How to Meet Friends and Alienate Children - *Updated 8/10* - Page 19 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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Holy Moly I just got caught up with your TR. Absolutely hysterical! You all are a 'hoot'.
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The sign on the wall at Club 33 says “WARNING: Drinking Distilled Spirits, Beer, Coolers, Wine and Other Alcoholic Beverages During Pregnancy Can Cause Birth Defects”
Totally not what I expected it to say when I first saw it!
Anyway, after we walked out of Club 33, we headed over to Tomorrowland and learned about the upcoming Nemo ride (that’s being built over the old 20,000 Leagues ride.) Andrea said she’d let us in on a little secret about how it was going to work: that Nemo and friends would be visible in what the Imagineers referred to as a “dry cave” – but that’s a secret!! (I hated to burst her bubble so I said nothing, but I figured that at least half of us had already seen this technology first-hand in Epcot.) We all politely smiled and nodded and willingly moved on.
We recrossed the park and entered Adventureland to get into the Enchanted Tiki Room. The last show had just started, so we took advantages of the waiting area. Some of us pulled up benches, or got Dole whips or ran to the Tiki rest rooms. Rest Room?? – in a ride?! Yep. Seems that the Tiki Room in DLR was originally slated to be a restaurant as well as an attraction, so rest rooms were installed. Well, all I can say is…. PHEW! I needed that!!
Karen wasn’t feeling very well and someone in the group managed to rustle up some Tylenol. I ran back to the rest room and filled up my water bottle for her. Hopefully, she’d feel a little better soon.
Our group waited at least 10 minutes before we were joined by other guests who wandered into the waiting area of the attraction. Some of them started bunching up on the steps, but we held firm to our benches. A minute before the show was to start, Andrea told us to head up to the theatre. Like lemmings, we followed her up the stairs. A woman who was standing there (after having arrived at least 5 minutes after we had already been in the pre-show area), got a little huffy. She tried to step in front of me as our tour headed up the stairs. I just pointed to my shirt again and said we were with a tour and needed to get into the theatre. She moved out of the way, but was apparently quite rude and said something to the tour people behind us. (Anyone remember what she said?)
Sheesh… it’s not like she wouldn’t get a seat!! The theatre wound up only being about half full anyway!
Our tour sat in an "L" on the benches along the wall and Andrea took a bench in front of us, right across from me. Well, that was probably my favorite part of the show – seeing Andrea sing every single, stinkin’ word of that show. I’m serious. She had this big grin on her face and said **every** word. She even knew the words to the exit song. Heeee! She caught me watching her and gave me a sheepish grin, but I gave her a big thumbs up for her enthusiasm!
As the lights came fully up, I heard the entire tour break out into big laughs – Doug had slept through the whole thing!
Andrea told us that she would bring out a very special guest… one of the original orchids from the Tiki room. She told us that this orchid was here when Mr. Disney installed the Tiki room (at his own expense, which is why it’s still owned by the Disney family) and told us the orchid’s complex name, which completely escapes me at the moment. All I remember is that she was referred to as Lady Ophelia. Andrea could make Lady Ophelia’s “mouth” open and, after making sure we all got a close-up look, she offered to let us take pictures with her.
[Tina with Lady Ophelia and Andrea]
[Andrea and the Tiki CM Jeff – who was really funny and had lots of DLR info]
We headed back to New Orleans Square, where I noticed an odd grouping of flags – one was the US flag, one was the French flag and one was a flag I didn’t recognize. It had a horizontal red stripe at top and bottom and a white stripe in the middle. I asked Andrea about it and she was equally confused. When Milissa rejoined us, they conferred a bit and said they’d get back to us about it.
Andrea took us into a little courtyard that was filled with flowers. She ended the tour by telling us about the little areas in Disneyland that have been kept just as Walt and Lillian liked – and this little courtyard was one of them. It was filled with flowers and was just so peaceful and pretty. I really felt like Walt was “there” and got a little verklempt… sniff!
Then we were led back to a series of tables where our lunches were all waiting for us – with little nametags on our meals (which, if my scanner was working, I could share with you, because I managed to pry mine off and stick it to a piece of paper that I carefully stashed in my bag.
After having done some quick calling and fact-checking, Milissa and Andrea admitted that they had no idea about the odd flag I’d seen, but Liz came to the rescue and pulled out her Crackberry (uh, I mean Blackberry.) We all shouted out countries that we thought might be appropriate. Finally, we discovered, with Liz’s technology, that it must be a Spanish flag – albeit, one who’s yellow stripe had faded to white in the California sun!
The meal was delicious and I enjoyed every bite of my cobb salad and the ENORMOUS cheesecake – the only thing that marred the meal was “where” we were. The long series of tables they set up for us could’ve used at least one more table ‘cause we were a tad crushed in. Plus, there was a ficus tree that was poking the poor person sitting in front of it. And we were in the shade, which made my lizard friend from NoCal very, very chilly. I don’t think it helped her headache at all either!
After lunch, the tour guides wanted to take our pictures so we all got lined up. They brought over a PhotoPass person and the poor soul had to juggle about a thousand cameras – but… not mine… so I don’t have a picture to share. (Just check out Crystal’s sig pic for the image.)
The tour guides wanted to get all of the backs of our shirts too and made us all turn around for a group shot, plus they took close-ups of Dawn’s shirt – and the look on Dawn’s face as the guide was 6 inches away with a camera pointed at her chest was priceless!
Oh, and the funniest thing happened when a group of Japanese tourists walked by and saw all of us arranged for the picture. They started talking to each other and pointing at us – obviously trying to figure out who we were – because we had to be *SOMEone* famous since so many cameras were involved Eventually, one Japanese fellow took a few pictures of us too. I got such a kick out of that.
Ya know he’s at home now thinking “Who in heck ARE these people?”
They started talking to each other and pointing at us – obviously trying to figure out who we were – because we had to be *SOMEone* famous since so many cameras were involved Eventually, one Japanese fellow took a few pictures of us too. I got such a kick out of that.
Ya know he’s at home now thinking “Who in heck ARE these people?”
You mean people around the world don't know us????????? In my book, we are Fa-mous.
I really like the way the Tiki Room is at DL. Restrooms and a Dole Whip stand - what more can a girl ask for. That Dole Whip Float was probably the best I have ever had or maybe it was b/c it made me finally sober up from the night before Doug sleeping thru the Tiki show - what a novelty - Doug sleeping......again
Great update - can't wait to hear what happened next
“WARNING: Drinking Distilled Spirits, Beer, Coolers, Wine and Other Alcoholic Beverages During Pregnancy Can Cause Birth Defects”
It can?
J/k...I just love how they itemize each possibility---"distilled spirits" and "coolers"??? I wonder if they got sued at some point because really---who doesn't already know this? Or are they saying that it's the main reason alcohol isn't available at MK (except Club 33, of course.) I dunno.....that sign kinda rubs me the wrong way, I'm feeling actually insulted. And it's not just because I'm a crazed pregnant woman who's been denied alcohol for 7+ months. Really, it's not.
Another fantastic update, Eileen! The tour sounds like one that we definitely need to take!
Sorry Karen wasn't feeling so well. And, did anyone catch a picture of the Photopass photographer taking a picture of Dawn's chest?? I'd love to see the look on her face!!
J/k...I just love how they itemize each possibility
Actually, I believe the wording comes from a state law -- at least it is around here....
But, I *did* find it funny because it was in such a fancy, curlique script. I guess I was expecting it to say something magical and wonderful to the incoming clubmembers...
Quote:
So...why is Karen not feeling so well?
I think it had more to do with the crappy Grand Californian sleeping bag and not the lasting effects of margaritaville.
Actually, I believe the wording comes from a state law -- at least it is around here....
Ahhhh, IC. I wonder if it's a law from the 80s, cuz I haven't seen Calvin Coolers on the drink menu for quite some time. : Ok, I'm done obsessing over the alcohol sign, looking forward to the next update!
Sounds like a great tour Eileen! Was it really necessary for that lady to make her snide comment in the Tiki Room waiting area! They count how many people are let in the waiting room so anyone in there will definitely get a seat! Being the type of room it is all the benches have a great view. I am really interested in taking that tour if I ever get back to DL. Can't wait for another update.
Some of us pulled up benches, or got Dole whips or ran to the Tiki rest rooms. Rest Room?? – in a ride?! Yep. Seems that the Tiki Room in DLR was originally slated to be a restaurant as well as an attraction, so rest rooms were installed. Well, all I can say is…. PHEW! I needed that!!
Yep, that is the coolest thing ever! Let me just say, those restrooms have saved my patootie a LOT of times, because it never fails that we have been standing in line for a LONG time and the attraction is just about to open the doors when my DD announces that she has to go to the restroom NOW! I kind of wish they would add one close to every attraction!
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Saturday, October 9, 2014 - Kaitlyn and I before the Happy Haunted 5K at ESPN Wide World of Sports
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She even knew the words to the exit song. Heeee! She caught me watching her and gave me a sheepish grin, but I gave her a big thumbs up for her enthusiasm!
Doug sleeping thru the Tiki show - what a novelty - Doug sleeping......again 
: Ok, I'm done obsessing over the alcohol sign, looking forward to the next update! 
I am really interested in taking that tour if I ever get back to DL.
Can't wait for another update.
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