A Magical 10 Night Trip, The 10th Month and The Orlando Trifecta- PTR - UPDATED 10/2 - Page 11 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
Friday, July 21st Since I booked the Regional Italian Wine Lunch for my trip, I will no longer need the ADR for this evening as I plan to do some sampling at the festival booths. After this, I will stay for Illuminations which I enjoy so much. I almost feel that no WDW trip is complete without seeing it at least once! I went on the WDW site and cancelled my ADR for Monday, October 9th for 6:20 pm at Tokyo Dining. I was looking forward to this ADR but that was until I decided to book the Italian Lunch, which should be quite special. It’s been a few years, since I’ve dined at Tokyo Dining and will postpone for another trip.
Sunday, July 23rd I was looking at the park schedules for my trip, when I realized something and how could I overlook this? I had planned on going to the MK on my last full day in WDW on Friday, October 13th as well as the California Grill for dinner. It’s a MNSSHP night in the MK and the park will be closing early for non-party attendees, which include myself. I was going to stay in the MK until 8 pm before my dinner, but as the party begins at 7 pm and must leave much earlier. Now, I must do some revising with the plans and glad I haven’t made my FP+ reservations yet!
Originally, I was going to spend the a.m. in Studios, return to the Dolphin to pack and then to the MK in the mid-afternoon before dinner. Now, I need to figure out how to change things around and make them work. It will be some modifying for Wednesday, October 11th and Friday, October 13th. I checked the schedules and there isn’t MNSSHP on that night, so this may be a good option. I have a feeling it will be difficult to cancel my California Grill ADR for the 13th and get one on the 11th as it’s one of the most difficult ADRs to get!
Now the plan for Wednesday, October 11th will be to go to Studios at rope drop or close to it and hopefully get a few attractions in without FP+s as I plan to use them for the MK later. I’m tentatively hoping to arrive in the MK between 2-3 pm. I will have lunch prior to arriving in the MK in Studios and plan to try the Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge as I like the menu. I have an ADR on this day for Flying Fish and will move it to Friday as I will be in the MK.
I tried getting an ADR for the California Grill for Wednesday and there was nothing available. I made a backup choice for Citrico’s in the Grand Floridian and secured one for 5:55 pm and then cancelled my Flying Fish ADR. I will keep trying for the Cali with the hopes of an ADR becoming available. I will return to the MK after dinner for the Happily Ever After fireworks as well as EMH’s, which are from 12- 2 am. We’ll see how long I make it!
I plan on making big changes for Friday, October 13th. I will not be going to Studios in the a.m as was the original plan. Instead, I will be spending a second day in the Animal Kingdom and probably a good idea with Pandora now open. Most likely I would not be able to ride the two new attractions with just one day there. You can only make one FP+ for the Pandora attractions. This should now increase my chances. I will return to my resort in the mid to late afternoon and pack for the trip home tomorrow. If I have time before dinner, I may spend some of it in Epcot and probably Future World and avoid the Friday night crowds for the Food & Wine Festival.
I made an ADR for Friday, October 13th at Flying Fish for 8:35 pm and cancelled my previous one for the California Grill at 9 pm. I suppose I could have kept the Cali ADR and taken a taxi or Lyft, but I want to try the newly modified Flying Fish as I wanted to last year, but couldn’t fit it into my plans. I also plan on visiting the Abracadabar before dinner, if I don’t on another night as I’m quite close to The Boardwalk.
Now it seems I've reworked these two days well without any major problems and am quite happy with the result. It took a few hours to do this, but glad I took the time to do it. I just have to hope an ADR for the California Grill becomes available!
Saturday, July 29th I cancelled my ADR over at Universal for Emeril’s on City Walk as I will be having a big dinner at BICE later at the Portofino Resort. I still can’t make an ADR for BICE, but my window should be opening shortly as bookings can be made two months out on OpenTable.
I decided to book another event for the Food & Wine Festival as I saw one that interested me on my second day at the Festival for Thursday, October 12th. I probably should have done this originally but didn’t as I was focusing on getting the Italian Lunch and wasn’t sure at the time if I wanted to do another event. I had no trouble getting my reservation, which I did on the WDW site. This is for the Mix It, Make It, Celebrate It offerings. It’s a hands on culinary experience and demo. I did one of these last year, which I enjoyed. It’s from 12:15-1:30 pm in the Festival Center. It’s hosted by chef and author Jennifer Bushman and will feature Patagonia’s Verlasso Salmon. I’m a big fan of salmon and is a good one for me to do. The cost comes to $52.19 with tax and not a bad deal.
NEXT: This Is Odd and Rather Disappointing!
__________________
October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
I thought I had messed up by forgetting the MVMCP party on our MK day, too. But I hadn't. That does add another factor into the planning, doesn't it? Sending ADR ;pixie: for Cali Grill to open up for you.
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
Your plans sound delicious and are making me very !! I hope you get your Cali Grill ADR But Citricos is a wonderful choice for a back up!!
They're making me quite hungry as well and can't wait to begin indulging in just 16 "short" days! I have enjoyed Citrico's on I think four previous occasions, but it's the Cali ADR I really want! Half of the attraction is going out on the deck and enjoying the views of the MK and the fireworks, which I have experienced on several occasions!
__________________
October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Not an update today, but will have one on the weekend. Hoping to get this done before my trip as it commences in just 13 days now!
Well, the reason for the update is at it was an interesting day at work today. This was the scene across the parking lot at one of the stores here! It was bizarre and I heard it happen, but didn't see it!
October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Everyone was ok and no injuries! I think it was an older woman in the car and she hit the gas instead of the brakes. I was talking to people at the scene and she was wearing flip flops while driving and one of them got stuck between the peddles what I heard! Not a bright idea to drive with those! I can only imagine what here insurance rates will be. I'm sure her provider will drop her after this incident!
__________________
October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Great changes but I think Tara is becoming a bad influence Your Italian lunch sounds delish! I've never understood how some can drive though a storefront. Was she trying to park?
Yikes! I rarely drive with flip flops because it can be so dangerous just for that reason. Glad everyone was OK.
I can only imagine what this will do to her insurance rates! The woman driver is 79 years old and not sure if that was factor.
Quote:
Originally Posted by patclairesmom
Great changes but I think Tara is becoming a bad influence Your Italian lunch sounds delish! I've never understood how some can drive though a storefront. Was she trying to park?
I think Tara has an influence on many of us with the planning and changes! I'm looking quite forward to the Italian lunch!
Never understood either, but the flip flops may have been the cause. She was trying to park. The store will be repaired beginning Monday and is boarded up, but was open today.
__________________
October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
What a crazy day! Thankful that everyone was okay.
It definitely was and better that no one was hurt!
__________________
October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Getting Closer as Time to Book My FP+ Reservations!
Saturday, August 5th I went on the Disney site probably late in the morning in the hopes of getting an ADR for the California Grill on Wednesday, October 11th. I had booked Citrico’s a couple of weeks ago, when I had to switch one of my MK days from Friday to Wednesday because of MNSSHP occurring on Friday and would have to leave the park earlier than I wanted to. I checked the ADRs and there was one for 5:20 pm for two people but not one. This shouldn’t be a problem as I’ve modified ADRs this way before. I booked it and then modified my ADR for one person. I cancelled my ADR at Citrico’s for 5:55 pm as well. I love Citrico’s but I like the Cali even more with the food, views and fireworks on occasion. I was quite happy I finally secured this ADR!
Tuesday, August 8th I made an ADR for the Universal portion of my trip on OpenTable for BICE at the Portofino Bay Resort. I made it for 7 pm on Saturday, October 7th. This is also my last night at Universal before heading to WDW in the a.m. Today, is the 60 day mark, when I can make this ADR. BICE is an upscale restaurant specializing in Northern Italian cuisine. Cheryl and Tara have both dined here and enjoyed it immensely! I'm certainly looking forward to dining here!
Wednesday, August 9th Today, would have been my parents 59th wedding anniversary if they were still with us. My dad passed in 2010 and my mom in 2012. I always remember this day each year as well as their birthdays. Anyway, back to the planning!
I was on the Disney site by 7 a.m. I can feel my trip getting closer as it’s time to book my Fastpass+ reservations! I knew where to begin and that would be for the Pandora attractions in the Animal Kingdom. I tried getting one for Flight of Passage on my first AK day of Tuesday, October 10th. Unfortunately, there was nothing available, but got one for the Na’vi River Journey. Next, I tried my second AK day of Friday, October 13th and there was availability for Flight of Passage, but only in the afternoon. All they had was a 2:15-3:15 and I didn’t waste any time with this and immediately booked it!
The only other FP+ I had trouble getting was for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train as I have yet to ride this attraction. There wasn’t anything available for my first MK day on Sunday, October 8th, but I got one for my second day in the MK on Wednesday, October 11th at 2:40-3:40. I have also not done Frozen Ever After yet either and being that I’ll be staying at the Dolphin Resort, I will be at World Showcase for rope drop and head to Norway and hopefully will luck out! I’ll then go to Future World for the rest of my FP+s. Overall, I got pretty much what I wanted, for FP+s and I am quite happy with them.
I tweaked these reservations a bit while I was making them to get them to fit as best as I could into my schedule. The whole process was done by 9:15 am. It’s the numerous modifying that takes time.
Here are my Fastpass+ Reservations!
Sunday, October 8th
Magic Kingdom
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad- 11:15-12:15 Space Mountain- 2:05-3:05 Haunted Mansion- 3:05-4:05
Monday, October 9th
Epcot
Soarin’ -9:15-10:15 Relaunched Mission Space -10:15-11:15 Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival -2:20-3:20
Tuesday, October 10th
Animal Kingdom
Na’vi River Journey -10:20-11:20 Kilimanjaro Safaris -11:50-12:50 Festival of the Lion King -arrive 2:30-2:45 and show at 3 pm-3:30
Wednesday, October 11th
Magic Kingdom
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train -2:40-3:40 Space Mountain -3:50-4:50 Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – 7:10-8:10
Thursday, October 12th
Epcot
Soarin’ -9:20-10:20 Spaceship Earth -10:20-11:20 Relaunched Mission Space -4:10-5:10
Friday, October 13th
Animal Kingdom
Dinosaur -10:25-11:25 Finding Nemo-The Musical -arrive 11:30-11:45 and show at 12 pm-12:40 Avatar Flight of Passage -2:15-3:15
Saturday, October 14th
Hollywood Studios
Star Tours -9:10-10:10 The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror -10:10-11:10 Toy Story Mania -11:10-12:10
NEXT: This Is Odd and Rather Disappointing!
__________________
October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Last edited by SuperDave; 09-23-2017 at 06:39 PM..