Snafus, Stupidities and So Many Firsts TR Dec 11- 19th - COMPLETED 1/25 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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.
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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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Glad you enjoyed AK so much. It is much better in the cooler months, I think. That park for some reason is almost unbearable in the hotter months.
Can't wait for more.
Getting caught up - the celebration at CP sounds very magical! We had the opportunity to eat breakfast there and it was one of our fav's! Sounds like everyone had a lot of fun .
We bought those same binoculars for souvenir gifts to bring back home - they're great .
Hi! Just started your TR and so far it sound like a wonderful time (minus the snafus ) I hope my "big boy" is ready for HM when we get back! I loved AK - I can only imagine how much nicer it is when it's cooler. Great pics and smiles!
THanks for reading everyone! I am so enjoying retelling the trip and was hoping to have an update again this week but I've been hit with the sinus infection our kids had last week. With Abby's asthma in full effect and now feeling drained from my illness I hope to update over the weekend.
Sounds like a fun time even with the snafus! I'm glad you liked AK. The Nemo show is one of my favorite things! Well worth the wait. And we wouldn't miss Flame Tree for anything!
for your sinus infection! Those are no fun.
Can't wait for your next installment!
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Thank you all for the well wishes! Feeling a bit better tonight so on with the TR!!
Monday, December 14th
Today was Epcot day and we had a host of new things to look forward to! I was very excited to get going but alas, another mid morning start to the day.
We got to Epcot and wanted a family picture as the entrance was decorated so cute. A photopass photog was there so we waited in line. Enter the “stupidity” portion of my TR. Notice I said “we WAITED.” When it was our turn we sat down. Lo and behold, there was a large group also waiting. They decided to bypass the photographer and plop right down next to me. In fact, one woman got so close, she was ON PART OF MY LEFT LEG! I said, “Can you move over?” When she didn’t seem to understand I got a little more stern and said “MOVE OVER! WE’RE TRYING TO GET OUR PICTURE TAKEN HERE!” She didn’t seem to understand English and didn’t seem to care. The photog couldn’t get a decent shot of just us so we did not buy the picture.
After I shook off that display of total rudeness we wandered into the park. Ken and the kids did some pin trading as I was pleading to head to Test Track and Soarin’ for FPs. Then we managed to do a little shopping and I found just the souvenir I wanted, but you’ll have to wait ‘til later to see it. I did give you a clue earlier in my TR!
Once past the shops my dad cried, “Oh, look who it is!” Lo and behold, there was Daisy Duck! We had never managed to meet her before and since I could not for the life of me get an ADR at TH we stood in a very short line to meet her! Another “stupidity” episode followed. While we were waiting two women from the same group who so rudely barged into our photo tried to run right past the photopass photog to meet Daisy! Can you believe it? He put his arms out in a defensive move to hold them back. I said to him, “Wow. Guess you’ve got to be a policeman as well as a photographer!” The ladies took pictures from afar and they were off. Good riddance! Anyway, here are our pictures.
After the distractions we headed to Soarin’ for FPs. Then we went to Test Track. The wait was only 30 minutes so my family and my dad decided to wait in line. The waiting area is very cool and a great distraction! I also love the room you enter in before getting into the car. Nice work Imagineers!! Once in the car we were off. It was a blast! I don’t want to give too much away, but suffice it to say it was a great ride! Afterwards Alex wanted a remote TT car so we got him one and purchased a photo (sorry, we did not purchase the PP CD so I can’t show you)
Next we decided to head to Mexico. Great shopping! I bought a bunch of Mexican tin ornaments and a lovely Mexican dress (will upload photos later!) Abby was bummed the mariachis had a day off, saying she wore her “twirly” skirt for nothing. We rode the 3 caballeros ride (kids always love it) and headed outside for lunch at then Cantina de San Angel.
Whew. It was getting quite warm outside. Had to be in the upper 80s, low 90s! I can’t find what I ate on the allears menu, but it was chicken enchiladas with a mole type sauce. Quite yummy.
I was excited we didn’t have much time to wait for the 3 kings storytellers. They were just wonderful!
Since Alex is Guatemalan we celebrate 3 kings’ day so I really wanted the kids to see them. Only bummer is we didn’t have more time to see more storytellers because our FPs for Soarin’ were callin’ us to ride!
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And we wouldn't miss Flame Tree for anything! 
I said, “Can you move over?” When she didn’t seem to understand I got a little more stern and said “MOVE OVER! WE’RE TRYING TO GET OUR PICTURE TAKEN HERE!” 
I did give you a clue earlier in my TR!
He put his arms out in a defensive move to hold them back. 
I said to him, “Wow. Guess you’ve got to be a policeman as well as a photographer!” The ladies took pictures from afar and they were off. Good riddance! Anyway, here are our pictures.
But at least they moved on. Now I am so curious about that perfect souvenir!
Once in the car we were off. It was a blast! I don’t want to give too much away, but suffice it to say it was a great ride! 
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