The "Hold On Harry; Hello Mickey!" PTR ~ Sept 10-17th - COMPLETE 9/4!! - Page 7 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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I'm glad everyone came to a Universal decision on the party. I think sometimes there is so much going on yet doing it all can stress the trip out more then make it enjoyable. You all had such a good time last year but maybe this trip is for different memories and then when you do decide to do the party again it will be something that you will all enjoy not be stressed about.
Keeping my fingers crossed for you on the dessert party, I think you will all enjoy it.
Meg, you are such a wise woman.
And here I told you "I wish WE could do the Dessert Party but only 2 of us would enjoy it..." I figure as long as Kevin has a place to plop down after a long day of touring, he'll get his money's worth!! And Kelley can just go ahead and eat the one type of dessert she's fond of, and that will be okay too.
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Originally Posted by benjiboo25
When I saw who wrote this--I could not wait to start reading!
We have made the same decision about Harry Potter.
DH started reading the series outloud when our first child was in my belly (DH figured baby heard my voice all day and he wanted the baby to recognize his when he entered the world!) It should then be no surprise, that at 8, he has already read the first 5 five books on his own and loves all things Harry. But since we are new to vacations, and just figuring out this WDW thing, we had to break it too him gently that we would not visit Hogwarts this year. Crowds were bad for us at WDW, I know we would not deal well with the crowds for this new attraction at Universal. Looking forward to continuing to read this PTR!
Yep - we don't do crowds well, either. And that is probably the main reason we like going in September. Kelley has a problem with crowds of people, but Kevin and Cory have problems dealing with waiting in lines. Me - I grew up going to Cedar Point and King's Island, so I'm used to waiting an hour or so for a coaster. But not anymore!!
Are you all planning to go to US in the next year or so?
That video is so cute!!!! I can see why it brought tears to her eyes.
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Originally Posted by Cam22
That is the sweetest video ever!
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Originally Posted by islandgirl
That video is adorable!!
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Originally Posted by Wolfy6688
I love the video!
Thanks! That's just one of those 'Disney Moments' that happens so spontaneously. Just little moments, but they're the stuff your memories are made of and the reason you keep going back.
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Just found this TR, Cathy. I completely agree with your decision regarding the WWOHP. I know we'll make it over there sometime (hopefully sooner rather than later), but I just can't imagine being over there with all the people that are there right now. Looking forward to hearing all you have planned for this trip!
Another update. Yesterday, I called to book a room in GA for our drive down. I’m really liking the idea of leaving a day early and splitting the drive into 5 hr. portions so we can have more time at WDW on our arrival day. I set my intentions that I wanted to pay $45.00 for our room; since Wendy (Wendyismyname) convinced me to try Priceline’s Name Your Own Price when I was booking a room in NC to visit my son at Camp Lejeune last year, I was fairly confident I could do it.
But there was no need – I found several hotels that already had a ‘sale’ on, and got a nice room with continental breakfast for less than $50! Like Kevin said, all we need is a place to sleep and take a shower. I actually found a couple hotels with prices as low as $39.00 – but I just couldn’t go there!
So, what’s our rough itinerary look like? At this point, I’m hoping it looks a bit like this…but with dropping MNSSHP out of the schedule, things may get rearranged a bit.
I think I’ll post what we’ll be up to each day and then our family’s ‘must-dos’ for that day.
9/11 Arrival Day : If all goes well, we should be driving under that beautiful arch and pulling up to POR by noon. That gives us all the afternoon to relax and do as we please. Right now, swimming is a top priority, as is taking the boat to DTD for some shopping and dinner. I’d love to walk around the resort some more and take photos at Alligator Bayou and over at French Quarter. Maybe a carriage ride? (I’ve been meaning to do that for the last two trips, but it’s never worked into the schedule.)
None of us really have any goals or ‘must dos’ for this day – but I always like to give WoD a once-over so I know what’s there before we shop at the parks. We’ll also need to pick up the girls’ new lanyards for pin trading.
9/12 MK : You all know I’m a TGMer – that means we’ll be there for RD this morning. I do know our first order of the day will be to ride SM as soon as we get there and then check out Fantasyland/Toontown to see what’s going on. I’m hoping Pixie Hollow will still be there and if we’re very, very lucky, maybe Mickey’s and Minnie’s houses, too. Heather and I will be talking things over tomorrow to see how our schedules mesh and see when we can meet up for the kids to do Frontierland together. I’m trying to stay really loosey-goosey for today, so we can meet up whenever is convenient for both families.
We’ve got EMH here this evening, which should be a challenge for Kevin (we’ll probably send him home so we can enjoy staying late.)
~ Goals & Must-Dos:
Kevin – My DH is pretty laid-back about MK. He really just wants to relax and notice more details. His #1 goal? Find a place to sit to watch Wishes!!!
Me – (I have quite a list!) I’m bound and determined to make it to CoP this time.
We’ve also never done Liberty Belle Riverboat or The Country Bear Jamboree.
And, we must get something from Main Street Bakery!!!
I’m quite miffed that iasw is out of commission; I really dislike it (I’m afraid of those dolls!) but after reading the Kingdom Keepers series, I was looking forward to experiencing it again.
Kelley – BTMRR and HM are her favorites. And of course, looking to trade for those special pins is a top priority.
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Great plans! I hope you are able to ride/watch COP. We kept missing it also, and finally got to ride last time and it will remain on our must list; I loved it!
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I figure as long as Kevin has a place to plop down after a long day of touring, he'll get his money's worth!! And Kelley can just go ahead and eat the one type of dessert she's fond of, and that will be okay too. 
PassPorter Guide Author
Like Kevin said, all we need is a place to sleep and take a shower. I actually found a couple hotels with prices as low as $39.00 – but I just couldn’t go there! 
Susan
the plans! One of these days our families will go at the same time and I'll do at least one rope drop with you while Luke and Stefanie sleep in.
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