The "Okay-Let's-Get-This-Thing-Done-Before-The-Next-Trip-Starts-TR" - Page 4 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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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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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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Wow - you all look so shiny and clean! It must have been a wonderful feeling and looks like you had a great day.
I can't even tell you how good that felt!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lfredsbo
Must have been soooooooooooo nice to have a hot shower and actually use a hair dryer at that point!!! I know what it's like to be without power for days (we don't even have water when we lose power as we are on a well - and we were without for 5 days with Sandy - 7 with Irene).
Your boys crack me up!!!! And uh, yeah - that mouth photo of you ................hmmmmm.................. .no comment!
Can't wait to hear about your PP meet!!!
Ugh, no water either! No thank you Yeah, I think I got a little carried away with the shark pic, this year.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Coop
That shower must've felt soooo good! The mouth pic - ummm - at least you don't have multiple rows of teeth! . Great beginning. What a long day!
It was my favorite shower of the trip!
Quote:
Originally Posted by dutchdisneyfamily
What a fun day with the Nemo crowd! Love to see you all hamming it up. Your family is legendary for it and wouldn't expect anything else .
I have a hard time getting "nice" pictures of the boys. There will be plenty, don't you worry.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JKnott17
Aaahh, that hot shower and blow dry must have felt so good! I'm glad you had a great night in Epcot, dinner at the Coral Reef sounded great I had the same Mahi Mahi dish a few days later!
I was glad we tried the CR again. We weren't happy with it the last couple of times, but this time it was very good.
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhToodles!
I was laughing at the big mouth comment before I even saw the picture. But I will make no further comments as I'm going to need you in a few months and don't want you mad at me.
Love all the pictures and comments the boys have been making today. They crack me up!
Yup, you're one of the peanut gallery Nice play, I might still pick you up.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
Great family photos as usual-- a very photogenic group! I love when kids use adult phrasing. Tyler's too funny with his cranberry "bob".
I almost don't want to correct them when they put their own spin on a word. But being in Middle School now, I feel like I've got to help him save face.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
I'm loving your TR, Dawn! Now if Stefanie had been treated as you all were when she gave gifts, trust me she would have gone Stefanie on them (which I think might be very similar to Jersey). I would have been ready for a hot shower and a blow dryer, too. Glad your room was ready right away. You all still got quite a bit in at Epcot before you collapsed from the long day.
Cam, it took a lot out of me to keep my mouth shut. Especially after we packed them in the cold dark of the kitchen before we left. But, I think I was in a much mellower mood this trip because I was determined to enjoy every single minute of it. (I may have snapped a a couple in Norway later in the trip, but that's another story )
WDW - August 1997 Off Property
WDW - January 2005 AKL
WDW - May 2006 Pop Century
WDW- november-dec 2007 pop century
WDW- dec/jan 2009/2010 pop century
WDW- oct/nov 2012 art of animation
WDW- sept 2013 port Orleans riverside
WDW- july 2015 beach club
Dawn literally just found this and fortune smiled on me as I got to read whole thing. Some quick observations and comments
Thank heavens you only lost power. a lot of others weren't so fortunate. And you had a fantastic place to wait its return
Delta's flight staff Thank you You just lost my family as customers if you can't even pretend to appreciate what my kids did for you you really dont
Hot showers
Loved all pics from Living Seas Those with Bruce are all priceless
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Dawn literally just found this and fortune smiled on me as I got to read whole thing. Some quick observations and comments
Thank heavens you only lost power. a lot of others weren't so fortunate. And you had a fantastic place to wait its return
Delta's flight staff Thank you You just lost my family as customers if you can't even pretend to appreciate what my kids did for you you really dont
Hot showers
Loved all pics from Living Seas Those with Bruce are all priceless
Hi Mike! I know how lucky we were. And we just had our roof fixed last week so we're good there. And my neighbor tells me that the township will replace the tree on my lawn as well, so lucky again.
Yeah, I can't believe I posted that Bruce picture myself
Quote:
Originally Posted by Suzie-Q
Looking forward to the Norway story and MikeL...Nice Fish!
I just snapped a little...it would have been worse if the guy didn't walk away
Quote:
Originally Posted by lindawdw
Love sitting near the tank at the CR Sounds like the perfect first day at Disney!
That restaurant is great for keeping the boys occupied while waiting for dinner.
Quote:
Originally Posted by islandgirl
Great start!!! Love your pictures.....can't wait for more!
Thank you And I'm uploading more so I hope to have another update soon.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mommapants
Singing in
Great first day, other than the flight crew - How rude!
more please!!
Hi there! Yeah, the flight attendant was something, but it was not going to ruin this special trip.
Oh...and I forgot to post the first of our PP pics that we got that night in Epcot. Had to try to get as much out of that PP+ as we could.
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Hi Dawn, I'm so glad that you have started your trip report. I have loved following your past ones and reading about your fun family! We are staying at the Beach Club in May after all your good reports. I love your Bruce picture! Can't wait to read more!
WDW - August 1997 Off Property
WDW - January 2005 AKL
WDW - May 2006 Pop Century
WDW- november-dec 2007 pop century
WDW- dec/jan 2009/2010 pop century
WDW- oct/nov 2012 art of animation
WDW- sept 2013 port Orleans riverside
WDW- july 2015 beach club
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.
Hi Dawn, I'm so glad that you have started your trip report. I have loved following your past ones and reading about your fun family! We are staying at the Beach Club in May after all your good reports. I love your Bruce picture! Can't wait to read more!
Yay!! Another BC fan in the making!! I'm sure you will love it and I'm glad we were been a small part of it.
I knew we wanted to take this trip a bit easier than the last couple, but we did want to try to make it to the parks at RD or just after on at least a few mornings. Saturday morning was one of those mornings. It was a DHS EMH morning and we thought we could hop a boat and get there and race with the rest of the DHS crowd to TSMM to get FPs and get a ride in on the stand-by line before it got too insane. We did manage to get up and out to the boat dock pretty early this morning, with a stop for lounge coffee and cups of fruit loops of course.
So early in fact, that the sun was still coming up over the trees, and the moon hadn’t left the sky yet.
The boys spent the time waiting for the boat watching some kind of duck maybe?? Not sure what they are.
I just love this picture.
Pretty soon our boat was on its way from across at the BW.
We ended up actually making it through the turnstiles at 8:15. That’s pretty much a record for us. Craig’s first mission was to sprint to the FP line at TSMM while we walked briskly behind him to get on the stand-by line. It was posted at about 40 mins. I think and we decided it would be worth the wait this early. The wait ended up not being that long anyway.
Mr. Potato Head.
And our Mr. Potato Head.
While we were in line I texted Jenn (JKnott17) that we were in line for TSMM because we were going to try to meet up with them for a bit today and I got a text back from her that she also was in line. Once we wound a round a bit inside, we finally saw each other and they were just a little ahead of us and ended up waiting for us when we got out of the ride.
Yup, that’s my score. No, that’s not Craig’s next to it, that’s Jason’s. But, never fear, I beat Craig and Tyler as well.
After we met up with Jenn and her family at the exit, we all decided to take a walk to RnRC. We wanted to see if Jason was tall enough this year and Kaeli was ready for her first go at RnRC too.
The entire time Jason was so excited to find out if he was tall enough and worried that he wouldn’t be. We kept telling him to stand up really tall and make sure the ‘big’ part of the top of his head was under the measuring stick. He was holding his breath while he stood to be measured and the CM took only a few seconds to tell him that he was. He did a little fist pump “Yes!!” and we were on our way. Of course I was a little nervous about him going on his first RnRC ride because it’s a BIG coaster and it goes upside down and he’s my ‘baby’. I made him ride with Craig and gave Craig strict instructions to make sure he was okay. Jason on the other hand wasn’t nervous at all, only super excited. We chatted with Chris and Kaeli on the line and I think she and Jason kept each other’s minds off the ride. Soon we were watching Aerosmith and then heading into the alley to catch our limo to the show.
Jason’s very first RnRC ride!!!! (you can see a wee bit of Kaeli behind us in the purple)
(Yes, my mouth...I know )
And the verdict?? He LOVED it!! We met up with Jenn and Abby in the gift shop and got our ride photo put on our PP+ card. (I have to say, for the amount of rides my boys all love, it was worth it to get them all on the card). We browsed in the store for a bit and Jason and Kaeli told us how much they liked the ride.
Our little rockers.
We tried to have someone take a decent picture of us all together, but the shadows weren’t helping. (Sorry Jenn, mine is no better (and maybe a bit worse) than yours)
We walked back up to the tip board with Jenn and her family because they were headed to use their TSMM FPs and hoped to see them later in the trip. I've been lucky enough to meet up with Jenn a few times for Fraps and chatting, but it was so nice to finally meet Chris and the girls and get the kids together for some fun! Hopefully our Disney paths will cross again in the future.
We had made reservations for lunch with friends from home and happened to see them having breakfast at Starring Rolls. After making our plans when to meet for lunch, we went back for FPs for RnRC stopping for a couple of PP pics along the way.
Chip was new for us. I wasn’t sure who would show up until we got the PP pics and I thought it was so cute.
After we got our RnRC FPs, we went back to use our TSMM FPs. Okay not the best plans for backtracking up and down Sunset Blvd. I’ll admit.
Yes, that is my score…again. And this time, that’s Craig’s score (the not-as-high-as-my-score score). Oh, and that’s his finger pointing out the fact that he had a better accuracy percentage than I did. Accuracy, schmaccuracy I Win!!
After another successful ride on TSMM, it was back down Sunset Blvd. to RnRC (see what I mean about my poor planning ). We stopped for a PP pic near Animation Courtyard and crossed paths with Jenn and her family again. (See, I’m not the only park-crosser here today.)
Jersey Week...The Boss!
This face of Jason’s doesn’t look it, but he loved it again…trust me.
Craig’s face on the other hand is well, just Craig. (And another big-mouth picture of me. Just noticing this trend )
The boys wanted a snack at this point, but we didn’t want anything too big because we had lunch coming up. So we walked into the area near Scoops. We’d never been back there and found Rosie’s and got french fries for the boys and I. Craig got a container of red grapes. This is where he thought he would go the entire trip making good choices for snacks because we worked so hard doing Insanity for the 60 days before the trip. (We’ll see how that goes).
Having fueled up a little bit, we made our way toward the other side of the park for the first time today stopping for a silly hat pic…
and a photo with an old hag. (NO…Not the reflection in the window thank you!! ).
We made our way to the ST area where the boys hopped on the speeder for some PP Pics.
Those are a couple of determined little Padawans. (Interjection here, when I loaded the PP pics to edit, I noticed that Jason’s star speeder photos weren’t there. I called customer service and she was able to pull them up looking at the photo of Tyler she knew exactly what date and time I was at the spot and was able to find Jason’s pictures for me and put them right into my account I thought that was great. So, keep in mind if you don’t have a picture that you were supposed to have, they can most likely find them for you.) After that we took a ride on ST…
…and I found this cool Hidden Mickey that I learned of reading my Celebrations magazine.
We got the pod racers and the underwater scenes. I think the underwater is my favorite. Of course we had to meander around Tatooine Traders to figure out what they wanted to buy later in the trip.
There are no words.
After ST we were too early for lunch, but there wasn’t enough time to do anything else until we were meeting our friends at Mama Melrose. Luckily Mulch, Sweat and Shears were starting in Streets of America so we watched them for a bit.
They were very good and a lot of fun!! While we were sitting on a bench near the Muppets, I notice a FB post from one of the girls in my wedding party with a picture of the castle and the post “We’re here!” They moved to Maryland, about 11 years ago and we don’t get to see them often and I was so excited to see that they were here. I posted right back “So are we!!” We then texted back and forth and made plans to meet up in a couple of days at AK. Facebook made for a great surprise visit that we hadn’t planned!! Isn’t social media great?!
It was about time to make our way to Mama Melrose and check in, but we ran into some freaky weather outside the restaurant.
(Corny, I know)
I checked us in and the hostess told us that they most likely would not be able to sit us all together (there were 10 of us, our 4, our friends 5 and their niece). They said they would try to get us as close together as we could get. I was a little disappointed, but what are you going to do? Although, after our friends got there, the manager came out and said she had arranged tables together for us all! We sat the kids at one end, and the four adults at the other. Tracy’s (the other Mom) parents had purchased the DDXP for her entire family and they had TONS of credits. Being as we were paying OOP this trip, we figured out what we all wanted and Tracy ordered the more expensive meals and appetizers on her plan and we just switched when they came. Saved us money, and it was part of their plan anyway! Thank you Tracy!! I had the penne vodka, two chefs came out and talked to us and ended up making pasta with butter and cheese for Jason, and Craig and Tyler both had the chicken parm. Tracy and I also shared the red sangria. We had such a nice lunch with the families together and the kids had fun seeing their friends from home at Disney.
After lunch, we rolled outside where Tyler had a near miss with the local wildlife.
I wanted a picture of us all together so I stopped a guest with a camera around his neck thinking he could handle it. Me: “Would you take our picture please.” Him: “Well, I guess, but I’ve got a reservation” (with really annoyed look on his face.) Me: “Forget it!” (maybe a snotty look on my face, but I’m not sure ). Maybe he gets cranky when he needs to eat. Anyway, we ended up seeing someone that our friends knew in the next minute and they were kind enough to take a pic of the whole gang for us.
Our friends were heading for American Idol, which we had never done before, so we decided to go with them. But not before Jason made a mess, again.
Idol was a lot of fun! I had no idea what to expect, and really never a desire to see this show here. But, I’m so glad they talked us into it because we all had a blast together.
Jason was disappointed that his contestant didn’t win, but he wasn’t judging on talent, he was judging on the cutest girl. Most of us voted for the Jersey Guy (who was pretty good) but Tracy and I voted for the girl that won. Definitely something we would do again (and did).
After the show we parted ways with our friends hoping to run into them again during the week.
Up Next: Food Food Everywhere, but not a bite to eat!