An Island Frame of Mind (A Cam and Luke PTR) Updated 5/22 - Page 42 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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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 "intros"! I have not seen the live action Cinderella yet, so I'll have to make sure and check that out!
The moment we left the Cinderella movie I was ready to turn around and see it again.
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Originally Posted by lfredsbo
Great intros . I am embarrassed to say I have yet to see live action Cinderella
You must take Emily as soon as possible to see it. My DSis June and DNiece Morgan both loved it, too.
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Originally Posted by lauriep
It's always nice to meet you two! I'm still not quite realizing it's May already, but I'm glad your trip is almost here!
I'm having trouble with it being May already, too. But that might be because our spring has been slow to warm us. This week we're finally have normal temps in the 80s so we finally feel our walking is practice for WDW.
Great intros! I never knew you were a cougar! Lol! It's great that you two are enjoying your retirement together. I'm with you on warm, sunny weather and 1 month of snow. December only. Snow for Christmas then 70's!
I too must hang my head that I have yet to see Cinderella.
Cougar! I could bask in the 70s all year long if I could just find some place that has 70s all year long. I can't believe how many of you all have not seen Cinderella yet. Just sad!
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Originally Posted by Ciavobella
Sounds like a lovely first day.
Thanks!
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Originally Posted by Tara O'Hara
Cam, you have such a nice writing style, I could meet you guys a hundred times!!
I don't know how you are able to sleep at this point!!
Thanks! My sleep is definitely altering as I'm going to bed later and waking up much earlier. I guess I might be excited.
Less than a week now!
Cinderella was wonderful! Did you hear they're doing a live action Beauty & the Beast? I heard Emma Thompson will be Mrs. Potts as they didn't think people would believe Angela Lansbury was young enough to be Chip's mom.
I hadn't heard about Beauty and the Beast, but that sounds wonderful. I love Emma Thompson. I had wondered how well Cinderella would translate to live action, but I should never doubt Disney's ability to do something amazing.
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Originally Posted by MayraLR
Great intros!
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Originally Posted by TuffyCO
I fell so far behind on this PTR! But I was awake early this morning and got all caught up. All your plans look amazing. I also love the train room. My husband would love that as well. I can't wait to hear more and you are so close now!
funny, I'm getting as excited as if I was actually going to be there next week!
You are too sweet!
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Originally Posted by Amy L
Not much longer now! What a great first day you have planned!
Thanks! I'm looking forward to starting Epcot.
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Originally Posted by Pris
Oh, I don't think you will be disappointed in F&G at all. It's just that some of the topiaries are not there, just not quite as many as in the past. To be fair, I didn't do much F&G stuff at all during my March trip as DH just isn't into it, and I knew I was returning with DD. Epcot is her favorite park and she is really excited about the F&G festival and food options. We will spend several days or partial days in Epcot, starting TOMORROW!! I printed boarding passes this morning and am waiting for the dryer to go off so I can get to packing. And---about this time next week we might just be meeting the real Cam & Luke. See ya real soon!
Have a safe trip and a magical time! See ya real soon!
I live in Chattanooga. Just wanted to suggest that you could actually eat at the Big River Grille in downtown Chattanooga for dinner that night since you're missing out on your visit there while in WDW. But the restaurant near the Chattanooga Choo Choo called The Terminal is a really, really cool place that I would recommend over BRG And for dessert you must, must, MUST visit the Hot Chocolatier across the street.
You have pegged us well with both The Terminal and Hot Chocolatier. Both of these are now on our to do list. I'm so glad you shared these!
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Originally Posted by Bee
dancing with you! I can't wait to bump into you
So hope we meet! Definitely stop us if you see us!
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Originally Posted by KMB733
Great Intros! I love the point in the countdown when you get to say "this time next week"!!
We are enjoying some nicely warm weather here this week. Highs in the lower 80s and lots of sunshine. So we headed out to a portion of our city's Green Belt for a walk. We usually turn around at a particular spot as that gives us a little over 5K. But today we continued on to where the trail stops before crossing a major road. We also added in a spur. The end result was a 5 mile walk. Luke wore one of his new pairs of running shoes, and they were quite comfortable.
We didn't really have anything that had to be down this afternoon, so we decided to go to the movies for a matinee showing of Avengers: Age of Ultron. We both it, some cute bits of humor and even Disney references. Then we made a Target stop to pick up prescriptions and a short list of 3 items needed for the trip. And since it is Cinco de Mayo and we love Mexican, we ate at our favorite Mexican restaurant.
If I don't keep busy right now, the wait will drive me nuts. I don't want to clean for a few more days, so it will actually stay that way. I'm not ready to pack yet. But a movie, errands, and dinner did help pass the time.
This time next week . . .
We will spend the day at MK starting somewhat early with potentially a pool break in the afternoon. Dinner will be a BOG at 5:50, so we'll be back in the park for the evening. Second to Illuminations, I love Wishes though it makes me cry every time as I remember how much Stefanie loved the MK fireworks, singing along and announcing when Jiminy Cricket and the Genie appeared.
It sounds like you guys had an awesome day! We are planning to see that movie next week. Nice to hear a good review. It sounds like your walking is up to Disney snuff at this point. Nice weather really does help. Muffin's stomach does not like Mexican food, but I love it so I am a little envious there!! I hope you guys enjoyed!
Have a great trip guys, I've enjoyed reading about the build-up to it! Today in Birmingham, UK it is slightly cold, and very grey and drizzly. A most miserable day, as Eeyore would say!
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Silvercat
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