Rain, Sunshine & Cupcakes ~ June 24 - July 3 - Page 21 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Well I had fallen a bit behind, but I'm caught up now. Sorry about the little accident at AK. It looks like you were still able to have fun though. And what great animal pics you were able to get!
You got a lot done at Epcot. Good thing you left the sleepy head behind. At least he caught back up with you by your deadline. I think I'll havve to try Via Napoli as I keep hearing great things.
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You had me giggling out loud with that story of Arben rubbing the unknown child's head! That is such a typical father moment because of course as a mother we would know every little detail of our child's head that we wouldn't make that mistake. Happy to hear that Abniel slipped out of his attitude and decided to join you guys at Epcot, probably didn't want to put his life in his hands anyway. Looks like you all had a wonderful, and hot day at Epcot.
And yes - Via Napoli..........I think that they hire the nicest, best looking people.........just sayin'!!!
I know! It makes it much more easier to go back.
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Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
What a great day at Epcot! Glad you survived the heat! Dinner looks delish!
The heat was really kicking our behinds! It drained us. Thank goodness for a/c!
Quote:
Originally Posted by JKnott17
Great day! I'm glad that you were able to squeeze in a break today, it sounded like you really needed it. I love Via Napoli too!! We ate there shortly after they opened, their pizza is quite tasty (and so are the waiters )
Good food and eye candy, great combination!
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
Looks like a great day at Epcot, all the except the heat. I had to laugh at Arben's mistake not realizing the boy wasn't one of his own sons Dinner at Via Napoli looked delicious
Men! Then he was blaming me and AJ for not telling him sooner.
Quote:
Originally Posted by shnewell
What a wonderful day at Epcot! The last family photo is fantastic!
You got some really good photos around the park. It doesn't look like the park wos too crowded that day.
Glad you enjoyed Via Napoli. It is one of my favorite restaurants! If you ever make it out to Disneyland, be sure to eat at Naples. It is owned by the same company that owns Via Napoli and is very similar, but, to my mind, maybe just a tad better!
That's what I love about Epcot. Even if there are a lot of people visiting, it never seems crowded.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Wow, you cetainly packed a lot into your day at Epcot. Sorry about the heat.
We did a lot but we weren't rushing. I wish I had a little more time at WS, as I love this part.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dutchdisneyfamily
I'm still giggling about Arben messing with some kid's hair. I wonder what the poor kid thought! The heat does mess with you, that's for sure. Love all the Epcot pics. Great Via Napoli pics. Yum!
The kid looked at him weird. At least he didn't run away screaming for his parents. That would've been funny.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lazanya
What a fun day! You certainly did a lot!
Thanks! I just love Epcot. I'd spend my entire vacation if I had my way.
Quote:
Originally Posted by stardust190
Well I had fallen a bit behind, but I'm caught up now. Sorry about the little accident at AK. It looks like you were still able to have fun though. And what great animal pics you were able to get!
You got a lot done at Epcot. Good thing you left the sleepy head behind. At least he caught back up with you by your deadline. I think I'll havve to try Via Napoli as I keep hearing great things.
You should try Via Napoli. The things they say about it are really true. The food is delicious, service is excellent.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mojjo
What a great day!!! Via Napoli sounds really good. I'll have to put it on our must try list.
You must try it, it's really good.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
Just catching up! You all have been having an terrific time!
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by honeybee723
You had me giggling out loud with that story of Arben rubbing the unknown child's head! That is such a typical father moment because of course as a mother we would know every little detail of our child's head that we wouldn't make that mistake. Happy to hear that Abniel slipped out of his attitude and decided to join you guys at Epcot, probably didn't want to put his life in his hands anyway. Looks like you all had a wonderful, and hot day at Epcot.
We still giggle about the incident. I also like to tease him.
Abniel knew I was fed up with his attitude and that I meant business. He had a great time, the problem is getting him out of bed.
I was giggling at Arben's "head" moment. One time, I was waiting with the boys to get food at McD's when I saw Patrick wander off out of the corner of my eye, so I grabbed the back of his jacket and pulled him back closer to me and the stroller - only to realize Patrick was sitting in the front of the stroller - I'd grabbed someone else's kiddo
Sounds like great days at AK (minus the little accident - but at least it wasn't the kind of accident that lands a person in the ER) and Epcot!
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Ch-Ch-Changes July 2015
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I was giggling at Arben's "head" moment. One time, I was waiting with the boys to get food at McD's when I saw Patrick wander off out of the corner of my eye, so I grabbed the back of his jacket and pulled him back closer to me and the stroller - only to realize Patrick was sitting in the front of the stroller - I'd grabbed someone else's kiddo
Sounds like great days at AK (minus the little accident - but at least it wasn't the kind of accident that lands a person in the ER) and Epcot!
We haven't had those types of accidents in a really long time. I guess he just got caught in the moment. Next time I'll use my better instinct.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PrincessSharon
Just catching up. Sounds like a fun couple of days (except for Adriel's little accident). I am cracking up over Arben patting some strange kid's head.
The alarm went off at 7:30. I quickly hopped out of bed and started getting ready. I then woke up the guys. They were kind of slow, again. I informed them that I’d be leaving promptly at 8:30, with or without them. Now that got them moving! They all got ready and we all left the room right on time. As we were approaching the bus stop I saw a DHS bus and made Abniel run for it only to discover there was another one right behind. But that’s ok, he needed the morning exercise.
We got to the park right at 9:00.
We quickly went through bag check. They were giving out special fps for Lights, Motors, Action. I wasn’t planning on seeing this show but since we had fps, what the heck.
The plan was to head straight to TSMM for some fps. On the way over there we had our very own “it’s a small world” moment. We bumped into AJ’s old 4th grade teacher, who now happens to be Abniel’s 4th grade teacher. He works summers for a tour company that takes kids to NASA and WDW. We talked for a bit and then went on our way.
The boys spotted Chip & Dale and wanted to get autographs. I left them with Arben and went to TSMM. But the return time wasn’t going to work so I went back to get the gang. I arrived just as they were getting the photo taken.
We all headed together back to Pixar Place. This time the fp return time was much better. I thought about getting in the stand-by line but this was the posted wait time.
What! It was about 9:20 and the wait time was 7s minutes. What the heck! I always wonder if the posted time is really accurate. Next time I’ll have to do an experiment.
Abniel & Adriel saw the face painting station and wanted to get that done. $12 for a face paint, of course! Why not? We’re on vacation! So while they got that done, Arben went to find some coffee. AJ went with him just in case he got lost. I have to remind you all that Arben doesn’t speak an ounce of English. It would’ve been funny to hear him attempting to buy a coffee all on his own.
The boys were done before Arben was back. We just started walking over to them. I also took some photos of the boys. I knew in an hour their faces weren’t going to look the same.
Work in progress
Finished product
We found Arben enjoying his hot free coffee. Yes, I said free. When he went to pay for it, the CM said it was on the house. Now isn’t that great!
Adriel wanted to see Disney Jr. Live on Stage, so I went ahead with him and Abniel while Arben and AJ stayed behind to finish their drinks. If they were done in time they’d meet us inside, which they didn’t.
Waiting for the show.
After exiting it was time for Light’s, Motor, Action.
We made our way over there and stood in a special line. The problem was it was in the sun and it was hot. Fortunately it wasn’t too long before they let us in to the actual queue. We got into the auditorium and scored pretty good seats, close to a huge fan.
This show is not my favorite. In fact, if it weren’t for those fps I wouldn’t have watched it.
Our TSMM fps were ripe. I don’t remember who I rode with, I gonna say probably Adriel. My score was 87,ooo. Not the best but I was the best out of the 5, so that’s good for me.
We then headed over to The Magic of Disney Animation, but skipped the movie and went straight to meet the characters. We got in a fairly long line to meet Sorcerer Mickey.
The boys colored for a while. In the meantime I found out what character I was.
So far so good at DHS! Two character meet & greets, a free coffee, and TSMM! Love the face paint!
We've never seen LMA. We thought we'd try to fit it in on our last trip, but just never got around to it. Doesn't sound like I'm missing much, but I'd still like to see it someday just to say I've done it. How cool that you got special FPs for it!
Great update! sounds like a good day so far at DHS! I am one who can take or leave LMA........I did go last week's trip just so that I can see Lightning mcQueen!
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What a great time at the Studios - I love the face painting.
And how ironic, that's the second time in just a couple of days that I've seen Chip and Dale dressed like that in a trip report - I just hope we get to see them like that in December.
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You had me giggling out loud with that story of Arben rubbing the unknown child's head! That is such a typical father moment because of course as a mother we would know every little detail of our child's head that we wouldn't make that mistake. 
Happy to hear that Abniel slipped out of his attitude and decided to join you guys at Epcot, probably didn't want to put his life in his hands anyway. Looks like you all had a wonderful, and hot day at Epcot.
Men! Then he was blaming me and AJ for not telling him sooner. 
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