A Little Trans-Atlantic Magic - The (somewhat) LIVE TR! -updated 07/03/13 - Page 12 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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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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Poor Meri! We had a similar experience when my DS was about 2 or 3, and lost his favorite dinosaur (from the Disney movie Dinosaur) when a wave hit him in NC - he'd been swimming with the dinosaur! He cried and cried, and then decided it would end up in Barcelona, and maybe a boy there would find it and play with it! LOL! So, maybe Meri will find that to replace the Magic! Is 13 years enough time for something to travel the ocean from NC to Barcelona?!
Awwww! Barcelona. Love that! I'll keep an eye out for the dinosaur! Maybe he's riding around on the Magic, underwater, now!
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Originally Posted by lauriep
"But that's all I have left of the Disney Magic, and now it's gone, and the ship is gone from Barcelona!" -- Oh, poor Meri!
I know, breaks your heart, right?
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Originally Posted by chezp
Sounds like a great day and how neat about the fountain show!
You did fine with the spelling of La Sagrada Familia - I hope you love that as much as we did, it's a stunning building. You've certainly got a lot to pack in before you head out on Thursday - so looking forward to it!
We really do. Tomorrow is Montserrat, and then probably the beach in the afternoon if we get home in time. Then Wednesday is the zoo (and city park) and either the aquarium or the beach (I'm pulling for the beach, myself), and then packing. *sigh* Then Thursday we're outta here to Paris!
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Originally Posted by SugarRush
Love love loving this trip report. Spent the last 2 days reading your pre trip and now this read we have booked the westbound next year. It's our first cruise and I now can't wait the magic will have had its refurb too so looking forward to a fresh ship. I just hope the seas are as kind to us as they have been to you.
Hope you are enjoying Europe, should've added in a trip to Edinburgh...see the castle
I'm seriously considering the westbound next year. It would mean pulling Meri out of third grade for 2 1/2 weeks... but... I'm seriously considering it. Very seriously, lol. I know that's a lot of school to miss in the beginning of the year, but I might be willing... it's hard to say. We'll see. Meri wants to go on every other Disney boat now, to see what she likes best, so I am working on a possible combination next year, lol. We will see which big plans come to fruition. Much will depend on two big things... 1) Whatever new job I find (vacation time will have to work in my favor) 2) If we move to Orlando...
Sigh. All of this "work" and "school" nonsense is getting in the way of my travel plans.
Oh my gosh, that cathedral... Gaudi was a genius, as well as nuts.
That's exactly how we felt seeing it as well.
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The interior is stunning. The ceiling, the columns... I couldn't stop looking around, and I probably took 150 photos of the cathedral alone! I also took some video (which I'll try to post from home at some point) just to try to give an idea of the place... of course there's a spot where mom walks up and starts talking and you probably hear this hissed "SHHH" from me, before there's silence again, lol! Poor mom. The exterior is lovely also, but strange. Fruits and things... just odd. But still very interesting.
I came away feeling the whole thing was odd, but brilliant!
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We also hit Parc Guell, and then we came back to the apartment around 7pm and cooked dinner here.
I'm so glad you made it to Parc Guell - that's another amazing place.
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Tomorrow we've got to be up and out fairly early (for us) so we can head up to Montserrat! I can't wait to see that!!!
Enjoy!
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Again, not starting the TR tonight, but I'm sure you all understand, lol. I thought I'd have more time and energy, but I used my down time tonight to finish a book instead. Had to find out whodunnit!! I know, I know, no rush. I just love doing trip reports, so I'm excited to get started, lol, but it will likely have to wait until I get back to reality.
Hard to believe I will be in Disneyland Paris in just three and a half days, and hanging out with Cheryl and Hazel! But I won't think that far ahead - tomorrow is Montserrat! YAY! We're really starting to get used to Barcelona, and I really like our little neighborhood. It's cute. And the bar next door is MUCH quieter on weeknights than on Saturday nights. Phew!
I know - I can't believe where the time is going... we're out of here early Thursday afternoon!
Hey, you should try the Fantasy! Maybe the December 28 sailing?!
Glad the bar is quieter during the week! Enjoy Montserat! That's on my must do list next time I'm in Barcelona!!
Other than poor Meri losing the Magic it sounds like the good times are rolling on. Rachel found one of the penguins from Happy Feet while snorkelling on our Magic cruise a few years ago. Just in case some PPer lost it in the waves
Montserrat was quite an experience, that's for sure. Four hour round trip, multiple exchanges, standing most of the way... I'm beat!
Beautiful views, though, and the choir was absolutely lovely. I was surprised that they only sang for 10 minutes, but it was lovely to hear, and of course we bought some CD's. Man I'm so tired! We have to go to dinner still, and I'm trying to motivate myself to stand up! LOL! I'm just so tired!
Oh wow, that does sound like quite the day! Wow, I had no idea it was such a challenge to get there, having driven there when we visited and just caught the train up there. You must be absolutely exhausted by now. I hope you're all recovered by Friday for our day in Disneyland Paris!
The weather has finally got to the low 20,s here ( I don't know what that is in US units) but anyhow it is sunny and warm. Hoping it lasts until after the weekend. So looking forward to DLP and meeting everyone.
Wow - 4 hours of travel, standing? Now I guess I know why the charter company felt they could charge such a ridiculous amount for the private bus to take our group from Malgret to Montserrat! Which, as you know, we said no to (and opted for a day at Tossa de Mar instead).
Only 10 minutes from the choir?! I would have been disappointed by that I think - especially after the hurdles to get there. Was there at least good people-watching on the train? And did Meri do OK?
Glad you have a more (hopefully) relaxing day tomorrow!
Oh wow, that does sound like quite the day! Wow, I had no idea it was such a challenge to get there, having driven there when we visited and just caught the train up there. You must be absolutely exhausted by now. I hope you're all recovered by Friday for our day in Disneyland Paris!
Driving is definitely the way to go, lol. Or a private tour (probably worth every Euro). I'm definitely drained. It was so beautiful, but also felt like a lot of hassle. I guess when I envisioned a "train ride" I envisioned sitting on a train, in seats, watching the scenery go by. Not being crammed into a metro car like sardines.
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Originally Posted by Thomhazel
The weather has finally got to the low 20,s here ( I don't know what that is in US units) but anyhow it is sunny and warm. Hoping it lasts until after the weekend. So looking forward to DLP and meeting everyone.
Sounds wonderful! It's in the low 20's here and feels wonderful - so I don't know what that translates to, so it works for me! Now just keep it that way, ok??? I can't wait, either!
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Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
Wow - 4 hours of travel, standing? Now I guess I know why the charter company felt they could charge such a ridiculous amount for the private bus to take our group from Malgret to Montserrat! Which, as you know, we said no to (and opted for a day at Tossa de Mar instead).
Only 10 minutes from the choir?! I would have been disappointed by that I think - especially after the hurdles to get there. Was there at least good people-watching on the train? And did Meri do OK?
Glad you have a more (hopefully) relaxing day tomorrow!
If and when we ever come back here again, I'm forking out the money for a private bus tour, I assure you. Woulda been worth every single penny.
Today was just sort of overwhelming, I think. I don't do very well in massive crowds for long periods of time. And today was nothing but crowds, people touching me, people pressed against me in the train, being bumped, being packed into the basilica, being packed in the cafeteria, being packed in the cable car, being packed into the funicular. LOL! I was ready to melt down by the time we got to dinner back in our neighborhood. Phew! Having a quiet dinner helped. Meri played on my phone, mom people-watched and I just disappeared into a book.
Meri was REALLY good today. She was a brat at times - we're in the stage of having power-struggles ("I can do whatever I want to and you can't make me do anything I don't want to do") but mostly she was really chill and pretty amusing. A couple on the train out there chatted with her, and she was hilarious. She definitely knows when she's got an attentive audience, and they just fed the beast, lol. So she was fully entertained on the way out. On the way back she was getting tired so there was a little more whining, but even so, she did really well altogether.
Tomorrow is going to definitely be chill. The zoo at some point, and probably the beach one more time. And then packing for Paris! Hard to get upset when we've still got that ahead of us!
Cheryl, trust me, when it comes to Disney, I can muster up energy outta nowhere! I'm really excited about seeing it, and riding a few rides! Is Eeyore there? I figure you'll know where to find him if he's there.
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That just sounds so exhausting and draining! Meri's a trooper to not have a major melt-down having to deal with all that at her age, although for her I guess an appreciative audience will do the trick! Glad you were able to have a quiet dinner and hope you're all getting a good night's sleep tonight!
Ahhhh, Paris. Just the sound of it is lovely. Please get a plain sugar crepe for me. OK if Nutella happens to fall on it, that is OK too
How long is that flight to Paris anyway??
Glad Meri was a trooper, I know its hard with them but just everything that she is seeing and doing is awesome, great memories!!!
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Low 20s equates to low 70s here. They're forecasting high 70s by the weekend.
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Originally Posted by Principessa_di_Fata
Cheryl, trust me, when it comes to Disney, I can muster up energy outta nowhere! I'm really excited about seeing it, and riding a few rides! Is Eeyore there? I figure you'll know where to find him if he's there.
He may be there, but it's the one Disney park in the world I won't do characters. There's no order to the lines (at least there wasn't the last time we tried) and we were upset to see how the French parties were seen before any British - that left a really sour taste in our mouth, watching a British child constantly ignored, so we decided not to bother with them again. This was a lot of years ago, so things may have improved since then, but unless I know they have, I won't risk it again. I just found it too much hassle and it annoyed me as well.
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.