FIRSTS, BIRTHS, and GIRTHS…A September 2013 PTR - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Hello! ...and Thanks! I am DEFINITELY trying Tonga Toast...everyone seems to rave about it! I have to chuckle a bit because every time I see your signature photo here on the boards, I always think, "Oh look! It's DH's Uncle Mark!" You could totally pass as his twin!
First tell Uncle Mark that i am expecting my royalties check I do have the copyright on this much UGLY I worked very hard to achieve it and it's mine.
Second your gifts look great and hopefully will be well appreciated.
Third please don't tell me you are from Philly
First tell Uncle Mark that i am expecting my royalties check I do have the copyright on this much UGLY I worked very hard to achieve it and it's mine.
Second your gifts look great and hopefully will be well appreciated.
Third please don't tell me you are from Philly
Hahaha! I'll be sure to tell Uncle Mark! I showed my DH your photo today and his jaw hit the floor! He said it was just like looking at a photo of his uncle or even his grandfather (who passed away at a young age)...he was shocked! No, I am not from Philly...originally from Maryland.
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SO MUCH TO DO!!!
I thought I would share my ongoing To Do list with you today. I wanted to capture all the “little” stuff in addition to the normal items you would find. Then I alphabetized them so I can locate them easier in the future. If it appears that I am missing something, PLEASE let me know! I am hoping to cross off the ADRs/Dinner Shows and BBB in the same day. We will see if that happens! My DA2 (Judy) will book tee times for her, my uncle, and DH with a military rate about a month before our trip. Crossing my fingers they get a tee time that will not interfere with the evening ADR. From what I have heard, this should not be a problem.
Disney World Trip To Do List (Italics = Completed)
· Add Bonine to packing list for Hannah
· Book ADRs/Dinner Shows
· Book Airfare
· Book BBB
· Book Golf
· Book package (Lodging, Tickets, Dining)
· Clean House/Laundry
· Close the Pool
· Confirm Reservations
· Create Touring Plan
· Disney Planning Meeting
· Enter Trip Information into Disney App on iPhone (if working)
· Final payment due July 24th
· Give trip information to neighbors (with contact information)
· Magnetic Hooks for back of door to hang lanyards
· Make arrangements for Ike
· Pack (Hannah’s Outfits in Ziplocks)/Review Packing List
· Pay Deposit
· Plan reveal
· Pre-purchase Photopass+
· Print Mousekeeping Envelopes
· Purchase book bag for park
· Purchase Carry On pack/goodies for Hannah
· Purchase glow necklaces
· Purchase shoe organizer
· Purchase Trip Clothing/Shoes
· Purchase Welcome/Birthday gifts
· Refill Prescriptions
· Set phone alarms for ADR reservation times (arriving 15 minutes early)
· Set up packing area (bins)
· Stop Mail/Turn off Water/Turn off Thermostat/Check Locks on Windows and Doors
· Suction hooks for shower to hang wet bathing suits
· Surge protector for “charging center”
· Withdrawal tip/gratuity money (put in organizer)
I placed an order at disneystore.com over the weekend using the extra 25% off with free shipping. I ordered all of DD’s t-shirts for the trip since this would be about the right time of the year we typically begin replacing her wardrobe due to her outgrowing what she already has. Expected delivery date is this Wednesday, so I will try to take pictures and share with you before they go into the “bin of happiness” that hides all of our Disney trip-related goodies. Then, probably by mid-March, I will place an order for DH’s and my shirts, which I can hopefully get to coordinate with DD’s. I keep an active wish list so I can simply move the items to the bag when I am ready.
I have also been in touch with our travel agent regarding our ADRs and coordinating them with my parents, DMiL/DSFiL, and DA2/DU. Just 20 more days until ADR Day!!!
Wow you are definitely planning quite a trip! I'm looking forward to reading more of your plans. You're already making a dent in your to-do list too, that's great!
Wow you are definitely planning quite a trip! I'm looking forward to reading more of your plans. You're already making a dent in your to-do list too, that's great!
Thank you! I'm a big fan of "spreading" the workload so that I am not stressed at the last minute. That, and, if I need to purchase something, I'm not giving the 'ol credit card a workout right before the trip...I like to pay as I go. Sweaty credit cards aren't my thing...
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhToodles!
Magnetic Hooks for back of door to hang lanyards
This is a great idea! Think I might steal it.
You are quite brave to be taking all this on, but it sounds like the planning is going smoothly.
And in your to do list it says 'plan reveal'. Does someone not know about the trip?
Thanks! I can't remember where I found the idea for the hooks (and the one for the suction hooks to hang bathing suits in the shower), but I'm 99% sure I read it in someone's trip report. The 'plan reveal' is for DD; this is a complete surprise to her! I'm busting at the seams trying to keep it a secret...
Thank you! I'm a big fan of "spreading" the workload so that I am not stressed at the last minute. That, and, if I need to purchase something, I'm not giving the 'ol credit card a workout right before the trip...I like to pay as I go. Sweaty credit cards aren't my thing...
I feel the same way! In fact, you were the one who got me to decide to go through clothes tonight. I should have taken advantage of the 25% off deal!
I feel the same way! In fact, you were the one who got me to decide to go through clothes tonight. I should have taken advantage of the 25% off deal!
Glad I could help! This is why I love PassPorter...people share so many great ideas here; I am like a sponge just soaking them all up! Well, not sure the 25% off will be back before your May trip, but at the rate the Disney Store sets up sales/promotions, I'm sure you might find at least one more to stock up on trip clothing. Good luck sorting your clothes tonight!!
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...and Thanks! I am DEFINITELY trying Tonga Toast...everyone seems to rave about it! I have to chuckle a bit because every time I see your signature photo here on the boards, I always think, "Oh look! It's DH's Uncle Mark!" You could totally pass as his twin!
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
He said it was just like looking at a photo of his uncle or even his grandfather (who passed away at a young age)...he was shocked! No, I am not from Philly...originally from Maryland. 
Kristin
The gift ideas look terrific.
Sammi
Disney Magic - Oct 2015
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