Mad as a Hatter or Fidel Goes to Disney Trip Report Complete 9/27/10 - Page 4 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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Heather, I thought of you today as I was waiting to get my nails done. Stefanie was looking through a Family Fun magazine and saw a Oriental Trading ad that had loads of ducks in it. We both immediately thought of you and after catching up on your PTR, I wish we could join you for your 30th Birthday adventures. Your ADRs look great and I know you all will have a blast. Enjoy a margarita for me at the meet and you can even scream and giggle for me on ToT.
"Read the directions and directly you will be directed in the right direction"
Airfare for this trip was a big pain . . . I was waiting for a ding! I almost always get a ding for Orlando. Yup, right, I also never travel in July . . . apparently no dings! for July to Orlando. In fact, flights were more expensive than I expected. One day about two weeks ago, I noticed that our return flight price had dropped a little bit--so I borrowed a little from here and a little from there to boost the balance in my checking account. I booked us on the first direct Southwest flight of the day on the way out and on the last direct Southwest flight of the day home. I call it vacation time maximization. I love Southwest!
Three round trip tickets to Orlando cost me $700. Not to shabby, but still painful. I'm glad I didn't wait any longer because the cost on those flights has gone up to $750. Planning for 3 is a bit more expensive that planning for 1 or 2. Ouch! Ahh well I know I'm getting half of that $700 back. Brandon is paying for his ticket and half of Blake's.
I need to go shopping. I have a list of things I need to replace. I seem to have lost my bathing suit. I think I left it in Vegas. I walked through last summer's shorts--both pairs. Shorts are apparently disposable clothing items. (like socks) Perhaps the fact that I bought them at Walmart and only paid $9 a pair had something to do with their demise. I'll be going back to Walmart for their replacements--I'm pretty sure I saw exactly the same style as the ones I bought last year. I like continuity. I've had enough changes this month to make anyone's head spin. Maybe they'll make it all the way to September!
I'm considering buying sturdier ponchos too. Usually I bring a bunch from the dollar store--they fit in a pocket and can be thrown away after one use--at $.50 a piece I don't feel all that guilty. Problem is that they don't provide super great coverage for anyone taller than me--and I'm almost midget sized. If the weather here is any indication it will storm for 10-20 minutes every day sometime between noon and 3. This is typically right BEFORE nap time. I'm pretty sure what I call the "hunting" department at our Walmart has better options. I don't know how I feel about carrying them around wet? Anyone seen any that stuff into little bags?
I purchased some sturdy ponchos at Walmart and these have a little storage bag. They come in colors like yellow and black. Think they might even have red ones.
They are one size fits all, 52" x 80". I don't remember the price, maybe less than $5.00? You can find them with the umbrellas. I only notice them when it rains and they move the display to the front door.
I'm looking forward to reading more about your trip!
Sorry airfare wasn't cheaper, but glad you got good times - we did the same for our trip - first flight out and last flight back.
Good Luck finding ponchos! I don't ever bring any - I'll just get wet.
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Sounds like an awesome trip Heather with amazing dining. I'm thrilled that Sha finally gets to go to Narcoossee's. She tended to look at it freakishly longingly when we were staying at the GF in June. Can I suggest Kohl's if you have one nearby for your shorts? I got such great deals on new summer clothes there in May and I think they're having a huge sale this weekend. Anyway, I really like their quality and my favorite part is that once you figure out your size, everything is sized consistently. Have fun and good luck on the clothes / poncho hunt!
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Karen, aka Zack's Mom - Lover of all Things Disney and the San Francisco Giants!
I purchased some sturdy ponchos at Walmart and these have a little storage bag. They come in colors like yellow and black. Think they might even have red ones.
They are one size fits all, 52" x 80". I don't remember the price, maybe less than $5.00? You can find them with the umbrellas. I only notice them when it rains and they move the display to the front door.
I'm looking forward to reading more about your trip!
Thanks for the info--I'll be on that next Thursday!
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhToodles!
Sorry airfare wasn't cheaper, but glad you got good times - we did the same for our trip - first flight out and last flight back.
Good Luck finding ponchos! I don't ever bring any - I'll just get wet.
My Iphone does NOT like getting wet! I don't mind--but the electronics are important
Quote:
Originally Posted by zacksmom_1993
Sounds like an awesome trip Heather with amazing dining. I'm thrilled that Sha finally gets to go to Narcoossee's. She tended to look at it freakishly longingly when we were staying at the GF in June. Can I suggest Kohl's if you have one nearby for your shorts? I got such great deals on new summer clothes there in May and I think they're having a huge sale this weekend. Anyway, I really like their quality and my favorite part is that once you figure out your size, everything is sized consistently. Have fun and good luck on the clothes / poncho hunt!
Oh how I wish we had a Kohl's--we sadly don't! I'm excited for dinner at Narcoossee's I can just see Sharon standing and staring at the lovely hexagonal building! (It might actually be octagonal)
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
I've haven't seen many good dings around lately. Sorry airfare wasn't cheap, but at least you're getting some of the money back.
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Pixie Dust
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Disney Magic - Oct 2015
I can't wait to read your reviews, as we are thinking of trying a few on your list!!
Susan
Your ADRs look great and I know you all will have a blast. Enjoy a margarita for me at the meet and you can even scream and giggle for me on ToT. 
, I'm enjoying your TR!
finding shorts and a poncho!
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