PTR: The Dunning Family's Triumphant Return to the World - Page 30 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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Congrats!! That is a great feeling! Mike and I are going to be debt free (besides our car and student loans) in March, right before our Anniversary trip, so I'm right there with ya!! I'm so happy for you all!!
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So glad to hear about the inheritance - you guys really did a lot with it! And kids parties really rack up costs even when you try not to. So exciting that you got it all done yourselves. We live with my mom so she usually covers some things & Darren covers the rest. A lot of stuff we make but it all adds up. And then bc it is in January and we can't use my yard/deck/gazebo, we pay to rent my church hall for the convenience and not having to worry about our animals, cleaning, etc. Being there I totally understand the accomplishment that you made. Plus you put a lot to the Disney spending money. In addition to the mousekeeping - don't forget the bellhop & airport curbside if you have that. Truly so happy for you all.
How wonderful that you were able to pay off your debt and set aside some money!
Have a fun party on Sunday! BTW your signature pic is precious!
Thank you! That picture was taken on Sunday during Chelsea's one year photo shoot.
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Originally Posted by lexiemom
Congrats on getting your cc debt paid off! It is a great feeling.
Thank you! We are so excited.
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Originally Posted by thinktink79
Awesome Start..
Thanks.
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Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
Sounds like all good news this week! Congrats!
Definitely! It's a nice change! [emoji1]
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Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Congrats on paying off the debt!
Thank you!
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Originally Posted by SharonK0527
Congrats on all the good news you've had - David's good health, the inheritance money, paying off your credit cards - it's a great feeling isn't it? DH & I closed all of our credit cards several years ago and have paid most of them off. Now, if we don't have the money, we don't buy it. It's so easy to get in over your head with credit cards. We found the best solution for us was not to have any credit cards.
Can't wait to hear more about the trip and the planning and all the good things happening for you!
Thank you! It really is a good feeling. We have a car loan with about two years left on it, and then my student loan debt and some medical debt, but we are slowly chipping away at it.
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Originally Posted by kingfamily1129
Congrats!! That is a great feeling! Mike and I are going to be debt free (besides our car and student loans) in March, right before our Anniversary trip, so I'm right there with ya!! I'm so happy for you all!!
We still have a car loan and student loans too, but getting rid of that CC debt certainly feels great!
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Originally Posted by MikeL
How great to hear things are going WELL for you guys after the difficulties of the last few years
Thank you! I knew his would be our year. [emoji1]
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Originally Posted by KMB733
Congrats on paying off your debt!! Also nice that you were able to purchase gift cards to use for your trip.
Yes! I told David this way we wouldn't dip into it for pizza delivery or anything before the trip. [emoji28]
Quote:
Originally Posted by cattailmarsh
So glad to hear about the inheritance - you guys really did a lot with it! And kids parties really rack up costs even when you try not to. So exciting that you got it all done yourselves. We live with my mom so she usually covers some things & Darren covers the rest. A lot of stuff we make but it all adds up. And then bc it is in January and we can't use my yard/deck/gazebo, we pay to rent my church hall for the convenience and not having to worry about our animals, cleaning, etc. Being there I totally understand the accomplishment that you made. Plus you put a lot to the Disney spending money. In addition to the mousekeeping - don't forget the bellhop & airport curbside if you have that. Truly so happy for you all.
Yeah, the gift cards will cover tips for the restaurants, meals we have to pay for OOP, souvenirs, and any other incidentals. We will probably have some left over at the end, but I would much rather have too much than too little!
Yay! I've finally caught up and read your entire TR from start to finish (that's why you have likes here and there!).
1st, I'm so, so, so sorry for everything that you and David have had to go through. You both are so strong even though I'm sure that's the last thing you truly believe. You're probably thinking "I'm not strong, I'm just living the life that I was dealt" which I completely understand because I have one of those crazy dealt lives!
2nd, Congrats on your baby #3!!! I love the name Emma! So beautiful! And you are absolutely going to have your hands full!
I'm glad everything has been working out for you & your trip as far as Pop and free/upgraded dining. I'm happy AJ is going, I'm sorry he lost his job but he seems like such a great guy & I'm sure something better will come along for him!
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Such great news and so much of it! Things seem to getting brtter for the two of you each day!
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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!
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Yay! I've finally caught up and read your entire TR from start to finish (that's why you have likes here and there!).
1st, I'm so, so, so sorry for everything that you and David have had to go through. You both are so strong even though I'm sure that's the last thing you truly believe. You're probably thinking "I'm not strong, I'm just living the life that I was dealt" which I completely understand because I have one of those crazy dealt lives!
2nd, Congrats on your baby #3!!! I love the name Ella! So beautiful! And you are absolutely going to have your hands full!
I'm glad everything has been working out for you & your trip as far as Pop and free/upgraded dining. I'm happy AJ is going, I'm sorry he lost his job but he seems like such a great guy & I'm sure something better will come along for him!
Thank you for all your kind comments! I'm so glad everyone likes the name Ella. [emoji4] I hope AJ finds something better soon. I worry about him.
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Originally Posted by Cam22
Love this update full of good news! Congrats on being debt free!
Thank you! We do still have a car loan and student loans, but being credit card debt free is certainly amazing!
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Originally Posted by oddboysmum
So glad things are going great .... I think 2016 will be a good year for you!
Me tooooo! [emoji1]
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Originally Posted by SuperDave
Such great news and so much of it! Things seem to getting brtter for the two of you each day!
I'm hoping this is a trend that continues on for the rest of the year!
This weekend seemed to just fly by - there was so much going on what with us getting ready for Chelsea's party and getting errands done and such.
Chelsea's party went really well. Quite a few people who had RSVPed as coming never showed up (or let me know they wouldn't be there after all), so we ended up with a bunch of extra food. My older brother (we had the party at his house) said "No worries. I'll eat it all." Hehe...his fiance was like "NO! You'll take it to the guys at the shop tomorrow." He's a mechanic. It will be interesting to find out who won that little debate. It was pretty funny.
My mother in law and sister in law made and decorated a Tinker Bell cake for Chelsea's party, which I will try to remember to post pictures of soon. Chelsea and Briana both had a blast playing with their cousins and ripping up paper and Briana went outside in the 90 degree weather and ran around the yard and splashed in the little kiddie pool out there and did NOT want to leave when it was time, so David ended up having to carry her to the car.
On the way home, something really unfortunate happened, and I witnessed a pedestrian get hit by a car. David had dozed off in the passenger seat, so he didn't see it, and thankfully Briana didn't see it either. I yelled out "Oh no!!" and hollered at David that someone just got hit by a car. I pulled over and David called 911 and ran back to see if he could help. It was really unsettling. I called my dad, shaking and crying. The man clearly had a broken leg, and I could hear him yelling and swearing.
The police asked David if he had witnessed it and he told them no, but that I had, so he came back to the car to sit with the kids and I had to give a statement to the police. It was just not how I would have chosen to end the day. I think the man was okay, but I didn't see if he hit his head...just that his leg was broken. But he was yelling about how much his leg hurt and talking to the EMTs as they put him in the back of the ambulance, so I'm hoping and praying he is fine. It was just really not a fun thing to witness.
Anyway. I refuse to end my post on that note, so I'm going to share some of the things I got from Amazon for our trip.
I love our double stroller, but have been a little concerned about it's lack of real shade. The front shade can be adjusted (and Briana messes with it all the time) but the back shade is attached to the frame, and the sun just hits Chelsea full on. So I ordered stroller shades to add on and give the girls some extra protection. I also ordered them cute little bucket hats to help protect them even more from the sun.
I ordered some fun things for the girls to play with on the plane, and some coloring books and triangle-shaped (anti-roll) crayons so there would hopefully be fewer lost crayons on the flight...I really don't fancy digging around on the nasty floor for dropped Crayolas.
I got cases for the girls' Kindles, a pink one for Briana (of course) and a green one for Chelsea. (I also ordered myself a Kindle Paperwhite with a Plum colored leather case...and I love it. My old Kindle had disappeared, so I'm quite excited to have one again!) I also got the girls each a drawing tablet...those magnetic ones? I forget what they are called but they come with a little pen/stylus on a string and you can draw pictures and then erase them with the little lever on the bottom. (I REALLY don't want them to get bored on the five and half hour flight. I'm trying to bring enough small things to entertain them in 20-30 minute segments and then switch it up so they don't have the chance to get bored. )
I think I had mentioned quite a while ago that I was needing to find a gate check bag for our stroller, but was having trouble finding one that would fit. I FINALLY found one that specifically mentions that it fits a Graco Duoglide stroller today, and ordered it right away. So that's one more thing checked off my list of things to stress about...Hurray!
Let's see...what else did I get? OH! I ordered a new backpack for David, which is just plain black (per his request, haha), and then I ordered an awesome Jansport backpack for me that has a galaxy print on it. Stars and stuff. Very nifty. (Yes, I said nifty. I use words like that.) I have a pink Jansport that I love, but I've had it since my junior year of high school when I went through a phase when practically everything I owned was pink (my Master Chief in NJROTC actually called me "Pinkie" junior and senior year), and I figured since I am having my ten year high school reunion next weekend, I could justify the purchase of a new backpack for myself.
I ordered a wall adapter thing so I can charge my FitBit without bringing my computer to FL, since I looked it up and a charge for one only lasts about five days and we'll be gone for ten.
Chelsea got a ton of cute summery clothes at her party today as gifts, so her whole wardrobe is pretty much set for the vacation. (I'm glad I didn't go too crazy before now!) Briana was even gifted some summer outfits at the party today, because my family and friends are all amazing and didn't want her to feel left out. So I just really need a few more things for Briana as well. We are very lucky to be so loved by so many people.
This update is getting very long, so I'll leave it here for now. I will try to post pictures of some of the purchases as they arrive from Amazon, at least the fun ones. Thanks for reading through all my babbling!
Oh, and just because I'm silly and feel like sharing, I turn 28 next Friday, and next Sunday I am going out to lunch with three girlfriends...something I haven't really done since I had BRIANA back in 2012. I am very excited for my girls day...My best friend Chelsea (whom my daughter is named after) is taking me for my first every professional manicure/pedicure. David is on Daddy duty all day that day...I'm putting my Mom hat on the shelf for a few hours. Woot! (I figured I better do it now before I have the third one and sneaking away gets absolutely impossible. )
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Congrats!
Things seem to getting brtter for the two of you each day!
I think the man was okay, but I didn't see if he hit his head...just that his leg was broken. But he was yelling about how much his leg hurt and talking to the EMTs as they put him in the back of the ambulance, so I'm hoping and praying he is fine. It was just really not a fun thing to witness. 
Thanks for reading through all my babbling!
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