Escaping The Brutal Northeast For Sunny, Warm Florida and Fun! Completed 7/12 - Page 13 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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.
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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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Yes and always a good thing! And in about 1 1/2 hours after landing!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
I agree with you smaller airports are so much easier to handle than large hub airports. So glad that you got off to a smooth start to your trip. Looking forward to how this trip unfolds for you.
Love the smaller airports as things are so much easier there! It started off well and look for the updates! Glad you're aboard!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
A little dreary, but I would take it over being here at work any day!
Love all the pics of the resorts and the golf course.
Forget the weather as I was now in Disney World! Almost always, a bad day at WDW is better than a good day at work! Is this an oxymoron?
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
Glad you've made it to the resort! Great pictures!
Always great, when making to the resort as this probably officially begins your adventure as the traveling is over! Many more photos to come...to say the least!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Great report of your arrival! So it looks like it took you an hour on the DME bus. Not bad considering you were the third stop on the route. I can never remember exactly how long that process is. We arrive at 9 am next month, so I'll anticipate arriving at my resort around 10:30 or so. Looking forward to reading more!
YAY - You've arrived at our "Happy Place"!!! That was pretty good timing considering you had two other stops before Riverside I love the early morning flights because it does give you a whole day to enjoy at Disney. Looking forward to hearing more.
Great report of your arrival! So it looks like it took you an hour on the DME bus. Not bad considering you were the third stop on the route. I can never remember exactly how long that process is. We arrive at 9 am next month, so I'll anticipate arriving at my resort around 10:30 or so. Looking forward to reading more!
The arrival went quite well and I got to my resort sooner than expected! It was quite efficient as I expect from Disney!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
You made it!! Yay!! Can't wait to hear about the rest of your first day.
The whole adventure has yet to begin. Hoping to post an update Sunday!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
YAY - You've arrived at our "Happy Place"!!! That was pretty good timing considering you had two other stops before Riverside I love the early morning flights because it does give you a whole day to enjoy at Disney. Looking forward to hearing more.
The DME ride to my short was certainly shorter than I expected, which is good! Same reason I take those flights, although you become quite tired later in the day.
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
It was about 10:30 am or so now and went inside to check in for my room reservation. There was a few people in line ahead of me so I had to wait just a few minutes. Everything went quite smooth using the Magic Band with my room reservation on there as well as my room charges, which I agreed to do. Although, I always hate the moment when you find that envelope hung on the door knob and wonder how bad is this going to be? It’s good for the convenience. The CM went over everything with me, but pretty much routine to me now as this is my 11th stay at WDW. I thought about doing online check in, but with the new system of MDE and Magic Bands, I thought it would be best to check in at the resort.
Next, I paid the balance for my room for six nights, which is a king bedroom, which I enjoyed the last time I had one in the French Quarter. The CM gave me the info regarding activities in the resort, park times schedule etc. The CM was just trying to find a room for me. She said, she had a good one for me in a good location, that’s not too bad of a walk. It’s in Alligator Bayou in Building 38 and Room #3853. I had requested this section as in my two previous visits I had stayed in Magnolia Bend and just wanted a different location here. It’s one of the closer buildings to the Food Court etc with the exception of a couple of them which you can get to from the path behind the bus stop at Riverside.
So, I was basically all set and inquired whether my park passes were indeed on my Magic Band. I linked everything at home through MDE, but wanted to make sure. The CM couldn’t do this from her computer and said that concierge would be able to do that for me! So, it was off to another line! Only a couple of people in front of me and a CM in concierge checked my Magic Band for me and all was good with my park tickets. I landed in Orlando only two hours ago and already, I’ve probably used my Magic Band about ten times!
I knew where I had to go to get to my building and room as I know the resort quite well. I went outside and took in all the great views and before walking to my room, it was a good time for some photos of the resort as I wasn’t in a big hurry!
One of the boats for Downtown Disney. Probably one of the first ones of the day.
The Hub at Port Orleans Riverside and Boatwright’s Dining Hall
Rear entrance/exit to check in, shops and restaurants
Boat rentals at POR
Outside the lounge at my resort
Sassagoula River heading to Port Orleans French Quarter and Downtown Disney
Always like this waterwheel
Ol’ Man Island theme pool
Just before exiting the Ol’ Man Island Pool area, but wasn’t heading there to the right but to the left to Alligator Bayou
Oak Manor in Magnolia Bend, which is just before my building in Alligator Bayou
I arrived at my building #38 in just a few minutes time. A rather short walk and nothing like walking from the Ranchos Coronado Springs, which is a good haul!
My room is on the 2nd floor on the far left side of the photo
I used my Magic Band to try and open the door to my room, but I had the Mickey facing upside down on my right wrist, so this took a bit of adjusting, but finally worked. It’s just a lot easier to put it on this way and has something to do with being left handed.
Got to my room and it looked quite nice. The usual Mickey towels on my bed waiting for me!
A bit dark in here as I should have opened the blinds!
I like these sinks in my room, being outside the main bath
Definitely a bit dark without a flash
I got settled in and unpacked some things from my carry on bag. My suitcase and golf bag were not here yet and may be a while before they arrive. I put the TV on and look and see what the weather looked like for the rest of the day. It certainly, wasn’t promising in any way as the weather map was quite colorful with various shades of yellows, oranges and reds on the map! Looked like some intense thunderstorms were heading for the Orlando area. At the time they were in the Tampa area and heading east. But this would not stop me from heading to the parks on my first day as I had my hooded light jacket in my carry on.
At about 11:15 am my bags arrived and thought that was rather quick. Did a bit of unpacking and getting my golf bag set up for tomorrow as I’d be playing over at Magnolia Golf Course near the Magic Kingdom. Spent a little time on this and watched Stacy on TV with those Must Dos at WDW. This always gets me up for a Disney vacation!
I finished all the unpacking I wanted to do and time to head to my first park on my vacation as it was now about 11:45 am!
NEXT: Can Clouds Really Hold This Much Water?
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
I love the Port Orleans resorts. They are so well themed.
Glad you made it there safely.
They are great resorts and my faves certainly of the mods. Glad everything went well on getting here!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
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And in about 1 1/2 hours after landing! 
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It started off well and look for the updates! Glad you're aboard! 
Almost always, a bad day at WDW is better than a good day at work! 
Is this an oxymoron? 
Only a couple of people in front of me and a CM in concierge checked my Magic Band for me and all was good with my park tickets. 
Looked like some intense thunderstorms were heading for the Orlando area. At the time they were in the Tampa area and heading east. But this would not stop me from heading to the parks on my first day as I had my hooded light jacket in my carry on. 
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