A Very Merry Disney Senior Trip: Dec 12-16 TR - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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
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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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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!
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So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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DAY 1-WEDS DEC 12, 2012: After months of fundraising and planning, the day had finally arrived.....5 high school Seniors (along with their Moms as chaperones) were all packed up and ready to go!!!
Rewind back a few days to THURS DEC 6......... Everything had been done, online reservations had been made, flights confirmed, folders were ready, packing had begun, nothing to do but sit back and wait for the big day to arrive..........then I got that dreaded phone call......
One of the mother's had to be taken to the E.R.!!!!!! Marissa's mother, Charlene, was taken to the hospital and was given emergency gall bladder surgery on Friday morning. Everyone had worked so hard to make this trip work, and we didn't want to have to go without one of the 10. The trip was insured, and had it been one of the kids, we would have resheduled in a heartbeat, but as a parent, she was {sadly} okay with not being able to make the trip, and told us to go on as planned without her. She was able to have the procedure done with laser, so after getting back on Saturday, she was convinced she would be okay to on Wednesday. Her daughter really wanted her to go, so she was going to try her hardest to get well for Disney! We spent the next few days wondering how things would work out and up until departure day, we weren't sure. Even though she wasn't feeling all that great, she decided to do it.
So, on Wednesday, we hit the road and headed to Norfolk for our 4:40 p.m. flight. Reconfiguring the seating arrangement for the drive to the airport.
Nathan, Brandon, Scott, and Charlene rode with Jackie (Brandon's Mom) in her SUV. Gina (Mariah's Mom) drove the other car with passenger's Mariah, Marissa, Melissa (Scott's Mom), and ME! Mariah & Marissa
Check-in at the airport was a breeze. I had printed out our boarding passes the day before and we were boarding in A-group. We found parking to be easy as well, and we were soon meeting up with the rest of our group at Pizza Hut for lunch. Nathan, Scott, & Brandon
The flight was uneventful, and even though there were 6 in our group that had never flown before, nobody freaked out! Once we landed, we headed straight to the DME counter, where we quickly lined up in the CBR line. Charlene was hanging in there, but was pretty tired, and was more than ready to get to our resort. Everyone was very excited to see this......... My first time arriving at night!!!
We were dropped off at the Custom House, and got checked in pretty quickly. I was very excited to find out our location: ARUBASECTION 51-WATER VIEW-Rooms 5117, 5118, & 5119.
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While at the Custom House, we made some quick decisions, one being, let's get Charlene a wheelchair! Best.decision.of.the.trip! I also suggested adding the Water Park & More option to the grads tickets. As the trip had gotten closer, the boys kept talking about possibly going to Typhoon Lagoon, so while we were at the concierge desk, we added that option to the guys tickets. TL was closed for refurb, but Blizzard Beach was open, and they would get to do that plus 2 visits to Disney Quest as well. Now, to just fit this into our already-way-too-full-schedule! Next, where to eat???? We were starving by now, but only had CS options for tonight. I suggested staying here at the resort and eating at the food court (which is very good), or taking the bus to DTD for a few other options. Everyone chose DTD, so to the bus stop we go! That first bus ride at Disney is just so darn exciting! We only waited for a few minutes and soon we were pulling up at Marketplace. As we entered, I rambled off the CS choices, and Wolfgang Puck Express seemed to please everyone. Of course, everyone was a bit overwhelmed, spotting all of the shops they wanted to check out as we walked toward WP. It was a little crowded when we entered, but it gave us a few minutes to work out our choices for dinner and for everyone to get the hang of the Dining Plan (after tonight they were all pros at using the DP, and it worked extremely well for everyone during the trip). I chose the roasted chicken, mashed potatoes & gravy, sweet tea, and the most yummy strawberry cheesecake for dessert. Nathan got the chicken alfredo and the cheesecake. Some of the others got the spaghetti or the mac & cheese plate (ALOT of mac & cheese), and a few got some type of sandwich. Everyone was very satisfied with this meal. Wolfgang Puck is an awesome use of counter service credits!!! As we were finishing up, the grads informed us they wanted to go back to the resort...HUH??? We decided to go back with them, since we were (a.) exhausted, (b.) anxious to see our rooms, and (c.) didn't quite trust the adventurous natures of 5 teens on their very first night at Disney! LOL So back to the bus stop we go, but not before I insisted on a group picture or two.......
Once we arrived back at CBR, we got off at the Aruba bus stop. Now while we had an awesome location to OPR, we were quite far away from the bus stop. After a few minutes, we found our rooms. The moms claimed room 5117, the girls room 5118, which adjoined to the guys room 5119. I didn't realize until we walked over to get a snack, just how awesome our location was- a water view, and just a short walk to Old Port Royale. We got there just in time to get everyone's refillable mugs filled with soda and grab our first (of many) chocolate dipped Mickey rice krispies before closing time. We headed back and soon called it a night (well, we did anyway.....the 5 grads were just getting started for the night!). We were very excited about our first park day coming up tomorrow- we're going to the MAGIC KINGDOM!!!
Sounds like a GREAT evening!!!! Can't wait to hear more!! And GREAT idea to get mom a wheelchair!!! I am sure that helped ALOT!!!
It helped in more ways than one! We tried not abuse it's use when entering rides/shows/buses but even when we tried to park and walk, the CMs were very pushy about giving her the royal treatment. I can't praise everyone at Disney enough for the special treatment they give. I guess I hadn't really paid close enough attention to the detail, but I saw first hand the care they give. Hats off to Disney!
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Susan
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She ended up doing great during the trip. 
Hats off to Disney!
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