A Magical Frozen Norwegian Adventure-Part 2 completed 8/23/2015 - Page 4 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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!
Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.
To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.
If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.
Some very nice photos and was amazed there was still patches of ice in the water in the middle of June! Great photos of the homes in the mountain valley as I love to see this and reminds me of those in Switzerland in the alpine regions!
It was a beautiful day, but still much snow and ice to be seen.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
More beautiful photos. Norway's such a scenic country, isn't it?
It is indeed beautiful.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
The volume on the waterfall is awesome - I'm guessing due to the fact that things were just starting to melt. Gorgeous!
That's probably true. It was flowing with a great power.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Disneybine
That is one cool waterfall! I agree with Colleen, the massive volume must be due to melting snow. It still boggles my mind to see snow and ice in June!
We were so glad to finally get a pretty day to be out and about.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
In spite of the snow and the ice on the water, Norway is such a lush green. This waterfall is so cool, and how neat to make an observation area behind it.
There was quite a bit of greenery. I can't imagine what we would have seen if it had been a normal spring for them.
After getting back on the road we had a short drive to our lunch stop at the Oystese Hotel. They had a traditional Norwegian buffet, with many options of really good food. We were there 90 minutes so had time to walk around outside and enjoy the view. Although this region is rainier than Bergen, it was a beautiful spring day with a fair amount of sun.
Some great scenery once again! What were some of the food offerings for the lunch buffet, if you can recall?
__________________
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!
Some great scenery once again! What were some of the food offerings for the lunch buffet, if you can recall?
You know, I really don't remember. I know there was a lot of different kinds of fish, some pasta, meats and several different salads, as well as ice cream and cake for dessert.
Glad you had a nice lunch break. Were there any "weird" dishes at the lunch buffet, though? I remember that Norwegians have a few unusual staples but can't recall what they are exactely at the moment.
I'm glad Dave asked about the food, as that was exactly what I was wondering too, given how much I love Norwegian food.
I think it's pretty much a given on how you and I are known for loving our cuisine on PP!
__________________
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!
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.
Gorgeous photos! I just finished a novel that had Norway as one of its settings. Several of the places mentioned you all have traveled to, and since I've seen your photos, I already felt familiar with them.
All caught up!! Bergen looks like a another beautiful town. That is such a sad story about Bridal Veil Falls, but how beautiful!! Steinsdalsfossen looks amazing and your lunch stop sounds wonderful!! That's it!! I am going to start working on Muffin to plan this cruise!!
I'm glad Dave asked about the food, as that was exactly what I was wondering too, given how much I love Norwegian food.
I should have been more attuned to the offerings, knowing my PP friends and their love of the food.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Disneybine
Glad you had a nice lunch break. Were there any "weird" dishes at the lunch buffet, though? I remember that Norwegians have a few unusual staples but can't recall what they are exactely at the moment.
I suppose there might have been some weird things. I certainly didn't sample everything as I'm not really into different foods. Of course, what is weird to you and me, is probably not weird to others.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
Was it like the buffet at Akershus?!
I love that scenery so much!
DH & I would love to retire to one of those sod-roof cottages in Norway.....
I've never eaten at Akershus so I can't say for sure. Having read some trip reports and menus, I believe there were definitely some of the same things. Those sod-roof cottages were interesting. In some areas we were told that they have to keep the grass "maintained." (Honey do list: mow the roof! )
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
Gorgeous photos! I just finished a novel that had Norway as one of its settings. Several of the places mentioned you all have traveled to, and since I've seen your photos, I already felt familiar with them.
It does help to have something to relate to when visualizing images from a book.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tara O'Hara
All caught up!! Bergen looks like a another beautiful town. That is such a sad story about Bridal Veil Falls, but how beautiful!! Steinsdalsfossen looks amazing and your lunch stop sounds wonderful!! That's it!! I am going to start working on Muffin to plan this cruise!!
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.
We then made our way along the bank of the beautiful Hardanger Fjord. There were snow-capped mountains as a backdrop and all was indeed stunning. Unfortunately, we were seated on the wrong side of the bus to get good pictures. And, in addition, the one beautiful overlook where we were supposed to make a quick stop was packed with no parking. Spring is about a month late this year to this part of the country, so there was still a lot of snow on the mountains and even, occasionally in the fields near the road. This was a good tour with lovely sights, but there was an awful lot of riding with not a great amount to see.
Cheryl!! Norwegian cows just for you.
Did I mention how narrow the roads were? Yes, he did pass us, but we had to pull off into one of the many "wide spots in the road."
A salmon farm--the blue netting on the top is to keep the fish from escaping
The ferry we crossed over on
We were soon arriving back into Bergen getting back to the ship around 4:45 with all aboard at 5:15. There was a small band playing on the pier near the gangway. Our tour guide said they always do that for new ships in port.
I went out on deck 4 and listened to the band play for a bit. The song in this video is very appropriate of course, but it brought a special tear to the eyes of this Navy Mom.
Yay - Norwegian cows! I can't remember now if we saw any or not - I don't think we did, given we were there in late April/early May and I suspect they were all safely away in their sheds....