A DREAM is a wish your heart makes – a First-time Cruise pre-trip report complete On the cruise ! - Page 11 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Your weekend reminds me very much of my childhood, those were all the things we did on a daily basis in the summer, not as remote with only 36 residents, but pretty similar. So I really enjoyed those pics.
How awesome you found that local restaurant........I should look that up around here.
That restaurant was PERFECT for P&tF!
What a great place for two boys to run around - fun weekend, and wonderful memories in the making.
Hoping that cool weather and low humidity stick around! We get to Chicago Thursday, and then head up to Door County - where it may be in the low 70's or even high 60's during the day - 50's at night! We're joking that this may be our retirement destination!
I'm all caught up and just noticed we're neighbors! I live 30 miles east of St. Louis and work downtown across the street from Busch Stadium! We should plan a meet up some time soon!
Your weekend plans sounded great! Before you know it you'll be receiving your cruise documents!!
That's awesome that you found a new restaurant and perfect food for The Princess and the Frog. Looks like you had perfect weather for the weekend!!
I'm glad we tried it. It was perfect weather.
Quote:
Originally Posted by disneydreamer33
The meal looked great!
Looked like a nice day outside!
How was Wolverine? Trever and I almost went and saw it yesterday, but we both just weren't real sure on how it was going to be.
We enjoyed it. I liked it as much as the others.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
That restaurant was a perfect find for the movie meal! Love the photos from the country. It looks like the perfect place for two boys to run off steam. I'm glad you got a break from the hot and humid weather. We did, too, but today the humidity is back!
Running off steam is always good with little boys.
It's still cool for July here but the humidity is coming back - it came with the rain.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jackid2
Everything looks Yummy!! Such cute pictures of the boys in the tree house
Thanksl!
Quote:
Originally Posted by num1DVCfan
Wow, a population of only 36?! That must be really peaceful for them!
Looks like a great weekend and you ended up with time alone. I love those rare moments
My Mom only goes a few times a year (we go like once). My parents regular house is on an acre and not in a neighborhood so it's pretty peaceful there too.
I wasn't expecting almost the whole day, but it was nice to get some things done and see a movie.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mommapants
sounds like a wonderfully relaxing weekend
It was!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenny
Mmmmmm, Mmmmmm! Love me some red beans and rice and gumbo!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Linnynad
Your weekend reminds me very much of my childhood, those were all the things we did on a daily basis in the summer, not as remote with only 36 residents, but pretty similar. So I really enjoyed those pics.
How awesome you found that local restaurant........I should look that up around here.
Aw I'm so glad to remind you of good memories. I told my Dad we need to do something in the fall like we used to do when we were kids. My parents would have big parties and the kids would have bb gun contests (complete with ribbons & trophies), we'd have hayrides and a bon fire. So much fun!
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
That restaurant was PERFECT for P&tF!
What a great place for two boys to run around - fun weekend, and wonderful memories in the making.
Hoping that cool weather and low humidity stick around! We get to Chicago Thursday, and then head up to Door County - where it may be in the low 70's or even high 60's during the day - 50's at night! We're joking that this may be our retirement destination!
I don't normally look at the weather, so I'm not sure, but I still don't think it's supposed to be as hot as normal around here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cheyenne
I'm all caught up and just noticed we're neighbors! I live 30 miles east of St. Louis and work downtown across the street from Busch Stadium! We should plan a meet up some time soon!
Your weekend plans sounded great! Before you know it you'll be receiving your cruise documents!!
Hi neighbor! That's so exciting! We should definitely meet sometime.
Today is 75 days until the cruise!! 71 until we're on the road!
Your boys are just getting so big!!! I love seeing their cute little faces! Well you know my thoughts on Nassau but I think walking around just enjoying what's right off the ship is perfect. There is a very large straw market right next to the port in town where all the shopping is located. We don't adore nassau but its a beautiful place for sure When we took the dream it missed Castaway Cay but we didn't book anything, saying that, we dont have children but we thought we would maybe just walk around and take it all in Its such a gorgeous private island with plenty of stuff for everyone! Reading this makes me really want to do another disney cruise!!! argh! Also, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw they are doing a Halloween theming on the boat! man oh man I want to see that!
Yum !! Princess and the Frog food!!!
I love the pictures you got of the boys this weekend.
Aw thanks friend!
Quote:
Originally Posted by scdisneyfan
Your boys are just getting so big!!! I love seeing their cute little faces! Well you know my thoughts on Nassau but I think walking around just enjoying what's right off the ship is perfect. There is a very large straw market right next to the port in town where all the shopping is located. We don't adore nassau but its a beautiful place for sure When we took the dream it missed Castaway Cay but we didn't book anything, saying that, we dont have children but we thought we would maybe just walk around and take it all in Its such a gorgeous private island with plenty of stuff for everyone! Reading this makes me really want to do another disney cruise!!! argh! Also, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw they are doing a Halloween theming on the boat! man oh man I want to see that!
Thanks Crissy! It's kind of weird not planning much out, but I think it will be good to just go with the flow.
Another nice dinner night. Isn't life out in the country the best sometimes. I'm a city girl, but once and a while it's so nice to go visit my family out in the sticks. Unwind and decompress.
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Sounds like it was a great weekend! I LOVE your Princess and the Frog themed dinner! Excellent job!
Thank you!
Quote:
Originally Posted by stardust190
Another nice dinner night. Isn't life out in the country the best sometimes. I'm a city girl, but once and a while it's so nice to go visit my family out in the sticks. Unwind and decompress.
Today Melissa got a little more information on the Halloween Happenings on the ship. I’m not sure why I didn’t get an email, but regardless, she shared with me and this is what was sent:
Thank you for choosing a Disney Cruise Line vacation. We look forward to sailing with you and want to take this opportunity to share with you some important information as you prepare to pack for your vacation. You'll want to make room for your costume, because this year we've created an all-new event, Halloween on the High Seas, and we'll be celebrating with themed offerings on your sailing.
The Disney Dream will unveil Halloween on the High Seas with new events and activities along with a costume contest for adult Guests and a special costume parade for children on the following sail dates:
September 22
September 26
October 3
October 6
October 10
October 13
October 17
October 20
October 24
October 27
October 31
Though not required, we encourage Guests of all ages to bring their costumes and join in our expanded Halloween celebration. From spellbinding stories, fun-filled family entertainment and yummy treats, we've tried to think of everything to make these voyages special. While there will be themed activities throughout the cruise, on one special evening, children will receive candy treat bags in their staterooms that they can bring along to a ship-wide party to collect even more treats. On this same evening, prizes will be awarded to our adult costume contest participants based on the following categories:
Funniest
Most Spooky
Best Group
Most Original
Most Disney
More information on themed nights, times and locations will be available onboard in the Personal Navigator that will be delivered to your stateroom.
Please remember that while all Guests are invited to wear costumes, we ask that you choose costumes that are not obstructive or offensive. To avoid any disappointment or delay in the boarding process, we ask that when considering costume options you refrain from bringing toys or props that resemble guns, knives or other related implements, as these items will not be allowed onboard.
Again, we look forward to sailing with you and hope you have a magical cruise.
Sincerely,
The Cast and Crew Disney Cruise Line
I’m in Halloween overload! I don’t know what to do with all this, but I’m SO excited and I told Melissa I’ll probably pack a whole suitcase full of costumes. J So if anyone has any ideas, through them at me. I have a Minnie costume and last year I made DH be Goofy and the boys were Mickey & Pluto, but I’m not sure they’d fit in their costumes again. We could also be Han Solo, Princess Leia and Jedis as we have all of those costumes. For MNSSHP the boys are going to be Jake & Cubby, Mike will be Captain Hook, and I’m going as Mr Smee plus I think Melissa may join in on this theme. For Halloween at home this year the boys will be Transformers (yes it’s been decided already as we already had one costume from a few years ago with Dylan and I bought the other after Halloween last year). The possibilities are ENDLESS and it’s going to make me crazy. I’m still unsure if the whole family will/can dress up together or if they’re going to keep kids separate from adults….So I’ll probably be focusing all my attention and time on what to be.
Oh! And I did sign the boys up online today for the kid's club. It as SO great to check that "yes" button next to potty trained for Lukas.
What fun! It's true, the possibilities are just endless. I'm leaning towards the Star Wars theme just because of how much Mike loves it, and also there will probably not be as many of these on board as the Mickey and Pluto's-- none cuter than yours, though! I can't wait to see photos of ALL the halloween parties and costumes. The MNSSHP theme will be fantastic, especially if Melissa's family joins in.