Passing through the Panama Canal - a Passporter's Tale **Updated 8/21** About This Page:

[JoanW]

Oh too bad I did not know that- I was up at the crack of dawn with the dogs and would have come by for a morning beverage with you!

[DyanKJ130]

Just catching up, Terri! Great updates!! the photos and videos!!

Originally Posted by Earkid

Dr. Dolphin, I just looked at some of my cruise video and I recognized you in several of the dining room shows. You do a mean limbo.

YouTube!!! YouTube!!! YouTube!!! Please!!!

Can't wait to hear more

[MickeyMAC]

Just getting caught up, great pictures. Love the floppy hat picture.

[DrDolphin]

Maniacs - that's what we are!

We had to wake up early today - 630am early. I will tell you that felt just down right unfair.... then I remembered not only were we heading to "Mickey's boat" (a term borrowed from my 9 year old niece), but we were meeting a surprise guest for breakfast and ride fun this morning! SO - we got up, finished packing, called Bell Services, turned over the 6 bags o'stuff and headed downstairs and out to the Boardwalk for breakfast. We were meeting Princess Sharon, (aka P'Sha, aka FastPassy Galore) for a Spoodles breakfast and then heading to HS (I refuse to call it DHS since in my world that stands for Dept of Homeland Security) for the AP opening of Toy Story Midway Mania!!

Now as we walked down to the Boardwalk - Lesley thought she saw Sharon waiting for us - and she was. SOMEHOW - even though all three of us had cameras - none of us too any pictures under we were sitting in Spoodles with food in front of us!! Now what was that all about??? (OK - so Sharon took pictures on her walk to Boardwalk... but not of us!).

Oh well - back to the story. We had great breakfasts (Thanks Lesley!) -

I ate about 1/3 of my food (and we all like crispy bacon!!)

And after breakfast headed back to the Boardwalk to load the bags into the car and for the 3 of us to drive over to HS.... well that was the IDEA - and it clashed mightily with my little "let's get a convertible" idea... since the convertible top SEVERELY limited the trunk and thus storage space for 6 very large bags of stuff for two women headed out on a 15-night cruise....

SO -- being adaptable - I stayed with the car, and the bags - and Lesley and Sharon walked to HS. I drove over once we figured out how to get everything in.


I left Boardwalk and drove over - ending up in Mickey Stage lot - row 41 - which is actually the 2nd row of cars from the entrance. I stood there a few minutes and took photos. It wasn't too long before Lesley and Sharon walked up.



Now Princess Sharon has told you about most of the doings that morning in her very timely TR --
I'm a Maniac. Maniac. - **COMPLETE!! 5/23**

So I won't repeat much here since she is such a stellar story teller!!! But I can share my pictures.

Never fails I get in the line with the machine that EATS Annual Passes - Both Lesley and I ended up getting new ones... Sharon on the other hand - just got passed through the machine next to us.

After getting the new passes - we made a Bee-line back to the line for Toy Story Mania -

It was quite the line - but it moved pretty quickly. We passed the time chatting and taking pictures.

I love the entrance and the Monkey's in the Barrel!!


I thought we were getting close - NOPE!!
Somewhere up there in front of us were Matt (MATTUGA) and his DW Bethany (BTW Matt - my cousin's name is Bethany and she is married to Matt.... obviously a successful combo all around!).






When you enter into the Queue - you enter Andy's Bedroom - the floor of Andy's bedroom - the theming and details were just out of this world!


They knew I was coming!! (this is right inside the entrance door) - and right next to the T was an S

I decided to keep my eyes open for an L.

Sharon and I snapped away while chatting. I have to admit - it is a LONG queue - but an interesting one with lots of things to look at (and bring back many childhood memories).







A nice lady in front of us took a picture of the three of us.


Then we got to Mr. Potato Head! He interacts with Guests, and can even remove his ears!

And we found the L for Lesley!!


We got to the 3-d glasses pickup area and they stopped us for a moment, so the CM took a photo -

And then we were escorted through a back area to the special needs loading area. It appears that they can load 8 people (2 cars - with 4 people in each) into a set of cars at a time - so the three of us were needed to fill in a special needs car with 2 other families. They have separated this so that the slower loading does not slow up the line for everyone else - and once you are all loaded in - you and added back into the regular line of cars. Pretty cool!!

Lesley and I sat next to each other, and Sharon was back to back with us.

Lesley demonstrates the firing device. I actually prefer this one to Buzz - no "Buzz Thumb"!


We headed into the actual ride - it is 3d - so no pictures - but after we were all done -

I am player 2.

And I took this photo for Eileen and Calder's collection -


Continued in the next post!

[DrDolphin]

After a fun filled ride - Lesley and I realized we needed to head toward the front of the park to start our drive to Port Canaveral. As we headed out - I wanted to get a particular post card that Lesley had shown me (walt and the castle) and Lesley needed to return a shirt she had purchased... so after as we did that - Sharon took our APs and headed to TOT to get three Fast Passes for her day.

Lesley and I found a photopass photographer and right then Sharon popped up - so we all posed for a few photos.



I think we should call the last one - "Passporter Angels"

Here is where Lesley and I had to say goodbye to Miss Sharon!! We'd had such fun - but had a big boat to catch. I know that we will see her again!! SOON! After hugs and safe travels were exchanged - Lesley and I headed for the car and Sharon headed back to Beach Club to get her id.

We got to the car -

Squeezed in and headed to Port Canaveral. It took about an hour and 20 minutes since I took 417 around Orlando instead of I-4 and 528. Although Lesley had joked about sleeping while I drove - she stayed awake. We talked a little - but not too much. I think we were both too excited! I should say here that the next few photos were taken by Lesley - not by me while driving! Since we all know I would NEVER do that....

Can you see the Magic yet?? Look really hard!

Ah - there she is!!

I dropped Lesley off at the terminal with the bags and took the rental car to refill the gas and turn it in. It took a little longer than I had planned, and by the time I got back to the terminal, through security and met Lesley to check in - we were boarding group 17... So we had a bit of a wait in the rather crowded terminal.

Lesley had found Laurie (LauriP) and her roomie Carol and coordinated an attack strategy for Palo reservations for tea and brunch. I was actually pretty tired, cranky (and hungry) at this point. I just wanted to get on the ship. Last time I cruised - this boarding number system didn't exist. When you were ready - you went...

Lesley patiently waiting to board.

Me, not so patiently, waiting to board.

The people in the terminal were neat to watch and identify some standouts that we would see throughout the cruise. Finally they called group 16 - so we stood up and approached the boarding area. Then - "Those in boarding group #17, you are approved to board" YEAH!!!! We entered the Mickey ears and after several Key to the World and Passport Checks - arrived at the boarding photo area - and I was surprised that they had different backgrounds - but you really couldn't choose - it was whatever you got.


Let the Adventure Begin!!!

Next - The fun begins!

[CountryTink]

Great update. That was quite the line for TSMM but glad it all worked out and you were able to spend some fun time with P-Sha. Really looking forward to hearing more.

[chezp]

Wow, that was some line for Toy Story Mania! I'm so glad you're finally aboard.

[Colexis Mom]

Glad you had a great morning with Sharon!! Love the pics!! and yeah.....you're onboard More please

[lauriep]

What a morning! I can't believe you did all that before getting to the terminal. Now for the cruise!

[ariel14]

Yay-you are on board!!!! More pls!!!!!

[buckysmom]

great shots of Toy Story Mania...DS and I are SO READY to check it out in the fall now!!!

I can't imagine how you were patiently waiting in group #17-I was bouncing up and down at #2!

Now we're all ready for more!

[MickeyMAC]

Your trip is great. I can't wait to read all about the cruise.

[WDWfan]

The trip over in the convertible was so relaxing. The sun was shining and the wind was gently blowing through our hair. I was able to just sit back and relax while Terri drove. I made a couple of calls to check in with my kids, but mostly I just enjoyed the ride. This was my first Disney cruise and my first visit to Port Canaveral. It was so coming over the bridge and seeing the Magic for the first time.

When Terri dropped me at the port with the luggage the porter had a heck of a time getting the suitcases out of the back seat. The valet at BWV had really worked hard to get them all in! I was impressed with the service at the port. Even though there were a lot of people arrivimg they had plenty of smiling people to help you and to direct you where to go. You could tell they were all Disney trained.

Getting through security omly took a few minutes and then I went up the escalator and was overwhelmed with the number of people waiting. The place was jammed with cruisers and it was only 11:00 am! Since I knew Terri would be a little while I decided to go get a beverage. Of course the only place to get a drink was at the far end of the terminal.

I slowly made my way through the sea of humanity and got to the small CS place only to find out they don't take money - only KTTW cards. I was really thirsty and the CM took pity on me and got me a glass of ice water. It was as I was walking back that Laurie found me. She and Carol had been there for awhile and were in boarding group 5. I didn't know it yet, but we would be getting boarding group 17.

After we met each other and exchanged room numbers and decided Carol would head to the Palo line to try to get the 4 of us Brunch and Tea reservations, Terri would meet her in line, I think Laurie was going to try to change their dining time and I was heading off to take a spa tour and book some treatments!

Terri soon arrived and check in was very quick. They started boarding while we were checking in. We were able to find Laurie and Carol before they boarded so Terri could meet them and would recognize Carol in the Palo line.

While we waited (and Terri was right - she was a bit impatient . I think she was tired from getting up so early and since she had driven and returned the car she hadn't had a chance to really relax yet) we saw several kids who had obviously been in the terminal too long without enough to do. I also checked us in at the DVC desk in the terminal and got some pins to wear and gave them our stateroom number so we would be included in all of the DVC activities.

Finally our group was called. This was my first time entering through the Mickey Ears entrance to the ship and I was SO excited.

[HeatherD]

I am so glad you guys are finally on board! I can't wait to read what happens next...well, you know, in detail and with pictures. Since we already read this live. But I want more! More more more! (just call me Veruca).

[DawnDenise]

What a fun morning with Sharon and TSM! Great pictures!!! Looking forward to hearing more in depth about the cruise!!! You made it!!