Is this real life - or is this just Fantasy? updated 05/19/2016 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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We were up early at 6 am. We got up, showered and had our tea/coffee then finished packing. Around 8-ish, we called for the Porter to help with our bags and they were there in no time at all. They took them to Bell Services to hold while we had a leisurely breakfast at Olivia's.
We hung around the resort waiting for our transport from Quicksilver. We shopped a little in the gift shop and then sat outside in the sun watching people as they were coming and going. Finally around 11 am, our driver from Quicksilver showed. Same driver, same shoddy Escalade. We dozed a little (very little) on the ride to Port Canaveral. Partly from excitement and partly because the ac was on too high and it was so very cold in the car. We didn't ask her to turn it down because before we had asked her to turn it up. Apparently, she was heavy handed and never could reach a happy medium.
We got to Port Canaveral not far after our check in time and since we were Silver, we got to go to a Castaway Club check in desk. Check in went smoothly and we were allowed to walk on directly.
Once we were announced, we went up to Deck 4 (near the DVC desk) to sit for a while. There was a "family reunion" of 175 people and everyone was screaming, hooting and hollering as each one came on. Then some people came over to sit in our little nook and I couldn't stand the scent of smoke they were emitting. So we left because of the noise and the smell. We then went to Enchanted Garden for the lunch buffet. It was very well done and Chuck had some of the best lamb of the trip there.
After lunch, our room was ready and our luggage was not far behind. We unpacked before it was time for the muster drill.
Back of the boat - Selfie!
After we were excused from the drill, we came back to the room and took a small nap. We met our Cabin Steward Puri. Our only request was for our ice bucket to be filled twice a day and he was awesome about it. He even brought us some right away. After our nap, we went to the Guest Service counter to put some gift cards on our account and then went to check out the shops before dinner. There was some major sway going on and we were trying to get our "sea legs". Although I felt a little bit of motion sickness, we still made it to dinner.
Hummus type dip for bread
Lobster ravioli
Tuna tartare
Some sort of sparkling wine cocktail
Scallops
Prime Rib
Date bread pudding
Chocolate Mousse
Enchanted Garden Table 15. It was a GREAT table! We had William (goes by Dan) and Linda from TN, Pricilla and Trevor from Toronto and Toni and Scott from New Mexico and us. We also had 2 empty chairs and wondered if another couple didn't make it because of the motion. Our Server was Gilbert and the Assistant Server was Oseman and our Head Server was Faisal. After dinner, we just headed back to the room and turned in early. We may have spent some balcony time and then fell asleep to a Disney movie.
Swan
Looking up from our balcony - Cabanas is right above us
Up Next - First Day at Sea, Palo Brunch and Formal night
__________________
Tracy (aka Coop)
Last edited by duck addict; 05-20-2016 at 01:13 PM..
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I have had a great supper, but this update has made me hungry for Mickey waffles and DCL dining. Your dinners look delish. That balcony is so big! Wow!
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Signing in for the ride what a nice balcony. Food looked yummy.
Thanks. It was very yummy!
Quote:
Originally Posted by DMA
Wow! Dinner looked delicious!
Yes! Your balcony is very roomy!
We love the aft balconies!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
I have had a great supper, but this update has made me hungry for Mickey waffles and DCL dining. Your dinners look delish. That balcony is so big! Wow!
We love aft rooms. They always have a big balcony and we love just watching the wake! Sorry, I should have posted a "food porn" warning!
Quote:
Originally Posted by manticorjenn
Love the meals and the stateroom. Can't wait to hear about the rest of your adventure.
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by xwewhisper
Sounds like a lovely first day!
Thanks Maci!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jessie092408
This made me hungry, haha! Seems like A good start to the cruise, minus the ride, the noise, and the smoke smell.
Thanks Jess.
Quote:
Originally Posted by benchley
Loved the room decorations and the Duffy outfit.
We LOVE Duffy!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Great first day on board, apart from the obnoxious family reunion!
It was impressive that they actually planned a trip for 175 people. But yes, it was obnoxious.
Quote:
Originally Posted by taylan1
Great first cruise day! The food looked so good. Hungry now! Can't wait to read more. Love your balcony!
Just signing on to your cruise portion of the trip! You certainly scored a wonderful balcony I have to say that both of your dinners looked delicious and how nice that you got such a great table of people to dine with! Sounds like a perfect relaxing first day on the ship. I hope Chuck is doing well in his recovery.
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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Pixie Dust
what a nice balcony. Food looked yummy.
That balcony is so big! Wow! 
Waiting for our next adventure after enjoying our Alaska cruise. 
Jenn
PassPorter Guide Author
Can't wait to read more. Love your balcony!
,
I hope Chuck is doing well in his recovery.
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