Wise Women, Good Looking Men and Way Cool Teens - Page 5 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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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.
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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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Dec 10
I woke up early and jumped into the shower. Sleeping Beauty didn't wake up until I was out and mostly ready for the day. We picked up packages from the previous shopping and tried to locate a small box to mail those buttons and postcard to the folks at the Hampton Inn. No luck finding a small box so all that went back to the room. We had our usual breakfast, still saving that one meal credit for whatever reason.
Today looks rainy so we bring the ponchos. It turns out to be a very lite rain, acutally i'm hoping that folks leave the park to go somewhere dry. Anyway, I haven't ridden rides for the last couple of trips for fear that I won't fit or have trouble getting in/out. (call me "weird" but i just don't want to be the basis for someone's trip story about the lady stuck and all the trouble cm's had to go to to get her off the ride. or worse yet the photos!) But this time i'm a bit smaller around so we started with rides. dbf had never done the jungle cruise or the new POTC. .
We had a wonderful cruise captain, the jokes were are bad as i remembered.
We had a wonderful time! On to Pirates. It was a walk on. We loved it! I love the additions. and other than the right leg giving me the usual problems it wasn't hard at all. (I think i mentioned that back in my early days i played sports--the right ankle has been broken several times, sprained several more and the tendon damaged once. the right knee has been damaged several times. now its just not as good as it should be). now for the big test. we approach Big Thunder Mountain. I asked the cm if there was a test car. he said no and offered that i probably wouldn't fit! a second cm thought i would but dbf and i should ride in separte cars. some what embarrassing was they debate this and some what depressing as this was the ride i was hoping to fit.
i decided to find out for myself and risk being in the "f*t lady stuck on the ride home video." OMG, we both rode in the same car, i could get in/out, even though not totally smoothly. it was awesome! usually i tear up when i see the castle, this time it was coming off this ride. silly but it really made the trip!
we stopped at many photo pass spots and then ran into the new princess in the gazebo behind the christmas shoppe. They had stopped folks from getting in line, so we settled for a photo.
Dinner with the group was at 3:45 pm and it was 12:45. we decided to eat alittle since dinner was so close but too far away to wait. dbf had never eaten at pecos bill's so that's where we headed. we split a bbq pulled pork sandwich, apple slices and carrot cake. i stuck with eating some of the meat and a couple of apple slices.
George was taking photopass shots in that little garden area in front of the Crystal Palace. He suggested since there was no line that we wait just a bit and he could get a photo of us with the fireworks from the stage show going on in the background. so of course we waited and he did the shots. we went to listen to the piano player at Casey's and wandered back to meet the others. George came after us to tell us that the photos didn't work out, his shutter stuck. he was so sorry and unfortunately the rain would prevent us trying again.
We sat on the poarch at CP and people watched. This will be the first time we have eaten at CP for both of us. We've always gone to LTT. B needs some Tigger time and its always good to try new things. Some times you discover really great things. We had a wonderful time!!
Some B and family showed up. We were now waiting for Betty Sue. She was texting B with her progress in getting to the resturant. Parades and stuff were making progress difficulty. However she made it and wow, another PP who felt like we'd been friends for a long time.
Don't we look festive in the sparkly scarves and the like? we are so ready for the christmas party!
We waited a few minutes, I suspect that folks were lingering over their meals because of the light rain. It was worth the wait! The buffet was plentiful and good. The interaction with the characters was awesome!
much laughing, and having a wonderful time! Eventually we had to leave CP and get our party bracelets and photopass photos (337 by the end of the trip). After supper, the group met up with Chantel and family. Another wonderful family and friend.
We split into smaller groups and went separate ways for awhile. Dbf, Betty Sue and I went to the Monster Laugh Floor, (our first time--funny) and more photos. Betty Sue went a different direction for awhile. We hit some of the christmas stuff and saw the parade from a distance. We found a great place to sit while we waited for everyone to reassembly for the Wishes Dessert Party. I had found my MVMCP shirt and my red sequined Mickey ears, not as flashy as my top hat with the light up castle from last year but lovely just the same.
waiting for the dessert party.
Yvonne and Sheri arrive and the group is intact. hugs all around. i haven't seen S since last Christmas at the POFQ beignet meet. About that time they sent us in for seating. we were section C or 3 which turned out to the the farthest end. as it turns out, you don't pick a table, they have name tags stuck to the table top. we were seated at a great table, first row right with a great view of the castle. betty sue was at the table right next to us. the others were scattered in the same section.
I got 3 chocolate covered strawberries (one carb ). dbf tried the kiwi orage tart, tiramisu,, and the pistachio creme brule. dbf note--"betty sue and elaine chattering with each other." really, not chattering--enjoying social interaction, geez. he set the camera on the tripod on the table but was expecting folks to crowd the rail in front of us and block the view. Surprisingly, folks saw the camera and moved so there was an open area in front of us for the whole thing. if you are a purist who only wants to see the fireworks from the front, this isn't a good place for you. however, we got to sit and have a marvelous view of the castle and fireworks and have dessert. well, worth every dime!!
there were group photos with us all ( i think S got those on her card ) and individual families. people went different directions while we were doing our shoot. we moseyed around to a dance and found we had lost our photopass card from the party. so we went to see if they could find the photos and get them attached to the new card. while we were in line we saw Y and S back in the studio part but couldn't get to them. just as we were getting to the counter, the lost card made itself visible they loaded all the photos onto the one card. we checked to make sure they all got loaded safely. then back to have a photo with santa. as we left it was nearly time for the last holiday parade. hardly anyone was at the area by the train station so we set up shop there and he filmed the holiday parade. its wonderful! we ran into a family with at least 5 kids who were all clamoring for a light-up something. the pack ran off to try to talk the mom into something. I handed the dad the zippy bag with the 10 candy cane glow sticks and asked if he could use them. he was asked if i was sure and then turned to follow the pack. luckily they were young enough that the simplier glow sticks satisfied the urde for "something" and they glowed so all was well.
Lots of fun indeed! (and I noticed you skipped the part where I scurred the chirren...)
*cough, cough* co-operative report. *hint hint nudge nudge* also remember that while i will post photos of the adults. i won't post of your lovely daughters. that gets to be a parents right. i know, i'm weird that way, but teens can be picky about how they want to be seen.
Heck, I was relieved lol, not offended! And I have seen your pictures, there are none which Aubrey would be averse to you posting...besides, if I wait to post pictures, we may all be in Disney again by that time!
But I will add, meeting ya'll was indeed like "meeting" long-lost friends! As I knew it would be! My screams were screams of joy, and not meant to frighten young children making their way to liberty square. We did get seats in that corner section of the dessert party, which worked well too, still front row and all that, and omg it was a cremebrulee-apalooza!!! I will admit to actually getting chilly there, and broke out my bonus $15 Disney blanket during fireworks!
Elaine is right, that dinner at Crystal Palace was by far one of the best meals my family has had with characters. Tigger was just hysterical and gave me the what for about my grumpy shirt, until I showed him my Tigger Christmas button that E and her dbf made for me.
Eeyore was just a hoot, and I laughed so hard that meal. Piglet kept picking on my DD's beanie that she had on, it really was just a lot of fun!
Elaine is right, that dinner at Crystal Palace was by far one of the best meals my family has had with characters. Tigger was just hysterical and gave me the what for about my grumpy shirt, until I showed him my Tigger Christmas button that E and her dbf made for me.
Eeyore was just a hoot, and I laughed so hard that meal. Piglet kept picking on my DD's beanie that she had on, it really was just a lot of fun!
it was a hoot. we must have seen the characters several times and they were funny each time.
it was another magical day. We love the MVMCP and hopefully will do it again some point in the future. we will for certain do the wishes dessert party if we have the option next oct.
up not so early but roll out quickly and head for breakfast. We run into Betty Sue who was finishing up beignets, eaten for someone else. We PP will do anything for friends. Packages picked up and taken to the room. (I don't remember buying this much stuff!) Off we go to EPCOT, and take the water taxi to the far side. Photopass opportunites abound. we get to visit germany, italy, japan, france and england again.
I have been remiss in a couple of details. Both Courtney and Betty Sue were having birthdays while there. Both wore their buttons, so there have been several cupcakes and I remember that Courtney got a card signed by all the characters at CP.
Another detail is that my son was there with his in-laws. I wasn't expecting to get to see him during the trip, however he surprised me by calling me several times. Seems i'm a better planner and on the last call, he asked if he and his wife could come hang out with us for a couple of hours on Friday. They were to call when they got there but the plan was to meet mid-afternoon.
Time to eat again. This time its another new to us place--Chefs de France. Chantel's hubby was playing golf so it was she and her dd, B and family, Betty Sue and us. I had salad but dbf had the escargot.
My dessert was recommended by the server, and while good, i had NO problem leaving over half of it. basically it was ice cream and chocolate. one of the birthday girls
The food was good, serve good, but i think this was the slowest place we ate. by now ds and ddil had arrived, great timing, i'd just finished. We moseyed and chatted finally sitting at the Tangerine Cafe for some warm drinks. a couple of hours later we parted. We stopped in China for some hot tea and beefe noodle soup which we split.
It was getting cold, like only EPCOT can get with the wind whipping over the lake. normally dbf, aka polar bear man, rarely needs a jacket but he decided something warmer would be nice. so off to Mousegears where we got an EPCOT hoodie for him. proof that is was cold, way cold, even with long sleeves, scarf, gloves and hoodie, it was so cold we contemplated giving up and going home.
But we had scheduled the Grand Gathering International dinner and didn't want to miss it. so we hung out anywhere it was warm. i must say, this was the only place i haven't felt like disney was very organized. it wasn't clear when dinner was. they told me 7:30 when i scheduled, it was 8 pm on the ressie and some of the folks in line were told 7 pm. Betty Sue and Sherri caught up with us. Luckily, they decided to let us all in. We received a special pin that we had to put on that would allow us into the special viewing area for illuminations after the meal. Its a cute show and a little dancing. dbf and i even danced. the international food was good. we were just thawing out when dinner was over. we went outside and wonder of wonders it was warmer! i think the wind died down or something. The location to watch is wonderful, but could use benches. Another meal that was worth while.
We headed to Test Track after illuminations but it was down, so we went to the World of Tomorrow. Then we old folks headed home to bed and and towel snowperson.
well, i posted this last night, it never made it on here...oh wonder of techno wonders....so i shall try again. back to thursday....
chatel, her fam, me and my man....i think the rest were finishing up desserts, can't remember!
then chantel wandered off leaving the rest of us to take this photo...i suspect she was off shopping....he he he
me with some of the cool teens...
the cool kids who got front row seats....and while i am on that subject, i was thrilled with everything about the dessert except that for some reason, our group was split up all over the place. yah-von and i were at adjoining tables way in the back, you know where BS and Elaine were, and then way over to the right in the front were Brigett and Chantel with their crew. would have been nice if we had all been seated together.
Yah-von and I were woefully late to the party having eaten dinner at Trails End. what a nightmare getting in and out of that place if you drive over...never ever do that....take the boat, trust me on this one. ha ha ha.
more teens....
one last teen and one who acts like one (you guess who is who....)
ok, i lied...more teens and one who thinks she is still one...outside of trails end
sam and yah-von on the boat over to MK for MVMCP
santa baby...i wanna sable under the tree, for me.....
needs no explanation, right?
chantel and her "blankie"
brigett and mattball (our affectionate name for him....)
what a great visit with santa...i did not know he was there and it was such a great time hanging out with him...
a view of the tree. after the party, everyone sort of went their own ways. i am also hoping they continue on with the dessert party and would do it again in a heartbeat!
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Pixie Dust
Anyway, I haven't ridden rides for the last couple of trips for fear that I won't fit or have trouble getting in/out. (call me "weird" but i just don't want to be the basis for someone's trip story about the lady stuck and all the trouble cm's had to go to to get her off the ride. or worse yet the photos!) But this time i'm a bit smaller around so we started with rides. dbf had never done the jungle cruise or the new POTC. 
. 
Parlor Panther in 'stalking mode'
They were to call when they got there but the plan was to meet mid-afternoon.
one of the birthday girls
proof that is was cold, way cold, even with long sleeves, scarf, gloves and hoodie, it was so cold we contemplated giving up and going home.
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