A Coast to Coast Christmas - Phase Two DL - Page 17 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
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Sorry the trip home was such an ordeal. When you mentioned "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" all I could think about was the "Those aren't pillows!!!" scene . So, it could always be worse I guess.
What a trip!!! Glad you finally made it home safe and sound, I would have been thinking of that add on a night my whole way home too, but with only a few days left to the holidays you definitely made the right choice.
I have been MIA for a while. Ever sense we got back from WDW our lives have been crazy. Haven't had a chance to log on to PP, but I am all caught up now. The trip sounded and looked amazing. Sorry about your crazy trip home. Now I need to get to my TR! I read over my notes and could totally tell what nights I was really tired and what nights I took time writing notes out. I hope I can remember details. It's only been a month, but that doesn't matter. haha
I totally forgot that I never came back to add my final thoughts. about that! I've been kinda busy lately, so I haven't been on the boards much.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dlandmom2
Oh my! What a crazy trip home! Thank goodness you made it to San Diego...I would never plan on a trip to San Diego lasting any less than 2 hours!
Now you have a story to tell your nephews the next time you travel with them!
It would've been close if the first shuttle had taken us! After 15 minutes waiting, we were really nervous!
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
Yikes! That WAS an epic trip! Can't believe what you went thru. The moral of the story: never pass up a chance to extend a Disney stay!
Yeah, I totally should've stayed an extra day. I could've played in the parks with Heather!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
I knew this would be bad, and it was! You must have been exhausted when you reached home. That was a long day, and filled with anxiety! I had a similar experience years ago going from Greece to Portland (Maine). We sat on the plane in Athens for 2 hours waiting to take off and so missed our connection (last of the night) in Boston. Had to spend the night in Boston, were booked on the first flight out to Portland which was cancelled due to fog. They ended up busing us to Portland, which they could have done the night before! I'll bet lots of people have stories like this. Let's hope you've gotten your epic journey out of the way and you'll make all your connections from here on!
Yikes! That would've made me so mad! Don't wait until the next day to do something that you could've done the day before!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Linnynad
Gurl......at times like that, that is when Arnaud and I like to pretend cameras are following us and we are on an episode of Amazing Race What a nightmare, sorry that was the end to your trip. But at least you got home in the same day....right?? Eh, I'm trying here.
If there was a chance for prize money at the end, it would've been much more acceptable.
Quote:
Originally Posted by disney_duke
Now, that. Is a story. I know exactly how you felt with literally 10 minutes to get from security to gate. We had that happen at Orlando! And we still had to take the airport monorail. It's enough to make you cry! I'm glad you made it!
I used to be able to say I never had to run through an airport like a crazy person. I would've been freaking out if I had to wait for a monorail!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Caldercup
And you choose NOW to tell the truth? Girl, I want that OTHER story!
Now, now. This is a family board!
Quote:
Originally Posted by pamcarey
Wow, that was some trip home! I do think that airports need to have some sort of system to allow people with flights taking off VERY soon to skip to the head of the line at security. Glad you made it home!
This is actually the first airport I've found that doesn't do that!
Quote:
Originally Posted by disneydreamer33
What a nightmare to get home. Glad it all worked out okay. I personally think if you have to get shuffled around, you should get a pass up front through security!
I agree! I'm always willing to let people ahead of me when I'm on time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grammy Grumpy
Wowser, what we do to get home from our vacations. But, next time fate presents you with an extra Disney day, even at Christmas, TAKE IT!
Yeah, next time!
Quote:
Originally Posted by LLaffinPlace
Whoa! That was some adventure.
Sounds a bit like one Bob and I had where we flew out of Huntsville but couldn't land in Atlanta, flew back, they took that plane out of service and we got rebooked thru Reagan National in DC to go to Orlando.
It's fun to tell later but not so much to actually live through as it plays out.
I remember that story! It had to be worse for you though - it was cutting into your vacation time. At least I was on the way home!
Quote:
Originally Posted by honeybee723
Hey...what's wrong with spending the night in Baltimore?!? I mean, if you overlook the crime ridden streets and panhandlers on every corner, it's really a nice place to visit. Wow! What a journey to get home, but I'm glad you made it back safely, and without having to spend the night lying on a chair in the airport.
You know, I've been to both San Diego and Baltimore before and enjoyed both cities, but I really didn't want to spend any time in either one that day!
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhToodles!
That tour sounded great! And the perks definitely made it! I want to know where you got your gloves/mittens. Are those Mickeys on them?
What an ordeal! We had something similar happen years ago when we were going to Boston. Our plane had mechanical issues I believe so instead of sending us to Boston we went to Providence then took a cab to Boston and barely made it there before the rental place closed. Scariest part - when the cab driver wanted to back up on the freeway because he missed the exit!
Glad you finally made it home!
That is scary! And I got those gloves/mittens a few years ago at the big shop at DHS. They do have Mickeys on them!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bee
Glad you kept your mickey hat on I think I would of lost it!!!!
and next time theres a offer under the door TAKE it its a sign from "Walt"! lol
I learned my lesson!
Quote:
Originally Posted by HollyH
Great TR, Sharon! Thanks for taking us along .
Sorry the trip home was such an ordeal. When you mentioned "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" all I could think about was the "Those aren't pillows!!!" scene . So, it could always be worse I guess.
It definitely could've been worse!
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcc0313
What a trip!!! Glad you finally made it home safe and sound, I would have been thinking of that add on a night my whole way home too, but with only a few days left to the holidays you definitely made the right choice.
Yeah, I figured as it got closer to Christmas it would only get worse! Plus, I still had some pre-Christmas stuff to take care of!
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
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I’ve always wanted to visit Disneyland during the holiday festivities, and now that I’ve done it, I’m kicking myself for taking so long! It’s really fantastic to see Christmas decorations throughout both parks and all the resorts. I loved it!
I also loved getting spend time with my great friends. Just like the WDW portion of this trip, it wouldn’t have been the same without my buddies. Heather and I tour the parks very well together, and it was especially fun to get to see her experience new stuff. It’s always a blast for me to spend time with Karen and Zack, too. They both crack me up on a regular basis. Looking forward to next time!
Meeting Jeannie was lots of fun, too, and I hope to get to see her again on my trip later this year. PassPorters are the best and I really enjoy meeting new friends.
The Firsts:
I haven’t had nearly as many DL trips as I’ve had WDW trips, so my list of firsts is usually longer on a DL trip.
First time visiting during Christmas time First time doing the Holiday Tour First time riding Ariel’s Undersea Adventure First time riding newly rethemed Silly Symphony Swings and Goofy’s Sky School First time seeing it’s a small world holiday First time doing Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough First time dining at Wine Country Trattoria First time seeing World of Color First time dining at the Plaza restaurant
Transportation:
Southwest Airlines – Despite my insane journey home, I am happy with Southwest. I suppose it isn’t their fault that there was fog, and they tried their best to get me home.
Super Shuttle – I was happy with Super Shuttle when I used them from SNA to the Disneyland Hotel, but the guy refusing to take us to San Diego left a bad taste in my mouth. I’d use Super Shuttle again, but I’d certainly consider other options if possible.
Disneyland Hotel:
The Disneyland Hotel is my favorite Disneyland hotel, and this stay made me love it even more. I just adore all the little Disney touches everywhere. I also love that most of them are subtle and not in-your-face. I’ll be staying there again next time!
The Food:
We had some rocky times at meals this trip, but there weren’t any instances where the food was just bad. We had good service and bad service. And we saw LOTS of characters!
Steakhouse 55 – The service wasn’t great – the server didn’t understand a special request and didn’t clarify. My steak wasn’t cooked exactly as I would’ve liked, but there was enough of it that was right that it filled me up. I was disappointed with the meal overall, though. I won’t rush to return to Steakhouse 55.
Wine Country Trattoria – I loved my meal here. The food was tasty and the service was great. We dined as part of the World of Color package, but I would choose this restaurant even without the package. Tasty!
Plaza Inn – This meal was sort of cafeteria style, which I didn’t mind at all. The food was fresh and tasty, and the characters were plentiful. It’s a great in-park option for a character meal.
Storytellers Cafe - This was the stinker of the trip, because our experience started off on the wrong foot. I did find my food to be very good, but all the things that went wrong just made it a bad meal overall.
The Parks:
I knew this was a busy time of the year to visit, but I was still surprised by how busy it was in the early morning hours. I’m used to a park having light crowds right at park opening and for an hour or so after, but that wasn’t the case at all. Still, I got to do everything I wanted to do, often multiple times, so I suppose the crowds didn’t matter.
It was a special treat to see the parks and resorts decorated for Christmas. It was so very festive and I loved all the little special holiday stuff, including lots of holiday food. It was really magical to see snow on Main Street, so I’m especially glad I got to see that, but the attractions with the holiday overlays are spectacular and are the main event if you ask me.
Thanks for reading my TR! I love writing it, knowing that people are enjoying reading about my adventures. Y’all really are the best!
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
Great wrap up! Glad you could accomplish so many firsts, since you can't have many of those at all in WDW (well, maybe when the new Fantasyland debuts you'll have some firsts for a couple months....)!
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Super wrap-up... as always! Loved reading about your DL adventure and look forward to hearing all about your NEXT Disney trip, which I'm sure isn't far behind!
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"Those aren't pillows!!!" scene 
. So, it could always be worse I guess.
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about that! I've been kinda busy lately, so I haven't been on the boards much.
What a nightmare, sorry that was the end to your trip. But at least you got home in the same day....right?? Eh, I'm trying here.
I know exactly how you felt with literally 10 minutes to get from security to gate. We had that happen at Orlando! And we still had to take the airport monorail. It's enough to make you cry! 
I'm glad you made it!
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