2010 Edition Peek
Notes & More
Index
Making Magic
Feasting
Touring
Staying in Style
Getting There
Planning
2
About This Sneak Peek
Topic: Introduction
PassPorter’s Walt Disney World 2010 Sneak Peek Greetings fellow Walt Disney World fan! Thanks for take a look at this sneak peek of PassPorter’s Walt Disney World 2010 guidebook. Inside you’ll find 44 genuine sample pages, straight from the master files. Here is a list of what we’ve included: • Praise and What’s New pages • Title and copyright page (oh boy!) • About the Authors/Peer Reviewers • Table of Contents (three pages) • The PassPorter Way (one page) • Congratulations! Letter from the Authors • Disney Dreaming (page 2) • Planning Your Adventure (from Ch. 1) • Packing List page #1 (from Ch. 2) • All-Star Resorts page #1 (from Ch. 3) • BoardWalk Inn & Villas page #2 (from Ch. 3) • Magic Kingdom page #1 (from Ch. 4) • Orienting Yourself at Epcot (from Ch. 4) • Charting the Attractions in the Streets of America (from Ch. 4) • Disney’s Hollywood Studios park map (from Ch. 4) • Animal Kingdom Favorite Touring Plan and Attractions At-A-Glance (from Ch 4.) • Epcot eateries pages #3 & #4 (from Ch. 5) • VIP Tips page #1 (from Ch. 6) • Autographs page #2 (from back of book) • Various pages from back of book • Important Numbers and Vacation At-A-Glance worksheet • Journey PassPocket (front and back) • First five pages of our Disney Dreaming photo supplement We’ve provided a sample from each chapter, as well as samples of each type of page found in the field guide (text, worksheet, diagram, photo, etc.) We should note that these are only samples and the pages are out of context, so information is naturally missing. Please also keep in mind that the quality in this file is lower than that of the actual book, as we needed to keep this file small for downloading. The photos are particularly low in quality, but rest assured they look MUCH better in print. We encourage you to learn more about the PassPorter’s Walt Disney World 2010 guidebook at http://www.passporter.com/wdw/guidebook.asp.
HOT TIP: Order PassPorter’s Walt Disney World 2010 at 20-30% Off! See details on the next page.
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2. Online at Internet booksellers like Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com, and Borders.com. Every online bookstore carries PassPorters. 3. Offline at your local bookstore—look in the travel/cruising section. If for some reason you don’t see it on the shelf, you can usually special order it for free. The ISBNs for PassPorter’s Walt Disney World 2010 are 978-1-58771-073-5 (spiral edition) or 978-1-58771-074-2 (deluxe ringbound edition). PassPorter’s Walt Disney World 2010 The unique guidebook, planner, organizer, journal, and keepsake! by Jennifer Marx, Dave Marx, and Allison Cerel Marx • 360 pages on full-color, glossy paper with beautiful photos • Special photo supplement section filled with magical photos to help you anticipate and get excited about your vacation!
Planning Getting There Staying in Style
1. Direct at http://www.passporterstore.com/store/2010.aspx or call tollfree 1-877-929-3273. This is the fastest and usually least expensive way to obtain a copy, plus you get personal service from the authors! Use the code “peek” to get 20% off the field guide! If you already have a copy of PassPorter, you can register it to receive a 30% discount off the list price! Register at http://www.passporter.com/register.asp.
Touring
You can find PassPorter’s Walt Disney World 2010 guidebook in three general places:
Feasting
How to Get Your Own Copy
3
Making Magic
Topic: How to Get Your Own Copy
Index
About This Sneak Peek
• Most up-to-date 2010 guidebook available!
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Notes & More
• Includes photos, maps, charts, worksheets, and pockets
Topic: Reviews
Real Reviews From Real Readers Here are just a few recent reviews we’ve received from readers of PassPorter’s Walt Disney World ... these are unedited! To get the latest comments, visit http://www.passporter.com/quotes-wdw.php
Staying in Style
Planning
About This Sneak Peek
Getting There
4
“I just got it, but I like that I’ll be able to keep all our our travel details in one place. “ -- Melanie Fenstermaker (2009-10-25 11:03:43) “What is there NOT to like. I love the maps and the suggested itinerary on the back. Also in the touring section, I love the concise Attraction descriptions. Finally, it’s a great idea to highlight new things in green.“ -- Richard Smith (2009-10-25 08:49:25) “I love it all. Our Journey especially...it is our diary.“ -- Diane Fletcher (2009-10-23 12:23:53)
Notes & More
Index
Making Magic
Feasting
Touring
“Like the planning tips such as the town car from airport “ -- Rebecca Burleigh-Howes (200910-22 17:54:08) “The new information is highlighted, the fold out maps, the pouches to store brochures & ticket stubs and the memories blocks to fill in daily after you get back to your room from the parks. I LOVE the passporter. Keep up the great work & thank you for your hard work!” -- Elizabeth Runkel (2009-10-22 10:24:41) “thorough info. User since 2006 - Love them!!” -- Jeanne Bigler (2009-10-22 07:36:56) “EVERYTHING!!! This is the 2nd one I have bought. Great planning tips and amazing maps! Keep up the great work!!!” -- Rebecca Morris (2009-10-20 16:57:13) “The pockets in the back i love the book! Best Disney book i have ever bought! Totally worth the money!” -- Tess Julian (2009-10-20 14:46:50) “I loved all the information and the pockets to keep our receipts and info “ -- Katrina Duggan (2009-10-17 17:24:52) “I love all the details! It truly is my Bible when traveling to the World! “ -- Betsy Cameron (2009-10-16 19:49:54) “I love the layout and that it is so easy to use. And since I am a scrapbooker I LOVE the pockets. I think the only thing that I would like to see is a passporter refill without the lodging info since I have a timeshare I don’t need that information. Otherwise I wouldn’t change a thing. “ -- Amy Ely (2009-10-14 20:58:49) “I loved everything about it - maps, portability, varying ages of ratings, reviews, ability to enter our own information. I’ve left the below item checked about receiving the postcard with coupon codes, but if this will come via email in future years, you can forget the postcard.” -Lori Wojtysiak (2009-10-13 23:08:51) “The pockets/organization. Some info repeated in different sections. I love my Passporter!” -- Kathy Gee (2009-10-13 13:52:51)
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Praise for PassPorter® “A nifty travel guide that works overtime as a planner, organizer, and journal...” — Jacky Runice Daily Herald—Chicago
“[PassPorter has become th] Bible for those e us who want toof experience Wal Disney World t to the max.”
— Kim Co , Venice Gondolol ier Sun
like Holy cow, what’s not to ?? er about PassPort the It makes me feel like EVER. n rso pe d ize most organ — Gina Peterson in Texas
I’m in awe of PassPorter! It’s not just a great guidebook to read before a trip, but a hold-all while there, as well as an on-the-spot reference. Then, later, it becomes a scrapbook. Brilliant!! — Florence Mitchell in Pennyslvania
“[PassPorter] is a brilliant travel aid... the most practical, sanity-saving guide you could take along to Disney World.” — Stephanie Gold, Amazon.com
“Vacationers who want to enjoy all that Disney World has to offer should make sure they take along this PassPorter guide.” — ForeWord Reviews
Absolutely love it! PassPorter has got to be the most concise and informative book. The maps are detailed so you can’t get lost. I wouldn’t change a thing!! — Toni Lee S. in Pennsylvania Love it! Every year we go to Disney, I buy a new PassPorter. The descriptions are flawless, and the advice in it is awesome. PassPorter is irreplaceable if you are planning a trip to Disney. — Kate Humber in West Virginia
What’s Unique in PassPorter Coverage of the most recent changes throughout Walt Disney World—thanks to our later production schedule, this is the most up-to-date 2010 guidebook available! We have the recent pass price changes, resort price increases, and the Disney Dining Plan additions and changes. Special glossy photo supplement at the back of the book Comprehensive yet concise information is packed into our pages—PassPorter is information-rich and padding-free! Full color brings life and clarity to our maps and photos. Blending of personal experience and photographs from your authors and the collective wisdom of tens of thousands of readers means a guidebook that’s full of heart and soul. Well-organized chapters and pages make it easy to find what you need. We edit our information carefully so that sections always begin at the top of a page. Worksheets to jot notes and make travel arrangements. Our famous organizer PassPockets to plan your trip, store your maps and papers, and record your vacation memories. Floorplans of Disney resort hotel rooms to give you a better sense of the layout. Fold-out maps of the four major Disney theme parks, printed in full color on heavy paper to stand up to rugged use. Custom-designed attraction charts provide all the information you need at a glance. ToddlerTips, KidTips, TweenTips, and TeenTips offer advice for kids by kids. Color, self-stick tabs to mark your chapters. Original color photos to see the real Walt Disney World! Personalization labels and stickers to customize your book. Magical memories from fellow travelers convey the spirit and wonder of Walt Disney World. Disney changes highlighted with a light green background to mark significant changes since our last edition. Expert peer reviewers to ensure accuracy and thoroughness. ...and much more! Visit us at http://www.passporter.com for a complete list of what’s new and unique in PassPorter’s Walt Disney World 2010!
PassPorter’s® Walt Disney World® 2010 Twelth Edition
The unique travel guide, planner, organizer, journal, and keepsake Jennifer Marx, Dave Marx, and Allison Cerel Marx
PassPorter Travel Press An imprint of MediaMarx, Inc.
P.O. Box 3880, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 877-WAYFARER
PassPorter’s® Walt Disney World®—2010 Edition by Jennifer Marx, Dave Marx, and Allison Cerel Marx
©
2009 by PassPorter Travel Press, an imprint of MediaMarx, Inc.
P.O. Box 3880, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 877-WAYFARER or 877-929-3273 (toll-free) Visit us online at http://www.passporter.com PassPorter® is a registered trademark of MediaMarx, Inc. Photographs MediaMarx, Inc. unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.
©
PassPorter’s® Walt Disney World® 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 travel guide, the passage of time will always bring changes, and consequently the publisher cannot accept responsibility for errors that may occur. All prices and operating schedules quoted herein are based on information available to us at press time. Operating hours, maps, resort policies, future attractions, admission fees, and other costs may change, however, and we advise vacationers to call ahead and verify these facts and any others which are subject to change. The authors and publishers 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 guide 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 authors or publisher. Those words or terms that the authors and publishers 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® Walt Disney World® is authored and edited by Jennifer Marx, Dave Marx, and Allison Cerel Marx. The information presented is for your personal vacation planning. Any stated opinions are ours alone, unless otherwise noted, and do not represent The Walt Disney Company or anyone else. Materials submitted by and credited to persons other than ourselves are 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. Distributed by Publishers Group West
ISBN-13: 978-1-58771-073-5 ISBN-10: 1-58771-073-0 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Printed in Hong Kong
About the Authors
Name: Jennifer Marx Date of birth: 10/09/68 Residence: Ann Arbor, MI Signature: ...........................
Jennifer Marx fell in love with Walt Disney World on her first visit as a teenager in 1983. She has since returned more times than she can count on her fingers and toes many times over, visiting every park, attraction, resort, and restaurant at least once. As author of more than a dozen popular books, she yearned to write one about Walt Disney World but felt no interest in churning out yet another travel guide when there were so many excellent books already available. When she hit upon the idea of the PassPorter, she knew she could offer her fellow vacationers something unique and valuable. With the help of the PassPorter, Jennifer has organized gatherings at Walt Disney World for individuals, groups, and families of all ages and stages. Jennifer lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan and is a loving mother to her young son Alexander.
Dave Marx may be considered a Renaissance Man, a jackof-all-trades, or a dilettante, depending on how you look at things. He took a 20-year hiatus between his early journalism training and the commencement of his full-time writing career. Beyond co-authoring numerous books with Jennifer, he’s been a radio writer/producer; recording engineer; motion picture music editor; broadcast engineering supervisor; tax preparer; cab driver; whitewater safety and rescue instructor; developer and instructor of online publishing courses; and board member for the Independent Book Publishers Association. He has also co-authored and contributed to numerous books about America Online and the Internet. He discovered the “World” (Walt Disney World, that is) in 1997 and spent more than six months there over the following five years. Dave is from New Jersey and now makes his home in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Name: Dave Marx Date of birth: 04/07/55 Residence: Ann Arbor, MI Signature: ...........................
Allison Cerel Marx (“Allie”) is a veteran visitor to Walt Disney World (and Dave’s 17-year-old daughter). She has a maniacal grin, especially when spinning one of Mad Hatter’s teacups at top speed. She’s camped at Fort Wilderness, celebrated New Year’s Eve in the Magic Kingdom, and photographed animals at Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort. She shares her “Å-oK!” ratings and her popular tips for kids, “tweens” (pre-teens), and teens on the attractions in the Touring the ‘World’ chapter. Allie also offers her thoughts on the childcare clubs on property. Allie is pictured here with her little brother, Alexander, who “contributes” his own ToddlerTips and KidTips in this edition. –v–
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PassPorter Team
Our 17 Expert Peer Reviewers painstakingly checked our text, photos, and maps, and helped us ensure PassPorter’s accuracy, readability, and thoroughness. Thank you for helping to make PassPorter the best it can be! Sandy Bostwick is a college professor specializing in accommodations, learning strategies, and writing skills. She owns a North Jersey occupational therapy private practice. She also loves writing and has been published in books and magazines. She enjoys the PassPorter Message Board Community and helps make the Disney Magic accessible as a Guide for the Special Needs forum. Wendy Braddick is a PassPorter message board Guide for the “Making More Magic” forum. She has visited Walt Disney World 19 times since 1999. She has travelled solo, with her husband Ben, and with her children Joshua, Carlee, Michael, and Gabrielle. She’s stayed at most Disney resorts, is a Disney Vacation Club member, and a huge lover of the Country Bear Jamboree. Dianne Cook and her husband Tom had a Walt Disney World honeymoon and now “do Disney” twice a year with their sons Andrew and Matthew. A Disney Vacation Club member since 1996, Dianne is also a PassPorter Guide for the “Getting There (and Back),” “Touring the ‘World,’” “Owning the Magic “, “Trip Reports,” and “The Office” forums on the PassPorter message boards. Mike “Demo” Demopoulos is a former Walt Disney World Cast Member and is the co-host of MousePlanet’s MouseStation Podcast (formerly The Magical Moment Podcast). He is a proud Day One Charter Member of D23. In 2009 Mike also became an Independent Agent with MouseEarVactions.com. Mike just recently married and can’t wait to share many future vacations with his new wife, Kayla. Marisa Garber-Brown 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. She is also a PassPorter message board Guide for the “Planning Your Disney Cruise Voyage” and “Sharing Your Adventure: Disney Cruise Reports Forums” forums. LauraBelle Hime enjoys helping others through her experiences as a frequent Disney traveler. She has traveled to Disney destinations with all of her family, her PassPorter family, but expecially enjoys trips with her grandchildren Alexis, Olivia, Caleb, Jacob, and Samantha. LauraBelle is a PassPorter Guide for “The Porch,” “The Family Room,” “Disneyland Feasting & Snacking,” and “Disneyland Staying in Style.” Terri Jordan is a Disney Vacation Club member, PassPorter message board Guide, and avid Disney vacation fan. She often helps family and friends plan their Disney adventures. She has made more than 40 trips to Disney World since 2001 and recently introduced her fiance Chris to magic of Walt Disney World vacations while planning their 2010 wedding! Denise Lang and her family enjoy the magic of Walt Disney World. She’s made eight trips to Walt Disney World in the last 10 years, even taking part in a Fairytale Wedding! Denise assists others plan their vacations as a Travel Consultant for Ears To You Travel. She is also a PassPorter Message Board Guide for the “Disney for Adults” forum and enjoys reading and photography. Sue Kulick is a PassPorter Guide and a Disney Vacation Club Member. She has traveled to Walt Disney World more than 15 times with friends and family, and has been on four Disney cruises, including a DVC Member Cruise. Sue enjoys helping fellow vacationers with planning their Disney memories as a Guide in the “Owning The Magic,” “The Family Room,” “The Space Coast and Other Florida” forums. Cam Matthews is thrilled to share her Disney adventures with anyone who will listen. She and her daughter Stefanie count down time for their yearly trek to Disney constantly. She also spends lots of time planning during the wait, so her PassPorter is never tucked away. Cam is a Guide for “Sharing the Adventure” and “The Darkroom” forums on the PassPorter message boards. – vi –
PassPorter Team Bruce Metcalf has loved and studied Disney parks since 1958. He works at a major Central Florida resort where he frightens the natives with his impressive knowledge of Disney trivia and history. Bruce has been an expert peer reviewer for nearly every PassPorter guidebook since 2000, and our guidebooks are all the better for his eagle eye and attention to detail. Allison Palmer-Gleicher lives so close that she has visited Walt Disney World over 80 times since 1973. In the past, Allison worked for the Disney Store and has been a Guide on the PassPorter boards since 1999. Ten years ago Allison and her family became owners in the Disney Vacation Club and she is an annual passholder. In her free time she plans vacations for herself, her friends, and family. Cheryl Pendry 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 and Cheryl is the co-author of PassPorter’s Disney Vacation Club Guide. She is also the author of PassPorter’s Walt Disney World for British Holidaymakers and is a PassPorter Message Board Guide. Ann Smith, a PassPorter message board Guide has been to Disney World over 20 times experiencing many magical memories with her family, husband, Jim and children, Jamie, Brendan, and Shelby. She is looking forward to her next trip in March 2010 when both of her sons will be performing on Main Street, U.S.A. in the Magic Kingdom with their high school marching band. Marnie Urmaza, her husband, Matt, and kids, Alexa and Colin, have made seven trips to Walt Disney World, as well as taken two Disney cruises since 2003! Next up for the family is Disneyland and Southern California! Marnie also enjoys being a PassPorter message board Guide in the “Family Room,” “Disney World Trip Reports,” and “Globetrotting Trip Reports” forum and helping others plan their Disney vacations. Sara Varney is the PassPorter News Editor and PassPorter.com Online Coordinator. She is also a Travel Planner affiliated with Mouse Fan Travel. Sara and her husband Shawn live in New England with their 5-year-old son Ryan and have been to Walt Disney World as a couple and/or family 15 times. Sara is also a PassPorter Guide for the “Disney Cruise Line” and “Using Your PassPorter” forums. Special thanks to Brad K. for his peer review and photo contributions! Big thanks to the Guides (moderators) of our message boards: Maureen Austin, Amy Bedore, Tiffany Bendes, Sandy Bostwick, Wendy Braddick, Dyan Chaplin, Michelle Clark, Dianne Cook, Lesley Duncan, Dawn Erickson, Joanne and Tim Ernest, Marisa Garber-Brown, Rob Gatto, Kristin Grey, Molly Radcliff Headley, Debbie Hendrickson, LauraBelle Hime, Linda Holland, Christina Holland-Radvon, Claudine Jamba, Ann Johnson, Terri Jordan, Deb Kendall, Robin Krening-Capra, Susan Kulick, Marcie LaCava, Denise Lang, Eileen Lloyd, Heather Macdonald, Keri Madeira, Cam Matthews, Lynn Mirante, Yvonne Mitchell, Sarah Mudd, Bill Myers, Rebecca Oberg, Allison Palmer-Gleicher, Cheryl Pendry, Sheana Perry, Tina Peterson, Susan Rannestad, Sabine Rautenberg, Carol Ray, Crystal Remaly, Ann Smith, Donna Sonmor, Marie St. Martin, Suzanne Torrey, Marnie Urmaza, Sara Varney, Susan Wagner, Suzi Waters, Brant Wigginton, Don Willis, Debbie Wright, and the 40,000+ readers in our amazing community at http://www.passporterboards.com. Many thanks to Chad Larner, who checked the accuracy of web links and phone numbers, updated menu item prices and averages throughout the book, and coordinated the hundreds of permissions needed for all the photos, tips, and stories in PassPorter! Special recognition goes to Cheryl Pendry, who not only peer reviewed this edition, but also contributed many of the photos that appear here and checked each of the page number references after we squeezed in extra pages at the last minute! Special thanks to Greg Reese who helped with the web site index and attractions-at-a-glance! Our gratitude to these very important folks “behind the scenes” at PassPorter: Office Manager and Research Wizard: Chad Larner Proofreader Extraordinaire: Sandy Zilka Livingston Printer: Magnum Printing, Ltd., Hong Kong (thank you, Anita Lam!) Online Coordinator and Newsletter Editor: Sara Varney Assorted Pixies: Tom Anderson, Dave Hunter, Kim Larner, Bob Sehlinger, and Dirk Uhlenbrock – vii –
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Acknowledgments
A “world” of thanks to our readers, who’ve contributed loads of tips, stories, and photos since PassPorter’s debut. A special thanks to those who generously allowed us to include their contributions and photographs in this edition: Kelly Adkins, Todd Armen, Heather Baker, Vanessa Barger, Diana Barthelemy-Rodriguez, Jennifer Berry, Christy B., Beth Borja, Wendy Braddick, Lissette Brito, Dawn Chugg, Michelle Clark, Nicole Clayton, Chris Cook-Leitz, Laura Dawson, Michael Dawson, Jyl Deshler, Mary Ann Devine, Lois Ann Dolley, Brigett Duncan, Sharon Ellis, Dawn Erickson, Jason Esteve, Jennifer Etzkorn, Susan Fadel, Eileen Farnsworth, Elizabeth Ferris, Stephanie Fieldstad, LilyAnn Fisherman, Cyndi Gai, Laurie Gallion, Monica Gauvin, Fran Giambalvo, Victoria Goeler, Michelle G., Misty Hailey, Gayle Hartleroad, Melissa Hasbrouck, Rick Haye, Dawn Hilton, Alison Hinsley, Lura Honeycutt, Elizabeth Hudock, Kate Humber, Andea Johnson, Lindsay Jones, Brad K., Patti Kalal, Elizabeth Key, Jennifer Kincaid, Tracey Klemick, Janice Kovacs, Angie Lambert, Denise Lang, Judi Laplante, David Latoundji, Donna Lawrence, Jodi Leeper, Angela Lidh, Melissa Loflin, Priscilla Lopez, Marc Lorenzo, Suzanne Lyle, Karen Majeau, Eme Mallory, Sheila Masters, Cam Matthew, Bonnie McCarty, Elaine McMichael, Leana Metteer, Rae Mills, Lynn Mirante, Courtney M., Florence Mitchell, Desiree Morris, Darren Mosher, Bill Myers, Kelly Michelle Narvaez, Casi Neveleff, Alisa Niethammer, Amy Novak, Puget P., Cheryl Pendry, Gina Pesca, Gina Peterson, Jean Phillo, Melissa Potter, Denise Preskitt, Toni Lee S., Leslie Schmauder, Kris and Lauren Schuhow, Cindy Seaburn, Amy Sellars, Ida Sellars, Janet Simonsen, Michelle Sinclair, Lisa Siverns-LeClair, Jamie S., Fran Skall, Beth Staff, Keith Stanton, Hiromi Stone, Wendy Suchomel, Marianne Swan, Scott Theus, Tina Thornton, Mark Todd, Kurt Ulrich, Joy Vodnik, Jennifer Wagaman, Rick Wagner, Katey Westcott, Donald Willis, Teresa Wilson, Gina Winnette, Tammy Wright, Mark Zielberg, ChristyLeni, JustLorri, mommadjones, Nalagh, SuperNemo, tlhewitt52, May each of you receive a new magical memory for every reader your words touch. PassPorter would not be where it is today without the help and support of the many members of the Internet Disney fan community. Our thanks to the friendly folks below and to all whom we didn’t have room to include! • • • • • • • • •
AllEars.net (http://www.allears.net). Thanks, Deb W., Deb K., and Mike S.! DIS—Unofficial Disney Information Station (http://www.wdwinfo.com). Thanks, Pete! Intercot (http://www.intercot.com). Thank you, John! LaughingPlace.com (http://www.laughingplace.com). Thanks, Doobie and Rebekah! MouseEarVacations.com (http//www.mouseearvacations.com). Thanks, Jami! Mouse Fan Travel (http://www.mousefantravel.com). Thanks, Beci and Annette! MousePlanet.com (http://www.mouseplanet.com). Thanks Mike D., Mark, Adrienne, & Tony! MouseSavers.com (http://www.mousesavers.com). Thanks, Mary! Planning Strategy Calculator (http://pscalculator.net). Thanks, Scott!
A heartfelt thank you to our family and friends for their patience while we were away on trips or cloistered at our computers, and for their support of our dream: Alexander Marx; Carolyn Tody; Tom Anderson; Fred and Adele Marx; Kim, Chad, Megan, and Natalie Larner; Dan, Jeannie, Kayleigh, Melanie, and Nina Marx; Gale Cerel; Jeanne and David Beroza; Robert, Sharon, and Nicole Larner; Gordon Watson and Marianne Couch; Greg Reese; Ben Foxworth; and Marta Metcalf. Last but not least, we thank Walter Elias Disney for his dream.
About Our Cover Photo
The Spaceship Earth photo on the front cover of this edition was taken on May 3, 2009, exactly 10 years from the day we published the very first PassPorter. Each of the 70+ readers in the photo attended our big 10th birthday party bash at the VIP lounge in The Seas! Thank you to each of you for making our special day so memorable and for your wonderful support of PassPorter! You can get a closer look at this image in the photo supplement at the end of this book. – viii –
Contents Congratulations! ..................................1 Disney Dreaming ......................................... 2
List of Maps, Worksheets, and Charts
Planning Your Adventure .................3 Planning With Your PassPorter ................... 4 Finding Disney Information ........................ 6 Budgeting for Your Vacation ....................... 8 Money-Saving Programs and Tips ............ 10 Plan It Up! (Tips and Memories) ................12
Getting There (and Back!) ............. 13 The Best of Times ....................................... 14 Getting There ..............................................15 Are We There Yet? .......................................21 Adventuring! (Tips and Memories) .......... 26
9 Budget Worksheet................................. 9 Cost/Crowds/Temperature Chart ......14 Orlando Intl. Airport Map .................. 18 Sanford Airport Map ...........................19 Travel Worksheet .................................23 Packing List ........................................24
[
Staying in Style...................................27 Choosing a Resort ...................................... 28 Reserving a Room ......................................30 Choosing a Package ................................... 32 Resort Key....................................................33 All-Star Resorts ...........................................37 Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge & Villas ... 41 BoardWalk Inn & Villas Resort ................... 45 Caribbean Beach Resort ............................ 49 Contemporary Resort ................................ 53 Coronado Springs Resort ........................... 57 Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground ....61 Grand Floridian Resort & Spa .................... 65 Old Key West Resort ................................... 69 Polynesian Resort....................................... 73 Pop Century Resort .................................... 77 Port Orleans Resort ....................................81 Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa .................. 87 Wilderness Lodge & Villas Resort ...............91 Yacht and Beach Club & Villas Resorts ..... 95 Shades of Green .......................................100 Swan and Dolphin Resorts .......................101 Disney Cruise Line................................... 102 Disney Vacation Club............................... 104 Hotel Plaza Resorts .................................. 106 Hotels Near Walt Disney World .............. 108 Hotels Near Universal Studios ................ 109 Hotels Outside Disney .............................110 Vacation Home Rentals ............................ 111 The Last Resort (Tips and Memories) ......114 – ix –
Resort Comparison Chart ................... 29 All-Star Resorts Map .........................40 Animal Kingdom Lodge & Villas Map.... 44 BoardWalk Inn & Villas Map ...............48 Caribbean Beach Map ........................52 Contemporary Map ............................56 Coronado Springs Map ...................... 60 Fort Wilderness Map .......................... 64 Grand Floridian Map ..........................68 Old Key West Map............................... 72 Polynesian Map .................................. 76 Pop Century Map............................... 80 Port Orleans Maps ..............................85 Saratoga Springs Map.........................90 Wilderness Lodge & Villas Map ...........94 Yacht and Beach Club & Villas Map .... 99
> Lodging Worksheet ............................112
Contents (continued)
Touring the “World” ........................ 115 Park Passwords .......................................... 116 Park Passes ................................................118 Getting Around the Resort and Parks ..... 120 Park Tips and Ratings ...............................122
Magic Kingdom .......................................125 Orienting Yourself ....................................126 Our Favorite Touring Plans.....................127a Entertainment ...........................................129 Tips and Notes ......................................... 130 Shopping and Ratings ............................... 131 Times and Transportation ........................132
3 Epcot ........................................................ 145 Orienting Yourself ................................... 146 Our Favorite Touring Plans.....................147a Entertainment ...........................................149 Tips and Notes ......................................... 150 Shopping and Ratings ...............................151 Times and Transportation ........................152 Cooling Off at Epcot’s Fountains .............163 Making the Most of IllumiNations .......... 164 Disney’s Hollywood Studios .................165 Orienting Yourself ....................................166 Our Favorite Touring Plans.....................167a Entertainment ...........................................169 Tips and Notes ......................................... 170 Shopping and Ratings ............................... 171 Times and Transportation ........................172 Disney’s Animal Kingdom .....................179 Orienting Yourself ................................... 180 Our Favorite Touring Plans.....................181a Entertainment ...........................................183 Tips and Notes ......................................... 184 Shopping and Ratings ...............................185 Times and Transportation ........................186
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Maps, Worksheets, and Charts (cont.)
Pass Comparison Chart ......................119 Disney Property Transportation Chart.. 121 Understanding and Using the Attraction Description and Ratings ................. 123 The Parks (overview map) ..................124 Attractions At-A-Glance.................. 127b Magic Kingdom Fold-Out Map .......... 128 Charting the Attractions at... ...Main Street, U.S.A. ......................... 133 ...Adventureland ................................134 ...Frontierland .................................... 136 ...Liberty Square................................. 137 ...Fantasyland .................................... 139 ...Mickey’s Toontown Fair .................. 141 ...Tomorrowland .................................142 Attractions At-A-Glance.................. 147b Epcot Fold-Out Map ..........................148 Charting the Attractions at... ...Future World ................................... 153 ...World Showcase .............................. 158
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Attractions At-A-Glance.................. 167b Disney’s Hollywood Studios Map ........ 168 Charting the Attractions in the... ...Echo Lake Area ............................... 173 ...Streets of America Area .................. 174 ...Pixar Place Area ...............................176 ...Hollywood and Sunset Blvd Areas ... 178 Attractions At-A-Glance...................181b Animal Kingdom Fold-Out Map ......... 182 Charting the Attractions in... ...The Oasis, Discovery Island ............ 187 ...Africa .............................................. 188 ...Rafiki’s Planet Watch .......................189 ...Asia ................................................. 190 ...DinoLand U.S.A. ..............................192
Contents (continued)
Touring the “World (continued) Typhoon Lagoon Water Park.....................193 Blizzard Beach Water Park ........................197 Downtown Disney ................................... 201 Cirque du Soleil ........................................204 DisneyQuest.............................................205 Disney Celebrations in 2010 ...................209 More Places to Play.................................. 210 Deciding What To Do ................................213 Touring Tips and Memories .....................216
Feasting and Snacking ...................217
Deciding on Dining...................................218 Disney Dining Plan ...................................219 Advance Reservations ............................. 222 Restaurant Menu .................................... 224 Understanding and Using the Eatery Descriptions and Ratings ......... 226 Restaurant Descriptions ......................... 227 Character Dining ..................................... 258 Dinner Shows ...........................................260 A Recipe for Fun (Tips and Memories)..... 266
Making More Magic....................... 267 Backstage Passes (Tours/Programs) ...... 268 Treasure Hunts......................................... 272 Taking Photos ........................................... 274 Disney’s PhotoPass .................................. 275 Shopping for Souvenirs ............................276 VIP Tips ......................................................278 Childcare Programs..................................280 Special Occasions .................................... 282 Special Events and Holidays .................... 284 Beyond Walt Disney World ...................... 286 Your Own Walt Disney World .................. 288
Index ..................................................... 289
Web Site Index ......................................... 300 Notes & Autographs ................................ 302 Register Your PassPorter .........................308 PassPorter Online (Web Site) ..................309 PassPorter Articles and Photos ............... 310 PassPorter Goodies ................................... 311 More PassPorters ......................................312 PassPorter E-Books ...................................314 PassPorter’s Club ......................................315 Important Information .............................316 Vacation At-A-Glance .............................. 288 – xi –
Maps, Worksheets, and Charts (cont.) Typhoon Lagoon Map ....................... 196 Blizzard Beach Map ........................ 200 Downtown Disney Map ...................202 Cirque du Soleil Seating Plan .......... 204 DisneyQuest Map ............................208 Touring Worksheet ........................... 214 Magic Kingdom Eateries ................... 227 Epcot Eateries .................................. 230 Disney’s Hollywood Studio Eateries....238 Disney’s Animal Kingdom Eateries ........241 Downtown Disney Eateries .............. 244 Resort Restaurants ...........................249 Character Dining Chart ................... 259 Meal Worksheets...............................264 Advance Reservations Worksheet .....265
Hidden Mickeys ................................ 273 Souvenir Shopping Chart.................. 276
Bonus Features...
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Disney Dreaming photo section ..................................... pages 319–350 Florida Map ...............front cover flap 2010/2011 Planning Calendars .........................under front cover flap Bookplate for personalization .........................under front cover flap Labels and tabs to customize your PassPorter ........... in front of pockets Disney Map .............. back cover flap Important Phone Numbers, Reminders, and Addresses ......................... under back cover flap An elastic band to keep your book securely closed (spiral ed. only) ......................... under back cover flap
The PassPorter Way PassPorter guidebooks are independently published by a family-owned and family-run small business. As journalists, we strive to present accurate information with a fair and balanced viewpoint. Our books are “unofficial,” meaning we can call it as we see it. We travel as our readers do. Although we enlist the help of local experts who live and breathe our destinations, we fly or drive long distances from our home base in Michigan, and stay in the hotels, giving us a perspective that no “local” can possess. We make all our own reservations and arrangements, sometimes with the help of a travel agent, but mostly we “shop direct.” We pay our own way, so we’re always looking for the best deal. We buy our own admission, pay for all our excursions, tours, and add-ons. We make our reservations through normal channels—no VIP treatment, no media discounts or freebies. We need to know that our experience will be like yours and hasn’t been enhanced for the sake of a better review. While we may be invited to visit a hotel, restaurant, or attraction as members of the media, we do not use those visits to evaluate matters like quality of service or level of amenities offered, as regular guests may not receive quite the same treatment.
All of this makes PassPorter a uniquely interactive guidebook. Together, we’ve created what we like to think of as “book 2.0” and we’re proud to be innovators of a new generation of guidebooks that encourage collaboration. Here are some of the special interactive features in this edition: PassPorter Photos: We truly believe that a picture tells a thousand words, so this edition is enhanced with more than 500 full-color photos! The majority of these photos were contributed by our amazing readers, as we feel a wider range of perspective makes a better guidebook. The photos that appear at the top of pages are “Photo Slices,” because they give you just a slice of Disney—they are intended to convey a general look, a feeling, or an idea. All of the photos were hand-picked from our vast personal collection and the online PassPorter Photo Archive. Want a closer look? If the i symbol and 4- to 5-digit code appears with the photo, go to http://www.passporter.com/i and look it up! PassPorter Articles: You just can’t fit everything in a guidebook, so when we have more to tell you, we lead you to one of our feature articles and/or photo collections on our web site. Just look in the lower right margin for the i icon accompanied by a keyword, visit http://www.passporter.com/i and enter the keyword (type it exactly as it appears). Note that multiple article keywords are separated by the | symbol. Here’s an example ☛ – xii –
More at i passporter-way | making-of-passporter
PassPorter guidebooks are truly a community effort. Through our PassPorter.com web site, message board community, PassPorter News weekly e-newsletter, and many face-toface encounters, we interact with you, our readers, year-round. Whether or not we join a particular discussion, we’re always watching the message boards to see what’s important to you, and we’re thinking of how we can better address those issues in our books. You contribute in so many ways! These pages are filled with your tips and photos, and your suggestions and questions over the years have led to improvements large and small. Your reports on our message board make you our field researchers, witnessing and experiencing far more than we could ever manage on our own. Dozens of you, as Peer Reviewers, pore over each manuscript, and each manages to uncover items to be updated, clarified, or fixed that nobody else has managed to find. Few publishers, in any field, subject their manuscripts to this level of scrutiny. Unlike many travel books, which, once printed, are set aside until it’s time to produce the next edition, we’re immersed in our topic 365 days a year, following the news and rumors, and keeping in constant touch with you.
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Congratulations!
Congratulations! First, congratulations are in order—you’re going to Walt Disney World! You are about to embark on an experience that will amaze and, hopefully, delight you. This isn’t an ordinary, run-of-the-mill trip—after all, you’re going to spend your vacation in the heart of Mickey Mouse land! The Walt Disney World Resort is a world unto itself, full of heralded amusements and hidden gems. Yet the very fact that it is so vast can make a visit to Walt Disney World seem more like a race in a maze than a relaxed vacation. And worse yet, pleasant memories of a great vacation may disappear beneath the stress and worries that accompanied it. Happily, after fifty-plus trips to Walt Disney World, we’ve learned to dispel our stress with one simple and enjoyable task: planning ahead. In fact, it is no task at all—planning is as much fun as the vacation itself. Planning gave birth to the PassPorter concept. Originally, Jennifer made itineraries on her computer and placed them in a binder. During the trip she kept the binder handy, using it to store passes, brochures, and receipts. After the vacation, these organizers had turned into scrapbooks, full of pixiedusted memories and goofy smiles. When Jennifer’s writing career took off, she didn’t have the time to create binders for every trip. She wished for a simpler version that she could use each trip without a lot of fuss. It was on a Disney bus that the idea came to her. She could make an easy-to-use, book-based version and offer it as a resource to fellow vacationers! Now, after much work, you hold PassPorter in your hands. The first edition of PassPorter debuted in 1999, creating a sensation in the Disney fan community, winning 12 national awards, and helping hundreds of thousands plan great vacations. This edition is our twelfth, which marks the debut of larger color photos on beautiful glossy paper for your viewing pleasure! It is our greatest hope that PassPorter helps you “discover the magic” through your own eyes, as it did for us. To get you in the spirit, read “Disney Dreaming” on the next page and prepare for your adventure! m you! o hear fro t t e v lo ’d e We the Intern m) Visit us on r.co e rt po ss a w.p (http://ww postcard from a s u p ro d or ey World! D lt Wa isn
Smiles and laughter, ,
, and
P.S. We finished this edition’s updates in August 2009. For the latest changes, updates, and news, be sure to consult our page of free book updates at http://www.passporter.com/customs/bookupdates.htm.
.................................................................................. Top Photo Slice: Wishes fireworks at the Magic Kingdom (i11580) Jamie S.
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Disney Dreaming
Disney Dreaming Disney Dreaming A good part of the fun of going to the Walt Disney World Resort is the anticipation before your trip! To really get you into “Disney Dreaming,” we present some of our favorite tips to feed your excitement and prepare you for the adventure that lies ahead. This is magical stuff—don’t blame us if you get the urge to hop on the next plane to Orlando.
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Watch a Movie Disney movies—animations and live action alike—capture the Disney spirit wonderfully. Rent your favorite from the local video store and settle in for a cozy evening. You can also request a free vacation planning video of the Walt Disney World Resort— call Disney at 407-934-7639 to order your free video. (To get a free Disney Cruise Line video, call 888-325-2500.) Go Shopping You may enjoy a visit to The Disney Store—while many of these closed over the last few years, plenty are still found in major shopping malls. The stores continue to offer delightful theming and foot-tapping music. You can buy park admission at a discount, and special offers may be had with the Disney Rewards Visa (see page 10). Reminisce If you’ve visited the “World” before, think back to your vacation and the things you enjoyed most about it. Dig out your souvenirs, photos, and home movies and view them with fresh eyes. If you used a PassPorter last time, go through your PassPockets carefully to refresh your memory and find the notes you made “for next time.” If you haven’t gone to Walt Disney World before, talk to all the friends and family members who have gone and get their impressions, tips, and stories. Network With Others Disney fans tend to gravitate toward online services and the Internet. If you’ve got an Internet connection, you’ll find many Disney sites—even one for PassPorter planners! (See page 7 for more information.) No access to the Internet? Look to your communities for other vacationers who’d like to swap ideas and plans—try your workplace and school.
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Plan, Plan, Plan Few things are better than planning your own trip to the Walt Disney World Resort. Cuddle up with your PassPorter, read it through, and use it to the fullest—it makes planning fun and easy. PassPorter really is the ultimate in Disney Dreaming!
.................................................................................. Top Photo Slice: A hammock at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort MediaMarx, Inc.
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More at i getting-your-disney-fix
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Planning begins with learning about the Walt Disney World Resort. Your PassPorter has all the information you need for a great vacation, and then some! Written to be complete yet compact, PassPorter can be your only guidebook or act as a companion to another. You can use it in a variety of ways: as a travel guide, a vacation planner, an organizer, a trip journal, and a keepsake. We designed it for heavy use—you can take it with you and revisit it after your trip is just a fond memory. You can personalize it with your plans, notes, souvenirs, and memories. We even crafted it with extra room in the binding to hold the things you’ll squeeze and jam into the pockets along the way. PassPorter is the ultimate Walt Disney World Resort guide—before, during, and after your vacation. This first chapter helps you with the initial planning stage: gathering information and budgeting. Your PassPorter then continues through the planning stages in order of priority. Sprinkled throughout are ways to personalize your trip, littleknown tips, and magical Disney memories. Above all else, have fun with your plans, both now and when you reach the Walt Disney World Resort. Leave room for flexibility, and include time to relax and refresh. You might be tempted to see and do it all, but an overly ambitious plan will be more exhausting (and frustrating) than fun. Don’t get so bogged down with planning and recording that you miss the spontaneous magic of a Disney vacation. To paraphrase Robert Burns, “The best laid plans of mice and men go oft astray.” Use your PassPorter to plan ahead and be aware of your options so you can relax and enjoy your vacation, no matter what it brings.
.................................................................................. Top Photo Slice: It’s never too early to plan your trip! (i14621) Alisa Niethammer
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Planning Getting There Staying in Style Touring
Planning is the secret to a successful vacation. The Walt Disney World Resort is vast and overwhelming without a game plan. Good planning is rewarded by a far more magical Disney experience. Planning is also wonderful fun. It increases the anticipation and starts the excitement months before the vacation begins.
Feasting
Adventure
Making Magic
Planning Planning Your Adventure Your
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Index
Topic: Introduction to Planning
Notes & More
Chapter 1: Planning Your Adventure
Chapter 2: Getting There (and Back!)
Staying in Style
Getting There
Planning
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✔ Electronic, interactive worksheet available— see page 316
Packing List
Packing for a vacation is fun when you feel confident you’re packing the right things. Over the years, we’ve compiled this packing list for a great vacation. Just note the quantity you plan to bring and check off items as you pack. Consider carrying items in magenta on a daily basis as you tour. The Essentials Casual clothing you can layer—the dress code nearly everywhere at Disney is casual, even at dinner. One “nice” outfit is usually enough. ___ Shorts/skirts ___ Underwear
___ Pants/jeans ___ Socks
___ Shirts ___ Pajamas
___ Sweaters ___ ___________
Jacket and/or sweatshirt (light ones for the warmer months) ___ Jackets
___ Sweatshirts
___ Sweaters
___ Vests
Comfortable, well-broken-in shoes ... plus a second pair, just in case! ___ Walking shoes
Touring
Topic: What to Pack for Disney
___ Sandals/Crocs
___ Sneakers
___ ___________
Swim gear (bring one-piece suits for water slides)
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___ Suits/swim diapers ___ Cover-ups/towels ___ Water shoes
Sun protection (the Florida sun can be brutal)
___ Goggles
___ Sunblock ___ Sunhats
___ Lip balm ___ Caps
___ Sunburn relief ___ Sunglasses ___ Visors ___ ___________
___ Raincoat
___ Poncho
___ Umbrella
Making Magic
Feasting
Rain gear 8 (compact and light so you don’t mind carrying it)
___ Extra socks
Comfortable bags with padded straps to carry items during the day ___ Backpacks
___ Waist packs
___ Shoulder bags
___ Camera bag
___ Brush/comb ___ Toothbrush ___ Favorite soap, shampoo, and conditioner ___ Aspirin/acetaminophen/ibuprofen ___ Prescriptions (in original containers) ___ Hair dryer/iron ___ Anti-blister tape ___ Razors ___ Shaving cream ___ Nail clippers ___ Spare eyeglasses ___ Mending kit ___ Small scissors
___ Toothpaste ___ Deodorant ___ Bandages ___ Vitamins ___ Makeup ___ Cotton buds ___ Lens solution ___ Safety pins
___ Dental floss ___ Baby wipes ___ First aid kit ___ Fem. hygiene ___ Hair spray ___ Lotion ___ Bug repellent ___ Insect sting kit
___ Camera ___ Batteries
___ Film/tapes ___ Case/tripod
___ Memory cards ___ ___________
Toiletries t (in a bag or bathroom kit to keep them organized)
___ Camcorder ___ Chargers
Money in various forms and various places ___ Charge cards
___ Traveler’s checks ___ Bank cards
___ Cash
Notes & More
Personal identification, passes, and membership cards ___ Driver’s licenses ___ AAA card ___ Tickets/passes
___ Other photo ID ___ Passports ___ Birth certificate ___ DVC member card ___ Discount cards ___ D23 card ___ Insurance cards ___ Calling cards ___ Air miles card
Tip: Label everything with your name, phone, and hotel to help reunite you with your stuff if lost. Every bag should have this info on a luggage tag as well as on a slip of paper inside it. Use our Luggage Tag Maker at http://www.passporter.com/wdw/luggagelog.htm.
.................................................................................. Top Photo Slice: The PassPorter luggage, ready to go! MediaMarx, Inc.
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Camera/camcorder and more film/tape 4 than you think you need
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AMBIENCE
The 5,568 guest rooms (1,728–1,920 in each resort) are situated in 15 differently themed areas encompassing a total of 30 buildings. All-Star Movies Resort showcases 101 Dalmatians, Fantasia and Fantasia 2000, The Love Bug, Toy Story, and Mighty Ducks; All-Star Music Resort features Calypso, Jazz Inn, Rock Inn, Country Fair, and Broadway; and All-Star Sports Resort sports Surf’s Up!, Hoops Hotel, Center Court, Touchdown!, and Home Run Hotel. Each of the 15 areas features a themed courtyard flanked by two of the T-shaped buildings. The energetic and colorful themes are echoed in the guest rooms, with themed bedspreads, drapes, wallpaper, and a vanity area with one sink. Standard rooms have either two double beds or one king bed, a TV, a small table with two chairs, and drawers. Rooms with kingsize beds are also the barrier-free rooms; thus, some of these rooms have only showers (no tubs). Rooms are small—260 sq. feet—but we find them Sleeper chair and ottoman adequate with the simple Double furnishings. 192 Family Suites are also available Double Queen in All-Star Music—see page 39. No private balconies or patios, but each room has Family Suite Room individual climate controls. Standard Layout Layout
.................................................................................. Top Photo Slice: Cinema Hall at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort (i8867) Cheryl Pendry
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Index
Making Magic
Feasting
Touring
A star-studded production awaits you at the All-Star Resorts. From the painted stars everywhere you look to the autographed photos of famous celebrities lining the lobby walls, each resort greets you as a star in its main hall—Cinema Hall in All-Star Movies, Melody Hall in All-Star Music, and Stadium Hall in All-Star Sports. The halls house the registration desks, food courts, general stores, and arcades. Outside, the stars give way to larger-than-life movie, music, and sports icons, such as a towering Buzz Lightyear, a four-story-high conga drum, and a Coke cup that could hold 240 million ounces. Music plays in the background, providing you with an ever-changing soundtrack as you stroll through the grounds.
RESORT LAYOUT & ROOMS
Both economical and magical, the All-Star Resorts bring movies, music, and sports to life in three independent yet connected resort hotels. The All-Star Movies, All-Star Music, and All-Star Sports Resorts are located near Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park and the Blizzard Beach water park (use the blue tab at the top of the page for parks and eateries in the vicinity).
Staying in Style
Disney’s All-Star Resorts
Getting There
Planning
Topic: All-Star Resorts Introduction
Notes & More
Chapter 3: Staying in Style
Chapter 3: Staying in Style
GETTING ABOUT
Cheryl Pendry
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The BoardWalk is rich with lounges and clubs. Atlantic Dance Hall and Jellyrolls (see page 210) serve up drinks and fun. In the resort itself is the Belle Vue Room, perfect for a quiet drink and a game of chess. Leaping Horse Libations is the pool bar near Luna Park. 24-hour room service is also available.
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LOUNGING PLAYING & RELAXING
Touring Feasting Making Magic Index Notes & More
Topic: BoardWalk Amenities
Using the Amenities at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn & Villas Resort
Staying in Style
Getting There
Planning
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The BoardWalk is beautiful at night 250+ more photos at http://www.passporter.com/photos
For Athletes: Muscles and Bustles Fitness is a fitness center with exercise equipment, steam room, sauna, and massage therapies (for an extra fee). Rent bikes at Community Hall (the resort’s recreation center) and surrey bikes on the BoardWalk. There are also two lighted tennis courts and a walking/jogging circuit around Crescent Lake and along the path to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. For Children: A playground and wading pool is at Luna Park. Harbor Club kids’ care club is closed—see other options on page 280–281. For Gamers: Side Show Games Arcade has video games. Rent DVDs at Community Hall (free to DVC members, $3.16 for guests). For Shoppers: Dundy’s Sundries and Screen Door General Store offer the basics, while Thimbles & Threads and Disney’s Character Carnival stock apparel and gifts. Wyland Galleries has collectibles. For Swimmers: Of the three pools, the largest is Luna Park with a 200-ft. “wooden coaster” slide. All pools have spas (hot tubs). Buses are boarded in the front of the resort, while boats depart from the marina (see the chart below for in-transit times). Travel elsewhere via a park (daytime) or Downtown Disney (evening). You can walk to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Epcot, Yacht & Beach Club, and Swan & Dolphin. If you miss the Disney’s Hollywood Studios boat, just walk to the Swan & Dolphin boat dock before your missed boat reaches it and hop on. Valet parking is a $10/day option. Magic Kingdom direct bus 20 min.
Disney’s Hollywood Disney’s Animal Downtown Studios Kingdom Disney walk/boat walk/boat direct bus direct bus 10/ 5 min. 15/ 20 min. 10 min. 15 min. Epcot
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Approximate time you will spend in transit from resort to destination during normal operation. .................................................................................. Top Photo Slice: The coaster slide at BoardWalk Resort’s Luna Park MediaMarx, Inc.
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Topic: Magic Kingdom Introduction
Magic Kingdom Magic Kingdom The Magic Kingdom is a true fantasyland, playfully painted in bold strokes upon the canvas of the imagination. This is quintessential Disney and often the first park guests visit. It is located the farthest north of all parks, on the shore of the Seven Seas Lagoon.
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Making Magic
Sign above head as you enter the park
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Jennifer Etzkorn
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Feasting
Katey Westcott
Touring
The Magic Kingdom conjures up fantasy, nostalgia, youth, and most of all, magic. One thing it does especially well is blend the ordinary with the unusual, enhancing both to make it all seem better than reality. This giant, 107-acre playground attracts people of all ages to its bygone boulevards, tropical gardens, western landscapes, living cartoons, and yesterday’s vision of tomorrow. All roads lead to Cinderella Castle in the park’s hub, the crown of the Kingdom.
Getting There
Planning
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Staying in Style
Chapter 4: Touring the “World”
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Driving in style down the Tomorrowland Indy Speedway ..................................................................................
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Top Photo Slice: Enchanting evening view of the Cinderella Castle looking down Main Street, U.S.A. (i14671)
Andrea Johnson
Notes & More
Lois Ann Dolley
Index
A fresh look at Cinderella Castle
Topic: Epcot Park Layout
Chapter 4: Touring the “World”
more
Orienting Yourself at Epcot
Fold out the next page for a touring plan and a handy attraction chart
Making Magic
World Showcase East Cruise a river in Mexico, experience a maelstrom in Norway, see the wonders of China, celebrate in Germany and Italy, and explore the American adventure.
Notes & More
Index
Headline Attractions: Maelstrom, Gran Fiesta Tour, Reflections of China Mexico pavilion ☛
World Showcase West Hear drummers in Japan, view treasures in Morocco, see the sights in France, tour gardens in the United Kingdom, and explore the wonders of Canada. Headline Attractions: Impressions de France, O Canada! Japan pavilion ☛
.................................................................................. Rick Wagner
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Top Photo Slice: The World Showcase Lagoon at Epcot (i12729)
© i12729 Kelly Michelle Narvaez
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The Seas with Nemo and Friends ☛
Diana Barthelemy-Rodriguez
Headline Attractions: Soarin’, The Seas with Nemo & Friends
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Future World West Explore the nature of the world on land and in the sea, and the nature of imagination and perception in the recesses of our minds.
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Mission: SPACE ☛
Janet Simonsen
Feasting
Touring
Headline Attractions: Mission: SPACE, Test Track, Spaceship Earth, Universe of Energy
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Future World East Science and technology take center stage with an up-close look at space travel, vehicle testing, communications, and energy.
Cheryl Pendry
The two worlds of Epcot offer a variety of attractions, all housed in “pavilions”—nine in Future World and eleven in the World Showcase (see the fold-out map on the next page). Below are the headline attractions in the west and east sides of Future World and World Showcase. See the other side of the map for our favorite itinerary and an at-a-glance list of attractions, and pages 153–162 for attraction details.
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Staying in Style
Getting There
Planning
146
Topic: Disney’s Hollywood Studios Attractions
Planning D
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Charting the Attractions in the Streets of America Area
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ife r av e Re ad er s
Chapter 4: Touring the “World”
Getting There Staying in Style
Arcade A-Ticket Ages 5 & up No scares Few waits
Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights
Making Magic
Jennings Osborne’s Christmas lights were too much for his Arkansas neighbors, so Disney invited him to the studio backlot, where his lights became a Thanksgiving through New Year’s tradition. The more than five million lights now grace the Streets of America Set, hopefully for many holiday seasons to come. Look for them November 27, 2009–January 3, 2010.
The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights light up the holiday nights
.................................................................................. Dawn Erickson
Top Photo Slice: Close-up of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights in Streets of America (i4643)
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Notes & More
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Donald Willis
Index
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Feasting
Toy Story Pizza Planet Arcade [B-5] Å-oK! This is a spacious, pleasantly themed arcade adjacent to the Pizza Planet cafe with a typical selection of video games and try-to-hoist-a-toy games. There’s a depressing lack of Toy Story-themed arcade games, however. Tokens are needed to play. Most games require 2 to 4 tokens, and the tokens are 25 cents each. Not very magical. Wheelchair accessible. Allie’s KidTip: “Fun games.”
Touring
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i8834
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Dawn Chugg
MediaMarx, Inc.
6 6 6 Streets of America Movie Set [B-4] Whether or not you’ve been to the big city, Walk-thru you’ll enjoy the movie set-style renditions of A-Ticket New York and San Francisco. The buildings All ages are all facades, of course, but the detail Few waits is rich and pretty accurate. You’ll find Unlimited familiar bits of Chinatown and a London street in here, too. Disney entertainers may appear on the Plaza Hotel-like steps or roll down the streets in parade fashion. Look for the “Singin’ in the Rain” umbrella (see photo), but don’t be surprised if it If you go to San Francisco, gets a little damp! Wheelchair wear a flower in your hair accessible. Singin’ in the rain
Chapter 4: Touring the “World”
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168
Topic: Disney’s Hollywood Studios Park Map
.........................................................................................................................................................................
Topic: Animal Kingdom Touring Plans
ITINERARIES
NOTES
Our Favorite Touring Plan for Disney’s Animal Kingdom Like Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom has several attractions with specific showtimes, making it harder to fit the best attractions into one day. And because Disney’s Animal Kingdom has about the same number of attractions as Disney’s Hollywood Studios, its shorter hours make it harder to see and do everything you want. We’ve come up with touring plans—one for adults and one for kids—that take the typical showtimes into account to minimize waiting and backtracking. If you plan to use these plans, or modify them, be sure to check your Times Guide or the Attraction Tip Board as you enter Discovery Island from The Oasis and in Africa for showtimes. Use the fill-in-the-blank lines below to record showtimes on the day you visit to help you stay on track. As always, the touring plans work best if you go in the same order that we’ve listed, but you should feel free to skip an attraction or two (and return to it later) if that works best. You should be able to accomplish either of these plans in one day if you start by 9:00 am. Those with infants and toddlers, or lessadventuresome adults, may prefer to skip all attractions in blue. Touring With Adults
Stroll through The Oasis Get a FASTPASS for Expedition Everest Enter Africa Visit Kilimanjaro Safaris Visit Pangani Forest Exploration Trail Have a snack at Kusafiri Coffee Shop Enter Asia Visit Expedition Everest Visit Maharajah Jungle Trek Visit Kali River Rapids Eat lunch at Tusker House, Pizzafari, or Flame Tree BBQ (plan lunchtime for about 3 1/2 hours after you arrive) Enter Camp Minnie-Mickey Visit Festival of the Lion King @ _____ Enter DinoLand U.S.A. Get a FASTPASS for Dinosaur Visit “Finding Nemo—The Musical” @ _____ Visit Dinosaur Visit Primeval Whirl Enter Discovery Island Get FASTPASS for It’s Tough to be a Bug! Watch Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade and have a snack Visit It’s Tough to be a Bug! (Tour duration: About 8 hours)
Touring With Kids
Arrive 15 minutes before opening to see “The Adventure Begins” ceremony Stroll through The Oasis Enter Africa Visit Kilimanjaro Safaris Visit Pangani Forest Exploration Trail Take Wildlife Express Train to Rafiki’s Planet Watch Visit Rafiki’s Planet Watch Take Wildlife Express Train back to Africa Eat lunch at Pizzafari, Tusker House, or Flame Tree BBQ (plan lunchtime for about 3 hours after you arrive) Enter Camp Minnie-Mickey Visit Character Greeting Trails Visit Festival of the Lion King @ _____ Enter DinoLand U.S.A. Visit The Boneyard Visit TriceraTop Spin Visit “Finding Nemo—The Musical” @ _____ Enter Discovery Island Watch Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade Visit It’s Tough to be a Bug! or Maharajah Jungle Trek (Tour duration: About 8 hours)
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Chapter 4: Touring the “World”
Topic: Animal Kingdom Attractions
Disney’s Disney’s Animal Animal Kingdom Kingdom Attractions At-A-Glance Attractions At-A-Glance (alphabetical order) (alphabetical order)
Attraction
Type
Allow
Page
The Boneyard [F-5] Playground 30–40+ 192-DL Camp Minnie-Mickey Character Pavilion 30–60+ 187-CM Greeting Trails [A-5] Dinosaur [E-7] Thrill Ride 20–40+ 192-DL Expedition Everest [G-3] Coaster 60–120+ 190-Asia Festival of the Lion King [A-6] Live Show 40–55+ 187-CM “Finding Nemo—The Musical” [G-5] Live Show 45–50+ 192-DL Flights of Wonder [D-2] Live Show 30–40+ 190-Asia It’s Tough to be a Bug! [D-4] 3-D Show 15–25+ 187-DI Kali River Rapids [F-2] Raft Ride 25–40+ 191-Asia Kilimanjaro Safaris [B-1] Ride 30–50+ 188-Afr Maharajah Jungle Trek [E-1] Walk-thru 30–45+ 191-Asia The Oasis [C-6] Walk-thru 5–20+ 187 Pangani Forest Exp. Trail [B-1] Walk-thru 30–45+ 188-Afr Primeval Whirl [F-6] Coaster 30–60+ 192-DL Rafiki’s Planet Watch [off map] Exhibit 60–90+ 189-RP The Tree of Life and Trails [C-3] Walk-thru 20–30+ 187-DI TriceraTop Spin [F-6] Ride 30–40+ 192-DL Wildlife Express Train to Train Ride 20–25+ 189-RP Rafiki’s Planet Watch [C-1] The Allow column gives the amount of time (in minutes) you should allow for an attraction, assuming you do not have a FASTPASS and there are no ride breakdowns. The letters after the page numbers stand for the first two, three, or four letters of the land in which that attraction is located: DI=Discovery Island, CM=Camp Minnie-Mickey, Afr=Africa, RP=Rafiki’s Planet Watch, Asia=Asia, and DL=DinoLand U.S.A.
Finding the Animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Everyone has their favorite furry and feathered friends. The chart below shows typical locations of popular animals. Animal(s)
Location(s)
Parrots, macaws, turtles Gorillas, meerkats, hippos Lions, elephants, rhinos Tigers, giant bats Otters, giant tortoise Goats, sheep, llamas Gibbons
The Oasis Pangani Forest Trail Kilimanjaro Safaris Maharajah Jungle Trek Discovery Island Trails Rafiki’s Planet Watch Asia temple ruins
Tip: Keep your eyes open for live animal encounters with Disney naturalists. You’re most likely to stumble across these on Discovery Island and Rafiki’s Planet Watch.
....................................................................................................................................................................... Dopey007
Top Photo: A slice of Asia (i6539)
©
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Touring
Chapter 4: Touring the “World”
Chapter 5: Feasting and Snacking
Topic: Epcot Eateries
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(continued) DD The Garden Grill Restaurant [F–6] D $35 PT This popular dinner-only character dining experience is tucked away in The Land pavilion. Farmer Mickey, Pluto, Chip, and Dale make the rounds of this rotating restaurant. Watch an ever-changing American landscape while you eat. The grown-ups get a soft drink, oatmeal rolls and honey butter, salad, turkey breast, flank steak, fish of the day, cornbread stuffing, and greenhouse vegetables. A “homegrown” salad comes with dinner—veggies are from Disney’s hydroponic gardens. Vegetarians can make special requests. Kids ages 3–9 get chicken nuggets, mac & cheese, fries, and veggies. Dessert is a baked fruit buckle for adults and a make-your-own-cupcake for kids. Soft drinks included. Price is $28.99/$13.99 ages 3–9. Try for a booth on the lower tier, which is closer to the scenery. See pages 258–259 for character meal details. Lunch here ended in Oct. 2008. DD Kringla Bakeri og Kafé [B–3] L $15, D $15, S $6 PQ This is a must stop for veteran World Showcase visitors. Have a light meal with tasty open-faced sandwiches ($8.89). Or treat yourself to a “kringle” (sweet pretzel–$4.29), schoolbread ($1.99), cloudberry horn (a cream-filled pastry—$3.09), or other desserts ($1.99–$3.99). Kids meals are $4.99. Beer and wine by the glass. Nice outdoor tables. Popular before IllumiNations.
© Janet Simonsen
Le Cellier [E–4] L $56, D $58 Oh, Canada! This steakhouse-in-a-stone-cellar is one of World Showcase’s gems, and reservations are hard to get. Warm lighting, brocade upholstery, and stained glass make this the coziest cellar around. The menu is very hearty, but it’s not plain steaks, roast beef, and potatoes—everything is richly sauced ($19.99–$34.99). Seafood—mussels ($11.99) and King Salmon two ways ($23.99)—get royal treatment, and the vegetarian entree ($19.99) is very tempting. Moderately priced lunches include excellent salads ($8.99–$15.99), sandwiches ($12.49–$15.99), and steaks, of course ($25.99–$30.99). The luscious cheddar cheese soup ($5.49) is a big favorite at any time. You may also find duck, venison, and a very popular buffalo ribeye (seasonal). Leave A PassPorter reader eyes her room for dessert—chocolate “moose” Le Cellier “Smores” dessert hungrily ($5.99) anyone? Liberty Inn [C–1]
Notes & More
Table American Med. noise Reservations not always needed Call 180 days Short waits 4:30 pm– varies with park hours
5 6 8 Counter Norwegian Med. noise Long waits
~11 am–9 pm
7 8 7 Table
Canadian Medium noise Reservations strongly recommended Call 180 days Long waits 11:30 am– 3:00 pm 4:00 pm— closing
i6504
Index
Making Magic
Feasting
DD PT
8 7 8
DD PQ
L $13, D $13, S $6
Hot dogs, hamburgers, and chicken nuggets ($6.89–$8.09) weren’t as American as apple cobbler ($3.59) back in Colonial days, but they are now. A toppings bar adds relish to the basic fare, while a chicken Caesar salad ($7.19) provides an alternative. Kosher items available. Seating indoors and out. Eatery descriptions and ratings are explained on page 226.
4 4 5 Counter American Short waits
~11 am–closing
.................................................................................. Top Photo Slice: The roof of Kringla Bakeri of Kafé in Norway has plants growing on it! (i4197) Lynn Mirante
©
Planning
Epcot Eateries
ife r av e Re ad er s
3 4 5 Counter Chinese Med. noise Med. waits
Staying in Style
© MediaMarx, Inc.
~11 am–closing
11:30 am– 3:45 pm, 4 pm–closing
i15864
© Cheryl Pendry
7 8 6 Table Chinese Med. noise Reservations suggested Call 180 days Medium waits 12:00 pm– 4:30 pm, 4:45 pm– park closing
.................................................................................. Brad K.
©
Making Magic
DD Nine Dragons [B–3] L $40, D $41 PT Nine Dragons was recently renovated and now sports a more modern look with warm woods. Many regions of China are represented by familiar menu items, including pot stickers ($6.98), hot and sour soup ($3.98), Shanghai beef and tofu ($17.98), sweet and sour pork ($16.98), stir-fried veggies ($15.68), kung pao chicken ($17.98), and a Nine Dragons family dinner set which includes a soup, entree, and dessert ($23.68/person). Lunch prices are similar, but with more emphasis on cold and hot appetizers, such as the shrimp and taro lollipops ($9.99). The renovated Nine Dragons A lunch set with a beef soup, choice of entree, and Chinese coleslaw. is $18.98/person. Kids’ entrees (sweet & sour chicken or lo mein) are $7.68.
Feasting
Table Middle Eastern Noisy Reservations not always needed Call 180 days Short waits
Touring
9 7 8
DD Restaurant Marrakesh [F–1] L $49, D $55 PT Enjoy exotic food in an authentic Moroccan setting as modest belly dancers and live musicians lend even more atmosphere. Lamb and chicken are the backbone of the cuisine, either grilled, roasted, or stewed ($24.95–$27.95). The flaky pastry-based appetizers ($5.95–$8.95) are a must, especially the chicken bastilla ($7.95). If you’ve always wanted to try couscous, the Moroccan national dish of stewed meat and/or vegetables over steamed semolina, you’ll find it is quite good here ($20.95–$27.95). Order a la carte, or choose from a variety of familystyle feasts ($27.95–$42.95) at dinnertime. Plan to sample a variety of appetizers and desserts ($5.95–$8.95). Check for bargain-priced specials at lunch. The kids’ menu is a bit exotic, offering Moroccan pasta, chicken tenders, kefta (bun-less burgers) with fries, and veggie couscous ($6.95). Tables and chairs.
Top Photo Slice: Restaurant Marrakesh before diners arrive (i1340)
Getting There
D
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(continued) Lotus Blossom Café [B–3] L $14, D $14, S $6 DD PQ Chinese food at Epcot leaves a bit to be desired, but the menu here has become more enticing, as has its dining room after a recent facelift (see photo to left). Try Beijing barbecue, orange chicken, beef noodle soup bowl, veggie stir fry, or shrimp fried rice (each $7.99), pot stickers ($4.99), egg rolls ($3.99), and sesame chicken salad ($6.59). Desserts run $2.99–$4.50. Kids’ meal (barbecue drumstick) is $6.95. Indoor and covered Enjoying a meal at Lotus Blossom Cafe outdoor seating.
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Topic: Epcot Eateries
Notes & More
Chapter 5: Feasting and Snacking
Chapter 6: Making More Magic
Topic: Special Disney Tips
VIP Tips Wake-Up Call If you’re staying at a Disney resort, start your day with a call from Mickey. Just use the phone system to arrange a wake-up call, and when the phone rings, Mickey, Stitch, or one of their friends welcomes you to the new day! When the phone rings with your wake-up call, press the speakerphone button so everyone in the room can hear it! Tip: Make your wake-up call for an off-time, such as 7:03, to help ensure you get Mickey. Box Seats Magic Kingdom Dessert Party—The Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station hosted the Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert Party nightly during summer 2009, so it could return in 2010! The party began an hour before Wishes (check the schedule for times) and included a-self service dessert buffet on the patio of the Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station. The dessert party was $17.99 per adult (ages 10+) and $9.99 per child (ages 3-9). Call 407-WDW-DINE to inquire about availbility. Contemporary Resort—Enjoy a meal in the California Grill during the Magic Kingdom fireworks (the music that normally accompanies the fireworks is broadcast in the restaurant). While the California Grill observation deck is open only to diners, there’s another viewing area on the north end of the Grand Concourse (4th floor).
© Cheryl Pendry
Fireworks Cruises—Do you have something to celebrate? Rent a pontoon boat, the Breathless II speedboat, or the Grand 1 Yacht to view the fireworks at Epcot or the Magic Kingdom. Cruises are booked per boat rather than per passenger, and all include a pilot. Call 407-WDW-PLAY for rates and reservations. You can book up to 90 days in advance, and we The view off the stern of the Breathless II recommend you call at 7:00 am Eastern Time exactly 90 days in advance, as these cruises are extremely popular. Note: These are sometimes called “specialty” cruises by Disney, as they can’t promise that the fireworks won’t be cancelled. Note: The option to ride in the front cab of the monorail has been discontinued as of press time; no word on when or if it will return. Additionally, Disney no longer sells photos for the Leave a Legacy monument in front of Epcot’s Spaceship Earth.
.................................................................................. Top Photo Slice: Little PassPorter VIPs posing outside The Seas With Nemo & Friends Epcot (i14850) Lisa Siverns-LeClair
©
More at i fireworks-cruises
Notes & More
Index
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Making Magic
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Touring
Staying in Style
Getting There
Planning
278
We know. We understand. Bouncing tigers and giant mice can be intimidating. After several months of research and development, we came up with the following system that can help both the interminably shy and the overstimulated. Just write your name in the blank below, take a deep breath, and hold out your book. Now, wasn’t that easy?
Hi, my name is ____________. May I have your autograph?
Character: Location:
Date:
Date:
Making Magic
Character: Location:
Feasting
Touring
(write your name here)
Getting There
Autographs Anonymous
Planning
307
Staying in Style
Autographs
Location:
Date:
Character:
Location:
Date:
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Notes & More
Index
Character:
Touring
Staying in Style
Getting There
Planning
308
PassPorter Registration
Register Your PassPorter We are very interested to learn how your vacation went and what you think of the PassPorter, how it worked (or didn’t work) for you, and your opinion on how we could improve it! We encourage you to register your copy of PassPorter with us—in return for your feedback, we’ll send you two valuable coupons good for discounts on PassPorters and PassHolder pouches when purchased directly from us. You can register your copy of PassPorter at http://www.passporter.com/register.asp, or you can send us a postcard or letter to P.O. Box 3880, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106.
Report a Correction or Change Keeping up with the changes at Walt Disney World is virtually impossible without your help. When you notice something is different than what is printed in PassPorter, or you just come across something you’d like to see us cover, please let us know! You can report your news, updates, changes, and corrections at http://www.passporter.com/report.asp.
Notes & More
Index
Making Magic
Feasting
Contribute to the Next Edition of PassPorter You can become an important part of the 2011 edition of PassPorter’s Walt Disney World! The easiest way is to rate the resorts, rides, and/or restaurants. Your ratings and comments become part of our reader ratings throughout the book and help future readers make travel decisions. Want to get more involved? Send us a vacation tip, magical memory, or photograph—if we use it in a future edition of PassPorter, we’ll credit you by name in the guidebook and send you a free copy of the edition! Do all this and more at http://www.passporter.com/contribute.asp.
Get Your Questions Answered We love to hear from you! Alas, due to the thousands of e-mails and hundreds of phone calls we receive each week, we cannot offer personalized advice to all our readers. But there’s a great way to get your questions answered: Ask your fellow readers! Visit our message boards at http://www.passporterboards.com, join for free, and post your question. In most cases, fellow readers and Disney fans will offer their ideas and experiences! Our message boards also function as an ultimate list of frequently asked questions. Just browsing through to see the answers to other readers’ questions will reap untold benefit! This is also a great way to make friends and have fun while planning your vacation. But be careful—our message boards can be addictive!
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PassPorter on the Web
Address (URL)
Main Page: PassPorter Online Walt Disney World Forum PassPorter Message Boards PassPorter Photo Archive PassPorter Article Collection Book Updates Contribute to PassPorter Register Your PassPorter PassPorter Deluxe Edition Information
http://www.passporter.com http://www.passporter.com/wdw http://www.passporterboards.com http://www.passporter.com/photos http://www.passporter.com/articles http://www.passporter.com/customs/bookupdates.htm http://www.passporter.com/contribute.asp http://www.passporter.com/register.asp http://www.passporter.com/wdw/deluxe.htm
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Getting There Notes & More
PassPorter Web Links
Index
Making Magic
Feasting
Touring
A wonderful way to get the most from your PassPorter is to visit our active web site at http://www.passporter.com. We serve up valuable PassPorter updates, plus useful Walt Disney World information and advice we couldn’t jam into our book. You can swap tales (that’s t-a-l-e-s, Mickey!) with fellow Disney fans, play contests and games, find links to other sites, get plenty of details, and ask us questions. You can also order PassPorters and shop for PassPorter accessories! The latest information on new PassPorters to other destinations is also available on our site. To get our page-by-page PassPorter updates, visit http://www.passporter.com/customs/bookupdates.htm.
Staying in Style
PassPorter Online
Planning
309
Notes & More
Index
Making Magic
Feasting
Touring
Staying in Style
Getting There
Planning
310
PassPorter Articles and Photos
PassPorter Articles and Photos Still hungry for more information to make your Walt Disney World trip the best it can be? You’ll find all the things we couldn’t fit into our guidebook in our extensive photo and article collections, available online at the PassPorter.com web site. At press time, we offer more than 400 articles (which amounts to about 1500+ pages of information) and more than 15,000 images ... all neatly organized and searchable! The PassPorter Article Collection (view at http://www.passporter.com/articles) contains full-length, feature articles on a variety of topics related to Disney and travel. Each article can be downloaded as a fully-formatted Adobe PDF, printed, and placed in your PassPorter for additional reference. You can search or browse the collection to find articles that interest you. Tip: Use the special keywords we’ve listed in the lower right margin of many pages in this guidebook and then type the keyword at http://www.passporter.com/i to zip right to a related article! Most of our articles come with photos, links to the related forum in our message boards, and reader comments! If you enjoy our articles, be sure you’re subscribed to the free PassPorter News, in which most of our articles originally appear each week! Subscribe at http://www.passporter.com/news.htm. The huge PassPorter Photo Archive is a great way to get a closer look at Walt Disney World before you ever arrive. Photos are contributed by authors and readers, giving you a wide range of perspectives. Our archive offers several features, including searching, commenting, rating, slide shows, and even fun epostcards. PassPorter’s Club members (see page 316) can also zoom in on each photo up to 25 times in size to see all the delightful detail. We encourage all of our readers to contribute to the archive—your photo may be selected as a PhotoPick of the week or even chosen to appear in an upcoming PassPorter guidebook! Tip: Use the special numbers we’ve listed with most photos in this guidebook and then type the number at http://www.passporter.com/i to zip right to the photo for a better look!
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311
PassPorter was born out of the necessity for more planning, organization, and a way to preserve the memories of a great vacation! Along the way we’ve found other things that either help us use the PassPorter better, appreciate our vacation more, or just make our journey a little more comfortable. Others have asked us about them, so we thought we’d share them with you. Order online at http://www.passporterstore.com, call us toll-free at 877-929-3273, or use the order form below. ........................................................................................................................
✃
PassPorter® PassHolder is a small, lightweight nylon pouch that holds passes, ID cards, passports, money, and pens. Wear it around your neck for hands-free touring, and for easy access at the airport. The front features a clear compartment, a zippered pocket, and a velcro pocket; the back has a small pocket (perfect size for FASTPASS) and two pen slots. Adjustable cord. Royal blue. 4 7/8” x 6 1/2”
Quantity:
PassPorter® Badge personalized with your name! Go around the “World” in style with our lemon yellow oval pin. Price includes personalization with your name, shipping, and handling. Please indicate badge name(s) with your order.
Quantity:
PassPorter® Pin is our collectible, cloissone pin. Our current version depicts our colorful PassPorter logo, the pages of a book, and the words, “The World is an Open Book.” The pin measures nearly 1 1/2” in diameter. Watch for new pins to be introduced in the future, too!
Quantity:
Please ship my PassPorter Goodies to: Name ...................................................................................... Address ................................................................................... City, State, Zip ........................................................................ Daytime Phone ....................................................................... Payment: check (to “MediaMarx”) charge card MasterCard Visa American Express Discover Card number ..............................................Exp. Date. ..........
Sub-Total: Tax*: Shipping**: Total:
Touring
___ x $4.00 Feasting
Name(s): __________
Send your order form to P.O. Box 3880, Ann Arbor, MI 48106, call us toll-free at 877-WAYFARER (877-929-3273), or order online http://www.passporterstore.com/store.
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Index
* Please include sales tax if you live in Michigan. **Shipping costs are: $5 for totals up to $9 $6 for totals up to $19 $7 for totals up to $29 $8 for totals up to $39 Delivery takes 1-2 weeks.
Making Magic
___ x $6.00
Notes & More
Signature ................................................................................
____ x $8.95
Staying in Style
PassPorter Goodies
Getting There
Planning
PassPorter Goodies
Notes & More
Index
Making Magic
Feasting
Touring
Staying in Style
Getting There
Planning
312
More PassPorters
More PassPorters You’ve asked for more PassPorters—we’ve listened! We have four PassPorter print books and ten e-books (and growing), all designed to make your Disney vacation the best it can be. And if you’ve wished for a PassPorter with all the flexibility and features of a daily planner, check out our Deluxe Editions (described below). To learn more about the new PassPorters and get release dates, please visit us at http://www.passporter.com. PassPorter’s Walt Disney World Deluxe Edition Design first-class vacations with this loose-leaf ring binder edition. The Deluxe Edition features the same great content as PassPorter’s Walt Disney World spiral guide. Special features of the Deluxe Edition include ten interior storage slots in the binder to hold guidemaps, ID cards, and a pen (we even include a pen). The Deluxe PassPorter binder makes it really easy to add, remove, and rearrange pages ... you can even download, print, and add in updates, feature articles, and supplemental pages from our web site, and refills are available for purchase. Learn more at http://www.passporter.com/wdw/deluxe.htm. The Deluxe Edition is available through bookstores by special order—just give your favorite bookstore the ISBN is 978-1-58771-074-2(2010 Deluxe Edition) and 978-1-58771-083-4 (2011 Deluxe Edition).
PassPorter’s Disney Cruise Line and its Ports of Call Updated annually! Get your cruise plans in shipshape with our updated, award-winning field guide ... includes details on all new ports and the new ships to come! Authors Jennifer and Dave Marx cover the Disney Cruise Line in incredible detail, including deck plans, stateroom floor plans, original photos, menus, entertainment guides, port/shore excursion details, and plenty of worksheets to help you budget, plan, and record your information. We also include reader tips, photos, and magial memories! In its eighth edition in 2010, this is the original and most comprehensive guidebook devoted to the Disney Cruise Line! Learn more and order your copy at http://www.passporter.com/dcl or get a copy at your favorite bookstore. ISBN for the eighth edition paperback, no PassPockets is 978-1-58771-079-7. Also available in a Deluxe Edition with organizer PassPockets (ISBN: 978-1-58771-080-3). (January 2010)
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PassPorter tours the park that started it all in this updated book! California’s Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure, and Downtown Disney get PassPorter’s expert treatment, and we throw in Hollywood and Downtown Los Angeles, San Diego, SeaWorld, the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, LEGOLAND, and Six Flags Magic Mountain. All this, and PassPorter’s famous PassPockets and planning features.Our second edition follows the same format as the 2010 edition of PassPorter’s Walt Disney World, complete with glossy, full-color pages, tons of photos from your authors and fellow readers, and plenty of brand-new pages! We een include the special photo supplement at the end to get you in the mood for our California vacation. Whether you’re making the pilgrimage to Disneyland for a big celebration or planning a classic Southern California family vacation, you can’t miss. Learn more at http://www.passporter.com/dl, or pick it up at your favorite bookstore (ISBN: 978-1-58771-042-1). This guidebook is also available as a Deluxe Edition in a padded, six-ring binder (ISBN: 978-1-58771-043-8).
Planning Getting There
PassPorter’s Disneyland Resort and Southern California Attractions—Second Edition
Staying in Style
Even More PassPorters
313
Touring
Even More PassPorters
Making Magic
Have even more fun at Walt Disney World! Jennifer and Dave’s treasure hunts have long been a favorite part of PassPorter reader gatherings at Walt Disney World, and now you can join in the fun. Gain a whole new appreciation of Disney’s fabulous attention to detail as you search through the parks and resorts for the little (and big) things that you may never have noticed before. Great for individuals, families, and groups, with hunts for people of all ages and levels of Disney knowledge. Special, “secure” answer pages make sure nobody can cheat. Learn more, see sample hunts, and order your copy at http://www.passporter.com/hunts or get a copy at your favorite bookstore (ISBN: 978-1-58771-026-1).
Feasting
PassPorter’s Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World
To order our guides or e-books, visit http://www.passporterstore.com or call toll-free 877-929-3273. PassPorter guidebooks are also available at your local bookstore. If you don’t see it on the shelf, just ask!
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Notes & More
We have many e-books that cover narrower topics in delightful depth! See all the details on the next page. And watch for select e-books to make it into print in the near future.
Index
PassPorter E-Books
Notes & More
Index
Making Magic
Feasting
Touring
Staying in Style
Getting There
Planning
314
PassPorter E-Books
PassPorter E-Books Looking for more in-depth coverage on specific topics? Look no further than PassPorter E-Books! Our e-books are inexpensive (from $4.95–$7.95) and available immediately as a download on your computer (Adobe PDF format). If you prefer your books printed, we have options for that, too! And unlike most e-books, ours are fully formatted just like a regular PassPorter print book. A PassPorter e-book will even fit into a Deluxe PassPorter Binder, if you have one. We offer ten e-books at press time, and have plans for many, many more! PassPorter’s Disney 500: Fast Tips for Walt Disney World Trips Our most popular e-book has more than 500 time-tested Walt Disney World tips—all categorized and coded! We chose the best of our readersubmitted tips over a six-year period for this e-book and each has been edited by author Jennifer Marx. For more details, a list of tips, and a sample page, visit http://www.passporter.com/wdw/disney500.asp. PassPorter’s Cruise Clues: First-Class Tips for Disney Cruise Trips Get the best tips for the Disney Cruise Line—all categorized and coded—as well as cruise line comparisons, a teen perspective, and ultimate packing lists! This popular e-book is packed with 250 cruiser-tested tips—all edited by award-winning author Jennifer Marx. For more details, visit http://www.passporter.com/dcl/cruiseclues.asp. PassPorter’s Disney Character Yearbook A 268-page compendium of all the live Disney characters you can find at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and on the Disney Cruise Line. Also includes tips on finding, meeting, photographing, and getting autographs, plus a customizable autograph book to print! For more details, visit http://www.passporter.com/disney-character-yearbook.asp. PassPorter’s Disney Speed Planner: The Easy Ten-Step Program A fast, easy method for planning practically perfect vacations—great for busy people or those who don’t have lots of time to plan. Follow this simple, ten-step plan to help you get your vacation planned in short order so you can get on with your life. It’s like a having an experienced friend show you the ropes step by step—and have fun doing it! For more details, visit http://www.passporter.com/wdw/speedplanner.asp. PassPorter’s Free-Book A Guide to Free and Low-Cost Activities at Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World, but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents more than 150 free or cheap things to do before you go and after you arrive. It’s the most comprehensive collection! For more details, visit http://www.passporter.com/wdw/free-book.asp.
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PassPorter’s Disney Weddings & Honeymoons This is both a guidebook and a bridal organizer tailored to the unique requirements of planning a wedding, vow renewal, or commitment ceremony at Walt Disney World or on the Disney Cruise Line. It will take you through the entire process, outline your options, offer valuable tips, organize your information, and help you plan your event down to the last detail! Details at http://www.passporter.com/weddings.asp. PassPorter’s Disney Vacation Club Guide A 170-page in-depth guide to all aspects of the Disney Vacation Club, from deciding whether to join to deciding where and when to use your points. Included are beautiful color photos and tips on maximizing your experience. If you’ve ever wondered what the club is all about or wanted to learn more, this is the perfect introduction. Get more details at http://www.passporter.com/disney-vacation-club.asp.
Planning Getting There Staying in Style
PassPorter’s Answer Book Get answers to the most popular topics asked about Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and general travel. You’ve asked it, we’ve answered it! The e-book’s questions and answers are sorted geographically and topically. The e-book is authored by our amazing PassPorter Guide Team, who have heaps of experience at answering your questions! Details at http://www.passporter.com/answer-book.asp.
Touring
PassPorter’s Festivals and Celebrations at Walt Disney World Get in on all the fun in this updated 78-page overview of all the wonderful and magical festivals, celebrations, parties, and holidays at Walt Disney World. Included are beautiful color photos and tips on maximizing your experience at the festivals and celebrations. Read more and see a sample page at http://www.passporter.com/wdw/festivals-celebrations.asp.
Feasting
PassPorter’s Sidekick for the Walt Disney World Guidebook An interactive collection of worksheets, journal pages, and charts This is a customizable companion to our general Walt Disney World guidebook—you can personalize worksheets, journals, luggage tags, and charts, plus click links to all the URLs in the guidebook and get transportation pages for all points within Walt Disney World! Details at http://www.passporter.com/wdw/sidekick.asp.
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Making Magic
PassPorter E-Books
Learn more about these and other titles and order e-books at: http://www.passporterstore.com/store/ebooks.aspx
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Notes & More
PassPorter’s Walt Disney World for Brit Holidaymakers Brits, you can get super in-depth information for your Walt Disney World vacation from fellow Brit and PassPorter feature columnist Cheryl Pendry. This e-book is more than 300 pages long and filled with amazing detail on both Walt Disney World as well as other Orlando-area attractions. Learn more at http://www.passporter.com/wdw/brits.asp.
Index
And coming soon ...
PassPorter’s Club
Do you want more help planning your Walt Disney World vacation? Join the PassPorter’s Club and get all these benefits: ✔ “All-you-can-read” access to EVERY e-book we publish (see current list on the previous page). PassPorter’s Club passholders also get early access to these e-books before the general public. New e-books are added on a regular basis, too.
✔ Access to super-sized “e-photos” in the PassPorter Photo Archives—photos can be zoomed in up to 25 times larger than standard web photos. You can use these e-photos to see detail as if you’re actually standing there—or use them for desktop wallpaper, scrapbooking, whatever!
Notes & More
Index
Making Magic
Feasting
✔ Our best discount on print guidebooks ... 35% off!
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✔ Interactive, customizable “e-worksheets” to help make your trip planning easier, faster, and smoother. These are the electronic, interactive worksheets we’ve been mentioning throughout this book. The worksheets are in PDF format and can be printed for a truly personalized approach! We have more than 50 worksheets, with more on the way. You can see a sample e-worksheet to the right.
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Touring
Staying in Style
Getting There
Planning
316
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There’s more features, too! For a full list of features and current e-books, e-worksheets, and e-photos, visit http://www.passporter.com/club. You can also take a peek inside the Club’s Gallery at http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/passporters-club-gallery. The Gallery is open to everyone—it contains two FREE interactive e-worksheets to try out! Price: A PassPorter’s Club pass is currently $4.95/month, or the cost of just one e-book!
How to Get Your Pass to the PassPorter’s Club Step 1. Get a free community account. Register simply and quickly at http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/register.php. Step 2. Log in at http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/login.php using the Member Name and password you created in step 1. Step 3. Get your pass. Select the type of pass you’d like and follow the directions to activate it immediately. We currently offer monthly and annual passes. (Annual passes save 25% and get extra perks!) Questions? Assistance? We’re here to help! Please send e-mail to club@passporter.com. You may also find many of your questions answered in our FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) in the Gallery forum (see link above).
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My Important Numbers
Enter your important numbers in the boxes below. Once you obtain your park passes, write down the number on the back in the appropriate places below—you will need this number if your passes are ever lost. Consider using a personal code to conceal sensitive information.
Getting There
✔ Electronic, interactive worksheet available— see page 316
Planning
317
My Important Numbers
Driver’s License number(s): Passport number(s): Frequent Flyer number(s):
Staying in Style
Personal Information:
Financial Information: Voucher number(s):
Making Magic
Feasting
Park pass number(s):
Touring
Insurance number(s):
Gift card number(s):
Index
Traveler check number(s):
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Notes & More
Other number(s):
Notes & More
Index
Making Magic
Feasting
Touring
Staying in Style
Getting There
Planning
318
Vacation At-A-Glance
✔ Electronic, interactive worksheet available— see page 316
Vacation At-A-Glance
Create an overview of your itinerary in the chart below for easy reference. You can then make copies of it and give one to everyone in your traveling party, as well as to friends and family members who stay behind. Get a FREE electronic version of this worksheet at http://www.passporter.com/club. Name(s): Departing on: Arriving at: Staying at:
Time:
#: Phone:
Date: Park/Activity: Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner: Other:
Date: Park/Activity: Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner: Other:
Date: Park/Activity: Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner: Other:
Date: Park/Activity: Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner: Other:
Date: Park/Activity: Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner: Other:
Date: Park/Activity: Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner: Other:
Date: Park/Activity: Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner: Other:
Date: Park/Activity: Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner: Other:
Date: Park/Activity: Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner: Other:
Date: Park/Activity: Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner: Other:
Departing on: Returning at:
Time:
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Disney Dreaming Celebrating the magic of Disney through photographs by PassPorter authors and readers A photo supplement
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★ ★ If you can dream it ... ✷
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Re W ade en r dy Ph Br oto ad 13 di 178 ck :
Walt Disney World is for dreamers. Sometimes, it’s a dream of a lifetime, born in front of a television in a childhood long ago, nurtured on VHS, DVD, and heartstring-tugging TV commercials—a dream that may not come to life until the dreamers have little dreamers of their own. Dreams of Tinker Bell, flitting through the night over a shimmering castle; a hug from Mickey, Minnie, Tigger, or the Goof; a childhood waiting to be revisited; a hope for magic at an age when “reality” overwhelms us daily. For other dreamers, it’s a return to a golden childhood that magically remains untarnished, with new marvels joining the old. Whole new worlds may have appeared, waiting to be explored. Old friends remain, waiting patiently for memories to be passed from parent to child.
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Other dreamers just can’t stay away, returning to their laughing place year after year, sharing the magic with family and friends. Their minds swirl with memories of castles, warm evening breezes, twinkling lights, kindness from strangers, familiar wonders shared with awestruck crowds, or perhaps a few moments when the crowds disappear into the mist and it’s just two of you, dancing in front of an outdoor stage to a nameless rock band playing “Hotel California,” finding a deeper love than you thought possible.
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It’s brides dreaming of horse-drawn coaches and liveried footmen, and a trio of siblings at the youngest’s Golden anniversary, finding there are still new wonders to mingle with the memories. It’s dreams of a better, brighter world, with less care, and more delight.
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Re ad D er P en h is ot e o1 La 4 ng 33 7:
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PassPorter is a book about dreaming it and doing it—it’s about charting a course, plotting a feast, maximizing the precious days and nights, and recording some of those moments for a cold night in Minnesota, or a bit of magic after a long, stressful day. It’s learning where and how the magic and memories can find you (because the harder you chase the magic, the faster that pixie will fly from your grasp). It’s about a place where tens of thousands of people labor daily to bring these dreams to life, and hundreds of millions have managed to explore fantasy, history, nature, humanity, childhood, the wide world, and the dreams of an extraordinary man, Walt Disney, and the people he continues to inspire.
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Your authors have had a share in all these dreams and doings; shared with our closest family, and with strangers who are connected to us only by the pages of our books and an address on the Internet. What began as a dream of enhancing the magic for others and charting an independent course for ourselves was launched in print more than ten years ago, on May 3, 1999. Over the years, PassPorter has become so much more—a community of readers sharing a common love, making new friends, nurturing each other’s dreams and achievements, and exchanging knowledge, experience, and magic. Join us as we explore the magic that is Walt Disney World, as seen through our eyes and the eyes of the PassPorter reader community. It is our dream that these images help you imagine yourself there.
... then you can do it!
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A walk to remember
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Cinderella Castle can light up your day
Smiles for miles
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Magic Kingdom is a world of wonder for all ages. It is the place most of us think of when we picture Walt Disney World, and it is the embodiment of all things magical. Enter these gates and you look through the eyes of a child, where magic is real again and something extraordinary awaits you around every corner. Let your imagination soar!
Sword in the Stone
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Goofin’ around in Toontown
Together at the Tiki Room
Find your inner child