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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
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Using Google Maps I was able to direct my Dad to the eatery at Dean Street and Underhill where we would be meeting Matt, Jill and the nugget for dinner. It was now five and traffic was picking up. It was also a bit hectic because this particular area of Brooklyn is filled with a lot of one way streets.
It was well worth it to get my first glimpse of the nugget:
Jill requested we sit outside to eat because she was tired of being cooped up indoors, and the air conditioning was keeping the inside of the restaurant pretty cold. Dad wandered through the inside of the restaurant and was excited to see the original press tin ceilings had been restored. The main room had a large mahogany bar that was also original to the building.
We were pretty starved (we'd shared some pretzels and blueberry muffins during the drive). Mom ordered the grass fed Dean Street Burger, topped with cheddar, carmalized onions and bbq sauce. It came with a side of house cut fries. Jill and Matt split the Omlet of the day - an 8 egg omelet with asparagus, portobello mushrooms, onions, peppers and some type of "foreign" cheese...I think it was a middle eastern type mozzarella cheese, but I didn't write the name down. I had locally raised pork, smoked and shredded and served on a pretzel bun with fresh apple slaw and a garlic aioli sauce Dad had the same, and both our sandwiches came with house made "french" fries - I got zucchini fries and Dad had fried green beans. I guess the "french" fry portion of the meal reflects whaever vegetable the cook grabs? Either way, everything was delicious!
The hidden secret for this eatery? The house squeezed lemonade. I had a strawberry basil lemonade, Dad, Mom and Matt had a Tom Colins virgin (1/2 tea, 1/2 lemonade) Jill had a wild rasberry lemonade - all were very, very good.
Matt and I settled the bill and decided to have Jill and nugget ride back to Matt's, and he and I would take the subway.
Matt has lived in Brooklyn for 15 years now, and lives in the Clinton-Washington area, not far from the restaraunt, but he doesn't have much in the way of directional sense. He and I set off walking the 1/2 block to the subway, only to discover we set off walking in the wrong direction In his defense, we were talking a lot about his transition to fatherhood (he thought the baby would be on a schedule and sleeping through the night by 1 week of age)
Once we got ourselves turned around, and heading in the correct direction, we found the subway and hopped on the 5 train which would take us directly to his stop. Once we were back on the street level, it was a quick 2 block walk to his co-op.
The entrance to his building is really neat - old marble floors, tall lattice work doors and it looks out onto the building's community garden
While Mom and Dad helped Jill unpack groceries, I got to have some quality snuggles with my 13 pound, 4 week old nephew. We had a good laugh because Gabe is now 25 inches, exactly 10 inches shorter than his soon-to-be four year old cousin Cullen.
My notes got a bit sketchy at this point - Dad and Matt took a quick trip over to the Brooklyn Home Depot to purchase a window air conditioner for Gabe's room, and Jill and I made up a tomato and onion salad to serve with crusty bread for a late dinner. None of us were especially hungry.
Once Dad and Matt returned, he and I went over to the place we would be staying for the next few nights. One of Matt's friends has a neighbor who purchased a brownstone and after renovation, he kept the second floor flat to rent to friends and family who visit (he is originally from Denmark). Dad's walking up the stairs in this picture - our flat consists of the three windows above the door.
While we were on our way back to Matt's place, Coach called to report on their "adventures" at the Boonshoft.
"So, I need to tell you...before the kids get on the phone....ummm, well we're all okay, but I kind of lost two of the kids for a bit" How does one "kind of" loose a couple of kids?
Needless to say, it took me a minute to relax before asking for the full story. There's a two story play structure that can be accessed from the 2nd floor or the first floor. He and the boys were on the 2nd floor when he realized Cullen wasn't with them. Nolan spotted Cullen getting off the slide, so Coach ordered Nolan and Patrick to go down the slide while he ran for the staircase. When he got downstairs, Nolan had a tight hold on Cullen, but Patrick wasn't anywhere to be found. Thinking Patrick hadn't gone down the slide, Coach ran back up the stairs and started searching the top of the play area (no Patrick) then he and the boys searched the 2nd floor (still no Patrick). Coach sent Nolan back down the slide and ran down the stairs while carrying Cullen. Nolan was stationed at the bottom of the play structure while Coach searched the play areas around the structure. Finally, he found Patrick, standing in the hallway sobbing. Coach settled him down, but Patrick refused to play anymore and kept repeating he wanted to go home now. It turns out he'd gone down the slide first, but hadn't seen Cullen. Cullen, after getting off the slide started climbing up the rope net. When Patrick didn't see Cullen, he started searching the area around the play structure. At that point, Nolan was getting off the slide, climbed up the ropes and hauled Cullen down which was when Coach caught up to them and discovered Patrick was missing.
I couldn't get mad or upset - I've lost Cullen before at Nolan's school. I've also lost the boys on that same play structure - which is why I now avoid it unless I have two adults with me to station at the various entrance/exits. When I talked to the boys?
"Mom, Dad lost Cullen AND Patrick" Nolan's version of the events
"Dad lost me and I cried and I'm NEVER going back there" Patrick's events
"Da cry me" Cullen's version meaning Patrick cried.
After hanging up with Coach (who was planning a much calmer Friday for the kids), My parents and I went back to our place. Dad went to bed, Mom used my Kindle Fire to watch something using my Prime Account...she thought that was very because she'd never watched tv that way, and I worked on some graduate school work. It had been a busy day for all!
Highlights:
Weather - dry and 86, though it was pretty overcast
Travel - pretty easy considering we had to navigate through Manhattan and Brooklyn during the start of rush hour
Stress? Hearing that Coach misplaced a couple of kids
Favorite part? Getting snuggles with the new nephew
Up next - what would Friday bring?
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Your lunch, dinner, and time with your family sounds wonderful! But poor Coach and the boys -- losing kids, finding kids, losing kids, finding kids. Glad in the end everyone was found and safely back home.
Your lunch, dinner, and time with your family sounds wonderful! But poor Coach and the boys -- losing kids, finding kids, losing kids, finding kids. Glad in the end everyone was found and safely back home.
Oh boy - I can just imagine that conversation! Thank goodness everyone was Ok and you guys were able to get together.
Once I'd calmed down, and reminded myself that the boys were all fine, the story is actually kind of funny (now) because Coach is forever teasing me that I "misplace" kids
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhToodles!
I can picture all of that in my head. So glad everyone came up accounted for!
Thanks! I wasn't too calm on the phone during that conversation
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
Your lunch, dinner, and time with your family sounds wonderful! But poor Coach and the boys -- losing kids, finding kids, losing kids, finding kids. Glad in the end everyone was found and safely back home.
He's not too keen on keeping them overnight anymore
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Sorry for the rough start with the weather! Glad you've made it to NYC!
Thanks!
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The Fun, Old-Fashioned Family Vacation, 3.0 http://www.passporterboards.com/foru...ml#post4472933
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Okay, so it's take #2 for the update...I got everything loaded, but when I went to post it, something happened? I don't know if it's my computer, the site or my internet connection, but when I post it takes forever, and sometimes my posts appear as doubles or triples, so please bear with me during my technical difficulty
Friday morning, I woke with my "internal" alarm clock at 5:30. After almost four years of Cullen waking up between 5:00 and 5:15, I find it very difficult to sleep in. My parents were still snoozing away, so I got up, tried to make a mug of coffee, but quickly gave up because I couldn't figure out the Coffee Press (see, more technical challenges) and opened a Diet Coke. I sat at the butcher block counter and uploaded the changes to my thesis, browsed FB and MLB (needed a baseball fix). Dad got up around 6:30 and after he showered, I showed him how to log onto WKYC.com to view the local Cleveland news on the computer - he thought that was very . I showered and then Dad and I took a quick walk to the corner of Dean and Franklin because our host for the weekend had left us a map detailing a lot of great eateries along Franklin. Dad mentioned a Franklin Cafe that he'd eated at with Matt on a previous visit and was SURE it was on the corner of Franklin and St. Mark's. We walked the three blocks and "found" the cafe Dad remembered. I would say it was more of a corner store and Dad shrugged - said that maybe it was too early for them to have their sidewalk tables out. As we walked in, they were restocking the case with new bagels We ordered three, had two with butter and one with plain cream cheese. Dad also bought two cups of coffee. Remember this location because...we'll find out we were one block shy of the REAL good bagel place
We returned to our apartment, bagels and coffee in hand and while we ate, I made a quick call home. Coach was excited to tell me that Cullen didn't wake up until.... 6:30 He'd decided he wasn't going to take the boys to the playgroup today because it was hiking...through a Metropark. After yesterday's experience, he didn't want to take any more chances on loosing anyone. The new plan? Washing cars, mowing the yard and then swimming all afternoon.
While I talked to Coach and the boys, Dad fed his Candy Crush addiction
After I hung up, we got ready to head over to Matt's place. He and Jill live about 7 blocks away from our flat. Because it was already HOT, and Mom's legs have a tough time with the stairs to get on and off the subway, and she has an inherit fear of buses away from Disney, Dad decided we should drive over. Luckily, we found a parking spot and buzzed into their building. I was going to be going on an adventure with Jill and baby Gabe...she had a doctor's appointment at the Beth Israel Medical Center at Union Square in Manhattan. After a debate (drive? Bus? Subway?) we decided to take the Subway because it would be a ton easier than trying to find a spot to park.
I'm going to leave off here for now - Coach is out of town for the weekend, the older two are up from their naps and we're going to head outside to swim for a bit! Happy Friday everyone
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I hear you about still being up early even when you're on vacation - we often have that issue, and add jetlag if we're in the States and that can be a potent mix!
I hear you about still being up early even when you're on vacation - we often have that issue, and add jetlag if we're in the States and that can be a potent mix!
Jet lag is tough in and of itself - add in early risers and I can see how that would be a tough mix.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Great update!
Thanks!
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I have to admit that I really intended to post another update, but we had a little too much family fun this weekend. It hit me last Friday that we only have two weeks of summer vacation left .
Friday, Coach headed up to Little Long Lake in Michigan to meet up with the guys he grew up with for a quick overnight. They hadn't all been together....since our wedding 9 years ago So, he jumped at the chance to go waterskiing and just hang out with his friends - even if it was only a quick trip. Maybe next year, schedules will permit a full weekend.
I got the kids to our playgroup Friday and we explored Heywood Elementary's playground for the first time. Cullen's PT met us there to work with him and another child while our older kids played.
The older two, playing
Conquering the climbing loop
Patrick and his buddy playing Tic Tac Toe
Once Cullen was sprung from his PT session, I couldn't get him to sit still for me to snap a picture
It was the perfect park outing because it was sunny, but it wasn't humid or really all that warm (75 for the high that day).
We took time out for a picnic lunch, played some more than headed home for naps.
When Patrick woke up, he colored the new printed page I downloaded from the Spoonful link:
We had to run to Kroger to pick up a few things, then to the movie place to return our videos. The older two each choose a free Pokemon video (not my favorite, but they like it) and Cullen picked up a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse video. I rented Safe Harbor since I wouldn't have to bribe Coach to sit through it with me.
The boys were pretty restless since all three had napped after playgroup, but it really wasn't warm enough to swim (our original plan) so I decided to splurge and take them to Jumpy's Fun Zone instead. I paid for them to play on the inflatables, but wasn't willing to pay the $20 each for laser tag. They were excited just to be able to run and jump
Once they all started complaining they were hungry and Cullen informed me he'd "showered" because his hair was all wet - wet with sweat, we packed up and headed home. I gave them each a quick shower, heated up dinner and we had a carpet picnic while we watched Cullen's video. I had them all tucked into bed by 8:00, and watched my movie, which I thought was pretty good and the ending? I didn't see that coming Little Long Lake doesn't have the greatest cell phone reception, but Coach was able to text me a couple of times.
Saturday we woke to find a soggy mess . The boys and I played a few games, watched a bit of TV and hoped the rain would let up because I'd planned to take them to the Celtic Festival in Downtown Dayton. The festival is actually pretty nice, and FREE to get into
Coach arrived home at 3:00, just as I was coating the boys with sunscreen and having them put sweatshirts on. I was really happy that he was going to join us on our adventure!
Up next: Celtic Fun, and you think I'm how old?
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Dad had the same, and both our sandwiches came with house made "french" fries - I got zucchini fries and Dad had fried green beans. I guess the "french" fry portion of the meal reflects whaever vegetable the cook grabs? Either way, everything was delicious! 
He and I set off walking the 1/2 block to the subway, only to discover we set off walking in the wrong direction
In his defense, we were talking a lot about his transition to fatherhood (he thought the baby would be on a schedule and sleeping through the night by 1 week of age
)
How does one "kind of" loose a couple of kids?
because she'd never watched tv that way, and I worked on some graduate school work. It had been a busy day for all!
and 86, though it was pretty overcast
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Thank
Pixie Dust
PassPorter Guide Author
Thank goodness everyone was Ok and you guys were able to get together.
Disney Magic - Oct 2015
He'd decided he wasn't going to take the boys to the playgroup today because it was hiking...through a Metropark. After yesterday's experience, he didn't want to take any more chances on loosing anyone. The new plan? Washing cars, mowing the yard and then swimming all afternoon.
.
. They were excited just to be able to run and jump
. The boys and I played a few games, watched a bit of TV and hoped the rain would let up because I'd planned to take them to the Celtic Festival in Downtown Dayton. The festival is actually pretty nice, and FREE to get into
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