The way We do a Disney Re-Do ~~ Beach club Aug 13-22 - FINISHED!!! 1/20 - Page 39 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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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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Oh Shelly what a great ending to your trip! I am overjoyed and almost to tears hearing how great you trip was. Especially your last entry with your questions and that yes was the answer to each.
I agree with you completely about touring at your own pace, your own schedule, and that planning is key..of course with the flexibility to change your plans if need be.
Your pics are FABULOUS! I just loved the one of Delaney that is between the two TT pics! Oh, and the one of your DH and DS where DH is holding the balloons, awesome! All your pics are wonderful though, I see what you mean about being happy...it really shows!!
I also loved 1900 Park Fare and cant wait to bring DH and DD there. I thought the character interaction was fabulous! The stepmother and sisters were so great, and very good at improv. It was one of my favs too and was top of the list when I started planning this years trip. We are going this year as a family, just the 3 of us though this time, and our next trip after won't be until 2014. But hey, at least there is a next time!
OH! I forgot about the pic of you at 1900 too, where your smiling, that one is fab too!
Sorry it took me so long to respond, I think I dont get emails like I should saying there is new posts. But I havent been on to check either, I admit.
So happy again about your magic and thanks for sharing it with us...you write so open and honest, with humor and seriousness...you are a terrific writer!
Hey Stranger! Thanks for finishing up the TR with me. I did not mean to take a 2-month break...but sometimes life happens! So I understand why you diud not jump back in with me right away.
Hope you are having fun planning your next trip. I think we will be on the 2-year plan from now on as well. I wish we could swing it more, but with limited time off from work for DH and the cost of airline tickets, it would be hard to justify. We decided that we would rather have a long and awesome trip every 2 years than a shorter and more "budget" trip every year, especially considering taht the costs for airlines, food and park tickets are pretty constant...
Hey Stranger! Thanks for finishing up the TR with me. I did not mean to take a 2-month break...but sometimes life happens! So I understand why you diud not jump back in with me right away.
Hope you are having fun planning your next trip. I think we will be on the 2-year plan from now on as well. I wish we could swing it more, but with limited time off from work for DH and the cost of airline tickets, it would be hard to justify. We decided that we would rather have a long and awesome trip every 2 years than a shorter and more "budget" trip every year, especially considering taht the costs for airlines, food and park tickets are pretty constant...
I just finished mine a few weeks ago, and that didnt even include a summary...so dont worry about it! I dont even know if I will do another TR, I found the PTR so much more fun! LOL
Yes, it is way too expensive with the airline tickets, that scares me actually! I have decided to look at it like, if I pay $900 for my tickets, I saved $900 on my package free dining, so it all balances out. We are doing the 3 year plan, bc with the approximate cost for us that would mean saving $1000 a year in order to go. My mini trip with my mom doesnt count in the years.
Can't wait to hear about your plans for the trip of 2012!
Shelly,
I have spent a good portion of the past couple of days engrossed in your trip report; it was extremely entertaining, intimate and very well written. I feel as if I know you and your family very well indeed and enjoyed "being on vacation" with them. I know it took a lot of time and energy to write this trip report and I thank-you. I also have to say thanks for introducing me to the GAC. I was unaware of this wonderful WDW option for people who have special needs. My husband has recently lost the use of his right leg and the GAC will enhance our experiences the next time we're lucky enough to travel to our favorite place (I have to tell you that BC sounds like it's worth every penny and I have resolved to make this our next WDW "home").
Sharon
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Shelly,
I have spent a good portion of the past couple of days engrossed in your trip report; it was extremely entertaining, intimate and very well written. I feel as if I know you and your family very well indeed and enjoyed "being on vacation" with them. I know it took a lot of time and energy to write this trip report and I thank-you. I also have to say thanks for introducing me to the GAC. I was unaware of this wonderful WDW option for people who have special needs. My husband has recently lost the use of his right leg and the GAC will enhance our experiences the next time we're lucky enough to travel to our favorite place (I have to tell you that BC sounds like it's worth every penny and I have resolved to make this our next WDW "home").
Sharon
Thanks for your wonderful feedback. I am happy to hear my TR has given you some new information about how to make your next visit more magical. And yes...The BC was worth every penny!!!!
I just read your trip report and realized we were there during the same time! i don't think any of our park days matched though. We were at MK the day after you were (the "6" day on Friday). Touring plans had rated the Saturday a "5" and we found it the same as our earlier MK day (which was rated an "8"). And, we were dealing with that crazy rain you mentioned!
Loved your trip report! It's great that you finished it! Mine is buried somewhere in the boards. Maybe next time....
I just read your trip report and realized we were there during the same time! i don't think any of our park days matched though. We were at MK the day after you were (the "6" day on Friday). Touring plans had rated the Saturday a "5" and we found it the same as our earlier MK day (which was rated an "8"). And, we were dealing with that crazy rain you mentioned!
Loved your trip report! It's great that you finished it! Mine is buried somewhere in the boards. Maybe next time....
Glad your crowds were better if you had to deal with all the rain at MK. Would have been funny if we crossed paths and did not even know it.
What do you mean by your TR is buried in the boards? Have you started one? They have no timelines....
I just went "backwards" and read yoru pre-trip report. It GREAT that you re-did Disney after that first trip!! What an experience! Loved reading both reports.
Maybe I should try to find my "buried" report and get it finished. Yours was so much fun reading!!!
BTW, My middle child, DS 5, has many allergies including severe ones to eggs and peanuts. We found the dining experience just as amazing as you did in regards to that! Especially at 1900 Park Fare. The chef over there made him the most fabulous dessert! Even made DD jealous and put her "normal" dessert to shame!
I just went "backwards" and read yoru pre-trip report. It GREAT that you re-did Disney after that first trip!! What an experience! Loved reading both reports.
Maybe I should try to find my "buried" report and get it finished. Yours was so much fun reading!!!
BTW, My middle child, DS 5, has many allergies including severe ones to eggs and peanuts. We found the dining experience just as amazing as you did in regards to that! Especially at 1900 Park Fare. The chef over there made him the most fabulous dessert! Even made DD jealous and put her "normal" dessert to shame!
I only wish restaurants were as accommodating in our real life. We rarely go out to eat anymore because we can only order her so many french fried and chicken nuggets....
Let me know if you continue your started trip report....
Great trip report - I really enjoyed it. Thanks for all the work you did to pull it together, too! Looking forward to hearing your plans for 2012!
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15 total family trips with stays at the Poly, AKL, Wilderness Lodge, Beach Club, Swan, Dolphin, POFQ, Pop Century, All Star Music, Movies & Sports, and Coronado Springs.
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Great trip report - I really enjoyed it. Thanks for all the work you did to pull it together, too! Looking forward to hearing your plans for 2012!
Thanks! I could actually start the pre-trip report...but it seems a bit silly to post about all my "what ifs" this far in advance...but I am already working on a chart
YAY!!! Just stopped by and saw your name on another post and realized I never finished reading your TR. I have not been on here very much lately and when I do, it is just to satisfy my longing to return for another trip. lol
I'm so HAPPY that your trip was WONDERFUL! You all deserved it! I loved reading your TR. It really helped me on our trip (we went for 10 days and was there over Thanksgiving...we had a FABULOUS time even though it was busier than it had ever been on our previous visits. We took breaks to swim, took advantage of late hours and the BESTT thing EVER was the ability to use our GAD/GAD vouchers. Allowed us to walk on so many rides b/c we were able to use our FP's with them). So thanks for all your help.
Can't wait to read your next report. I'm trying to talk my hubby into going during Mardi Gras next year or in 2013 for the same time (the kiddos have the whole week off here for that).
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.