A Magical 10 Night Trip, The 10th Month and The Orlando Trifecta- PTR - UPDATED 10/2 - Page 9 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.
To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.
If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.
Per Se may well be overpriced these days for what it serves. It isn't the rowdy new kid on the block anymore for certain.
But, I'd still like to try it sometime because Keller revolutionized the "tasting menu" concept which then practically everybody else leapt upon.
Despite Chef Host Aimee's touting the Chef's Table's "bacon and eggs" by a young chef when we ate there, I thought it rather derivative of Keller's oysters and pearls, the much less prosaic original of quirky twists on commonplace dishes. If a diner knew nothing of Keller's work, they might have been impressed. It was visually appealing and tasted fine but had a discordant element or two. Keller's O&P is simply remarkable as a concept as well as a stunning combination of flavors, or so I've read.
But, not to derail the PTR train further as I'm sure you and I could rhapsodize endlessly about places where we'd love to eat someday.
Keller is an amazing chef as I've seen many of his programs on TV and some of his creations are just how does he do this and have me drooling! May have to try one of his eateries one day!
__________________
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!
So am I and may need some divine intervention my way!
Quote:
Originally Posted by patclairesmom
Great dining choices! Sorry about V&A's.
Love my ADRS and hope I luck out with V & A's!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Nice dining choices and glad I could help out in some small way with some ideas from my trip reports.
Glad you like them and your always a great source of inspiration and information for some of my plans!
__________________
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!
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.
We have been, but I don't think we had any ADRs we wanted that would have been difficult.
It always is when planning out everything and trying to fit in things like meets!
__________________
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!
I'm sure many know about it already as it's on a recent and active thread! I gave my okay on that for the person to reveal it.
__________________
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!
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.
Happy though that you were able to get this and that it will be so much fun to share it with those that enjoy it as much as you!
Maybe at some point our paths will cross again at the F&WF
Happy though that you were able to get this and that it will be so much fun to share it with those that enjoy it as much as you!
Maybe at some point our paths will cross again at the F&WF
It should be a great evening and love the Disney Magic! Hope we get to meet up once again and longer next time!
__________________
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!
Tuesday, April 18th I cancelled my Todd English’s BlueZoo reservation for Thursday, October 12th and replaced it with Yachtsman Steakhouse at 8:30 pm. I’m contemplating about this one and can’t completely decide which one I want to dine at as I can’t pick a preference. This may change once again. As I will be experiencing the F&W Festival earlier in the day, I don’t want to be too full for dinner, but with a late meal this should work out, as I complete my sampling at the booths by 4pm.
Saturday, June 17th Quite a gap between the dates in my planning, but I have everything done up to this point that I can do!
I looked on the WDW site and the dates are now highlighted in October for the Rivers of Light dining packages. I tried booking one for Tuesday, October 10th, but it said there was no availability. Although, they are highlighted, they probably haven’t released these yet to be booked. I tried a variety of times and with both Tiffin’s and Tusker House and same result. I also called Disney with a thirty minute hold and same result and they couldn’t give me a definite answer about this. I will check back. My guess is Monday morning as the same thing happened, when I was waiting for the Star Wars Dessert Party bookings last year!
Sunday, June 18th I made an online reservation with Mears for a luxury sedan pickup from the Royal Pacific Resort to the WDW Dolphin Resort on Sunday, October 8th at 9am. The regular rate is $47 but I got an online discount of 10% to bring the total down to $42.30, so a nice savings. It’s close to the regular taxi rates and a much better ride! I may also consider Uber or Lyft, so not 100% certain I will keep this. Arriving at the Dolphin in style will be nice!
I checked the WDW site and they are now displaying the show times and dates for the Rivers of Light show. I plan on attending on Tuesday, October 10th. There is one show time, which is at 8 pm. This is a good sign with the dates released for the show and packages now highlighted in the dining section!
Monday, June 19th Went on the WDW site at 6:05 am to see if Rivers of Light dining packages were open to book for October and they were! I made a reservation at Tusker House for Tuesday, October 10th at 3:10 pm. I was hoping for a little later, so it would be closer to dinner time, but this was the best I could do. It states it’s for the first ROL show, but they only have one show scheduled for this day at 8 pm. They also released bookings for September as well, which has more ROL shows with two shows on many of the days.
I’m glad I was finally able to book this as I was checking daily for these to be released. But in the fine print of the ROL dining packages, they generally release these packages around 3 or 4 months ahead of time and not 180 days like your standard ADRs.
Later today, I received an email from Universal Studios and Daniel of V.I.P. tours. In the email it stated they are now accepting bookings for the Halloween Horror Nights R.I.P. tour, which I had called Universal about a few months ago and was interested in taking. They put me on their waiting list and would be contacted when available. His number was on the email as well as the general number for the V.I.P. tours.
I called Daniel when I got home for the day, but he wasn’t there as it was after 6 pm and may have gone home for the day. I called the other number and spoke with Ellie. I booked my tour for Thursday, October 5th at 7:15 pm. These aren’t cheap and mine comes to a little over $200, but will last nearly five hours and I will get to visit all nine haunted houses without any wait (they are known to be insane at times at nearly two hours!). There is also a pre-tour reception with some snacks and cash bar at Café La Bamba. Check in is 30 minutes prior to event at guest services window prior to park entrance. I also get VIP seating to the Bill & Ted’s show and an Unlimited Express Pass, once the tour is over for open attractions during Halloween Horror Nights.
What I can do, will depend on the park hours. They are open until 2 am on my day. Not sure if I’ll stay that long, but plan to get a few attractions in after the tour. I will also be going to SeaWorld the next day and will probably be up around 7 am or just a bit later. Not too early as SeaWorld opens at 10 am. I’m looking forward to this special event and tour and glad I will be doing it. Even though, the tour is a bit expensive there is a lot included. The Express Pass on HHN event nights is $89 and you can’t use the one you have for the normal daytime Universal hours. That’s nearly half the price of my tour. We will see if I feel it’s worth it, but I think it will be.
NEXT: Some Changes and the 2017 Food & Wine Festival
__________________
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!
Registered Message Board Members Get Our Free Newsletter! When you register you'll have the option to sign up for our weekly PassPorter Newsletter. It's chock-full of feature articles; news; tips; contests; photos; and special offers in our online store.
Glad you were able to get the Rivers of Light dining package - good grief, you waited long enough for that! I'm waiting on January. I suspect I have a while longer...
Now you cancelled Bluezoo and went for the Yachtsman Steakhouse? Honestly, I think Bluezoo needs to go back in there, that's how good our meal was there in February.
Glad you were able to get the Rivers of Light dining package - good grief, you waited long enough for that! I'm waiting on January. I suspect I have a while longer...
Now you cancelled Bluezoo and went for the Yachtsman Steakhouse? Honestly, I think Bluezoo needs to go back in there, that's how good our meal was there in February.
I certainly had a long wait with the ROL package, but glad I was finally able to book it! Dates on the packages are now highlighted for November/December, so you'll have to wait a bit more.
I'm being quite in decisive about this ADR and I'm sure it will change once again. It will be a late one after spending a few hours sampling at the festival. Not sure if YS is the way to go on this. Stay tuned!
__________________
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!
It is a relief to finally get that ROL dining package. Congrats! All your plans keep falling into place.
It certainly was a relief as I kept waiting and waiting to book this package! At least I got it now. Everything seems to be coming together quite nicely!
__________________
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!
I definitely feel your pain with the ROL package!!We just booked ours for November!! Yuor plans sound wonderful!!
It was just a long wait for this as I kept checking back each day. Glad you finally got yours as you must have done it today or yesterday as the dates were highlighted but couldn't book these yet. Plans are certainly coming together!
__________________
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!