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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Hi Sharon! I am just finding this trip report.....
It sounds like you really have a great time with your mom! I love to read all about her love for candy!
My niece, Lindsay, loves ToT too! I think she rode it a total of 10 times when were there in October!
Can't wait to read more!!
Yum, Yum, Yum. What a great update. The waffle was one of my favorites last year. And I never knew about the oatmeal at the Yacht Club!! I've had breakfast there before, and wasn't thrilled with it, but now I HAVE to go back.
Captain's Grille! One of my favorites for breakfast! I think I have done the buffet there only once...there are just too many good things on the menu. The French Toast is always great...best one yet was the berry one. But wow, that oatmeal sure looks wonderful! Think I'll have to try that next.
Your day at DHS sounds pretty successful! As does your day at F&WF!
Just started reading this, I am so behind. So sorry that everything had you running behind, I just hate that when it seems like every little thing is determined to get in your way. lol I love your room and balcony, so cute! I love MNSSHP, we missed so much when we went 2 years ago that I want to go again. You should have posted pictures of you and your Mom at that party, I would love to see the hat. Your Mom is just too adorable with her obsession with candy. I am surprised that she got that far after Cosmic Rays before getting some candy to eat! :-)
We totally forgot about getting a picture during the party! We didn't have costumes on, but we did have silly hats on. I had the Mickey pumpkin and DM wore a witch's hat with Minnie ears and bow.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MayraLR
You got me with the Voyage of the Little Mermaid. Wow, TOT 3 times in a row! I think I wouldn't be able to do that, although I've never ridden more than once.
Gotcha!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lfredsbo
WOW!!! You do love your ToT!!! I so want to try it again......but DD has no interest again - she got really freaked out last time - I find that now that she is getting older, the fear has kicked it - gosh darn it!
And now - you are making me hungry for F&WF again!!! Your options looked good!! Those lettuce wraps were YUMMY!!!
Sorry your DD doesn't like TOT. I hope she'll get over her fear of it soon!
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
Because of the picture of Swedish Meatballs, I've decided to go home and make them for dinner!!
I'll be right over!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Principessa_di_Fata
OMG the beef skewer! My most favoritest thing at the F&WF. I tell everyone about it! *tear* I am SO going back in 2013 for that. My mouth is watering just looking at the photo!
They're so good, right? I just learned that they will be available at DTD for a while, so I may have to take a trip over there in a couple of weeks and get some.
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhToodles!
You made that day sound so laid back yet went from BW to YC to DHS to Epcot back to BW to Epcot to DHS and back to BW all in one day! Whew!
It didn't seem like I was doing that much criss-crossing, but now that you mention it, it was a lot! Things are close enough that I didn't notice at the time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hugmonster
Where did you get the Oatmeal again? Must add it to the list.
At Captain's Grille at the YC.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Luvsun
Hi Sharon! I am just finding this trip report.....
It sounds like you really have a great time with your mom! I love to read all about her love for candy!
My niece, Lindsay, loves ToT too! I think she rode it a total of 10 times when were there in October!
Can't wait to read more!!
Lindsay is a girl after my heart! We'll have to ride it together some day!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
Yum, Yum, Yum. What a great update. The waffle was one of my favorites last year. And I never knew about the oatmeal at the Yacht Club!! I've had breakfast there before, and wasn't thrilled with it, but now I HAVE to go back.
Yes, DM wasn't impressed with the breakfast, but I give the oatmeal a big thumbs up.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jillybean
Well, you definitely walked off everything you ate!
I wasn't blessed with DM's super-fast digesting stomach, so I have to work for it.
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
Day Five – Tuesday, October 9 Hanging with PassPorters
I was up early as usual. I got ready and then packed my bag. I brought it down to RAC, got my boarding pass (I had done EBCI) and dropped off my carry on with Bell Services. I was on the bus to the MK before 8:00!
I got to the MK well before park opening, but it was a good thing because I had a little errand to run. There is a promotion going on where DVC members can get a Premium AP for a little more than a regular (discounted) DVC member renewal AP. However, I’d renewed my AP in August. I went to Guest Services and asked if I could upgrade and I was able to, for $14. My AP still has its original August expiration date, but that’s fine with me!
That took all of 2 minutes, so I was still super early. I was hoping they’d open the park early. They didn’t. But at 8:15, they opened the turnstiles so I was able to get a spot to watch the opening show where I could sit. As hot as it had been, it was actually cool that morning! In fact, a woman standing near me was whining (annoyingly so ) about how cold she was and saying the first thing she was going to do when she got into the park was buy a sweater. She’s going to regret that decision later when it’s 85º!
The opening show started at its usual time. I enjoyed it as always. In my opinion, the MK opening show is the only one worth making an effort to see. The other ones are ok, but nothing to go out of your way for. I took plenty of photos.
When the park opened, I went straight to Space Mountain and walked right on. It’s really a fun ride, but kind of rough. But I always giggle the entire ride.
Then I walked over to Frontierland to ride BTMRR. I know they’re putting in an interactive queue, and I looked for elements of anything that would give me a clue, but there was nothing. Anyway, the ride was fun (and I giggled the entire ride here too).
I didn’t feel like getting wet, so I skipped Splash. Pirates was down, so that was out. I just walked around the MK, dorking out. I can’t say the MK is my favorite park, but I can say that I always feel like a kid when I’m in the MK, and really very happy.
I decided to check out the construction on the new Fantasyland. It was looking good.
I wasn’t really hungry, but I was thirsty, so I grabbed an OJ and continued on to Storybook Circus. I had a little mission to accomplish here. I’d learned that the new character greeting area was open and I wanted to check it out.
I just know she’s singing “Ghost Riders in the Sky”
The yellow tent to the right is the FP distribution area for Dumbo & Goofy’s Barnstormer
Minnie and Daisy were on one side and Donald and Goofy were on the other. Both lines had pretty short queues, but I chose the Donald and Goofy side first, just in case things got crazy and I only had time to visit one.
Goofy was first. I made sure to tell him I liked his new digs!
I also love that these characters are wearing new costumes! One of these days I’m going to put together a slideshow of me meeting Mickey with all his different costumes. I’m sure I have photos of me with him in at least 30 different costumes.
Anyway, Donald was next.
That hadn’t taken any time at all, so I had time to meet Daisy and Minnie. You have to exit the building and go back to the front entrance for that, though – no short cuts.
By this time, there was practically no wait at all for Daisy and Minnie! I met Daisy first.
And just as I was about to meet Minnie, she went in for a little break. She came back in no time at all. I got a pic with her.
I couldn’t help but feel fabulous standing there with Minnie! I was done at the MK, so I took the train to Main Street, then took the monorail to the TTC and then took the monorail to Epcot.
The monorail to Epcot wasn’t crowded, but the guy who got in the car with me (who was also by himself) sat very close. In fact, when he first sat down, he was actually touching me, but he scooted over a bit. It was kind of awkward. I started texting Heather just so he wouldn’t talk to me. I am a weirdo magnet, if I haven’t mentioned it before. Actually, he didn’t seem all that weird, but it was odd how he sat right next to me instead of leaving some space.
I entered the park and headed directly to WS because I was meeting Heather, Cam and Luke (and because I was ready for snacks). I passed a woman doing something that made me scratch my head. I always find it a bit odd when I see people in the parks taking pictures with their iPad. I admit that I’m a person who thinks you should take pictures with a camera, but I can definitely see using your phone for a camera. But an iPad? Really?
Anyway, the woman who made me shake my head was even worse! She had a laptop! It was a smaller laptop, but a laptop to be sure! She had to hold it up with two hands, and I think she was taking video, because there’s no way she could hold it and press a button at the same time. Some portable devices are not meant for a theme park!!
Anyway, I caught up to the group in Argentina, and after exchanging hugs, Heather gave me a cute lollipop pin for DM. Then we set about our lap around the F&WF booths. We eventually settled into a nice routine of eat, shop, eat, shop. The first thing I had to eat was in the South Africa booth.
Seared Filet of Beef with Smashed Sweet Potatoes and Braai Sauce, $5.00
I thought this was delicious, with just a little kick to it, nicely balanced by the sweet potatoes. And it was a good value.
When we got to America, I decided to eat something again at the Hops & Barley booth.
Linda Bean's Perfect Maine Lobster Roll, $7.50
I really enjoyed this as well! I really like this kind of lobster roll – sometimes I get one and it’s more of a lobster salad with mayo on it. This was perfect! And there was a lot of lobster, so it was worth the $7.50.
I also got something to eat at the Florida local booth (I’d heard excellent reviews of the offerings).
White Corn Arepa with Mangalitsa Pork Rilette and Zellwood Sweet Corn Salad, $4.00
I liked this very much. I have had better arepas before, but I did enjoy it, as well as the sweet corn salad (which, for some reason, I was not expecting to be cold ).
Next up was New Zealand.
Seared Sea Scallop with Kumara Red Curry Puree and Apple Radish Salad, $4.25
It looks like it’s served on a giant goldfish cracker! The scallop was tasty and the kumara red curry puree was interesting. It sort of tasted like a mild sweet potato.
At this point, we backtracked a bit so Cam could meet Geir at the shop in Norway. I know Cam really enjoyed meeting him, and Heather and I (and Luke, I think) really enjoyed how excited Cam was!
Then we walked over to Future World to do a few attractions. Cam stopped to do some shopping while the rest of us went to ride Mission Space. Heather and I had a conversation about Gary Sinise’s hair. Neither of us could figure out what the heck was going on there. My theory is that he combs it forward, but it still sticks up a little. Who knows? Heather said she’ll never again be able to watch the preshow movie without looking at it. Welcome to my world, Heather!
After our return from Mars, we went and found Cam in Mouse Gear. We all got a chuckle out of the tale Cam told about trying on a top that was apparently cut very small. I find the sizes in Disney shirts to be wildly inconsistent, but maybe that’s just me.
Our next stop was across the park at LWTL. I guess I didn’t bother taking any pictures this trip, but not much changes here, so you can probably check another TR for photos and get the same effect.
We headed back to WS, but alas, I wasn’t going to do any more munching. It was time for me to head on back to the BW and catch the bus to MCO. Before we split up, I found a CM by the bridge to take a photo for us. There wasn’t a Photopass photographer nearby, so this was a lot more difficult than you’d expect. I actually went over and asked one of the Agent P CMs to get our picture. He was more than happy to, as was the other CM there (naturally we had multiple cameras ).
Heather decided to walk with me to the Boardwalk area to try and find a table service meal. I thought about getting fudge for DM, but there was a line in the store, so I didn’t feel like waiting. DM didn’t ask for any, so I didn’t get in trouble. Probably because she was busy eating all the Halloween candy.
Heather walked with me to the valet desk where I picked up my carryon bag and before long, boarded my DME bus. We made a stop at CBR before making our way to MCO. Hey! This reminds me about our trip to the BWV! There was a huge car accident on the highway (in the direction heading to the airport, which I believe is east). DM and I were like “glad we’re not stuck in that!” Traffic was backed up for 4 exits! I saw several DME buses in the traffic, and I know if I’d been on one of them, I’d be worried about making my flight. It’s a good thing Disney allows extra time!
I grabbed a quick dinner in the food court and then headed to my gate. My flight was on time, so that made me happy. The flight was very full, but we left right on time. I got the exit row again, so I was a happy camper. Except the kid behind me kicked my seat a bunch of times. I tried napping, but it seemed like every time I’d get to sleep, the kid would kick the seat and wake me up again. We landed 10 minutes early, so that made me happy again.
Up Next: Final Thoughts and Ramblings
__________________
Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
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I am just finding this trip report.....
We didn't have costumes on, but we did have silly hats on. I had the Mickey pumpkin and DM wore a witch's hat with Minnie ears and bow.
You got me with the Voyage of the Little Mermaid. Wow, TOT 3 times in a row! I think I wouldn't be able to do that, although I've never ridden more than once.
- I find that now that she is getting older, the fear has kicked it - gosh darn it! 
It was a smaller laptop, but a laptop to be sure! She had to hold it up with two hands, and I think she was taking video, because there’s no way she could hold it and press a button at the same time. Some portable devices are not meant for a theme park!!
Then we set about our lap around the F&WF booths. We eventually settled into a nice routine of eat, shop, eat, shop. The first thing I had to eat was in the South Africa booth.
Heather said she’ll never again be able to watch the preshow movie without looking at it. Welcome to my world, Heather! 
I tried napping, but it seemed like every time I’d get to sleep, the kid would kick the seat and wake me up again. We landed 10 minutes early, so that made me happy again.
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