Book is edited by Jennifer Marx. The information presented is for entertainment purposes. Any stated opinions are ours alone, unless otherwise noted, and do not represent The Walt Disney Company or anyone else. Materials submitted and credited by persons other than ourselves are used here with their permission, and any associated rights belong to them. Any and all written messages, suggestions, ideas, or other information shared with the authors in response to this guide shall be deemed and shall remain the property of PassPorter Travel Press. Special Sales: PassPorter Travel Press publications are available at special discounts for bulk purchases for sales premiums or promotions. Special editions, including personalized covers and excerpts of existing guides, can be created in large quantities. For information, write to Special Sales, P.O. Box 3880, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48106. Resale of this guide is strictly prohibited without the copyright holder’s permission. If you purchased this publication from someone other than PassPorter Travel Press, please call 877-929-3273.
ISBN-13: 978-1-58771-065-0 ISBN-10: 1-58771-065-X Version 1.0 (3/24/2008)
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All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act.
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PassPorter’®s Answer Book Authored by our Expert PassPorter Guide Team
PassPorter Travel Press An imprint of MediaMarx, Inc. P.O. Box 3880, Ann Arbor, MI 48106 877-WAYFARER
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The People With the Answers Our team of amazing PassPorter Guides (message board moderators) authored the Thomas Cackler
answers to the questions in this book. These individuals are experts on their topics and highly experienced at helping other vacationers find answers.
Michelle Clark (a.k.a. Shell_of_the_South) is a self-professed thrill ride junkie and the mother of three coaster-loving teens. Her husband prefers the quieter side of Disney! She is a co-guide in the Library, Trivia and Rumors, and Universal forums. Dianne Cook (a.k.a. disneymom9092) and husband Tom went on their honeymoon to Walt Disney World and now travel there twice a year since their sons Andrew and Matthew were born. Dianne is a Guide for the Getting There, Touring the ‘World’, Owning the Magic, and PassPorter Challenge forums. Dawn Erickson (a.k.a. DawnDenise) has taken 15 trips to Disney parks with friends, family, and her husband of seven years, and has many more planned. She enjoys being a Guide for The Office, Making More Magic, and Disneyland forums, and loves being part of a fantastic community. Marisa Garber-Brown (a.k.a. marisag) is a Destination Specialist with MouseEarVacations.com. Her parents started taking her to Disney in 1979 and she has visited multiple times every year since. She enjoys spending time with her husband Tim and being a PassPorter Guide in the Cruising forums. Debbie Hendrickson (a.k.a. DebiDebiDebi) has been to Disneyland more than 10 times and to Walt Disney World five times, savoring the wide variety of experiences she’s acquired. Debbie is married to Lee and is a PassPorter message board Guide in the Disneyland forums as well as in The Sunroom. Christina Holland-Radvon (a.k.a. Chrissi) is a stay-at-home and cyber-school mom who enjoys writing and blogging. She lives in eastern Pennsylvania with her 5-year-old son, DJ, and her husband of 8 years, Walt. Chrissi is a Guide in The Backyard, MouseFest Corner, and PassPorter’s Club forums. Claudine Jamba (a.k.a. WDWJAMBA) lives in Montana with her husband Ted and sons Ethan and Colin. She has made several trips to Walt Disney World and is perpetually planning another! Claudine and her family are DVC members. She is a Guide for the Touring the “World” and Owning the Magic forums. Susan Kulick (a.k.a. rescuesk) has been to Walt Disney World many times with family and friends. She and her family, husband, Steve, and stepson, Mike, are DVC members. Sue is a PassPorter message board Guide for the Owning The Magic, The Family Room, The Space Coast, and Other Florida forums. Denise Lang (a.k.a. wdwlovers) and her family love the magic of Disney. She has made seven trips to Walt Disney World so far. Denise enjoys assisting others plan their magical memories as a Travel Consultant with Ears To You Travel. Denise is a Guide in the Disney For Adults and The Library forums.
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Amy Bedore (a.k.a. iamgrumpy) took her first trip to Walt Disney World when she was five, and has since returned more than 20 times. Amy is an alumnus of the Disney College Program. Amy is a Guide in The Backyard forum, Cruising forum, Checking Your Itinerary forum, and the Special Needs forum.
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Lynn Mirante (a.k.a. OffKilter_Lynn) visits Walt Disney World regularly with her family and has enjoyed several Disney cruises. A co-owner of Ears To You Travel, Lynn enjoys helping others plan magical vacations! Lynn is a Guide for the Getting There & Back forum. Sarah Mudd (a.k.a. DopeyGirl) is a military wife and frequent visitor to Disney’s U.S. parks. She, her husband Mike, and 7-year-old daughter Emilie live in Virginia, and can’t wait to get back to “The World!” Sarah is a Guide for several PassPorter Disneyland forums and in The Locker Room.
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Cheryl Pendry (a.k.a. chezp) and her husband Mark usually visit Walt Disney World every year, despite the fact they live in England. They became Disney Vacation Club members in 2002. Cheryl is also a Guide for the Disney Vacation Club, Eateries, Globetrotting, and Disneyland Resort Paris forums. Sheana Perry (a.k.a. SHEANA1226) took her first trip to Walt Disney World in 2001, and since then she has made return several trips, as well as a few side trips to Universal Orlando. She is also a Disney Vacation Club member. Sheana is a Guide for Feasting and Snacking and the Universal Orlando forums. Sabine Rautenberg (a.k.a. Disneybine) lives in Germany with her husband Manuel. Her love of all things Disney started when Disneyland Paris opened back in 1992. She’s enjoyed Disney vacations since then. Sabine is a PassPorter Guide for the Staying In Style, Disneyland Resort Paris, and Globetrotting forums. Jennifer Sanborn (a.k.a. Jennifer2003) is a frequent visitor to Walt Disney World. She is a full time travel agent and enjoys helping others experience the magic of Disney. She is a Guide for the Touring The World and The Library forums on the PassPorter message board. Ann Smith (a.k.a disneyknut) and her children Jamie, Brendan, and Shelby are frequent visitors to Walt Disney World. Their favorite time to visit is October for the International Food and Wine Festival at Epcot. Ann is a PassPorter Guide for The Sunroom, Ask the Travel Agents, and Touring the “World” forums. Donna Sonmor (a.k.a. GoofyMom) has been hooked on Disney since her first trip to Disneyland at the age of 12. Since then she visited Disneyland with her husband and two children, plus 8 trips to Walt Disney World. She is a Guide for the Making More Magic, Checking Itineraries, and the Universal Studios forums. Marie St Martin (a.k.a. CRCrazy) and her husband John visited Disney World on their honeymoon in 1986, and now return with their daughters Amanda, Jennie, and Sarah. Marie is a Guide in the Staying in Style, Going Behind the Scenes, The Backyard, Reviews and Ratings, and Central Florida forums. Sara Varney (a.k.a. Belle*) is PassPorter’s Newsletter Editor, Online Coordinator, and PassPorter’s Club Manager. She is also a Travel Planner for MEI & Mouse Fan Travel. She lives in New England with her family and assorted pets. Sara is a Guide for the Cruising forums and the PassPorter’s Club. Don Willis (a.k.a. duck addict) is a retired government appraiser living in North California. His first visit to Disneyland was in 1962, and he just enjoyed his first Disney Cruise. He is a Guide for the Disneyland Getting There (and Back), The Locker Room, and the Ask the Travel Agents forums. Tammy Wright (a.k.a. ladyt) has been to Walt Disney World eight times in the last four years. She enjoys Disney trivia, finding hidden Mickeys, and planning trips for her friends and family. She is a Guide for the Going Behind the Scenes forum and she loves participating in this online community.
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Question List
Walt Disney World Answers .......................................................................................................... 17 Are there any discounts for Walt Disney World? ............................................................................ 17 How do I get to Walt Disney World from Orlando Airport? ............................................................ 17 What is Disney’s Magical Express?................................................................................................... 19 What is the Resort Airline Check-in Service (RAC)? ....................................................................... 21 What is the difference between Magical Express and Resort Airline Check-in? ..........................22 Can I buy my park tickets from an online broker? ..........................................................................23 Should I purchase the park hopper option, or can I use two days in a single day? ...........................23 What are the differences between a vacation package and a room only reservation? .......................23 What is the difference in room view categories? ............................................................................24 Where do I stay with a family of five? ...............................................................................................24 What is the best moderate resort? .................................................................................................... 25 What is the best room location at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort?.......................................... 26 What are Disney’s Extra Magic Hours (EMH)? How do they work? .............................................. 27 How late is the park really open during Extra Magic Hours? ......................................................... 27 How do Evening Extra Magic Hours work at Epcot, which has different hours? .......................... 27 Can you enter for Evening Magic Hours after they’ve started? .................................................... 28 What can I bring into the parks? ...................................................................................................... 28 Where is the best place to view Wishes from outside the park? .................................................... 28 Is the Disney Dining Plan right for me? ........................................................................................... 29 Where can I find the list of participating eateries on the Disney Dining Plan? ............................ 29 Can Annual Passholders get the Disney Dining Plan? .................................................................... 29 What is the Disney Dining Experience (DDE)? ............................................................................... 29 Which are the best character meals? .............................................................................................. 30 What is the best place for a romantic meal? ................................................................................... 30 What is the best counter-service eatery? ....................................................................................... 30 Is Victoria and Albert’s really worth it?............................................................................................. 31 What is the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique? ............................................................................................. 31 What is an IllumiNations Specialty Cruise? ..................................................................................... 32 What is a Wishes Specialty Cruise? .................................................................................................. 32 What is a Birthday Cruise? ................................................................................................................ 32 What is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party? ............................................................................... 32 What (and when) is the Christmas Parade? ..................................................................................... 33 Can I bring children to the Adventurers Club on Pleasure Island? ................................................34 Where can I see a shuttle launch at Walt Disney World? ................................................................34 Will I fit on the rides? .........................................................................................................................34 Should I rent an ECV (scooter) or wheelchair? ................................................................................ 35 Where do I rent an ECV or wheelchair? ........................................................................................... 35 Where do I get a Guest Assistance Pass? ......................................................................................... 36 What do you need to show or give to receive a Guest Assistance Card? ....................................... 37 Who can use the Guest Assistance Card? ........................................................................................ 38 Do I need a doctor’s note to receive a Guest Assistance Card? ..................................................... 38 If I go again after this trip, do I need to get a new Guest Assistance Card? .................................. 39 I heard that if I get a Guest Assistance Card, I can go to the front of the line. Is this true? ........ 39 What should I do if someone in my family is allergic to a type of food? ........................................ 39 Is there a book or web site where I can find more information on traveling with special needs? ......... 40 Someone I know was chosen for Make a Wish! What do I do now? .............................................. 40
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General Travel Answers ........................................................................................................................11 Should we fly or drive? ........................................................................................................................11 How can I find low-price airfare? ..................................................................................................... 12 Should I book an airplane seat for my child? What about a car seat? ............................................ 13 What can I bring on the plane? ......................................................................................................... 14 What do I need to know about airport security? ............................................................................. 15 Do you have any hints or tips for flying with children? .................................................................. 16
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Disney Vacation Club Answers........................................................................................... 41 Is Disney Vacation Club right for me? .................................................................................... 41 How do I get a Disney Vacation Club tour? ............................................................................ 41 How long will it take to “break even” with a Disney Vacation Club membership?..................... 42 Which resorts are Disney Vacation Club resorts? ................................................................. 43 What is provided in each level of Disney Vacation Club accommodation? .........................44 What type of Mousekeeping services can I expect in these accommodations? ..................... 45 What are the Disney Vacation Club seasons? ........................................................................ 45 What is the difference between the 7 month and 11 month booking window? ................... 46 What is the waitlist and how does it work? ............................................................................ 46 Is there a charge for booking? ................................................................................................ 46 Can I stay at other Walt Disney World resorts with my DVC points? ................................... 47 Can I use my Disney Vacation Club points for other Disney destinations? ........................ 47 What is “Right of First Refusal?” ............................................................................................. 47 Universal Orlando Answers ................................................................................................ 48 How do I get to Universal Orlando Resort from Disney property? ...................................... 48 How many days should I allow to see the parks at Universal Orlando? ............................... 48 How can you get “front of the line” access at Universal Orlando? ...................................... 49 Which Universal Orlando hotel is closest to the theme parks? ............................................ 49 Can you get an Express Pass without staying onsite? ........................................................... 49 Will I fit on the rides at Universal? .......................................................................................... 49 What is there to do at Universal Orlando for small children or non-thrill seekers?.....................50 Space Coast Answers .............................................................................................................51 How long is the drive from Disney World to Port Canaveral/Kennedy Space Center? ...................51 Is there transportation that runs from Disney World to Kennedy Space Center? ...................51 Is the trip to Kennedy Space Center worth it? ........................................................................51 Can I do Kennedy Space Center as a day trip from Walt Disney World?.............................. 52 Disney Cruise Line Answers ............................................................................................... 53 Which itinerary is best for a first-timer cruiser?................................................................... 53 Which itinerary is best: Eastern or Western? ......................................................................... 53 Do I need a passport for a Disney cruise? ............................................................................. 54 What’s the difference between a standard inside stateroom and a deluxe? ....................... 54 What’s the difference between a verandah and a Navigator’s Verandah?.......................... 54 What’s the difference between a category 5 and category 6? ............................................. 55 Where should I stay the night before I board?....................................................................... 55 What time should I arrive at the terminal?............................................................................. 56 Do I have to dress up for formal night? ................................................................................. 56 What is Palo? ............................................................................................................................ 56 Do I need to book excursions through Disney? ......................................................................57 Do I need reservations for Flounder’s Reef Nursery or the kids clubs? ...............................57 How can I get that shore excursion, Palo, or Vista Spa reservation I want? ........................ 58 Should I worry about having a special diet on my cruise? .................................................... 58 Will I see any characters? Where are they? ........................................................................... 58 How do I celebrate a birthday or anniversary? ...................................................................... 59 Can I smoke onboard the Disney ships? What is the smoking policy? ................................60 Should I tip anyone? How much should I tip? ........................................................................60
PassPorter’s Answer Book
Disneyland (California) Answers ........................................................................................61 How much touring time would you suggest for a first-time Disneyland visitor? .................61 What are crowd levels at Disneyland? .....................................................................................61 Which airport is better for Disneyland? .................................................................................61 What’s the best way to get from the area airports to Disneyland Resort property? .......... 62 What’s the best way to get from the Anaheim train station to Disneyland property? ....... 62 How much do taxis cost? ......................................................................................................... 62 Does my Walt Disney World annual pass work at Disneyland? ............................................ 62 What are the advantages to staying on Disney property at Disneyland? ........................... 63 Where do I rent strollers, wheelchairs, and ECVs at Disneyland? ........................................ 63 Where does the Disneyland monorail stop? .......................................................................... 63 Where is the best place to catch the fireworks at Disneyland? ............................................ 63 Where is the best place to catch the parade at Disneyland?................................................ 64 What is the Fantasmic Dessert Buffet? .................................................................................. 64 What is Club 33? ....................................................................................................................... 64 What tours are offered at Disneyland? .................................................................................. 65 Will my Pal Mickey from Walt Disney World work at Disneyland? ....................................... 65 Is Disney’s PhotoPass available at Disneyland? ..................................................................... 65 How do I find the Disney Character Warehouse? ................................................................. 65 How long does it take to get from San Diego/Los Angeles to the Disneyland Resort? ...... 66 How long a drive is it from the Disneyland area to Universal Studios Hollywood? ............ 66 Is there a shuttle to get from Disneyland to Universal Studios? .......................................... 66 How do I get from the Disneyland area to Knott’s Berry Farm? ............................................67 How far is it to Tijuana, Mexico? .............................................................................................67 Disneyland Paris Answers ................................................................................................... 68 I’m visiting Paris and have limited time—should I also visit Disneyland Paris? .................... 68 How many days should I allow to see Disneyland Paris? ...................................................... 68 Which Disneyland Paris attractions should I be sure not to miss? ...................................... 68 How similar is the Disneyland Paris to the Disney parks in the U.S.? ................................. 69 International Travel Answers ............................................................................................. 70 What do I need to know about international travel? ............................................................. 70 Do I need to learn the language before I go? ......................................................................... 70 What’s the best way of coping with jet lag? ............................................................................71 How do I share my travel experiences? ...................................................................................71 Extra Magic Answers ............................................................................................................ 72 What is a Fairy Godmailer? ...................................................................................................... 72 Can I get gift baskets delivered to our room? ........................................................................ 72 Where can I find a biography of Walt Disney?........................................................................73 Where can I find the recipes for my favorite Walt Disney World dish? ................................73 Where do I get Disney scrapbook supplies? ...........................................................................73 How do I make a Disney ABC Scrapbook? ............................................................................. 74 I want to host a fan meet while I’m on vacation. How do I go about it?................................ 75 How can I let more people know about my meet? ................................................................. 75 Do I have to do anything special as a meet host? ...................................................................76 How do I add my meet/event to the PassPorter Community Calendar? ...............................76 What is MouseFest? ..................................................................................................................77 How can I help at MouseFest?..................................................................................................77 Learning More .........................................................................................................................78 “Free” E-Books ..........................................................................................................................80 PassPorter 30% Discount .........................................................................................................81 What is PassPorter? ................................................................................................................. 82 Register Your PassPorter ......................................................................................................... 84 PassPorter Online .................................................................................................................... 85
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About the Answer Book
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You’ve heard the phrase, “If I had a nickel for every time someone has asked me that question...” Well, if it were true, my piggy bank would be bursting! As an author of 40+ books spanning well more than a decade, I’ve heard nearly every question that can be asked about Disney and travel in general. At first I typed out long and thoughtful answers to the questions, then I realized that I was getting similar questions over and over. “Didn’t I just answer that?” became my refrain. So my partner Dave and I opened the PassPorter Community Message Boards back in 2000, posting our answers publically in order to spread the answers beyond our mailboxes. Soon, we were joined by fellow experts, who we call our “Guides” (in other circles you may know them as “moderators,” but they are really so much more than that!). Our Guides are well-versed on their topics and enjoy helping travelers find the answers to their questions, even if it means hunting down the answer for them personally. Like me, they find that they answer similar questions time and time again. So once again, the goal is to spread these valuable answers to a wider audience. Our Guides chose each of the questions in this book carefully, selecting only those that get asked frequently. The answers are culled from their experiences as well as our community members’ experiences. This is all the great stuff, condensed into a simple question and answer format for quick reading. It’s not, of course, a complete guidebook for Disney or general travel. We have other, more traditional books that fill those shoes (see the back of this book). While you could read this book from cover to cover, I suggest you start instead at the table of contents on the preceding pages. Browse the list of more than 100 questions and jump right to the answer that you want. You may also want to keep this Answer Book handy, as it is a very quick way to find an answer to many common questions. You may also find that this book ideal for vacationers who are too busy to read a full guidebook or get online to search message boards. Finally, if your question isn’t answered within these pages, don’t lament. At the end of the question and answer section you’ll find a list of 10 ways to seek out the answers you need. You may find the easiest way is to post the question in the PassPorter Message Boards, where one of the authors of this book may answer your question personally! Enjoy the answers!
Jennifer Marx PassPorter Author and Senior Editor
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Using This E-Book Unlike other e-books you may have seen in the past, this e-book was created to look the same as a regular print guidebook ... but with added features and interactivity! Here are some tips on making the most of this e-book:
Hyperlinks We’ve created clickable hyperlinks for every web address in this book. Just click and you’ll instantly be connected to the particular web site (assuming you’re online). Printing We’ve carefully formatted this document so it can be printed easily. There are a variety of ways to do it, depending on your needs. Here are the details: Simple Print—Just press the Print button or select Print from your File menu while you’re in Adobe Acrobat. What you see is what you get. Print for PassPorter—To print this e-book so it can be placed into your deluxe PassPorter, you’ll want to be sure that the pages print at the correct size (5.5” wide by 8.5” tall) and back-to-back. This can be tricky. To print pages at the right size, bring up your Print settings in Adobe Acrobat and look for a “Page Scaling” option—make sure it is either turned off or set at “None.” To print pages back-to-back (on both sides of the sheet of paper), print only the odd pages of the book, take those pages and place them back in the printer, and then print the even pages of the book. This may take some time to get just right. Once the pages are printed, trim them to 5.5” x 8.5” and then use a hole punch to punch out the six marked holes (for insertion in a deluxe binder) or trim the pages on the dotted line (to insert them in the PassPocket of a spiral edition). Print and Bind—If you want this book printed and bound for you, consider using a local Kinko’s, which will print a PDF file sent to them electronically—you then pick it up in your local store. For details, visit http://www.kinkos.com. Also check the PassPorter Store at http://www.passporterstore.com/store, as we plan to begin offering print versions of our popular e-books. Print Permission for copy/print shops (such as Kinko’s): We grant permission to our readers to make one (1) copy of this book for their personal use. If you have problems printing in Adobe Acrobat Reader, visit this web page for tips: http://www.adobe.com/support/products/acrreader.html. Sharing We know it is tempting to simply e-mail this file to a friend or family member, but we encourage you to instead send them to a link to purchase the book. Without support, we won’t be able to keep this e-book updated or produce future e-books. Here’s the link you can give others: http://www.passporter.com/answer-book.asp
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Bookmarks We’ve bookmarked each question so you can go right to the place that interests you. Look for the Bookmark section in Adobe Acrobat, which will act as a sort of electronic table of contents.
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Answers to Common Questions About
General Travel Should we fly or drive?
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by PassPorter Guide Lynn Mirante (OffKilter_Lynn) Many variables factor into the decision to drive or fly so consider them carefully. Cost is the biggest and most obvious concern. With gasoline prices on the increase (and expected to rise during the peak summer travel months), your fuel budget will most likely be the largest part of driving expenses. Time is the other large factor. Is it worth more to spend less time traveling? Driving costs include more than fuel. According to AAA, fuel represents only about one-fifth of your driving costs, which also include maintenance, depreciation and tire wear. Other expenses with road travel include meals and possibly overnight lodging (if traveling long distances). Mechanical breakdowns, traffic detours, weather delays and flat tires are also possibilities with driving. • • • • •
How road-worthy is your vehicle? Is it large enough to comfortably fit everyone and everything? Traveling with children? Be prepared for choruses of “are we there yet?” and requests for bathroom stops! Do you enjoy driving? How long will it take you?
Driving does have its advantages – travel at your leisure, stop when and where you want. Bring snacks and drinks, too! No worries about luggage weight limits, either. Having your car available at your final destination is also an advantage. Larger families will most often come out ahead when driving versus the per-person ticket cost of flying. Flying costs are rather straight-forward with the cost of airfare being the main expenditure. But there are some other expenses and some hidden time costs to consider. • • • • •
How are you getting to the airport? How far is the airport? Will you have to pay to park your car or pay for alternate transportation? Budget for meals or snacks at the airport or onboard the plane. How are you getting to your final destination? Will you have the expense of a rental car? What happens if you’re delayed? Travel delays, missed connections and cancelled flights are possible.
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Time costs—include time to get to the airport, time waiting for your flight, actual flight time, time at your arrival airport (waiting for baggage, transportation), and time to get to your final destination. A two-hour flight can easily turn into six hours or more of travel time. Consider everything carefully when making your decision. Here’s why we choose to fly—from my location near Philadelphia, flying to Orlando is a better option for my family of four as it saves lots of time. To drive each way it would take 1 1/2 days, more than $200 in fuel, $150 overnight hotel and meals, plus the wear and tear on my car. Double that amount for the return trip and you’ve got three travel days and $700 in expenses. We normally fly non-stop, round trip for $800. And I don’t have to listen to “Are we there yet?!”
by PassPorter Guide Lynn Mirante (OffKilter_Lynn) Know your market price! You need to know what a good price is so you can spot a bargain. Price one-way flights so you can know what your average price is. Check prices for your city pair for travel now, 3 months in advance and 5-6 months in advance (if your carrier schedules are available). Get a good idea of what an average fare is. Make sure you’re pricing travel for the same days of week. Don’t get prices for weekend travel if you’ll be flying midweek. Knowing that $100 is an average, good price for a non-stop flight from Philadelphia to Orlando can make it easier to snag lower prices when I see them. Be prepared to purchase quickly! By knowing that best / good price, you’ll be able to spot deals but you’ll have to be able to buy your tickets fast as the really low fares don’t last long. Travel off-peak days and times. Try and avoid prime business travel times like Monday morning and Friday afternoon. Weekend travel in and out of Orlando can be busy and quickly sell out. Example: lower priced fares can often be found by flying Tuesday thru Thursday. Be flexible with your travel days. Try changing your arrival / departure days by a day or two and compare the price. You may be able to fly in later the night before for less money, often the savings will more than cover the cost of an additional hotel night. Sign up for e-mail alerts. Don’t make yourself crazy watching all airlines. Pick two or three airlines and sign up for their e-mail newsletters and alerts. Southwest Airlines offers a download program called “Ding” that will automatically send specials right to your desktop. Use a fare-watcher service. By keying in a few details, they will watch specific flights or send general price alerts. http://www.FareCompare.com http://www.Kayak.com http://www.Yapta.com
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How can I find low-price airfare?
PassPorter’s Answer Book
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Check alternate airports. Regional airports aren’t always higher priced! Check other airports, especially if your carrier routes their flights thru a hub. Often you can get to their hub quicker and cheaper thru regional airports. Consider purchasing flights separately. You do not have to purchase round trip tickets, nor do you have to purchase your flights with the same carrier! By knowing what a good one-way price is, you can comparison shop the available carriers for that rate or one close to it. There are no penalties or fees for purchasing a one-way ticket versus a round-trip ticket, nor is there any discount or incentive for purchasing a round-trip ticket. Some discounts and special offers do require round-trip purchases.
PassPorter Deluxe: Cut, punch holes, and insert in binder. PassPorter Reg.: Cut, trim at dotted line, and insert in PassPocket.
Buy direct whenever possible. Many travel services charge a convenience fee for booking thru their site. You can make the same reservation directly with the airline and avoid the fee. Also, use the internet to make your reservations directly as many airlines now charge a per-ticket fee to speak to one of their reservationists! One added note: many airlines participate in the Resort Airline Check-in program at Walt Disney World. It can be worth a few extra dollars to take advantage of this feature! Domestic travel (including Puerto Rico) on AirTran, Alaska Airlines, American, Continental, Delta, JetBlue, Northwest, United (including TED) and US Airways are all included. This service allows you to check your luggage directly at your resort the morning of your departure and receive your boarding passes.
Should I book an airplane seat for my child? What about a car seat? by PassPorter Guide Lynn Mirante (OffKilter_Lynn) Most airlines don’t require that you purchase a seat for children under the age of two which makes it an attractive savings for your travel budget. The child must be lap-carried unless there is an adjacent, empty seat. However, child safety and comfort make purchasing a seat a wise choice. (Discounts may be available so check with the airline). We wouldn’t drive our children anywhere in a car unless they were properly secured and I feel air travel shouldn’t be treated any differently. If you encounter turbulence, you’ll be glad your child is safely buckled in. Can I bring their car seat? Yes, if it is FAA-approved for that use. The label should read, “This restraint certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft.” Knowing where this label is found can help you board quickly and easily as flight attendants may verify that the seat can be used on board. To ensure that it will fit into a typical coach seat, the car seat should be no wider than 16”. Car seats should always be placed in the window seat so they won’t block other passengers in an emergency. For children under 20 pounds, the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) recommends the car seat face the rear, as you would in a car. For children between 20 and 40 pounds, the seat should face forward. Once they reach over 40 pounds, you can use the airplane seat’s regular safety belt.