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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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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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Since we are now just 31 days out from the day we leave, I thought I'd type up a little PTR for any interested party out there.
Who? ChukkerB (Chuck, DH) 59 years old. We will be celebrating his 60th this trip even though it's not until July, technically. We will also be celebrating his retirement. As many of you may know, he has some very serious medical (heart) issues and is still having a time trying to keep up full time work - so we figured it is time to bring him home on a medical disability. He still loves Disney and cruises but we have slowed down on our touring style, which is fine. He likes the Fab 5, Stitch and Belle. And he actually SOUNDS like Sully! Really!
Coop (Me, Tracy)- 49 years old. Turning the big 5-0 while on the cruise! This birthday is difficult for me. (my dad died just before his 50th). We've made some plans for the actual day (that will come up during the PTR) and I figure the Bahamas is not a bad place to celebrate! My favorites are Cinderella, Mickey, Pluto and Duffy. (kinda sad that guy is not around anymore ).
When: May 31 - June 11
Where: 2 days at OKW before back to back cruises on the Dream. June 2-7, June 7-11
Why: Celebrating 50 years, 60 years and retirement!
How?
Last January (2016), we had cancelled our cruise on the Magic out of Galveston because we were unsure of Chucks health. Then we did end up planning a quick week long trip to WDW for September. I knew we wouldn't make it a whole 18 months or more before coming back to Disney. Around April (2016), I started looking at cruises online. Someone on FB had mentioned a double dip in June (my birthday) and so I checked it out. I found out that it was a 5 night DD and the next cruise was a 4 night DD as well. I explained all of this to Chuck and said that we could splurge for our birthdays and that we had almost a full year to pay for it. Well - it didn't take much convincing. Booked it! I'll go over plans and all that in the next post.
Up Next:
Plans - travel, dates, stays, excursions, dining, etc.
A new cruise and actually cruise sounds great especially after Chuck's ordeals over the last year or so as the two of you need this! Are the back to back cruises different or are they pretty much the same? Might not matter much as cruising is so relaxing and depending how much you want to leave the ship or just spend the time on board, which can be good having the entire ship to yourselves on port days! Although, I think it's good to get your feet on some terrain once in a while!
__________________
October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Great start and what a great way to celebrate your birthdays and Chuck's retirement! You must be only a few days older than me, because I turn the big 5-0 on the last day of your trip!
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Oh MY!! My hubs dream is to do a DD cruise, but I always hate that they are typically only 5 or 4 nights. But you getting those both back to back is just awesome!!! Can't wait to read more about your trip.
Looking forward to many details from this trip - like us, a trip that has been canceled/postponed for various reasons. I am sure your new touring style will give you just as much enjoyment if not more bc you will see many more details and not just the overall big things.
A new cruise and actually cruise sounds great especially after Chuck's ordeals over the last year or so as the two of you need this! Are the back to back cruises different or are they pretty much the same? Might not matter much as cruising is so relaxing and depending how much you want to leave the ship or just spend the time on board, which can be good having the entire ship to yourselves on port days! Although, I think it's good to get your feet on some terrain once in a while!
We will have our share of terrain - we will be on Castaway Cay two times on each cruise!! We just aren't interested in much at Nassau.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pamcarey
Great start and what a great way to celebrate your birthdays and Chuck's retirement! You must be only a few days older than me, because I turn the big 5-0 on the last day of your trip!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Happy Birthday!
Quote:
Originally Posted by MayraLR
Great start! Sounds like an awesome way to celebrate a birthday!
I thought so! Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by belle0517
Great start!
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Great start!
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by manticorjenn
Great start and a wonderful way to celebrate. I hope Chuck is feeling better and that you are both looking forward to a relaxing trip.
It will be all relaxation! That is my plan! Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Linnynad
Oh MY!! My hubs dream is to do a DD cruise, but I always hate that they are typically only 5 or 4 nights. But you getting those both back to back is just awesome!!! Can't wait to read more about your trip.
There were 3 back to back to back! We chose the first two because that falls over my birthday!
Quote:
Originally Posted by cattailmarsh
Looking forward to many details from this trip - like us, a trip that has been canceled/postponed for various reasons. I am sure your new touring style will give you just as much enjoyment if not more bc you will see many more details and not just the overall big things.
For a hot second, I thought we may have to cancel this trip!
My DMiL (Chuck's mom) was diagnosed with colon cancer. She is "postponing" her treatment until after we get back! I told Chuck that we should cancel, use the cash to pay off some bills and get some stuff done around the house, be there for his mom so she can get the care she needs and then do a small trip later this summer or fall. Well - I was shot down on that TWICE. He said an emphatic NO and that his mom would be ticked off if we did. Then SHE yelled at me for even thinking it! Sorry - I was just trying to be pragmatic and do the adult thing. So, I guess we are still on (even though I feel a bit guilty). His mother is handling this news very well and she is a strong woman. My concern is that she is 82 years old and she has been through a couple MAJOR surgeries in the past few years - arm, back, open heart (just last year!). I'm just concerned on her "bouncing back". But I will paste a smile on my face and be there for whatever she needs. She's a wonderful woman and has been more of a mother to me than my own. I just love her!
So now that news is out of the way - on to our plans
Our first few days are at OKW with no park days
Arrive 5/31 - Orlando Airport Towncar to take us to OKW
Check in, swim/hot tub
Dinner at Frontera Cocina
6/1 - Sleep in, Swim, hot tub, Possibly lunch at Splitsville
Disney Springs with Dinner at Morimotos
6/2 -Checkout and Breakfast at Olivia's
Orlando Airport Towncar to take us to Port Canaveral
11:30 Port Arrival time - Check in, Check out the ship, lunch at the buffet
1:30 - rooms ready - unpack
4ish - Muster Drill
Then Sail Away!
Second seating for dinner
6/3 - Castaway Cay
6/4 - Happy Birthday To Me!
Nassau Day - Not getting off the ship
Couples Massage around 4:30
Dinner
6/5 - Castaway Cay Day #2
6:30 pm Palo Dinner (Birthday Celebration)
Pirate Night
6/6 - At Sea
12:30 - Palo Brunch
6/7 - Port Canaveral.
I would frown but we are getting right back on!
6/7 - Embarkation/Lunch/Muster Drill all over again
Apparently, since we are in the same room, I have heard that we don't have to wait for our room to be ready.
6/8 - Castaway Cay #3
6/9 - Nassau (again, not getting off)
Mixology class at 2 pm
Pirate Night
6/10 - Castaway Cay #4
6/11 - Port Canaveral/Debarkation
Now is the time to cry!
Orlando Airport Towncar to take us back to MCO
Then back home!
For our time on the cruise, I plan pool time, hot tub time, Chuck insists on soft-serve ice cream (lol), we may take in a movie or two. I think the new Pirates will be out so that may be showing. I would like to check out some of the tastings they offer too - I'd like to do the wine/chocolate pairing. I'll stop by Guest Services at the beginning of the cruise for those. Basically just simple, relaxing.
Up next -
The schedule until we leave and to do lists!
Wishing your MIL the best and considering what she's been through, she'll need it!
Plans look good for your Disney stay and cruise. Hope you enjoy Frontera Cocina and Morimoto's as those are the two DS eateries I dined at last year.
__________________
October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
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Are the back to back cruises different or are they pretty much the same? Might not matter much as cruising is so relaxing and depending how much you want to leave the ship or just spend the time on board, which can be good having the entire ship to yourselves on port days! 
Although, I think it's good to get your feet on some terrain once in a while! 
PassPorter Guide Author
Waiting for our next adventure after enjoying our Alaska cruise. 
Jenn
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