Living the Dream and remembering the Bagman TRIP REPORT COMPLETED IN THIS FORUM - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Every shower in the morning should start like that.
That's a great little reception, but yes where are all the people? How very strange. There had to be a mix up somewhere with invitations and such. Worked out great for you guys, but I'm sure whoever organized it was quite puzzled.... and with some explaining to do!
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Tanya
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Every shower in the morning should start like that.
That's a great little reception, but yes where are all the people? How very strange. There had to be a mix up somewhere with invitations and such. Worked out great for you guys, but I'm sure whoever organized it was quite puzzled.... and with some explaining to do!
Everyone we spoke to seemed to think that the Castaway Club members on board had just opted not to turn up, which I found very odd. I mean, it's free drinks and heck, it's not often Disney offers that - plus the chance to meet Mickey. Who would want to miss that?
On the way, I was surprised to be asked for our Key to the World card. When we got back on board, we were asked for it for a second time, and I questioned that. The guy told me you show it when you get off and when you get back on board. I explained to him that that’s not quite how it’s worked today, as we had to show it twice to get on board, and he seemed to have no idea that was going on. Maybe it’s a new thing?
That kind of is the new normal too. Though it is inconsistant. But technically now there is a check point coming back to the ship and you need to show your kttw and in some cases they are insisting on a license or passport too....which is a pain as you now need to take it off with you.
Registered Message Board Members Get Our Free Newsletter! When you register you'll have the option to sign up for our weekly PassPorter Newsletter. It's chock-full of feature articles; news; tips; contests; photos; and special offers in our online store.
That kind of is the new normal too. Though it is inconsistant. But technically now there is a check point coming back to the ship and you need to show your kttw and in some cases they are insisting on a license or passport too....which is a pain as you now need to take it off with you.
We always take our driver's licence with us, as they do tell you to take photo ID. There is no way I'm going to walk around a foreign port with a passport if I don't have to (we had to in Russia on the Baltic cruise) for fear of losing it...
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.
The reception looks like a fun event, but too bad with the lack of aturnout from other Castaway members! How can you possibly turn down some nice desserts and free Champagne!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
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.
The reception looks like a fun event, but too bad with the lack of aturnout from other Castaway members! How can you possibly turn down some nice desserts and free Champagne!
Thursday 29 September – part two: we won’t go hungry here!
Once everything was done, it was about 10:30am, so wouldn’t you know it, we could’ve made our original time for brunch? Oh well, we weren’t to know that when we changed our booking. We passed the time talking to Captain Thord, who was absolutely charming. We chatted away about a variety of things, including how unfair we personally think it is that gold and platinum membership is down to just how many cruises you make. If someone does 10 three night cruises – a total of 30 nights, they’d be platinum. We are now up to our ninth cruise, and by the end of this cruise, we’ll have done 55 nights. It’s very frustrating.
The captain also emphasised again the importance of guest feedback, telling us that the only reason Disney went to Alaska is that guests requested it so often. Disney apparently felt it wouldn’t be successful for them, but six years in, they’re still selling out every year, so it was the right move, and it only came from listening to their customers.
He was a lovely guy to speak to, and to be honest, we only moved out when the Crew Members moved in to arrange Evolution for bingo, which I assume was at 11:00am. We got the message that we needed to go, so we headed up to deck 12. Of course, they weren’t ready for us, as they were expecting us in about another 15 minutes’ time. We settled down into the Meridian lounge…
… although I also went outside to get some photos…
We spotted this ship in the distance, although at this stage, we couldn’t work out what it was.
Finally, they were ready for us in Palo, so Luca, the maitre’d here took us through, offering to take our photo on the way. Oh ok then!
I got a couple of photos as I didn’t feel I’d taken enough shots on our first dinner here.
We were seated here at this lovely seating area…
Franco was our server again, and we were greeted with our one complimentary glass of Prosecco. It’s not like the California Grill, where you get complimentary drinks throughout the meal.
We were escorted around the buffet, and as always, the selection was superb. We certainly won’t go hungry here!
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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I mean, it's free drinks and heck, it's not often Disney offers that - plus the chance to meet Mickey. Who would want to miss that? 
that’s not quite how it’s worked today, as we had to show it twice to get on board, and he seemed to have no idea that was going on. 
Maybe it’s a new thing? 
How can you possibly turn down some nice desserts and free Champagne! 
We certainly won’t go hungry here! 
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