As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.
And a very special thank you to our Guides (moderators), past and present, who kept our forums a happy place to be. You are the glue that held everything together, and we are forever grateful to you. Thank you aliceinwdw, Caldercup, MrsM, WillCAD, Fortissimo, GingerJ, HiddenMickey, CRCrazy, Eeyoresmom, disneyknut, disneydani, Cam22, chezp, WDWfan, Luvsun, KMB733, rescuesk, OhToodles!, Colexis Mom, lfredsbo, HiddenMickey, DrDolphin, DopeyGirl, duck addict, Disneybine, PixieMichele, Sandra Bostwick, Eeyore Tattoo, DyanKJ130, Suzy Q'Disney, LilMarcieMouse, AllisonG, Belle*, Chrissi, Brant, DawnDenise, Crystalloubear, Disneymom9092, FanOfMickey, Goofy4Goofy, GoofyMom, Home4us123, iamgrumpy, ilovedisney247, Jennifer2003, Jenny Pooh, KrisLuvsDisney, Ladyt, Laughaholic88, LauraBelle Hime, Lilianna, LizardCop, Loobyoxlip, lukeandbrooksmom, marisag, michnash, MickeyMAC, OffKilter_Lynn, PamelaK, Poor_Eeyore, ripkensnana, RobDVC, SHEANA1226, Shell of the South, snoozin, Statelady01, Tara O'Hara, tigger22, Tink and Co., Tinkerbelz, WDWJAMBA, wdwlovers, Wendyismyname, whoSEZ, WildforWD, and WvuGrrrl. You made the magic.
We want to personally thank Sara Varney, who coordinated our community for many years (among so many other things she did for us), and Cheryl Pendry, our Message Board Manager who helped train our Guides, and Ginger Jabour, who helped us with the PassPorter-specific forums and Live! Guides. Thank you for your time, energy, and enthusiasm. You made it all happen.
There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
And we are no longer charging for the Live Guides. If you have a subscription, it's yours to keep for the lifetime of the Live Guides at no additional cost. The Live Guides will stay online, barring server issues and technical problems, for all of 2019.
That said, PassPorter is not going away. Most of the resources will remain online for as long as we can support them, and after that we will find ways to make whatever we can available. PassPorter means a great deal to us, and to many of you, and we will do our best to keep it alive in whatever way we can. Our server costs are high, and they'll need to come out of our pockets, so in the future you can expect some changes so we can bring those costs down.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!
If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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Viva Italia An Adventures By Disney Holiday 25 May – 3 June, 2011
I’ve written so many trip reports now that I’ve run out of clever ways to start. So I guess I’ll just jump right in. This is me.
I am going to Italy.
I’ve wanted to visit Italy for a long time. Aside from all the art and history, there is the food! Someone once asked me if I had to live in another country which would it be, and I chose Italy even though I’d never been there. I might be miserable there, but I knew I wouldn’t go hungry.
Anyway, I probably need to give a little backstory, so here goes. A couple years ago, I took my very first trip out of the country to England & France with Adventures By Disney. And with that one wonderful trip, I was hooked. Not on traveling (I was already hooked on traveling ), but with traveling with ABD. Disney took care of every detail and I knew more Adventures were in my future. You can read about that trip here.
The benefits of traveling with ABD are many, but the big selling points to me are the Adventure Guides (two for every group, no matter how small), the fact that nearly everything is prepaid, including tips for hotel staff and local guides, and you can visit the famous and historical sights without waiting in huge lines everywhere. Traveling to a country where I don’t speak the language, it really helps to have someone with you who can. I mean, if I were alone and in trouble, all I could ask for in Italian is gelato. I could ask very politely, even specifying cioccolato, and say thank you after, but still. And it’s not that having lots of gelato is a bad thing, but I need help! And gelato.
There were so many ABD itineraries that appealed to me, you’d think it would’ve been a tough choice as to which one was next, right? Well, not so much. On my first ABD I hung out with a couple who’d done the Backstage Magic trip and raved about it. So that one was next (read about that trip here).
So the next choice after Backstage Magic wasn’t too difficult either. Viva Italia, which goes to Rome, Tuscany and Venice. I know you’re all probably thinking I was never gonna make it to my point! Also, I’m undecided about next year’s ABD, so the intro for that one’s gonna be even longer and more convoluted.
I really wanted to do the Viva Italia itinerary some time in 2011. When the dates and rates were announced in 2010, I checked the calendar and picked out when might be a good time to go, but didn’t book then. I’ve learned that after announcing the dates, a month or two later, Disney always releases some kind of promotion (last year it was a free cruise for booking, which I didn't get). So I decided to wait. I figured the trips weren’t so popular that they’d be sold out right away and waiting seemed like a good strategy.
After a bit, they did indeed announce a deal. If you booked a European Adventure, you’d get a $500 Visa gift card. Sweet! It was time to make it official. I looked at the dates and chose the one starting on May 26 for a very important reason. Make that two very important reasons. #1, it was over Memorial Day weekend and that would save me using one vacation day (and even though I have 25 of them, they are precious this year). The #2 reason was because it was an adults only trip. No stinkin’ kids!
No, I don’t hate kids, but I had you going there for a second, right? The reason I chose an Adults Only itinerary is because there are only a few of those offered per year and they tend to fill up enough to go. After two years in a row of having my chosen trip pulled out from under me for lack of participants I figured this was almost a guarantee that I’d get what I wanted the first time.
After booking, I figured it was time to check for flights. I found they were expensive. Flying into one city and out of another automatically makes things more money (why? Rassa-frassa airlines ). I checked a few airline price predictors and they said fares would be going down and I should wait, so I waited. But once things got crazy in Egypt, I figured I ought to get tickets before they increased any more. I booked (I wanted direct flights – more expensive. Rassa-frassa airlines ). I wanted to book something like premium economy, but flying Delta, that wasn’t an option. There was business class, but that brought the cost for my flights to over $5,000. I wasn’t paying that!
With the trip booked and my airfare out of the way, everything was pretty much set (the beauty of ABD). I did a little research, deciding what stuff I wanted to do during my free time, but for the most part, everything was done.
Before I go on, I need to post a warning. This report will contain spoilers. Disney doesn’t give out detailed itineraries because they like to surprise guests. I’m tellin’ all. If you don’t want to know all the surprises, though, you can still read this TR. I am going to write about all the events, but when I talk about the things that aren’t part of the published itinerary, I’ll post an additional spoiler warning. Got that?
So here’s the very first spoiler warning. SPOILER! If you don’t want to be spoiled, skip to the next post. And don’t look at the pictures in this post! Everyone still reading should want to know everything. Last chance to avoid being spoiled!
So, a couple of months before my departure date, I got a phone call at work from a number I didn’t recognize. Hmm. I answered and the woman on the other end identified herself as Ann* from Adventures By Disney. Dun dun DUNNNNNNNN. Oh noes!
So right away, I’m thinking that my departure’s been cancelled for lack of participants and am mentally considering the other dates, dreading having to push my trip back by two or three months. When I tuned back in to what Ann* was saying I heard her say that they knew this was my third Adventure and because of that, they were offering me a choice of the standard backpack or a messenger bag. That’s it? Cool! Since I already had 2 backpacks (one brand new, unused), I opted for the messenger bag. Not long after that, the box o’ goodies arrived. Disney sends out a box with gifts and stuff to get you excited about your trip. Here’s what’s in it.
There are no more details about the itinerary in this handbook than there are on the website
The little plastic bag is for liquids in your carry on. It’s a much sturdier plastic than your standard Ziploc.
Continued…
*Not her real name. Her name was changed to protect the innocent. Or rather, I was so traumatized by the events that I forgot her name. Yeah, that's it. I didn't just forget like I always do.
Last edited by PrincessSharon; 05-24-2011 at 02:49 PM..
Once everything was set, I realized I’m not flying Southwest, so I should probably go online and choose my seats. I wanted a window seat (both for looking and for leaning), so I was happy to find one available on both flights. At the time, there was nobody in the seat next to me on either flight, but last I checked, there is someone next to me coming home from Venice. I chose a seat that’s classified as Economy Plus for the flight home, which means I’ll have a little extra legroom, which is always nice.
So what’s on the itinerary for this trip anyway? It starts in Rome. I’ll have some time before the Adventure starts and I’m planning on visiting Basilica di San Clemente and a few other sights not on the ABD itinerary. It’ll be my first day after an overnight flight, so I plan to take it easy. The welcome dinner is that evening, but that’s really all there is of the official ABD stuff.
Day two covers the typical sights – the Forum, the Colosseum, the Pantheon, etc. Day three is the Vatican and Sistine Chapel and the afternoon and evening is more time on my own. I’m not sure what I’ll do then, it depends on what I’ve seen and what I want to see.
Then after a stop in Orvieto, we travel to Tuscany. Everyone I know who’s been to Tuscany tells me how beautiful it is, so I really can’t wait to see it for myself. Day Five is pretty interesting. We’re making pasta and then there’s a Tuscan Barbeque dinner on the agenda.
The next day we’ll travel to Florence and see the sights there (I’m a big fan of Renaissance art, so this will be another highlight). Then we’ll get up the next morning and take the Eurostar to Venice. Even though I commute to work on a train, I still see the romance in train trips, so I’m looking forward to it.
For our three days in Venice, we’ll be making masks, riding gondolas and doing the normal touristy stuff. I plan to spend my free time getting “lost in Venice.” On my final day, I’ll have a leisurely breakfast and then head to Marco Polo airport for my flight home. I know that seems kind of vague, but imagine me visiting lots of museums and churches, doing some shopping, and then eating. That’s pretty much my trip in a nutshell.
I’ll be leaving in about 24 hours and I’m happy to say that I’m all packed and ready to go. I’ve cleared my desk off at work (and it’d better stay that way! ). I called my bank and let them know I’d be traveling in Italy. I picked up some Euros to have on hand. I’m ready! Woot!
__________________
Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
Great start Sha! You are going to just love Italy! I'll be watching Eat, Pray Love again and feeling all jealous. Just so you know--it is VERY easy to get lost in Venice--good luck finding your way back! I've not spent any time in Tuscany--so I'll be looking forward to reading all about it!
Loved Heather's reference to Eat. Pray, Love (which yes I watch often as for two hours I can get lost in a journey) and then remember where I am . The first time we watched it I said to the kids...."that is what I need to do, take a personal journey for a year", well of course Jasmine says..."it will be so fun mom and you can homeschool us as we travel" to which I remarked...who said I was taking you, this is a personal journey...
Ok I would not leave the kids home but I would love to go to Italy...so I am definitely going to be sitting in envy while you are on your trip, wondering where you are, what youo bought and of course what you ate...
No seriously I am so excited for you Sharon and can't wait to hear all about it when you return. Have a wonderful time
I am so jealous! Italy (well, Europe actually... but particularly Italy) is a dream of mine...
I almost accident-ed myself when I read "rassa-frassa airlines!"
I am so glad you started your TR...I your TR's Sharon! It sounds like it will be another magical adventure & I can't wait to see your pics & hear all about Italy! Safe travels!
OK, I haven't had time to read this but I read in Larry's TR (I believe) that you were going to WDW in September. Is that true? If so, when?
I'll have to go back & catch up later - off to get the boys.
Oh, I can't wait to read all about this. Not only do I love your trip reports, but I am waiting for the day I can visit Italy.
And, I might as well go ahead and say it, when you're in Florence, keep an eye out for the Jersey Shore kids I'll be looking for you in the paparazzi pics.
About This Page: 
So I guess I’ll just jump right in. This is me.
Someone once asked me if I had to live in another country which would it be, and I chose Italy even though I’d never been there. I might be miserable there, but I knew I wouldn’t go hungry. 
Not on traveling (I was already hooked on traveling 
), but with traveling with ABD. Disney took care of every detail and I knew more Adventures were in my future. You can read about that trip 
Traveling to a country where I don’t speak the language, it really helps to have someone with you who can. I mean, if I were alone and in trouble, all I could ask for in Italian is gelato. 
I could ask very politely, even specifying cioccolato, and say thank you after, but still. And it’s not that having lots of gelato is a bad thing, but I need help! And gelato. 
Also, I’m undecided about next year’s ABD, so the intro for that one’s gonna be even longer and more convoluted. 
). I checked a few airline price predictors and they said fares would be going down and I should wait, so I waited. But once things got crazy in Egypt, I figured I ought to get tickets before they increased any more. I booked (I wanted direct flights – more expensive. Rassa-frassa airlines 
If you don’t want to know all the surprises, though, you can still read this TR. I am going to write about all the events, but when I talk about the things that aren’t part of the published itinerary, I’ll post an additional spoiler warning. Got that? 
I answered and the woman on the other end identified herself as Ann* from Adventures By Disney. Dun dun DUNNNNNNNN. Oh noes! 
I heard her say that they knew this was my third Adventure and because of that, they were offering me a choice of the standard backpack or a messenger bag. That’s it? 
Cool! 
Disney sends out a box with gifts and stuff to get you excited about your trip. Here’s what’s in it.
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
I’ve cleared my desk off at work (and it’d better stay that way! 
). I called my bank and let them know I’d be traveling in Italy. I picked up some Euros to have on hand. I’m ready! Woot!
while you are on your trip, wondering where you are, what youo bought and of course what you ate...
your TR's Sharon! 
Disney Magic - Oct 2015
I'll be looking for you in the paparazzi pics.
, 
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