Feature Article: My Disney Mistakes - Part 1 - What NOT to do While at Walt Disney World - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
Feature Article: My Disney Mistakes - Part 1 - What NOT to do While at Walt Disney World
My Disney Mistakes - Part 1 - What NOT to do While at Walt Disney World by Rebecca Pearson
I've made some mistakes at Walt Disney World.
While I'm embarrassed to admit to some of these, and some of you may even think I'm a jerk after reading one or two of them, hopefully you'll be at least somewhat amused by my many Disney Fails, but even more importantly, learn from them and hopefully not make the same ones again! 1. I killed PUSH. We were lucky enough on our second trip to run into PUSH, the talking, moving trashcan in Tomorrowland. If you haven’t seen PUSH before (I'm not even sure if he's around anymore, and yes that may be partly my fault if he's not), he would move about Tomorrowland, somehow remotely controlled by a cast member, and could talk. The kids loved him. We happened upon him with a group of other kids, and I had a half empty pop (soda). Somewhere in my memory, I was sure I read that he was a working trashcan, so despite PUSH's attempts to turn and avoid me, and my mother telling me she didn't think I should throw my pop in it, I did anyway. I really thought that I could, I wasn't trying to be a jerk! Rather than just walking away, and finding another garbage can, I killed PUSH. He had to drive away and probably get cleaned out. All of the kids around were disappointed, and I was the jerk that did it. I'm still embarrassed by that one. If PUSH is still around, don't throw your trash in him, and don't believe everything you read online. Listen to cast members, your family, and pay attention to the social cues, even if it is a trash can that's trying to give them to you.
2. We left Hoop De Doo Review early. Also on our second trip, I had managed to book this show, and paid for a great table, just one table away from the stage, right in the center. My son, who was 5 at the time, loved this show. I on the other hand, was exhausted from our early flight and freezing cold from the air conditioning, after having been drenched in a downpour on the way to the show. I also somehow didn't put it together that you pay for the whole show, you don't have to get up and leave after you're done eating. I saw some people waiting at the entrance, and I believe they were waiting to see if any tables would be available. So, despite the waiter saying that we could stay, and my son asking to stay, my exhaustion and confusion got the best of me and we left before it ended. I'm not really even sure how far into the show we ended up watching, and we haven't had the chance to go back. Again, listen to cast members, and know that sometimes you just have to take one for the team. My son would have loved to stay, I still feel bad that we didn't.
3. I wouldn't allow my kids to pull the rope at the entrance to the Indiana Jones show at Hollywood Studios. The sign says "Do not pull rope," but as many of you know, the "NOT" is crossed out with a big red X. Yet even then, due to whatever fog I was in, I did not "get it." Even after a cast member told the kids to go ahead and pull it, I told them not to because I was afraid they were going to get wet or something. Looking back, that cast member probably thought I was nuts. We've since pulled the rope. It's no big deal, you don't get wet, and it's fun. Again, listen to the cast members, they're not going to lead you astray, they want you to have fun. 4. I didn't pre-wash my clothes. Trust me on this one. I've never actually had an issue with large pieces of clothing at Disney; it was the undergarments that pulled a fast one on me. I had purchased multiple pairs of new underwear at a popular store located in malls across the U.S. I'm typically not one to prewash anything. I just don't, and hadn't had any issues, ever. So I packed the new underwear and took it on a summer trip with us. On the second day of the trip, I happened to put on a pink and white pair under a pair of light colored khaki capris. No, it's not what you think, they weren't visible through the capris -- it's much worse. Picture a hot, sweaty July and a ride on Splash Mountain. Shortly after the ride, and thoroughly soaked, I used the restroom and I learned that the hot pink dye from my underwear had bled after it got wet; all over my legs, and worse yet, through the capris … now you get the picture. Most. Embarrassing. Thing. Ever. It wasn't that visible from the front, but it sure was from the back, and it looked like I had other issues happening. At least I couldn't see the smirks of the people whom I'm sure saw it. Unwilling to just boldly commit to this and continue my day in the park, we had to take the train from Frontierland to the front of the park, walk to the buses, and take the bus back to Pop Century Resort, so that I could change my clothes. This took considerable time from our day, and not to mention, ruined my favorite capris. So prewash your new clothes and undergarments. Just in case. Also, had it occurred to me at the time, rather than taking the bus back to the resort, I later saw capris, shorts and even underwear in a gift shop in the Magic Kingdom. In my rush to leave to avoid further embarrassment, I didn't even consider it, but I probably should have purchased new things and thrown away the old, rather than showcasing my pinkish rear-end to all of the park and resort on the way to change.
5. I didn't wear sunscreen. This seems like a given, I know. Living in Michigan, I really do try to use sunscreen while in Florida, at least for a few days, even though I'm not usually prone to burning. On our trip last summer I decided to try to get a tan while at the pool. I lost track of time, and before I knew it, I had a sunburn. Normally that wouldn't have been that big of a deal, but our next day was scheduled at Discovery Cove, where you need to wear the animal-safe sunscreen that is provided, and spend a lot of time in the water. Needless to say, it doesn't work very well or last very long with all of the time you spend swimming. Two days later, even using aloe and trying to treat my sunburn, my forehead actually scabbed over. At one point the skin on my forehead was three different colors; a variation of white, pink, and scab brown. Don't skip sunscreen, not even for one day or a part of a day. You never know what the next day will bring.
While it's embarrassing for me to admit these, hopefully you've learned from them or have at least been entertained. Next time I'll share more mistakes I've made, but those will focus on mistakes I've made while planning our trips or days, traveling to Disney, and touring the parks.
What do you think? Please add your own comments, experiences, or news related to this article in this thread! Reader feedback is welcomed and encouraged.
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.
Oh my gosh, Rebecca! This was hilarious. I laughed out loud when I got to number 4. Thank you so much for sharing this with us! I look forward to part 2.
Thank you for sharing (confessing) your WDW tribulations. I laughed so hard I cried! As a former college program cast member, I had my fair share of ooops' too! It would be awesome to gather more reader stories of calamities and disney mayhem (even if self induced) and put out a funny article. ???
__________________
-Tiffany (former Cast Member, living in the Pacific NW, desperately missing WDW!)
I had a definite maybe-I'll-rethink-not-prewashing-undies thought for myself as a result. It never occurred to me that "personal FL dewiness" could have such dreadful results, but I can believe it could after the trip where I hadn't brought enough shorts and ended up buying some because long pants, lightweight though they were, were also hot, hot, WAY TOO HOT.
Great article! Informative and funny both. More, please.
__________________
“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
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.
I've skipped prewash before too! Such a bad idea in hot sticky Florida it was a teal-green strapless dress and my arms were green all on the insides. Made for some funny looking pictures. Thanks for the laugh!
I've been to D.W. four times and being from TX, I figure forget the sunscreen, I'm used to the heat and I only tan, never burn. However, I think I will put that on my check list of things to do BEFORE leaving my room. Thanks for sharing!