FIRSTS, BIRTHS, and GIRTHS - A September 2013 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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I am super excited that you are joining along on our adventurous, first family trip to Walt Disney World! We enjoyed the most amazing trip, incredible food, fantastic character encounters, and a wonderful PassPorter Meet! If you are interested in the preparations leading up to this trip, please check out my PTR - FIRSTS, BIRTHS, AND GIRTHS – A SEPTEMBER 2013 PTR. Otherwise, I invite you to sit back, relax, grab a snack, and prepare yourselves to relive a magical experience that I cannot wait to encounter again! I am your host, Kristin! Let’s start this Trip Report, shall we?!
“Think of all the joy you’ll find when you leave the world behind and bid your cares goodbye!” -Peter Pan
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.
Dates: Saturday, September 7, 2013 – Saturday, September 14, 2013 Airline: Southwest Lodging: Disney’s Polynesian Resort Parks/Tickets: Magic Kingdom – 3 Day Ticket Dining: Disney’s Deluxe Dining Plan
Rather than re-type the introductions for everyone who came along, I am simply going to copy and paste them from my PTR; not too much changed.
Kristin (Me-31): Wife to Tommy, Mom to Hannah, and the Disney trip planner/researcher for the entire cast. I work full-time as a Federal employee. Am I WDW-planning crazy…probably…do I care…NOPE! I feel as though I’m among friends here.
Tommy (DH-30): Amazing husband and father to Hannah. Celebrated his 30th birthday AND first visit at Disney World. Tommy also works full-time as a Federal employee. He was not really what all the excitement was about before the trip, boy did that change! Tommy’s favorite Disney character is Goofy.
Hannah (DD-5): This is my girly girl princess who celebrated her 5th birthday AND first visit to Disney World. Hannah’s interests include playing with her baby dolls and Barbies, coloring, painting, playing outside, dressing up, and helping me around the house. She LOVES Disney princesses and Disney movies. When she sees the castle at the beginning of her movies, she says it’s Cinderella’s house! Hannah’s favorite Disney characters are the princesses (and LOVED Minnie Mouse in WDW!).
Denise (DM): My mom, my best friend, Gammy to Hannah. DD is her only grandchild and wouldn’t miss her first reaction to Disney World for anything! She retired from Federal service in June. Mom turned into my Disney confidante…more on this partnership later! She is also HannahsGammy here on PassPorter! Be sure to say hi; I am sure she will provide comments and fill in the blanks if I miss something. DM’s favorite Disney character is Minnie Mouse.
Rob (DF): My dad (I’m a complete daddy’s girl, but not the “whiny until I get my way” daddy’s girl), Poppy to Hannah. DF’s birthday was the day before we left, so we celebrated him too! Retired from the Police Department this past December. DF’s favorite Disney character is Pluto.
Joanne (DMiL): Tommy’s mom and Granny to Hannah. DMiL LOVES to have a good time and is happiest with all her family around. DMiL and DSFiL (see below) are actually our neighbors and we LOVE it! DMiL works at Hannah’s daycare now and absolutely adores her job! I believe this was her 2nd trip to Disney World. DMiL’s favorite Disney character is Goofy.
John (DSFiL): Tommy’s step-dad and Papaw to Hannah. Blends right in with our family as if he has been there from the start. John had NEVER been to Disney World and he is in his 60s! YAY! Another celebration! John is self-employed and is quite the handy man. He makes great furniture (made Hannah a baby doll bunk bed, a unit for her dress up items, and a massive display unit for our Christmas village display!). DSFiL’s favorite Disney character is Jack Sparrow.
Butch (DFiL): Tommy’s dad and Pop-Pop to Hannah. Since he began dating Charlotte (at least three years ago), he LOVES to travel—Disney World was no exception! I believe Butch has visited Disney World just once, so he was looking forward to a whole new adventure! Butch is a technical specialist/driver for a septic company. DFiL’s favorite Disney character is Nemo.
Charlotte (DSMiL): Butch’s committed partner (wife) and Mom-mom to Hannah. Charlotte is exactly right for Butch; she’s a great companion for him and he loves her so much! For lack of a better explanation, Charlotte is a motivational healer; very spiritual. She teaches classes in the home and attends conferences all over the world. DSMiL’s favorite Disney character is Snow White.
Susie (DA1): My awesome aunt; DF’s sister. We lost my uncle VERY unexpectedly to a heart attack when DD was only one month old. Again, DD is the only “little one” on my side of the family and my aunt was so excited to be a part of her first Disney experience. She LOVES Disney music! Aunt Susie is a Nurse Manager in Pain Management for a local hospital. DA1’s favorite Disney character is Piglet.
Jenny (DC-28): My cousin, daughter of Susie, and Hannah’s partner in crime. According to Hannah, our guest room is “Jenny’s room.” Jenny is an administrative specialist at a local hospital. DC-27’s favorite Disney character is Mater.
Lori (DC-23): My cousin, daughter of Susie, and the OTHER girly girl princess in my family. Lori is an administrative specialist for Johns Hopkins. DC-23’s favorite Disney character is Grumpy.
Judy (DA2): My other awesome aunt; DM’s sister. DA2 and DU (see below) live in Florida and are annual pass holders. When I told them our plans for visiting Disney they said, “Count us in!” They LOVE Disney and have stayed at several of the on-site resorts. Aunt Judy is retired from NSA.
Jess (DU): My uncle married to Judy. This was a second marriage for both of them, but he’s been around since I can remember and is just as awesome. Both DA2 and DU are enjoying retirement to the fullest! Uncle Jess is also retired from NSA.
Dawn (Friend of the ENTIRE family): My entire family pretty much adopted (ironic…I’ll explain below) Dawn and her family. She is one of Aunt Susie’s bestest friends. Dawn is a nurse and teaches nursing classes at a local college. Her husband and son decided to stay home this trip; which was fine. Dawn and Ariana made it a girls trip!
Ariana (Adopted Daughter of Dawn-4): Ariana is 3 months younger than DD (and from China), and their excitement fed off each other! They had such a good time together playing and just being little girls!
Edie (DGodM): Miss Edie is my godmother; and God bless her! I LOVE HER SO MUCH! She is one of the sweetest people you will ever meet. I rarely get to see her and my godfather (last time was November 2011 for my brother’s wedding) since they live in Florida, and I was so excited they joiedn us for dinner at the Boardwalk. Miss Edie watches kids (either in her home or theirs, I’m not entirely sure).
Gene (DGodF): Mr. Gene is my godfather. THE FUNNIEST MAN ON THE PLANET! I remember watching old family movies of him in shorts, rain boots, and an umbrella walking the dog in the pouring Florida rain. Mr. Gene and my DF used to sing Barbershop together before my godparents moved to Florida. I love when we all get together and bust out the Barbershop tunes (thank goodness most of our family can sing!); it’s such a great family pastime.
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.
On Friday, September 6, I woke up, pinned my hair back, and prepared to wake up Hannah. I planned to shower after finishing the house cleaning. Hannah walked into my bedroom just as I came out of the bathroom, looked at my clothing and asked if we were staying home today. Man, she is very observant! She knew I was not dressed appropriately for work! I explained I had a headache and I planned to go to work later in the day. Thankfully, she bought it and was off to get ready for preschool. I stuffed her full of Flintstones vitamins and prayed she would not get sick; one of her little friends threw up all over the table after lunch the day before at preschool.
After dropping Hannah off at preschool, I returned to the house to finish cleaning (bathrooms, laundry, kitchen, washing floors, washing sheets, and vacuuming). After cleaning, I pulled the suitcases out of the spare bedroom where they were hiding and spread them over the family room floor to finish packing. I then had to repack to fit everything in the suitcases and I carted the bigger suitcases over to my in-laws’ house to weigh them on their scale. After some finagling, the larger suitcase finally weighed 50 pounds! Whew! I left the suitcases at my in-laws’ house since I would return later in the evening and went home to shower and switch over the final load of laundry.
I picked Hannah up from preschool and waited for Tommy to return home from work. As soon as he did, I headed back over to my in-laws’ house to pick up DMiL for our nail appointments. First, we stopped at the party store to fill the balloons I purchased a while ago for the reveal. I made plans to return for the balloons after the nail appointments and off we went for some pampering! After our manicures and pedicures, DMiL and I returned to the party store to pick up the balloons and headed home.
Once back at my in-laws’ house, we packed their bags and our suitcases into the back of my SUV and I headed home to a dark and quiet house; Tommy and Hannah were already asleep. I quietly got ready for bed, set the alarm for 3:15am, and concentrated on trying to fall asleep. Unfortunately, sleep did not come so easily; I finally fell asleep at about 10:45pm.
Great re-introduction to the cast! I had forgotten just how many of you were in this gathering. Sleeping the night before Disney is practically impossible.
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Registered Message Board Members Get Our Free Newsletter! When you register you'll have the option to sign up for our weekly PassPorter Newsletter. It's chock-full of feature articles; news; tips; contests; photos; and special offers in our online store.
It was so much fun to have so many family members bouncing around Disney and to hear all of their experiences when we met up.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
Great re-introduction to the cast! I had forgotten just how many of you were in this gathering. Sleeping the night before Disney is practically impossible.
Thank you! I literally had to talk myself into sleep. It was no easy task!
Quote:
Originally Posted by iwonathomas
Great start! You had a lot of people going with you. Can't wait to hear more
Thanks for coming along for the ride!
Quote:
Originally Posted by elisa1006
Great start!!! Looking forward to the reveal.
Thanks! The reveal is coming up soon!
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhToodles!
I'm with Cam - I forgot how many were going! Holy cow!
Way to go on getting out of "staying home".
I had to think quickly; thank goodness she bought it!
Quote:
Originally Posted by kingfamily1129
great start!! I can't wait to hear about Hannah's reaction to the surprise!
Thanks! I hope it doesn't disappoint!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Russi01
Great start. Signing in to follow along!
Thanks and welcome!
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcc0313
What a great start, how wonderful that Hannah had so many people to share her first trip with.
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