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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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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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Alright, it's been awhile. Long time no see. But I suddenly have a trip in the works and I am so excited to share my PTR!
Dates: February 5-11, 2012
Resorts: ASMu and AoA LM
The People:
Sarah: Me! The Disney planner, the obsessed, the one who thinks that a trip with a toddler and an infant will be FUN! Favorite character: Pluto
James: My ever patient husband. He enjoys Disney, but wouldn't be heartbroken if we never went again.
Callum: 2.5 years old. My buddy. Active, friendly, opinionated. Doesn't do so well with change and overwhelming situations (aka being a toddler!). Favorite character: Nemo.
The Quinn-cess (Quinn): 8 months old. Sweet, social, growing a stubborn streak. Babywearing enthusiast. Favorite character: budding Rapunzel fan.
Why?
We were living on the west coast and it has been awhile since our last Disney World trip. We did a couple Disneyland trips in 2011, but we weren't expecting to get to WDW for a few years. And then we got transferred to Toronto in March, and we thought maybe January (marathon weekend!) 2014, once Callum was almost 4 and Quinn was almost 2. I was content with that idea. And then SWA had their crazy Black Friday sale.... And I couldn't turn down $50 flights from Buffalo! And so here we are, making the trip with a newly potty trained toddler and a baby! Whoops! But it's going to be FUN!!!
We have ASMu booked for 5 nights with the DDP and 4 day park hoppers. We added on an extra night at AoA just to check it out, too. I originally had the QSDP with the Stay/Play/Dine package, but James asked me to upgrade so we could do some fun meals.
The Title:
So, when I first started planning this trip, I started turning on a planning DVD for Callum so he could see what we were going to see. He got as far as the Wishes section of the video, when he turned to me and very seriously said, "I get there." The same way he would say, "I get milk." Or, "I get blocks." Simply, he gets "there". Disney World would be his. My little Disney bug was created.
Dining Plans
Here are our ADRs.
Wednesday February 6 - 8:45 Crystal Palace breakfast. We decided to start off bright and early with a character breakfast. I'm not entirely happy with this because it'll eat our first hour of park time when lines are short. Considering changing it - nothing earlier is currently available but I keep checking. Any thoughts?
Thursday February 7 - 8:15 breakfast at Hollywood and Vine. Callum loves the Disney Junior characters so this one is important, especially since the Disney Junior show is closed while we're there.
4:50 dinner at Coral Reef. Callum loves fish, so we thought it would be fun to eat here. James and I ate lunch here after the 2010 marathon.
Friday February 8 - 12:00 lunch ADR at Tusker House. Another character meal and another first time at a restaurant!
Saturday February 9 - 5:15 dinner at Biergarten. I don't love this restaurant but we ate here after the 2011 half marathon and James really likes it.
We also plan to do CS lunch at Be Our Guest. Hopefully!
The Schedule
Here is our loose schedule, knowing that kids tend to change plans...
February 4: Drop dogs at kennel in the morning. After dinner, get kids in pjs and drive the 90ish minutes from Toronto to buffalo. Check in at airport hotel and hopefully get everyone to sleep.
February 5: Early to the airport for our 7:35 flight to MCO. Arrive at MCO at 10:25. DME to ASMu. Spent the rest of the day relaxing, maybe swimming if weather permits, maybe DD for some shopping.
February 6: MK. Crystal Palace for breakfast. Leave when people get tired and come back in the afternoon for more.
February 7: DHS in the morning. Play & Dine character breakfast. Epcot in the afternoon
February 8: AK in the morning. Lunch at Tusker House. Probably sticking it out as long as we can and heading back early. Possibly MK in afternoon if we do take an afternoon nap.
February 9: MK in morning. Epcot in afternoon. Biergarten for dinner.
February 10: Check out of ASMu in morning and head to DtD for a couple hours. Check in to AoA and spend the rest of the day exploring AoA. Dinner at food court.
February 11: 8:30 flight back to Buffalo. Probably hit Target (no Target in Canada yet and I miss it after living in the US for the last 5 years!) on the way home to Toronto.
UP NEXT: Want to see some of the custom stuff I've made for this trip? Oh boy!!!
__________________
Sarah, James, Callum, and Quinn
Last edited by SarahRose; 01-02-2013 at 10:16 PM..
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.
Sorry! Photos removed until I sort out my resizing issues. Photobucket is having issues, and I need to actually get on my computer (I do 97% of my online stuff on my iPhone as my laptop is almost dead!) to resize the images and trip load them.
My Customs!!!
So, I like to sew and I like babywearing. Seems like the perfect solution is for me to sew my own carriers, right? So, I made one for each kid for this trip.
Here is Quinn's Minnie Mouse carrier. This was my first carrier I'd ever sewn and I'm thrilled with how it turned out. It is a baby-sized mei tai made of linen, with a hoodie style sleep hood. SO EXCITED!
And here is Callum's Nemo carrier. I had a lot more experience with making carriers at this point, but appliqueing was all new to me. Nemo was my first applique project, and I learned a lot from it. I'm not entirely happy with how it turned out, but I'm still proud of it for a first shot. It is a toddler sized mei tai, also from linen, with a flat sleep hood (which is probably just for show, because I don't think Callum will ever sleep in it!).
And here is Quinn's Nemo outfit. Appliqued onesie with "anemone" tutu.
And Callum's Nemo shirt. "MINE!!!"
These will be worn on the day that we do our meal at Coral Reef.
I have a couple more t-shirts in the works, and I think I will probably end up making a couple crocheted hats, if it looks like it's going to be cold the week we go.
__________________
Sarah, James, Callum, and Quinn
Last edited by SarahRose; 01-02-2013 at 10:08 PM..
So, I like to sew and I like babywearing. Seems like the perfect solution is for me to sew my own carriers, right? So, I made one for each kid for this trip.
Here is Quinn's Minnie Mouse carrier. This was my first carrier I'd ever sewn and I'm thrilled with how it turned out. It is a baby-sized mei tai made of linen, with a hoodie style sleep hood. SO EXCITED!
And here is Callum's Nemo carrier. I had a lot more experience with making carriers at this point, but appliqueing was all new to me. Nemo was my first applique project, and I learned a lot from it. I'm not entirely happy with how it turned out, but I'm still proud of it for a first shot. It is a toddler sized mei tai, also from linen, with a flat sleep hood (which is probably just for show, because I don't think Callum will ever sleep in it!).
And here is Quinn's Nemo outfit. Appliqued onesie with "anemone" tutu.
And Callum's Nemo shirt. "MINE!!!"
These will be worn on the day that we do our meal at Coral Reef.
I have a couple more t-shirts in the works, and I think I will probably end up making a couple crocheted hats, if it looks like it's going to be cold the week we go.
Edited to add: not sure why editing to add back in the photos posted as a reply... Proof that I should not be posting on 4 hours of broken sleep! Anyone want to talk to the Quinn-cess about sleeping through the night...?
__________________
Sarah, James, Callum, and Quinn
Last edited by SarahRose; 01-02-2013 at 10:22 PM..
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.
I hope that you and your family have a magical time at the world
__________________
Heather - "I'm Tinkerbell's biggest fan!"
WDW - August 1997 Off Property
WDW - January 2005 AKL
WDW - May 2006 Pop Century
WDW- november-dec 2007 pop century
WDW- dec/jan 2009/2010 pop century
WDW- oct/nov 2012 art of animation
WDW- sept 2013 port Orleans riverside
WDW- july 2015 beach club
Great start. I love your baby carriers and outfits. You did a great job. I used to sew clothes for my daughter when she was little. Now it's just quilts and Halloween costumes. Can't wait to read more.
Liz
Thanks for all the comments, guys! We're down to just over a week until we leave, which means it's frantic project time!
Here's what I've been working on for the last couple weeks:
First, Callum and Quinn's "sibling" shirts.
The front:
And the back:
And then I realized that Quinn doesn't have any shoes (just warm winter boots suitable for a Canadian winter - those would be pretty overkill for Orlando!) in her current size, so I found myself some patterns...
Minnie Mouse soft soles:
And Rapunzel Mary Janes:
And not Disney, but Callum wanted his own Backpack from Dora the Explorer, and so I made him one. This will also definitely be coming to WDW, as he's only taken it off to sleep since I gave it to him on Wednesday.
I reserved a crib from A Baby's Best Friend this week, and I did online check in yesterday. YAY!!! We also got our Disney mail this week, with our DME tags and our vouchers. ALSO YAY!!! Last week, I got the dogs to the vet to get their boosters for the kennel, and Callum, Quinn, and I went in to get our (last minute paranoia!!!) flu shots.
Other than that, I've been starting to make my packing lists. Wanna see my gear?
First, I sold my Britax B-Ready double stroller that both kids hated a few weeks ago, and I bought a used Joovy Caboose Ultralight. I'm not super-happy with it, but my son will sit in it, so it's light years ahead of the Britax. I'm going to need to clean it up before we go, because I've been pushing it through the slush and salt for the last couple weeks, so it's already looking a bit rough.
Next, I've made my (tentative!) baby carrier list.... and yes, I probably will need my own suitcase just for my carriers! Just kidding..... I hope! Making the final cut are: Standard sized Kinderpack, Toddler Tula (my husband's carrier for Callum), both the Mei Tais that I made, and Natibaby Linen Afrika yellow/brown woven baby wrap in a 4 meter size. Why yes, that is FIVE carriers for two children. Blah. It's hard to have an obsession....
And then the mountain of clothing, diapers, baby food, toys, etc. that comes with traveling with a toddler and an infant.... I'm going to place a Amazon.com order in the next few days for baby food pouches, a rain cover for the stroller, and Pull-Ups, so that we don't have to pack those. Callum potty trained a couple months ago, but I'm going to pack diapers and Pull-Ups for him (we've never used Pull-Ups, but I'm going to use them for the parks!!) just in case - I don't want to have to wash clothes every night because Disney was too excited for a newly potty trained toddler!
Costco had bathing suits for sale this week, so I grabbed suits and rash guards (with matching hats!) for both kids. I also ran to Carters last night and picked up a few pieces of summer clothing for Quinn. I'm praying for "unseasonably warm" weather, so I hope we'll get to use some of that warm weather clothing!
That's about it for now! This turned into more of a random stream of consciousness post, but I'm trying to work through our last minute plans and I feel like I need to start coming up with lists and spreadsheets to figure out all these logistics! I need to come up with my packing list tomorrow, so if anyone has a great packing list for infants/toddlers, be sure to share it!
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And so here we are, making the trip with a newly potty trained toddler and a baby! Whoops! But it's going to be FUN!!!
I originally had the QSDP with the Stay/Play/Dine package, but James asked me to upgrade so we could do some fun meals. 
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Pixie Dust
The baby carriers and outfits are adorable! 
<--- Disney Fantasy 2016!
PassPorter Guide Author
with the packing!
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