Mema and Papa are doing WHAT? PTR - UPDATED 8/15 - Page 2 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
PassPorter Guide Community Rank: Legend Extraordinaire
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Southwestern Florida, USA
Concierge Level: 7
Posts: 39,153
Post Thanks / Like
Likes (Given): 39
Likes (Received): 114
Thanks (Given): 18
Thanks (Received): 46
Pixie Dust (Given): 1
Pixie Dust (Received): 8
Fun start!!
Your dh is so brave to tackle the driving for the whole trip! Tell him from me - as I will get to see you!
Your grandchildren are adorable!
Congrats on getting the very coveted MK view at Bay Lake! Sweet!!!!!
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.
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.
Fun start!!
Your dh is so brave to tackle the driving for the whole trip! Tell him from me - as I will get to see you!
Your grandchildren are adorable!
Congrats on getting the very coveted MK view at Bay Lake! Sweet!!!!!
Yes he is! but you never know how plans change I can't wait to see you, it's getting close!
Thanks we are pretty biased, but we think the littles are special. I've been watching yours, they are so cute! It's amazing how fast the time goes!
We can't wait for the littles to see the castle from the window of our villa! I was surprised, but we are thrilled.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nemo125
Great start!
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by MayraLR
Plans are looking great!
Thanks, but change, she's a coming!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
I had the same thought that if we got to meet you all again, we were going to get pictures this time!
I think we should be able to meet up! You never know how things will change!
Finally, the 29th of March dawned and it was ADR day! We decided to try for a few different things this time. I really wanted to take the littles to Whispering Canyon Café. I knew that they would get a kick out of it and I also knew if there was French fries, DGS would definitely want catsup. So that HAD to be one of our choices. I had heard about this time that DVC would be having different ‘events’ for the 25th anniversary. I looked at the plans and found that while we were there, DVC would be having an after hours party at Animal Kingdom…and best of all, it was FREE. I love some free! I found the event, the Safari Spectacular, would be held 9:30 PM – Midnight and the date available for us would be the 27th. I wouldn’t be able to book it until the 6th of July, but I put it in the back of my mind to think about. I didn’t know if the littles would be able to last that long, but if we did a nap that afternoon, it could be doable. Then, looking at the finally released park hours, it looked like there would be a couple of opportunities to do MNSSHP. I wouldn’t be able to get tickets yet, but I had better plan a dinner in MK for whichever night we wanted to do that. The ADR could be changed later if we decided not to do the party.
So, I logged into My Disney Experience armed with my ‘want list’ which looked something like this:
Sunday 25th – Whispering Canyon Café, WL
Monday 26th - Be Our Guest, MK (dinner)
Tuesday 27th – Coral Reef, EP (dinner)
Wednesday 28th –Garden Grill, EP (dinner)
Thursday 29th –Tony’s, MK (dinner)
Friday 30th Ohana, Poly, (breakfast)
Fingers crossed, I started making the ADRs, and immediately started hitting roadblocks. This was not going as smoothly as it had in the past.
Whispering Canyon Café went well, but BoG wasn’t so much. In fact, I couldn’t get an ADR in MK for ANYTHING! Then the system locked up. Really? I decided to walk away for a bit and come back later. If I can’t get in, hopefully nobody else could either. Then I got busy at work and didn’t have the time to log back in so everything would have to wait until I was home.
On the drive home, DH and I discussed some of the plans and we decided we would plan to take the kids to the MNSSHP on the 29th…it would be a special last-night kind of deal. The kids could sleep on the drive home, so no problems there. DH also decided he wasn’t really into going to the Safari Spectacular after all. He thought the kids would like to go to the water park instead. I agreed they probably would. He thought that doing the two things might be too much and I also agreed with that statement. Remember this. Once we reached home, I logged on and managed to get all of the ADRs we had decided we wanted.
Things stayed quiet and I began to gather bits and pieces for the trip. I found some cute little bags on the Disney Store that say 2016 for the kids to carry their autograph books, snack packs and maybe a bottle of water. I planned to look for some refillable bottles for them. I also scored tee shirts in bright colors for them that say WDW 2016 as well. Then I started thinking…maybe I can get them all new clothes for the trip by watching the Disney Store sales!
One day on FB I saw an ad for tee shirts for grandparents…what fun! They had one shirt I loved and was PERFECT!! You could order them with whatever ‘name’ you wanted…in our case Mema and Papa.
The front of the shirt says “Just.Call.Mema” and has a phone receiver.
The back of the shirt reads….
Parent Problems?
Call Mema
Want Sweets?
Call Mema
Want a VACATION?
JUST. CALL.
MEMA!
Note: Mema cannot be held responsible for extreme levels of fun, staying up past bed-time, or any other actions that could be considered “SPOILING”
So I had to get one for me and one for Papa! I have a plan to get a Photopass photo with the two of us facing the castle and looking back over our shoulders while the littles point to the back of our shirts! I think it will be a fun shot!
Things were progressing well and plans were solidifying.
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.
What lucky grandchildren you have! You have made some awesome , kid friendly plans. I love that Papa is happy to make the drive with the children. I am sure that will be a memorable trip.
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.
What lucky grandchildren you have! You have made some awesome , kid friendly plans. I love that Papa is happy to make the drive with the children. I am sure that will be a memorable trip.
Keep the adventures coming!
Thanks! I'm very excited to finally spring the surprise! It gets harder and harder to keep the secret!
Quote:
Originally Posted by cattailmarsh
What great plans thus far and what lucky lucky little ones they are.
Thanks, I think WE are lucky to have such wonderful grandchildren!
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
Those shirts sound adorable, and I love your planned castle pic. (I also love knowing others plan pictures around clothes, or vice versa)!
The shirts are awesome, are good Hanes tees and super comfy! I got us another set of shirts...but that's a little later in the story! I don't get DH on board too often with match-matchy, so I go for the gusto when I do!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Luvsun
Love the shirts! They sound very cute! I might need to look into that!
So, I am thinking there are changes in the wind.......
Teespring! The ad showed up on FB one time and usually I don't look at them, but this time I did. The shirt quality is great, you can find just about any grandparent 'name' you can think of or even request your own if it's not there!
And of course there are changes....always changes! :
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Sorry for the problems making the ADRs. Love the t-shirts and the picture idea!
Thanks! I can't wait to see the final photo!
Quote:
Originally Posted by oldmom
loving your plans so far....
Thanks for reading!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
Plans look great, at least so far! I love the shirts and your photo idea is perfect!
Thanks! Sometimes I do have flashes of brilliance...well, maybe not brilliance, but at least an idea that works!
The plans look great and your grand kids are going to love your adr choices! Hope you wind up getting what you want!
__________________
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!
About This Page: 
from me - as I will get to see you! 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
I can't wait to see you, it's getting close! 
]
Really? I decided to walk away for a bit and come back later. If I can’t get in, hopefully nobody else could either. Then I got busy at work and didn’t have the time to log back in so everything would have to wait until I was home.
Us 
Parlor Panther in 'stalking mode'
Hope you wind up getting what you want!
Linear Mode
