Leaving the Drama Behind to Celebrate 25 Years with the Love of My Life...another PTR updated 12/11/14 - Page 3 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Last week was another working vacation week for us. Dan put a new floor in the bathroom, and did things badly needed around the house including getting rid of a couple of hornet’s nests. We started the week by going to Red Robin. I have never been to one and was a bit curious, knowing all too well that my diet was going to be blown to bits! I enjoyed myself and knowing that my birthday celebration was fast approaching decided to just relax and party on. Good food...not so Weight Watcher friendly... A yummy Mai Tai...not for me Freckled Lemonade...skinny cocktail Naughty apps.... Sinful burgers!!!Lol!...did I mention really good?
Sweet potatoes was mine. Ate half of my burger and gave hubs the other half. Thinking WW here.
Last Wednesday was my birthday but we officially celebrated a few days later on Saturday. Heather and I shared our celebration as her b-day is September 4th. She is working hard at the new job and doing really great. She’s a young women breaking into what has been a boys club and she’s kind of showing them up a bit. A women has not done the job she is now doing in over 30 years. Her training is going well and she has a good guy to teach her.
We took our celebration to Sachi’s again. I’m really hooked on this place. The food, drinks and Hibachi show was wonderful and we ended the night with a surprise happy birthday that I wasn’t expecting and Heather didn’t want anything to do with. Lol. Yet she videoed me… Fun at Sachi’s!!! Purple Haze Sour Peach Martini and Purple Haze...Yum! Incredible Sushi Our wonderful chef Birthday mask...yeah I know Our happy little group Dan surprised with a mask also No explanation needed! Heather's video
Well I just wanted to let you all know how things were going and now let’s get back on topic!
The mysterious skirts finally did show up and I learned a very valid lesson here. “You get what you pay for!” The material was cheap. The quality was terrible and the workmanship was even worse if that were possible. I gave them both to my DD who kind of liked them (though she hasn’t even tried them on) and in the meantime I ordered from my usual seller and already received my new skirt. Absolutely gorgeous!
Should have been a keeper…not!!! Love this!
Now as for my family life. The night of the morning my dad passed away I received a friendship request on Face Book. Her name…Julie Anne hit a note inside me and I eagerly accepted. Turns out I was right. Julie had been searching for me for nearly a year and sadly it wasn't until I had posted my father’s death that she came forward. How does one feel saddened and overjoyed at the same time? You see Julie is my niece who I haven’t seen since her mother took her away when she was only 3 months old. She was my brother’s daughter and he wasn't expected to live due to a rare heart condition even after elective surgery. His ex-wife came to our house and literally forced him to sign over his parental rights so her new husband could adopt Julie as his own. It was a day that I will never forget, even the lawyer was disgusted by what she was doing. My brother lived for ten more years and passed in 1988, less than a year before my wedding. Julie was told that we didn't want anything to do with her which was such a lie. The truth has come out and we have recently reconnected. I've met her husband and their daughter as well as her brother’s little girl that they have custody of and they are a wonderful little family. My mom was thrilled to meet her granddaughter which was arranged on Mother’s Day. It was a lovely surprise. We keep in contact and she is only a half hour drive away. Imagine that.
The time finally arrived to book our transportation to the airport and back. If Heather is not working she will drive us but I have to keep the weather in mind. This is New England and when it snows we usually get buried. Don’t want to have to worry about her out in it. Other than that we will be picked up at around 10 in the morning. Our flight leaves a little after 1 and we’ll arrive at MCO about 31/3 hours later.
On August 1st I was doing the paid in full dance for our cruise which is always a great feeling. This is our first sailing as Gold Castaway Club members so we will be booking our excursions, spa, dining and such on the 31st. So you all know where I will be on the 30th waiting for the bewitching hour, glued to my laptop to get everything done. I can’t believe it is this coming weekend. BTW, here’s a peek of our plans:
Couple’s massage…we did this last year and really loved it. Don’t tell Dan but I’m hoping to actually book one of those spa villas as a surprise for my dear hubs for our 25th and his big 50! Palo Brunch…have to do brunch Palo Dinner…we had to cancel this on our last cruise on the Dream due to me getting sick Cozumel…Atlantis Sub Grand Cayman…Sea World Observer semi-sub Falmouth Jamaica…Horse and buggy tour
Now you might have noticed that we a doing two subs. A real sub is something that Dan has always wanted to do. I on the other hand am just a bit claustrophobic and have a fear of drowning so I wanted to do the semi-sub. We will do both together and compare notes. Which will be the better tour? I guess we’ll find out. I know that the Horse and buggy tour sounds tame but I really like these ever since we tried one in Saint Augustine. That one was more private but loads of fun and our driver was so knowledgeable plus we loved the horses. Real sub vs. not so real sub
VS
.
All of these plans will be coming together real soon. My fingers and toes are crossed. Wish me luck! BTW if any of you have experienced either one of these subs I would appreciate any information! TY.
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So much to comment on in this update! Aren't Red Robin burgers so yummy?? I'm not really a sushi lover, but your sushi looked delicious. What a wonderful story about reconnecting with your niece! That got me a little verklempt!
Just found this TR! This is close to the cruise I'm taking mostly the same cruise in April with the difference being Jamaica on yours and Key West on mine. Looking forward to the rest of your plans, on going family events and the actual TR!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Love Red Robin!!! Sorry the skirt didn't work out, but the new one looks great too!
I'm so glad you reconnected with your niece!!
Hope you're able to book everything you want!
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Saturday evening was my time to check in on DCL to book my dining, spa and excursions. But....early that morning there was an explosion outside my house just before the power went out. I reported it and National Grid was quick to the fix. Seems the power transformer across the street blew up...loudly. During all this all I could think of is will I have power tonight? Will I have to use my phone? Better shut it off to conserve the battery. Thankfully I never needed to do that.
I drove Dan to work for noon so I could have the car to run some errands. Came home and put everything away andmade a late lunch. Heather went out with her boyfriend and it was just me and mom enjoying a meal and some nice conversation.
About 2 minutes of 5 when I was suppose to pick up hubby my mom called out to me. She felt nauseous and was hot and covered in perspiration. ( ac was on). Within seconds she was telling me that her left arm was numb, then it hurt, then she was in extreme pain. I call 911 and the ambulance came quickly but by the time they got to her she was screaming in agony and said she couldn't move her arm. I was freaking out!
Dan text to ask if I was there yet and I called him panic-stricken and told him what was going on. I picked him up and we rushed to the hospital. Turns out that her heart, "kicked" a blood clot to her left arm and there was no circulation or pulse. I stood by her as she begged for something for the pain but nothing worked. Around 7:30 pm they wheeled her into surgery and successfully removed the clot. I got home around 11 or so and yes, managed to log in at 12 and get everything I wanted. I even booked next years WBTA.
Mom is still in the hospital and will be for awhile but they saved her arm and took away the pain and that's what really matters.
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That was quite scary with your mom and seems like everything is working out for her now! I'm sure she was quite happy to have you there with her to ease the stress of the situation!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
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The night of the morning my dad passed away I received a friendship request on Face Book. Her name…Julie Anne hit a note inside me and I eagerly accepted. Turns out I was right. Julie had been searching for me for nearly a year and sadly it wasn't until I had posted my father’s death that she came forward. How does one feel saddened and overjoyed at the same time? You see Julie is my niece who I haven’t seen since her mother took her away when she was only 3 months old. She was my brother’s daughter and he wasn't expected to live due to a rare heart condition even after elective surgery. His ex-wife came to our house and literally forced him to sign over his parental rights so her new husband could adopt Julie as his own. It was a day that I will never forget, even the lawyer was disgusted by what she was doing. My brother lived for ten more years and passed in 1988, less than a year before my wedding. Julie was told that we didn't want anything to do with her which was such a lie. The truth has come out and we have recently reconnected. I've met her husband and their daughter as well as her brother’s little girl that they have custody of and they are a wonderful little family. My mom was thrilled to meet her granddaughter which was arranged on Mother’s Day. It was a lovely surprise. We keep in contact and she is only a half hour drive away. Imagine that.
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and I'm so glad you were able to reconnect with Julie Anne. 
Disney Magic - Oct 2015
Dreams, Wishes, Hopes... these are the parts of childhood we should never lose.
I'm sure she was quite happy to have you there with her to ease the stress of the situation! 
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