Our first "Welcome Home" and 26.2 miles - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
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.
for continuing along!!! I would have passed out by now!!! Loving all your pics along the way!
Thanks! I was determined to finish!
Quote:
Originally Posted by kadterp
Oh my gosh! I love your pics! I love Tanya's shirt, and we had Lumiere and Genie at the Wine and Dine and I cant believe they have more of them! Tigger and Sebastian too! And chocolate! I like chocolate! ha ha
Mmmm...chocolate!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
Good job plowing on! Your attitude and spirit this late in the race are terrific.
There have been races where I've been feeling really down at the end, but Disney races always make me happy no matter how I'm doing!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
"Only" 10 k to go! You are doing so great. I love the comments you make to characters and onlookers along the way. You're very quick with the witty remarks!
I like to make people laugh.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rlb38
So do you think you feature in chimpmunk man's TR somewhere in cyber space ? Interesting that they had a bowl of pretzels but I'm sure a little salt boost was needed at this stage. Just keep sw..er running...
Chipmunk man! Maybe not a TR, but possibly a photo album!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lsugirlinutah
Okay, just catching up.
I agree with you on the math. Many, many, long runs I take my mind off running by figuring out my pace. My new iPod only tells me when I've hit a mile marker and what the current elapsed time is. So I use my non-existent math skills to try to figure out my pace. I am usually wrong, and it takes me at least 5-10 minutes!!
How funny that you are in a random guy's photo album!
I have heard the same thing about the final 10K on marathons. But you're almost done! And you still seem to be doing well!
Sometimes, you just need something to help keep your mind occupied and OFF of how much your legs and feet are hurting at that moment!
Quote:
Originally Posted by pamcarey
It's great that you're still making funny remarks to people at this point in the race!
I figure, if we've all gotten this far, we could use a bit of laughter!
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
Congrats for continuing along! Love the pictures of DHS!
My first marathon, I was struggling so much, I didn't care that we were in the Studios; I just wanted to be DONE! The past two races, I've tried to enjoy my time there and take some good pictures, because I was doing so much better.
The tree, yes, that's what was missing! Right around there I took an ice cube from a stranger. I told her thanks, of course, and how sweet it was of her to do that! But I didn't think about other sweaty hands in the bag....
__________________
Tanya
Every click helps feed .6 bowls of food to rescued animals. Give a quick click every day and help animals in shelters! www.theanimalrescuesite.com
The tree, yes, that's what was missing! Right around there I took an ice cube from a stranger. I told her thanks, of course, and how sweet it was of her to do that! But I didn't think about other sweaty hands in the bag....
Whenever I see the Christmas tree at the Studios when it's NOT race day, I always get the same feeling that I do at mile 23! It was kind of weird not to see it this year.
I really love doing this report, because it's reminding me of things that I'd have otherwise forgotten (especially since I'm getting it done and not letting it drag out for months....)
I just now remembered an interaction I'd had with a young man named John. I believe we were heading into the Studios, and we'd both slowed to a walk and were right next to each other. I patted him on the shoulder and told him we were getting there, and asked him how he was doing. We chatted for a bit, and he told me he'd spent most of the race trying to catch up with his friends, who were in D, whereas he started in G! I told him how great that was, since he caught up to me, who'd also started in D.
He said how difficult it is to start way in the back, and I told him that I completely understand, because I've been there...several times! Then I told him that if he ever wanted to do another RunDisney race, he should try to submit a qualifying time to get a better corral, because it really does make a difference. I enjoyed our brief conversation, and hope John did, too.
So, we'd left the Studios, which is the last park we run through before we get to Epcot. Now, we just had to run the path between the Studios and the International Gateway, run through World Showcase, and we were done! I have lots of pictures of this section, and not a lot of narrative.
Believe it or not, this is NOT the only bagpiper I've ever seen during a race!
Woo-hoo! Would I want to stop at my room on the way by?
Remember Richard Simmons? He'd been nearby almost the whole race, and as I approached Mile 24, I saw him taking a picture of the mile marker. So I called out, "Richard Simmons! Turn around!" and I took his photo.
I told him that I'd been behind him for most of the race, and he said that I must be a stalker! After I got done laughing, I said, out loud, "Hm...Richard Simmons has a stalker. THAT must not happen very often!"
Off toward the Boardwalk and man, was it hot!
Our first room was on the fourth floor
We'd crossed this bridge many a time over the past couple of days
I saw my friend, Sara, on the bridge just before Epcot. She'd already finished and had her medal around her neck! I told her I wanted one of those, and she told me I was almost there!!!
See you in June, Stormalong Bay!!
I saw this sign and practically started bawling! I remember feeling like I wanted to express my thanks and gratitude to the folks out here cheering and holding signs, but I just didn't have the energy!
There were a couple of funny signs that I had to respond to, but I don't remember exactly where they were. They both said something like, "There may come a day when you fail. But today is not that day!" Well, it reminded this Lord of the Rings nerd of Aragorn's line in Return of the King, before the battle at the Black Gate of Mordor. ("A day may come when the courage of Men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the Age of Men comes crashing down, but it is not this day! This day we fight!") When I saw those signs, I pointed at the sign holder and said, "But it IS NOT THIS DAY!" in the same tone that Aragorn used. Whether they got the reference or not, I don't know, but it gave me a lift. My friend, Elisa, is a fellow LotR nerd, and she said she thought of me when she saw those signs!
(continued in next post)
__________________
Last edited by mom to 3 princesses and 1 prince; 01-29-2013 at 09:32 PM..
OK, I was in the home stretch! Epcot's International Gateway was just ahead, and as I ran toward it, I saw the Fairy Godmother! I stopped to take a photo with her, because she had no line, and told her that she was the only character I stopped for during the entire race! (I realized later that this wasn't true; I'd stopped for the Green Army Man, too, because I told my dad I would. I lied to the Fairy Godmother!) She gave me a "Bibbiddi-Bobbidi-Boo" to get me to the finish line, and off I went.
We went in a side entrance that deposited us just inside the United Kingdom, next to the red phone booths. This was the moment I'd been looking forward to for many, many miles: my team would be waiting for me in the UK! I had talked to DH a while back, when I thought my phone was dying, and told him my estimated time of arrival. I knew that I would get one more little pick-me-up here, and then I could make it to the finish line!
The team wasn't where I'd expected them, just inside the entrance like last year, but over in front of the Rose & Crown. As I ran toward them, I waved my hands in the air and probably looked ridiculous, but I was so excited!
This is my very favorite picture of the whole weekend!
I saw Lou, and Val, and then asked where DH was, which everybody found hilarious, because DH is tall and Lou is short, but I saw Lou and not DH! DH was in the second row, behind Lou, but he was wearing red and not blue like the rest of the team, so he was hard to spot, which doesn't really make sense, now that I think about it. You'd think he'd be EASIER to spot with a different colored shirt! I gave DH a kiss, and I was off to finish the race!
Unfortunately, there are drawbacks to being so focused: like missing your BFF and your god-daughter as they cheer you on! I knew my friend would be at Epcot during the race, but I hadn't heard from her, so I didn't expect her to be in the UK with DH, and they hadn't arrived yet when I'd last talked to him. The tall man to the left of the WDW Radio sign is my BFF's dad. I looked at the pictures after the race and didn't recognize him, until after I found out that they'd been there. I was so bummed that I'd missed out on the opportunity to see them cheer for me. I did see them later that day, but I was still sad that I missed them during the race.
I love Epcot, especially World Showcase, but I saw the light at the end of the tunnel and wanted to get it over with. I took a few half-hearted photos, but didn't really enjoy this last stretch like I usually do.
I stopped for character #3, Duffy Bear, because I him and he had no line, but then it was time to head through Future World and backstage to the finish line!
The choir was singing, "Our God is an Awesome God" and I teared up, because I always do when I hear them sing!
I asked DH the other day if he remembered what song they sang when he finished, but he couldn't remember.
I was all prepared to stop for a character photo before the finish, like I did last year, but this year I only saw Goofy and no handler, so I kept on going!
After I crossed the finish line, I looked around for someone to take a picture of me getting my medal, but there wasn't anybody available, so I took a picture of the medal giver instead. He said, "Hey, it's YOUR day!" as I took it, but I told him I wanted to remember the person who gave me my medal.
And with that, it was over! It was weird not having anybody with me this year. Last year, I'd bought the Chear Squad for my dad for Christmas, so he was waiting for me, and the years before,DH and I had done the races together. This time, I picked up some water, had my medal stand photo taken, and wandered off to the Race Retreat by myself. It was a little anti-climactic, but I was done and that was what mattered!
Up next: post-race fun!
__________________
Last edited by mom to 3 princesses and 1 prince; 01-29-2013 at 10:54 PM..
Wow! I don't know you in person but I am all teared up - PROUD of you!!!
It sounds like this was such a challenge for you to do by yourself and you did it!!!!! That is awesome!!!! . I wish I had the strength to do this!
__________________
Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
Way to go Beth! The lady on the scooter with the sign is wonderful. It's so great to have people cheering you on. Even better when you know them. Great reporting of the races but I hope the TR isn't over yet.
The best feeling - to be done!!! That's funny that you didn't see your DH! I didn't either, I also only saw Lou! Good idea to get a photo of the volunteer. Next race, next race.... Congrats again Beth!!!!
__________________
Tanya
Every click helps feed .6 bowls of food to rescued animals. Give a quick click every day and help animals in shelters! www.theanimalrescuesite.com
About This Page: 
Loving all your pics along the way!
Your attitude and spirit this late in the race are terrific. 
Maybe not a TR, but possibly a photo album!
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
After I got done laughing, I said, out loud, "Hm...Richard Simmons has a stalker. THAT must not happen very often!" 
) She gave me a "Bibbiddi-Bobbidi-Boo" to get me to the finish line, and off I went.
I did see them later that day, but I was still sad that I missed them during the race.
him and he had no line, but then it was time to head through Future World and backstage to the finish line!
PassPorter Guide Author
I agree this has been such an inspirational report! 
Good idea to get a photo of the volunteer. Next race, next race.... Congrats again Beth!!!!
Linear Mode
