Oh the Places We Go, The People We See Updated 11/03/2013 - Page 22 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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I got a sigma 18-200mm. I wanted something more all in one. While traveling I uually bring a couple of lenses and it's kind of a pain to tote them all around, so I usually leave most in the room and pick one for the day, but because of that, I tend to miss some shots I would like to get. Or if I have the other lens with me, by the time I siwtch it out, the shot is no longer there.
I also ordered a sigma 30mm prime lens. I didn't "need" that, but I've wanted one for awhile and they are so costly. But they are clearancing out this model making room for the newest one coming out in a few months (which will probably cost double what I paid for this one at least), so I took the plunge and got it. I only played with that one last night a few minutes, but I already know it will be good for what I want it for,
You have taken the same lens size plunge that I did. I have a Nikon D5100 camera and have been carrying around the two kit lenses. I rented an 18-300 lens for our last trip to WDW. Found it to be great but a bit much. It was very heavy and I rarely used the extreme 300. Just bought a Nikon 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 (much lighter and gives me the range that I need) and a Nikon 35mm f1.8 so I can get some shots in the evenings and on the dark rides without flash. We are going to Disney next Friday so this will be the first time that I am using these new lenses. Theoretically they should help me if I can just remember all of the stuff I have been reading about getting off of the auto setting.
You have taken the same lens size plunge that I did. I have a Nikon D5100 camera and have been carrying around the two kit lenses. I rented an 18-300 lens for our last trip to WDW. Found it to be great but a bit much. It was very heavy and I rarely used the extreme 300. Just bought a Nikon 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 (much lighter and gives me the range that I need) and a Nikon 35mm f1.8 so I can get some shots in the evenings and on the dark rides without flash. We are going to Disney next Friday so this will be the first time that I am using these new lenses. Theoretically they should help me if I can just remember all of the stuff I have been reading about getting off of the auto setting.
Awesome. I can't wait to hear what you think about them. I don't have much to take pictures of right now, so it will probably a few weeks to a month befgore I can really break them in and see what I think.
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The nice thing about the short cruises is that you arrive at your first port pretty darn fast. I woke around 6ish this morning and took a look outside.
What a beautiful morning. And this is one reason I love the verandah. It’s so nice to just sit out there and take in the early morning.
But you know me, I can’t sit still too long and I got dressed, cracked the connecting door from my parents room for Claire and I went off to explore.
Wow, Look at that sunrise!
A few others were out and about too, but really, not many people are out early in the mornings.
This is an adult area, and as you can tell by the ashtrays on the tables, one of the few smoking areas on the ship. I don’t believe this was smoking last time when we sailed, but I could be wrong. I do know another area that used to be smoking is no longer one though. I noticed a few things that had changed since last sailing this time around.
Who could ever get tired of views like this.
I continued to walk around and got a quick shot of this shower stall.
That’s the teen club. I still think Disney goofed with this one. This should be the adult area.
I see land ahead.
The adult pool.
This area was poorly planned. So many people use this area as a walk through. It’s almost impossible not to at times. And as for the sun worshippers, well there isn’t much of an option to get a good tan here as most of it is in shadows.
I decided to head into the spa area and explore while it was quiet.
A few were up and working out already.
Continuing through the spa and gym.
This is the shower area. I have heard from others that some prefer to come here and shower rather than their rooms, as it is a bit roomier here. Also if you have several people in your room, this is a good spot to come too.
They had these plastic sandals to wear around. I have huge feet and I tried a pair on….um these are super narrow and tiny. I couldn’t even squeeze my foot in if I tried hard.
I love to check out the salon as I am licensed to do hair as well.
I thought this was really pretty.
It’s amazing all the services they have onboard. They even had teeth whitening.
I was done there and headed out to explore a bit more.
These are the pool bar stools at the adult pool.
I love the artwork all over the ship.
And a peek into the Quiet Cove Café.
I love this décor.
You could grab a quick snack here if you wanted to.
I just love this blue color here in the Cove Café. When we toured suites on the ship in 2011, this was the color scheme in the room and I loved it there as well.
Onward now.
This is where you get the ice-cream ….when it’s open. The girls loved this spot.
I LOVE this shot.
Well, and this one too!
This is one of those items that I just can’t stop taking pictures of. I have about 7 hundred and 50 zillion pictures of the Aquaduck sign.
This is where the Auqaduck spits you out at. Obviously when it’s running there is water and that gate isn’t covering the opening.
This area was smoking last time I sailed. I am betting they changed it because it had kind of a wind tunnel effect through here at times. ….just a guess.
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Great pictures from around the ship! I wouldn't have thought of it, but I guess that gate on the Aquaduck is necessary, because you KNOW someone would try to climb up it!
Great pictures! You got so many, I feel like I'm on my own personal tour
LOL. I take a lot, because when I research trips, I always like to see as many pictures as I can too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pamcarey
Great pictures from around the ship! I wouldn't have thought of it, but I guess that gate on the Aquaduck is necessary, because you KNOW someone would try to climb up it!
You know, that is funny, because Abby would be one of those kids that WOULD try to climb up it. LOL For no reason at all.
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