TR: Thingamabobs, Zebra & Giraffes, Oh My! Completed 3/25/15 - Page 2 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
What a hassle with your flight! I had layovers as they initially sound like too much time until there are delays with your first flight, and then it's a race to the gate. So glad you all made it, and at least, got a bit of nourishment.
Thanks! It was crazy - but we did it!
Quote:
Originally Posted by jandsdennis
Signing in to hear all the great times. A little bit of a shaky start but it was great the room was ready. Off to fun times!
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
Glad you're going to finish this, Lisa! I thought maybe you'd leave this one and concentrate on future trips. I hate connecting flights because of just the possibility of delays that you had. I know I'd have missed the connection waiting for the scooter to come off of the first flight. At least you landed in Orlando on time and got to your room nice and early! I'm happy to take another virtual trip with the three of you!
Thanks Laurie! I have had so much of this ready to go for quite some time - just finding the time to sit and do it! And yes, I will have 2 PTR's to start in the near future!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
I'm so glad you're writing Lisa, as I don't find trip reports boring at all - I love reading them! Thank goodness you made your connection - that was a close call there!
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
Glad you made the connection! Can't believe the one guy, thinking he'd just get off the plane? This isn't a city bus, guy!
I really like the wall of the shower, but wonder if it was really dark in there when the curtain was closed?
Thanks! I know - that guy was a bit crazy And yes, the shower was a bit dark, but it was really neat at the same time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by xwewhisper
Great start! Looking forward to hearing about the trip!!
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by iwonathomas
Great start Lisa, sorry about the issues with the flight I had similar on my last flight yeah never good when they say a computer issues. Can't wait to hear more
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperDave
A nice start to your trip and glad all went well for the most part on the flight down! Too bad you had to take a connecting flight as I try to avoid those as well! Did you try Providence as that seems equal distance from your area as Hartford is?
Thanks! We do always check both Prov and Htfd, but with this airline credit it was better to fly out of Htfd - and neither offered a direct
Quote:
Originally Posted by mojjo
So glad you started this!!! Can't wait to read all about it.
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
Glad you made your connecting flight! Great pictures of your room!
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by DMA
Yay! So glad you started your TR!
What a hassle with the flight, but since landing gear is pretty essential, I guess it was worth the trouble! It's a good thing you were able to make your connecting flight.
I love the decor of the Little Mermaid rooms! So cute!
Can't wait to hear more!
Thanks! The room really was quite adorable!
__________________
Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
Glad the plane thing worked out and you were able to make the connections.
Also loved seeing the AofA pictures. Mermaid is one of my favorite moves, along with Beauty and the Beast simply because of the music of the 2. I love it. Was thinking maybe staying there in the future, so glad to see pictures of it.
Hi Lisa So glad you've started this one. I agree with everyone else -- what a hassle with the loud hotel guests, and also the flights. I'm glad that man's travel companion set him straight and you guys could finally be on your way!! I have to say, I flew SW for the first time after avoiding it like the plague, and am now a convert
__________________
~ Jenn **Disney is REAL LIFE Magic, so much more than optical illusions **
Great start Lisa! So glad you've come back to write your report!
Thanks!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by princetoaprincess
Glad the plane thing worked out and you were able to make the connections.
Also loved seeing the AofA pictures. Mermaid is one of my favorite moves, along with Beauty and the Beast simply because of the music of the 2. I love it. Was thinking maybe staying there in the future, so glad to see pictures of it.
Thanks! The rooms were very nice - we tried to peek into some of the suites but couldn't really see much
Quote:
Originally Posted by TinkerbellJenn99
Hi Lisa So glad you've started this one. I agree with everyone else -- what a hassle with the loud hotel guests, and also the flights. I'm glad that man's travel companion set him straight and you guys could finally be on your way!! I have to say, I flew SW for the first time after avoiding it like the plague, and am now a convert
Thanks! I SW!
__________________
Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
Yay, you made it! Sorry that you had some delays with your flight, but glad you ended up making your connecting flight. It would have been a mess if you missed it.
We were in the Ursula building too Did Emily love the LM room???
Signing in! Great start (except for a plane delay).
Thanks!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeL
Ditto what Coop said Happy to hear that you are going back as I have picked up some great hints from your past trips
Thanks! Awe, glad to help any way I can with tips!
Quote:
Originally Posted by JKnott17
Yay, you made it! Sorry that you had some delays with your flight, but glad you ended up making your connecting flight. It would have been a mess if you missed it.
We were in the Ursula building too Did Emily love the LM room???
Thanks! Emily LOVED the LM room!!! Just space was an issue with 3 of us - next time she wants to stay in a Nemo suite
__________________
Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
How nerve wracking! Glad you made your connecting flight. We stayed at AoA in a LM room during a split stay on our last trip and Lexi loved our room! We were in the Ursula building, too.
How nerve wracking! Glad you made your connecting flight. We stayed at AoA in a LM room during a split stay on our last trip and Lexi loved our room! We were in the Ursula building, too.
Thanks! The room was great, and in a great location considering it is the furthest section out
__________________
Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
We arrived at Magic Kingdom around 2ish and headed right for Guest Services to exchange our vouchers for our Annual Passes and to purchase a new Tables in Wonderland card.
We were finally going through and walking down Main Street!!! I had purchased the new Memory Maker, and wanted to stop in the Photo shop to make sure it was linked to our magic bands correctly and such as this part was new to us. We were good!
We were pretty hungry so we decided we would stop at Caseys to grab some lunch! Scott and I each had a hot dog combo, and Emily had the corndog nuggets. She shared fries with me, and I had a diet coke, Em a lemonade and Scott a water.
While Scott and Emily were ordering the food, I found a table outside for us to sit, and while I was waiting for them I texted my friends that were there today to let them know we had arrived and where we were. Now, if you remember correctly during my PTR (and I know that was a long time ago, sorry!) Paul had an issue when they arrived in Orlando and ended up in the ER with kidney stones and had the procedure to try to blast them just the day before! So I was surprised he was at the park with Lisa and the kids. They had been waiting in line for Splash Mountain and would come over to Caseys soon. We got to say hi and give hugs all around. Paul was wiped out of course, so they were heading back to their resort (they were staying offsite) Lisa had said that maybe her and Bethany would be back to the park later that evening we would be in touch. So hugs again and we said see you later!
Scott, Emily and I finished eating and headed for our first fastpass of the trip! Space Mountain! If you have read my TRs before, you all know that Emily insists on this being the first ride of the trip! And although I always manage a decent smile for the photo I really hate this ride, as much as I love it!
We did find a Photopass Photographer along the way!
Next up was a visit with Mickey (our 2nd fastpass) to let him know we were back in town!
We stopped for more Photopass photos, on Main Street!
He had us stand in the middle of Main Street with the trolley coming
When we came out from visiting Mickey, we noticed that the line for Tinker Bell was short, so we visited with her next! Love my sassy friend!
Scott...............Have I mentioned that he refuses to grow up???
And this little family was waddling down Main Street.....
We then headed up into Fantasyland, but we had a bit of time before our next fastpass so we went in to view Mickeys Philarmagic! We all love this show, it never gets old for us!
It was finally time for the fastpass we had all been waiting for!!! We were riding Seven Dwarfs Mine Train!!! I had decided for my first ride on this, I would NOT take any photos and just sit back and enjoy the ride! Although it is a short ride we LOVED it!!! The detail was just amazing!
When we came off the ride, we found a PP photographer that appeared to be taking magic shots!
I was so happy to be back "home", I just had to take a "selfie"
It was now time for us to head out of the park and head over to the Grand Floridian for our dinner at 1900 Park Fare, but of course, we stopped for a few photopass photos along the way!
We got checked in, took our photo, and were quickly led to our table in that dreaded back room we all know about and feel like the evil step children when we get put back there.
We all filled up our bellies with yumminess. Scott had ordered a Blue Point White Ale, I had the Super Fruit Tequini (Casamigos Blanco Tequila, Cedilla acai Liqueur, Fresh Lime Juice, and Agave Nectar), and Emily had the Wild Strawberry Lemonade.
We were visited by each of the step-sisters Anastasia and Drizella, Lady Tremaine, and of course Cinderella and Prince Charming!
After dinner, Scott had decided his back had had it for the day and he headed back to the resort. I had heard from Lisa that her and Bethany were heading back to MK, so Emily and I went back so that we could spend the evening with them.
When we entered the park I texted Lisa to let her know we were there and had noticed that Tinker Bell was a short wait so we agreed that we would meet there and visit Tink together. So Emily and I headed in and got in line, and waited letting many families go ahead of us, and we waited still no sign of Lisa and Bethany??? I sent another text and Lisa responded that she went to the former Tink meet and greet area in Adventureland!!! So they were making their way to us, and Emily went out front to meet them! In the meantime, I was making many little girls happy to go ahead of us!
Finally we met up hugs again and were soon meeting up with Tinker Bell!
Next we headed over to Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin for some fun!
When we came out of Buzz we noticed the Dance Party was going on in Tomorrowland, so we jumped in for some dancing fun!
Then we made our way over to Space Mountain, the wait was not too long we let the girls ride together and Lisa & I went together have to be sure to take advantage of those Memory Maker photo ops!
There was a PP photographer in front of Space Mountain, so of course we took advantage of him!
The park was thinning out by now and we were able to hop onto the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh!
The girls wanted to ride Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in the dark ~ but thats where everyone was the line was still over an hour wait! So we made our way to Frontierland and rode Big Thunder Mountain instead!
It was getting late and had been a really long day for Emily and I so we started to head for the front of the park, but we stopped for a few more Photopass photos before saying good night to Lisa & Bethany!
By the time we got back to AoA, it was near midnight ~ Scott had sent me a text earlier that he had grabbed a couple bottles of water, a diet coke, and a couple bottles of beer for the room, and there was at least one of each waiting for me when I got in! Of course, he was sound asleep when we came in I enjoyed a beer and hit the pillow!
Total Miles Walked today: 15
Total Spent on Food & Beverage: $202.29
Total TIW (Tables in Wonderland) Discount: $32.07
*** A tip: if you have TIW and the resort you are staying in does NOT offer table service dining, you will receive the discount at the food court! 20%! We took advantage of this at AoA quite a bit!
__________________
Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
About This Page: 
Thank goodness you made your connection - that was a close call there! 
And yes, the shower was a bit dark, but it was really neat at the same time.
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
So glad you've started this one. I agree with everyone else -- what a hassle with the loud hotel guests, and also the flights. I'm glad that man's travel companion set him straight and you guys could finally be on your way!! I have to say, I flew SW for the first time after avoiding it like the plague, and am now a convert 
~ Jenn 
SW!
Disney Magic - Oct 2015
Linear Mode
