It All Started With A Postcard **Updated 4/26** - Page 5 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
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.
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.
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.
Great Start!! Can't wait to read more. At least I know I am not the only one who cries when they see anyting Disney. I can't wait to see what I do when I see the Magic for the first time! I think I need to pack the kleenex.
__________________
Jennifer
Taken April 24 - May 2, 2009 My mom Linda & I
Thru security we went and up the magic escalator. We when reached the top I was crying, a DCL lady named Gigi came over to me and asked “Are those tears of joy” I was crying so hard I couldn’t answer, so Grumpy said “yes” He told her this was our first cruise and our 20th anniversary. So Gigi took us over to the Concierge level check in with Phil.
IMG_1107.jpg
Gigi and her Husband Sam, they are originally from Hershey PA.
There was one lady in front of us, she had no paperwork ready, her passports were with her husband and he was in the waiting area!! So we waited a few minutes and Phil took care of us, he gave us Boarding Pass #2
IMG_1112.JPG
Now we just had to wait until 1200 to start boarding. We both sat down, chatted with families around us. Went out on the observation deck to see the ship. They were painting, power washing and cleaning her up for us!! IMG_1100.jpg
Mickey came out, I went over and got in line to have my photo taken with Mickey. Minnie came out a little later.
IMG_1114.jpg
Finally the family of the day was announced and then Boarding Pass #2 WAHOOOO, we walked thru the Mickey Ears and after a stop to have our picture taken, we were announced on the ship!! Oh I am crying now!! I am finally on the ship, it is real, we are going on a cruise!!
Unfortunately I did not get a photo of us boarding the ship But I can tell you I was crying when they announced our name!!!!
We stopped at Guest Services to drop off our Disney Gift Cards and Disney Reward card. They gave us honeymoon buttons!!!
Next stop was Parrot Cay for lunch as recommended by Nanatink. my friend, that was the best place for lunch our first day!!! What a gorgeous room, and the buffet was delish
IMG_1117.jpg
I had strawberry soup and lots of different salads!!!
Grumpy had the roast beef, veggies, salad and shrimp. I should have taken a picture of the roast beef the chef was cutting, that was one huge roast!!!
IMG_1119.jpg
For dessert I had a little fruit tart, which looks like the fruit tarts at the Norway Bakery. Grumpy had a little pineapple upside down cake.
We wandered around a bit looking at the art work and then headed up to Deck 10 for a bit of sun. Well it was 1:20, so we headed down the stairs to deck 6. We checked out the mural behind the elevators, met a very nice family and then it was off to our stateroom!!!!
IMG_1137.jpg
Imagine our surprise when we saw this waiting for us in our stateroom. Dianne, we really enjoyed the bubbly and it was very sweet of you!!! That was quite a surprise. Dianne can really keep secrets!!!!
We watched the dolphins in the harbor, we saw an osprey with a fish in his talons. Met our neighbors, we both noticed that there was dredging going on in the port. I told him I had heard that they were dredging the harbor deeper for 4 new ships that will be using the port. Two of them being the new Disney ships. He was very surprised that Disney had 2 new ships in the works. Remember this about the dredging the harbor it will be very important in the next chapter!!!
It wasn’t very long after we arrived in our stateroom that our luggage arrived. So we unpacked and put things away. Before we knew it was off to the safety drill. We were assigned to L!!! Where we first met Tisa, a member of the entertainment staff.
Grumpy on Deck 10, he doesn't look so Grumpy anymore!!! Please disregard that ugly ship behind Grumpy!!! It is the Carnival Glory, but she was not glorious, she could use a good wash, wax and a paint job.
What a great start, I would be crying as well, love the pictures and your lunch sounded delicious. What a wonderful surprise upon entering your room, a nice gift to start off your 20th anniversary celebration. Lookign forward to hearing more.
About This Page: 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
Jennifer
everyone, the next chapter will be up soon I promise!!!!
But I can tell you I was crying when they announced our name!!!! 
Dianne can really keep secrets!!!! 
Linear Mode
