Live, Laugh, Love...Dream: Mother/Daughter Cruise on the Disney Dream: Debarkation Day-Updated 3/29/11 - Page 15 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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.
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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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I am loving this TR, Dawn! It sounds like you're having an awesome time. How awesome that you really enjoyed your parasailing experience. I was nervous for you! Love all the pictures of CC, it really takes me back. Can't wait to see the Pirate Night photos!
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
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Ok, couldn't wait to read it. Sounds like you two had such a great time. I would love to take a Mother/Daughter trip with my Mom, but it never does seem to work out. Maybe in the future. For now, I will try and start that tradition with my little one, well, not so little now as she turns 17 this year.
I don't feel so bad reading this about how many times we were in the shops on our cruise. Seemed as if there was something pulling me in there no matter how hard I tried to get away. Well, okay, I didn't try very hard. I never do when shopping is concerned.
I so wanted to try parasailing on our CC day, but it was cancelled. Just something to put down for the next time. My DD is sooooo ready to do it, the girl has no fear for anything like that. The more extreme, the more she wants to do it.
What is up with that creepy lady?? People like that really irritate me.
Too bad you didn't go with the Grand Mariner Souffle the first night at dinner....it was awesome!!!! I still remember the taste.......UMMMMM!
Dawn, your Mom is my kind of gal! What a wonderful time you two had! I am loving your trip report! Kudos to you for parasailing! Maybe someday I'll give it a try. Can't wait for the next installment!
Your mystery lady cracks me up. It would be different if you all had struck up a conversation while waiting in the port to embark, but it sounds like she just stared....But then she now acts like you are best friends.....I hope we find more out about her. Maybe she's a long lost cousin????
Parasailing looked scary, even from the pictures! I am so glad you loved it, though, and it was worth the stress. And CC looks so gorgeous! I love your new profile pic. It looks like heaven there!
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Saturday, October 9, 2014 - Kaitlyn and I before the Happy Haunted 5K at ESPN Wide World of Sports
We spent about 30 minutes getting ready for our night as pirates. Mom, as always, really prepared for this moment. As you’ll see in the pictures, she had the head gear, the shirt, the jeans ripped and tattered on purpose, the sequined sash, and the matching rhinestone eye patch. I too had a matching rhinestone eye patch to match my sash but after walking around the room for 5 minutes and bumping into things, I nixed the eye patch. Mom was willing to battle through the eye patch a little longer.
Mom wanted to go out on the promenade of Deck 4 to grab some pictures of us with the sunset in the background, so we headed here first. We found a spot that was clear of obstructions, and we started taking pictures. It took a couple of tries to get the settings the way I wanted them, but we eventually succeeded in getting what Mom wanted.
We entered the doors by Shutters and took the stairs down to Deck 3. Once again, we headed back to the shops as I was looking for an actual pirate hat. I am sure I overlooked it but was unsuccessful. As we walked out of the last store, they had a backdrop by the Walt Disney Theatre set up specifically for Pirates Night with Pirates of the Caribbean at the top. There was no one in line so Mom hopped right up. I set my camera down and joined her after handing over my KTTW card. The photographer had some fun with us making us do pirate faces, yelling “ARGGGG”, and finally did a normal shot. The facial expressions on the other pictures looked as if we had just eaten something vile. It was after this picture that Mom gave up on the eye patch. Apparently, we both needed both of our eyes.
After finishing up there, we walked through the Atrium and lots of people were waiting in line for pictures with Mickey and Chip and Dale. In addition, Andreas was set up again for professional photos with the white background. We headed over there first. There was another family in front of us that had many generations on board. We loved how Andrea worked with them and got the pictures they wanted and some fun ones to boot. Mom and I waited about 15 minutes before it was our turn. Andreas remembered us and we praised how the first set of pictures came out. He was so excited and asked what kind of pictures we wanted. We told him we were in his hands and he smiled really big. We spent about 10 minutes with him and got a couple of really cute pictures.
After we were done there, we went to stand in line for Chip and Dale. The line had thinned out considerably so the wait wasn’t too long. Let me tell you, as soon as Dale saw my Mom and her gold head gear, he went nuts. He ran up to her and made her shake her head so the sequins would move. He made her do it like 5 times. He wouldn’t settle down for the picture. In the meantime, Chip and I were commenting each other on our wardrobe and how we both were wearing red. He gave me the thumbs up on my choice. Finally, the CM calmed Dale down enough to get our picture taken. We all exchanged hugs and before we walked off, he had mom shake her head one more time.
With those pictures out of the way, we made our way to Deck 11/12 to find a spot for Mickey’s Pirate in the Caribbean party. Now I knew that this was mostly geared toward the kiddos but hey, we are kiddos at heart. I got set up in the same spot I had for the Sail Away Party. Mom was distracted, and it didn’t take me long to figure out why. She was in search of a server with drinks on a tray. I believe it was the drink of the day: Paradise Punch. Whatever it was, it was blue and yellow in color. She waved a server over, and two drinks were purchased. We had about 30 minutes before the show was to start so I knew I could finish it before the picture taking. The sacrifices I make, I tell ya! Mom didn’t want to stand around so she went down to Deck 11 and looked at the booths set up on deck. I took some shots of the AquaDuck at night to pass the time.
The next thing I know, I see Mom waving at me from the deck below. She had the CM hold up the exact hat I was looking for. I knew I was going to lose my spot but I had the KTTW cards so off I went. Between balancing the camera, my drink, and my new hat, I signed for the purchase. Mom and I saw that there were some spots open on the stairs in front of Nemo’s reef so we headed there to get organized again. I took off my bandana and tied it around my wrist. Mom in the meantime was getting me hair looking normal so it would look good in the hat. Sometimes that motherly instinct takes over. I was put together again and the show was about to start. I apologize for just the pictures of the screen but from my new vantage point, I couldn't see the stage directly.
It was cute and I am glad I saw it. It got you in the pirate mood. We left a few minutes before it was over so we could head to dinner. Our dinner tonight was in Animator’s Palate as it would be tomorrow night but all the restaurants had the same menu. There was already a huge line down the hallway leading up to the restaurant but it moved quickly. A CM directed us to another entrance when we advised them of our table number as it would be easier to find. Chris and Kelley were right behind us so they just followed. I grabbed some picture of our table but forgot I only had the zoom lens. Not the best pictures.
Once we all had arrived, Jose got our drink orders. I again went with the Reisling while mom went with a chardonnay. Gabor arrived talking in his best Hungarian pirate. He handed us our menus and went over his favorites. I didn’t get any pictures of the food but it was all really good.
Appetizer: I went with the Pirate’s Golden Potstickers. Mom had Blackbeard’s Jumbo Crab Cake.
Soup/ Salad: I went with the Jerk Chicken Salad. Mom had the Caribbean Style Conch Chowder. (Mom really enjoyed the chowder!)
Entrée: I had the Dutchman’s Dijon Crusted Sirloin of Beef. Mom went with the Treasures of the Seas Grilled Shrimp and Seared Scallops.
Dessert: I had the Floating Island (crisp meringue, vanilla anglaise and marinated fruits). Mom had the Sweet Temptations (a trio of fruit cobbler, floating island and chocolate cake). I the Floating Island.
A photographer came around beofre the dessert portion and took pictures of all us at the table. We got some individual shots and one of Mom and I together.
After signing the drink bill, we said good-bye to our tablemates and headed back up to Deck 12 for Buccaneer Blast. We grabbed a spot in our normal spot a little farther back because people were already sitting in chairs at the railing. The fireworks were awesome. I was able to grab a couple of pictures but found that our normal spot was not the spot for pictures as the fireworks were almost behind us. So my tip is to go farther up towards the stage to get a better view.
Once the fireworks completed, Captain Jack came sailing down from one of the stacks. He came down a little awkward which caused his hat and wig to fall off, but luckily he wasn’t harmed. Loved the show all together.
After the show was over, it was time for Club Pirate and some dancing. Most of the families left and the adults were left to their own devices. Mom and went down to Deck 11 and boogied a bit. We had another drink, but soon decided to head back to the stateroom. Apparently, we aren’t night owls. After making it back to the room, we changed and made a plan for our day at sea. I knew that mom and I were going to go our separate ways a bit but made plans to meet up at certain points for some of the activities. I grabbed a pic of our nightly towel animal before heading to the sleeper sofa. Mom was out quickly, while I made some notes and watched some TV. Another day in the books!
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.