Eight is Enough - A July 2014 TR with cousins, club level and more Updated 3/29 DHS and Frozen Fun - Page 13 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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.
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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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Loved your SM picture!!! That cast member definitely sounds like she stepped over the line with her comments to you. When you're outside in the heat with ice cream, she had to expect that it was going to melt and get messy! Glad you DH was able to get the DAS card without our family members present.
What a great day so far at the MK. It is pretty cool that the ride photos just automatically show up, definitely a time saver.
I know. It was great.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Love all the Memory Maker photos and what a fun time at the Magic Kingdom!
Thank you. We got a lot of Memory Maker photos this time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by disneyallday
Thanks for posting all the pictures. I look forward to the rest of your TR!
Thank you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Great time at MK! Love the pictures!
Thanks.
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Originally Posted by MayraLR
Great MM photos!
How rude of the CM! Maybe she was just joking, but I think she was overstepping her boundaries a little. And why did she speak Spanish to your kids? LOL I wonder why she thought you guys were Hispanic. So weird and funny.
Glad you were able to get DAS card without any problems.
Love the Splash Mountain picture! So funny!
Oh, and don't worry about your pathetic score at Buzz. I always get pathetic scores there and at TSMM. I hate to admit this but I got a score of 2,000's at Buzz. So embarrassing.
I know the CM started off kidding, but the way she wouldn't let up, was really annoying. We are hispanic. DH and I were both born here, but our families are from DR and Cuba, but my boys sadly don't know Spanish. I am starting to teach them now. Glad to hear I'm not the only one who does bad at Buzz.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JKnott17
Great day at MK!
Your ride photo on Splash Mountain is hilarious!
What a wackadoo that CM was, complaining about the ice cream. First of all, it's the middle of summer, ice cream melts! And, it's her job to clean up, no need to complain to the guests. She definitely overstepped her boundaries on that one!
]
All of my ride pictures look pretty much exactly the SM, lol. The CM really was obnoxious.
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
Sounds like you're having a blast at MK!! Great pictures!!
Thank you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by shazza
Agree - great photos from another fun day in the MK - my guess is you are coming back for dinner.
Yes, we did go back to MK for dinner. I'll tell you where soon.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
You all covered quite a bit of MK this day. For some reason I'm now wishing I had a hamburger or hot dog plus some ice cream. Very lunch!
I know, I wanted a burger and hot dog as I was posting the pics.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Irenaroo
Enjoying your trip. That CM complaining about the ice cream mess was definitely out of line. Not typical for Disney. Glad you didn't let that bother you too much. I'm guessing you are going to eat at BOG!
I know, it really was very unDisney.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mommapants
They now have a combo ticket to do both parks in one day. In my TR I have started the section on Diggerland and posted some photos. No I've never done a meet but there are several Philly and Jersey people on the boards - we should do one at some point.
Oh good to know about the combo tickets. Let me know if you plan a meet. I'll be there.
First, what beautiful photos!!! Sounds like a great day at MK... though I would not have been too happy about the mean ice-cream CM. Doesn't sound too magical. So glad you were able to get the card worked out. Can't wait to hear where you had dinner!
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What a great time at MK!
Love all the PP pics. Glad to hear about your experience with the MM. I am going to get it for our trip.
What an annoying CM to bother you about the mess while you were eating your ice cream. We always clean up after ourselves too. I don't like to leave a mess behind.
Glad the CM was nice enough to list all 8 of you on the DAS card without everyone present.
I'm really happy we got the memory maker. I highly recommend. I never leave a mess behind. Even at a restaurant, I basically clean our table myself, lol.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lindawdw
Loved your SM picture!!! That cast member definitely sounds like she stepped over the line with her comments to you. When you're outside in the heat with ice cream, she had to expect that it was going to melt and get messy! Glad you DH was able to get the DAS card without our family members present.
I know. It's like she was blaming us for all the ice cream on the ground.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mousestruck
First, what beautiful photos!!! Sounds like a great day at MK... though I would not have been too happy about the mean ice-cream CM. Doesn't sound too magical. So glad you were able to get the card worked out. Can't wait to hear where you had dinner!
Thank you. I'm really happy with most of the photos. Some are a little scary, but that's my fault for my weird posing. You will see them later. I am posting about our dinner now.
I don’t really have notes about what we did back at Kidani, but I’m sure we were back in forth between our room and my sister’s room. The kids had so much fun together. Staying the in the same hotel was perfect.
I’m sure our break was a couple of hours. Then we got freshened up and headed back to MK. Before our break, we had secured a fourth FP for Peter Pan. So, we headed straight there. I really like this ride; it reminds me of my childhood. The only thing I dislike is the long line. This is definitely a good choice for FP.
I’m not sure why we were all over the place, but our next attraction was Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor.
This is another favorite and we make sure to do it multiple times each trip. We were a little nervous that they’d pick DH as the guy who wants to get up and dance after his embarrassing dance in 2012. No worries though, they did not make that mistake twice.
If you guessed Be Our Guest, you are correct. We made our way over to New Fantasyland and checked in outside the restaurant at around 8:00. My adr was not until 8:20, but my sister’s was at 8:05. We asked if there was any way we could all be seated together even if we had to wait. That was not a problem, but we did have to wait like 15 minutes.
We waited by the bridge for a while, when it suddenly started pouring. Luckily, it was our turn to be seated and we didn’t get stuck in the rain for very long. Others were not as lucky and had to wait in the downpour. They really should have a lobby for people to wait indoors.
Understandably, people were not very happy about waiting in the rain. One guy was basically threatening the CM at the door. He told him to let him in or things were going to ugly. I felt so bad for the young CM. He looked terrified. In the end, the guy calmed down and was let inside. I personally think he should not have been allowed in, but I guess the CM did not want any problems. Why would someone act like that in front of children? What a jerk!
waiting to be seated
The restaurant was beautiful. It really felt like we were in the movie. We were immediately escorted to our table in the ballroom. We decided we were too hungry to look around now and would do so after dinner.
the ceiling and chandeliers
the windows
blurry picture, but can you see the snow in the window
The waitress took our drink orders (can’t remember what we all got) and brought out two baskets of bread. Either the bread was really good or we were all starving, but we devoured it. We then got two more baskets. I told the kids not to eat more than 2 pieces or they’d be too full for dinner. Shea couldn’t resist and had a third piece. Of course, she was the only kid who didn’t finish her dinner.
terrible picture of the bread
Silly pictures at the table
The Beast made a few appearances throughout our meal. They’d introduce him and then he would come out, wave at all his guests, and make his way to his study.
As for our entrees...
Brianna ordered the Braised pork:
She loved this and declared it a winner.
DH got the Sautéed Shrimp and Scallops:
Although he devoured the whole thing, he now says it was just ok and lacked seasoning. He also said the portion was too small for him, but keep in mind that he eats like a horse.
Shea got the kids’ Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup:
I’m not sure if she liked it or not, but I know she didn’t eat much of it at all. I tasted this at lunch another day and did not like it at all.
Aidan got the Chicken Brochette (grilled chicken on a skewer) and licked the plate clean. This is the kid that gets chicken tenders everywhere we go, so I was very shocked. He still talks about this meal all the time.
Yvonne got a special allergy dish. I’m not sure what it was, but it was some kind of chicken and potatoes. I think she said it was good.
Brian got the Pan Seared Salmon on Leek Fondue and said it was amazing.
Another clean plate here.
Jared and I both got the Grilled Strip Steak with garlic-herb butter and pommes frites (French fries).
We both ordered our steaks well done. I know it’s not ideal, but I get sick to my stomach if my red meat isn’t well done. Well, Jared’s was perfect, but mine was practically raw. I don’t like sending food back and tried to eat it, but I knew I would pay for it later. Eventually, DH convinced me to just ask them to cook it a little more. The waitress said it would not be a problem and whisked my plate away. I told everyone not to wait for me and to go ahead and enjoy their food while it was still hot. I’m glad they didn’t wait for me because at least 25 minutes passed before I got my food. I was no longer hungry by then and ended up giving most of my steak to DH.
I was a little upset, but didn’t want it to ruin our meal so I got over it fairly quickly.
I would definitely eat here again. The piece of my steak I did eat was delicious. Jared loved his and did not leave a morsel behind. I think I will order the salmon next time as red meat is not my favorite.
For dessert, I could not decide between a cupcake and the grey stuff. In the end, the grey stuff won out. We ordered a lot more than we should have, something like three or four between the 8 of us. We should have just shared 2.
I thought the grey stuff was good, but did not care for the cake underneath. It was so hard and very difficult to eat. I would not order this again. I think my nieces and Jared liked it, but Aidan hated it.
Will got the chocolate cream puff and said it was very good.
After dinner, we checked out the rest of the place. It was gorgeous. I didn’t get many pictures, but here are the few I did get.
What a great dinner at BoG! And don't worry, you're not the only person who likes their red meats well done. I do too. If there is any pink in my meat, I won't eat it.
The food looked fantastic. We will be traveling with 3 picky chicken nugget eaters so it is good to know that there are kid friendly alternatives besides the usual.
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.