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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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The Daring Duck Disney Destination Duo
Characters:
Me, 63 year Donald Duck addicted male
Why: Just Magic
When and Where:
Thursday, November 26 Travel to hotel near airport
Friday, November 27 Fly
Saturday, November 28-Saturday, December 5 on the Disney Magic for a relaxing Western Caribbean Cruise.
Saturday December 5 - Monday December 14 WDW at Pop Century resort.
Monday December 14 fly back to Sacramento
Tuesday December 15 drive home.
The journey begins:
After a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner, hop in my trust duckmobile (Donald Duck blue Nissan with Donald Duck stickers in rear side windows.) Easy, almost no-traffic drive, and check into Homewood Suites ($69). Nice clean roomette with kitchen. Early to bed as I have an early flight
Friday.
Friday
Up at 3:45 am for my early flight. Shower and shave etc. In the car by 4:00am and in the airport parking lot by 4:15. Parking lot is cheap ($9) per day, and shuttle bus was there in 2 minutes after pulling luggage to shelter. Bus was at stop next to me, so I had barely started walking when it pulled up. Since my and another at the same stop’s luggage filled the racks (and parking lot had just opened) the bus skipped the remaining 20 stops and went to terminals. Arriving at counter with my $25 luggage fee in my pocket, I strolled up the counter. Attendant (4 desks open and only 4 families in line)
Good sales counter representative first asked if was interested in upgrading to first class. There were openings on both flight legs. Only $164 more! I grabbed the deal and was handed my boarding passes with lovely gold stripes, a red PRIORITY tag looped on the handle. Then the person shook his head as I tried to pay my luggage fee. NOPE free with first class. Off to gate 23. Nice to board first and enjoy some juice while those in economy searched for overhead space. We started backing away on-time, and into the air. Breakfast was a cheese omelet (first decent eggs I have ever had in flight), ham, sausage, potatoes, fruit, and yogurt, choice of biscuit or cinnamon roll, more juice all served on/in china. (Much better than the box of cereal, mini muffin and ½ pint of milk in economy). The nice wide seat and leg room (my feet did not even reach the seat in front).
Arrival at Houston was 10 minutes early. Off to flight #2. Again left gate on time and in air received our snack (More fruit, cookie, crackers, salami, cheese, turkey, celery) was good. Arrived at the gate in Orlando (on TIME). Since I was first class, my luggage actually got to the carousel before I did).
Off to the Hyatthyatt.jpg at (Orlando airport $125 senior rate), checked in (telling the front desk I was going on the Disney Magic the next day (given special instruction sheet) took a brief nap, then went down to the food court and had a Chic-fil-A dinner ($6). Off to sleep after watching a little TV.
Saturday November 28
Up early. Down to the MCO food court for a nourishing double shot Mocha and two Krispy Kremes for breakfast. Back to the room and put my tagged luggage inside the door per instructions. Then to the hotel lobby, where a good sized Disney cruise staff met us. We showed them our cruise packet, and they marked our DCL transfer cards. (You could purchase your transfers from them) If you are not staying at the Hyatt, you still go down to the ‘ground transport ‘area). At 9:15 we were escorted to the Hyatt drive up area, where our ‘private’ DCL busdcl bus.jpg awaited us and we could actually see our luggage being loaded on the truck as we walked out). A quick hour later we arrived at the DCL terminal. The security lines took about 5 minutes. Up the escalator to check in. The line for Castaway Silver members was about 3 families. Got my KTTW card and Silver castaway club lanyard, then went to get my photo taken—this was new. The rechecked you’re ID, scanned your Key and took your ‘mug shot’ so any time you leave or return to ship your photo comes up on the screen. Boarding started at 11:45. I was in group 6 and was welcomed ‘back aboard’ by 12:00
I headed to Parrot Cay for lunch. The wonderful strawberry soup began a nice buffet. Relaxed with carryon stored against a pillar. Finished with a nice fruit tart and headed to deck 6 at 1:10. Rooms were already accessible. room.jpgOn my bed was my Castaway club beach bag with water bottles, flip-flop shaped rice krispy treats, and a couple of minor items. Unpacked my carry on, hung fish-extender on fish , placed magnets on door 6046.jpg, and vegged out on my balcony for about a ½ hour, my luggage showed up about 3:00. So I was totally unpacked prior to the ‘fun’ lifeboat. ‘Suffered’ through the drill in a nice table and chairs in Animator’s Palate.
After stowing away my life jacket, headed up to deck 10 for the sail away party. Bay Breeze in hand and yummy beverage in tummy, we dance away until promptly at 5;00 When You Wish Upon a Star sang from the ships ‘whistle.
Off to diner. Assigned tab le 61, and rotation is APLLAPL. Our Waiter is Dennis from the Philippines, and assistant server is a cute Aussie named Eve My tablemates are Kathy from St Louis area, and Stuart, Jean and adult daughter Leslie from Glasgow Scotland. Tonight was the ‘show’night at Animators Palate. I had the Mushroom Risotto, Butternut Squash Soup and the veal chop with red potatoes and asparagus. Desert was a trio of Double Chocolate Cake, a fruit tart and a cookie and strawberry desert. Every night a sampler of the three most popular desserts was offered. Show was All Aboard! Let the Magic begin! With a couple of cast numbers, juggling by Max Winfrey and Magic by Mike Super. “Finished the night with a Scavenger Hunt that was hilarious (and almost approached.. but never go to X-Rated when cast members would step in stop the action) Towel Animal was a Scorpion. Checked at the store for Molly (WVUGIRL) for a vinylmation Magic and Castaway set. They said they did not have any! Dropped by after the show rechecked in and they had the magic vinylmation. Castaway Cay was a maybe… would be put on a wait list, to see if the Wonder had extras and could leave some for the Magic while on Castaway Cay. So endeth day one on the Magic.
Day Two Key West,key west.jpg
Breakfast at Topsider after morning mocha at Cove Café. Max, from PERU and Ann Marie from Jamaica were my daily caffeine fix ($4.46 incl tip for Mocha). After a leisurely morning left ship at 12 to tour key west, Took off/on trolley tour ($29) then walked Duvall Street from Mallory Square to ‘the Southernmost Point’ and back. Bought T-shirt at Margarita Ville and finished walk with a wedge of Chocolate covered Key Lime Pie. Back on Board. Since I was in ATT Wireless range, I checked my e-mail, and sent a PM to Molly confirming the one purchase and told her of the big maybe..
Relaxed until dinner. Tonight was Parrot Cay. Appetizer was Jerk Chicken Tenderloins, Asparagus and Crab soup. Had the ‘rib eye’ (slice of prime rib). Dessert was sugar free ice cream. Skipped the juggling and magic show. Removed several gifts from my fish extender.Today’s towel animal was a sea turtle. The scorpion moved to his permanent residence protecting me from invaders from my balcony.
Day Three-At Sea
Up and around at 6 am. Returned to Cove Café for my daily mocha. Then, out on Deck, I could see Cubacuba.jpgbest I could get at 20+miles( Fidel and Raoul ) in the Distance. Beautiful sea day. Low temperature in low 70’s, high in low 80’s. One ‘scarry’ moment… on deck 9 a man stopped me and asked me if I was Duck Addict from Passporter. (He recognized me from my signature photos. Spent time reading, stating trip report (finished through Key West and then did not resume during the trip). A couple dips in the hot tub and started on my tan. Took in ‘Old Dogs in the Walt Disney Theater, then a brief nap before dressing for formal night. Had my photo taken with the Captain, then off to dinner. Dinner was the Golden Mickey’s Menu. I had Double-baked Parmesan Cheese Soufle, Sangria Bisque, Rack of New Zealand Lamb, and baked Alaska. More fish exchange gifts were at my door, and inside a stingray towel animal was on my bed. Off to the Golden Mickeys, still an awesome show.
Day Four Cayman Islands
Morning cafe (Do I see a pattern here) and then up on deck as we pulled in the anchor in the harbor of Georgetown georgetown harbor (1).jpg Off on tender to catch my Rum Point Snorkel Stingray excursion. I nice drive to the north end of the island, then got off at a golf course, where the excursion boat awaited. We then went all the way across the harbor to the Rum Point resort. 1/2 were then escorted to the resort for an early lunch, while the other 1/2 boarded a different boat to go to Stingray City. Crossing the bay took about 45 minutes and the trip to SC another 30 (right back where we had been ) At SC were given instructions of how to do the stingray shuffle and where the floating icechest of 'food'for the stingrays would by. There were lots of boats there, and the water depth ranged from waist deep to chest high. crowd at stingray city.jpg Got in and we played with the stingrays for about 1/2 hour stingray (2).jpg. Then back to Rum Point to have lunch while the rest of the group made the 1 1/2 treck to SC (and back). In the meantime, the resort had waitress service, brought us menus and we could choose what we wanted (including any non alcoholic beverage) and there was a full bar available I found the sign on the bar interesting rumpoint.jpg. Went in the gift shop and got a Cayman Islands T shirt (and forgot to give them the discount certificate-they did not remind me). Shirt was $22 US (20 Cayman). After a great day we returned to the ship. Tonight was normal rotation in Parrot Cay. I had the Jamaican Island Chicken Tenderloins, Cream of Asparagus soup with Crab meat, Island spiced Grilled Rib Eye and Parrot Cay Sweet Temptations (Trio of Creme Brulee Cheesecake, Lemon Meringue Pie and Chocolate S'More Vanilla Cake
Great TR. I love your sig pic with Donald. May I ask, since I don't know your back story, why you're such a duck addict?
1. My name is Donald
2. When I was 9, my parents took a trip to No. CA to find a new place to live and left me and brother at my Aunt and Uncles. As a joke my uncle bought Donald Duck orange juice, soda, and bread. It STUCK
Love it, Don!! Reading your food descriptions is making me hungry because I think we all know how much I'd love to cruise just to eat. <sigh> Just can't get over the claustrophobia!
Great start! But I have a question....what is a "fish extender" and what are "fish exchange gifts"?
Next to your door on DCL there is a metal fish for notes etc. A fish extender is a dowell with series of pockets attached so more than notes can be left. A fish exchange happens when a group of cruisers get together and exchange names, family size and cabin number, and then shower each other with gifts during the cruise. Some of the gifts are candy, stickers, junk and some nice stuff. On this cruise there were 16 rooms with 30 adults and 23 kids occupying the rooms. I got about a pound of candy, two refillable mugs, a stack of key chains etc. including some samples of Vegemite that I have not gotten brave enough to try (1/2 of participants were a wedding party from Austrailia).
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1. My name is Donald
2. When I was 9, my parents took a trip to No. CA to find a new place to live and left me and brother at my Aunt and Uncles. As a joke my uncle bought Donald Duck orange juice, soda, and bread. It STUCK
Thanks for fillin' me in! You and DD look so darn cute together!
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(Much better than the box of cereal, mini muffin and ½ pint of milk in economy). The nice wide seat and leg room (my feet did not even reach the seat in front).
and two Krispy Kremes for breakfast. Back to the room and put my tagged luggage inside the door per instructions. Then to the hotel lobby, where a good sized Disney cruise staff met us. We showed them our cruise packet, and they marked our DCL transfer cards. (You could purchase your transfers from them) If you are not staying at the Hyatt, you still go down to the ‘ground transport ‘area). At 9:15 we were escorted to the Hyatt drive up area, where our ‘private’
DCL bus
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
Fidel and Raoul ) in the Distance. Beautiful sea day. Low temperature in low 70’s, high in low 80’s. One ‘scarry’ moment… on deck 9 a man stopped me and asked me if I was Duck Addict from Passporter.
(He recognized me from my signature photos. Spent time reading, stating trip report (finished through Key West and then did not resume during the trip). A couple dips in the hot tub and started on my tan
. Took in ‘Old Dogs in the Walt Disney Theater, then a brief nap before dressing for formal night. Had my photo taken with the Captain, then off to dinner. Dinner was the Golden Mickey’s Menu. I had Double-baked Parmesan Cheese Soufle, Sangria Bisque, Rack of New Zealand Lamb, and baked Alaska. More fish exchange gifts were at my door, and inside a stingray towel animal was on my bed. Off to the Golden Mickeys, still an awesome show.
) At SC were given instructions of how to do the stingray shuffle and where the floating icechest of 'food'for the stingrays would by. There were lots of boats there, and the water depth ranged from waist deep to chest high. 
I found the sign on the bar interesting 
Deb
Can't wait to read more!
my towel animals. Here are the five I got pictures of: Scorpion 
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