The Holi-Canoli! Whirlwind Trip That Wasn't Supposed to Be - Page 16 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
I had tears in my eyes just reading about your airport surprise and your daughter's reaction! Please tell your DH I said thank you for his service. He is a hero to all Americans. I can't wait to hear more.
OMG - you know we all have tears in our eyes reading this.
I just cannot imagine how you and Victoria both felt when you saw Michael for the first time. AND I cannot believe you kept this secret so well when I know you were just bursting at the seams with excitement. It was all meant to be.
My DS will be home in the next couple weeks from his first deployment - and I wish I could be there to meet him...
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.
Sorry I've taken so long getting back to this. You know that little thing called life? Well, it gets in the way every now and then. Now with Thanksgiving right around the corner and decorating for Christmas and everything else, we are so busy.
Thank you so much for all of your kind remarks. I'm sorry I made you cry. We cried, too. It really was very emotional and wonderful and the most exciting thing ever! Now it is time to move on....
October 24 - Part 2
We got to the car and introduced Michael to Michael the Bear. Michael loved his counterpart. We told him all about the bear and what he meant to us on our last trip. Victoria and I were looking forward to showing him the pictures.
We left the airport, and I drove. That is really strange for us in our family. Michael drives EVERYWHERE! He loves to drive, but the Army recommends that soldiers don't drive for a few days when they get home because things are so different here. He has driven in Iraq but only at 35 mph. There are a lot more sights, sounds, colors, etc., back in the States and after being in a desert for almost nine months, it is safer for a loved one to drive. I can understand that. I guess it could be quite overwhelming. Anyway, I drove. We finally found our way back to the hotel, and we all talked 90 miles a minute the whole way. We simply couldn't get enough of each other. We were all bursting with love and excitement.
I had prepared to meet and hug a stinky man. I say that because a friend of mine told me that when she picked up her DH for R&R, he smelled so bad from the days of travel and no shower that she had to roll the car windows down. I was so pleased that Michael didn't stink at all! Yay! He smelled wonderful! But, he was ready for a real shower that he could stand in for as long as he wanted. Victoria wanted to swim. So, she headed to the pool, and Michael headed to the shower.
Once Michael had taken a shower, we went to the pool with Victoria. She was just chilling and said she was done. I think she was ready to get to DTD.
Michael said he hadn't felt overwhelmed by anything and actually felt the same as he did when he left and said he wanted to drive. Fine by me! So, he got behind the wheel and drove for the rest of the trip. I think he was glad to be driving again.
We headed to DTD. Isn't this the best sign in the world?
We were here to browse, hang out and have some dinner at Earl of Sandwich. We first went to WOD. The jewelry section was open. It wasn't open on our trip in September. I wanted a charm for my charm bracelet, so we went in there. I love the croc. He ticks! Please notice, Michael is holding Michael the Bear. Cute!
Once I took this picture though, I told Michael the shades were not going to work in all of these pictures. Those are his Army shades. They have to wear protective eyewear every time they go out. It's crazy. He has gotten so used to wearing them, he forgets he has them on.
We saw the macaws outside of the Rainforest Cafe so we walked over there to see them. We adore birds. We had a Severe Macaw ourselves for a while and loved him and loved to hear him talk. We have a cockatiel, too. Anyway, Michael watched the birds for a long time.
We soon left and continued our stroll.
We then went to Earl of Sandwich, and we were so hungry, I forgot to take pictures. But, I remember that we got the Full Montague and the club and shared them. Victoria has a hard time eating one all by herself. The two sandwiches were enough for the three of us.
We left EOS and strolled. It was very easygoing, and there was no rush. It was nice. We walked through Pleasure Island and took some photos. There was a group playing music. It was very nice.
Michael loves Harleys. We had to take advantage of the photo ops...
And, we headed back out of PI and to our car, snapping pictures along the way.
We went back to our hotel and called it a day.
That's it. A very exciting first day that ended quite simply.
UP NEXT: The move to the resort and a very relaxing day there.
I am sitting at work with tears running down my face. I have been reading and waiting for the big reveal and it was amazing....what a wonderful surprise for Victoria and I am so glad they let you wait at the gate. I love the pictures of all of you at the airport....especially the one of Victoria and her daddy....that smile says it all - priceless.
Sounds like a nice relaxing fun first day together....can't wait to hear much much more
October 25 - Moving Day!
We woke up bright and early. Check-out was at 11:00 a.m., and we had to get the car packed up with all of Michael's stuff. I didn't see how we would do it without making two trips. Afterall, Victoria had to sit somewhere, and I had the backseat pretty full with all of our stuff, and Michael came with a huge Army duffel and a huge backpack.
We packed up and took all of our stuff outside while Michael began working his magic. Have I mentioned that he is a master packer? He said I had done an excellent job on the trunk. He couldn't fit anything else in there. But, he somehow got ALL of our stuff, including Victoria, in that backseat. I should have taken a picture. It was crazy!
We followed the directions to the resort. It was only about six miles down the road. Our new home for the next two weeks was called Orbit One. It's a very strange name but made since once we got there. We were in building Neptune. Others were named after planets and space shuttles. Very interesting.
We checked in and were told our room wasn't ready yet, but she said I could leave my cell number with her so she could call me when it was ready. So, we got back in the car and went to Cracker Barrel for lunch. Michael was so excited to eat here. It's amazing the little things you miss when you don't have them.
We shopped around while we waited to be seated. One thing Michael mentioned that he wanted to get some to take back is the rolls of the gigantic Smarties. They are huge Smarties, and I found them at a grocery store in Texas. I had never seen them before and thought Michael would get a kick out of them. I didn't know he would like them so much that that's the one thing he'd want to take back with him. Wouldn't you know that as I was shopping, I saw them in Cracker Barrel. Score! I bought him 10 rolls while he and Victoria were seated. I went to the table and surprised him with the rolls. He was thrilled!
We ordered our standard drinks - Coke for Victoria, sweet tea for Michael and raspberry lemonade for me. No sooner had we gotten our drinks, my phone rang. It was Orbit One. The lady had found another room that was ready, and we could move in right away.
Once again, we were so hungry, I forgot pictures! Michael and I ordered from a Thanksgiving menu. I ordered the Applefest Grilled Chicken Salad - grilled chicken tenderloin on a bed of hand-torn lettuce with hickory-smoked bacon, cinnamon-sugar pecans, dried cranberries and chunks of Gala apples. It’s topped with blue cheese crumbles....oh my! It was heavenly! Michael also ordered from this special menu. He got the Fresh Fruit n' Yogurt Breakfast - Low-fat yogurt with honey oat and almond granola served with a cranberry-orange muffin with bits of pecan, fresh pineapple chunks, orange slices, a Gala apple, two eggs, and thick-sliced hickory-smoked bacon or turkey sausage patties. and he got a side of pancakes. I can't remember what Victoria ordered. She got some sort of breakfast.
Let me tell you, when the food came out, Michael was in sensory overload! After we said the blessing, Michael never looked up again. He ate SO FAST and went from food to food and didn't know how to pick and choose what to eat. It was so funny and yet so sad at the same time. I will never forget him eating that meal. I have never seen him eat that way. I guess we may see it again when he comes home. Bless his heart.
Michael finished his meal very quickly. Victoria and I ate at our regular pace, so poor Michael was stuck sitting there for a while. We finished up and paid the bill.
We went back to the resort, got our room key and found our room in Neptune. (That sounds funny!) Anyway, they were ready to move in, so my pictures are not the best because I felt so rushed.
The kitchen:
Victoria was really itching to move in, and her picture turned out blurry. Unfortunately, it's the only one I have. She had a huge dresser to put her clothes, a huge closet and her own tv and cd player. Nice!
Victoria's bathroom - Once again, I was feeling quite rushed.
From the kitchen:
The living area:
Michael's and my bedroom with king size bed, closet, plenty of drawer space, and a tv.
Our bathroom! I loved the tub!! It was fabulous! It was huge, shot huge amounts of air into the water to create a fabulous massage of water with three speeds. It was wonderful! It also had a shower and curtain which I didn't get a picture of.
From our bedroom door:
The screened-in balcony:
It came with a washer, dryer, dishwasher...basically everything you would need to stay for two weeks. We were pleased.
We spent a lot of time unpacking and getting everything into place. The car was loaded down and took a while to unload. I got the food in the fridge and cabinets, put my personal cooking utensils that I can't live without in the drawers and cabinets. We unpacked our suitcases, and then I worked to get the gifts in a separate bag. We were going to celebrate Christmas together.
After unpacking and then winding down, I said it was time for Christmas! Of course, I'm the only one who knew what we were getting.
I had neat Disney water bottles for each of us. Michael's had Mickey on it, mine had Minnie, and Victoria's had Jack Skellington. I also had t-shirts for us to wear. Michael's is Mickey, mine is Goofy, and Victoria's is Donald. We also got Nightmare Before Christmas t-shirts.
When we were in DTD yesterday, Michael said he wanted to find a watch. His had broken in Iraq and needed a new one. Of course, I knew he needed a new watch that he wouldn't wear everyday, too. When we were in Disney in September, I bought Michael the Mickey watch that was a promotional item depending on how much you spent in the stores.
He was really happy with his new watch! He was ecstatic with his next present. He loaded North and South on his computer to take to Iraq. What I didn't realize when I got the movie for free was that it was only the first two discs of six. Bummer. So, he got to Iraq and watched it and said he wanted to know what happened because they hadn't even gotten to the Civil War yet. So, I bought the movie for him. He now has the FULL version in Iraq. You can see how excited he is. We are not a family that hides emotions well. Michael is the best at it, and see how happy he is!
Then, I had a family Christmas present that I wrapped in a Toy Story bag. Can you guess what it might be?
They couldn't. I got Toy Story Mania for our Wii and two more Wii remotes. We only had one. You can see they are really thrilled!
Then we had Michael's BIG Christmas present...the Rookie Experience at the WDW Speedway TOMORROW! He read over the paperwork and looked up at me and said, "Is this saying that I'm going to get to drive a race car?" He was ecstatic!
So, Merry Christmas to us! I have more stuff for Victoria at home, but the big thing was to be able to celebrate with Michael. The rest of the day was spent playing the Wii, and we went to Wal Mart to shop for groceries. It was a fun day! I fixed spaghetti for dinner, and we had a great evening just being together.
We knew we wanted to get in bed early since we had to be at the track at 7:30 a.m. (I think.) So, we got in bed around 10 or so. Michael was doing really well with the jet lag. He would tell me when he got back to Iraq that it was much easier going back in time than going forward. Poor thing!
I am sitting at work with tears running down my face. I have been reading and waiting for the big reveal and it was amazing....what a wonderful surprise for Victoria and I am so glad they let you wait at the gate. I love the pictures of all of you at the airport....especially the one of Victoria and her daddy....that smile says it all - priceless.
Sounds like a nice relaxing fun first day together....can't wait to hear much much more
It was so wonderful! The reveal was incredible. I love our reunion pictures, too. Victoria really loves her daddy.
I am so glad! We love being together and always have a good time. We have never been separated before until the Army and this deployment. So, we really enjoyed our time together, reunited as a family again. We miss him very much.
What a fabulous first couple of days. And Christmas together!!! I don't think I realized you were going to do this. So sweet!!! You don't really think about the little things like getting used to driving on paved crowded roads again. Wow. I just sit here with a huge smile on my face and blurry eyes while I read this TR. I am loving it!!
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.
About This Page: 
Priceless!
Susan
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
I can't wait to hear more.
I say that because a friend of mine told me that when she picked up her DH for R&R, he smelled so bad from the days of travel and no shower that she had to roll the car windows down. I was so pleased that Michael didn't stink at all! Yay! He smelled wonderful! But, he was ready for a real shower that he could stand in for as long as he wanted. Victoria wanted to swim. So, she headed to the pool, and Michael headed to the shower.
Those are his Army shades. They have to wear protective eyewear every time they go out. It's crazy. He has gotten so used to wearing them, he forgets he has them on. 
PassPorter Guide Author
Katie's graduation
Disney Magic - Oct 2015
Dreams, Wishes, Hopes... these are the parts of childhood we should never lose.
I didn't see how we would do it without making two trips. Afterall, Victoria had to sit somewhere, and I had the backseat pretty full with all of our stuff, and Michael came with a huge Army duffel and a huge backpack. 
Score! I bought him 10 rolls while he and Victoria were seated. I went to the table and surprised him with the rolls. He was thrilled!
Unfortunately, it's the only one I have. She had a huge dresser to put her clothes, a huge closet and her own tv and cd player. Nice!
Linear Mode
