A Coast to Coast Christmas - Phase One WDW - Page 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
And a very special thank you to our Guides (moderators), past and present, who kept our forums a happy place to be. You are the glue that held everything together, and we are forever grateful to you. Thank you aliceinwdw, Caldercup, MrsM, WillCAD, Fortissimo, GingerJ, HiddenMickey, CRCrazy, Eeyoresmom, disneyknut, disneydani, Cam22, chezp, WDWfan, Luvsun, KMB733, rescuesk, OhToodles!, Colexis Mom, lfredsbo, HiddenMickey, DrDolphin, DopeyGirl, duck addict, Disneybine, PixieMichele, Sandra Bostwick, Eeyore Tattoo, DyanKJ130, Suzy Q'Disney, LilMarcieMouse, AllisonG, Belle*, Chrissi, Brant, DawnDenise, Crystalloubear, Disneymom9092, FanOfMickey, Goofy4Goofy, GoofyMom, Home4us123, iamgrumpy, ilovedisney247, Jennifer2003, Jenny Pooh, KrisLuvsDisney, Ladyt, Laughaholic88, LauraBelle Hime, Lilianna, LizardCop, Loobyoxlip, lukeandbrooksmom, marisag, michnash, MickeyMAC, OffKilter_Lynn, PamelaK, Poor_Eeyore, ripkensnana, RobDVC, SHEANA1226, Shell of the South, snoozin, Statelady01, Tara O'Hara, tigger22, Tink and Co., Tinkerbelz, WDWJAMBA, wdwlovers, Wendyismyname, whoSEZ, WildforWD, and WvuGrrrl. You made the magic.
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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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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I'm hoping you wore those hats in a few more photos because these old tired eyes couldn't make them out too well. Anyway, sounds like you had a great evening in Epcot, minus the near suffocation at the end.
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After a hectic weekend of travel to and from New Mexico that included rattlesnakes AND winter storms, I can FINALLY start reading this report. Of course - while reading it - I have laughed out load so many times as to scare both of the cats away from the bed!!! No worries - more room for me!
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.
All caught up, before I missed too much! I hope you had a great time at DL! I can't wait to hear more about the antics at WDW, and I'm dying to hear about the TBSAALTA! The dinner that Bob &Larry hosted at Artist Point is still my all-time favorite PP story, so I know that the TBSAALTA, whatever it was, will be great!
I was almost about to storm into my bosses office to give him a piece of my mind for keeping me so busy that I was 7...yes 7 pages behind in a P-Sha TR...but I held back. Not becuase I do not belive that has overworked me to the bone, but becuase 7 wonderful pages of reading in one sitting of a P-Sha TR with so many wonderful chime-ins, (even though Eileen I think yours is worth so much more than $14.38 ) well this was just oh so much better.
And the sight of my cell phone in that picture reminded me that I texted our lost compatriot, Lesley, to tell her how much we missed her and how much the CP reminded me of the first time we got to enjoy it together.
For the record, the hats were flocked christmas trees with a forest green tulle skirt underneath (and you could totally see up Sharon's skirt! Hoooochie!!) Karen even accessorized them with a red pipe cleaner hidden Mickey. So wonderful!
You were looking up my skirt and I'm the hoochie?
Quote:
Originally Posted by WDWfan
Tom & I were so sorry we had to miss the festivities this trip, but I loved being a part of it from a distance. Getting Larry & Bob's invitation to the TBSAALTA - and Eileen's texts made me almost feel as if we were there. (And no - I can't be bribed into an early reveal - unless lots of chocolate or wine are involved )
I remember that first CP. It was a very emotional for me and all of the support I got from you guys meant a lot to me. I love to watch the deaf interpreters. They are so expressive - just beautiful!
The hats are a hoot! Both B&L's and the girls'!
We missed you both!
Quote:
Originally Posted by honeybee723
I'm hoping you wore those hats in a few more photos because these old tired eyes couldn't make them out too well. Anyway, sounds like you had a great evening in Epcot, minus the near suffocation at the end.
There are more photos of the hats to come! If they aren't sufficient, though, I'll snap one and post it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DrDolphin
After a hectic weekend of travel to and from New Mexico that included rattlesnakes AND winter storms, I can FINALLY start reading this report. Of course - while reading it - I have laughed out load so many times as to scare both of the cats away from the bed!!! No worries - more room for me!
Note to self: stay out of New Mexico! At least in December! And give those kitties an extra stroke from me since I'm responsible for scaring them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Caldercup
Well... now that you're back home... we get updates, right?
RIGHT?!!!!
Didn't you say you were going to write a TR of your own? Because you can do that, you know!
Quote:
Originally Posted by honeybee723
If I were you I'd get on that right away. Not sure what she's capable of.
Pffttt! She doesn't scare me!
Quote:
Originally Posted by pamcarey
All caught up, before I missed too much! I hope you had a great time at DL! I can't wait to hear more about the antics at WDW, and I'm dying to hear about the TBSAALTA! The dinner that Bob &Larry hosted at Artist Point is still my all-time favorite PP story, so I know that the TBSAALTA, whatever it was, will be great!
Yeah, I was busy at Disneyland and then spending time with my family, so luckily you're not far behind. Thanks for being patient! Another update is on its way.
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
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Day Two – Friday, December 2 A FABulous day in Epcot
I was the first one awake (get used to that, folks). It was about 6:15 when I got up. I caught up my notes a little, since we had nothing on the agenda until late morning. Once everyone was ready, we headed to the lounge for brekkie.
The “Old Faithful” tree
I skipped out a little early to go down to the lobby to get a few photos. I heart the WL lobby at Christmas time!
The rest of the CLQ made it downstairs just as I took the final photo. We walked out to the bus stop, where Bob and Larry were waiting for us. When we got to Epcot, Jill was the only one with a bag, so she went through bag check alone. Then she got to try out the new entrance procedure.
We walked to Mt. Epcot to pick up FPs for Soarin’. Then we did the boat ride. I liked their decorations. They were sort of “we did them ourselves!! ” but they brought a smile to my face, so that’s all that matters, right?
We did it ourselves!
I missed seeing the Christmas tree they usually build out of herbs. When I say I missed it, I don’t mean to suggest it wasn’t there, I mean I forgot to look for it until it was too late. When we were done with that (and the like 4th bathroom break of the day ), we headed upstairs and someone spotted this tree (with a huge Venus Fly Trap next to it, which… umm… ).
We did it ourselves?
We went next to see Captain EO. It was Eileen’s first time seeing it ever. I was curious about how someone seeing it for the first time would like it. I love it because it’s awesomely cheesy and reminds me of when I saw multiple times in its first run. Without the nostalgia, would it just be cheesy? Eileen enjoyed it, so I guess not! I bragged to everyone that I used to know how to do the moonwalk, and a few days later, I found out I can still do it!
Next, we went over to my little cottage. I was thrilled to have Eileen with me to tell me the names of all the plants I didn’t recognize.
Eileen requested a visit to O Canada, so we went on in to see it. After that, folks were getting hungry, and I could tell by the gleam in Larry’s eye that he was thinking about Sunshine Seasons. Because we had FPs to use, we decided that’s where we’d eat. It had nothing to do with Larry turning the puppy dog eyes on Karen, honest.
I wasn’t very hungry, so I got a big cookie and some milk as a snack. It was tasty! No wonder Santa likes it so much! Most everyone else had actual food for lunch. Health nuts.
We needed to make a run for it to catch Joyful, the gospel choir. I’d tried for 3 years to see their show, so it was on my very short “must do” list this trip. Some people were still eating, so Karen and I ran ahead and caught them on their first song. I’m so glad I finally caught this show. I thought they were fantastic. So energetic, too!
After the show, we joined the rest of our group and decided to wander around WS. Eileen’s knee was bothering her, so she decided to take the boat over and meet us on the other side in time for a show. Larry decided to join her, so the two of them went off together. This happened often. Just sayin’.
The rest of the group headed left and started in Mexico. We happened upon the Three Kings telling their tale.
Then we went inside for the Gran Fiesta Tour. It tickles me that now people on the boards associate Donald Duck’s naughty bits with Eileen. Well, Donald covering his naughty bits, but it’s funnier the way I said it.
Incidentally, that photo’s not what I was talking about. It’s tough to get a photo of Donald covering his junk. After that, Jill and Karen needed a drink. I was saving myself for something in France.
Karen and Jill got their margaritas and enjoyed them while watching the mariachi band, which just happens to be one of my very favorite WS acts.
I was sure I got a photo of Jill with the mariachi band and her margarita, but now I realize I took it with Jill’s camera, so look for it in her TR!
We did a bit of shopping in Germany.
I spotted the caramel apple candies folks seemed to like so much from MNSSHP.
Then I had to check in on the miniature Germans celebrating their miniature Christmas.
We got to Italy in time to see La Befana. You’d think Karen planned things out or something.
There were some cute kids in attendance. In fact, we encountered lots and lots of cute kids. This is a popular travel time for young families apparently.
We went over and looked at the gingerbread house in the Liberty Inn. I was happy to see it no longer looks like random people came and stuck their gum to the inside of the walls! I may have tried to steal a sample, but I’m sure there’s no evidence, so I can deny it.
I love Rudolph’s Rolo nose
It was almost time for the Voices of Liberty. I’m not sure I’ve mentioned this before, but I lurve the VOL! We went inside to get seats.
Then a CM came in and announced that the Fife & Drum Corps were outside posing for photos, so I went to take one.
They didn’t say “cheese” so I don’t think they knew they were supposed to be posing
Then back inside for the VOL holiday show! Yay!
We went to Impressions de France next, but we were about a minute late for the show. So we went and got some Grand Marnier slushes to suck down in the 17 minutes until the next show. I don’t mean to brag or anything, but I didn’t even get brain freeze. Nor did I need a straw, like some other amateurs in the group. There was one straw that Karen was trying to make sure everyone used.
We saw the next showing of Impressions de France, and that completed our day at Epcot. We walked out the IG and over to the BC. When the gang decided to take the path with the hill, I veered off to take the other path. No hills, but more spiders. Luckily, Karen came with me to protect me from any creepy crawlies.
We popped into the lobby to see the gingerbread carousel. Man, it smells good in there!
We were running a bit late for our 1900 Park Fare ADR, so we decided to get a cab over to the GF.
Up Next: Smiling with every one of your teeth
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
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Disney Magic - Oct 2015
If I were you I'd get on that right away. Not sure what she's capable of. 
) well this was just oh so much better.
)
I love to watch the deaf interpreters. They are so expressive - just beautiful!
At least in December! And give those kitties an extra stroke from me since I'm responsible for scaring them.
).
Eileen enjoyed it, so I guess not! 
honest. 
Most everyone else had actual food for lunch. Health nuts. 
Well, Donald covering his naughty bits, but it’s funnier the way I said it. 
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