Passing through the Panama Canal - a Passporter's Tale **Updated 8/21** - Page 2 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
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Part 2 - the plans!
I should start with a note that our paperwork arrived while I was in Palm Beach last week!!!
Since I am driving down to meet Lesley (she will already be at WDW attending the Flower and Garden Festival - see her Report here - http://www.passporterboards.com/foru...ml#post2042717) my trip will start on Thursday May 8
Thursday May 8 Up and at 'em campers!!! We leave on vacation today! 630am - leave the house, all suitcases and peripherals in the car, cat arrangements made with the cat sitter and head to the airport to claim the rental car. 700am – drop off my car at Park Space, shuttle ride to the terminal to get the car from Hertz Drive to WDW Go to Shades of Green – buy Annual Pass (first time – I usually get the Florida resident seasonal pass but I will need annual due to family trip in August during SP blackout) Meet Lesley at Boardwalk to check in around noon Lunch at Beaches and Cream (or Hurricane Hannah's?) depending on crowds I have a pedicure appointment at Grand Floridian Spa at 230pm (desperately needed and no time before I leave for the trip!) Dinner at Yak and Yeti – AK at 600pm (either meet Lesley there or earlier in EPCOT and head over together). EMH at AK Pleasure Island – Adventure’s Club?? Maybe – depends on how we feel!
Friday – May 9 EPCOT for the day? Maybe a wee bit of MK? Teppan Edo for dinner EPCOT EMH (wow this seems so low key)
Saturday – May 10 Early breakfast at Spoodles Check out of Boardwalk DHS for the Annual Passholder's sneak peek at Toy Story Mania (the new ride at Disney World!) Leave for Port Canaveral no later than 10am Drop Lesley at ship with bags at about 11am Drop rental car off and return to ship via shuttle Check in at Terminal Board Ship - they usually let you start to board around noon. Lesley to spa for reservations Terri for Palo for the brunch and tea reservations we did not get online back in February Lunch at Topsiders or Parrot Cay Go to cabin – settle in Walking tour of ship?? Emergency drill Sail away party Show Dinner Who knows? This is definitely the grown up cruise – so I expect that unlike the Med where I was in bed by ten every night (all those early morning excursions) – I will be out later… planning on trying more of the adult evening activities this cruise!!
Then we are on our way – Itinerary May 11 – Mother’s day – Castaway Cay, Bahamas (making sure all mom stuff is done before I leave!) May 12 – at sea May 13 – at sea May 14 – Aruba May 15 – at sea May 16 – Panama Canal May 17 – at sea May 18 – at sea May 19 – Acapulco May 20 – at sea May 21 – Puerto Vallarta May 22 – Cabo San Lucas May 23 – at sea May 24 – at sea May 25 – arrive in Los Angeles and fly home
Plans on board – Bought 6 new books to read – some can stay on ship in lending library when I am done (thus freeing up room in my suitcase for new things!) 9 cardio workouts (each at sea day – at least that is my plan) no less than 30 minutes and preferably 60! RELAX Laptop is going – but mainly to down load photos from the camera. Blackberry is NOT going – cell phone is going so that I have it when I land in LA on Sunday May 25.
I seriously need some sun, fun and me time… I hardly expect to be bored. Disney will have lots of things to do – and if not – I can always take a nap in the Rainforest… or get another spa treatment!
I am in countdown mode -
The bed in the second bedroom is COVERED in stuff to pack – still have a bunch more to put in there.
Now to find the time to actually pack it in the suitcases (without accidentally packing a cat in the process knowing Rocky's fondness for suitcase napping) Arrangements with the Cat sitter have been made
Schedule for the 2 weeks before the trip: Tues – Friday – April 22-25 – West Palm Beach – training (ALL COMPLETE!!) Saturday April 26 – teach last class at JU – grade all items and get posted on JU site (half complete - class done - now to grade) Sunday pm April 27 – fly to Tampa Monday April 28 – meeting in St. Pete/fly home Tues May 29 – Sun May 4 – work/home – no travel. Packing, cleaning, running errands, shopping, etc
Things to do in the next 2 weeks – Purchase Cat food and cat litter Vacuum and dust whole house Pack suitcases Locate all the rechargeable batteries, chargers (toothbrush, cell phone, iPod, etc), SD cards for the cameras Decide which camera I am taking with me (pocket sized or hang around the neck) Finish FCCJ class – get all materials graded and posted Three workouts with Candy – T,W,Th Monday May 5 – day trip to Fort Lauderdale (home around 10pm) Tuesday May 6 – day trip to St. Augustine (driving down and back) Wednesday May 7 – day trip to Miami (home around 8pm)
I do plan to take LOTS of photos and grab some video too – and may hop on to post a few updates.
OK – that should be a good start!! Now for the trip to actually START!!!
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
Wonderful start! Looks like you should have a great time. Looking forward to hearing about the zipline - it's on my "try this out before you croak" list, too!
__________________
Sharon - Kitty and me
2013 Scrapbook pages count: 631 / 350
2014 Scrapbook pages count: 60 / 250
Now to find the time to actually pack it in the suitcases (without accidentally packing a cat in the process knowing Rocky's fondness for suitcase napping)
I have one of those too...her name is Cleo and she goes spastic every time she sees the suitcases come up from the basement!
Great start, Terri and Lesley! Can't wait to hear more! Have a most EXCELLENT and MAGICAL time!
Looks like you guys are going to have a great time. I so want to go parasailing. The zip line also sounds like fun. I was considering doing this cruise, but since I've never done a cruise before I thought a 2 week one would be pushing it. Can't wait to read all about it.
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Can't wait to hear all about this trip! I'm green with envy!
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I have one of those too...her name is Cleo and she goes spastic every time she sees the suitcases come up from the basement!
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