Twenty years and Life to Go (A Trip Report) - Page 4 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Day 7 -- Time to Head Home
Awake a little before alarm. DD took an hour to move into my spot. Received boarding passes from Resort Airline Check-in. Opened envelope and there were only passes for DD & me. Went to concierge, and she said those were the only people connected to my original confirmation number. Explained situation to DH as I'm trying to get through to Delta. He said if needs be we could rent a car & he & DS could drive it. I said if it came to that, Delta would be paying for the rental on the principle of the matter. Finally got through to a customer service rep for Delta, and was informed my "travel agent" had split the tickets into 3 separate confirmations. I told them that no travel agent was involved in my booking tickets, and I needed those confirmation numbers ASAP. Was shaking so bad after the call, I had to have a Diet Coke to calm down.
With those in hand, I went back to concierge. Was able to check in DH but DS was marked as special request & had to check in at airport. Back to room to call Delta again. Shorter wait in abyss of hold. Forcefully explained to rep that I needed this mess straightened out now. Again was told that my travel agent had split the reservation and they would have to be the one to fix it. I was livid. I told them loudly, " No. No. No. No travel agent was involved in these reservations. I had booked them in Feb on delta.com from the comfort of my recliner." The only changes to the flights had been made by Delta in March, and it was an error on their part that allowed someone to access my reservations without my permission and make changes. Said we were very inclined not to fly Delta ever again, and demanded a full refund of my airfare for the trouble I was going to have to go thru to get DS on the plane. Picture small mushroom cloud over Sugar Loaf building. Back into the abyss of hold. On the other side they had managed to put DH & DS on a new confirmation number, so DS could now do resort check in with the rest of us. Turned new confirmation number over to concierge & got boarding passes for the guys. With those in hand, we headed for breakfast at Gasparilla.
Used two meal credits and five snack credits for breakfast. On one tray (meal credits), I had DD's kids' pancake breakfast with orange juice, a bagel with cream cheese, a cheese danish, and a sticky bun.
On the second tray, I had a chocolate milk, two fruit cups, a yogurt cup, and a side of bacon. CM at register said she didn't think the bacon would go through as snack credit. I said I had no problem paying for it. She said she would try but I may have to pay. She was surprised when it went through and thanked me for teaching her something.
Back to room for final sweep, adding dried out mugs to carryon case, then closed up luggage, checked in our two large bags at main Resort Airline Check-in, & left our carry-ons with bell services. We were off to DTD.
Bus takes a longer route due to construction. We stopped at Art of Disney where DD made herself a charm bracelet and DH ordered a hand drawn Jedi Mickey. Then DD & I went to Little Miss Matched where she found a couple of cute shirts, a couple of cute headbands, a set of hairclips, lipgloss and a free purse. On our way to meet up with the guys, who had wandered ahead, we stopped at Marketplace Fun Finds to pick up antenna toppers for DH (Sorcerer Mickey) and DMIL (Princess crown). Met up with guys at World of Disney where I bought a new bead/charm for my bracelet, a portable battery to charge my phone, and a sign for DS's door. By the time we were done shopping, it was time for lunch at Wolfgang Puck Express.
Half Rotisserie Chicken -- DS's favorite meal here
Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf
Cheese Pizza
Roasted Beet Salad
Creme Brulee
Vanilla Bean Cheesecake
On our way to the bus, we stopped back by Goofy's Candy Company to use up the remainder of snack credits on mints, lollipops, and cookies. Then we swung by Art of Disney to pick up DH's picture.
Back at GF. Pulled bags from bell services. Loaded souvenirs into smallest suitcase for ease of carrying on. Cookies & smaller lollipops from goofy's went into personal bags for nibbling on later.
Waiting for DME
DME trip smooth as butter. Grabbed dinner from Burger King and ate at gate, waiting to board. Full flight again. Touch screens in headrest in front of us. DD watched My Little Pony while I tracked flight. Was a little bumpy. In Atlanta, next flight was at gate E12. Walked all the way from gate A9.
Sunset at Atlanta
DD & I had our goofy cookies before our flight. Bought beverages from McDonald's -- chocolate milk for DD & water for me. Both kids changed into pajamas for next flight. Kids had bean bag pillows from flight back after cruise to use on flight home. No problems on second flight, but landing was a bit rough. Got the two large suitcases from baggage claim and made our way into the night to our van. Loaded the suitcases in between the seats, and let the kids have the back, complete with a sleeping bag pad and pillows (had loaded those before the suitcases the night before we left). Both fell asleep on the way home. DS woke up easily, but DD needed some assistance getting up to her room. Unloaded and a few things done, in bed by 1:30 a.m. for an early day tomorrow.
What a stressful start to the day with the airline mess! That stuff is never a fun process to fix and I am glad you were able to finally do so. It sounds like a nice breakfast and last day at DD with some great treasures to bring home!! I very enjoyed reading about your trip!! Thank you for sharing your adventures!!
All of that hassle with Delta would have infuriated me. So glad you persisted and got it sorted out. Sounds like you all found some cool stuff while at DTD.
Your food pictures were amazing. Yum! As far as Delta, I will never fly them either after dealing with horrible customer service. Your TR has been great!
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My husband would love the 6 times on BTMRR!!
. What fun!! Your dinner looks delicious, too!!
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Pixie Dust
PassPorter Guide Author
I cannot believe that service. 
What a horrible end to your vacation. 
What a stressful start to the day with the airline mess! That stuff is never a fun process to fix and I am glad you were able to finally do so. It sounds like a nice breakfast and last day at DD with some great treasures to bring home!! I very enjoyed reading about your trip!! Thank you for sharing your adventures!! 
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