DawnDenise Does Disney: Final Thoughts **Updated 11/10** COMPLETE - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
DawnDenise Does Disney: Final Thoughts **Updated 11/10** COMPLETE
DawnDenise Does Disney: An Inaugural Solo Trip
I’m baaaaaaacccccckkkkk!! And here you thought you wouldn’t be hearing from me until November. Heck, I thought I was done until November. Amazing how things change very quickly. And no this isn’t an episode in the likes of Debbie Does Dallas. (Leave it to my DH to figure that out) I like the alliteration and unfortunately it sounded just like that. Get your minds out of the gutter. So, on with the show…
Cast of Character:
That would be me!! DawnDenise, otherwise known as Dawn. I’ll be 36 on this upcoming trip, which will be my 13th trip to WDW, 16th trip to a Disney Park overall. I’m a full fledge Disney addict that always seem to have 2-3 trips in planning stages. Nothing wrong with that if I say so myself. I am also a character addict. I can’t help it. I like finding those crazy furry and some not so furry characters to hug and get my picture taken with them. My absolute favorite is Eeyore with Chip and Dale becoming some new faves. This will be my first solo trip and definitely something I have wanted to do for a long time.
If you don’t already know me, this is me on my February 2008 trip with my mom. (I’m the one on the right.)
Now as I mentioned, this trip was not planned at all. On June 16, 2008, I went to mailbox and gathered all the junk mail, bills, and magazines that arrived that day. I sat it on the coffee table and went back to work as I had a lot of research to do on some cases I was working on. I take my “lunch break” (which is code for make a sandwich, heat up some leftovers, or some soup and then go back to the desk and continue to work) and reheat some goulash that I had made the night before. I decided to sort through the mail to throw away the junk mail and get the bills on Chuck’s desk. ‘Lo and behold I see something with Disney Destinations in the corner. At that moment, I knew I had finally gotten one of those elusive pin codes. I pull it out of the pile and see this:
Well, work took a back seat as I had to get more information. I looked at the calendar, came up with some dates that could work for a long 4 day weekend, and called the number provided. I spoke to Bee and she had me confirm all the personal data to make sure that I was attached to this pin code. Phone number wasn’t matching so I gave her my old one from Indy, and we were good to go. I gave her the dates I was interested in and she let the computer do the thinking to let me know what was available. After chatting about past trips for about 5 minutes, she told me she had no openings at the Value Resorts, but had some at CBR. She gave me the price for the room and 3 day PH tickets. I told her to place a hold on it, and I would think it over. She told me the deposit was due by June 30th and the final payment was due by August 5th.
I had a credit for Southwest that expired in December 2008. Just to see what flights would cost, I went to the Southwest website and put in my dates and up came the flights. I chose the only non-stop flights for both ways and clicked on continue. With my credit, it was going to cost me only $1.50. That’s right people, a whole buck fifty. I put the information aside and went back to work having taken an hour to get all this info.
Chuck comes home from work, and we had dinner. After eating, I showed him the flyer and told him the specialness of it. It was basically a huge dose of verbal diahrea. I gave him the info I had gathered and the first thing he said was I can’t get off work for those times. I already knew this and told him that it would be a solo trip. He said for that price I would be stupid not to take advantage of it. I called WDW CRO back and changed my tickets to Base tickets and to take off the travel insurance. She gave me that price, and it became even more tempting. I hung up and told Chuck the latest round of prices. He calmly walks over to his desk, gets the stimulus check he received the previous week, and hands it to me. He simply says “Go.” I had already planned to use my stimulus check (we file married but separately) that had been sitting in my savings account if I decided to do this trip. I ask if he is sure, and he said “Yes.” There are times I really wonder how I got so lucky to find and marry Chuck. He treats me like gold and spoils me a lot. I him more today than the day I married him. He called this my anniversary present since it is on Sept. 16th. Did you know that the new 8th wedding anniversary gift is a trip to Disney? I better come up with something pretty spectacular for his gift, huh? (I did get something pretty darn cool for his anniversary gift. )Anywho, I decided to sleep on it overnight and see if it is really something I needed to do. I mean, I was going to WDW in November for 8 glorious days. Did I really need to go again???
I woke up the next morning and called my mom to discuss it with her as she is the wise one. She asked some questions and said if she had the vacation time, she’d go in a heartbeat. So, I hopped on the Southwest site, and I bought my airfare. I think that $1.50 was the lowest amount I have ever put on my debit card. Next, called CRO at WDW. Talked with Kelsey, a delightful CM who was a grandmother to two girls that were coming in October for MNSSHP. She read back my reservation for 4 days, 3 nights (Sept. 19th through 22nd) at Caribbean Beach with a 3 day base ticket. Yep! She then asked why not four days. I then explained that my flight didn’t arrive in Orlando until 3:00 so I was just going to use my party ticket for MNSSHP the first day. She commented that the idea was pretty smart. She proceeded to order my party ticket, and gave me that confirmation number. Next, I paid the deposit. Holy Carp! I was actually going to do this. And it was coming in under the $600.00 mark of the stimulus check. Kelsey asked if I wanted to make any ADRs and I told her no, I was going strictly counter service this trip. She confirmed everything and advised that I would receive a confirmation in my email. I hung up the phone and literally did a happy dance in the middle of my office. This is one of those moments I am so glad I work from home. Only my furbaby witnessed this definite embarrassing moment.
At lunch, I went to the Barnes and Nobles about 5 minutes from my home and picked up the last copy of the WDW 2008 spiral bound PassPorter since the PassPorter store was sold out of Deluxe refills and the Spiral Bound. The guy at the cash register asked me if this was my first trip and gave me some tips. After I told him this was my 13th trip, he said I guess you know what you are doing then. I came home and sat it in my recliner as I had already wasted a lot of my work day already.
Coming Up: 4 Days in the World, What’s a Girl to Do?????
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
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.
Hi Dawn! How exciting.... a solo trip!!! I've never had the nerve to do one, but am very intrigued by the idea. What a great deal you got, and I love your photos! Can't wait to hear all about your Disney plans!
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.
And no this isn’t an episode in the likes of Debbie Does Dallas. (Leave it to my DH to figure that out) I like the alliteration and unfortunately it sounded just like that. Get your minds out of the gutter. So, on with the show…
Yup...exactly where my mind went... Glad yours is a G rated version!
How awesome to get a wonderful offer from WDW and an equally wonderful gift from Chuck....perhaps he can give some pointers to Paul!
danielle
__________________
~Shoot for the moon, if you miss, you will land among the stars~
WDW - August 1997 Off Property
WDW - January 2005 AKL
WDW - May 2006 Pop Century
WDW- november-dec 2007 pop century
WDW- dec/jan 2009/2010 pop century
WDW- oct/nov 2012 art of animation
WDW- sept 2013 port Orleans riverside
WDW- july 2015 beach club
I am thinking this trip was meant to be from the beginning.
I am looking forward to hopefully catching up with you since our trips coincide.
Looking forward to more.
__________________
They caught us all smiling and looking at the camera!!!
Dawn! Wow, you are so lucky. Your plans came together so perfectly, you had to go!! Can't wait to hear about your plans--I am sitting here thinking what would I do on a solo trip. Is this your first one?
__________________
Read all about it in my TR, "Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!" Jill Phil. 4: 13
Dawn you are so lucky. Your beginning sounds so exciting--finally getting a pin (that's a dream I hope to experience). Your flight price was great $1.50---the pixies must be sending you a special trip. Looking forward to reading more.
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.
About This Page: 
And here you thought you wouldn’t be hearing from me until November. Heck, I thought I was done until November. Amazing how things change very quickly. And no this isn’t an episode in the likes of Debbie Does Dallas. (Leave it to my DH to figure that out) I like the alliteration and unfortunately it sounded just like that. 
Get your minds out of the gutter. 
I had already planned to use my stimulus check (we file married but separately) that had been sitting in my savings account if I decided to do this trip. I ask if he is sure, and he said “Yes.” There are times I really wonder how I got so lucky to find and marry Chuck. He treats me like gold and spoils me a lot. I 
him more today than the day I married him. He called this my anniversary present since it is on Sept. 16th. Did you know that the new 8th wedding anniversary gift is a trip to Disney? 
I better come up with something pretty spectacular for his gift, huh? (I did get something pretty darn cool for his anniversary gift. 
)Anywho, I decided to sleep on it overnight and see if it is really something I needed to do. I mean, I was going to WDW in November for 8 glorious days. Did I really need to go again??? 
She proceeded to order my party ticket, and gave me that confirmation number. Next, I paid the deposit. Holy Carp! I was actually going to do this. 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
Hi Dawn! How exciting.... a solo trip!!! I've never had the nerve to do one, but am very intrigued by the idea. What a great deal you got, and I love your photos! Can't wait to hear all about your Disney plans!
Aimee
Glad yours is a G rated version!
![[SIGPIC]](signaturepics/sigpic27594_7.gif)
Linear Mode
