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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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for the photo CD but actually happy it is a little late. I was away for a few days and got behind on a lot of reports. With your CD being late I didn't miss too much.
NOW it can get her already!
Sorry I've neglected my TR. Thanks for your patience! My CD still hasn't arrived, so I called ABD today and bugged them. Apparently, there was an "issue" with the DVD and they had to be reprinted. I was told to expect it by this weekend. Yay! Anyway, I intended to post this next update this past weekend, but things got a bit crazy. The next update is coming right up!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
for the darn CD to hurry up and get to you! I've been virtually stalking you waiting for an update. I check to see if you're on the boards, then stay on until you leave hoping I'll catch it! Think I have too much time on my hands?
Laurie, I could just send you a PM when I update. Honestly, I'm flattered. And feeling a bit of pressure now!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Principessa_di_Fata
Intimate cleanser? Wow. LOL! I'm sorta speechless, lol. Every time I see a bidet, I think of that scene in Crocodile Dundee, where he looks at it all perplexed, and then later hollers out the window to the chick, "It's for washing your backside?" (I don't know if it's the exact quote, but...) LOL! Cracks me up every time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Intimate cleanser? The mind boggles....
Hope that CD hurries up and arrives soon!
Yeah, the thing is, it was different from the other soaps, so I couldn't help thinking what ingredient they put in it to make it different. But perhaps, I'm better off not knowing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BettyBeBop
Your amazing pictures are bringing back so many memories! I was in Rome as a child (10 yrs old) but my memories are still so clear!! There is just something special about Italy. It makes such an impression on you. Thank you for bringing them to life again!!
Cant wait for more!!!
Italy certainly leaves an impression on you!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lindadarrall
Maybe she put the blanket over her head so no one could see her popping in an Ambien or two...
Seriously, Sharon -- that's amazing!
No, I usually sleep just fine on planes, so it wasn't really that unusual. Also, I have a weird body clock, so if I tell myself it's time to sleep, usually I can go right to sleep no matter when it is.
Quote:
Originally Posted by scrappyjae
Intimate cleanser...what a nice way of putting it?! It would go lovely with the Butt Floss we saw in Hallmark over the weekend!
Quote:
Originally Posted by honeybee723
Intimate cleanser...so is this something that people will also take home with them along with the free soap and shampoos???
I don't know. And I really don't want to know. In fact, I washed my hands after handling the bottle, just in case.
Quote:
Originally Posted by disney_duke
Cleanser? That must be an issue in Italy..... Interesting!
It's funny, my mind went in the opposite direction. I'm thinking Italians have the cleanest umm... personal areas in Europe!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Luvsun
All caught up again!
I am so impressed that you were able to sleep so long on the flight! I can't put anything over my head...., it would drive me crazy! I love the pictures from the air!!
I think it is so cool that you are able to fill your water bottle at the fountains!
All of the pictures are beautiful! I think I will show them to Nate and Ashley. They are going to Italy in October. (yes, this mother is a bit jealous.....as I have never been there!) that your photopass CD arrives soon!
Ann, usually I can't put blankets over my head either, but I have a travel blanket that's thin, so it didn't bother me. Nate and Ashley are going to have a fab time! I hope they enjoy the pics.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Baloo
Intimate cleanser? Soo many jokes, none of which are appropriate for a family-board...
Pixie dust for your CD--looking forward to seeing the pictures!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jessie092408
I am all caught up. You have the honor of being the first Globetrotting TRs I have ever read. I usually only read the WDW ones, but your reports are always so fun! I think it's awesome that the fountains are supplied with drinkable water! I love the picture of you standing on the roof of your hotel, it seriously looks like a backdrop behind you! Can't wait to read more.
Welcome! I've started to avoid the Globetrotting TRs, at least for places I haven't been/am not planning to go because I always end up with a new place I want to go to. My apologies if you end up wanting to go to Italy after reading this.
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
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After my nap, I caught up my notes and backed up the photos I’d taken to that point. Then I got a shower and got dressed. We were to meet in the lobby at 5:30 for the welcome reception. When I got to the lobby, one of the guides directed us (a few of us arrived at the same time) to the rooftop lounge. It was sorta tricky to find, because you had to take the elevator to the 7th floor, then walk down to another elevator (down a couple hallways) for the elevator with rooftop access. Luckily, we managed to find it without too much trouble.
It was simply lovely up there! The view was amazing. I got some pictures, as did our guides (which I’ll post once the CD arrives ).
I chatted with some members of the group, introducing myself to those I hadn’t already met. This was a good group, with a lot of Disney fans (which, oddly enough, wasn’t the case on my London/Paris ABD). I’d say more than half the group were DVC members!
There were some snacks and drinks for us and once everyone had arrived (except for one family – they’d just landed and were on their way), we all introduced ourselves and said what we were looking forward to on the trip. I was surprised to be the only New Yorker in the group, but there were a few former NYers and some folks from Connecticut and New Jersey. If anyone’s wondering, there were mostly couples, one group of 2 women traveling together and one family (with twin 21-year-old daughters). I was the only solo traveler, but that didn’t bother me a bit (and I only spent time alone when I really wanted to!).
Next, our two guides introduced themselves formally and told us a bit about themselves.
Marco
Then they told us a bit about how the tour would work, when and where we’d meet, how meals worked (if you wanted ice, you’d need to specify that, and we’d get 2 sodas with our meals, which in Italy is a big deal. ) Then we got our next little surprise. SPOILER! If you don’t want to be spoiled, skip to the next post.
Our first pin!
They also gave us a lanyard to wear our pins, and a little card to carry around with us which listed the phone numbers of all three hotels on the tour and the cell phone numbers of our two guides, just in case we wandered off and got lost.
Amazing views from the hotel roof! The shot of you is a really good one--of you as well as the backdrop with the bird. Interesting to hear about the background of tour group. I'm kind of hoping that when I go I'll have a lot of Disney folk. Gives you something in common right away. I'd forgotten about the pins!
Because of scheduling, they’d changed our itinerary around a little, so we’d be doing the Day 2 stuff on Day 3, which meant we’d be doing Vatican City the next day, which meant an extra-early start. Breakfast would be at the restaurant in the hotel, which normally began at 7, but since we needed to leave at 7:30, they had them open up for us at 6:50. I guess if you wanted to skip breakfast and sleep in a little, you could.
Then we headed down to the restaurant in the hotel where they had dinner set up for us. It was a nice spread.
That meat was a veal dish, and that pasta was delish! One of the things I remember really liking
There were a few big tables set up for us (on an ABD trip, they encourage the group to bond, so there are usually several parties at a few big tables rather than tables for only your group. That’s another reason I feel they’re a good choice for solo travelers, because you always have table mates (not that it would bother me anyway)).
Dinner was very good and the company was as well. It was fun getting to know my fellow travelers. Most of the group had arrived that day, but some had either visited another city before heading to Rome or arrived in Rome the day before. The folks at my table all wanted to go out after dinner to see the Trevi Fountain at night (and I did too), so the after-dinner plans were set.
I returned to my room for a bit to put my stuff away, and then took a few photos in the lobby while we waited for everyone to arrive.
The Trevi Fountain was also a fairly short walk from the hotel – maybe 10 minutes. The Bernini is in a fantastic location. The Trevi Fountain was pretty busy, but we were able to get our pictures, and more importantly, toss in our coins to guarantee a return to Roma!
After that, we headed back to the hotel. I definitely needed to get some gelato (I wanted to have some every day), and the rest of the group decided to join me. We found a little place on the way, and the gelato there was pretty good (though not as good as many of the other fantastic places I tried).
There were lots of delectable-looking flavors, and I’d been told the in-season fruit was the way to go, but I couldn’t resist the banana (with little chocolate chips in it).
We sat outside and enjoyed our treat (which one of my fellow travelers was kind enough to pay for ). When everyone was finished, we were all ready to head back and hit the sack since we had an early call in the morning. I got a photos of our hotel lit up on the short walk back to the hotel.
Back in my room, I got ready for the next day (a church, so no bare knees or shoulders). I set my alarm and was in bed at around 10:00. Even after my nap earlier, I was asleep within minutes.
Up Next:
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
What a great day! The food looked yummy, especially the gelato! I am a little surprised to think anyone would do ABD and not be a Disney fan. Glad you had more fans on this trip!
Glad you resumed the report, even if your photo cd isn't cooperating! Hope it arrives soon.
Sounds wonderful so far, Sharon! I'm thinking I'd be a bit nervous traveling with a group of people I don't know. Glad to hear you've only had good experiences with it. Of course, I can't imagine anyone not hitting it off with you! Looking forward to more!
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. I can't believe they haven't sent Princess Sharon's cd. The nerve of some people. 
Holly: 
Apparently, there was an "issue" with the DVD and they had to be reprinted. I was told to expect it by this weekend. Yay! 
Anyway, I intended to post this next update this past weekend, but things got a bit crazy. The next update is coming right up!
Honestly, I'm flattered. And feeling a bit of pressure now! 
The mind boggles.... 
, it would drive me crazy! I love the pictures from the air!! 
)
, its terrible that they have not taken into account all your loyal fans waiting....
). When everyone was finished, we were all ready to head back and hit the sack since we had an early call in the morning. I got a photos of our hotel lit up on the short walk back to the hotel.
Even after my nap earlier, I was asleep within minutes.
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