Sparky's Gone to the World- A TR 9/13/11-9/20/11 - Page 39 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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.
I just realized we were at AK the day before you guys were. I love your photopass pictures and the picture of you and your DD by the RC is really cute!
I just realized we were at AK the day before you guys were. I love your photopass pictures and the picture of you and your DD by the RC is really cute!
I think it's so weird when you realize when you get home that other PP were there too while you were. It's also interesting when you meet up with people and then read in their TR their take on the meet. Too funny.
Thanks for following along and for the compliment about the pics. I love that one of mje and DD too. I think it's cute...maybe it's the tilt of her head.
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.
I agree AK is just hot...no matter how cool it might be. I remember one year in December, it was not a warm december yet we got there, everyone was rolling up their pants, we even rode the rapids. It was like another world.
Glad DD enjoyed Dinosaur (even through her hands ), the little game and survey sounded like fun. Wonder if they will end up turning it into a standard thing if they get enough positive feedback.
I hate the idea of having to wear sweatshirts, coats, hats, mittens...the only good thing I think is being able to wear jeans/pants. The whole idea of having no idea what the weather will be like, kind of scares me. However, I am looking forward to the xmas decorations and lights and what not! But there is one thing that tops all the other things that makes FFP good...do you know what it is?
For real, it would be you with the heat or Ashli with the cold. I'm doomed.
Oh, I'll definitely have the sweatshirt/jeans/mittens thing going on. (Considering it is 72 in my house currently and I am wearing a shirt, with a sweatshirt over it, jeans....and I was just considering going to get a blanket! LOL I almost froze to death when we were there last Jan. Early Dec should be a little more temperate though - but I won't lie - AK was the coldest park during the day to me when it was cold! (Although I also think it's the hottest when it's hot) I think when it's cold the problem is all the shade...it's hard to find some good sun to help warm you.
__________________
MNSSHP 2015: DH (Bane), Me (Batgirl), Genie, and our friends
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.
Oh, I'll definitely have the sweatshirt/jeans/mittens thing going on. (Considering it is 72 in my house currently and I am wearing a shirt, with a sweatshirt over it, jeans....and I was just considering going to get a blanket! LOL I almost froze to death when we were there last Jan. Early Dec should be a little more temperate though - but I won't lie - AK was the coldest park during the day to me when it was cold! (Although I also think it's the hottest when it's hot) I think when it's cold the problem is all the shade...it's hard to find some good sun to help warm you.
You sound like a perfect weather companion for my DH. I am already fighting with him bc he is turning the heat up to freakin 80, and it's 60 out. He is saying it's freezing out! Meanwhile I am so hot, I can't stand it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
Sounds like you managed a lot of fun in spite of the heat!
While that is high on the list of things I am excited for, it is kind of what I was speaking of. I just meant finally meeting for real, and being with you ladies.
We got to the BC, we were early, and Cape May doesn’t open till 5. So, we found the closest smoking area and chilled out. Just as we expected, we now know for sure, the BC looks just like all the hotels and resorts here were we live so it is definitely not a resort we would ever consider. It was very nice though.
At 5 of 5, I went to the podium and within minutes we were seated. DD loved the butcher block paper on the table to draw on. This buffet was SO good! DH ate ribs till his hearts content. DD ate fish, pizza, mashed potatoes and a few clams. I ate clams, clams, and more clams, a couple pieces of fish and Caesar salad.
We ended up talking to an older couple next to us during our meal. They were very nice, and were there to celebrate their 375th trip to the world. They had been coming since it opened. It was a very nice dinner with good conversation between the 2 tables. After a fabulous oreo bon bon (and I don’t even like deserts) we said goodbye to the couple and I headed to the bathroom with DD so we could change her into slightly warmer clothes. In the bathroom, they had actual washcloths! It was crazy!
We all enjoyed the Cape May Clambake very much and agreed that it is on the must do list for next trip. The list is getting bigger and bigger! LOL
We decided to walk to Epcot and what a nice short, and lovely walk to Paris. This is one reason I might actually consider the Y&BC…not like I could ever afford it anyhow. LOL
As we were entering, it started to sprinkle. DD was starting to act up as we made our way to Imagination! We finally got there and rode it. I say this every time, but I will never stop until it’s corrected. BRING BACK THE OLD IMAGINATION RIDE!!! BRING BACK THE DREAM FINDER!!! I mean I still enjoy the ride, and it’s one of my faves just because I love Figment, but I just like the old version better.
Once out of Imagination, it was starting to rain a little harder. I suggested looking around in a store as I was looking for a couple of specific things and hopefully the rain would let up by then and we could make our way over to the WS to get ready for Illuminations.
While we were in the store DD started acting up again. She was touching everything and asking for everything. She had already spent most of her money and we were telling her no. She kept it up and finally DH told her she could get some Tinkerbell pen she was holding. I was angry because we had said no over and over, she whined and begged and he gave in. He was mad that he had to give in (so he thought) and was getting more and more irritated with her. As we progressed, I was trying to hurry because I didn’t want DH to get totally mad, as he has this problem of getting over it and it is potential for a ruined night. Because of this hurrying I was getting mad, because I just felt like here I had spent the last couple days doing everything for the 2 of them, and now here I am asking for maybe 20 minutes to look around a store and it didn’t look promising.
Finally, I had enough and said “Let’s just go.” We bought the stupid pen and immediately started towards the buses. Of course, DH was upset because I was choosing at that point to leave when we had plans to see Illuminations and Epcot was open till midnight that night. I on the other hand, saw the writing on the wall. We were all tired, hot, cranky, it was starting to sprinkle (which makes DH a grumpy gus) and I just had enough.
We rode back to the POP in silence. Being the last to get of the bus, DH and DD were waiting for me when I disembarked. Immediately upon getting off, DH turned to DD and roared something at her (I don’t remember what it was, it wasn’t bad. Something about listening and stopping her behavior), she immediately started to sob. He turned towards the room and started walking away, meanwhile DD was yelling down the walkway as she is sobbing “I’m sorry daddy” and she sounded heartbroken. Truly a moment where it would look to onlooker like we were the meanest parents ever, but justified at the moment.
I decided to take a break at this point. I said to DD “Come with mama, and we’ll go get some drinks.” which we did in the caf and then went over to the smoking area for a bit. After a while I decided to make the trek back to the room, and walked as slow as possible. Just as we turned the bend to our building there was DH sitting with Lorraine at the smoking area. He hollered over “I’m over here! Your friend is here too!” Once we got up to them, DD asked if she could go swimming. To which DH replied “I’ll take her. You sit and talk to your friend.” and off they went to get their suits on.
I ended up talking to Lorraine for a long while (probably easily 2-3 hours), and within the first half hour I had gone from being teary eted, to laughing my butt off, and the talk of the day’s downs ended. Lorraine understood exactly how I felt, why, and talked me through my frustration. She was wonderful. Lorraine was just wonderful in general, a very sweet and funny lady.
After DH and DD got out of the pool, we said our goodbyes to Lorraine. We went back to the room, DH got changed and went back out to the smoke area. I gave DD a shower and got her settled in bed. I changed into my pj’s and was sitting on the bed listening to Stacy’s Top 10, marking the days accounting, when DH came in and said Lorraine was still out there go ahead and grab a butt before bed. So, I put everything away and while I was I was chatting to DH. I was telling him how I would love to keep in touch with Lorraine to know how she was doing and I knew she was leaving on Sun to go home (a 32 hours trip from the time she would leave on the DME till she walked in her door!), I thought I might ask her about email and whatnot.
Lorraine, had told me how she had originally planned this solo trip for January 2012. But she ended up moving it up to September because she was diagnosed with Leukemia recently and she didn’t know if she would be too sick come January. On top of all of this, she is raising her 5 year old grandson. Thus, my wanting to know how she is.
When I got outside, there she was. She hollered over to me and we sat and talked for another hour. It was almost 1:30 by the time we said our goodnights . I asked her about keeping in touch and she said she would love to and we would exchange info later.
I set the clock for 6:00 because we were suppose to meet MaryBeth (mommyforallkids) and her family at the bus stop for DHS at 7 AM! I was dreading having to get up in about 4 hours, but fell asleep almost before my head hit the pillow.
Up Next: Meeting up with MaryBeth, Mark Sr. and Mark Jr. (Marky) at 7 am?
Random things I had to say....I realized when I wrote up this entry that I didn't take any pics this night. Not one.
This was the first and only "argument" or bad spell we had the entire trip. It's a record!! It was over quick and it ended up that DH was upset with me at all, he felt bad because I wasn't able to look around the store as I wanted that she was acting that way. We have since talked about him taking her out of the store so I can look next time. Which we did do in other situations during the trip, but I think because it was raining and we went in to escape, we didn't think of that.
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.
You did really well if that was the only argument for the whole trip! We were actually at Epcot that night, we had dinner at Via Napoli. It was the only time it rained our entire trip. Sorry you guys ended up leaving early but it sounds like it was a nice break for your family back at the resort.
You did really well if that was the only argument for the whole trip! We were actually at Epcot that night, we had dinner at Via Napoli. It was the only time it rained our entire trip. Sorry you guys ended up leaving early but it sounds like it was a nice break for your family back at the resort.
I thought we did do well too. We ended up leaving Epcot a little after 8pm. But I think it was a good decision overall.
Glad you had a great day at AK. I like the Nemo show too. It's funny that on our next trip, we are going to try Cape May Buffet for the first time on the day we visit AK! . I was so happy to read your review. Hope our experience is just as good. I will be like you eating... Clams, clams and more clams and my dh will be eating the ribs. Lol. Sorry your day ended at the store in a not so magical way, but if that was your only down point in your entir trip, I would say that is a success! Love that you and Lorraine were able to form such a great friendship at Disney... Talk about magic! And I loved that your dh encouraged it...very sweet. Can't wait to read more. Oh, and my name is Andrea!
Glad you had a great day at AK. I like the Nemo show too. It's funny that on our next trip, we are going to try Cape May Buffet for the first time on the day we visit AK! . I was so happy to read your review. Hope our experience is just as good. I will be like you eating... Clams, clams and more clams and my dh will be eating the ribs. Lol. Sorry your day ended at the store in a not so magical way, but if that was your only down point in your entir trip, I would say that is a success! Love that you and Lorraine were able to form such a great friendship at Disney... Talk about magic! And I loved that your dh encouraged it...very sweet. Can't wait to read more. Oh, and my name is Andrea!
Thanks, Andrea! We did have a very nice day at AK. I think the problems of the night came bc we should have breaked between AK and CMC. Next time, I will plan a later dinner I think.
I read a thread on here the other day about CMC, and the general consensus seemed to be that not as many people like CMC. We loved it though! I thought everything was very tasty. I love clams, they are my all time favorite so I was a happy girl.
I agree we had a very successful trip with only one bad spot. That has to be expected. In talking with Lorraine, I realized (again) that we were together almost 24/7 for 8 days. I am not use to that, with DD in school, nevermind DH. Plus, even DH and I aren't use to being together that much!
I had a couple friends from online that I met because of Disney and met up with at WDW. But I never expected to make a friend at WDW! Lorraine was just so sweet. DH thought she was a hot ticket, and was even telling her if she ever wants to visit the Cape she can come and stay with us. I had to laugh when she said that would be fun, and then said something about having some brews. DH thought she meant beer, I had to tell him she meant tea, because she is english.
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
Sorry about the bad night. I think it's almost a given that something like this happens at least once to everyone on a trip!
I completely agree Kathy!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
Sorry the evening fell apart, but thank goodness for Lorraine!
Lorraine was such a sweetheart! She talked to DH and then myself, and we both felt much better. She said she could tell when DH was coming up that he had a rough day. She even talked to DD and told her she had to stop being naughty and start obeying mommy and daddy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DisneyDana
Teary eted! You are killing me! I bust out laughing every time you do that! I'm loving the TR btw!
Thanks girlie! That my little way of shouting out to my girls.