Cruising the Med with Mickey and the Crew **Updated 11/25** COMPLETE - Page 3 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Sorry you had such a hectic last day before you head off Terri, but what a fascinating job you've got! I hope you have a great time - and wave at us as you fly over us, en route to Barcelona!
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.
Your job sounds very interesting. I can imagine that it was hectic for you but still it's fascinating to hear about. Congrats on your promotion! You deserve it.
I see that you are down to one day and 11 hours or so. Have a fabulous vacation Terri and I hope it's filled with lots of
__________________
ºOº ~*~
Oct '99: CSR ~ May '02: CR ~ Nov '04: SOG ~ May '06: SOG ~ Dec '07: Solo @ Pop ~ May '08: Pop w/friends ~ Oct '08: SOG ~ Dec '09: Pop w/LeAnn ~ Sept '10: Solo @ Pop ~ Spring '11: AKL ~ Jan '12: Pop for 1/2 Marathon ~ Sept '12: 1st trip for DL 1/2 Marathon? ~ Feb '13: Pop w/pals? ~ Mar '13: Tokyo Disney w/PP's?
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My Bags are packed...
Almost ready to go. See?
Two checked bags - and one carry on (with a pillow stuffed in it).
I've changed my traveling shoes -- from my Sperry topsiders to my Disney crocs... My topsiders have too much sand in them from Friday's excursion to the beach... and I am not in the mood for blisters.
Now to get out of the house to go to the YMCA for my last session of cardio for 2 days - at least until we arrive in Barcelona. The hotel has a fitness room. I also plan to see the new Harry Potter movie today and see my last NASCAR race for 2 weeks.
The house is basically ready - the letter to the vet has been written for emergency treatment - if necessary - and the check to the cat sitter has been written. Now to wait until 7pm this evening when I can check in at BA.com, select my seat and print my boarding pass. Mom, Dad and Miss J already have seats assigned - since dad has a bit of a disability, BA assigned them seats. We will see if I end up near them .
My flight to PHL leaves at 930am... meaning that I have to leave the house about 700am to get to the airport.
I called Disney Visa last night and had the last of my credits to my rewards card - so I have close to $200.00 for play money on the ship, in addition to all the money I saved. Well - I guess that's it. The last bit of updating before I leave to meet the Magic for the Med cruise!!!
I am SO excited - now to get moving and get to the YMCA.
I hope to check in from the ship a couple of times (Dad and I are splitting an internet package). Chezp - I'll wave as we land and take off from Heathrow!!!
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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The trip begins.....
Day One - July 16, 2007. Departure Day
I had a 900am flight from Jacksonville to Atlanta. It was originally supposed to be a 930am flight - but Delta changed it - good thing I checked the night before . SO... I left the house at 645am after a really bad night of sleep. I kept tossing and turning, and had to deal with the cats - who seemed to know something was up - since all four of them kept harassing me through the night. Both my suitcases were put in the car the night before.
I parked the car at Park Space (a valet park company I use) and was in the airport at 715am. I checked in with Delta - and the ticket agent checked my bags all the way to Barcelona. I had my fingers crossed that they would arrive in Barcelona (insert ominous music here...).
Checking in at first class
I didn't bring my laptop with me - so I had to keep myself busy for about two hours - and I had some great books to read - which really helped pass the time. Since I was in first class - I was in the first boarding group and quickly onboard, bag stowed, and in my seat.
My seat - I am on my way!
The flight from JAX to ATL was easy and I arrived on time to Atlanta and prepared myself for the FOUR hour layover.... I checked the monitor upon arrival - and my gate had changed from B21 to T08. So I went over to Terminal T looking for something to eat for lunch... nothing tweeked my interest - so I went to Terminal A. On the way over to Terminal T - I took pictures of an art exhibit that is in the underground. I've seen it a few times before - but always on the run - I never had time to enjoy it.
I think the Leapfrog piece is my favorite!
After getting back to Terminal A - I stopped at Chili's Too for lunch - a salad and a bowl of chili. I will have to admit - I really wasn't hungry - but when traveling you have to maintain good hydration and eating - hence the salad and chili.
Lunch was 9.74 with tax and tip. After lunch - I still had 2 hours to kill - so I went to one of the business centers in the airport and read email, check the boards and check WORK email.... bad Terri (ok so no blackberry withdrawal symptoms....) (Bad Terri). After I was done - I walked over to Terminal T - (when did my bag get so heavy?). I went to my gate and read the USA Today - even found an article to use for class.
I didn't hear from mom or dad during this portion of the trip... of course I forgot to bring the print out of their itinerary so I have NO idea where they might have been at that point. I sat at the gate and read a book that a good friend gate me - "The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster" - great read!!
They called my flight to PHL - and I boarded, got my seat (I could SO get used to this boarding first thing...) and had wheels up at 210pm. Supposed to have been at 145pm - but if you know anything about Atlanta - that's good. There was no seatback entertainment center on this flight - so I worked on reading another one of the books I brought for the trip "The Navigator" by Clive Cussler. It was pretty cold on the plane - glad I brought my sweatshirt...
The bad night of sleep the evening before caught up with me - I kept yawning. Really didn't fall asleep - but didn't want to nap, since I wanted to sleep on the flight to London (remember this....). I know that jet lag might be an issue -- since London is 5 hours ahead and Barcelona is 6 hours ahead.
Next - meeting the fam in PHL, the mile hike and Thank God for Nick!!!
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 hope you have a great time - and wave at us as you fly over us, en route to Barcelona! 
ºOº ~*~ 
. 
). Chezp - I'll wave as we land and take off from Heathrow!!!
. SO... I left the house at 645am after a really bad night of sleep. I kept tossing and turning, and had to deal with the cats - who seemed to know something was up - since all four of them kept harassing me through the night. Both my suitcases were put in the car the night before.
home! So glad you started your TR! I can't wait to hear all the details and see your pics!
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