In Search Of... (A Trip Report 8/31 thru 9/8/2013) Updated 10/08/14 - Page 2 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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WDW - August 1997 Off Property
WDW - January 2005 AKL
WDW - May 2006 Pop Century
WDW- november-dec 2007 pop century
WDW- dec/jan 2009/2010 pop century
WDW- oct/nov 2012 art of animation
WDW- sept 2013 port Orleans riverside
WDW- july 2015 beach club
That's beautiful Kenny, I love how descriptive you get with writing.
Thanks, Jen!
Quote:
Originally Posted by thomhazel
They say that is the best part of Grandchildren, giving you the perfect excuse for a slip into a second childhood. Beautiful start.
Thank you! Yes, enjoying the kids without having to be too disciplinary!
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhToodles!
Wonderful as always Kenny! So excited to read about this trip!
Thanks, Kelly! As I am reading your about cruise TR!
Quote:
Originally Posted by dutchdisneyfamily
I love the start! Looking forward to more!
Thanks! I hope I can keep you all interested. With no internet at home(only on the phones and that's spotty) it's difficult sometimes when I have to wait till I'm on the road.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
What a wonderful start Kenny!
Thanks, Cheryl!
Quote:
Originally Posted by num1DVCfan
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenny Woww, Jen, you were waiting for this!!!
I knew you'd say that! I just happened to log on after you posted it
You were so quick, I didn't get your PM sent like I said I would! You've made me really want to keep up with this!
Quote:
Originally Posted by mayralr
Great start!
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
That's a lovely start, Kenny!
Thanks, Laurie!
Quote:
Originally Posted by cam22
Very well said, Kenny!
Coming from the teacher, I am happy you liked it!
Quote:
Originally Posted by philseagles08
I can't wait to read more!!
Soon!
Quote:
Originally Posted by mushu22
Great start
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by dsteiny23
So nicely said, Kenny!
Thanks, Dawn! I hope we can find someplace that our paths will cross this trip!
Quote:
Originally Posted by jknott17
Great start!
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lissybri
I'm so excited to read this. You write beautifully.
Thank you!, I'm humbled!
Quote:
Originally Posted by scdisneyfan
aw kenny!!! such a great start and how fun it sounds!!!
Thanks, Crissy! I hope we can make it really fun for the girls!
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcc0313
It has begun loved the start Kenny....looking forward to reading all about your magical trip.
Thanks, Meg! As I am about catching up with my girls!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by PamelaK
Beautifully said, Kenny. I can't wait to read the rest.
Thanks, Pamela!
Quote:
Originally Posted by bsblady01
great start
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by amandal
I'm here!!! Following along
Amanda, you are such a big part of this Trip, it wouldn't be the same without you!
As I said in one of my answers, I plead a handicap in internet presence, however, I will try to keep you interested as I share the Excitement and relive the Magic through this forum.
That said, I am working on an update now.
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.
In Search Of... (A Trip Report 8/31 thru 9/8/2013) Updated 8/4/13
In Search Of... The Characters
I will try to keep up as this story unfolds in my mind. To begin with, introductions are in order:
Brenda, 58, DW, Grandma. Her love for Disney has brought out my love for Disney. She has been to the World 4 times with me and several times before we met. Brenda, from our Disney cruise 2008
Megan, 12, DGD3. Our Daughter Melanie's oldest Daughter. She has never been to Disney. DGD3 Megan
Jordan, 9, DGD4. Our Daughter Melanie's youngest Daughter. She has never been to Disney. DGD4 Jordan
Kenny, 60(yuk!), Me, Grandpa. I Love Disney, Pluto has always been my favorite character. This will be my 5th trip to WDW. Me, Kenny, from our cruise in '08
Where do Grand-babies come from?
Before we get to this year, I should explain how we got here. Then you can better understand my family and how my love for Disney has grown in my heart and brought us to this latest trek to this Magical Place in Florida where you can lose yourself in the Wonder of Fantasy, and find yourself in a place where Dreams come true!
In 1986 I was the Police Chief in a small Ohio town called Leesburg(...OK, except for the former Chief, who helped me out part time, I WAS the police in Leesburg). I was single and 33 years old. There was a girl about my age(3 years younger) who kept flirting with me, and me, being me, I flirted back a bit. She was kinda cute, but we were just having fun. Her name was Robbie.
Robbie Priest Jenkins
Robbie had 2 daughters, Melanie and Paula. Mel was 16 and lived with her dad. (These are recent pictures of my girls) Melanie
Paula was 11. Paula
Paula and Robbie were like “two peas in a pod”. In the late summer of that year, if I was in my office, Paula would stop by and play with my typewriter(uh, yes, in those days it was a typewriter). I am a sap for little girls, and it wasn't long before Paula stole my heart. She would stop by almost every day to play with the typewriter until her Mom would come to take her home. This meant that I was seeing her Mom, Robbie, a lot, and soon, we realized we had fallen in Love! We were married in November of that year. Paula, Robbie, and I made a nice little family for a few years. Mel even came to live with us during her junior year.
Robbie had a brain tumor. She had had it operated on before I met her and the doctors removed 80% of it. (This is part of the reason Mel was living with her dad. The tumor and operation scared her so bad.) It was a benign tumor, but it was a growing tumor. It grew back. The tumor had to be removed because there was no room for it. They tried radiation, and that worked for a few years, but eventually it grew back and was affecting her eyesight and balance. Her doctor scheduled three surgeries to remove it, but it was now in an impossible place inside her brain, and she went into a coma during the first operation, which she never came out of. Mel and I got pretty close during the time Robbie was in the coma. Robbie died in Feb 1997 after 8½ months in a coma.
Well, the years went by and Paula was married to Pat. Janelle was born in 1994. Jhaela(pronounced: Jay-la) was born in February 1998. L-R: Pat, Janelle, Paula, Jhaela
Paula and I have always been close. After her Mother died, I told her that I hoped we would always be like Father and Daughter, and that I could be Grandfather to her kids. She said, “Of course!” Jhaela was born in Feb 1998 and I had my 2nd grandchild! I was a pretty happy guy! The following year, in 1999, I met Brenda, online, and we were married in April of that year. Her son, Scott was estranged from his father, so I now had a Son and 2 Daughters. The years passed and Scott graduated and moved out. Brenda was Janelle and Jhaela's only Grandmother (Pat's Mother died of breast cancer the year after Robbie died). In 2005, Janelle was 11 and Jhaela was 7. Brenda saw an ad on TV for a WDW vacation package for 2 adults and 2 kids for a pretty good price, so she looked into it. She convinced me that, with the way I get my vacation pay, we could afford to take the girls with no problem! So we did! In September 2005, they were off school for Labor Day week because of the county fair, so we took that week, stayed at POR in one of the mansions, and had a week of Magical Dreams come true! That was the first time I had ever been... I don't know who was more excited, the girls or me! Brenda and me with Janelle and Jhaela at WDW 2005
Mel didn't have kids for a while, but then in 1999 she got married to Mick and along came Megan in 2001, with Jordan 3 years later, and finally, Justin. L-R: Jordan, Mel, Justin, Mick, Megan
After Robbie died, Mel and I... didn't really drift away, but we didn't have much family interaction, either. We got together with Paula and family for Christmas and that was about it.
Over the last couple of years, Melanie and I have seemed to get closer again. Back in December we got a pin code for up to 35% off a vacation package to WDW good for travel through most of September. Brenda suggested that maybe we could go back to Disney this year and take Melanie's girls, Megan and Jordan with us. They will be 12 and 9. We could go Labor Day week again and the girls wouldn't miss school. Justin is just a bit too young to go with us now. Hopefully this will allow us to get closer as a Family. Robbie would have wanted it that way, I'm sure.
Thank you for sharing your backstory, Kenny. There are lots of ways to grow a family if you keep your heart open as you have done! Those girls are going to have the time of their lives!
I loved learning all about your family Kenny. I am so thrilled that you'll get to see your granddaughter's first Disney trip through their eyes - what a magical experience that's going to be.
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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loved the start Kenny....looking forward to reading all about your magical trip.
Danny and I at Epcot 8/14/08
I knew you'd say that! I just happened to log on after you posted it 
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