Florida flowers and Caribbean cruising - the trip report! THIS SECTION COMPLETED 4/12 - Page 21 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
Enjoying every bit of your TR. As usual great photos and details.
Thank you so much!
Quote:
Your review of the Bloc hotel was terrific. I think it is a great concept for an overnight at the airport. I have always had a fascination with airports, and having worked at several, I would be happy saying there.
You've worked at airports? How cool!
Quote:
Great flight. I am always tickled when the plane is not crowded. The food and beverage service was impressive right from the get go.
I was looking forward to your review of Saratoga Springs Resort. The THV's seemed drab and outdated to me. I haven't a clue what it costs to be a dvc member, but I am sure that SSR facilities aren't quite the same drawer that others are. Saratoga Springs is one of our favorite summer hangouts, but the real city also has problems with parking and traffic, so I guess Disney got that right.
It certainly wasn't one of our favourites and, given the Treehouse Villas were one of the more recent additions, I was surprised the facilities weren't better.
Quote:
So sorry, but I had to chuckle at Mark's buffalo dip being spicy. Donna nailed the "wing" explanation. They are spicy, but once you've lived in the Buffalo area (Lewiston) you understand the addiction.
You never know, one day we make it to the Buffalo area, then we can find out for ourselves.
I couldn't quite figure out why you checked out so early but I'm guessing you had the dining plan at BLT and needed to use a credit for breakfast?
Not necessarily. We knew we'd be awake early and as the Magic Kingdom was open from 7:00am, I figured that would be our best bet. Obviously it's much easier to get there from Bay Lake Tower than Saratoga Springs, so I figured we may as well check in there first.
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.
Sorry you guys did not sleep well. Wow! That was an early checkout!! It sounds as though you are being gracious but were a bit disappointed in the Tree House Villas. .
I think that's fair. I was a bit disappointed by them, although in fairness to them, I'm not sure what else I was expecting, as when you get inside them, you realise they only had a certain amount of space to work with, as far as the living area goes anyway. I was certainly disappointed by the Jacuzzi bath - that could've (and to my mind should've) been so much better....
No, we've been offered the Sunpass option before and we always turn it down, because the only time we ever use Toll Roads (unless we get horribly, accidentally lost, which has happened before!) is on the way from and back to the Airport, and then we always pay cash.
This was a separate hard sell from the Dollar guy – he said, "all roads around Florida are now cashless, look at the map" then went off to get some printed off paperwork. I studied the laminated map on the desk, and saw all the cashless tolls are in Miami and further down South, so stuck to my guns and said we didn't need it.
This may very well change in the future, I don't know, but as of November 2014 this was the case.
No worries, and for the heads up. We didn't get the hard sell, but Mark noticed the map and I was very confidently (thanks to you! ) able to say that we didn't need it.
Quote:
Anyway, Cheryl, back to you - sorry you had such a bum deal at the Turf Club, we have eaten there a couple of times and had really amazing food, but to be fair we have never tried the starters, only the entrees.
Maybe that's where we went wrong...
Quote:
On our first night in the USA we usually do book an ADR, but for Trail's End - a buffet might be a better bet for you than a set meal, as you can just pick at whatever you really fancy then. We find this works really well for us as we are usually SO tired that we have no idea what we want to eat until the food is actually staring back at us! Then we are always surprised by how revived we feel after eating, if only for just long enough to sustain us through Wishes on the beach at Fort Wilderness Campground!
That's a good point, although I know we've had miserable experiences in the past with buffets on our first night - the Cape May Café springs immediately to mind.
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.
You never know, one day we make it to the Buffalo area, then we can find out for ourselves.
Well, if you are ever in the Buffalo area, please let me know! I'd love to meet up with you! And in case you were not aware, we've got Niagara Falls just a stones throw away!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Not necessarily. We knew we'd be awake early and as the Magic Kingdom was open from 7:00am, I figured that would be our best bet. Obviously it's much easier to get there from Bay Lake Tower than Saratoga Springs, so I figured we may as well check in there first.
Ah, that's the reasoning! I could not figure out why you were headed to MK so early!
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.
Loved the pictures from the Tree House Villas....they are very pretty, I have often thought my mother would love staying there but for us, I just feel (and probably as we don't have a car) it is just so far out from everything.
Sorry dinner was not up to par , I am hoping the meals shot straight up the meter going forward. Love the sunrise pictures by Bay Lake, so beautiful.
Well, if you are ever in the Buffalo area, please let me know! I'd love to meet up with you! And in case you were not aware, we've got Niagara Falls just a stones throw away!
Well.... if things work out, we will be visiting Toronto and Niagara Falls hopefully in April 2016, so maybe we can meet? I'd love to... I was originally looking at flights into Buffalo, funnily enough, but my tentative plans keep being revised and now I'm thinking it's more likely we'll fly into Montreal and then do a road trip down....
Loved the pictures from the Tree House Villas....they are very pretty, I have often thought my mother would love staying there but for us, I just feel (and probably as we don't have a car) it is just so far out from everything.
That's the problem I have with Saratoga Springs generally - like you, I feel it's so far from everything, which is why I never end up staying there.
Quote:
Sorry dinner was not up to par , I am hoping the meals shot straight up the meter going forward. Love the sunrise pictures by Bay Lake, so beautiful.
I can say we had much better meals than the Turf Club during the vacation - still a couple of duds to come along the way, but generally very good.
Well.... if things work out, we will be visiting Toronto and Niagara Falls hopefully in April 2016, so maybe we can meet? I'd love to... I was originally looking at flights into Buffalo, funnily enough, but my tentative plans keep being revised and now I'm thinking it's more likely we'll fly into Montreal and then do a road trip down....
That's cool that you had some company for your stupidly early morning, even though it was only "runners on a bus"! I'm curious if you could hear the fireworks that went off every time a corral started? Enjoying your adventures!
Well, I'm glad you finally got to stay at the Treehouse Villas even if it wasn't the best place. It's certainly unique!
Believe me, runners think it's weird to be awake, dressed, and walking around that early in the morning too. At least until we see other crazy runners doing the same thing, then it starts to feel normal. Day after day after day.......
__________________
Tanya
Every click helps feed .6 bowls of food to rescued animals. Give a quick click every day and help animals in shelters! www.theanimalrescuesite.com
About This Page: 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
PassPorter Guide Author
That was an early checkout!! It sounds as though you are being gracious but were a bit disappointed in the Tree House Villas. 
.
for the heads up. We didn't get the hard sell, but Mark noticed the map and I was very confidently (thanks to you! 
I was originally looking at flights into Buffalo, funnily enough, but my tentative plans keep being revised and now I'm thinking it's more likely we'll fly into Montreal and then do a road trip down....
Day after day after day.......
Linear Mode
