The "third times a charm" HCL cruise PTR - Page 5 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
LOVE the organizer!!!! And the little coach id holder!
You have fantastic taste in clothes, and have scored some great deals!
It's almost here...I hope you find a place to stay....I have no clue about that area, being up here in the northeast.
I love all of the clothes you've gotten! The swimsuit is really cute! I've only been on one 3-day cruise, but clothes planning for a cruise is hard work!! Sounds like you've got it all together! It will be here before you know it.
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.
so excited for you girl! I know how much you heart luggage tags so thats super exciting! i am living vicariously through you! just keep cruising until I can convince rob to take me on one! lol!
Your clothes are ADORABLE! so cute! And your travel plans sound like fun! I love that you guys have a little tradition together! Do you guys have siblings? I always want to invite me or robs parents when we go to disney but dont know if thats wierd because we have siblings and wouldnt invite them. didnt know what the etiquette was so i thought id ask! lol!
in any case, I can see how super pysched you are! congrats! yay!
I do luggage tags....so great you remembered that Those were the first thing eric pointed out for me when we got those *LOL* Oh honey, if you need me to keep cruising I guess i could suck it up and do that for you *LOL* I mean somebody's gotta sacrifice! Honestly, i really thought it would be for "old people" but its so not that way at all. I also thought I would feel like I was being told what to do and when to do it. I think you gotta take a small one just to get your feet wet and see what you think. there are a lot of cruises that go out of New York!
And to answer your question, I have three BROTHERS....yep i'm the only girl and three brothers. Eric is an only child. However, I havent invited my siblings to go to disney with me and my mom when we go. I also have never invited them on our cruises with his parents. However, I could see us going separately with just my siblings. I personally dont see an issue with just the parents invite. I mean he has many aunts and uncles and we never ask them or my own parents for that matter...I hope that answers that question *L*
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Great updates Crissy!! And great stuff too!!
Thanks for reading
Quote:
Originally Posted by dsteiny23
Wow...you are totally shaming me with the constant updates . (But, I am typing this while uploading day 5 pics to photobucket) Love the cover-up and the Old Navy sleep pants. Big fan of sleep pants myself. And you KNOW I'm right there with you and the organizing!! I'd love a nice blue satin organized pouch...that's right up my alley.
And Cracked Up with the badonkidonk (no idea if I even spelled that the same way you did). So funny.
You are going to have such a BLAST!!
Eh, I'm constantly updating because i'm super psyched *L* I hope i can keep this steam when i get back for updating I do love the "bohemian" cover up. Something unlike anything i own which is why i bought it. OMG, i still think we are connected on some level. You should see the ever mounting pile of sleep pants that I own. I love different kinds of sleep pants and i totally go for comfort and cutsey. I so knew you'd love that organizer and thought of you when i got it!
I am really excited about it all...i'm getting to where i cant fall asleep at night for thinking of what to pack,etc.
Quote:
Originally Posted by amandal
Oh, boy, where the heck do I start. . . . . I can't believe it's so close I love the BR shirt - super cute; and how funny that you found cruise themed pants!! I have one of those Coach wallets (it's technically called a Mini-Skinny; I'm addicted to Coach) in like every pattern and color . It's really convenient. I think I would want to wear a dress every day on a cruise too, it just seems like what people do . . . . . And I totally laughed out loud to myself here in my dark room when I read the story about the "junk in the trunk". You have no idea how much I can relate to that . . . . .
I am such a fan of comfy sleep pants and a tank. When I saw those pants i thought...how cheesy but i have to have them *LOL* they were a funny splurge!
Okay, you have to come for a visit at some point....we are seriously sistas from another mother.....I was thinking OMG she knows its called a mini skinny! I didnt even know that i just was like this is so perfect and coach and i need it We have a Coach outlet right down the road so i'm always going there buying stuff for not only me but friends and family because you can get some real steals there! And i when i read that you can relate to my "junk in the trunk" issue...that's when i started cracking up and was like "finally someone with my pain!!!!! argghhhh" shopping for jeans is never pleasant *L* i get so frustrated and am sure men make jeans!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
What great updates - and what great purchases you've made as well. I love the fact that you've started packing and yes, there's still a fair bit of space in there.
Thanks! I pack weeks in advance...crazy i know but it makes me feel like i wont forget anything. ANd YES that bag is deceiving because it zips out to hold so much more than that *LOL*
Quote:
Originally Posted by pick7499
LOVE the organizer!!!! And the little coach id holder!
You have fantastic taste in clothes, and have scored some great deals!
It's almost here...I hope you find a place to stay....I have no clue about that area, being up here in the northeast.
Thats funny you say that about clothes because i grew up in a family full of boys so i was never sure if something matched or if it was in style *LOL* I am trying so much more to be girly as i get older and more set in my professional job!
Yeah I've never drove that far in FL. But, my brother used to live in West Palm Beach and he gave me some great pointers on the phone last night!
Quote:
Originally Posted by pamcarey
I love all of the clothes you've gotten! The swimsuit is really cute! I've only been on one 3-day cruise, but clothes planning for a cruise is hard work!! Sounds like you've got it all together! It will be here before you know it.
Awww thanks! Yep, i mean i'd never think i'd change that many times in one day as i did for our last cruise! But you really have to plan it out because dinner is so elegant and the ports of call you really want to be prepared. Sounds like you know exactly what i mean!! Ahhhhhh only 6 work days left and 9 days before we drive down!! i cannot wait!
Quote:
Originally Posted by PrincessSharon
I'm getting so excited for you, Crissy! I love that blue satin organizer. And all your new purchases are really cute! Very cruise-y.
I'm so super cheesy with the theming....i get more girly the older i've gotten. I just get so excited about the beachy theme.....I it!nI love to theme my stuff even for disneyworld!! I'm so excited....i seriously have been trying to countdown the days at work and i'm surprised i'm productive at all!!
ONE WEEK TO GO!!!
One week from today we will actually be half way out of SC!! I love the "this time next week" stuff. It's my fav!
So, lots to share believe it or not!
Number one: Figuring out the driving/parking/following situation....
So, Tuesday night we decided we needed to call Eric's mom and figure out the driving situation. His Aunt and Uncle would be coming from the same direction as his parents and we needed to know what time to leave. The original plan was for his parents to stay with us and get up around 5am and get the car packed and leave around 6am.
Eric called his mom and for some reason his Uncle didnt want to leave until later. He said he really didnt want to follow us either because he is a slow driver and he said they want to sight see on their way down. We argued and discussed for over an hour between his parents and his aunt and uncle. The FINAL DECISION...well we came to the conclusion that his uncle and aunt were going to drive down completely separate. Reasons: his uncle drives 65 in a 70....we drive 80 in a 70 and his uncle wanted to leave at 9ish and eric and I felt that if we were going to take an entire day off that we wanted to make the most of our day. We also didnt want to get down in Ft. Lauderdale too late at night trying to find a hotel.
So, the plan is the orignal plan now...his aunt and uncle will drive down separate and we will drive down as planned before at 6am....sheesh
With the driving arrangements settled, his uncle and mother had questions related to parking. I on the other hand had no questions at all because that material had been given to us. They gave us this booklet with our documents that CLEARLY laid out that you could park at the port in a garage for 15 dollars a day per car. You would think that would be the obvious choice and decision right? Well apparently, his aunt and mother had seen something showing you could park at the airport for cheaper and be shuttled in. The problem with that is the shuttle only runs ever so often. AND you have to call them once you arrive for a pickup. I told Eric the best decision was to park at the port and pay the 15 a day and be right there to board and disembark for ease and convience. He agreed. HOWEVER, we were asked to contact our travel agent by his aunt and mother to see what she recommended. She said she couldn't believe that we would choose anything but the provided port parking. She said it was convienent, super easy, super fast and very secure. So, now the choice is obvious. We will park at the port in front of the ship....
Now, that that's all squared away...eric's mother broke the news to us that they cancelled our beach excursion in Turks and Caicos They were hit pretty badly with that hurricane back in the fall. I guess they thought the beach they were taking us to would recover before then. But, i guess they were wrong and they immediately gave us a refund on the excursion and recommended another one. The problem with that is the other recommendations are 85 a person for only 2 hours!!!! NO thank you, so i recommended that we get off the ship and go to a beach right near the ship which is available for cruisers and right there is a Margheritaville sp???. So, to me that would be better than paying 85 for 2 hours to do the same thing. So, it was agreed we would do that instead.
So, all that settled onto the other minor deets.....
Work: I know you guys are aware that I'm a counselor. When i leave i have to prepare my clients starting at least a month and a half in advance. They have to be prepared so that they are taken care of when i leave. So, i am happy to report that they are all prepared. My work is all caught up and i'm leaving work spotless for the most part. This is the only thing i hate about my job because my work never stops but i wanted to leave them and myself prepared! and i did so far
Next up.....
just a few little things have been done as far as packing,etc.
I just got my hair highlighted and cut yesterday and eric got his new contacts which is always a must!
We are packing day by day and the majority of that will get done this weekend.
I also went to Old Navy yesterday and bought some tank tops since they were on sale and i bought another coverup for my new bathing suit. They are the one store that has their summer stuff out and i like their clothes so i was happy about that!
So, that gets us all updated to present......
Now, i'm off to pack and clean my house this weekend! Time is and will fly by and my trip will be here in no time!
It sounds like you are so ready, you could leave tomorrow!!! LOL. Everything sounds great. Some people just need to look for other things to worry about when the obvious answer (and the final one) is right in front of them
I can't believe it's only 1 WEEK AWAY!! I am so excited for you!! I must admit, Craig and I are the same way, if I'm taking a day off, I want the most out of that day I can get. And I'm a bit of a leadfoot myself so I totally wouldn't be able to wait for any slow drivers. I'm probably the one behind your uncle going "What is this guy doing!!??" I'm also more about the convenience than looking everywhere for the best price. I'd be parking right across from the ship so that when I get home I don't have to count on anyone else to get me home and I could leave when I wanted. But, Amanda is right, some times people just have to "shop around".
Love Old Navy and I know how the "need" to shop arises when you're close to travel time. You can't fight it girl...so go with it!
So glad to see you doing the single digit dance! Yay! (And BTW, I got your PM but have been soooooo behind on emails you have NOOOO idea! lol! tonight probably!)
Anyways, I can FEEL your excitement when I read! Dont worry about the canceled excursion-- you guys are gonna have a blast-- turks and caicos excursion or not! I love the Margaritaville/Beach idea!
Everything seems like its falling right into pre-trip place! Yay!
Registered Message Board Members Get Our Free Newsletter! When you register you'll have the option to sign up for our weekly PassPorter Newsletter. It's chock-full of feature articles; news; tips; contests; photos; and special offers in our online store.
I think you made the right decision to travel separately from the Aunt and Uncle... sounds like it will be better for everyone that way. And parking at the port sounds like a no-brainer to me!! Just one week to go... woo hoo