Laurie and Carol's Panama Adventure **Updated 6/11** COMPLETE - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
Laurie and Carol's Panama Adventure **Updated 6/11** COMPLETE
Hi, Folks!
This will be brief because I'm having hard time with my laptop keyboard...
We're at the Radisson getting ready to board tomorrow. Both exhausted, but very excited to be finally starting this incredible trip. Carol flew in from Boca and I came in from Boston early evening. Tiffany Towncar from the airport--very nice driver, excellent service. I'd used them in the past and stopped for a few years because of bad reviews. Their quote was the lowest I could find, though, and we had no problems.
TERRIBLE meal here at the Radisson. We both got the grilled vegetable salad, which consisted of a heap of iceberg and cold, un-grilled zucchini and mushrooms sprinkled with tasteless parmesan. Served with stale brown-and-serve rolls. Ick. I ended up having peanuts from the vending machine for dinner. Oh, well. The trip really starts tomorrow!
I worked the overnight shift Thursday, so have been awake since 5pm Thursday! Goodnight. I'll try to send a bit of news every few days once the cruise starts.
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.
Yesterday, boarding day, was exhausting. Crowded terminal, long lines for everything. We met up with Terri and Lesley, who had boarding #17. We had #5, so, eager to secure Palo reservations for a brunch and a tea, Carol and I headed straight for the Palo desk upon boarding. What a mess. Since so many had been unable to get reservations on line the infamous night the window opened for Castaway Club members, the line went from Rockin’ Bar D all the way to the Atrium. Carol stood in the line and managed to get brunch for the 4 of us, but we’re wait-listed for tea.
We had a nice lunch at Parrot Cay (after a wait in another long line) with Terri and Lesley, then went to the room and unpacked a bit before the safety drill.
Carol and I had Palo dinner reservations. Neither of us has ever been there before, so we were both wondering if it would live up to the hype. Of course it did! Everything was scrumptious and beautiful. Sabucco from Hungary was our waiter and the service was perfect. The décor reminds me of California Grill, but with a European style and more subdued, elegant colors. As soon as I tasted one of the olives on the antipasto plate I knew we were in for a wonderful meal. We both had the polenta and mushroom appetizer—this may be the best thing I’ve ever tasted. We practically licked our plates clean. I make polenta all the time, but it never tastes like this! And how do they get that amazing, creamy texture? Carol’s main course, monkfish, was also wonderful. I had the vegetable and bean casserole, which was very good, but not exciting, so I only ate a bit, saving room for dessert. Carol had the panna cotta, I had the assorted gelato. YUM! I have photos, but they’re not downloaded yet.
I’ve been worrying that Carol might not enjoy the cruise, since it’s a very different sort of vacation for her, but at Palo, as we sailed along on the first night, she said, “I can already tell this isn’t my last cruise.”
Today we’re at Castaway Cay. It’s such a beautiful place, but the weather is way too hot and humid for my enjoyment. After cold, rainy Boston I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I just wilted as it approached noon, and returned to the ship for a nice peaceful afternoon. Tonight we meet our table-mates for the first time and tomorrow is the first of many sea days.
Sounds like you are off to a good start! I just ate dinner, but my mouth started watering over your description of your meal at Palos! Whew, I hate to think what would have happened if you did have the pics downloaded!
Can't wait to hear more! Thanks for sharing your trip so far!
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.
Yesterday was a lovely day, even though I didn’t last long on Castaway Cay. The view of the island from the ship is beautiful and I enjoyed lounging around and reading—who wouldn’t! I skipped lunch, having had a very filling Mango smoothie at the adult beach earlier. Carol spent the morning on the island—power walk and exploration followed by lunch at Cookies. All the CMs were saying that they’d never seen the Adult beach so crowded. There are so few children on this cruise that the family beach was deserted. Empty lounge chairs galore.
We met our dining companions and servers at Animator’s Palate last night. Very nice family of 3 from Texas. It will be lovely getting more acquainted with them over the next 2 weeks. Our servers, Andrea from Brazil and Daniel from Hungary, are very charming and hard-working! The meal was very good also…Carol had a fish appetizer—sorry, I can’t remember what it was called, but she loved it. I had the gazpacho and we both had the vegetable korma for our entrees. This was really good. Very flavorful but not too spicy. Our table-mates had veal chop, salmon, pizza and fries for Lizzie. Everyone seemed very happy with their meals. I skipped dessert in favor of ice cream on deck 9 later on. The others had chocolate cake, sundae, strawberry shortcake, fruit and cookies.
Another very early night. I was asleep by 9. I’ve been waking up at 4 every morning.
Today is the first Sea Day for either of us, and a quick glance at the Navigator shows way too many choices!
About This Page: 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
PassPorter Guide Author
]
with tea there.
Linear Mode
