Oh the Places We Go, The People We See Updated 11/03/2013 - Page 13 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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We were there in mid-September so we did not get to see all of the New Fantasyland adventures you had. I really like the costumes and the character meets. Gaston is sure in character. The pix are really good even though they are dark. You did better than I did. We had to contend with a downpour most of the night. I never thought about shooting the fireworks with HM instead of the castle. Will look into that on our next visit.
Haunted Mansion looked so cool with the fireworks in the background.
I thought so too. Who knew?
Quote:
Originally Posted by JKnott17
Love the pictures of the fireworks behind HM, what an awesome view!
Thanks. I never knew you cousl see them there either.
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Originally Posted by thebrehms
What an amazing trip to pull off with such a large group! Congrats.
Thanks. This was a really great trip. Claire wants to do it every year!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
I just love the fireworks behind the Haunted Mansion - very cool and very unusual!
It was unusual. I was surprised to have that view.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Principessa_di_Fata
What a great place to watch fireworks from! That's somewhere I've never thought to watch it from!
I never thought of it either, but it was really cool to see.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rhinohunter
We were there in mid-September so we did not get to see all of the New Fantasyland adventures you had. I really like the costumes and the character meets. Gaston is sure in character. The pix are really good even though they are dark. You did better than I did. We had to contend with a downpour most of the night. I never thought about shooting the fireworks with HM instead of the castle. Will look into that on our next visit.
Ugh, with the rain. We lucked out quite a bit on this trip. I worried al lyear long on whether we would see any of the new stuff, so any little bit we got to see i was very grateful for. My trip dates were kind of chosen for me, since this is when the rest of the family wanted to cruise. But it worked out great since I could hit 2 parties. My "plan" right now is to try and convince my other half that we need t og back down in Dec for Claire's b-day. I haven't brought it up to him yet, but I am hoping we can work it out. It won't be the big whole family thing, but I think Claire would loved to share the Christmas lights with her dad.
Our turn on the “new” Little Mermaid ride! Woohoo!
Our omnimovers moved us left and right, front and back and even titled at times. We started out on land and then it gave us the feeling we were going under water.
Carey and family are in this car!
We were tilted back and looking up you see Ariel swimming above you.
At some point the ride stopped. We panicked a bit again. As nice as it is to be on the ride, we were not stopped in front of anything great. In fact my view was the back of Carey’s car. And we still had a lot we wanted to do yet, including the parade. Luckily after a few minutes we got moving again.
Under the Sea!
Poor Unfortunate Souls!
Sha la la la la la la laaaaaa! Kiss the Girl! That’s my favorite song from the Little Mermaid.
Everything works out Great for the happy couple!
That was a big hit with us. We really enjoyed this ride. Now I wouldn’t wait for a long period of time to ride it, but I don’t like to wait long for ANY ride. It is worth riding and checking out though. Probably the best dark ride in the park right now in my opinion.
We headed out once again.
It was time to go find a spot for the parade. I like Liberty Square area, as it is usually less crowded there, so that’s the way we headed.
As we were walking a noticed a Photopass photographer doing nothing, but clearly had something set up. I asked Carey and she wasn’t sure what it was, but we figured magic shot so we made a quick stop. Claire and I went first.
I love these shots!!!
Carey’s family was next!
And then we quickly made our way to Liberty Square, where it was a mad house! I was surprised how busy it was. I always go by the rule the 2nd parade is less busy. In fact for Spectro and MSEP many times we walk up about 15 minutes prior and find a spot to sit with barely anyone around. This WAS not true for tonight. Carey noticed a spot that was a walk through and we positioned ourselves to stand near there and throw the kids there when the rope went up. A lot of people had this same idea though, unfortunately. Luckily the CM kept telling people to back away, but we were at a spot that we should be OK to make the dash. Soon they roped it off and the Headless Horseman came through. The kids sat and had a perfect spot.
Unfortunately after he went by, they unroped the walkway again and they had to stand back up and move out of the way. UGH! We got separated, and Claire stood with Carey’s family. I trusted Carey to get them in position though. She was eyeing people and letting them know not to mess with her. LOL!
This CM was out there dancing away and just having a great time. I really think she loves her job!
Parade time! The rope went back up and Carey threw them girls right to the ground! They squished right in and let a few others in next to them and we stood behind them. Thank goodness for Carey!!!!
And on to the parade!!!!!
I can hear the music as I post these pictures!
Pirates!!!!!
Doesn’t this guy look like Nicholas Cage?
Tick tock!
More pirates!
I swear it looks like Barbosa is looking directly at me …it’s kind of creepy.
And there is my boyfriend. SHHH! Don’t tell Skip!
The Grave Diggers were just so cool! They were making sparks with the shovels and they just look really neat. I didn’t get too many good pictures though.
And the Hitchhiking Ghosts! They were too cool!
And the cowboys! Um ,they looked REALLY good …….So much so that I only took a couple of pictures. I might’ve been wiping drool off my chin in the meantime.
My Buddy Chip!
Here come the Villain’s!
Another great segment!
After reading the Kingdom Keepers she just seems a bit more creepier!
I don’t know what I did, but I evidently made the Evil Queen mad!
Time to breathe a sigh of relief! Goofy is coming to save the day with lots of Candy!
They were handing out suckers and Claire got quite a few …and they were tasty!
This parade was absolutely awesome! I am so glad that I finally got to see this in person. If you EVER get a chance to see it, do so. It has great music and is just a lot of fun!
You got great photos of the Little Mermaid ride! I really liked that ride also. It made me remember how many wonderful songs are in that movie. What a perfect spot to see the Headless Horseman!
Great photos of the Little Mermaid ride. I do like it as an addition to Disney World and it's a nice traditional ride. I just wish it wasn't a direct lift from Disneyland and was a bit different.
You got great photos of the Little Mermaid ride! I really liked that ride also. It made me remember how many wonderful songs are in that movie. What a perfect spot to see the Headless Horseman!
Thanks. It was a really nice ride with good music!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Great photos of the Little Mermaid ride. I do like it as an addition to Disney World and it's a nice traditional ride. I just wish it wasn't a direct lift from Disneyland and was a bit different.
Is it the exact same. I hadn't heard for sure. Thats a shame.
Jen,
I love the pictures of the Haunted Mansion with the fireworks! They should sell those in the parks during MNSSHP, especially the one with the green skeleton. Glad the girls were able to get good seats for THE PARADE (it's my favorite). the headless horseman. We're looking forward to Ariel's ride; she's DH favorite redhead, next to Reba.Looking forward to more!!
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Disney Trips: BLT & Poly Bungalow 2016, VGF 2015, Fantasy 2015, Saratoga Springs Resort 2014, Grand Villa at VGF 2013, Fantasy 2013, BWV and Kidani Village 2011, BWV and Kidani Village 2010, BWV and Saratoga Springs Resort 2008,Beach Club Villas 2008,Villas at Wilderness Lodge 2006, BWV 2006, BCV 2005, HHI 2004,Polynesian 2003,Grand Floridian 2000/concierge, Honeymoon at Polynesian 1994,Polynesian 1980,Polynesian 1978
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Sue
Great pix in the Little Mermaid and your shots of the Headless Horseman and the hitchhiking ghosts were great. We missed both. Too wet for the horseman to ride and did not know about the HH Ghost magic shot until we had left. Oh well, maybe next time.
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Melanie
We lucked out quite a bit on this trip. I worried al lyear long on whether we would see any of the new stuff, so any little bit we got to see i was very grateful for. My trip dates were kind of chosen for me, since this is when the rest of the family wanted to cruise. But it worked out great since I could hit 2 parties. My "plan" right now is to try and convince my other half that we need t og back down in Dec for Claire's b-day. I haven't brought it up to him yet, but I am hoping we can work it out. It won't be the big whole family thing, but I think Claire would loved to share the Christmas lights with her dad.
the headless horseman. We're looking forward to Ariel's ride; she's DH favorite redhead, next to Reba.
more!!
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