Cruising the Med with Mickey and the Crew **Updated 11/25** COMPLETE - Page 25 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hugmonster
I'm going to guess your turtle came back to the US as a Carry On. I would love to see a close up picture. Too CUTE!
Actually - UPS had shopping set up in the terminal when we returned to Barcelona and I shipped it home. Here is the interesting thing - I paid 80 Euro ~ $125.00 for the turtle and almost 200 dollars (I about choked when I saw the credit card statement) to ship it home!! I would have carried it on - but you are only allowed one carry on when traveling through the UK - and I already had one.
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.
Wow, Terri, you've been busy! Loved the tours you took - thanks for all the great detail and wonderful photos. And that turtle is so cute! Ready for more, please.
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
Your turtle is awesome! I collect Nativity Scenes. I have more than 50 from all over the world, but none like those in your pictures. Wow! I'm going to have to make a trip at some point! Off to do some more research about those dolls...
PassPorter Guide Community Rank: Legend Extraordinaire
Join Date: Apr 2003
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We left the Santon's factory and museum to head to the Cathedral on the hill that overlooks Marseilles - Notre Dame de la Garde.
The roads were narrow, and the bus had to wind it's way through those streets. There were even times were we took up the complete width of the street as we would make the turns.
Once we arrived at the Cathedral on the hill -
We unloaded from the bus - some of the tour folks decided to make the climb to the top and enter the Cathederal - but we had been warned that our time here would be short since we had been at the Santons for longer than we were scheduled for.
We decided NOT to go up the hill, and instead looked at the harbor below, and the beautiful sea.
I think I was actually sick of touring....and ready to go back to the ship - which we did.
We arrived back - and had the entire afternoon to ourselves without a plan. Jolene begged for pool time - so she and I headed there for some lunch and swimming (she swam, I rested). While we were at the pool - we saw a few characters -
And we saw the preparations for the "Pirates in the Caribbean deck party" that was to be held that evening.
Lunch
After awhile - we headed back to the room - we took showers and Jolene headed off to the club for the evening, while mom, dad and I would be having dinner at Palo. I had a pre-dinner meeting scheduled with DVC Guide Dave - I had made my decision about joining, and I would meet mom and dad at Palo at our appointed time. I was dressed for my Palo dinner when I met with Dave - and I did it - I joined DVC (after 5 long years of thinking about it - and waiting for the time to be right for me). The on-board bennies being offered were just too good to pass up. So - I signed the paperwork and became the proud owner of 220 points at Saratoga Springs. I also walked out with a duffle bag and a model of the Magic (that now sits in my office).
After all the paperwork was signed, Dave walked me to Palo to make sure I got there and made my dinner reservation.
Now I should tell you that my father was less than happy with my decision to join DVC - he can not see the benefit of a Disney timeshare.... of course I have sat down and figured out how many $$ I have spent over the last five years (credit card records are a wonderful thing) and basically I would have already paid for more than a third of the membership.... So he was a wee bit grumpy at dinner. My mother reminded me that last time she checked, it was MY money and I could do with it what I want to.
The entrance to Palo
Some of the wonderful decorations
To be honest, it was so long ago - I don't remember our server's name... and I didn't get a photo of her, but the meal was nice - with wonderful views since we were still in port.
Olives to start.
Mom's mozzerella salad
My shrimp appetizer
Dad's spring salad
For dinner I continued along the shrimp motiff...
Spicy shrimp and pasta. I have no recollection what mom and dad had. I was still a wee bit miffed at dad for not being happy about my DVC decision.
While we were eating, Jolene paged and said she was ready to be picked up - so I skipped dessert and headed down to pick her up. Mom and dad told the server, and she boxed up my dessert for them to bring it back to the room for me.
My dessert - panacotta with berries.
congrats again on the DVC membership!!! how can you not pass up "free" stuff? that's why I want to be a member...all the benefits. they sound great. the sea and mountains look beautiful! and the weather looks amazing! does it ever rain over there???
Congratulations on joining DVC and to hear Dad was being such a grump over the whole thing. We're still in that...we really want to join, but don't know if the time is right mode the photo of you with your parents! You all match very nicely! Can't wait to hear more
Congratulations on joining the DVC - and your mom's right, it's your money and you know that it will bring you a lot of happiness and some great benefits. Unfortunately, as we all know, not everyone gets Disney and understands it, and I'm guessing that's part of the problem here.
Great update and congrats on the DVC membership. I got (and still get) some griping from family members about my DVC purchase, but I've not regretted it for a moment. I passed the break-even point several years ago. On years when I can't afford to get to WDW I rent out the points, giving friends a bargain adn paying my dues in the process. How can you go wrong?
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the turtle! Can't wait to hear more
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Pixie Dust
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Dreams, Wishes, Hopes... these are the parts of childhood we should never lose.
to hear Dad was being such a grump over the whole thing. We're still in that...we really want to join, but don't know if the time is right mode 
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