Sparky's Gone to the World- A TR 9/13/11-9/20/11 - Page 40 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
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Sounds like a great day at AK!
Sorry your evening didn't end so well.
We did have a nice day, and though the evening didn't start out well, it ended on a high note. Thanks for following along!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Coop
Sparks - you're so personable, you can make friends ANYWHERE! Sorry about the speed bump. Glad you had someone to talk it out with!
Aw, thanks Coop! I don't know I am weird, sometimes I just talk to people and don't give a hoot, other times I am very reserved and shy. I think it depends on my mood. I do have to say though, one of the things I love about WDW is the fact of all the people I talk to. No matter where I go while I am there, I am always yakking to someone! But no, I never thought I would make a friend AT WDW. I'll tell you as bad as smoking is, that is what it is. I became friends with Lorraine because I was at the smoking area every morning and night, as was she. We both smoke so there was common ground right there, along with the fact we are both in WDW. I talk to more people from sitting in smoking areas, that I don't think I would have ever talked to so many people otherwise. It's funny, because you even run into the same people over and over and at various parks.
We actually ran into the couple from CMC, 2 times in parks after that dinner on subsequent days in various parks. They always said hello.
Our "argument" was just that, a speed bump. Thanks to Lorraine!
Sounds like dinner was super good! I've heard both good and bad things about the clambake, but it is definitely something I would like to try out. Glad to hear you bad evening took a good turn. It's nice when good company can help you feel better.
But no, I never thought I would make a friend AT WDW. I'll tell you as bad as smoking is, that is what it is. I became friends with Lorraine because I was at the smoking area every morning and night, as was she. We both smoke so there was common ground right there, along with the fact we are both in WDW. I talk to more people from sitting in smoking areas, that I don't think I would have ever talked to so many people otherwise. It's funny, because you even run into the same people over and over and at various parks.
Now, I'm not condoning smoking but . . I am an ex-smoker (quit 2007!) but I did find it a very social pass time. Maybe because smokers have to sit in the same area outside together. (can't just light up in your room or where ever you want) But since you are together AND at Disney - hey, naturally friends can be made. When I quit - I lost some friends. Now, I know that's just not right but seriously, certain people just wouldn't hang out with me after that. Their loss. Anyway - Yay Lorraine!
Sounds like dinner was super good! I've heard both good and bad things about the clambake, but it is definitely something I would like to try out. Glad to hear you bad evening took a good turn. It's nice when good company can help you feel better.
Yes that is nice to have a little magic of someone making you feel better.
We really liked the clambake, but yes I have heard both good and bad reviews of it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Coop
Now, I'm not condoning smoking but . . I am an ex-smoker (quit 2007!) but I did find it a very social pass time. Maybe because smokers have to sit in the same area outside together. (can't just light up in your room or where ever you want) But since you are together AND at Disney - hey, naturally friends can be made. When I quit - I lost some friends. Now, I know that's just not right but seriously, certain people just wouldn't hang out with me after that. Their loss. Anyway - Yay Lorraine!
I would never NOT hang out with someone because they quit smoking. That is ridiculous. But exactly what you said is my point. I know smoking is bad, and I don't do it for the social aspect but it does bring people together in a way.
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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.
I am excited for that too!!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by OneLittleSpark
Thanks girlie! That my little way of shouting out to my girls.
People must think we are .
__________________
MNSSHP 2015: DH (Bane), Me (Batgirl), Genie, and our friends
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.
The alarm rang at 6am, and I shut it off. Then promptly went back to sleep. I awoke with a start at 6:58am. I woke up DH and told him I was running over to the bus stop to let Marybeth know that we woke up late and to go on without us.
I dashed to the bus stop in my pajamas, but there was no sign of Marybeth. So, I decided to go back to the room and get ready myself.
I was planning to sign DD up for Star Wars Jedi Training Academy this morning, and was now worried that she wouldn’t get in. I was upset, because I felt like this was the second time that I screwed things up.
Luckily, we hadn’t told DD about SWJTA just in case the shows were filled up when we got there. This was a good decision considering we were so late this morning.
Once I got my act together, we were on our way to DHS about 8:30am and we were there within minutes.
First stop, SWJTA to see if we could still get DD in. We got to the podium and asked if there were spots left, and…there was! The next sign up time was for 11:30, I super politely asked if we could have a later show due to an ADR at 12:00, so we had to check in at 11:40. The nice young man said “Sure, take a look and pick what you want!” With that, I looked at the list and picked the 1:30 show figuring that would give us enough time to eat and get there. We thanked the CM, as I have read that whether a CM lets you pick what show you want depends on what CM it is, I considered ourselves lucky.
Very happy, we decided to take our chances and see what Toy Story Midway Mania looked like. It was a 45 min wait at that point, so we grabbed a few Fastpasses. Making us ahead if the game, we have never even held FP’s for TSMM before, never mind riding it!
We decided to go on the Great Movie Ride. DH and DD had never been on this ride before, and the year before was my first time. I was excited for DH to see it, because I thought he would enjoy it. Which he did, he liked seeing the Alien and the movie at the end…also one of my fave parts as well.
First though, we grabbed a couple Photopass pics in front of the sign.
After the GMR, we made our way to the Muppet Vision show. DD wasn’t very happy about going to this, but once there she loved it.
You can see in this pic her body language before we went in. She was not happy.
In 2009, she was scared of them and wouldn’t put on the glasses. This year DD really enjoyed the 3D attractions. At first, she was reluctant again to put on the glasses, but I shoved them on her face (not like violently or anything, but I kind of tricked her). As soon as she caught a glance of what it looked like with them on, she says “Cool!” and then had no problem wearing any glasses on anything.
It was so neat to see her reactions for the first time of never experiencing 3D. Her reaching out to touch things (especially trying to help Donald at MP at MK) and just being filled with wonder. It was one of my favorite memories of this trip. One of those special times that you as a parent never forget I think.
When we finished, we decided we had just enough time to head towards Sci Fi Dine in Theatre and stop at the smoke area near it. As we were walking, I spotted in front of me a dark haired woman who looked familiar. I yelled out “Marybeth!” and she turned around. Score!
I apologized for “ditching” them, explained what happened, and they were very understanding about it. We talked about what we had been doing this morning and they had signed Marky up for SWJTA too. What luck we have, they signed up for the 1:30 show as well.
They were heading to SFDiT right then for an 11:30 ADR, ours was for 12:00, so we agreed to meet up in front of SFDiT, and go to SWJTA together. They went on to their ADR and we headed off to waste a little more time.
Up Next: Meeting up with Marybeth and family for real this time.
Great morning in spite of your later than expected start!
Yes it definately was!
Quote:
Originally Posted by ilovedisney247
Oh I'm so glad you managed to get both a slot for Jedi Training and FP for TSMM! What a great start to your DHS day!
I was so happy we did that too. It was the thing I was most excited about for my DD. She has been a big SW's fan since she was 2 years old, and I knew she would love fighting Darth Vader for real. We were having such a great time today, and normally I don't even really like DHS. Surprise, surprise though....keep following along to hear the rest of our best day the whole trip!
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