Trip--October, 2010-the big 4-0!! - Updated 4/5 - Baby Boy is Born! - Page 10 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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We pulled in, showed our IDs and headed up to empty the car and check in. No, I'm not valeting the Hyundai Flinstone, $12 a day!! Just emptying the trunk. The parking fellows were very nice but the drop off area was super crowded and they asked us to move the car ASAP. I went in with the bags (one garmet bag, one rolling carry on, and my tote bag/purse/blackhole) armed with print outs and confirmations while Jake took the car away.
We've rented DVC points for studios at BWV villas several times and I've never once had a problem. Typically we use the same owners (I've got four that I email first...) and pay $10-$11 a point. For this trip we were originally planning to stay saturday-tuesday. Saturday nights require way more points than sunday thru thursday, but the average per night was an agreeable amount so we splurged. Several months later we wanted to add a night, but the owner who rented me the first set of points didn't have any left, so I emailed another who has always been there when I needed just a couple. The downer was that while we reserved a standard studio for sat-tue, we had a deluxe studio garden view for tuesday night, meaning we would need to change rooms. Rather than cause the two owners trouble by getting them both to call DVC and link the room or otherwise make it so I didnt' have to move, I figured I would take care of it when I arrived.
Uh, wrong. Just so you know, only a member can do this sort of thing, so I was pretty much out of luck when attempting this at the desk. They were very helpful, and even offered to contact Mr. D and Mr. T (my owners) but I asked instead if we could just make sure that the second room was ready when we left the first room. Disney promised to do their best! We weren't really worried, its just annoying to pack up and move...
Anyway, Jake seemed to be taking quite some time in parking the car. He finally showed up in the lobby to tell me he had to have words with hte parking attendant. Normally this is wear he gets a little snotty withe people and admits to talking down to them (or using colorful language...), but I was very proud of him when he said he behaved like a reasonable adult. See, he was asked to move the car to the parking area from the front of BW because it was crowded, but he didn't have a parking pass or room ticket yet. The parking attendent refused to allow him into the self-park area (for reasons I understand) and Jake explained the situation. The attendent asked to see his room key, Jake explained the situation again (I'm checking in, he's moving the car at the request of a CM). He's told he can't get in the parking area.
So what does he say? "Sir, I believe we are at an impasse, you want something I can't get until I go back to the front desk but the front desk wants me to put the car here before I go back. What do you suggest we do?" Then the CM let him in...(I hope that's how it really happened, because I always feel really bad for the people who get Jake agitated with this kind of Kafka-esque unsolvable circle, he can break out the big boy dictionary and really let you have it).
Okay, so off to our room. I've been to BWV a bunch. So tell me how I got lost in a hotel. Seriously, twice. I blame pregnancy brain.
We arrived at studio 3113 to find a towel Minnie waiting for us and air conditioning cranking. Pictures are coming...I forgot my cord today...
Lets recap: I worked out at 6AM, was driving by 11:30, in the airport by 12:15, on a plane at 2:00, in MCO at 4:30, and in my room at 5:45. Not to shabby. And we actually have some time to shower and unpack before our 7:30 ressie at Artist Point.
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Wow crank windows and manual locks but an Ipod dock, seriously? That is just the wierdest combo ever.
Yes, I thought it was hysterical. And trying to roll up the window and drive away from the toll booth at the same time was harder than I remember! The XM radio was nice though, we love the 40's on 4 channel and listened everywhere we went!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Great start! DD saw a commercial or movie the other day with cars with crank windows and said "is that what you grew up with"? Glad you've made it!
I didn't have power anything until 2001 when I bought my first new car, but I guess we are spoiled now!
Quote:
Originally Posted by disneyfreeeak
just found your PTR/TR...congrats on your pregnancy!!! cant wait to here all about the food (food and more food!) festival!
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
What a shame about having to move rooms and sorry for the problems with the parking. Can't wait to hear about Artist Point.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
Glad the parking problems were cleared up! Sorry you'll have to move rooms!
Its really not a big deal, the parking thing was more funny than annoying too. Now had it happened in the real world, not Disney, where the customer always wins, it might have been another story!
Now, I'm surprised you aren't an 80's on 8 girl, its one of my favorite Sirius channels, behind the blend, deep tracks. . .shall I go on. Lily of course wants to listen to Radio Disney constantly, If I have to hear I whip my hair, by willow smith one more time I may go postal!
Now, I'm surprised you aren't an 80's on 8 girl, its one of my favorite Sirius channels, behind the blend, deep tracks. . .shall I go on. Lily of course wants to listen to Radio Disney constantly, If I have to hear I whip my hair, by willow smith one more time I may go postal!
Oh, I'm an 80s on 8 girl all the way, or the Hair Band channel (I've lost the name..give me some Bret Michaels and Vince Neil and I'm a happy camper). Jake lives in some imaginary world where men still open doors for women-he does this all the time, wear fedoras, and listen to big band music. The 40s channel is actually very relaxing and sometimes reminds me of being in Disney, like our own theme music!!
Just found this TRm, so all caught up. Congrats on the pregnancy...I hit the big 40 next year, so I can feel where you are coming from. Pregnancy brain...yeah, I think I still have that, 17 years later!
40's music...my DS (18) would be right there with Jake. Granted he doesn't do the hats, but he does have an X-box game Fallout 3 or something that has that type of music in it. He loves it, plays it all the time. And yes, he does open doors for women, I did teach him one or two things right.
Can't wait to read more...though I am craving a BLT now. Thanks.
Where did I leave off...Getting ready for dinner. Woe is me and my maternity (or lack of) clothes selections. I just hate them (seriously, not everyone wants to wear an empire waist just cause they have a bump...or prints...) and am at the funky stage where my clothes are just a bit snug/ill fitting and full on maternity is silly looking. I brought two options for Artist Point.
1. White Jeans with loosey-goosey layered chiffony tank top, with pewter heels and purse. I have two pairs of these jeans, I got them on super discount at the Levi's store last summer-$7 each. I got one in a more fitted size and one the next size up for a looser fit. I'm wearing the looser ones...
2. Same top but with a cropped black dress pant with a bit of stretch.
So I tried both on. It would seem that I'm pretty much past wearing my jeans--I look like someone wrapped me in sausage casing. And I need to use the belly band with any pants to cover the open fly. So, clearly, this was not a self-esteem boosting hour of my life. Normally I'd have a glass (or 10) of wine to drown my pudgy butt sorrows is, but in the cruelness of pregnancy you have to feel bad about yourself AND you can't self-medicate.
So off we got to Artist Point in our fancy manual locking Hyundai. Jake walks out to the back 40 to get the car and pulls up under the valet area of BW to get me. Being a gentleman, he gets out of the car to open my door (seriously, EVERY TIME). Of course, this car has manual locks. And my door was locked. So he has to go back around, reach in, unlock it, come back around, and open it. Modern conveniences make his gentlemanly habits so much easier!
We arrived about 10 minutes early at WL and walked straight, but slowly back to the Artist Point check-in. There was a couple in front of us that, of course, annoyed Jake. Shorts, sneakers, Ts--he's in a jacket and jeans with dress shoes--he's the worst kind of fashion police (but it makes hanging out with him so much more fun, we can be catty girls together). I'm less bothered by the theme park wear; I get it, we're in Disney, not everyone enjoys the dressing up. What did bug me was the way they leaned way over the podium into the CM's face. They didn't have a ressie and when told they couldn't get in tonight until 9:30 or tomorrow at 5 they were pissed. I'm not sure what resulted, I made Jake step back so they could be mad without having us be in the middle.
We were able to check in on time, but were asked to wait at the bar, just a few minutes. Again, I was missing my glass of wine...Jake had a beer and I had a water and BUZZ, our table was ready.
Artist Point was a hit for us. We hadn't been in three years, and I think we'll have to consider putting it back in to the rotation. The waiter was perhaps our only distraction, he just seemed to be off his game, maybe tired, not unfriendly and certainly knowledgable, but a tad absent minded. In case he poured Jake's wine pairing about 10 minutes before the food was served; had it been a red wine no biggie, but it was white and Jake wanted to try it cold with its food.
We shared the Short Rib app and Crab Cake app, I had the tenderloin, Jake had halibut, and we shared the Sweet Potato Gratin. This was absolutely, without question, the best thing I have ever put in my mouth. That could be pregnancy hormones talking, but I swear to god, I want to buried with it. I want to bathe in it. I want to push people down and steal their plates of it.
Get the Sweet Potato Gratin. Heavy cream, maple syrup, butter, hazelnuts...mmm, like potatoes for heaven.
We also shared the cobbler, and to be honest, I don't remember the cobbler being so meh. I know I had it last time, but I wasn't excited about it this time; its a semi-warm pastry bottom with berries and ice cream on top. I swear it was all baked together before. I said this Jake and he said "you never clearly remember dessert when we go out, this no wine thing is really going to change your view of desserts!"
Clearly. I had a decaf coffee. And I remember the sad cobbler. Damn.
I wrote about this meal in much more detail on my blog (if you want ingredients and our reviews of the wine pairings...).
We had a minor detour on the way home due to the Wine and Dine Half Marathon starting at 10PM. I'd completely forgotten about it and we went the wrong way, ended up on the highway, and then I remembered how to get around it. Honestly, Disney did a terrible job marking the detour, its only because I know my way around property that we got to BW without too much hassle. There had to be people who were super angry about it. I was just jealous of the runners. I can still run that far you know, but by the time I knew I wasn't racing nationals the half marathon was closed. Bummer. Instead, I was in bed by 10:30. All that decaf...
Tomorrow: How much will I eat at the Food, Food and More Food Festival? And!! V&A!!!
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