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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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I never thought the sight of laundry would make me smile, but it did!
And suddenly, we were in St. Mark’s Square.
We walked over and Sabino told us about the basilica. I don’t want to say I didn’t like it, because I did, but man, they couldn’t make up their minds about what they wanted when they built this place!
We also got some info about the clock tower, which I thought was very cool!
We went inside the basilica. Unfortunately, it was closing shortly for some kind of event, so we got a really rushed tour. Photos weren’t allowed inside, but I can tell you it was just as ornate inside as it was outside, with gold everywhere, including the floor. It was just a tad busy for my taste, but quite stunning nonetheless.
With that done, we went back outside and said goodbye to our local guide. As we were standing in the square, we got to see the clock strike the hour.
Hmm… now I notice the clock reads 5 to the hour, so it must’ve gone off after I took the photos.
And we got a group photo (or two).
We needed to check into our hotel, so the guides pointed out where stuff would be that we might be interested in seeing on our own, including the Doge’s Palace.
Then we walked over to see the Bridge of Sighs. I’d read that it was currently behind construction walls, so I was only mildly disappointed to see this.
Well, at least I can see part of it.
The guides pointed out the general location of our shuttle to the Hilton, and then we walked over and got our water taxis. We climbed aboard (two water taxis for our group) and made the short ride over to the Hilton.
The Hilton Molino Stucky was a former mill that was converted to a hotel about 10 years or so. It is huge and very American. Unfortunately, this hotel was a change to the regular itinerary and they weren’t really used to things, so we ended up getting shuttled back and forth for a bit before our welcome reception was set up for us. While we were sitting around, someone tried to see if there was wifi available. Tina went to investigate and returned to tell us that the internet was €30 a day (currently, over $42 US)! Rape! At least the lobby had interesting stuff to look at to keep us busy.
We made it to the reception room finally.
Still, they weren’t very prepared. The bartenders were still pouring drinks and the snacks were on the bar rather than on our tables, so the guides had to serve us a bit. Marco was very unhappy about it and I’m sure the staff heard about it! This isn’t the official hotel, so I’m not sure if it’s a temporary switch or if a change is being made, but I don’t think the Hilton made a good impression with our guides. Other than that, and the disgusting internet charge, I liked the Hilton quite a lot.
We got the details for the next day – breakfast t 7, leave at 8:45. Then we were given our room assignments. Most people were in one elevator bank, while two parties (including me) were each alone in another elevator bank. Marco said he’d walk us and let us know which elevator to take, and he’d also point out the restaurant serving breakfast was.
When we got to elevator 3, which was mine alone, I said goodbye to my friends and headed on up. My room was steps from the elevator, which was good. Also, it was ginormous! I have to say ABD hooked me up room-wise the entire trip! I’ve since learned that ABD is implementing perks for returning guests and room upgrades are part of that. It makes me wonder if I may have been sort-of-upgraded on my trip.
And I had a nice view as well.
I unpacked all the stuff I’d need for the next few days, then I headed down to catch the shuttle. The guides told us that St. Mark’s Square at night was really pretty and we should try our best to see it. I also needed to eat and get some shopping done.
Inside the elevator
The little canal beneath my room
My room’s on the 3rd floor
The shuttle was due to arrive in 5 minutes and it pulled in right on time. A bunch of others from my group were heading out and invited me to join them, but I decided to do my own thing right then and maybe meet up with them later.
I strolled from the boat dock to St. Mark’s Square, doing a bit of browsing on the way. There were a bunch of souvenir kiosks along the canal, selling cheap masks, t-shirts, postcards and the like.
It did remind me a lot of Epcot (except it was dirtier, with a whole lot more pigeons).
There were a lot of pigeons (dirty things, pigeons), but I am from NY and used to pigeons, so I didn’t let them bother me (or land on me, because, GROSS!!! ). The trick is to just keep walking and they’ll get out of your way.
I got some detail shots of the basilica. I loved the mosaics.
Here’s what I mean about they couldn’t make up their mind about what they wanted – all the columns are different styles/colors
And there’s a lot going on on the roof
I love how this one came out! And now that I think about it, I’ve taken the same sort of shot at Epcot!
We’d been told that there were good shops behind the clock tower, so I started my exploration back there. I visited a lot of shops and ended up buying a pretty Murano glass necklace for myself and some gifts for the fam damily back home. So many of the stores had fabulous displays. Many of them didn’t allow pictures, but I got some where I could.
This one shop was fabulous, with lots of tiny detailed pieces. I can’t imagine how much skill that takes!
An entire tiny orchestra - it so!
All of that was one shop!
During my meanderings, I stumbled across the real Harry’s Bar. I’d heard about the exorbitant drink prices, so I didn’t bother going in.
I stopped in a little cafeteria and got some pizza, but I forgot to take photos. Everyone knows what pizza looks like, though! Then I got some gelato for dessert. I did remember to get a picture of that!
Chocolate and strawberry this time
I did more shopping and exploring, trying to kill a little time. I was hoping it would get dark, but at almost 9:00 the sun was still high in the sky so I gave up. I’ll just have to imagine what it looks like in the dark!
I caught the shuttle back to the Hilton and relaxed a bit. I walked up to see the rooftop pool, but there was something going on and I couldn’t get far.
Inside the elevator
Back in the room, I’d gotten turndown service.
I watched tv for a bit. It didn’t get dark until well after 10, so I was happy I hadn’t waited. That would’ve been a long time to sit around! So I decided to call it a night.
Up Next: Tragicomica
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
There really is no place like Venice. I just love all the little side-canals and narrow pathways. The canal under your hotel room is wonderful. I'm glad you got yourself some Murano glass. The mini-diorama in that shop is incredible! Love the ABD touches on this day--the train arrival, gondola ride, surprise pin delivery! And the idea of perks for return guests is a good one!
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More great pictures of Venice!!! I was a little worried when I saw the picture of the man in the cloak. I was thinking "what is this creepy person doing?"
Great update! Venice looks wonderful but I wonder if you miss the greenery of Tuscany? You are right about that new construction building. It looks like it just doesn't fit in. And gelato - YUM!
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What a wonderful day. Thanks for the review of the Hilton - that was the Hilton I had planned on staying in when I was planning on being in Venice the Oct following my 40th Bday last year. Instead - I got a husband.... oh well, Venice will wait...
Oh it sounds like you had a wonderful day in Venice. No photo of the necklace you bought for yourself? I still have the one I bought years ago. Congrats on a room with a great view--amazing!
What a great view to see once you step out of the train. It is so strange to see the canals filled up with boats intead of roads packed with cars, just a beautiful way to live.
Now I will admit I do not think I have ever seen you not with a smile on your face, but the pictures of you in Italy....you look great, and so happy, definitely an extra big smile but that would be epected as you are standing in this beautiful city, walking onto your gondula as you float along the canal in Venice (ok extremely jealous now...)
Great hotel room, by the way, I can't get over the size.
Beautiful photos of Venice - we really will have to return there one day. Shame about the Bridge of Sighs, looks like they're doing some fairly major work to it. And as for the Internet charge at the Hilton - sadly, I wish I could say I'm surprised, but I'm not - that seems to be about standard for a lot of hotels these days. I always figure that if they charge less, they'd get more people using it!
Can I just ask what the weather was like? It looks as if it was very warm from your photos? I also wonder whether that led to any smells? We went in the winter to avoid that, so is it true that Venice smells in the hotter months?
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I think I'm falling in with Venice! It just looks so beautiful. Did Marco Polo explain why people use his name to play that game in the pool? I would be interested to know where that came from.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PrincessSharon
I never thought the sight of laundry would make me smile, but it did!
Unless someone's drawers were hanging above your head right?
Can I just ask what the weather was like? It looks as if it was very warm from your photos? I also wonder whether that led to any smells? We went in the winter to avoid that, so is it true that Venice smells in the hotter months?
It certainly used to smell, and not just in the summer! I've heard, though, that it doesn't any more-- they scrub the algae off, or something, since the floods. This apparently helps to stop the erosion as well. Canal cities certainly don't have to smell-- Amsterdam never has! I'm sorry to say, that the smell was so bad when I was in Venice in the 70's that the beauty of the city didn't come through the way it should.
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At least the lobby had interesting stuff to look at to keep us busy.
and room upgrades are part of that. It makes me wonder if I may have been sort-of-upgraded on my trip.
). The trick is to just keep walking and they’ll get out of your way. 
it so!
More please! 
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I always figure that if they charge less, they'd get more people using it! 
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