Escaping The Brutal Northeast For Sunny, Warm Florida and Fun! Completed 7/12 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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
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Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
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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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Sounds like the perfect morning flight to MCO to me!!! How great that you are that close to the airport! Being on the eastern side of CT, it's at least 45 minutes to the closest one for me
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Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Sounds like a smooth start to your Day! Looking forward to hearing more
All went very well on the flight to Orlando!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Sounds like the perfect morning flight to MCO to me!!! How great that you are that close to the airport! Being on the eastern side of CT, it's at least 45 minutes to the closest one for me
I've done these early flights a few times to Orlando. I always try to get one that departs by 10 am, so I can have a full first day at Disney! Being close to this airport is definitely convenient, but the prices are usually a bit more than the major airports. Just weigh in the transportation costs to the airport and usually is worth doing!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
I was outside and taking in the warm Florida weather, even if a bit muggy. It was still a nice change from the cold Northeast over the past several months. I made a couple of phone calls and texted a couple of others back home as well and told them I had just landed in Orlando. This was the Departures area. It was also a lot quieter here than in the terminal. I also got out my Magic Band and put it on. Took a couple of tries and finally fit well on my left wrist. Next, went back inside and took the elevator down to Disney’s Magical Express.
As I got close to DME, I first noticed the scanning areas for your Magic Band in the queues. I unfortunately had put my Magic Band upside down, so it was a bit difficult to scan it this first time, but eventually worked. Next, a CM waved me forward and scanned me again to make sure my info was correct and directed me to the correct DME queue. For this route there would be stops at Saratoga Springs, Port Orleans French Quarter and then Riverside. There were a few people ahead of me in line, so it was just a matter of waiting until it was time to board our DME bus. It was probably only a wait of five minutes and we were signaled to board the bus. Before boarding, our Magic Bands were once again scanned. It was now only about 9:30 am, so it was quite early still and should be at Riverside within the hour.
I took a seat on the left side, with a view of one of the TV screens, the row in front of me as I always like to watch the DME program, even though I’ve seen it several times. Others boarded the bus and some luggage was loaded underneath. The coach driver told us the order of the stops and unfortunately mine would be third! That adds about 15+ minutes to the drive to Riverside!
We left a few minutes later and soon the on screen DME entertainment was on, telling you about the resorts, parks, dining etc from some of our favorite characters. Soon we were approaching the confines of Walt Disney World.
This is the famous WDW sign. Just got a bit of the bottom portion of it in the top of the photo. Tough to do on a bus in transit!
Just a few minutes later we continued on to make our first stop at Saratoga Springs.
Entering the Saratoga Springs Resort. Kind of dreary outside.
The 10th tee at Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course. This course sprawls through five Disney Resorts (Saratoga Springs, Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter, Old Key West and Treehouse Villas)
Soon we departed Saratoga Springs and on to Port Orleans French Quarter
Not too clear as taken from DME, but another of LBV golf course
Arrival at the French Quarter...then on to Riverside!
Arrival at Port Orleans Riverside at about 10:30 am! I'm here!!!
A few photos before proceeding to check-in.
NEXT: Check-In, My Room and Exploring Riverside!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Last edited by SuperDave; 08-10-2014 at 06:21 PM..
It is a little dreary, but at least you have arrived - and, it's not snowing.
That is one way to look at this in an optimistic way! With the horrendous weather we had in the Northeast this year, I just couldn't wait to get here! Wish I had stayed longer as we had more snow after I returned!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Quite convenient and easy way by leaving the driving to them after a flight!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
I agree with you smaller airports are so much easier to handle than large hub airports. So glad that you got off to a smooth start to your trip. Looking forward to how this trip unfolds for you.
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Being close to this airport is definitely convenient, but the prices are usually a bit more than the major airports. Just weigh in the transportation costs to the airport and usually is worth doing! 
This was the Departures area. It was also a lot quieter here than in the terminal. I also got out my Magic Band and put it on. Took a couple of tries and finally fit well on my left wrist. Next, went back inside and took the elevator down to Disney’s Magical Express.
but eventually worked. Next, a CM waved me forward and scanned me again to make sure my info was correct and directed me to the correct DME queue. For this route there would be stops at Saratoga Springs, Port Orleans French Quarter and then Riverside. There were a few people ahead of me in line, so it was just a matter of waiting until it was time to board our DME bus. It was probably only a wait of five minutes and we were signaled to board the bus. Before boarding, our Magic Bands were once again scanned. It was now only about 9:30 am, so it was quite early still and should be at Riverside within the hour. 
That adds about 15+ minutes to the drive to Riverside! 
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