Don't Stop - the Florida road trip section UPDATED 3/16 - Page 10 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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.
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Great update! Those pics really show how stormy it was! I could tell from the pics it was gonna pour before I even got to that part of your TR. It looks soooo dark!
Hurry back w/more!
I'm glad you enjoyed your meal at Denny's. The ones in Florida are much better than the ones up here in Ohio. We used to call the rain liquid sunshine when we were down there. Can't wait to read more of your adventures.
Liz
Just caught up! Vero Beach was beautiful! And I can't help but to laugh with you at what happened with the curtains. OMG! That would be just my luck too! Beautiful pictures! Can't wait to hear more!
Tuesday 15 December – part four: well worth the admission fee
When we got there, the rain had become very light at long last and it did look as if it might be clearing up, but we had thought that earlier and been mistaken.
Don’t worry – we didn’t take his space, but I was intrigued as to who he was.. The Royal Poinciana Chapel on the Flagler estate Someone doesn’t look happy to have their photo taken..... ... me on the other hand, I was very happy (as always!) to pose for a shot!
We headed in and paid the $18 admission, which I thought was a lot of money, but I knew that it was meant to be good, so I was prepared to pay it and I’m very glad we did.
To give you some background to this place, it was built in an 18-month period between 1902 and 1903 by millionaire Henry Flagler. He gave the place, known as the White House, to his wife Mary Lily Kenal, as a wedding present and she was known as the $9 million bride, because of that all the other gifts he bestowed on her, including a $1 million pearl necklace. Just the sort of husband every girl wants.
Flagler first made his money in oil industry, but he’s best known for the Florida East Railroad Company. The luxury that he and his wife lived in was quite something. They wanted for nothing with many of these rooms based on the finest properties in Europe. The ballroom had echoes of the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles Palace, just outside Paris, while the dining room ceiling was apparently based on that at Warwick Castle. I knew it looked familiar to me. I think the others in out group of about eight, who were all American, must’ve got sick of us saying “yes, it does look like the original”, from all our visits to various places around Europe.
After the death of Mary in 1925, the house passed to her niece, but she couldn’t keep up the payments on it, so she got an extra building put on the back of it and that became a hotel, where, amongst others, Walt and his wife stayed. Then in 1959, that closed and the place was faced with the threat of demolition. Flagler’s granddaughter stepped in and saved the place and it ended up as a museum, first opening in 1960.
Highlights here included the ballroom that I briefly mentioned earlier, the drawing room, which was created in the style of Louis XVI in France and the grand hall, with its grant marble staircase. You could just imagine being a princess standing at the top or bottom of that.
The study The music room Looking out to the courtyard in the middle of the complex The billiard room The ballroom, modelled on the Hall of Mirrors The courtyard that marks the end of the house and where the hotel started The breakfast room, with its ceiling modelled on Warwick Castle The dining room The drawing room Back in the main entrance hall again The grand marble staircase
Cheryl, thank you for bringing back many wonderful memories for me of The Flagler Museum with your pictures. It looks beautiful with the Christmas tree and decorations (which I've never seen before, so that is new to me). I have a good hunch what your next installment is about, but my lips are zipped! I'm loving your pictures of my favorite museum in my home area. Glad it stopped raining for you! More please!
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.
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.
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I think a good caption would be... you won't like me when I:m angry!
Deb
Michaels'! Hope your papers didn't get wet!!
PassPorter Guide Author
Just the sort of husband every girl wants. 
I think the others in out group of about eight, who were all American, must’ve got sick of us saying “yes, it does look like the original”, from all our visits to various places around Europe. 
Cathy
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