Florida flowers and Caribbean cruising - the trip report! THIS SECTION COMPLETED 4/12 - Page 61 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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.
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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 haven't even checked what the prices are for the Poly DVC bungalows, but I'm sure they're quite high to say the least!
I cannot find where I saw the rates but I have read that the bungalow nightly rate will be in the $2500 to $2700 range. This is probably correct since the quoted rate for a 1 Bedroom suite ranges between $1200 and $1760 depending on the season. All I can say is this will be out of my budget unless I win the lottery. HA HA
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You did get some really great shots out on the water!
I always wonder if anything will become of Discovery Island. And I did love River Country as a kid (and a 28 yr old, which was the last time I was there prior to it shutting down).
Glad the weekend weather is looking good! Enjoy!
As far as the DVC point cost for the Bungalows, it's a lot, as in Grand Villa level and then some. For example, for 1 night, Sunday, April 5 is 197 points for the Two BR Poly Bungalow. For comparison, a Bay Lake Tower Grand Villa, Magic Kingdom View, with three BRs and four full baths, is 175 points for that night. Wowzers.
I believe I read somewhere that the water in the plunge pools is filtered. I suspect it is also treated. I think it would have to be. They won't use lake water directly for the same reason that they don't let people go in the Seven Seas Lagoon or Bay Lake. There's an Amoeba (Naegleria fowleri), very rare, that is found in hot springs and warm freshwater in the Southeastern US. It enters the body through the nose and can travel to and infect the brain. If someone is infected the mortality rate is very, very high. Although there were only 32 cases reported between 2001 and 2010, you can bet that there's no way Disney is going to gamble on this.
I really enjoyed seeing your pictures from the boat! It gives you a different perspective on the sights. I wish my DH would rent a boat with me but neither of us are confident behind the wheel of a boat so I doubt that it would ever happen! Enjoy your Easter travel!
I recently learned about the shoe tree myself. It seems to be a tradition with Cast Members to add their shoes to their tree. Not sure when it started. I love your pictures of the Grand Floridian.
Great pictures from around the lake and lagoon. That looks like a fun activity. I didn't know anything about the plunge pools so I googled it. I found this picture from WDW Magic that seems to say all is good.
[QUOTE=Pris;4434002]Great pictures from around the lake and lagoon. That looks like a fun activity. I didn't know anything about the plunge pools so I googled it. I found this picture from WDW Magic that seems to say all is good.
I just saw that photo on all ears, too. Very relieved! It's a hot tub without the jets or heater.
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More great pictures from the lagoon. I'm very interested in the story about the sneaker tree, I may have to google and see if I can find any information.
ETA: Apparently the tree is a tradition from crew members of the boats to tie their shoes together and throw them in the tree on their last day of work. Why it started, I can't find an answer for that.
What a cool sightseeing cruise. I have wanted to rent a boat while there for the longest time and just never have. I really should bump it up my list for next trip. Nice to know they have water patrols out and about too.
Your cruise around the lake seemed very relaxing. I truly enjoy seeing the shoreline from a different angle. We enjoy boating on the Hudson River, and I have to say, you seem to have encountered more patrol boats in an hour than we do in a month. It also made me wonder if people try and sneak onto Discovery Island causing Disney to have quite a few patrol boats.
Now you say it, that would not surprise me in the slightest! And trust Disney to have lots of patrol boats out - I guess it goes with safety being their number one priority.
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Skipping back to your race photos, you captured my friend in one photo. She was thrilled when I sent her the link to your TR.
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I cannot find where I saw the rates but I have read that the bungalow nightly rate will be in the $2500 to $2700 range. This is probably correct since the quoted rate for a 1 Bedroom suite ranges between $1200 and $1760 depending on the season. All I can say is this will be out of my budget unless I win the lottery. HA HA
Those sort of prices would not surprise me in the slightest.
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the perspective from the water! It is truly a totally different way to see things and you often get views not available on land. How fun!
Enjoy your Easter travel!
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And trust Disney to have lots of patrol boats out - I guess it goes with safety being their number one priority. 
we are! 
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