1 Mom, 2 Daughters and 3 Days of Wonder! **Completed 6/29!** - Page 18 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Another calm evening on the seas! We all were able to rest really nicely and before I knew it, the door was knocking. I had ordered room service for breakfast the night before so we could get up and get going.
The room service offerings were perfect for all of us- I got a few pastries, fruit, toast and muffins along with chocolate milk, juice and coffee. The girls would have been too excited to eat a lengthy breakfast at Beach Blanket so this really was a great fit for us. After breakfast, we heard the all ashore call for Castaway Cay, so we got on our suits, cover ups and sunscreen- grabbed our gear and were off!
I knew we would not make it all day out here- both of the girls just don't like being out in the heat for extended periods of time- (like their mother!) so I knew getting out on to CC early would offer us the least crowds.
As soon as we dismbarked and began to make our way to the family beach, we spotted Chip and Dale in their adorable beach attire!
Moving on, we took a few minutes to admire the Flying Dutchman. It's such a neat idea and seeing it for yourself, you can really appreciate the authenticity it brought to the POC films. Emily was enthralled with it.
The Caribbean sun was already sweltering and we felt it by the time we approached She Sells - just ahead, our favorite blue alien was waiting- with a very little line. Emily had this thing for my sunglasses all of a sudden and insisted she wear them- so who was I to argue?
I love the photo set up of this picture- it's perfect with the Wonder in the background!
After that, we stopped by Sea Shells to pick up beach toys for each of the girls as I forgot them and boy, the prices stung my onboard account! $9 for the basic kit- which was essentially a pail, a shovel and a rake. Bring them with you if you can!!!
We were able to stake out a great spot at the Family Beach, complete with a huge umbrella, which I think was going to make or break us. I can't even begin to describe how hot it was already and this coming from someone who had been living in Florida for 2 years. The girls headed right for the water and I just was happy to sit and watch them.
Wading around..
The girls soon got to work on the task of sand castle building- and I could have watched that all day... they sat side by side and Katie was happy to let Emily help her. Emily came and got me to show me Kate's creation- which I thought so interesting:
Emily worked on hers for the longest time..
The Family Beach was still relatively deserted for some time and there isn't much else to say, except I sat in a chair, watched my girls and from time to time would glance over at the Wonder to appreciate all of the beauty surrounding me!
Coming Up Next: What? There are waiters on the beach??
Glad all went well with the move! Love the updates and I can hardly wait to be on that beach again!! I just love that place - absolute paradise . Looks like your girls are having fun despite the heat.
Okay, I've been away for a few days but all caught up now!
Sorry about Katie's meltdown at dinner. But...I am sure Emily will hold you to your promise to board the Wonder again! I know I would! I love when I get to spend time alone with each of my daughters. It makes that time really special. I am sure that Emily would love a trip for just the two of you.
I am so glad that you were able to go to the Pirate Party. I know my girls will be looking forward to that as well. Looked fun and Emily makes a great pirate!
Castaway Cay looks great!! I can hardly wait!! That ocean looks beautiful! Sounds like you had a good morning on the beach.
I finally decided to put my camera down for a bit and joined the girls in the water when they headed back in- and it was kind of cold for me so I didn't stay in too long.
I was in the mood for a refreshing FAB so I headed back to the chairs and asked the girls if they wanted drinks- which both of them did. Emily looked at me funny as I got comfortable in my chais lounge chair. I asked her if she was okay- and she told me that I had said we were going to get drinks.
"We are. Have a seat and relax in your chair, and a server will come by- he will bring them to us." I replied. To which she replied in absolute shock: "What? Do you mean like a waiter? There are waiters here????"
And soon enough, a nice guy showed up to get us the Sprites and a Pina Colada for me. Emily told me after he brought them he was nice enough but he was NOT Dan from India. My response to that was, not all of them could be Dan from India. There was only one Dan from India as far as I was concerned. I began to think that Dan from India was going to win the best crew member award.
Katie got out her iPod and listened to her music and Emily and I both just laid there and talked for quite some time.
About 11:45, the girls had enough of the heat- and I could have lasted awhile longer- but this was their trip. Both of them wanted to start to head back and go to the Mickey pool so that was alright by me. We packed up and began the trek back towards the Wonder. We got many, many lovely photos on the way. My new Nikon was really getting a workout- and it's a marvelous camera, especially with outdoors, landscapes.
And one of my favorites:
The three of us enjoyed the walk back to the ship- the scenery just amazing. I don't think any other cruise line in the industry can beat Castaway Cay- even if they offer private islands. Castaway Cay was perfectly planned, executed and constructed and even more brilliantly maintained.
I never noticed the little banner across the gangway back into the ship before and thought that was kind of neat.
Course, there was absolutely no line to get back on and the CM who scanned our ID's asked us "Back already?". Yeah, back already.
We didn't waste any time in getting back up to Deck 9 and were thrilled with what we found waiting at the Mickey Pool.
CC looks so beautiful. I can't wait to be in water that clear. Seems funny to leave a beach to go swimming . But I can imagine it would be cooler on the ship.
Wondering what was waiting a the Mickey pool.....
What a great morning at Castaway Cay - the girls looked like they were having a terrific time. Glad you were able to get doen there early before the crowds and rally get some great quality time in. Love how the "waiters" came to the beach and how Emily still held true for Dan from India - too cute.
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Pixie Dust
. Looks like your girls are having fun despite the heat.
Dreams, Wishes, Hopes... these are the parts of childhood we should never lose.
PassPorter Guide Author
*Ginger*
My response to that was, not all of them could be Dan from India. There was only one Dan from India as far as I was concerned. 
:
More please!! 
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