Florida flowers and Caribbean cruising - the trip report! THIS SECTION COMPLETED 4/12 - Page 3 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
PassPorter.com
Award-winning travel guidebooks

   guidebooks   |   news   |   podcasts   |   boards   |   blog   |   worksheets   |   photos   |   articles   |   updates   |   register   |   follow us on


Forums Closed
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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!

Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!

Go Back   PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums > PassPorter's Walt Disney World Resort (Florida) > Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
Register


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.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-08-2015, 07:27 PM   #31
purplegal
Community Rank: Jetsetter
 
purplegal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Manitoba
Posts: 2,017

Post Thanks / Like
Great start to the trip, and what a neat hotel room.
__________________

Julia
My Countdown Counting down to:
Tigger I am here!
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsWDW 1972, WDW 1987, WDW 1996, WDW 2005, Coronado Springs 2008, POFQ Jan 09, POFQ Aug 09, Apr 2011, Aug 2012, May 2013
purplegal is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 03-08-2015, 08:06 PM   #32
katieb
Community Rank: Sightseer
 
katieb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: England. U.K.
Posts: 73

Post Thanks / Like
Great to see you posting your trip report already! BLOC looks perfect for your night before stay. Looking forward to hearing more.
__________________
Sending you fairydust!timers
My Countdown Counting down to: Counting Down to Florida Vacation July 2015
Time to meet the Mouse!
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsWDW OCT 2004,WDW Oct 2005. OCtober 2009 July 2010 August 2011, August 2012, August 2013.
katieb is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 03-08-2015, 08:14 PM   #33
lfredsbo
PassPorter Guide

Community Rank: Explorer
 
lfredsbo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Mystic, CT
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 7,713

Post Thanks / Like
Well, don't waste any time getting this TR going! I always admire how quickly you get them going and really hope that I can start mine sooner than I have in the past :roll eyes:

Your room looks so quaint and interesting all at the same time. There is a boutique hotel in NYC that looks like it may be similar that I have wanted to try.
__________________


Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
My Countdown Counting down to: Annual Trip Home!
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsCSR April 2016; BCV August 2015; SSR April 2015; AKL & AoA June/July 2014; POP September 2013; POP August 2013; AKL & BLT June/July 2013; POR December 2012; SSR October 2012; SSR July 2011; BWV May 2011; SSR July/Aug 2010; WL & SSR July 2009; SSR July 2008; OKW August 2007; OKW May 2007; SSR October 2006; SSR June 2006; OKW December 2005; CS September 2005; OKW July 2005; SSR October 2004; POP June 2004; ASMV April 2004; BWV October 2003
lfredsbo is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 03-08-2015, 09:39 PM   #34
Amy L
Community Rank: Trekker
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: New York
Concierge Level: 5
Posts: 1,525

Post Thanks / Like
Great start to your trip. That hotel is so neat and the furniture and lighting in your room make it look very chic. After looking at your pics I am totally craving McDonalds french fries now!
__________________
Amy
My Countdown Counting down to: Aulani Hawaiian Vacation
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsWDW POR Sept. 2001, Poly. April 2004, BC Feb. 2005, BWApril 2006, BW Nov. 2006, BC Feb. 2007, BW Nov. 2007, BW Nov. 2008, BLT May 2009, SSpr Aug. 2009, BW & BLT Nov. 2009, BLT May 2010, Poly. Aug. 2010, BW & BLT Nov. 2010, AK Club Level & DCL 2011, BC Sept. 2011, BW Nov. 2011 for W&D 1/2 Marathon, BLT & DCL May, 2012, YC & BLT 8/2012, BW Nov. 2012 for W&D 1/2 Marathon, Disney Fantasy Cruise & WL May, 2013, Disneyland Hotel to run Dumbo Double Dare races Aug. 2013, BW Nov. 2013 for W&D 1/2 Marathon, BLT Nov. 2013, BW, GF, AKL & BLT Aug. 2014, BW 10/14 to run in the ToT 10 Miler Race, BW 1/15 to run in the Dopey Challenge, Disney Fantasy Cruise and OKW for Princess Half Marathon 2/15, DisneyLand Hotel 11/15 to run Infinity Gauntlet Challenge, BWV & AKL 1/16 to run the Goofy Challenge at Marathon Weekend and Disney Dream Cruise to run the Castaway Cay 5k., BWV 4/16 to run Star Wars Dark Side Half Marathon, Aulani, Oahu 7/16, BLT & GFV 11/16, 4/17 AK & CBR to run SWDS Half Marathon
Amy L is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 03-08-2015, 10:10 PM   #35
Jambo
Community Rank: Trekker
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: NC
Posts: 1,098

Post Thanks / Like
Great start. I hope Mark's back wasn't too uncomfortable on the flight. How nice to have such flexible work hours. Looking forward to more!
Jambo is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 03-08-2015, 10:11 PM   #36
dutchdisneyfamily
Community Rank: Explorer
 
dutchdisneyfamily's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Illinois
Concierge Level: 8
Posts: 9,092

Post Thanks / Like
You got started right away! Yay! As you were describing you night at the hotel o had to laugh because it sounded just like a night we had recently. It sure is hard paying for a bed you don't sleep much in! I hope you got to sleep on the plane.
__________________
My Countdown Counting down to: Disney World!
We are here!
My Previous TripsWDW Nov. 1988, DL Dec. 2006, WDW June 2010, WDW June 2013, WDW November 2015, WDW June 2016, August 2016, WDW June 2017
dutchdisneyfamily is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 03-08-2015, 10:53 PM   #37
jenseib
Community Rank: Scout
 
jenseib's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Swanton, OH
Concierge Level: 1
Posts: 4,374

Post Thanks / Like
That hotel is so teeny tiny, but you are right it is perfect for what you needed it for. The touch screen things sounds really neat!
__________________

All Work and a Little Play Makes Jen a Happy Girl!
vpsjen@gmail.com Vacation Specialist
My Countdown Counting down to: Cruise World In Ft Lauderdale
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous Trips1974 off sight; 1995 off sight; 1997 off sight; 1999 off sight; 2007 Pop Century; 2008 Pop Century; 2009 Pop Century; 2011 DCL Dream, Pop Century, AS Movies, Yacht Club; 2012 DCL Magic, DCL Dream, Beach Club Villas,Animal Kingdom Lodge, Art of Animation; 2014, Disneyland Hotel, Grand Californian, POFQ, Marriott Grand Vista, Disney Magic, OKW, CBR, Royal Pacific; 2016, Cabana Bay, Hard Rock Hotel, Poly, AS Sports. Coronado Springs; 2017, SpringHill Suites at Flamingo Crossing, Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Sapphire Falls, Port Orleans Riverside, All Star Music;
jenseib is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 03-08-2015, 11:19 PM   #38
Thomhazel
Community Rank: Globetrotter
 
Thomhazel's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 3,288

Post Thanks / Like
That sounds like a stressful day, between work, preparations and weather.

I think MickeyDs is a good choice at Gatwick, we always forget about it until we see it as we leave...

That hotel looked cool and I bet a fair bit cheaper than the alternatives.
__________________
Scottish Hogmanay (with a stolen Picture)

My Countdown Counting down to: WDW, Disney Dream and Universal
Chillin at disney
Thomhazel is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 03-08-2015, 11:43 PM   #39
Lumieregirl
Community Rank: Globetrotter
 
Lumieregirl's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Virginia - a day's drive to WDW
Posts: 3,317

Post Thanks / Like
Florida flowers and Caribbean cruising - the trip report!

I had to laugh about your hand luggage wanting to topple. I had a few choice words for mine in oct when I tried it out At home and it pretended it was going to work. As soon as it saw the airport it threw a tantrum and refused to ride on the other case.

Hope you get some rest alongside Mr Snore. At least at home we can get to another room. In a hotel you're a captive audience ...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
Don't let your heart be filled with sorrow, for all you know, tomorrow, the dream that you wish will come true.

Last edited by Lumieregirl; 03-08-2015 at 11:47 PM..
Lumieregirl is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 03-09-2015, 12:22 AM   #40
jandsdennis
Community Rank: Trekker
 
jandsdennis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Lincoln, ca
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 1,616

Post Thanks / Like
I love the idea of a hotel for the night before an early flight. I wish our airport had one. So much less hectic and less stress for getting checked in. Hope the back isnt too much of an issue.
__________________
Living life to its fullest!
Julie
My Countdown Counting down to: Another relaxing vacation at Aulani
Walking the beaches at Aulani
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous Trips9/18 Aulani,10/16 OKW/SSR,7/15 Aulani,10/14 AKL- OKW split 1/14 bcv/blt ,10/12 SSR and VWL,wdw old key west first owner trip 10/11 WDW 4/10 Yacht Club,WDW 4/08 AKL, DL 6/98, WDW 10/91 offsite condo
jandsdennis is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 03-09-2015, 03:42 AM   #41
chezp
PassPorter Message Board Manager
PassPorter Guide Author

Community Rank:
Legend VIP
 
chezp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Maidstone, Kent, UK
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 190,285

Post Thanks / Like
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep View Post
A pretty good start to the trip, except for Mark's back. Not good to have a back problem with a long flight and busy vacation ahead of you!
No it wasn't, but thankfully it didn't crop up again as a major problem...
__________________

Relaxing on board the Magic. The trip report for our back-to-back cruises on the Disney Magic has started!
My Countdown Counting down to: 2019
Happy New Year!
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous Trips21 trips to WDW, 6 to Disneyland in California, 9 to Disneyland Paris, 1 to Hong Kong Disneyland, 1 to Tokyo Disney, 1 to Aulani, 1 to Hilton Head, 2 to Vero Beach and 13 Disney cruises on the Magic, Wonder, Dream and Fantasy
chezp is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 03-09-2015, 03:44 AM   #42
chezp
PassPorter Message Board Manager
PassPorter Guide Author

Community Rank:
Legend VIP
 
chezp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Maidstone, Kent, UK
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 190,285

Post Thanks / Like
Quote:
Originally Posted by NanaTink View Post
Yay, you've started! How neat is that hotel? I love being able to go to a hotel the night before because my biggest fears is some sort of delay getting to the airport on time! I think we need that at our airport!
That's why we do it. Although Gatwick is only about 35-40 minutes away from our house, to get them, we have to take a rather notorious motorway, and it can (and frequently does) have major problems, so we never like to take the risk of running into queues on the way there.
__________________

Relaxing on board the Magic. The trip report for our back-to-back cruises on the Disney Magic has started!
My Countdown Counting down to: 2019
Happy New Year!
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous Trips21 trips to WDW, 6 to Disneyland in California, 9 to Disneyland Paris, 1 to Hong Kong Disneyland, 1 to Tokyo Disney, 1 to Aulani, 1 to Hilton Head, 2 to Vero Beach and 13 Disney cruises on the Magic, Wonder, Dream and Fantasy
chezp is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 03-09-2015, 03:45 AM   #43
chezp
PassPorter Message Board Manager
PassPorter Guide Author

Community Rank:
Legend VIP
 
chezp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Maidstone, Kent, UK
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 190,285

Post Thanks / Like
Quote:
Originally Posted by Amy L View Post
Great start to your trip. That hotel is so neat and the furniture and lighting in your room make it look very chic. After looking at your pics I am totally craving McDonalds french fries now!
Sorry about that...
__________________

Relaxing on board the Magic. The trip report for our back-to-back cruises on the Disney Magic has started!
My Countdown Counting down to: 2019
Happy New Year!
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous Trips21 trips to WDW, 6 to Disneyland in California, 9 to Disneyland Paris, 1 to Hong Kong Disneyland, 1 to Tokyo Disney, 1 to Aulani, 1 to Hilton Head, 2 to Vero Beach and 13 Disney cruises on the Magic, Wonder, Dream and Fantasy
chezp is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 03-09-2015, 03:45 AM   #44
chezp
PassPorter Message Board Manager
PassPorter Guide Author

Community Rank:
Legend VIP
 
chezp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Maidstone, Kent, UK
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 190,285

Post Thanks / Like
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jambo View Post
Great start. I hope Mark's back wasn't too uncomfortable on the flight.
Thankfully he was Ok.
__________________

Relaxing on board the Magic. The trip report for our back-to-back cruises on the Disney Magic has started!
My Countdown Counting down to: 2019
Happy New Year!
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous Trips21 trips to WDW, 6 to Disneyland in California, 9 to Disneyland Paris, 1 to Hong Kong Disneyland, 1 to Tokyo Disney, 1 to Aulani, 1 to Hilton Head, 2 to Vero Beach and 13 Disney cruises on the Magic, Wonder, Dream and Fantasy
chezp is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 03-09-2015, 03:46 AM   #45
chezp
PassPorter Message Board Manager
PassPorter Guide Author

Community Rank:
Legend VIP
 
chezp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Maidstone, Kent, UK
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 190,285

Post Thanks / Like
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thomhazel View Post
That sounds like a stressful day, between work, preparations and weather.
I think the day before you go away is always stressful, as you're trying to tie everything up, but the weather certainly didn't help...

Quote:
I think MickeyDs is a good choice at Gatwick, we always forget about it until we see it as we leave...
I have to be honest, I'm surprised that they don't have one in the terminal.

Quote:
That hotel looked cool and I bet a fair bit cheaper than the alternatives.
It was a lot cheaper than the Hilton, but then again, you can't really compare the two.
__________________

Relaxing on board the Magic. The trip report for our back-to-back cruises on the Disney Magic has started!
My Countdown Counting down to: 2019
Happy New Year!
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous Trips21 trips to WDW, 6 to Disneyland in California, 9 to Disneyland Paris, 1 to Hong Kong Disneyland, 1 to Tokyo Disney, 1 to Aulani, 1 to Hilton Head, 2 to Vero Beach and 13 Disney cruises on the Magic, Wonder, Dream and Fantasy
chezp is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Reply




Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump














Please login or register to hide these ads -- it's free and easy!

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:36 AM.

-->

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Feedback Buttons provided by Advanced Post Thanks / Like v3.4.0 Patch Level 1 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
(c) 1998-2017 PassPorter Travel Press/MediaMarx, Inc.
Celebrating 19 Years of Making Dreams Come True
Ad Management plugin by RedTyger