BEYOND THE THEME PARKS

ANITA ANSWER
Archives

11/3/08
--The Semi-Annual Refillable Mug Question
--Disneyland Disappointment?
--Does This Question Make Scents?
--Dining on a Steamship?
--Was Barbie Ever at Epcot?
--Restaurants with Organic Foods on the Menu?

10/27/08
--The Path between Epcot and the Studios
--It's Holiday Shopping Time! How to Purchase Park Merchandise from Home
--Which Resorts Have Only One Bus Stop?
--What Is That White Plastic Card on a Lanyard?
--Stroller or Pediatric Wheelchair for a Disabled Child?
--Where to Rent a Car on Property

10/20/08
--Dining at Crockett's Tavern?
--Is Changing Resorts Mid-Trip a Good Idea?
--What's Going On When Cast Members Show a Slip of Paper and Switch Places?
--When Does Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas Parade Begin Daytime Performances?
--Will Universal Tear Down Dueling Dragons for Wizarding World?
--Who Is the Candlelight Processional Celebrity Narrator on Christmas Eve?

10/13/08
--Who Lives Behind the Magic Kingdom?
--License Plates on the Sci-Fi Dine In "Cars"
--Anita's Annual Holiday Crowd Predictions 2008
--If You Knew Sushi...
--The Demise of Pal Mickey/Will He Still Work in the Parks
--Harry Potter Coming to the World?

10/6/08
--Is There a Lounge at the Wilderness Lodge?
--Characters That Can't Sign or Stamp/A Hunchback of Notre Dame Show?
--YoMD: Can You Still Send in Postcard Entries?
--When Are the Summer Crowds Lightest?
--What Is the Difference Between the Dining Experience and the Dining Plan?
--Best Place to Get Sushi at the World?

9/29/08
--Treasure Hunts at the World?
--Is Park Admission Necessary to Dine at Cinderella's Royal Table?
--No More Characters at the Garden Grill?
--How to Get a Christmas Tree for Your Resort Room
--Fort Wilderness Movie Schedule
--Who Is the Voice of Teddi Barra?

9/22/08
--When Does the Holiday Decorating Commence?
--Looking for a Wooden Leg Named Smith?
--More, MUCH More on Those World Showcase OmniBuses
--An Old-Fashioned Phone on Main Street?
--Name of Soap Store at the Grand Floridian?
--Two Tracks at Everest?

9/15/08
--Parking Fees: How Many Times Per Day to Pay?
--Where Is Roy O. Disney's Statue Located?
--Castle Dream Lights for 2008?
--What Happens in Stormy Weather?
--A Mardi Gras Parade at French Quarter?
--Where Is This Hidden Mickey Located Inside the Haunted Mansion?

9/8/08
--When Do Charging and Dining Plan Privileges End after Check-Out?
--A Book with WDW Trivia and Stats?
--Should Guests Worry about Hurricanes and Tropical Storms?
--Is the New Pool at Caribbean Beach a "Zero Entry" Pool?
--The Grand Floridian and the Hotel Del Coronado
--Will Portobello Close for Rehab?

9/1/08
--No More 180-Day Dining Reservations?
--When Did the World Stop Using Dated Guidemaps?
--Was There a Double Decker Bus at Epcot?
--The Bonnet Creek Resort -- Any Disney Perks?
--Disney's Worst Kept Secret
--Seasonal Passholders and Block-Out Dates
--What's Going On in Mid-January?

8/25/08
8/18/08
--What is a "Premium Night" at the Parties?
--A New "Land" for Animal Kingdom?
--Best Route to Expedition Everest from Animal Kingdom's Entrance?
--Magical Express Reservations and Luggage Tags
--What Is This Hotel Near Saratoga Springs?
--Yo Ho and Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee Similar?

8/11/08
--Fantasmic!, IllumiNations and SpectroMagic Performances Scaled Back?
--Of Luggage Tags and Fastpasses
--What Is This "Creek" Resort?
--Pin Backs That Don't Fall Off
--A T-Rex Update?
--Where Did Cinderella's Carrousel Originate?

8/4/08
--Splitting a 10-Day Pass Between Two People?
--Boating to Epcot from Riverside?
--What Will Be Open at Pleasure Island?
--How Do Tickets with the No Expiration Option Affect the Dining Plan?
--Value or Moderate Resorts with More Than Two Beds
--What Does That Morse Code Message on Spaceship Earth Say?

7/28/08
--Bus Service and Best Location at Pop Century
--Riding Horseback at the World
--The Mystery Tower next to the Contemporary
--How to Get a Guest Assistance Card
--Correct Size of Moderate Resorts' Rooms
--Tipping Housekeeping/Offsite Visitors at Extra Magic Hours

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Anita Answers

Hi! I'm Anita!

Got a question about Walt Disney World? I probably have the answer! Deb's Unofficial Walt Disney World Information Guide is the most comprehensive guide to the World on the Web, but if you still can't find the information you're looking for by using the Site Map, the Search Function, or the Anita Answer Archives, drop me a line and I'll do my best to find the answer for you. Since there are only 24 hours in a day, I can't answer every email I receive - however, I do read every one and try to answer as many as possible.

Check back weekly and see if your answer is waiting, and be sure to check out my blog, Anita Talk. Meanwhile, I'm All Ears!

Megan writes:

Hi Anita. I am just beginning the planning process and had a question I hoped you could answer. My husband and I are going to be going to Walt Disney World for five days. Am I able to get a 10-day pass for one person and split it with my husband? It appears to be cheaper. Thanks for your help!

Hi Megan!

You won't be able to share a pass. The ATS (turnstile computer) won't allow it. Each pass is now identified by an index number generated by the unique biometric measurements of one of your fingerprints. If the biometric reader detects a difference in the measurements, it will lock the turnstile, and the guest using the pass will be asked to produce identification that matches the information and signature on the pass. The ATS will also lock the turnstile if the pass is used more than once during a short period of time. Also note that on the back of the tickets, it clearly says that they are not transferable to another person.

If you are caught trying to use the same pass for two people, at the least it could mean an embarrassing situation, and at the worst, possible expulsion from the parks. It's not worth ruining your vacation to save some money. You will have to buy two passes, or else one of you will be left outside the gates, and that wouldn't be a great way to spend a vacation!

For more information about choosing and purchasing Disney park admission, be sure to read the AllEars Ticket FAQ.

A.A.

Jen writes:

Hi Anita. I love the AllEars site; it has given me tons of great information! My family and I are planning a trip to Walt Disney World in early December. We are staying at Port Orleans-Riverside. I have read a couple of reviews on other sites claiming there is boat transportation available from the resort to Epcot. I know it is available to the Marketplace but I haven't been able to find anything official on Epcot. Is this information accurate? Thanks!

Hi Jen!

Unless they've dug a new canal that I am not aware of, you cannot take a boat from Port Orleans - Riverside to Epcot. The only direct mode of transportation between the two is by bus. You are correct that the only boat service at Port Orleans is to and from Downtown Disney. The boat service at Epcot serves the resorts around Crescent Lake and also goes to and from Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Have a great time at the World!

A.A.

Tricia writes:

I understand that Pleasure Island will be closed when I am on vacation. Unfortunately we are staying at Saratoga Springs and picked that resort
because it was close to PI! Do you know if Planet Hollywood will be open when PI is closed?

Hi Tricia!

At the end of September, only the six remaining nightclubs on Pleasure Island will close. Everything else, including Planet Hollywood and Raglan Road, will remain open for business. The list of clubs closing includes the Adventurers Club, 8 Trax, the Comedy Warehouse, Mannequins, BET Soundstage and Motion. Rock 'n' Roll Beach Club closed earlier this year.

Recently, Disney announced they are taking the PI area in a new, more family-friendly direction with more shops and restaurants instead of nightclubs. This announcement was not exactly met with the enthusiasm that was expected; in particular fans of the one-of-a-kind Adventurers Club are not taking this news quietly. If you want to have your opinion of the closures heard, please write a POLITE letter to the Walt Disney Company officials whose addresses can be found here. Regular mail is more effective than e-mail, and on-line petitions are the least effective of all.

Oops! How did I get up on this soap box? Back to your answer: Even with the PI clubs closing, your Saratoga Springs location will still put you in walking distance of the Downtown Disney Marketplace, West Side and everything else near PI that remains open, so have a wonderful time!

A.A.

Steve writes:

Anita, first let me say that I love your column! Although I enjoy researching all things Disney for myself, sometimes I just can't find the answers to some of my questions!

That being said, If I were to purchase a 10-day "no expiration" ticket with park hopper option and the dining plan, and used it for five days one year, and then five days the next year, would the dining portion still be activated when I went back the second year? Thanks for your help, and look forward to hearing from you!

Hi Steve!

Unfortunately, any unused dining credits will expire at midnight of the check-out day of your original 5-day trip. It's important to understand how the Magic Your Way packages work. The room, the tickets and the dining plan are all separate components of the package. The dining option is calculated on the number of nights of your resort stay, so if you book a 5-night package with dining, you'll get 5 days' worth of dining credits. On the other hand, you may purchase park tickets from a minimum of 1 day to a maximum of 10 days. As you can see, the number of days on your park ticket has nothing to do with the number of days of dining that you may purchase. On the Magic Your Way packages or any other scenario where guests may add the dining plan, it is always tied to the number of nights in the resort room.

NOTE: All tickets expire 14 days after first use unless the No Expiration Option is purchased. The cost for the No Expiration option varies and is based on the amount of days purchased, NOT the amount of days remaining on the ticket.

Also, please note that on August 3, 2008, there was an across the board price increase for all tickets. See AllEars' Ticket Price Comparison pages for details.

A.A.

Janine writes:

I would love to stay at a WDW resort, but can only afford a Value or Moderate room. With myself and two teens, two double beds are rather
inadequate. Do any of the resorts offer a roll-away bed? I cannot find this information anywhere.

Hi Janine!

You only have a couple of choices. In the Value category, the only rooms with more than two beds are the All Star Music Family Suites, which are more expensive than a regular Value resort room. The suites sleep six people, and feature one bed, a sleeper sofa and two twin sleeper chairs. There is also a kitchenette and two bathrooms, which would be a bonus with two teens.

In the Moderate category, you have two choices. Most rooms in the Alligator Bayou section of Port Orleans - Riverside have two beds, plus one trundle bed under the bed nearest the door. The trundle beds aren't very big, so if your teens are tall, they won't be comfortable in one. I'm 5'3" and I just fit in one. Your other choice would be the newly re-categorized Fort Wilderness Cabins, which are now listed as Moderates. They are more expensive than a standard Moderate room; however, they also are a roomy 504 Sq. Ft. as opposed to the Riverside rooms which are 314 sq. ft. The cabins sleep up to six guests and have four beds. Even though these are the most expensive choice, you also get a full kitchen which can save a lot of money on dining. The downside of the cabins is the confusing and slow transportation system. I would strongly suggest a car if you decide to stay there.

Moderate resorts have had, in the past, a limited number of rollaway beds available on a first-come, first-served basis for an additional charge. Priority is usually given for families traveling with teens of the opposite sex. My faithful editor, Ditto, has very large sons and usually brings along a twin-size Aerobed to avoid bloodshed.

Have fun planning your trip!

A.A.

Barbara writes:

What is the Morse Code message being transmitted in Spaceship Earth?

Hi Barbara!

The message being transmitted is the announcement of the driving of the Golden Spike near Promontory Summit, UT, which symbolized the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. The Transcontinental Railroad linked the east of the U.S. to the west and the Central Pacific Railroad with the Union Pacific Railroad. The actual message telegraphed around the country in May 1869 was simply "done" but it seems like the message in Spaceship Earth is longer than that. I don't know Morse Code so I don't know exactly what is being tapped out, only what it is supposed to be announcing. If anyone knows Morse Code and can tell us what the message actually says, I'd love to know!

Trivia: One of the Audio Animatronics in the telegraph office is the Mathew Brady likeness also used in Epcot's American Adventure. There are several other famous AAs featured in Spaceship Earth that have been "borrowed" from the American Adventure and other attractions.

Another A.A.

That's it for this edition!

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