PassPorter.com Feature Article
Original article at: http://www.passporter.com/articles/decade-of-dreams-10th-anniversary-celebration.html

Decade of Dreams: PassPorter's 10th Anniversary Celebration

by Cheryl Pendry, PassPorter Featured Columnist
Last modified 8/7/2008

When plans were first announced for PassPorter's Decade of Dreams tour in 2009, it was something that I just knew I had to be involved with.

The Decade of Dreams tour celebrates the 10th anniversary of the first publication of the Disney guide we've all come to know and love, PassPorter, with coast to coast fun planned during the year. Highlights include a seven night Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Disney Magic, heading out on April 25, 2009 when it will be making its inaugural visit at the island of Tortola; and an Adventures by Disney expedition to explore Hollywood and the Disneyland Resort, followed by extra time in the Disneyland Resort in California in the fall. But for me, the one celebration that immediately took my interest was the four night stay at Walt Disney World, taking place straight after the Eastern Caribbean cruise, with the party beginning May 2 and continuing until May 6. This part of the tour also coincides with the actual 10th anniversary of the first PassPorter's publication on May 3, 1999.

To explain why I was so keen to be a part of these celebrations, we need to backtrack in time to some of the wonderful Disney vacations we've taken before. I'm sure, if you're a Disney fan, that you've experienced that awful moment when someone asks you where you're going on vacation and when you tell them that you're going back to Disney, they just roll their eyes and say "What - again?" Many people don't understand the attraction - or indeed the magic - that lies within the Disney theme parks around the world, which is how I originally found myself drawn to the PassPorter message boards.

I quickly discovered that, unlike other message boards, this place was more like being at Disney, in that it was surrounded by magic and it was just like being part of a huge, welcoming family. Therefore, when the chance came to meet other members of the boards, I jumped at it and, without exception, we've always found everyone we've met through PassPorter to be absolutely delightful, with many of them going on to become exceptionally good friends, despite the thousands of miles between us.

Move forward to 2005 and it was time for us to experience our first MouseFest, a Disney fan gathering in which PassPorter participates, which takes place annually in early December. It was a wonderful, if exhausting, experience, mainly due to all the various meets that we ended up dashing between. By our next MouseFest in 2007, we had learned to be selective about our meets and to not pack so much into what should be a vacation! Once again, we had a great time, seeing lots of old friends and meeting people who would quickly become new friends to us.

That's why the Decade of Dreams Tour immediately appealed, as it would bring together PassPorter message board members from all over the place, both within the States and outside it. But more than that, it's a celebration that's been dreamed up by Jennifer and Dave, who we're all familiar with as the authors of the PassPorter guidebooks to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and the Disney Cruise Line; and of course they'll be at each stop along the way.

As I've learned from MouseFest in the past, whenever Jennifer and Dave are around, it usually means that there'll be a lot of fun and perhaps even some special activities, and the Decade of Dreams Tour is proof of that. Some of the special activities taking place on board the Magic include a cruise-long PassPorter treasure hunt, customized port guides, and you can even take shore excursions with Jennifer and Dave. Perhaps best of all, cruisers will all be included in what I'm sure will be a huge group photo to be included in the 2010 edition of the Disney Cruise Line PassPorter.

There's more of the same when you get to Walt Disney World, with travelers again able to take part in another huge group shot for the 2010 edition of that particular PassPorter guide, more treasure hunts and some optional parties. Obviously, there may be additional fees with some of these activities, but one thing's for sure; it's going to be a lot of fun.

Booking is already open for both legs of this tour. To find out more, visit the Decade of Dreams Tour Headquarters at http://www.passporter.com/decade-of-dreams.asp

And what about the West Coast activities? Well, so far, no dates are yet fixed for this part of the tour, apart from fall 2009, but as soon as they are, you'll find out about it in this newsletter! Even if you don't think you can make any of these dates, there are still ways to get involved, with online celebrations being planned for February 9, 2009, the anniversary of the launch of the PassPorter message boards and April 14, 2009, the anniversary of the launch of the PassPorter.com website. And if you live on the East Coast, maybe the one day city event in New York City in late May or MagicMeets in Pennsylvania in July may take your fancy. There's even a one day event being planned for Michigan in August 2009.

And as for me, how am I getting involved in the tour? I'll be there for the Walt Disney World segment, staying at the Contemporary Resort for the first time -- it's one of three resorts offered to guests, with the other two being Port Orleans French Quarter and All Star Movies. I'm hoping, just like MouseFest, to renew old friendships with people I may not have seen for some time and to meet new friends from PassPorter.

About the Author: Cheryl is the author of the e-book, PassPorter's Walt Disney World for British Holidaymakers, and is the co-author of PassPorter's Disney Vacation Club Guide: For Members and Members-To-Be. Cheryl and husband Mark live in England and love to travel, particularly to Disney, and they have travelled around the world, taking in a number of Disney cruises, Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Aulani in Hawai'i, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney and Hong Kong Disneyland on the way. Click here to view more of Cheryl's articles!

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Updated 8/7/2008

Check for a more updated version at http://www.passporter.com/articles/decade-of-dreams-10th-anniversary-celebration.html