Returning to our Happy Place: Pre-trip report - UPDATED 09/08 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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.
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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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Thanks for the pixies for Abby. I have to say sorry but I won't get an update tonight for you guys. I didnt think the week could get any worse but today at 7:30 Scott calls me to tell me that when he arrived at Abby's school the director was there telling everyone it was closed due to a broken pipe!
Now I realize that this happens and it is out of their control but the they open at 6:30 so don't you think they could have at least attempted to call the parents?!? ( its really a daycare with a Montessori pre k- so there are probably not more than 40 kids total) Abby had to go to work with Scott until 12 and then he was able to leave. My mom was going to the funeral so she couldn't help out and I took off Tuesday to take her to the doctor. ( besides I was already in the parking lot at work 30 minutes from home)
On my way home from work, Scott tells me that he decided to call to see if they would be open tomorrow and the owner answers and says not until Monday!
Again I understand that a broken pipe is not their fault but a phone call should be made to every family!! I am wondering how many will just assume that school will be open and be in for a rude awakening tomorrow morning. Luckily mom will be able to help out so we can both get to work!
Ok rant over thanks for listening!!
We are planning on going camping this weekend so I won't get am update for you guys until Sunday night.
__________________
Check out my Pre-Trip Report for our 9/18-9/23/12 trip here:
Have fun camping and I'm sorry about Abby's school not calling you...you think they could be considerate enough to inform parents, right? I hope Abby's feeling better and I am so sorry for the loss of your family friend
Yay! So glad you were able to get free dining and POP!
Sorry about the loss of your friend.
Hope Abby is feeling better! And sorry about the school and the pipe issues.
Have fun camping this weekend. We haven't been in a long while. My DD went during spring break with some friends (she's 21). Ever since, it's been gnawing at me to go again. We always had so much fun!
I am sorry about the loss of your friend! Hope Abby is feeling much better by now. Stefanie and I play that CD over and over in my car. Hope you love it, too!
Sorry for your loss! And pixies for Abby! DD had bronchitis once, but she went thru the 10 days regiment of meds, it still didn't clear up (fever came back, cough never went away), so they switched meds and in another 10 days it was finally gone!
Thanks! I will be sure to watch that cough!
Quote:
Originally Posted by OCEANGRLLG
Great start Emily!! So glad yall got in POP and free dining!!! You will love flying..it saves soooo much time!
I am really excited about flying and saving so much time! It is just so much to remember when packing. I think I am a little overwhelmed. Luckily I have lots of time to learn all about it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JKnott17
I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend. for Abby, hope she is feeling better soon!
Thanks! She seems to be back to her normal self!
Quote:
Originally Posted by kingfamily1129
Have fun camping and I'm sorry about Abby's school not calling you...you think they could be considerate enough to inform parents, right? I hope Abby's feeling better and I am so sorry for the loss of your family friend
Thanks! You would think they would have at least attempted to call but NOPE not for two days.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Sorry about the broken pipe! Glad you have coverage for today!
Thanks! That's what Grans are for right!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shelley the Pooh
Yay! So glad you were able to get free dining and POP!
Sorry about the loss of your friend.
Hope Abby is feeling better! And sorry about the school and the pipe issues.
Have fun camping this weekend. We haven't been in a long while. My DD went during spring break with some friends (she's 21). Ever since, it's been gnawing at me to go again. We always had so much fun!
Thanks!!
We LOVE to camp. We had a great time and caught a good bit of fish. We are going to another place this weekend for Easter. It is so nice to get away and relax!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
I am sorry about the loss of your friend! Hope Abby is feeling much better by now. Stefanie and I play that CD over and over in my car. Hope you love it, too!
Thanks Cam!
I have to say that you and Stefanie (and your TRs) are the way I learned about that CD. I am so excited to listen to it. Abby and I have been listening to a couple of Disney stations on Pandora but it isn't the park music. It is music from the movies and while we love to listen to it, I think it will be cool to have some of the park music too. I wanted to get the other one too. I think it was 4 CDs and it was about 50 bucks. Do ya'll have that one too? I might have to put it on my wish list if it is something that you guys recommend. Also I thought I remembered from one of your TRs that you had purchased the Mickey Crocs Shoes from the Disney Store. If so do you like them and was the sizing true to the sizing chart. I have been wanting those shoes and I think after the past few weeks we have been having that I deserve them!
__________________
Check out my Pre-Trip Report for our 9/18-9/23/12 trip here:
Ah ADR’s.
One would think it would be so easy to plan ADRs when you husband or significant other tells you, “Whatever you think. You always do a great job and we will be happy with whatever you plan for us.” Abby is pretty easy as she doesn’t really know all that there is to choose from so she is happy with whatever as long as a few meals are character meals.
Her only request was ‘Ohana with Lilo and Stitch. Last year I had this one booked and we were paying out of pocket and for some reason she decided that she did not want to eat there and so I canceled it. The next day she asked, “When are we eating with Lilo and Stitch?” I had to explain to her that she told me she didn’t want to eat there and I gave our spot to someone else. (I did try to get it booked again but was not able to.) Since that trip, she has been reminding me that she wants to eat with Lilo and Stitch.
I made of list of restaurants that I thought we would enjoy. This was the original list before I knew how many days we would be there:
CRT
Crystal Palace (breakfast)
Akershus (breakfast)
Teppan Edo
50’s Prime Time Café
Coral Reef
T-Rex
‘Ohana (breakfast)
Once we were certain that we would be on the dining plan and we knew that we had 5 TS credits, I took off a few.
CRT-we decided that it just wasn’t worth 2 TS credits per person so that one was the first to go.
Teppan Edo-although we knew it would be a very fun and neat thing to do one night in EPCOT, we decided against this one. We have some really excellent places similar to this to eat back home and so we wanted to switch this one for something we couldn’t get at home or for a character meal.
50’s Prime Time Café- the only reason this one got scratched was because I just couldn’t fit it into our schedule. It will have to wait until our next trip but we will definitely get to this place one day.
Coral Reef-Scott thought this one would be cool but when he saw the menu, he gave it a big NO! I guess I can’t blame him. We live in South Louisiana-Cajun Country and have some of the best seafood dishes so it is really hard for us to eat seafood other places as it is just not the same to us.
So my list was ready. I would try to get ‘Ohana, Crystal Palace, Akershus, and T-Rex on ADR day. We decided that we would use our last TS credit at Beaches N Cream at the Beach Club.
I had plans to get up early (5:00 am) on the morning of March 21st to get ready for work and be able to call at 6:00am BUT the night before the weather forecast was predicting some very heavy rains and severe weather and all the local school districts cancelled school due to the time the weather was expected to be coming through. Soooo I was able to sleep until about 6 and make the call.
I was able to get all of my first choices and this is what they were:
Day 2: Tusker House 8:00 am (at the last minute I added this one, thinking I could just cancel it if we still wanted to eat at Beaches N Cream)
Day 3: T-Rex 3:30pm
Day 4: ‘Ohana 8:00 am
Day 5: Akershus 8:05 am
Day 6: Crystal Palace 8:10 am
Well a few nights later, Scott says, “I can’t wait to eat with Lilo and Stitch. What kind of food will they have there?” I say….Breakfast!! And then he questions me and says he thought it was Polynesian types of food. I explain that Lilo and Stitch are only for breakfast but if he wanted to eat those kinds of food I could make some changes and try to get dinner there one night but I was going to keep my breakfast ADR. I was not going to make the mistake of canceling that again!!
So I get on the phone with Disney dining again and luckily we were able to get ‘Ohana for dinner. I decided that I would cancel Tusker House breakfast since this is one that Abby had no idea about and I couldn’t cancel any of the others. So this is another one that will be on our list for a future visit.
So our final dining plans will be:
Wednesday: Sept. 19th ‘Ohana 6:45 pm
Thursday, Sept 20th: T-Rex 3:30 pm
Friday, Sept 21st: ‘Ohana 8:00 am
Saturday, Sept 22nd: Akershus 8:05 am
Sunday, Sept. 23rd: Crystal Palace 8:10am
Up Next:
Plans for Travel and day 1
__________________
Check out my Pre-Trip Report for our 9/18-9/23/12 trip here:
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.
So glad you were able to Ohana for dinner, too! Your ADRs look terrific!
We do not currently have the 4 CD set, but like you it is on our wish list. I got my Mickey Crocs at WDW (I think the first pair came from WoD). The size is exact and I find them very comfortable for wearing in the park all day. I now have 3 pairs of them.
Your ADR's sound so delicious! We love Ohana for dinner. I've never tried it for breakfast. We have eaten at Crystal Palace for lunch and it was fun and yummy. I want to try for breakfast one day but I am not a morning person so those are kinda hard for me.
I hear ya about the seafood restaurants. We live in SE TX and have some pretty good seafood here too. Plus we are so close to NOLA that if we want even better its just a short drive.
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.
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Glad you have coverage for today!
Since that trip, she has been reminding me that she wants to eat with Lilo and Stitch. 
And then he questions me and says he thought it was Polynesian types of food. I explain that Lilo and Stitch are only for breakfast but if he wanted to eat those kinds of food I could make some changes and try to get dinner there one night but I was going to keep my breakfast ADR. I was not going to make the mistake of canceling that again!!
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