Forums Closed
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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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!
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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.
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10-06-2006, 09:28 AM
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#31
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RED SOX NATION!!
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Connecticut
Concierge Level: 9
Posts: 136,854
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Re: The Grand Fiesta 10th Anniversary Trip Report - THREAD 4 Day 10 Part 1Updated 10/4
<font color="blue"> Day 10 Part 3 - The Sailaway Party, Dinner, and FREEDOM at last
We headed back up to Deck 9 for the sailaway party! It was packed [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] but was a good time. We found some beach chairs stacked over toward the side, and I put the kids on those so they could see better. And then the magical notes started [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img]
      
We then headed towards the bow of the ship to watch us leaving Port. We were right above where the Captain stands on the side to get a better view. The horn also went off a few times as we were going back and forth with the Norwegian cruise line boat that was also leaving (behind us) this afternoon. It was great to see all the people on the channel waving to the boat.
             
It was now 5:20, and time to get ready for dinner. We did a quick change, and headed down to Triton’s for our meal. We were seated at our table (it was a table for 4) and were introduced to our servers. Udonsik was from Thailand, and he was our assistant server. Dhanashree (Dhana for short) was from India, and she was our main server.
The dining menu tonight was Master Chef. We learned later on, that we were being treated to lots of extras not usually found on a 4-night cruise because the Wonder was getting ready for a 10-night and an 11-night cruise in September, before it went into drydock at the end of September. Lucky for us [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/toast.gif[/img]
For appetizers, Matt had a tropical fruit cup, and I had a bib lettuce salad. The kids each had a fruit cup as well.
 
For dinner, Matt had the oven baked orange roughy, and I had the tamarind rubbed roast pork tenderloin. The kids both had pizza, which also came with some veggies. Udonsik even made a special Mickey out of the ketchup! The head server (Simone) also came around, giving us our “tickets” for the character breakfast that they were having. We were scheduled for our Castaway Cay day at 7 AM [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] That will get us up and going [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]
   
For dessert, the kids had a Mickey bar, and Matt and I shared the caramelized apple cheesecake [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/yuma.gif[/img]
 
After dinner, the kids went to change, and then we took them to the kids club. Alexa couldn’t wait to get in there, but Colin was a bit more apprehensive. Matt and I headed down to Studio Sea to watch the Mickey Mania show! FREEDOM!! Matt kept wondering about the kids [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] I told him to enjoy it while it lasted [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] They were just down the hall, for crying out loud!! Then we walked around a bit. Not much later, Colin was already paging us to pick him up at the lab. Alexa still wanted to stay, so we left her there.
When we got back to the room, we were greeted with the beds turned down, and chocolates and the next day’s navigator! The kids loved the bunk bed, it was the hit of the trip [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]
  
I finished putting away the rest of the clothes, and I think I went to get Alexa at 10. After that, it was lights out (for me at least). I was exhausted. Tomorrow we were docking in Nassau.
Memories of our Tenth Day
The weather today was……sunny and warm, 90 degrees.
The best thing today was……boarding the Disney Wonder.
The worst thing today was….not being able to unload our stuff early at the port and having to wait.
The funniest thing today was…….the kids going down the Mickey slide.
Today we tried……Triton’s…….
And the result was……a great meal!
The most magical moment today was……the kids going to the kid’s club. FREEDOM [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img]
[b]Coming Up Next……Rain, Rain, go Away…..A freebie at least, and a dinner alone (make that two)![b]
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10-06-2006, 10:00 AM
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#32
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PassPorter Message Board Manager
 PassPorter Guide Author
Community Rank: Legend VIP 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Maidstone, Kent, UK
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 190,285
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Re: The Grand Fiesta 10th Anniversary Trip Report - THREAD 4 Day 10 Part 1Updated 10/4
What a great sailaway party and first evening - I love the ketchup Mickey. That is just too cute! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]
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10-06-2006, 10:08 AM
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#33
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Community Rank: Legend Extraordinaire 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Ohio Football Hall Of Fame
Posts: 42,304
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Re: The Grand Fiesta 10th Anniversary Trip Report - THREAD 4 Day 10 Part 1Updated 10/4
Great update Marnie!! Love the pictures!! Can't wait for more!!
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10-06-2006, 12:09 PM
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#34
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Living Seas wannabe
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 31,940
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Re: The Grand Fiesta 10th Anniversary Trip Report - THREAD 4 Day 10 Part 1Updated 10/4
Great updates Marnie!!!
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10-06-2006, 12:24 PM
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#35
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Community Rank: Trailblazer 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Carolina
Concierge Level: 1
Posts: 5,666
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Re: The Grand Fiesta 10th Anniversary Trip Report - THREAD 4 Day 10 Part 1Updated 10/4
Great update, Marnie! I am loving the pictures!
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10-06-2006, 01:18 PM
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#36
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Eileeeeeeen!™
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 28,861
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Re: The Grand Fiesta 10th Anniversary Trip Report - THREAD 4 Day 10 Part 1Updated 10/4
FREEDOM!!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img] love [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img] it!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img]
Great pictures, Marnie. Truly spectacular! And... how big Colin has gotten. That picture of him climbing up to the bunk bed shows him to be so TALL!!
Eileen
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10-06-2006, 04:19 PM
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#37
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Community Rank: Scout 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Grand Blanc, MI
Concierge Level: 4
Posts: 4,238
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Re: The Grand Fiesta 10th Anniversary Trip Report - THREAD 4 Day 10 Part 1Updated 10/4
I just caught up with your cruise portion and it sounds like so much fun! I can't wait to hear more!
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10-06-2006, 05:32 PM
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#38
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Community Rank: Globetrotter 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: NC
Posts: 3,536
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Re: The Grand Fiesta 10th Anniversary Trip Report - THREAD 4 Day 10 Part 1Updated 10/4
Great updates and pictures!!
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10-06-2006, 06:48 PM
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#39
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Community Rank: Trekker 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: a Buckeye living in Connecticut
Posts: 1,818
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Re: The Grand Fiesta 10th Anniversary Trip Report - THREAD 4 Day 10 Part 1Updated 10/4
Awesome pictures! Looking forward to reading more[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]
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10-06-2006, 07:01 PM
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#40
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Maryland
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 14,723
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Re: The Grand Fiesta 10th Anniversary Trip Report - THREAD 4 Day 10 Part 1Updated 10/4
What a great first day...everything looks liks a blast, well, except for the drill. So nice for you and Matt to have some time to yourselves. Looking forward to more TR.
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10-06-2006, 09:34 PM
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#41
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Community Rank: Explorer 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: NE Ohio
Concierge Level: 8
Posts: 11,856
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Re: The Grand Fiesta 10th Anniversary Trip Report - THREAD 4 Day 10 Part 1Updated 10/4
Great update. Wasn't it nice to spend some time alone? It sounds like you had a good first day.
Liz
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10-06-2006, 10:44 PM
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#42
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Community Rank: Adventurer 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Georgia
Posts: 914
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Re: The Grand Fiesta 10th Anniversary Trip Report - THREAD 4 Day 10 Part 1Updated 10/4
Caramelized Apple Cheesecake?? [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/yuma.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/yuma.gif[/img] Great report!!!! I love that first pic of your daughter she looks so happy!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
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10-06-2006, 11:58 PM
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#43
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Community Rank: Trekker
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Harrisburg, PA
Posts: 1,410
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Re: The Grand Fiesta 10th Anniversary Trip Report - THREAD 4 Day 10 Part 1Updated 10/4
You're making me miss my Disney Ship, Marnie! A most excellent start! Love the pictures of the kids coming down the slide...pure joy! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
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10-07-2006, 03:08 AM
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#44
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Community Rank: Globetrotter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Manchester, England
Posts: 3,595
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Re: The Grand Fiesta 10th Anniversary Trip Report - THREAD 4 Day 10 Part 1Updated 10/4
Just catching up, Marnie. I keep forgetting about you down here!
I am loving your cruise report. You're definitely inspiring me to book a cruise for my summer 2007 trip.
I adore the picture of Colin having his 'time out'. Very cute.
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10-07-2006, 07:45 AM
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#45
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RED SOX NATION!!
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Connecticut
Concierge Level: 9
Posts: 136,854
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Re: The Grand Fiesta 10th Anniversary Trip Report - THREAD 4 Day 10 Part 1Updated 10/4
<font color="blue"> Day 11 - Monday, August 21st – Rain Rain Go Away, a freebie at least, and a dinner alone (make that two)
We woke up this morning to many, many clouds. Matt was up at 5:30, exploring the ship. Thankfully he let the rest of us sleep in until 7:30. I got up and went out on the balcony to see how close we were to Nassau. I was greeted with lots of clouds, and what looked like rain in the distance [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zcry.gif[/img]
 
A rainbow
Notice how “flat” the water is?? It was this way for the ENTIRE cruise! No waves whatsoever [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img] Not that I’m complaining about it!
We got dressed and headed down to Tritons for breakfast. We just felt table service would be easier than the free for all at the buffet. It was hardly full, and there was plenty of room for us. As were were eating, we had “officially” docked at Nassau [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] Of course, that’s when the rain started [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zcry.gif[/img] After eating, we took the kids up to the clubs and signed them in. Our Atlantis excursion didn’t leave until 11, so they had some time to play in the club. I believe we walked around, and I took these pictures either from the room and/or up on deck somewhere (I’m pretty sure it was the room)!
     
It was close to 10:30, when we grabbed a stroller, loaded our cameras, and headed to the kids club to get the kids. Colin was in the club, so he was easy to find (and eager to come [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] )! Alexa was in Studio Sea with her group, doing a talent show. Well, all H$^& broke lose because she didn’t want to come out of the club, she was having fun, and she didn’t have her turn yet in the talent show. She cried, and cried, and cried [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zcry.gif[/img] Ugh!! Next time we’re in Nassau, we’ll just stay on board [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]
We made our way to Wavebands to wait with the throngs of others who were also going on our excursion. We had to fill out forms, and first turn them in with the DCL crew, and then go to another line to get our wristbands for the Atlantis. Once that was done, we finally headed down to the gangway at Deck 1 forward, via the elevators. A bit of a funny……something happened with the stroller (I must have got it stuck or something) and I said “this stroller sucks”. What’s next out of Colin’s mouth……”sucking stroller”. I nearly peed my pants [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img] We finally get ready to get of the boat, and of course at that point, it wasn’t just raining, it was POURING [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rain.gif[/img] This is where I was glad that I had let Matt choose the Atlantis excursion, since we’d be inside and didn’t miss a beach day like I had wanted to do. Of course, this would be the last time I was glad [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] And our luck would have it, they were giving away FREE Mickey ponchos [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] For the adults anyway. The kids got plain yellow ones, but heck, who cares, it’s FREE! Not very often you get anything for FREE from Disney, so you might as well take advantage [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]
After exiting the ship, we hung out underneath one of the covered landings between the boat and the entrance to Nassau, and then finally made our way to where the busses were. We were herded like cattle (literally) onto busses. Of course, they told us to go to one bus, and it was already full, so we missed that one, and then barely made the next one. All of this in a torrential rainstorm. Then the driver decides to give us a tour of Nassau. He literally drove up to some hospital, thru it’s parking lot, and then around in a circle and back the other way [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] Very strange [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]
When we got to the Atlantis, it wasn’t much better. It was back to herded cattle. We were finally given a tour guide, who proceeded to lead us thru the casino [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] I thought we were here to see the aquarium [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/questionicon.gif[/img] Never mind you, there were loads of steps (thankfully all down) and there were no elevators in sight [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img] We just took Colin out and he walked, and we tried to keep up with the guide. I think half the problem here is because the weather was so bad, everyone from the resort itself (and on the rest of the island) was inside the Atlantis, which created a major mob scene [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] The guide kept showing us the crystal chandeliers. Whatever [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]
  
This was some important part of the Atlantis experience, but I don’t have a clue what [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img]
And then we finally got to the aquarium part. There were a bunch of different “rooms”, all connected, so the guide would give you the synopsis of each room, and then you’d move on to the next one. There were groups ahead and behind you, and just guests meandering about. It was very crowded and congested [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]
 
This is a conch
    
The tour lasted for probably an hour, if that, and that was it. We were free to roam on our own. Of course, trying to figure out where to get anywhere else was a challenge at best. We were told there was another section to the aquarium over on the other side of the resort (where in every promo shot for Atlantis you see the fish swimming over you in the tunnel) so we headed that way. In the rain. Up steps, down steps, no ramps to be found (and no dry way either [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img] )!
  
The other aquarium was under this building in the distance
 
We finally found the other side, and go down a bunch of steps. Of course, Colin needs to use the restroom, and there are none to be found (other than a locked one). Matt hoofed it all the way back to the main aquarium with him. Once they were “settled”, we continued on our way.
           
Now what to do. We had completed the tour and the aquarium. Frankly we were getting hungry. Colin was getting tired. We donned the ponchos again, and tried to find our way back to the main hotel. I don’t know where we ended up, but it wasn’t where we began [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img] We did find our way back, and thankfully to a pizza place as well. Of course, there was no seating inside, so we took up shelter under a covered table outside. Matt went in to order a pizza and some drinks. Colin was now fast asleep, and Alexa was getting cranky. We were all miserable in the rain (it was still pouring)! We ate the pizza and drinks, and then just gave up and headed back to the ship. Thankfully when we got up about 20 stairs, we were back at the dropoff point, and found a waiting bus and were soon on our way back to the port. I must say, I was not impressed at all with the Atlantis. Not sure if it was due to the weather (which certainly didn’t help) or it’s very unfriendliness to those with strollers (and wheelchairs). I guess we’re just used to Disney accommodating everyone. At least I can now say, been there, done that, and probably won’t be going back [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img] And thankfully it was a direct bus ride this time, and we were soon passing thru security and on our way back to the port. The only benefit of the rain is it kept the peddlers and braiding people away, so we weren’t bothered at all in the port area [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img]
Coming Up Next.......back on the ship, a "show", and how long would FREEDOM last [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/questionicon.gif[/img]
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