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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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
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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.
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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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So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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Need to share and the DH is tired of talking Disney...
I finally booked the return from Disney Flight today, so besides getting DH park tickets and paying for food/Goodies the trip is planned. And oh has it been full of changes.
People actually going on this trip
Hugmonster (Me) - Computer Programmer by day, Disney Addict all the time
Crossbow(DH) - QA Analyst - Closet Disney Addict
This trip originally came to planing when we noticed the annually Disney Pin Event (GenEARation D Event | Collections By Disney) was the weekend before a friend's annual work conference taking place in Orlando this year. I was supposed to attend the pin event and then my DH would join me on Sunday and the friends would join on the following Wednesday. Thus the start of the many resorts. I booked a Studio for me for Thursday thru Sunday........ The friends went an bought a new house and well it has been interesting so Disney is out of the running for them.
DH has been saying that ten days in Disney is too long for him now. Ok, So I ask when he wants to arrive and leave..... "Lets go in together on Wednesday so I can do that breakfast with you on Thursday!" Insert Resort number 2 as Resort 1 is full.
Talking about flights home, with events to be revealed later I'd like to stay thru at least Wednesday. So I'm thinking go home Thursday, he's thinking Friday, and we can save 70 if we stay till Saturday morning. He decides he'd like another day in Disney...... Yep Mr I think 10 days is too long has now adjusted us to staying ten days. Resort 3 with two different reservations.
Wednesday -
We fly out of Columbus landing about 6:40PM.
Check in at Bay Lake Tower
Goals for the evening - Turn my AP voucher into a real AP at MK before they close at 9. Back up plan is head for DTD and exchange it there.
Thursday -
Check Out really early and do a luggage transfer to Beach Club Villas
Need to be at DHS by 8:15 to meet up with a Pin Trading Group for a Special Breakfast they do in the Prop Shop so we will be hoping a Taxi. If last nights plans for getting my AP did not happen I will be hitting Guest Relations here as I have been told they open one hour before the park, which opens at 9.
After breakfast we will be hopefully hitting One Mans Dream and Voyage of the Little Mermaid as both are rumored to close in the end of September, and I want to see them one more time. I also do not like to temp fate by waiting till later in the trip.
Head out of the park we will stop at Guest Relations to upgrade DH's ticket from a 5 day to a DVC Annual Pass. I have from good sources that we can do this, and it is best to do after using a day on the pass. Normally I would buy him an AP as well but budget issues have us having the money for that at Disney.
Next stop is Coronado Springs to pick up my preordered pins from the Pin Event. This will save me standing in a long line during the event time on Friday morning.
Then we head to the Beach Club Villa to check in and hopefully unpack a little.
We have a dinner reservation at Spice Road for 6:25 tonight with friend so a short walk thru the International Gateway puts us in Epcot for the evening. Depending on how tired we are we may or may not make Illuminations tonight.
Friday -
I will be up and in the line for the Disney Pin breakfast at 7:30 am. Last year the line took an hour to get thru security and into the event space. Luckily the International Gate way is usually about a 10 minute walk from the BCV.
Pretty much I will spend the day pin trading and talking Disney Pins with others as addicted as I am. I hope to run into some of the friends we have made in the last three years. At some point I will take a break and get counter service lunch, most likely in France.
The event ends at 6:30 which should give me time to take my stuff back to the room and do a quick change before dinner with the DH at 7:30 at Coral Reef.
What's DH going to do while I am pin trading??? NO idea, he has talked about loving the idea of just relaxing at Disney, and decided that the theme for this year's event did nothing for him.
Saturday
I get to sleep in today as the event does not start till 9:30 so I can be in the line between 8:30 and 9.
Repeat fun day of pin trading and get to see what is coming up for new releases.
The event ends at 6:00 today so I will be heading back to the room for another quick change and then belated Anniversary dinner at Yachtsman Steak house at 7:15.
After dinner tonight I need to pack up the room for move to room # 3 at resort #3.
More to come.....
__________________
Dreams, Wishes, Hopes... these are the parts of childhood we should never lose.
Sounds like you'll be busy!! We have not gotten into pin trading, but two years ago we talked to a nice couple on a bus back to the resort who were there for the pin trading event. They were both really into it as well!
Reading your PTR is getting me more excited about our trip the following week. Might just start my own PTR this time!
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Oh wow! You definitely have a few resorts to visit on this trip!! My daughter is just really getting into the pin trading so this event would be really cool! I can't wait to read more about your trip!
Ok I snuck in some more PTR writing when the system was slow ....
So when I left off last we were planning on packing up on Saturday to move Sunday morning…
Had an idea on this process, Instead of packing a suitcase for me and a suitcase for DH we are going to pack a suitcase for each part of the trip. This way we unpack, use the suitcase for dirties and then all we have to do is really repack toiletries.
Sunday
We can sleep in a little this morning before calling bell services to transfer our bags to Saratoga Springs Resorts.
As soon as that is done we are off to Animal Kingdom to see Nemo, ride Everest, eat Lunch at Tusker House and see the Lion King show. I am sure we will do more but this is the Fastpass+ and ADR plan.
Once we tire of the AK heat we are catching a bus to The Polynesian Village to attempt to visit Trader Sam’s for a lighter dinner and a few adult beverages. Hoping to meet up with a Passporter here as well.
Depending on timing we may go back to DHS for Fantasmic tonight. It’s the best night for our schedule.
Monday
Starting the day early with breakfast at Boma for 9:30. It think this is late enough that we can do the bus to DTD and a Bus to AKL instead of paying for a taxi. Alternately we can take an AK bus and then switch to and AKL bus there.
After filling ourselves on the yummy spit roasted meats and Jungle Juice we are headed to the Magic Kingdom. Fastpass+ for Big Thunder, Jungle Cruise and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Still hoping for Pirates to reopen early, but we will also be staying for the parades and fireworks tonight.
I’m planning on Casey’s Corner for dinner here. I also bet on at least one Dole Whip.
Tuesday
This is my official no plans till dinner day. We might go play Mini Golf, wander DTD or just end up at the park that is calling to us, until 5:00 when we visit the Grand Floridian Café for dinner before Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party.
Might even pop over to the Magic Kingdom early to get our Wrist bands as this was the best dinner plan I could do. We are getting there as they open. We have left to many special events starving as we forgot to stop and eat. And all of the in park reservations where full before I remembered.
I keep looking at the new Dessert event they are doing this year for MNSHP, but I think it is too much money and party time. I have Characters to see, candy to collect and magical pictures to get. Time just fly’s by for us.
I'm going to stop here and continue more later....
__________________
Dreams, Wishes, Hopes... these are the parts of childhood we should never lose.
Last edited by Hugmonster; 08-19-2015 at 04:40 PM..
The shared suitcases is what we always do even if we are only staying in one resort. It just makes it so so much easier. We just open one at a time and store the others. Other than less to unpack/repack it's a plus in case one suitcase would have a delay in arriving from the airport.
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Dreams, Wishes, Hopes... these are the parts of childhood we should never lose.
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