A New Grade, A New House, and A Surprise! TR August 21-31 - Page 28 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Great morning, despite your slightly late arrival. That line for TSMM is just crazy, I can't believe the wait it had only 15 minutes after park opening! Love the kids' facepaint, they look adorable.
Just catching up on my TR reading. I love that you ran into your friends while ready to board IASW! Even if it did ruin the lunch surprise. And I'm happy you finally got to experience the yumminess that is a Yak Attack. Glad they found Sabrina's retainer (or did they? ). Love the face paintings - they look adorable! Now I'm ready for you to continue.
__________________
Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
You got a lot done despite missing RD. I the face-paint photos, especially the one of them both together. What sweeties they are!
Thanks Laurie I think they pretty sweet, but I suppose I have to, being their mom and all
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
I agree, you did get a lot done!
We did, but never felt rushed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Great pictures from DHS! Love the face paints!
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by mommapants
What a busy morning. Isn't TSMM just crazy? Seriously when is that line gonna die down?
No kidding! My DH doesn't like the ride (I know, gasp!!), so hates waiting for it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MayraLR
Great time at DHS! Love the face paint! My son got the same one as Alex on our trip.
Great minds think alike!
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
Lots of fun character meets this morning!! The kids look great with their faces painted!!
Thanks! They were super excited to get it done.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
Great start to your DHS day! Star Tours sometimes triggers my motion sickness, too.
Thanks Cam! And Dave braved ST again later in the trip and was fine. Odd
Quote:
Originally Posted by JKnott17
Great morning, despite your slightly late arrival. That line for TSMM is just crazy, I can't believe the wait it had only 15 minutes after park opening! Love the kids' facepaint, they look adorable.
Oh, and PS - I loved the Yak Attack
Yay! So glad you got a YA. Now that I've tried one, it is my life's mission to convince others to try it...okay, maybe not life's mission, but still...
Quote:
Originally Posted by PrincessSharon
Just catching up on my TR reading. I love that you ran into your friends while ready to board IASW! Even if it did ruin the lunch surprise. And I'm happy you finally got to experience the yumminess that is a Yak Attack. Glad they found Sabrina's retainer (or did they? ). Love the face paintings - they look adorable! Now I'm ready for you to continue.
I shall continue then. Thank you Princess
__________________
Stacey
Why do these kids look so pathetic?
Find out in: A New Grade, A New House, and A Surprise!Final Thoughts 01/30
We had every intention of leaving at this point and trying to get to Beaches and Cream for lunch, but we got sidetracked
After our ride, we stopped to get Alex's face paint touched up - he kept rubbing his eyes and smearing it. While we were waiting for his touch up, we ran into Dana and company, then went to see The Incredibles with them.
Then we crossed off another of my must-dos - Animation Academy! I liked it, but it was a little difficult dealing with my perfectionist kids who didn't like their drawings and were really frustrated with theirs, to the point of tears. I convinced them to take a picture after, but it took some doing.
We quickly met Jake on the way out of AA and then with grumbling bellies, we went in search of food. Deciding on Pizza Planet was somewhat of a mistake - what a zoo! Seriously, it was insane in there. The Cappuccino Cupcake was delish though!
We finished in time to make a showing of American Idol and enjoyed the show as well as the time off our feet and the air-conditioning!
Now it was time. Time for the big ride. RNRR. Never been conquered before, not sure how it would go! We all lined up and listened to the announcements being made about the intensity of the ride. That was enough for Alex and he bailed! Dave took him shopping for a bit while we waited in the 20 minute line. Just as we neared the loading area, Sabrina told me she had to pee. All I could think was 'Really!!??", but offered to take her out and find a washroom. She decided that she could make it, but I wasn't so sure as she was doing quite the dance. Thankfully, she was fine and she loved the ride.
We grabbed a few PP pics at some point this day too - check out Alex. He apparently didn't get the memo of how to throw out his arm
Now we actually left the park, heading to BNC, as it was high up on my must do list. We were hoping since it was mid-afternoon, we wouldn't have much of a wait for a table. No such luck though - the wait was 35 minutes, so we got counter service instead. No 'No Way Jose', but the ice cream was still good - Dave had an ice cream cone, Alex and I had shakes and Sabrina had an ice cream sandwich that was huge! We found some benches inside BC and relaxed while munching, then grabbed a bus to MK, then a bus to WL.
We rested in the room for hour, then had dinner at WCC, snapping a few pictures while we waited.
We had a great server who threw napkins and straws. He was especially great with the kids who were upset that there wasn't enough 'ponies' for them - he had them redo the ride so everyone got a chance. We all ate tons and enjoyed it immensely; we all had skillets, and for dessert, Dave went with apple pie and I had cheesecake.
I took the kids to the arcade after dinner and Dave went to the room, as he was still not feeling great from his Star Tours ride earlier in the day.
Bedtime was 9:30 for kids, and as I wrote this, it was 10:15, with just me awake!
Up next: A mellow day....
__________________
Stacey
Why do these kids look so pathetic?
Find out in: A New Grade, A New House, and A Surprise!Final Thoughts 01/30
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.
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I think the pictures the kids drew came out great!! Much better than I think I could do since my drawing talents consist of stick figures. Sounds like you had a lot of fun at WCC, and great way to end your day!
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Star Tours sometimes triggers my motion sickness, too.
). Love the face paintings - they look adorable! Now I'm ready for you to continue. 
the face-paint photos, especially the one of them both together. What sweeties they are!
I think they pretty sweet, but I suppose I have to, being their mom and all 
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