How The Western Caribbean Was Won! Completed 8/10/2016 - Page 14 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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.
Thank goodness you got your card back. Wow, the pictures of the waves just sum up the weather during your stay.
I was pretty sure, I knew where my card was as the Chart House was the last place I used it. Glad I got it back! I guess I picked the wrong week to go to AC...but still had a good time!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tara O'Hara
Glad you had an overall nice time, Dave. It's such a shame that the weather was nasty because you can do so much more when it's nice at the shore!. Your pictures are great!!
It was a fun trip, but wish the weather had been better as I always enjoy the boardwalk! Glad you enjoyed the photos!
__________________
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!
Wow, talk about rough surf! Too bad the weather was so lousy for your trip, but at least you had fun in the casino and had some nice meals!
I had a good time and that surf was certainly rough to say the least!
__________________
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've never been to Atlantic City. Those waves are huge.
Yeah, those waves were a bit rough! Perhaps, sometime you can do it. I love the boardwalk there!
__________________
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 loved the little TR to Atlantic City! Sorry the weather was lousy, but it sounds like you made the best of it. And what a heart stopping feeling to see that your credit card is missing! It's happened to us, and even though we knew where it was, it was still very nerve wracking.
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.
I loved the little TR to Atlantic City! Sorry the weather was lousy, but it sounds like you made the best of it. And what a heart stopping feeling to see that your credit card is missing! It's happened to us, and even though we knew where it was, it was still very nerve wracking.
Can't wait to read more of your cruise.
I just picked the wrong week as the weather was so horrible, but still had a good time! I felt better about the credit card, when I called the hotel and knew they had it. It was still a pain in the neck to have to go back there and get it.
__________________
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!
Thanks for the trip to Atlantic City. I like it there too, although we've only been a couple of times. Catching up on your cruise.
Glad you enjoyed it! I should have a cruise update by tomorrow sometime!
__________________
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!
Well, I was out late last night on my first cruise... it was a tiring, exciting and an enjoyable day in every way, while experiencing my first ever cruise day! I enjoyed every bit of it!
I got up just before 9am as my first port excursion in Key West would not be until 12:45 pm. I went out on my deck to have a look and it was just deep blue seas and no land in sight! I was surprised as we were traveling within the Florida Keys at this point and within four hours we would be docking in Key West. Perhaps, the view was different on the port side vs my starboard side?
Any way, I got up and showered and really enjoyed my first shower on board and that was for the shampoo that is provided in the bath. It’s a H20 brand Sea Marine shampoo. Just loved the smell and texture of this. I usually am not overwhelmed by a shampoo, but this stuff was great! I want to get this when I get home!.....Of note on this: there are H20 stores close to home, but it’s quite expensive and about 4X more than my usual Pantene! I haven’t bought it yet, but probably will eventually as I miss this stuff and will bring back memories ofThe Magic for certain! Overall, the shower was good with plenty of hot water and good water pressure as I wasn’t expecting as good as home or even a hotel room!
Before, heading up to Cabanas for breakfast, I went out on my deck for a few photos on the beginnings of a great day with warm temps and blue skies!
There was a lot of spray from the sea as you can tell as this photo is a bit blurry! Quite often from my deck, I would have to wipe my lens, when we were in motion!
How beautiful is this?
Another cruise ship in the Keys. This was a Holland America ship, that would be docked next to us in Key West.
I think this is a fishing boat excursion.
After, spending some time out on my deck and enjoying the scenery (I’m so glad I went with a verandah room as I’m reaping the benefits of this already ) I went upstairs to deck 9 to have breakfast at Cabanas. When I got there, I could tell it was quite crowded as I even had to wait in line to be handed a sanitary wipe! I went to the hot food line, grabbed a tray and made my selections for a full breakfast as I was quite hungry.
It was a good breakfast and had scrambled eggs, hash brown potatoes, bacon, corn beef hash, OJ and coffee. Like a Mark breakfast....right Cheryl? Took a bit of walking around, but found a table between the kitchen and window looking out on the deck. Many passengers were enjoying breakfast just outside, but it was getting a bit crowded out there and a lot of walking traffic too! While I was eating, my server Marcus (dinner service team) stopped by as he was pulling dual duty here. Just some chit chat with him and asked what I had planned in Key West.
After breakfast, I went back to my room for a bit and watched some news and weather for a while before going up to deck 10 to experience my first docking with the Magic into Key West. I brought my camera of course and just took all this in as we approached Key West. I made sure, I had my first port excursion ticket as I would not be returning to my room until after the excursion.
From deck 10 bow
On approach with Key West in view
Getting closer!
Holland America Cruise Line ship ahead of us arriving in port
Arriving on the Key West shoreline!
Lot of air traffic in Key West. Looks like a US military plane. Many passenger jets too with the airport about three miles from here. Key West is a small island at four miles long (N-S) by two miles (E-W).
Holland America ship arriving just before The Magic in port
Sort of a US Coast Guard and Naval port as well.
Passenger jet arriving from the mainland
Just moments before docking in Key West port
Arrival in Key West!
Love the look of this hotel on the Key West port promenade
Love the red color of this building, which is the Customs House
Holland America ship after Magic just docked behind it
Same hotel on promenade with tall palm trees and pool
As promised we arrived on time in port at Key West and actually five minutes early at 12:25 pm. It was quite an amazing sight and experience coming into Key West and seeing this for the first time. I was really enjoying this as this was just the beginning of my cruise as there was so much more ahead for me!
Next, it was time to head downstairs to the Promenade Lounge on Deck 3 to check in for my first port excursion on this cruise!
NEXT: Perhaps,This Port Excursion Wasn’t A Good Idea?
__________________
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!
Beautiful, calm seas as you approach Key West. There's nothing like waking up on a cruise and stepping out onto your veranda to soak it all in and take a deep breath of that sea air.
Looks like a beautiful day! I can't wait to hear about your Key West day. We really loved Key West, but it was super hot the day we were there, so didn't get as much out of it as we could have.
About This Page: 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
Wow, the pictures of the waves just sum up the weather during your stay. 
I guess I picked the wrong week to go to AC...but still had a good time! 
) I went upstairs to deck 9 to have breakfast at Cabanas. When I got there, I could tell it was quite crowded as I even had to wait in line to be handed a sanitary wipe! 
I went to the hot food line, grabbed a tray and made my selections for a full breakfast as I was quite hungry. 
I brought my camera of course and just took all this in as we approached Key West. I made sure, I had my first port excursion ticket as I would not be returning to my room until after the excursion.
PassPorter Guide Author
Linear Mode
