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The Disney Blog: disney vacation The Disney Blog Informing Disney Fans the World Over with the latest news and updates from all Disney companies, divisions, and related stories. Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruises, Disney Animation, Pixar, ESPN, and more are covered in as much detail as I can muster. Our Sponsors Blogads Disney DVDs Walt Disney: Walt Disney Treasures - The Adventures of Spin & Marty - The Mickey Mouse Club Walt Disney: Walt Disney Treasures - Elfego Baca and The Swamp Fox - Legendary Heroes Walt Disney Treasures - The Chronological Donald, Volume Two (1942-1946) Walt Disney : Walt Disney Treasures - Disney Rarities - Celebrated Shorts, 1920s - 1960s Disney Books Robert Tieman: The Disney Keepsakes Sequel to the Disney Treasures book. A must have for any Disney fan. (****) Pixar: The Art of Pixar: 100 Collectible Postcards Full of wonderful postcard art. Great for any Disney or Pixar fan or anyone who collects postcards. Which would be me! (****) David Gerstein: Mickey And The Gang: Classic Stories In Verse CartoonBrew.com says buy it today! I'll take their word for it. (*****) Bob Sehlinger: The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, 2006 The Unofficial Guide has served me well in the past and the 2006 edition is sure to be no exception. Its biggest problem is how popular it has become that you'll run into dozens of others who are following its suggestions. (*****) John Canemaker: The Art And Flair Of Mary Blair: An Appreciation An under appreciated artist whose influence on art, animation, and imagineering, is still felt today. (****) James B. Stewart: DisneyWar A detailed look into the fall of Michael Eisner and the path of destruction he left in his wake. (*****) Harrison 'Buzz' Price: Walt's Revolution!: By the Numbers An inside look at the creation of the Themepark Industry. (*****) Jason Rich: The Everything Family Guide To the Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Studios And Greater Orlando: A Complete Guide To The Best Hotels, Restaurants, ... Attractions (Everything: Travel and History) Brand new, huge book (415 pages). John Canemaker: Walt Disney's Nine Old Men and the Art of Animation Canemaker looks into the careers and art of the acknowledged legends of animation -- Disney's Nine Old Men. (****) Karal Ann Marling: Designing Disney's Theme Parks : The Architecture of Reassurance Although it's a few years old, you still can't find a better look at the equal parts of science and illusion (though some would say they're the same thing) that go into making Disney Theme Parks. This book is a must have for the true fan's library. (****) LaughingPlace.com Disney News, Articles and Updates What I'm Listening to While Writing This Shake a Tail Feather Disney: Chicken Little (****) Smells Like Teen Spirit Paul Anka: Rock Swings Didn't think I'd like this, but it's everybit as good as Johnny Cash's The Man Comes Around (but Jazzy and Swingy!) (*****) The Black Pearl Disney: Pirates of the Carribean (*****) My Wish List New Custom Disney Tshirts! 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Chronicles of Narnia UnAbridged AudioCD -- Like Netflix for Audio Books -- 15 Day Free Trial Unlimited DVD Rentals! -- 30 day free trial The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, 2006 -- Save 32% at Amazon.com Chicken Little Soundtrack -- Save 42% at Amazon.com Check out Delta's last-minute fares for great travel deals. -- Book your Disney Trip Now and Save Big Best Online Rates at ParkPlaza .com Add me to your TypePad People list About Powered by TypePad December 28, 2005 Attendance Numbers re-examined Over on the Discussion Boards at LaughingPlace.com member Darkbeer has broken down the top 25 ranked US theme parks in a more useful manner, visits per operating day. This gives a slightly different top 5 and pushes California Adventure all the way down to 14th. Let's look at the AB/ERA 2005 numbers from a Average DailyAttendance viewpoint. (I am going to the parks operating schedule tofigure out the days open, and then dividing it into the yearattendance, then rounding). 1. Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Orlando, 44,110 2. Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. 39,725 3. Paramount Canada's Wonderland in Maple, Ontario, 28,350 (127 days) 4. Epcot at Walt Disney World in Orlando, 27,125 5. Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World in Orlando, 23,560 (continued below the cut) Interesting to note the huge drop off between the two big boys and everybody else. I'd also like to see the AB/ERA judged against total estimatedcapacity for each park. ie, which parks are consistantly meeting theirgoals. These are numbers I'm sure industry insiders have. [ disney , themepark , universal , themeparks , theme+park , orlando , anaheim , disneyland , disneyworld , wdw , disney+world , magic+kingdom ] Continue reading "Attendance Numbers re-examined" » Posted by John Frost in Florida Attractions , Themepark Industry , disney vacation , disney world , disneyland | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) Not impressed with Disney Xmas Parade Coverage? Were you unimpressed with the recent airing of the Christmas Parades at Disney World and Disneyland. Well so was Nicholas at Cinemazement . Tell me, how is it possible that with millions of dollars worth of television equipment, “professional” television producers, cameramen, sound people, editors, they were totally unable to accurately capture the feel of the Parade of dreams at Disneyland? They would have been better off showing some guy’s homevideo of the parade because what I saw on TV was not the parade. It was entirely artificial. That's about exactly how I felt too. I'm sorry if you sat through the whole thing. I could only stand about 5 minutes of it. [ disney , parade , disneyland , disney+world , wdw , disneyworld , abc , television , kelly+ripa , regis+philbin ] Posted by John Frost in disney vacation , disney world , disneyland | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) December 26, 2005 Themepark Attendance Figures with Disney on top Amusement Business has released their estimated theme park attendance figures for 2005 and once again the Walt Disney Company has cleaned house. Disney owns the top five spots with Orlando's Magic Kingdom claiming top spot with 16.1 million visitors, an increase of 6.5%. Anaheim's Disneyland placed second with 14.5 million, an increase of 8.5% (bolstered by the 50th anniversary celebrations). The third through fifth parks were Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios, and Animal Kingdom, all posting growth in the 5 percent range. Disneyland's neighbor, California Adventure, grew a disappointing 3.6% considering the attendance growth at the gate just 100 yards away. People still aren't coming to see this park built on the cheap even after the Tower of Terror was added. Monster's Inc looks promising, but it's not enough to raise the attendance that much. For that they'll have to add two or three more E-ticket thrill rides and completely rebrand the park away from its ties to California. Plans for the latter are underway, plans for the former... who knows. See the rest of the 2005 top 25 list here . (also see the 2004 list ) [ disney , themepark , universal , busch , theme+park , themeparks , orlando , anaheim , attendance , list , top25 ] Posted by John Frost in Florida Attractions , Themepark Industry , corporate disney , disney vacation , disney world , disneyland | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) December 23, 2005 Disney Themeparks, what's next? Disney issued a press release today outlining the upcoming changes and attractions at Disney's world wide theme parks. Now, normally when you release some news on a Friday you're hoping to bury it over the weekend. But this being a holiday weekend they may be hoping to pick up on some slow news time for extended coverage. Who knows. No big news was announced. But here's the roundup if you're interested: At Florida's Walt Disney World Resort, a massive recreation of the Himalayas is the setting for a thrilling adventure called Expedition Everest, scheduled to open in April 2006 at Disney's Animal Kingdom. In their quest to bring authenticity to this new attraction, Walt Disney Imagineers partnered with Discovery Networks and Conservation International in a scientific expedition to the Himalayas for a first-hand exploration of the legend of the mysterious Yeti. "Our passion for bringing great stories to life has taken Walt Disney Parks and Resorts to amazing places over the last 50 years," said Rasulo. "Over the next 50 years, we will continue to scale new heights in our ongoing quest to create great experiences for our Guests." In California, the Disneyland Resort is bringing to life a popular creative franchise with Monsters Inc: Mike & Sully to the Rescue, which will open at Disney's California Adventure on January 23, 2006. And in 2007, new technology will take Disney storytelling to the next level as the "subs" return to Disneyland in Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage. In this all-new adventure, Guests will travel to the undersea world of "Finding Nemo," where they'll see and interact with characters that appear exactly as they do in the Disney/Pixar Animated Studios film. At Hong Kong Disneyland, Autopia, a classic Disney favorite, will let Guests of all ages drive along futuristic highways through surreal, out-of-this world landscapes. It will be the first Autopia with electric powered vehicles -- and is scheduled to open in the summer of 2006. Disneyland Resort Paris also plans several major new attractions to open over the next three years. Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast, based on the highly popular attractions at other Disney parks around the world, will open at the Disneyland Park in 2006. In 2007, Walt Disney Studios Park will add a new land called Toon Studios, which will immerse Guests in the magical world of Disney's animated movies. And in 2008, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror will come to Disney Studios -- plunging Guests into a thrilling experience based on the iconic attraction at other Disney parks. In the fall of 2006, Tokyo DisneySea also will open its own Tower of Terror. Disney Cruise Line will offer Guests new experiences as well in 2006. In May, a new seven-night itinerary will be available that includes two stops at Disney's private-island getaway, Castaway Cay. The itinerary will also include a stop at Cozumel and a new port of call -- Costa Maya. Additionally, in September the Disney Wonder will embark on two extended itineraries -- one 10-night and one 11-night cruise to Southern Caribbean ports, including Barbados, St. Kitts, St. Thomas, St. Lucia, Antigua and Castaway Cay. [ disney , disney+vacation , themepark , themeparks , theme+park , disneyland , disneyworld , wdw , dlr , disney+world , tokyo+disneyland , paris+disneyland , disney+cruise ] Posted by John Frost in Hong Kong Disneyland , Themepark Industry , disney vacation , disney world , disneyland , paris disneyland , tokyo disneyland | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) November 30, 2005 G-force study on Orlando Attractions A local TV station in Orlando has done a study on exactly how many G-forces one experiences on some of the more popular and extreme roller coasters and other attractions in the Central Florida Attraction Zone. The report found that 'The Hulk' Roller Coaster at Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park had not only highest G-force at 4.5Gs, but also had some of the most extreme changes in forces going from near 0Gs to 4.5Gs at one point. Disney's attractions came in at: Space Mountain: 3.5 Gs Big Thunder Mountain: 2.5 Gs Rock n Roller Coaster: 4.4 Gs Mission: Space: 2.1 Gs (but for 15 seconds in length) Test Track: 2 Gs [ disney , attractions , disneyworld , wdw , disney+world , ioa , universal , roller+coaster , rollercoaster , extreme , space+mountain , missionspace , mission+space , g-force , themepark , theme+park ] Posted by John Frost in Florida Attractions , Themepark Industry , disney vacation , disney world | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) November 08, 2005 Disney World acquires new sponsor We've been hearing about this deal for some time now. A new major corporation would step in and sponsor Spaceship Earth and a few other attractions around the resort kicking off a small wave of renovations across Epcot as it gets ready for its 25th Anniversary. The announcement finally came today and the new sponsor is Siemens AG . The 12-year agreement will have the German based company sponsoring not only Spaceship Earth, but also the Reflections of Earth fireworks shot at Epcot and the Osborne Family Festival of Lights at the Disney MGM Studios. The sponsorship will also extend to Disneyland's two parades, the Disney's Electrical Parade at California Adventure and The Walt Disney Parade of Dreams at the Disneyland gate. I'm so happy to see this partnership and hope that not only does it signal the start of better corporate sponsorship relationships between Disney parks and companies across the globe, but that it helps kick off some much needed refurbishment around the Walt Disney World Resort. Additionally a long needed update to the Disney's Electrical Parade, including a few new floats and some new technologies, would be greatly appreciated by the parades fans and visiting guests. [ Tags: disney , disneyland , disneyworld , wdw , disney+world , california+adventure , dca , dlr , siemens , bob+iger , epcot , sponsorship , imagineering , vacation , travel ] Posted by John Frost in corporate disney , disney vacation , disney world , disneyland | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) November 04, 2005 Halloween Photos: around the world Halloween is over, which means that at the Disney Themeparks it's time to rush onto the next holiday... Christmas. Oh, a few moments thought will be given to Veterans Day, if you're lucky you might be able to find a juicy Thanksgiving feast at one of the mouse's hotels. But generally speaking if Halloween wasn't there to stop them, Christmas would start in July for Disney (and most of consumer America). However, before The Disney Blog is ready to move on here is a quick look at how Disney themeparks around the world do Halloween. Did you know that since 1999 the Disney Company has been a primary influencer at restoring the Halloween tradition in France with its Disneyland Paris Pumpkin Celebration. Japan never celebrated Halloween, having a much different view of ghosts and ancestors than most western nations, but Disney has introduced a two month Halloween Festival there with most of the western trimmings and it's been a huge success, practically a national obsession, if you believe the Disney PR. Via BoingBoing we have this flickr set of photos from the Tokyo Disneyland celebration. They certainly know how to party there and their costumes are wonderful. Back in the Americas Disney World has been running their successful Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) for years now. The park closes down for a separate admission party after the regular hours are over. Many nights sell out. This year Robb Alvey took his Theme Park Review crew down for one of the MNSSHP nights and a lot of fun was had by all. I took my wife and son trick or treating at MNSSHP on Halloween itself where I got a lot of photos of the parade, which was added new this year. Cindy Stephens visited Disneyland's attempt to re-enter the Halloween market this year (previously left to Knott's Scary Farm and Universal Studio's Scare Nights) with a kid oriented event called Mickey's Halloween Treat. The catch, the event was at the mostly lackluster California Adventure second gate. Still with admission numbers capped low, the event was a huge success selling out nearly every night. Cindy's write up is a great and has tons of photos and a copy of the event guide. [ disney , disneyland , disneyworld , disney+world , halloween , flickr , holiday , event , mickey ] Posted by John Frost in Holiday , disney vacation , disney world , disneyland , paris disneyland , tokyo disneyland | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) October 27, 2005 Secrets of the Haunted Mansion If you're one of those people who refuses to watch the 'masked magician reveals X' shows, then stop reading this post now. For we are about to reveal the amazing secrets behind Disney's many Haunted Mansions . This page also includes a collection of sounds and songs from the Haunted Mansion in MP3 . You might want to borrow a few for your own personal halloween soundtrack. [ disney , disneyland , disneyworld , wdw , disney+world , hauntedmansion , haunted+mansion , imagineering , imagineer , backyard+imagineering ] Posted by John Frost in Disney Fandom , Disneyism , Imagineering , disney vacation , disney world , disneyland , paris disneyland , tokyo disneyland | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) World of Narnia to appear at Disney World The December 9th release date for Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe is rapidly approaching. Now Disney World has announced that they will be debuting a Narnia exhibit on the 9th featuring sets and costumes from the film. You'll get a peak behind the magic as you enter Soundstage 4 at the Disney MGM Studios themepark. Sounds like fun. But no idea how long it will last. So make plans to attend soon. Posted by John Frost in Film , Narnia , Themepark Industry , disney film , disney vacation , disney world | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) October 25, 2005 Bye-Bye Hurricane Wilma... end of season? MKT who brought us wonderful pictures of the preparation and the damage wrought by last year's hurricanes has returned with a look at the Magic Kingdom after Hurricane Wilma . It looks like everything, including the little characters added to the castle this year, has survived just fine. You can also see what a beautiful day it was after the storm had passed. With 30+ days still left in this record setting Hurricane Season you have to wonder what Mother Nature has left to throw our way. Hopefully she'll cut us a break.. [tags: disney , disneyworld , disney+world , magic+kingdom , wdw , hurricane , wilma , hurricane+wilma , orlando ] Posted by John Frost in Florida Attractions , disney vacation , disney world | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) October 24, 2005 Morning Update, Hurricane Wilma It's almost 8:30 AM and we're still here (here being about 2 miles from SeaWorld and 5 miles from Disney World ). We've dodged one tornado generating cloud system already and another is on the way. But so far the winds and rain haven't been too bad (I saw much worse in some of the thunderstorms earlier this year). That's different if you're east or south of here, however. Hurricane Wilma is speeding across southern Florida and behind it will be cold, but clear, weather. I wouldn't be surprised to see Disney World's Magic Kingdom and Epcot open later today. Universal and SeaWorld will probably be the same. Disney's Animal Kingdom park takes longer to open as they have to check on all the animals and their environments. The Orlando International Airport has temporarily suspended service this morning. But that's mostly due to unsafe wind shear and heavy rain. It should reopen later today as well. Things might be much worse in Naples, the Everglades and southward. Keep those families in your thoughts today. [tags: disney , disneyworld , disney+world , seaworld , hurricane , wilma , hurricane+wilma , storm , tornado , themeparks , orlando , universal studios ] Posted by John Frost in Florida Attractions , disney vacation , disney world | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) October 20, 2005 Wilma uninvited guest at Funai Classic Forget Tiger Woods and Michelle Wie, the biggest name in golf this week is Wilma. Officials at the Disney World based Funai Classic are bracing for a hit from the hurricane, but hoping for the best as this year's tournament gets underway today. Disney officials figure they would need 24 to 36 hours of lead time todisassemble concession tents and corporate skyboxes. Perhaps as earlyas 5 p.m. today crews could begin taking apart tents and hospitalityareas, which are designed to withstand winds of 50 mph. But that doesn't mean the event will be postponed. Just that some of the luxury normally associated with professional golf tour events will be deminished. Worse things could happen. If you're attending Disney World this weekend give yourself extra time when driving to and from the Magic Kingdom or any of the nearby resorts. And keep your eyes on those greens, you never know who you might see. [ Technorati Tags: funai , funai+classic , golf , pgatour , pga , tiger+woods , tigerwoods , disney , disneyworld , wdw , disney+world , walt+disney+world , hurricane , storm , hurricane+wilma , wilma ] Posted by John Frost in Sports , disney television , disney vacation , disney world | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) October 18, 2005 Hurricane Wilma and Walt Disney World As of tonight's 11PM EST forecast from the National Hurricane Center , Orlando is still in the "cone of uncertainty" for Hurricane Wilma. That means visitors expecting to attend one of Walt Disney World's theme parks or other attractions in the central and southern Florida regions should be prepared to meet with some delays or closures this Saturday and Sunday going into Monday. Everybody is old hands at hurricane preparation at the theme parks having gone through this routine four times last year. Most hotels in the Orlando area survived with nothing more that a little wind and rain damage and most attractions opened within 24 hours or so of the storms passing. So there really is no reason to be concerned or postpone your stay. That said, keep your eyes on the weather channel and the NHC website and you might want to bring some extra rain gear as even if Wilma passes south of Orlando, we'll still likely see tropical storm strength wind gusts and rains. [tags: disneyworld , disney+world , hurricane , hurricane+wilma , wilma , wdw , orlando , seaworld , universal+studios , hotel , vacation , nhc ] Posted by John Frost in Celebration, FL , Current Affairs , Florida Attractions , World Events , disney vacation , disney world | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBack (0) August 07, 2005 Good answer to Will you change travel plans question I've had a few great responses to my desire to know how Disney's recent spate of deaths and injuries has affected your travel plans, if at all. I'm happy to say that everybody appears to be fairly sane, is a little more cautious. I wanted to post this response I got through another channel as I thought it was quite good: This topic has been on my mind for a while now. My sisters and I are regular visitors to Disneyland as we live in the area. We were on the California Screamin' rollercoaster about ten minutes before it had its little accident last week. While by all accounts the accident was minor, it's yet another in a series of accidents that seems to represent Disney's shift in focus from safety to cost-effectiveness. While the number of actual deaths and injuries has been small - onekilled by a metal cleat ripped off of a ship, another killed after atrain derailed on Big Thunder Mountain - these instances can all beattributed to negligence on Disney's part. The former president ofDisneyland, Paul Pressler, was once quoted as saying, "We have to ridethese rides to failure to save money." This desire to do things on thecheap led to inadequate employee training, the scaling-back ofpreventative maintenance, and undue stress being placed on certainrides (Disney's California Adventure relies heavily on flagship rideslike California Screamin' and Soarin' Over California, to the pointwhere these rides cannot go down for lengthy rehabs because guestsatisfaction and attendance would plummet). All of this has led to aseries of accidents that are directly Disney's fault - where in thepast, most incidents at Disneyland could be attributed to eithernatural causes or dangerous guest behavior. On the positive side, Disneyland has a new president who seems lessfinancially cutthroat, and, unlike Walt Disney World, accidents atDisneyland are subject to investigation by the state and rides cannotreopen until the state approves it. But last week's accident adds to mypersistent feeling of mistrust surrounding safety at Disneyland. Mysisters and I haven't been back on Big Thunder Mountain since thefatality over a year ago (the ride continued to have problems after itreopened), and there are certain rides we won't go on because we aregenuinely afraid of mechanical error (Mulholland Madness, a "WildMouse" ride, is scary enough just being a Wild Mouse ride - never mindthat it's an off-the-shelf ride intended for seasonal use, being runfor long hours year-round!). But this hasn't dissuaded us from visiting the park, nor has itprompted us to avoid thrill rides altogether. It's just made us awarethat the reputation for safety Disneyland enjoyed in the past is nolonger applicable to the present day. The park is not being run thesame way it was 50, 40, 30 years ago. (Posted with permission from brookedel ) [ttags: disney , disneyland , disneyworld , disney+world , disney+vacation , travel , accident , injury , death , californiaadventure , dca , wdw , dlr ] Posted by John Frost in disney vacation , disney world , disneyland | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) August 06, 2005 Will the recent accidents, injuries, and deaths keep you away? Disney theme parks are receiving lots of attention this summer, but not all of its due to the Happiest Celebration on Earth. A 3-month rash of injuries, accidents, and deaths has focused media attention on some of Disney's flaws. The Orlando Sentinel doesn't think it will affect attendance at the parks. How about you? Will you change your travel plans or alter your visit to an amusement, water, or theme park after hearing about these problems? What do you think accounts for the apparent uptick in incidents? The comments are open! [ttags: disney , vacation , disneyworld , disney+world , disneyland , themepark , theme+park , injury , accident , death ] Posted by John Frost in Disney Fandom , Disneyism , Florida Attractions , Themepark Industry , Travel , corporate disney , disney vacation , disney world , disneyland | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBack (1) August 04, 2005 Another child dies at Walt Disney World This is not a post I wanted to be writing so soon. Local Orlando News is reporting the death today of a 12-year old girl at the Walt Disney World Resort's Typhoon Lagoon Water park. The girl was found at 6PM on the edge of the large Wave pool by a lifeguard. She soon passed out and her pulse and breathing stopped. CPR was attempted and she later was pronounced dead at the nearby Celebration Hospital. Today was a hot and humid day with highs in the upper 90s and humidity pushing the 'feels like' temps to aboe 100. I have to wonder if this has something to do with heat exhaustion. On hot days at the theme parks there are frequent calls to first aid for guests who just didn't drink enough water or powerade. The same holds true at Water Parks where you may not realize you aren't getting enough to drink. I'm not claiming this is what happened today, but drinking lots of water is good advice for any visitor to Orlando. [ttags: disney , disneyworld , disney+world , wdw , typhoon+lagoon , water+park , death , accident ] Posted by John Frost in Disneyism , Florida Attractions , disney vacation , disney world | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) August 02, 2005 Wet Disney Dreams in Shanghai? Hot on the heals of the Korean Disney park 'announcement' comes a bit of speculative news from Shanghai. The article states "the sources said the park will be four times bigger than Hong Kong's Disneyland," which sounds like someone's wet dreams to me. Disney Corporate claims to have very valid business reasons for building these mini-parks like California Adventure, Disney Studios Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland. They may not be home runs, but their solid base hits for the company and with a little tweaking and some strong follow up batting (An e-ticket or two over the next 5 years) those runs will be driven in. I think it will be a long time before we see Disney swing for the fences with a mega themepark on the scale of Tokyo or Orlando's Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Even the original park didn't become a 50 attraction mega-park in its first few years. It grew, contracted, and grew again until its present form was reached. Posted by John Frost in Disneyism , Hong Kong Disneyland , Imagineering , Themepark Industry , disney vacation , disneyland , tokyo disneyland | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) July 28, 2005 Another near death at Walt Disney World I don't know if the Mouse Resort is having a string of bad luck or if the media is just finally reporting on these incidences, probably the latter, but here's another near death to report -- this time a drowned worker . A 16-year old diver doing shoreline restoration at the Dolphin Resort became entangled in ropes and had to be rescued. Posted by John Frost in disney vacation , disney world | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) Disneyland Do's and Don'ts' Do: Take your kids to DisneyLand, regardless of their age. I never imagined getting so much enjoyment over their excitement. Don't: Havekids outnumber the adults. One adult per child. You'll save yourselffrom the, "hey where's small child number 6" moment of terror. Also,most rides require an adult with the child lower than your belt buckle(an no, the hewge belt buckle trick doesn't work - nor does spiking thehair of your child so it stands straight up). Leaving one small childat the exit doesn't work so well either. Do: Go see the fireworks. Surround sound, laser lights, killer explosions and a scantily clad fairy on a wire - need I say more? Don't: Expectto do much else the hours before and after the show. 50,000 people onmain street (100,000 SF) with one exit and two bathrooms. 'nuff said. Do: get caught up in the "Fantasy" and "Pretend" that this theme park is supposed to be. You'll enjoy a lot more things. Don't: Askthe characters how long they need to train to do all this because youget the standard answer, "How long did it take you to figure out you'rean idiot??".....ok they said it in a nice cartoon voice. Plenty of other useful Do's and Don'ts for your next vacation to Disneyland from Lee at ' Oh No, The Blog '. Posted by John Frost in disney vacation , disneyland | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) Partner Blogs Home4Sale Orlando Bound Blog Resume Upgrade - New! The Home Blog RSS Feeds Subscribe to this blog's feed Recent Posts Attendance Numbers re-examined Not impressed with Disney Xmas Parade Coverage? Pixar and Disney: can a working partnership be reached? Toy Story 3-D? Can the Disney Co. Really be Saved? Themepark Attendance Figures with Disney on top Iger, Jobs, Close to Announcement? Audio Tour of MoMA's Pixar Exhibit Happy 80th Birthday Pooh! Anastasia: Family Fun DVD? Trip Reports Disney trip full report Not every trip report is 100% cheery. This is one of those. Mike’s Annual Disneyland Trip Report We reported on Mike's trip last year too. Your Donald sucks. The one at Hong Kong Disneyland is more charismatic. Sylvia journeys to Disneyland. Can't tell if she had a good time or not. Unique Disneyland 50th Anniversary Trip Report A wonderful scrapbook revisiting the events surrounding the 50th Anniversary of Disneyland Ammy and Rick visit Disneyland on its 50th Birthday Also see following post for review of Blue Bayou and its new seating policy. Silent Joes Playground - Disney Wrap Up Theme Park Adventure of Disney Dancer Greetings from Disneyworld: Omnipotent? Lynn's Road to Disney World Three Kid Circus Recent Comments loana on Attendance Numbers re-examined rosemary on The Great Hidden Mickey Quest rosemary on The Great Hidden Mickey Quest Kenneth Barnes on The Whistle Blows for Monday Night Football Stacey on Disney ponders new style of hotel Doug135711 on Themepark Attendance Figures with Disney on top Lynnad on Studio Gibli: Howl's Moving Caslte Natasha Kershaw on Edna Mode is Edith Head Tyler C. on Narnia News from the old gray lady Tyler C. on Narnia News from the old gray lady Search This Site Web thedisneyblog.typepad.com December 2005 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Categories Animation Business anti-disney Art Books Broadway Celebration, FL CIC corporate disney Cosplay Current Affairs disneyana disney animation Disney Channel disney comics Disney Concert Hall disney consumer products disney cruise disney dining Disney Fandom disney film Disney Games Disneyism disneyland Disney Mobile Disney Musicals Disney Online Disney Publishing disney television disney vacation disney world DVD EM:HE espn Film Florida Attractions Food and Drink Games Holiday Hong Kong Disneyland Humor Imagineering Indiana Jones LaughingPlace.com Lost Mickey Mouse miramax Miyazaki Muppets Music Narnia NFFC paris disneyland pixar Playhouse Disney Podcast Pooh & Characters Religion Round Up Sports Star Wars Television The Disney Stores Themepark Industry Tim Burton tokyo disneyland Travel Uncle Walt Weblogs Web/Tech World Events Archives December 26, 2005 - January 1, 2006 December 19, 2005 - December 25, 2005 December 12, 2005 - December 18, 2005 December 5, 2005 - December 11, 2005 November 28, 2005 - December 4, 2005 November 21, 2005 - November 27, 2005 November 14, 2005 - November 20, 2005 November 7, 2005 - November 13, 2005 October 31, 2005 - November 6, 2005 October 24, 2005 - October 30, 2005 Disney Links The Disney Blog for Kids Disney Shopping at The LaughingPlace Store The Latest Disney News from LaughingPlace.com Disney Online - The Official Home Page of The Walt Disney Company! 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Halifax: Cheap Travel Insurance Get a quote and apply online now for our affordable life and critical illness cover Search for great deals on flights and holidays with Travelcare QUICK FINDER CONTACT US Phone numbers Branch finder Complaints procedure SITE MAP HOME ACCESSIBILITY ABOUT ONLINE SERVICES BANK ACCOUNTS Current Account Moneyback Current Account Student Account Accounts for under 18s BANK OF SCOTLAND BOS CORPORATE BANKING BOS PRIVATE BANKING BUSINESS BANKING CHILD TRUST FUND CHIP AND PIN COMPANY INFORMATION CREDIT CARDS Halifax One Card clear flat rate Charity Halifax Shopping Extra DISABILITY ESTATE AGENCY HomeFinder Property auctions Surveys & Valuations HOLIDAY MONEY Currency converter HOUSE PRICE INDEX INSURANCE Car Home Travel Life Pet Personal Health Care INTERMEDIARY SITE INVESTMENTS Pensions Investment ISAs Funds ISAS ISA selector tool JOBS LOANS Personal loan LOANS FOR HOME OWNERS MORTGAGES OFFSHORE SAVINGS ONLINE SERVICES PENSIONS SAVINGS Interest rates Web Saver Regular Saver ISA Saver Instant Saver Premium Savings Direct Liquid Gold Save4it 60-Day Gold Extra Income Saver Bonus Gold Saver Reward Monthly Saver Guaranteed Reserve Stepped Income Reserve Asset Reserve Cheque Account SECURITY AND PRIVACY SHARE DEALING Halifax ShareBuilder Share Dealing Self-Select ISA TAX FREE ISA Saver ISA Investor TOOLKIT Insurance HOME Car Home and Contents Travel   Callback   Holiday Insurance   Ski Insurance   Annual Travel Insurance   Travel Checklist - Know before you go Personal Healthcare Life and Critical Illness Cover Pet Important information Cheap Travel Insurance from Halifax for UK residents Halifax provides cheap travel insurance on Single Trip, Multi Trip and Worldwide Insurance policies for UK residents. Individual Annual Travel Insurance from under £46* including a 5% discount when you buy online. Halifax could cover you for cancellations, medical emergencies, baggage loss and more (see table below). Get an instant cheap travel insurance quote online , plus a 5% online discount today. Our cheap travel insurance includes: Single Trip Travel Insurance- covering you for up to 185 days Individual Annual Travel Insurance from under £46* including a 5% discount when you buy online Worldwide Travel Insurance with cover for up to 365 days Winter Sports cover, including Ski Insurance , is available on all travel insurance policies and provides you with cover for skiing holidays and equipment and cover in the event of an accident or illness Halifax Travel Insurance for families covers you and your spouse, plus up to four unmarried dependant children under the age of 24 yrs and in full time education who are living with you. Travel Insurance Cover For up to... Cancellations £5,000 Cutting short your trip £5,000 Medical Emergency £10,000,000 Hospital Benefit £1,500 Personal Accident £50,000 Personal Baggage £1,500 Personal Money £500 Travel Delay £30 / £20 / £250 / £5,000** Missed Departure £800 Loss of Passport / Driving License £500 Legal Advice and Expenses £25,000 Mugging Benefit £1,000 Next steps Get a quote online (new window) or call us on 0800 032 1751 (quote ref INTC ). Lines are open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and from 8am to 5pm Saturday. Or we can call you - click here for an online callback . Calls will be recorded and may be monitored for training and/or quality purposes. * Premium includes 5% online discount and is based on individual European Annual cover for travellers aged 64 years and under, excluding winter sports and including a 20% discount for personal belongings covered under a home insurance policy. If an additional premium is paid, winter sports provides cover up to a maximum of 24 days in total during the period of insurance if you have annual multi trip insurance cover. ** We will pay up to £30 after the first full 12 hours delay, and £20 for each full 12 hours delay thereafter (up to a maximum of £250), if after 12 hours of your outward journey you chose to abandon your trip we will pay your cancellation costs up to £5,000 under the cancellation section of this policy less the excess (unless you have paid the appropriate additional premium for excess waiver) " onmouseover="mouseIn(this)" onmouseout="mouseLeaving(this)" title="opens new window" onclick="buttonClick('popup','/onlineservices/travelinsurance.asp')"/ " onmouseover="mouseIn(this)" onmouseout="mouseLeaving(this)" title="call me back" onclick="buttonClick('parent','/insurance/travel_callback.shtml')"/ or phone us 0800 032 1751

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South America - Travel Stories from Around the World - BootsnAll.com Home | Ask an Insider | Members Forum Plane Tickets | Youth Hostels | RTW Guide About Us | Advertising | Search | RSS | Staff First Time Visitor? Travel Stories Africa - Travel Stories from Africa Asia - Travel Stories from Asia Middle East - Travel Stories from the Middle East Europe - Travel Stories from Europe North America - Travel Stories from North America Central America - Travel Stories from Central America South America - Travel Stories from South America Pacific - Travel Stories from the Pacific and Australasia Travelogues - Travelogues from around the world South American Travel Stories Below you will find stories written by travellers on their experiences in South America. If you would like to submit your own stories for this region, click here . Argentina | Bolivia | Brazil | Chile | Colombia | Ecuador | French Guiana | Guyana | Peru | Suriname | Uruguay | Venezuela | X-country Argentina Argentina: Yours Truly Ema Kant's whirwind tour of Argentina still leaves her breathless, long after she's returned home. Candy From a Baby The last place Erik Trinidad wanted to be during the Argentine recession was in a bank in Buenos Aires. But that is where he found himself, and where he left in some haste. An Unabashed Gluttony Tour Food is Joe Ehrlich's 'thing'. Good food at good prices, but you'll find out a few more things about Argentina along the way. Argentina, with a Kiss on the Cheek Of all the international countries Edward M. Uli had traveled to, his business trip to South America was the most interesting experience of all. The Church of Tango Cherie Magnus was a pilgrim drawn to the altar of Tango and she was thankful to have prayed at La Catedral. Buenos Aires: the calm before the riot Sylvia Seschel could not have timed her visit any better, just two days before the economic riots. However, that won't stop her from coming back to beautiful Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires: A Foodie's Paradise, but Hold the Crisis! Despite the impending financial crisis, Gerry Schwartz found Buenos Aires a city with great architecture, wide boulevards, and a love of food at all hours. Springtime in Patagonia: "Muy Bonita" Bariloche was a relaxing break from the stress of Buenos Aires and it remided Gerry Schwartz of a Swiss alpine town. Mendoza: Vino and the High Andes Do Mix Gerry Schwartz found a little slice of Italy in northwestern Argentina. On the Buses Long distance buses ar a great way to cover the vast distances of Argentina. It also gave Gerry Schwartz a great opportunity to chat with the locals. Blood on the Rocks Aconcagua is advertised as the highest trekking peak, but Robert Geier warns that it deserves much more respect than that. In Patagonia: Rio Gallagos Deep in Patagonia, it is possible to believe that time is diluted down to its raw form and the passing of the years occurs at a different pace. Solo Tango in Buenos Aires Cherie Magnus made a pilgrimage to BA to to experience the legendary dancers' dance. Glaciers Nat'l Park Crossing the continental ice at the end of April is a travesty in winter. Patagonia , Argentina Whale watching, sandboarding, penguins and porpoises. Patagonia has it all. Tilcara , Argentina It's not just the altitude that takes your breath away in this small village. Bolivia Bolivia's Day of the Sea NEW! A war with Chile claimed Bolivia's coastline 125 years ago, but that doesn't mean the people have forgotten their love of the sea - or hatred of Chile. Rediscovering a Lost World Rob Hawke makes the ultimate pilgrimage of nature, a journey to the heart of isolation, in Noel Kempff National Park, Bolivia. Bolivian Oblivion on the Mapiri Trail The part-trek, part-commando run of the Mapiri Trail is certain to amaze, enrage and exhaust even the most hardy of would-be Rambos, according to Ben Garside. The Witches' Market Walk the Witches' Market with Thomas Carroll in La Paz, Bolivia as he and his wife shop for some strange items. El Choro: Trekking in Bolivia The lush vegetation, ancient undisturbed architecture, countless waterfalls and extreme physical challenge made El Choro stick in Chris Douglas's mind as the most rewarding hiking experience he has ever had. Los Pistoleros Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid are Justin Pushman's favorite Bolivia guides, now if only they had told him to bring a jacket. Where's My Dealer? Probably on the same boat as the other gringos, but Justin Pushman would be just as happy to find a fish restaurant. On the Bolivian Trail of "Che" Juan Larranaga visited two small Bolivian towns that were significant in the life and death of Ernesto 'Che' Guevara. DEA & Macaws Jack Simpson Jr. traveled to Bolivia to see the Llanos de Mojos - the unfenced grasslands of cattle and cattlemen and vaqueros, and, sometimes, drug lords. Into the Lungs of Hell The silver mines of Potosi, central Bolivia are a place where men die weekly. Be sure to pay homage to the lord of the mine. Snapshots of Mamore, Bolivia Travelers resistant to mosquitoes and wasps, preferably non-vegetarian, are given a better chance of survival when when travelling on this river. Five Stars, Stolen Cars and Rainbows in the Mist After a night spent dancing and partying, what better way to see a La Paz sunrise than drive to the top of a mountain in a stolen car. The Faint of Heart Need Not Apply The La Paz-Coroico road, reportedly the most dangerous in Bolivia if not in South America. Brazil Bacchanalia NEW! There is no such thing as inhibition at Carnival in Bahias. In every direction, there are couples embracing, so that the smell of human and animal craving hangs in the air like a sweet gas. But it doesn't really matter. There is no reason to speak, nothing really to say. Favella Folly Martin Holloway believes he has his guardian angel to thank for getting him out of the Rio favella he naively wandered into. Easter Break in Brazil Bryan Lazerow and his wife took a spur-of-the-moment trip to the interior of Brazil for a ridiculously low price. The Heart of the Amazon Kim Tally and her father had an adventure of a lifetime, abandoning themselves to the magic and wonder of the Amazon. Specks of Sweetness in the Jungle When it comes to fruit, Wes Sander found the Amazon region of Brazil to be unmatched in quantity and variety. The Pantanal and the Transpantaneira The sounds of hundreds of birds, taking flight and landing, made the trip to the Pantanal worthwhile. Maybe this was the hint that Richard Remsberg should have quit while he was ahead. Off Season in a Beach Town Richard Remsberg discovers why renting a dune buggy to drive himself is not recommended on the hills and beaches of Canoa Quebrada. The Girls from Ipanema Rio during Carnaval is crammed with tourists from all over the world. Even so, Sheila Lamb and friends found some locals and had a wonderful experience. Shopping Like a Hoochie-Mama In the middle of a snow filled winter, Sheila Lamb found shopping for clothes for her impulse trip to Brazil very liberating. It Happened One Night A first glance and a few days on the Amazon have Philip Blazdell making hard choices of life and love. The Call of the Amazon Meghan Lambert finds herself in the untainted heart of the Amazon and receives a healing gift from the river. Galloping through the Mountains of Bahia On a horseride in Brazil, Meghan Lambert finds she could easily be a cowgirl, if only the theme music wasn't so depressing. Gemstones Galore Allan Taylor found Rio to be the gemstone capital of the world for the sheer quantity, variety and quality of the stones. Ilha Grande: low tech, low stress Cheryl Morris prefers Robinson Crusoe rather than Princess Cruises type of holidays. Brazil's Ilha Grande suited her perfectly. The Magic of Bahia Cheryl Morris found the African heart of Brazil with its own distinct spirit and rhythm. Women and Waterfalls In a land rife with poverty, violence and growing discontent, Stephanie Lemieux danced in the middle of a stream with a stranger who did not speak her language. Carnaval in Bahia Dan Newman experiences Carnaval away from the tourist crowds of Rio. Salvador's Carnaval is said to be the most authentic celebration in Brazil. Surely you must be joking, Mr Niemeyer Despite its wide deserted streets, its science fiction inspired architecture and its strange compartmentalised layout, Philip Blazdell couldn't help but bond with Brasilia - Brazil's capital. Non Stop Erotic Bingo Philip Blazdell visited Sao Paulo and was visually overcome by the sheer size of the locally named 'third greatest city in the world'. Rio de Janeiro After a year in Brazil and constant advice from his colleagues in the North East not to go to Rio, Philip Blazdell decided it was time. Axé Rio! (Party Rio!) Allen Rainey's head has cleared up enough for him to write about Rio's Carnaval - and to wonder when he's going back. Aboard the Floating Asylum Dreams of a relaxing cruise down the Amazon, from Manaus to Belem, turned out to be more of a nightmare. Tough Place; Tough Men Jack Simpson's journey to Brazil to look at property was made memorable more for the people he met than the countryside he saw. Brass Conflict at the Beach A brass band whipping up a hip-grinding samba? Well in Rio, yes. For as the local dictum goes, everything ends in samba. Suffer the Children If torture and murder be games, then the only people who play with Rio's street kids are the death squads, observes Craig Guillot. The Ghosts of Rio Rio's 'ghosts' aren't actually people who are dead. But they are invisible, even when they do die. Gringa in Sampa As Brazil's commercial capital, Sao Paulo can't compare to Rio for sights. However, there are plenty of alternative sightseeing opportunities if you know where to look. Manaus, a Jungle Within a Jungle Although surrounded by the Amazon jungle, Manaus is a bustling city, not some sleepy tropical village. Prohibition Town Blues On a trip to Natal, Brazil's northeast beach capital, election day means no drinking. The Secret Policeman's Whorehouse A boat up the Amazon is an excellent way of travelling and meeting people. Merely being there implies an adventurous spirit. Talkin' About a Revolution A trip to Belem, capital of the Brazilian state of Para to investigate the recent civil unrest. Rumble in the Jungle A shoddy bar the Brazilian jungle is no place for an Englishman as his team takes on the world champs of football. 500 Years of Brazil The irresistable pull of Brazil to those who have lived there, especially around the country's 500th anniversary. The Spirit of Carnaval A fail-proof technique for doing the samba and then applying it at Carnaval. So This is Carnaval Carnaval is many things to different people, but it has to be experienced. Thinking About the Past Slavery is very much a part of Brazil's history, even if it is a fading memory. What Is It About Brazil? Some things that make Brazil unique, both good and bad (but mostly good). The Blanket Express to Salvador Salvador has been described as "a Greek salad of cultures, a place of great spirituality". However, it also has a dark past that should never be forgotten. Chile On Andean Trout Allan Taylor found trout fishing in Chile tended to be a no-frills activity. Use of a rod is considered an idiosyncrasy of foreigners and an unnecessary luxury. El Teniente While wandering around Chile, Allan Taylor took advantage of the opportunity to visit the world's largest underground mine. Volcanoes Are My Friends Haydn Barlow climbed a mountain on a mission for snow. Perhaps he should have chosen one that was not an active volcano. Fiordland Cruise Allan Taylor explored Chile's wild west fiordland coast, a fascinating region of unique natural beauty, from the comfort of the Terra Australis. Angler's Kitchen Allan Taylor suggests ways you can always be sure of a hot meal while on the road, without worrying about voltage converters or replacement gas cylinders. Puerto Natales - Puerto Montt Nicky McLean describes the three days aboard the ferry running from Puerto Natales to Puerto Montt in southern Chile. A Miracle in Viña After a great encounter with a local in Chile, Gerry Schwartz took a chance for the price of a stamp and experienced a miracle in return. Me & Pinochet Circumstance can make for subtle revenge - even for Brad Newsham, an honest San Francisco cab driver who unwittingly gets back a little at Chile's Gen. Pinochet. Fishing Guide for Travellers Guide for backpackers who like the idea of catching a fish now and then whilst roaming the world, with emphasis on South America. Midwinter in Argentina and Chile There is much debate over who has the southernmost train station in the world. Colombia Romancing the Boy When she's spent more time at the mall than in the garden, what's Mica Campbell supposed to do when her boyfriend takes her to Colombia for a vacation? Transporte Publico Traveling by bus through Colombia, Mike Heavers is entertained by his surroundings - and the toilet. Time Off in Taganga Chris Vezey found Taganga, Colombia to be a strange place with odd people. Costa Loca Ivan Rothko ponders his risks being in idyllic, yet illusory, Santa Marta, Colombia. La Tres Equinas In the old walled city of the land of Escobar, Justin Pushman finds that ordering coke is as easy as ordering beer. Parque Tayrona The jungle might be closed for cleaning, but that won't stop Justin Pushman, if he can ignore the dealer in the hotel corner. Shed a Tear for Cartagena This Colombian city used to be a wonderful travel destination - not so now. Fred Perry compares and contrasts past and present. Colombia, Underwater Close encounters with a stingray, barracuda sightings and breathing from an air pocket in an underwater cave. Medellin, Colombia Considered by many to be the most dangerous city in the world, with drug lords and assassinations, but also home to a famous artist and a festival of flowers. Sleepless Sojourn On a small tropical isle, sleep doesn't come easy. But it's when the water runs out that the fun really starts! Manou A story about an intense love affair between two people in the Colombian town of Cartagena. More Than a Walk in Cartagena This Colombian town could be a compression of nearly everything you might have ever fancied about Latin America. Ecuador An Evolutionary Experience The islands that inspired Charles Darwin's theory of evolution inspries different thoughts and feelings for Aidan Doyle. South American Bus Veteran Justin Rydberg considered himself a veteran South American bus passenger and considered an 8 hour journey in Ecuador to be a piece of cake. He quickly learned each ride is unique for surprises. Slow Train to Market It's not often Richard Remsberg is up before the sun, but he found two very good reasons during his time in Ecuador. Ecuador by Bus If you need to get somewhere, anywhere, in Ecuador chances are it will be by bus. Fiona Maharg caught a glimpse of Ecuadorian life on these journeys. Quito: Blood, Guts and Pigeon-Shit-Splattered Peaks Quito, like other colonial cities in Latin America, was founded on blood. Dominic Hamilton found this reflected in the colonial art collections. Cactus of San Pedro Don't Try This at Home! In the village of Vilcabamba, Ecuador an impulse to stay an extra day turns into an unusual experience. New Year's in Ecuador All of the misfortunes and unhappiness of the "Año Viejo" go up in flames in the city of Cuenca. Not So Perfect in Paradise A trip to the Galapagos Islands leads to some interesting experiences. French Guiana Chasing Rainbows - French Guiana Once home to exiled French prisoners, visitors might now find Guiana the right side of safe and just the wrong side of decadent. Guyana By Smuggler's Boat From Guyana to Venezuela Adventure travel of a different kind on a smuggler's boat to Venezuela. Peru A Dying World Living on man-made islands that must be reproduced every day, those on the Islas Flotantes stuggle to combine their old way of life with the demands of the tourists. On The Inca Trail Follow Thomas Gayton as he strolls the Inca Trail - observing, partaking, thinking. A Walk in the Park Much to Phil Ganz's surprise, the Inca Trail proves to be the magical, mystical place everyone says it is. A Place Above The Clouds Nearing thirty years of age and having traveled extensively, Eric D. Lehman decided he wanted to go somewhere legendary, see a world wonder. What he saw brought him to tears. Devils That Do Good Thomas Carroll's goal was to see the 'inner vision' of his mind by attending a shamanic San Pedro ceremony. From Protest To Full-Scale Riot The Nazca people could feel Samantha Colburn's boredom and thought they would help out her and her friends. Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place Samantha Colburn and her friends arrived into Cusco filthy, flea-bitten, starving, thirsty and exhausted. But they were alive. Four-Day Trek on the Inca Trail Robyn Dwyer quailed in her squeaky new hiking boots and wondered if she was going to make it all the way to Machu Picchu. Traveler, Protect Your Money Learn how to spot counterfeit bills in Peru with Thomas Carroll and save yourself the hassle of funny money. When Wish You Wish Upon A Star, Altitude Sickness Will Flee Far The first shooting star Erik Trinidad ever saw happened to be while he was on the Inca Trail, and it granted his wish. Dollars or Sols? Changing money in Peru is a long, drawn out process. Justin Pushman used it as an opportunity to practice his Spanish, but he soon wished he'd kept his mouth shut. Nazca to Cusco The most direct route was fraught with kidnappings and robberies, but Justin Pushman was in the perfect condition for a two day Andean pass bus journey. He'd already drunk most of a bottle of dark rum. Finding the "Lost Treasure" of Tranquillity in Huanchaco Randell Lee appreciated and understood the true value of 'wasting time' and doing absolutely 'Nothing!' in the beach town of Huanchaco. Blow-outs, Buses and Booze Andrew Bruton reckons if you travel in South America you'll probably have an accident or two, but what's certain is that if it's not a fatal one, you'll absolutely love it. Amazon Boat Ride Ride a yo-yo with Justin Pushman from Iquitos, but be sure to bring out-of-date crackers and a hammock. Cock-a-Doodle Cusqueña Derek Carlisle's Peruvian host family shows him how to mark the end of the work week with a few beers and some cockfighting. Destination: Machu Picchu Derek Carlisle attempts to reach Machu Picchu the hard way after falling victim to a case of traveler's diarrhea. Butts, Blood and a Bloated Cow on a Peruvian Trek In a place of death Kari Frizzle had never felt so alive. Until, that is, she starting puking up neon green liquids. Walking the Fine Line Craig Guillot seems to run into protests everywhere he goes in Latin America, but this time one wrong move could cause all hell to break loose. Jungle Fever for Beginners Pondering the new wave of travellers who seek out extreme experiences, while living in the jungle with Peruvian Indians. The Inca Trail A four day climb to the Inca city of Machu Picchu, without the aid of a porter. Machu Picchu Making a childhood dream of visiting the ancient city in Peru come true. Unexpected Encounters on a High Altitude Tandem Tour Slow motion travel leads to many wonderful meetings in Peru and Bolivia. A Stylish French Restaurant in a tiny Peruvian village - Who would have thunk it? Fine French cuisine in the unlikeliest of places. A 'Shaman' Named Jesus An hour conversation about life and living with one of the most interesting people I've ever met. Rafting the Apurimac River The challenges of a 3 day white water rafting trip. Suriname Jungle Joy For Kate Comiskey, the jungle not only brings her some of the greatest joy she's ever experienced, it also brings her home. Uruguay Montevideo Devil Adam Carter dances with the devil after being taken under the wing of a mysterious Australian. Cops In Uruguay Discover how Erik R. Trinidad and his buddy avoided a hefty bribe for three on-the-road violations. Venezuela A Day on the River While canoeing a piranha-invested river in Venezuela, Denni Schnapp came face-to-face with the barrel of a gun. A Golden Christmas Spend Christmas in the small village of El Pauji in southeastern Venezuela. Chasing the Rainbow The Gran Sabana in Venezuela is in the grip of a latter day gold rush. Los Roques , Venezuela This lesser known archipelago is a natural paradise. X-Country Cruising Cape Horn and the Magellan Strait Sylvia Seschel enjoyed several days in ports of call around Cape Horn, including Montevideo, Ushuaia, Puerto Montt and Punta Arenas. Kite Tails from A Broad While sailing on a square rigged brigantine Tall Ship, Elain Genser managed to stage the first International TransPacific Kitemaking Competition. 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MSNBC - MSNBC Travel Front Front Page Skip navigation Travel Active Travel Holiday Travel Luxury Travel Winter Travel Business Travel Family Travel Travel Tips Destinations Cultural Travel Golf Travel Your World Photos U.S. News World News Business Sports Entertainment Tech / Science Health Weather Travel Blogs Etc. Local News Newsweek Multimedia News Video Most Popular NBC NEWS MSNBC TV Today Show Nightly News Meet the Press Dateline NBC MSNBC Home Travel Holiday Highlights 2005 Pope Benedict's first Mass, 16-foot snowman, soldier's special delivery & more. IMAGES MORE TOP STORIES ON MSNBC TRAVEL Deep in Utah's snowy backcountry Bowl season also means great golf! 2005 - an interesting year in travel Sion Touhig / Getty Images file OTHER TOP TRAVEL STORIES Pop the cork!10 hip places toring in the New Year! The Year in Review 2005: The Year in Pictures Aplace that's happy to see you? New Orleans! Beat the winter blahs! Top 10 beaches we love 3,500 feet of vertical glory: Telluride Ski Resort The best places to cross-border ski in Europe Test your angling skills this winter ice fishing World's 10 most expensive ski resorts 2005 Get the most out of your holiday cruise: 10 tips Photos: Travel slide shows from around the world TRAVEL SLIDE SHOWS Holiday highlights 2005 Olympic destinations 2006 Las Vegas then and now Great European escapes Cool Caribbean adventures Explore New Zealand Disneyland celebrates 50 Everyone's favorite city! Polynesian delights in Hawaii Sport Diver's undersea wonders More travel slide shows from around the world ACTIVE TRAVEL MORE DEEP IN UTAH'S BACKCOUNTRY At 3:05 p.m., we entered a grove of ancient Engelmann spruce. A shaft of sunlight illuminated their thick trunks in a bed of snow as soft and fine as powdered sugar. Ride 3,500 vertical feet of glory Make the 19th hole a bowl! Mush! Plunging in the frozen wilderness Best places to cross-border ski in Europe HOLIDAY TRAVEL MORE HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS From Rockefeller Center to Red Square, people around the worldcelebrate the 2005 holiday season. Top 10 places to ring in the New Year 11 perfect gifts for travelers 10 tips for being a goodhouseguest Top 5 places to spend the holidays LUXURY TRAVEL MORE WORLD'S TOP SHOPS 2005 It has never been easier to be a consumer. Not only are products of all kinds available online, but these days it is possible to find Paris fashions, Italian shoes and the newest Japanese cameras along fashionable shopping streets and upscale malls around the world. 10 most expensive ski resorts 2005 Most expensive, remoteresorts 2005 Star quality: What's in a hotel rating? Alaska cruise offers breathtaking scenery WINTER TRAVEL MORE BEACHES WE LOVE Get out of the cold! Go to one of these 10 favorite beaches to beat the winter blahs! December in New Orleans 10 winter wonderland hotels Don't ski? 6 resorts to visit anyway! 10 great winter getaways 2005 BUSINESS TRAVEL MORE BEST NEW BUSINESS HOTELS Business travel may be strong again, but 2005 was a slow year in the hotel-building business - at least in the U.S., that is. The TSA finally gets things right Airlines ditching complimentary meals Top 10 airlines for first-class pampering 5 tips to avoid travel disappointments FAMILY TRAVEL MORE BEST FAMILY SHIPS Choosing the best cruise for your family is a lot more complicated than it used to be. Some ships are better for infants than others, and ditto for teens, and not all itineraries are created equal. Kid picks: 5 top vacation spots Family fun in the Catskills Galloping grandparents Together ... in the Caribbean Travel Tips MORE 10 TIPS FOR HOLIDAY TRAVEL With travel volume back up to pre-9/11 levels, constriction in the airline business, and Christmas and New Year's falling on Sunday this year, the 2005-06 holiday travel season could be one of the most challenging to date. Did the Grinch steal travel? The 12 tips of Christmas travel The TSA finally gets things right Star quality: What's in a hotel rating? MORE DESTINATIONS MORE ALOHA! The Hawaiian Islands offer tropical adventures you will never forget. Asia Travel Europe Travel Hawaii Travel Caribbean Travel CULTURAL TRAVEL MORE BE REBORN IN FLORENCE The center of the Italian Renaissance art movement, Michelangelo's adopted hometown, the birthplace of modern politics, the source of modern-day credit . . . . Florence is all of these and more. Top 10 cities for art lovers Crush without the crowds Fun foot tours of San Francisco The world's best vineyards: Top 10 GOLF TRAVEL MORE GOLF TRAVEL TIPS Nothing can ruin a golf trip faster than finding something wrong or missing with your clubs and equipment before you even get to the first tee. Make the 19th hole a bowl! Great gifts for golfers Guide to stupid golf gifts Golfing Castel d' Aviano TRAVEL TOOLS Currency converter Traveler's health warnings from the CDC Travel warnings from the State Department Airport status map from the FAA MSNBC.COM'S TAKE 3 MAGAZINE Corbis Pop-culture Americana From Area 51 to Katz's Deli, check out these quirky tourist destinations. 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Austria Travel

IgoUgo: Austria Tourism, Things To Do In Austria, Austria Travel Earn rewards for every review and photo you submit Log in Register Home Destinations Activities Photos Travel Deals Community Web Search -- Search for Advanced Search S E A R C H O P T I O N S search the web only IgoUgo.com Austria Overview Lodging Dining Photos Activities Culture Nightlife Meeting Place Contact a Travel Expert Pressed for time? Enlist the help of a travel professional when planning your next trip! Find a Travel Expert Austria Journal Spotlight Member lynnerob writes: "We had a week of pure relaxation in Heidi country. Axams is up above Innsbruck on…" read more Tell Us About Austria! Get Writing! Share your travel experiences and photos from Austria to earn GO Points SM redeemable for gift certificates and more! Most Recent Austria Journals Wachau Cycling the Danube Bikeway The Salzkammergut Sit by the Lakes in Sunny Austria! My Austria Journal Sponsored Links Vienna Austria Tickets Classical, Rock, Pop, all Concerts Quick and Safe. Book Now Online! Vienna-Events-Online.wmo.at Tickets for Vienna Events Concerts, Opera, Mozart, Strauss. Quick, Secure Bookings. No Fees ! www.viennaconcerts.com Cheap Flights to Austria Deep discounts on major airlines. Call toll free to compare and save. www.wholesale-fares.com Top Picks as chosen byIgoUgomembers Austria Journals The Salzkammergut An Aussie in............. Bed and breakfast in Leinz See all Austria journals Austria Lodging Where to Stay Birchwood Inn Stripsenjochhaus See all Austria lodging reviews Austria Dining Stiftskeller Gasthof Neuwirt See all Austria dining reviews Austria Activities The High Alps of the Salzkammergut How to Get There The Pre-Alps See all Austria activities reviews Austria Culture No entries available. Write your own review and earn valuable GO Points. Austria Nightlife No entries available. Write your own review and earn valuable GO Points. Austria Photos See all Austria photos back to top Sponsored Links Fly to Austria Up to 50% off fares on major airlines even for last minute trips www.asaptickets.com Visit Austria for Less Escorted Tours & Vacation Getaways Enter to win a trip for 2 to Europe www.gate1travel.com Buy Cheap Tickets Concert, Sport & Broadway Tickets. Cheap Tickets. Trusted Merchant. www.TicketLiquidator.com Austria Photos -- Austria Journal Spotlight Member MChylinski writes: "We spent a lovely holiday in Salzburg wandering through the old town, listening to the…" read more About Us Advertise Contact Us Help/FAQ Partners Playground Press Lounge Sites We Like -- Sites We Like Terms and Conditions 2000-2005 IgoUgo, Inc.