Dreams Come True - Our 1st Family WDW TRip Report - Completed w/Photos - Updated 10/7 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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Dreams Come True - Our 1st Family WDW TRip Report - Completed w/Photos - Updated 10/7
Cast of characters:
me: 39 (been to WDW 5 times - 1st time was when I was 6)
dh - 43 (found disney through me!)
ds - 2
dd - 4
Stayed at CS resort Sept 21st - 29th in 9B Cabanas (thanks passporters!)
Overall impressions of CS:
Atmosphere/grounds - A
(loved the plants, the pool was very nice, the hammocks, and the overall feel)
Room - B
(loved the location and proximity to everything. The hot water for the inroom sink was really hot really fast and the cold never got too cold)
Food - D
(did not care for the pepper market and the general chaos...the mayan grill was a fiasco the one night we had dinner there and the food was horrible)
Resort Location - A
(15 min to MK and Epcot, 25 to DTD...never had to wait long for a bus either to or from the parks)
DME was very fast and efficient. I was amazed. We were off the plane, through check in, on the bus and to our resort within about an hour or so. Kids did not nap on plane or in the bus. We checked in quickly and napped when we got to our room. Bummer was my DH sent our costumes to the resort and they were no where to be found. Still don't know where they are! He will check with the postal service tomorrow. THe manager credited us for the MNSSHP party and an additional $150 dollars so that was very nice. We decided to make the most of it and go anyway as the kids would not know the difference. Hardly anyone was dressed up and it was sooooo blistering hot. We would have melted! To tell you the truth, the MNSSHP was NOT a good 1st impression of Disney for the kids. Abby was freaked out by the scary music. We had a hard time finding the trick or treat spots and it was PACKED! The kids did meet princess Minnie at her house and that was neat! We also met Goofy right at the entrance. I had to run and get the autograph books from the nearest store as we were not prepared!! Anyway, we stayed for the fireworks and the music also freaked out my daughter. She told us she was done listening to the scary music. The fireworks were cool though and we assured her MK would not be like this the entire time. She was very excited to see CIndy's castle and wanted so badly to go inside. little did she know we had ressies for CRT the following night! All in all, MNSSHP did not work for us. THe heat, the crowds, the scare factor were all a little much. The scary music plays sooo loudly through the park! Maybe I should have prepped Abby more?! Anyway, we skipped the parade and went back to the room for a good night's sleep.
A review of CRT to come ....and it's a good one! THE highlight and magic moment of our trip.....
Sorry your little ones didn't like MNSSHP. It was a little crowded I agree since I heard they weren't sold out for the night. Can only imagine what it is like when sold out. My DS really liked it and he was really intrigued with parade and the characters in halloween costumes.
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They caught us all smiling and looking at the camera!!!
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.
Slept in and our DD really wanted to swim so we thought we would hang at the resort and enjoy the awesome pool. The kids napped then as part our our "homemade magic" we woke the kids up with a special homemade invite from Cindy asking our kids to meet her at the castle. Our DD was THRILLED to say the least! The CRT was THE magic moment of the trip. How amazing to be in the castle!! Cindy was the friendliest princess we met on the trip. She took her time with the kids and really fussed over our DD. For once in her life she was speechless!! Our DD loved dressing as Cindy too. We got her all decked out at the Emporium and toild her the dress was on hold for her just for the dinner.
We took our pics and waited until we could be seated. The food was pretty lousy but the atmosphere more than made up for it. after dinner the FG and Suzie and Perla came out for a really fun show. they sang and the mice danced with our DD. THat was the 2nd time my DH and I had to choke back the tears. our DD LOVES the mice and she was so funny - saying "Just so you know...there are mice in this castle!" Hee, hee! It was fabulous and in our minds, worth EVERY penny.
After the dinner we checked out a few rides then got in position for the Spectromagic parade which is spectacular. My kids were soo in love with the lights and the music and the floats. it was really magical for them! Even our DS was calling out the characters he knew. This time, I did cry. It was such a cool thing. My DD said "Mama" after the parade and hugged me tight for a long time. disney magic at it's best!!
I was so excited about the day...I didn't sleep well at all! I should have had a drink!
Sunday --
Chef Mickeys - and passporter friends - you ROCK! We got to ride the monorail from MK to Contemporary with the captain! Even our Dd thought it was cool. The breakfast was yummy. It just took a lonnngg time to get all the characters to sign our books and take pics - probably 90 minutes!
After breakfast we headed to MK for a character extravaganza! Chip and dale by the train station, PInocchio and his dad, Foulfellow and Gideon, Aladdin w/the genie and Jasmine and passporter friends strike again - PP, WENDY, CH AND SMEE right where you told me they would be!!! My kids were in HEAVEN!!! It was awesome...
We caught the afternoon parade by, where else, casey's Corner - hot dogs in hand and rain ponchos on! Who cares though! Our DD was excited to see all the princesses on the float and the beast! Wahoo! The "evil" women of Disney were also cool to see. Late naps then a swim followed by pizza (ordered from Pizza Hut!) eaten on the beds while watching Snow White. Nothin' better!
Oh good! The next two days more than made up for your arrival day! I'm glad your DD's first impression of MK didn't affect her enjoyment at CRT. Sounds like she had a great time!!! Can't wait to hear what happened next!
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Sounds like the balls finally rolling...two magical days in a row. And by the way the official best way to see a parade in MK is with a hotdog for Caseys Corner in hand
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.