Are we crazy? - A spur of the moment Disney getaway TR - Page 5 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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!
Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.
To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.
If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.
Friday 4/26
We got up without an alarm at around 8:30. How come I can only do that when I'm at Disney?! We got showered and then decided to give Kouzzina another shot for breakfast. As many of you may recall - we had major issues last time due to a water main break and ended up having Ghirardelli's for breakfast! So we asked if they could take us as a walk in for breakfast and we got a table no prob. But figured out why - it was EMPTY! We knew what we wanted and ordered. But what Chuck got was NOT what he was expecting. It was the same thing he ordered last time (2 years ago) - the breakfast stack. On the menu - it sounded like the same thing - but what came was NOT the same. It was ok. He ate it. It filled the void - but meh. Mine was ok as well. We figured that things have gone downhill and we will NOT be going back.
Shots around the resort on the way to the boat
Breakfast stack
Waffle
After breakfast, we went over to the Boardwalk to catch a bus to MK. We were going to do the monorail resorts.
We waited forever for one! While we were waiting, we saw an abusive dad. He slapped the girl he was with then taught his kid to do it too. When the kid hit her in the eye, the dad said "Did you just hit her?" The kid said "Yeah" and the dad replied "Way to go" Ugh! Wonderful parenting. Chuck showed great restraint. Then when we got on a bus - finally - the bus driver was flipped off by a car who cut off the bus while trying to merge! I can't believe people! This is DISNEY!
Anyhow, we got to MK and went up to the monorail.
I had to record the "Por favor mantengense alejado de las puertas" on my phone! We rode the monorail and got off at the Poly because Chuck wanted to mail a coconut to his office. We checked out the gift shops and went into the art gallery shop (Wynard, I believe). I wasn't going to get anything but they showed me a ring that you can change the stone. It was very cool and quite affordable. Chuck told me to get it. I just wish I could have gotten what he wanted - however it was a watch that was $750!!!! Sorry, can't drop that kind of scratch without saving up first. After I got my ring, we went in search of the coconut. We got that and a t-shirt for a theater friend as well. We then went to Captain Jacks for a Dole Whip and sat outside while we shared our treat.
Then we were done playing at the Poly, so we hopped back on the monorail to finish the loop. We caught a bus and headed back to the Swalphin to swim.
View from our room
Had to see Stacey!
The Grotto waterfall was working and the hot tub had minimal jets but it was still all very relaxing. After a longish dip in the pool, our fingers were getting wrinkly and it was time to get out and get ready for dinner. At that time, I was trying to get in touch with Spirit airlines to pre-pay for our bag and after 15 mins on hold -I hung up. Grrrr. We would just have to pay for it at the airport. We had decided to check through our (overhead) carry on and just get a backpack type (under the seat) carryon for Chuck because I wasn't sure everything plus our souvenirs would fit in our carry on's. So on to DtD we were and in search of said pack. We finally found a fleece type material backpack at Splitsville and got that. We then had some extra time to people watch before our reservation at HOB.
We did check in about 10 mins early and were seated almost immediately. We knew what we wanted to eat. We shared a pesto, tomato flatbread app.
Chuck got shrimp and grits
I got a french dip. (wanted the Juicy Lucy but the jalapeños are IN the burger - not on the side. Too spicy for me)
It was all very good! Then after dinner, Chuck said "So what do you want to do? Do you want to go see a movie or something?" I thought about it. We can see a movie anytime at home. So I asked him what time it was. It was just after 8 pm. I said "Well, this may be crazy. But we have been doing everything crazy so .. . what would you think about going to see if we can get seats at LaNouba?" His eyes lit up and he got so excited! It was on! We paid our bill and were outta there. We got to the box office and there were Cat 2 seats with a DVC discount that had our names on them! We just had to hang out for a half an hour before seating began. So I got a little artsy with photos.
We had a great evening! After the show, we walked back up to Pleasure Island- we were thinking about taking the Characters in Flight - but it was soooo windy! Instead we grabbed a Mickey Bar!
After we finished our ice cream, we took a bus back to the Dolphin and called it a night.
Thank you to everyone for your support over the loss of Meg. This trip was yes, a spur of the moment get away however, it was more like us running away from the sorrow. Nothing will every be able to replace Meg, but we have been given another soul to care for. This was really a quite complex turn of events. Long story short - my step mother had a pure bred golden that she was training as a mobility dog and it just wasn't working out. The dog was too skittish and really just needed to be a family member. Well, she had decided to re-home this dog on the same day that our Meg died! She didn't want to push anything but signs just kept showing up. She needed us. And I think we needed her too. I still mourn my beloved Meg but now we have a dear sweet Abby. I'd like you all to meet Abby - our newest family member.
She's still a bit nervous and the cats don't know what to make of her. But she is a gentle soul and a real love. I still miss Meg. But I believe that Abby was sent to us to help us with the loss of Meg.
I'm sorry that breakfast at Kouzzina wasn't the same as you remembered. I remember from your last TR the ordeal you went through trying to eat there, such a shame that it ended with a dissappointing meal this time. I don't blame you for not wanting to go back. The rest of your day sounded great, what a great thing that you were able to get last minute tickets to La Nouba!
Abby is beautiful, and it sounds like she was meant to be with you
Sorry Kouzzina didn't work out but now you know you at least gave it one last shot. How did you two like La Nouba? I loved it when Mike took me years ago!
And, most importantly.... to Abby! She is beautiful and it looks like Meg was looking out for you and Chuck again. I believe Meg sent her to you so you wouldn't feel so incomplete.
I am so sorry to hear your report of Kouzzina! I loved breakfast there and it's terrible that they've let it go downhill so soon. If things continue, it'll soon be closed and on its way to yet another incarnation. The rest of your day was great, though. Dole Whip, an impromptu La Nouba viewing, good dinner, topped off with a Mickey Bar!
Abby is a beautiful dog and it really does sound like she's meant to be yours. Love is infinite and you can love Meg and Abby, too.
Kouzzina is just not up to what a Ironchef restaurant should be. The place was so empty,it was evident that people have not been trampling to get in there. The first time we ate there a few years ago they were turning people away every few minutes while we were waiting for our ADR.
LaNouba was so good. It was different than when we saw it before. One of the acts I was so looking forward to was scratched. It did seem a little short,but Coop said it was the normal time.
Abby is a wonderful girl. Now if I can get some sleep...
__________________
"Life can be as easy as a fall,it's all so easy once you just let go."
Registered Message Board Members Get Our Free Newsletter! When you register you'll have the option to sign up for our weekly PassPorter Newsletter. It's chock-full of feature articles; news; tips; contests; photos; and special offers in our online store.
Welcome Abby! Sounds like just what you needed. When our dog died I said that was it, no more dogs ever - too painful to say goodbye. 6 weeks later my big love, Rory, arrived in our lives. Now, I can't imagine life without him!
Bummer that Kouzzina's failed twice. I love the flatbreads at HoB. I'm loving all the spontaneity on this trip. We've still not seen LaNouba, but we will!
Abby is a beautiful dog! Glad she has found home with you two.
Welcome Abby. The food pics look good. my fav. is the Dole whip. Just 1 more day till I can have one. One of these trips we want to make Cirque but we always run out of time. Sometimes I wish we could go for 2 weeks so we could do everything we wanted,but that will never happen. Would like to do a quick trip like you did though
__________________
"Raindrops taste like tears without the pain"
1186 miles from Home
Abby is a beautiful girl, and will so enjoy being loved with no pressure. Not all dogs are cut out to be "helpers," doesn't mean they aren't perfect for the perfect home!