The “”I Don’t Have to Cook for 10 Days" TR - Aug 17-27, 2010 - COMPLETED 11/2! - Page 3 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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
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Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
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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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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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I completely understand how your "bad" experience while at WDW last time sealed the deal for your return. It was sorta the same thing for us. After a few bad days, one CM changed everything. I could not imagine getting that treatment anywhere else!
We stayed at CSR. You will LOVE it! My son loved to climb the "pyramid" at the playground and the pool was beautiful.
I think the CM's actions only goes to show that Disney chooses good people for its family. I had a supervisor years ago who used to hire people with little to no experience in our field. I used to give him a hard time and say "why are you hiring these inexperienced people"? He wisely replied, "I can teach people how to do their job, but I cannot teach people work ethic, courtesy and integrity. I'd rather choose people with those qualities and fill in the rest."
What a great attitude that supervisor had! And thanks for the encouragement!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nimros
Isn't it amazing what the Disney Magic can do for you? I can just imagine how stressful and crazy you would have felt if your DS had taken ill anywhere else! Glad that CM was able to 'seal the deal' for your family.
It would have made me out of my mind if it had been any where else. Love Disney!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
More great plans!
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Disney Dork
Sounds like you have a lot of fun plans. Our trips overlap a bit. It's getting so close!!
So much to get done still though!
Quote:
Originally Posted by benjiboo25
We stayed at CSR. You will LOVE it! My son loved to climb the "pyramid" at the playground and the pool was beautiful.
I'd love to hear any other tips you have for the resort! We are looking forward to checking everything out.
__________________
Stacey
Why do these kids look so pathetic?
Find out in: A New Grade, A New House, and A Surprise!Final Thoughts 01/30
August 24: Epcot
Today will bring a “whenever we get there” arrival at Epcot. We’ll let the kids sleep in (that’s probably until 7:30 – that’s late for them!), then we’ll take our time getting ready and head over. We’ll explore Innoventions and WS until we’re tired, then head out. Just a very relaxed day at Epcot today. I am hoping to see the Beast though, so we will be on a mission for him
August 25: HS
Cape May today! I am really looking forward to this breakfast as I’ve heard so many good things about it. We have a mid-morning reservation, then we’ll head over to HS. This is a more scheduled day than yesterday due to the shows, character greeting times, etc., but we’ll get in what we can. Fantasmic is showing this night, but we haven’t decided if we’ll go again. Our kids spent half the show burying their faces in our laps and covering their ears in fear of loud noises – not so much fun. However, they are insisting that they want to try again, DH and I are not so sure!
August 26: Pool & MK This morning brings pool time....ahhhhh! Once we’re done floating, we’ll get ready to head to MK for a little, then over to Chef Mickey’s for dinner (we’ve done breakfast the past 3 years, but never dinner, so another new experience for us). After dinner, we’ll head back to MK for a few last attractions and the parade if we missed it before. Whenever the kids get tired, or the fireworks are scheduled to begin, we’ll head out.
August 27: Time to go Home Our flight is in the afternoon, so we’ll have time to get up, have breakfast, and finish packing up our room before we have to check out and catch ME. I’m fully expecting DD and DS to cry again – they sobbed last year when we left. Broke my heart They want to live at Disney
Up next: Packing Panic....
__________________
Stacey
Why do these kids look so pathetic?
Find out in: A New Grade, A New House, and A Surprise!Final Thoughts 01/30
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I'd love to hear any other tips you have for the resort! We are looking forward to checking everything out.
We requested a room in a section of the resort that was recommended on DIS boards as being better for familes and close to transportation. We liked it, but it was a hike to the main area. We did not fill our mugs much because it was not worth the walk. But the buildings closer to the center look at bit more "business" like. Where we were. it was a super short walk to the bus stop, and our stop picked up before the main one, so we could often get a seat.
Quote:
Originally Posted by sc507
August 25: HS
Cape May today! I am really looking forward to this breakfast as I’ve heard so many good things about it.
We will be going to Cape May for breakfast this trip as well. I am excited to try it!
Thanks Shelly - we've actually asked to stay close to the main building because we like our morning coffee and don't want to hike to get it! We'll see where we end up....
__________________
Stacey
Why do these kids look so pathetic?
Find out in: A New Grade, A New House, and A Surprise!Final Thoughts 01/30
Registered Message Board Members Get Our Free Newsletter! When you register you'll have the option to sign up for our weekly PassPorter Newsletter. It's chock-full of feature articles; news; tips; contests; photos; and special offers in our online store.
I've been laying awake at night strategizing about what to pack for the kids and myself. DH is all on his own, which he's quite happy about because then he doesn't have to listen to me harp at him to get packed when our trip is still a week away With all the luggage charges we wanted to check as little as possible and this is stressing me out - I hate carrying on a ton of stuff, but until today, that's what it looked like we'd be doing - thus the strategic planning at night
So today, I gathered up all of the kids clothes, etc., my clothes, and all of our toiletries and started packing. After staring at the 3 mid-size pieces of luggage that were full to the brim, and the assorted carry-ons we'd have (each of the kids had one, we each had one, plus my purse and the backpack of activities for the kids), we decided to give up the kids carry-ons and check another piece of luggage, thereby freeing up room for the all important souvies too . I feel a ton better now, so the extra money will be worth it....and having to lug less around the airport will be worth it too! I don't think we have ever travelled so light onto the plane - we'll have the camera bag, a carry on, a backpack, and my purse. So nice!
We went on a shoe hunt today too and had success . I have several pairs of comfy shoes here, but the more I looked at them, the more worried I got about them surviving the Florida rain, so I wanted some that were relatively waterproof. After several stores, I found some black ones that are like walking on air, so I am super excited about them. They're not the most attractive shoes, but I was going for comfort over style!!
Coming Up: Checking things off the 'to-do'list....
__________________
Stacey
Why do these kids look so pathetic?
Find out in: A New Grade, A New House, and A Surprise!Final Thoughts 01/30
I completely support checking another bag! It stinks to pay it, but carrying all that stuff on and off the plane and DME may be a set up for more stress than the money would assuage.
More great plans. It's nice that you have some more laid back time planned too.
My older daughter cried when we had to leave on our last trip too. We had a surprise for both girls the last day to help cheer them up. They had princess makeovers at BBB so we sneakily bought them t-shirts there. They had them to wear home.
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– that’s late for them!), then we’ll take our time getting ready and head over. We’ll explore Innoventions and WS until we’re tired, then head out. Just a very relaxed day at Epcot today. I am hoping to see the Beast though, so we will be on a mission for him 
I am really looking forward to this breakfast as I’ve heard so many good things about it. We have a mid-morning reservation, then we’ll head over to HS. This is a more scheduled day than yesterday due to the shows, character greeting times, etc., but we’ll get in what we can. Fantasmic is showing this night, but we haven’t decided if we’ll go again. Our kids spent half the show burying their faces in our laps and covering their ears in fear of loud noises – not so much fun. However, they are insisting that they want to try again, DH and I are not so sure! 
for dinner (we’ve done breakfast the past 3 years, but never dinner, so another new experience for us). After dinner, we’ll head back to MK for a few last attractions and the parade if we missed it before. Whenever the kids get tired, or the fireworks are scheduled to begin, we’ll head out. 
They want to live at Disney 
and don't want to hike to get it! We'll see where we end up....
With all the luggage charges we wanted to check as little as possible and this is stressing me out - I hate carrying on a ton of stuff, but until today, that's what it looked like we'd be doing - thus the strategic planning at night 
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