Live, Laugh, Relax with Cam and Fam Completed 7/31 - Page 7 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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What a great start.
How cool that Stefanie has her own cake at The Cheesecake Factory. I may have to try it the next time I'm there.
Can't wait to the read about the rest of the trip.
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.
Where did this crowd come from? Or Can she really eat it all?
At 5:55 AM Luke’s iPhone alarm alerted us that it was time to rise and shine. We were all three cleaned up and ready to go by 7:00 AM. We made the long trek back to the lobby. Luke checked at the front desk while Stefanie and I repacked the suitcases in the car. As we pulled around to the front carport, Luke noticed a pink clad iPhone on the ground. I jumped out and quickly ran the phone into concierge. Then we were off to Executive Parking. The shuttle from there to the airport was quick as we spend the time discussing Disney with a friendly older couple who had recently taken their kids and grandkids there.
Stefanie aboard the Executive Parking Shuttle
We were quite surprised to find a huge line inside for baggage check, a first for us as we have flown the early MCO flight for several years now and there are never more than 10 people in line. We had an hour before our flight and most of it would be spent on this line even though it moved rather quickly. Maybe we should have stuck to my OCD plan of arrive 2 hours early, but honestly there had never been a crowd like this in our past experiences. No clue where all these folks were headed that early in the day.
Security check was smooth. Stefanie announced that she was going to see Mickey. The guy who scanned our carry ons and trays talked to Pal Mickey has he moved through the scanner. He said he had kids and they loved Mickey, too. Shoes back on, we headed to Gate C7, the shortest distance we’ve had to our gate ever. And a very good thing, too, as within minutes of arriving, our A line was queuing up to board. It was 8:20. Whew! We just made it! We all three stood at Luke’s spot and had no trouble boarding. Luke found us terrific seats at 4 D E F.
Because we were moving so quickly, I didn’t have time to get the treats out for Stefanie to hand out. So I just gave the bag to the first flight attendant and asked him to share with the rest of the crew. The crew was all smiles and thanked Stefanie. Unfortunately, Stefanie had gotten what I call the anxious grumps, and was not very responsive.
Take off was about 8:40. We had an uneventful flight except for a bumpy section a little before landing at 11:05. We all took a nature break and then we were off to DME, moving quickly into Line B-5. There was a long line at the queue, but we still got on the next bus an got seats near the back together.
Stefanie on the DME bus
Luke being funny as I had tried unsuccessfully 3 or 4 times to get a picture of him.
Me on the DME bus after I gave up on doing a self-portrait.
The first stop was POR and POFQ. Then we arrived at the Yacht and Beach Club. The was no wait at on-line check in and our room was even ready! More Our first Disney adventure was to explore our room for the next 11 nights, Villa 447.
I began my photo taking in the master bedroom.
Master bedroom with a view into parts of the really cool bathroom.
Yet another view of the master bedroom and out into the little hallway between it and the rest of the living area. This was a very cool villa, hence all the pictures.
This is the part of the bathroom seen through the louvered window in the master bedroom. It had a sink and the garden tub.
Closet!
Shower portion of the bathroom with sink.
Stefanie exploring this area with me.
The necessity room and final room in the bathroom in the series. The challenge the first few nights was finding my way here when I was half asleep.
Kitchen – View #1
Kitchen – View #2
TV view in Living Room
Couch view in the Living Room -- Most of the time the couch was pulled out as a bed for Stefanie.
Then I moved out on the balcony from our living room to check out our view. Just a bit disappointed that we could not see Epcot from here, but it was very secluded and very quiet, except for that bird that felt midnight was the time to break into song.
View to the right of our balcony
View straight up ahead from the balcony
View to the left of our balcony
We unpacked our carryons. Next stop – Beaches and Cream! We had missed breakfast at the Nashville airport and our tummies were positive that food was needed. But I managed to take several more pictures on our way there.
Luke and Stefanie ready to get some lunch.
Our wood door – Stefanie noticed later as we were wandering the resort that villa doors were wood grain while the rest of the rooms had white doors.
This became Stefanie’s job for the entire trip. She would race to be first to the elevator, so she could push all the buttons.
A silly shot!
Villa lobby
Villa map with my two buddies checking it out
Luke and Stefanie with the Ariel DVC sign
Cam and Stefanie at the same spot
Finally, we arrived at Beaches and Cream. A rather large family was taking up most of the space in front of the doors and we were having trouble figuring out whether they were in line, waiting for a table, or just having a deep family discussion. I asked the CM at the podium if we were next or if we needed to wait for this family. He rolled his eyes and said, “Come ahead. They’ve been talking for 10 minutes now and can’t decide.” He also asked if we’d mind sitting at the counter as we could have a spot now. We decided to go ahead and take the open bar stool seats as we were very hungry.
Our spot at the counter
Love the ice cream cone decorations
Coke bottles behind the counter
Sundaes being made while we waiting for our main course
Luke and I split a Double Cheddar Cheeseburger and fries. Our waitress had the cook actually create two plates for us, so I’m pretty sure we got way more fries than normal. Stefanie opted for a mini-cheeseburger and fries. Our tummies were definitely happy when the food arrived. Of course, the main point of a meal at B&C is to have some decadent dessert, and we did. Stefanie got a Mickey Sundae as part of her meal. Luke chose the No Way Jose again as he has wanted one since last June. I got brave and ordered a Milky Way Sundae. None of us was disappointed as everything was very delicious! But also very, very large.
Stefanie’s Mickey Sundae from the side
Stefanie’s Mickey Sundae from the front
Cam’s Milky Way Sundae before
Cam’s Milky Way Sundae after – almost finished, but not quite. I was so busy working on mine that I totally forgot to take a picture of Luke’s.
You sound like me about the arrival time at the airport. Its never taken more than an hour to get to our gate in Nashville, but I always get there too early....just in case. Looking forward to more of your trip. Mmmmmm ice cream, my favorite!!! Anxious to hear how the crowds were when you were there. We are planning a trip next year about this time, and I'm curious what we'll be up against with the crowd levels.
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Matt,Kendra,Jacob and Peyton
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Great update! Your villa is beautiful. We've never stayed at that resort, but hope to some day! Beaches and Cream sounds yummy. Your sundaes are giving me quite the sweet tooth!
Great updates Cam!! Takes me back to December when we stayed at BCV. That Milky Way sundae looked SO good!
I can't wait to hear about your half off deal - I wonder if it is in common with my purchase since it happened on 6/13 too.
Just catching up! Great PP meet, loved Stefanies gifts!!! How very thoughtful of you to get the Kingdom Keepers 3rd book. It's a great series!! Love your room and that bathroom is to die for!!! Your 1st meal sounds YUMMY and is a great way to start your trip! Can't wait to read more!
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Your room looks wonderful!!!! Your lunch @ B&C sounds YUMMY!!! (Still not sure how I can fit it into our next trip....). I'm waiting to read all of your restaurant reviews before I make my final decisions about ADRs!! Love all of your wonderful photos!! Stefanie looks so happy!
You are making me rethink my ADR at Captain's Grille for lunch. Maybe we'll just go to Beaches and Cream instead. That sundae looks so YUMMY!! Great TR so far. Can't wait to read more!
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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We all three stood at Luke’s spot and had no trouble boarding. Luke found us terrific seats at 4 D E F. 
He also asked if we’d mind sitting at the counter as we could have a spot now. We decided to go ahead and take the open bar stool seats as we were very hungry. 
delicious! But also very, very large.
Aimee
Disney Magic - Oct 2015
And it doesn't get much better than B&C! 
More please! 
). I'm waiting to read all of your restaurant reviews before I make my final decisions about ADRs!! 
Susan
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