2017: When Life Gives You Political Strife, Go To Disney World! - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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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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2017: When Life Gives You Political Strife, Go To Disney World!
No matter which side of the political fence you call home, there is so much tension in our country that finding joy and spreading love can seem nearly impossible. So why not spend a few days at the happiest place on earth?
I contemplated calling this TR “Suddenly WDW!” Because the trip materialized in exactly 3 weeks. I feel just a bit cheated on the planning phase, which I love, but here we go!
This is us on Peter's last trip to WDW in 2009
The Pre-Trip ... Who: My 17 year old son and I! When: March 4-10, 2017 Why: In no particular order:
1. I attended a professional development conference in Cleveland. In February! Who goes to Cleveland in February? Music educators. It was so cold and unbelievably windy, that my soul CRAVED sunshine, warmth, and magic.
2. The political climate is bringing me down (see title.)
3. We can afford it, as long as we stick to the budget friendly transportation, lodging, and ticket options listed below.
4. It's my son’s senior year, and he isn't interested in a drunken senior trip with friends. (Yay! I did something right!)
5. My ex didn't love WDW, so I dumped him 5 years ago, giving him absolutely no say in my vacation plans! (OK, maybe it had more to do with his mistress, who is 14 years younger than us, but I'm over it. Really. Don't cry for me, Magic Kingdom!)
6. My fabulous, new-ish husband and stepson (also a 17 year old senior) are going to upstate New York to visit family from stepson’s mom’s side of the family. No thank you. Cold. Not my scene. Transportation: Driving 14 hours each way makes this affordable. Lodging: Vacation Village at Parkway also makes this trip affordable.
Not surprisingly, finding acceptable lodging on WDW property at an affordable rate just 3 weeks before spring break is next to impossible. I tried a few travel websites and looked into renting DVC points, but I found Value rooms under construction and 2-3 bedroom Deluxe Villas at exorbitant rates. I then called a friend with a timeshare. She was happy to set up a 1 BR with a kitchen at Vacation Village at Parkway for only $600 for the week! This covers her maintenance fees and the fees for transferring her time to a friend. If she collects a bit more on top of the fees, I really don't care. It's a win/win situation.
I love Extra Magic Hours, so this is a trade off, but this looks like a decent place. Tripadvisor gives it a 4 out of 5 rating. The unit gives my son and I more privacy than a regular hotel room. 6 pools, a gym, shuttles to the Transportation and a Ticketing hub at WDW, internet, and it appears to be only 6-8 minutes from WDW. Tickets: I shopped around, and found that the best deal for us is the 4 Park Magic Ticket. For a limited time, this ticket provides 1 day at each of the 4 parks - no hopping, and no repeating a park on another day. I paid $594 for two tickets, including tax. Standard 4day tickets for 2 would have cost over $125 more, and Park Hoppers would have been almost $300 more! Yikes!
I loved park hopping in the past, especially when I stayed in the Boardwalk/Beach Club/Yacht Club area. We enjoyed spending a day at a park, then walking to Epcot for dinner and Illuminations. Ah, the freedom to go to morning extra magic hours at one park, take a break in the afternoon, and spend evening extra magic hours at a different park! But staying off site means that hopping isn't such a big deal to me. Dining: The plan is breakfast in the room and carry most of our own snacks. Lunches will be counter service, and I was able to reserve the following dinners: March 5 - Magic Kingdom day - The Wave (Contemporary Resort) at 5:20 PM
Just a quick monorail ride back to MK for the fireworks! March 6 - DHS day - Sci Fi Drive In at 6:50 PM
Never tried it, but it sounds like fun! At first there were no available times, but I checked back a few times and got a table. March 7 - AK day - no reservation.
We will probably stay at the park until late afternoon. Then we’ll go to Disney Springs to shop around and grab a bite to eat somewhere not too pricey. March 8 - Epcot day - Chefs of France at 6:40
Hopefully we’ll have time to get a spot to watch Illuminations after dinner. March 9 - Train Day! My son is majoring in photography at Ohio University next year, and his passion is photographing trains. He has mapped out locations in which he can take pics of the Florida East Coast Rail Road, at least I think that's what it's called.
March 10 -Drive back to Ohio.
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.
Sounds like a great trip fast approaching. Lot of good food options in Disney Springs that aren't overly expensive. Some of these include: Deluxe Burger, Art Smith's Homecoming Frontera Cocina (Mexican food and I ate here last year and enjoyed it), Raglan Road, Smokehouse at House of Blues, Splitzville and Paradiso 37. Much more to chose from, but these are some of the many options here.
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Sounds like a great mother-son trip. Just remember even if it is not your perfect ticket choice or hotel it is sunshine and DISNEY so it is definitely better than any day in OH.
You have done an excellent job planning a spring break trip on short notice and a budget. My husband loves trains, and has a train room in a spare bedroom even. Hope we'll get to see some of your son's train photos.
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.
My Disney Experience kinda rocks! Yesterday I read an old trip report in which I was annoyed with the old phone-based ADR system. The new system is so much more convenient! I love ❤️ not having to wait on hold anymore!
For a week or so I was somewhat confused about FP+. I reserved 3 for each day, but I made a mistake and didn't realize I could make changes. Thankfully I posted a question about it and Joelsmom assured me that I could indeed modify my FP+'s. Success!
My son who never gets sick got the flu 5 days ago. Yesterday the doctor confirmed that it's Strain A of the flu, which lasts 6-10 days. Peter is improving slowly. Hopefully he will be ready for travel on Saturday at 5 AM, and with any luck my flu vaccine is keeping me immune. Please send pixie dust our way!
I didn't think he was a fan of the trip journals I made him when he was younger, but after looking at them this evening, Peter asked hopefully if I made him one for this trip! The printer has just stopped printing, but I'll find a way to make it so!
Plans are looking good and hope all of you are feeling better soon!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
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2017: When Life Gives You Political Strife, Go To Disney World!
March 5 - Magic Kingdom day - The Wave (Contemporary Resort) at 5:20 PM
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My husband loves trains, and has a train room in a spare bedroom even. Hope we'll get to see some of your son's train photos. 
My Disney Experience kinda rocks! Yesterday I read an old trip report in which I was annoyed with the old phone-based ADR system. The new system is so much more convenient! I love ❤️ not having to wait on hold anymore!
For a week or so I was somewhat confused about FP+. I reserved 3 for each day, but I made a mistake and didn't realize I could make changes. Thankfully I posted a question about it and Joelsmom assured me that I could indeed modify my FP+'s. Success! 
My son who never gets sick got the flu 5 days ago. Yesterday the doctor confirmed that it's Strain A of the flu, which lasts 6-10 days. Peter is improving slowly. Hopefully he will be ready for travel on Saturday at 5 AM, and with any luck my flu vaccine is keeping me immune. Please send pixie dust our way! 
I didn't think he was a fan of the trip journals I made him when he was younger, but after looking at them this evening, Peter asked hopefully if I made him one for this trip! The printer has just stopped printing, but I'll find a way to make it so!
getting the journal ready, too. 
Hybrid Mode
