Smelling the Roses before Sailing the Seas-Live **Updated 6/22** - Page 11 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
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The cab ride to BCV didn't take long. I had a very friendly cab driver who was from Kingston Jamaica. We chatted What?!?! Me chat with a stranger? about my DS's recent trip there, Chicago and his upcoming trip to Las Vegas. The fare with tip came to $12. Certainly worth it as opposed to hauling my stuff on buses/boats!
We pulled up in front of the BC and a Bellman pointed me over to the BCV lobby to check in. I headed over checking out the Ariel statue and the Welcome Home placque on the way.
When I walked in I was immediately greeted by a CM who walked me over to a podium where a CM was signing onto a laptop. They were setting up a second check in station in the lobby. I waited a few minutes while she got organized and then we began. She was a CM in training so the CM who greeted me stood with her in case she had any questions. After inputting my information she handed me my room key and told me my room was ready! It was only 10:00 am! I had planned on leaving my bag with Bell Services and heading over to Epcot, but this was better!
I headed up to the 4th floor noticing the Hidden Mickey in the carpet on the way.
I was in room 450 - a studio with an Epcot view! It was quite a walk down winding hallways with lots of turns. I think it took me a couple of days to be able to walk there without looking at the room number signs on the walls. When I got to the room the Mousekeepers were just finishing up. They greeted me warmly and welcomed me home. I those words! My room was in great shape.
This greeted me when I walked in:
Room pictures:
Toiletries on the sink:
And yes - there are ceramic/glass mugs and glasses back in the studios:
The balcony from the room and the view from the balcony. Epcot is just visible through the trees.
I unpacked my carry on and signed onto my computer to see if I could really get free internet service. This was supposed to be the day it started according to the DVC website so I wanted to check it out. Success! I was in and I posted my first live update!
Then it was off to Epcot via BC Marketplace to fill up my resort mug. Since this was my first stay at the BC I strolled around taking some pictures as I went.
the HM in the fence:
I know the F&G Festival was at Epcot, but the flowers were in full bloom at the BC too!
I walked by the beach and noticed the signs for the beach activiities being offered:
It's a beautiful walk on the way to the International Gateway.
I went into Epcot and could feel my self grinning from ear to ear. I was finally in one of the parks. My plan was to spend some time looking at the F&G displays in WS and have some lunch at the R&C Pub. I've eaten at the R&C Dining room before, but never the pub. I stopped by to see when it opened and figured I would have a little time before I needed to be back. I went over to Canada to start my tour at Victoria Gardens. I Victoria Gardens in any season, but they were even more beautiful during the F&G Festival.
I then headed back on the path to O Cananda. WDW does such a wonderful job of transitions.
Back to the UK where I stop into the Pub to see if they're ready to open. The bartender is there, but the place is empty. He told me he overslept and they would be opening a half hour late today. I decided to check out some of the displays in the UK and come back in 15 minutes to get a table.
The hopscotch diagram they draw on the street every day always makes me smile.
When I headed back into the Pub - It was full and they still weren't taking orders yet. I decided to head over to the R&D Dining room and see if they could seat me. Score! They could sea me immediately outside looking over WS lagoon. My server was Christina and she was a delight! I decided I had to try a Blue Glowtini. When it came I raised a toast to Karen (mattnkatsmom) for her birthday.
I had an ADR at California Grill for dinner so I didn't want to over do it. I ended up ordering 2 appetizers for my meal. The Rose and Crown Cheese plate and the Crab Timbale.
I am a cheese lover and have had the R&C Cheese plate before. As usual it did not disappoint. The Mushroom Brie, Irish Cheddar and Stilton Pastry were served with Candied Pecans which had quite a kick, Carmelized Onion Jam that was absolutely delicious and grapes. I could make a meal out of this by itself! The Crab Timbale was made with lump crabmeat, a hint of curry surrounded by a fresh fruit salsa topped with watercress. It made a perfect light lunch. I also really enjouyed the rolls and butter. I the way they make a Hidden Mickey with the butter! My DDE card saved me $6.18.
I was heading back to the BC, but wanted to check out the Tea Garden at the UK before I left. They had tea cups in the garden filled with the different plants they make all of Twinnings teas from. It was really interesting and beautiful.
Of course as a tea lover I had to browse through the Twinnings store.
I then headed back out the International Gateway snapping a few pictures along the way.
This time I took the path under the bridge next to the canal. I really enjoy this walk.
(Especially as Disney math convinced you to go a day earlier! )
Gotta love that Disney math!!!!
Hi Lesley!!!! Glad all is well with you! I SO hope we end up at WDW at the same time again sometime. (when are you going back?? I have 2 trips in the works, so maybe...) I really enjoyed meeting you, and ever since the IllumiNations meet a couple of weeks ago, Caroline has been asking me when she can meet more of my 'Disney friends'!!
Finally had time to sit down and read your TR!! Sounds like a great trip so far! love that you got to upgrade to first class! You GO girl!!!
Lesley, I just love your photos- they are beautiful!!! Looks like you are thoroughly enjoying F&G festival- I absolutley F&G festival!!!!
Oh and I enjoyed your photos and description of POP too. I've never been there or stayed there, but it does seem like the theming is top-notch. I love the details at the bowling pin pool- that is one of my favorite things about WDW- the details. Nobody does it better than WDW.
Great updates Lesley!! What a great room you got at BCV (and congrats it was ready so early) And what great pictures of Epcot Glad you were able to get a table at R&C outside and had a nice lunch More please
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Great start. Awesome score with the room being ready> I love your pictures from the F&GF...no matter how many times we get there during this event, it is always breathtaking. Can't wait to hear more.
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about my DS's recent trip there, Chicago and his upcoming trip to Las Vegas. The fare with tip came to $12. Certainly worth it as opposed to hauling my stuff on buses/boats! 
It was quite a walk down winding hallways with lots of turns. I think it took me a couple of days to be able to walk there without looking at the room number signs on the walls. 
When I got to the room the Mousekeepers were just finishing up. They greeted me warmly and welcomed me home. I 
those words! My room was in great shape.
I was finally in one of the parks. My plan was to spend some time looking at the F&G displays in WS and have some lunch at the R&C Pub. I've eaten at the R&C Dining room before, but never the pub. I stopped by to see when it opened and figured I would have a little time before I needed to be back. I went over to Canada to start my tour at Victoria Gardens. I 
and they would be opening a half hour late today. I decided to check out some of the displays in the UK and come back in 15 minutes to get a table.
and they still weren't taking orders yet. I decided to head over to the R&D Dining room and see if they could seat me. Score! 
PassPorter Guide Author
Hi Lesley!!!! Glad all is well with you! I SO hope we end up at WDW at the same time again sometime. (when are you going back?? I have 2 trips in the works, so maybe...) I really enjoyed meeting you, and ever since the IllumiNations meet a couple of weeks ago, Caroline has been asking me when she can meet more of my 'Disney friends'!!
More please 
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