The "Last Minute (...No, I MEAN Last Minute) Trip" (Nov 5-12, 2012) - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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.
Wow, what a nightmare with the crowds at the Magic Kingdom, but how wonderful of that Cast Member to help you like that - now that's what you call a magical moment. Thank you so much for sharing your trip with us, I've loved reading it.
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.
What a great CM you had so you could watch Wishes! Great pics of the fireworks and the parade! Sorry it's all come to an end! Looking forward to your final thoughts!
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.
Despite the crowds, it's wonderful you were able to have some magic your last night there. I miss the electrical parade, so I particularly enjoyed looking at your photos. They brought back a lot of good memories for me.
The size of that MK crowd would have had me near panic mode. But the CM who got you to the private viewing area for Wishes was one of the best! I'm sorry the trip is nearly over.
As allways my friend Thanks to you and you Bride for taking us along Glad you got such Magic treatment to see Wishes too bad Scott and Becky didn't get to share it with you. BUt you did get some extra magical time with them
Yes we did get some Magic with the kids. Thanks for tagging along Mike!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
The crowds at MK would probably have scared me off! I hate the combination of thick crowds and me alone on my scooter. What a wonderful CM, who saved the night for you and found you a spot for Wishes! Really ended up being a magical night, ending with the beautiful towel display. It's great that Scott not only tipped the Mousekeepers very well, but also wrote them a note. What a great trip!
The crowds at both Osborne Lights and Wishes would have scared me off, too, Laurie... if we would have had more time, but since that was our last night, we had to suck it up! The towel art was really good. I have never seen it so good! I'm glad Scott was so gracious. Made us some proud parents!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by rlb38
I'm glad that you were rewarded by that lovely CM for braving the fireworks crowds. I love the Electrical Light parade, I'm sure it was more enjoyable without the rain.
You're right, Roberta! It was much more enjoyable without the rain!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Wow, what a nightmare with the crowds at the Magic Kingdom, but how wonderful of that Cast Member to help you like that - now that's what you call a magical moment. Thank you so much for sharing your trip with us, I've loved reading it.
Cheryl, we should have gotten his name. We were so frustrated, at first, we didn't want his help, and pretty much told him so, but he persisted until he did all he could to make us happy! By the time he was gone, we were so sorry for being so rude. Just Disney Magic!
Thank you for coming along! That means a lot coming from you!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
What a great CM you had so you could watch Wishes! Great pics of the fireworks and the parade! Sorry it's all come to an end! Looking forward to your final thoughts!
Thanks, Marnie! Comin' right up!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lfredsbo
Yuck on the crowds - BUT HUGE kudos to that CM!!!! That's what Disney magic is all about!!! so happy that you were able to get a nice spot!!!
Sorry that your trip has come to an end, but for a last minute getaway it certainly seems as though you really enjoyed yourselves!!!
We did get a good spot, Lisa! We did have a great time!
Quote:
Originally Posted by num1DVCfan
Despite the crowds, it's wonderful you were able to have some magic your last night there. I miss the electrical parade, so I particularly enjoyed looking at your photos. They brought back a lot of good memories for me.
We like the Electrical Parade, too, Jenny!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
The size of that MK crowd would have had me near panic mode. But the CM who got you to the private viewing area for Wishes was one of the best! I'm sorry the trip is nearly over.
The crowd was really bad, Cam, but it was the last night!
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhToodles!
So glad there were helpful people around at MK that night.
Sorry it's over, but it sounded like a nice last minute getaway for sure.
They do have some really good CMs at Disney, Kelly! I'm glad we were able to make the trip!
The "Last Minute (...No, I MEAN Last Minute) Trip" (Nov 5-12, 2012), Updated 2/5/2013, Final
Final Thoughts and Extras
Coronado Springs Resort. This is an OK place to stay. We were building #4 in the Casitas, a long way from “El Centro” and the main pool, but convenient to the Conference Center and a bus stop. We did not like the food court. We probably will not choose stay there again. Once again, though, I don't think we took time to fully explore and enjoy our resort.
Time of year. The end of the F&W Festival and the beginning of “The Osbourne Lights” and the Christmas Season was very crowded, at least on the weekend. The next time we will try to pick a less crowded night to “Eat Around the World” and see the fireworks shows. The “Saturday Night Crowd” for “Wishes” was just impossible.
Hospital. The Celebration Hospital is very close to WDW. Apparently it is the place to go in an emergency. With our one experience there, I won't say it is a bad hospital, but be aware that they like to keep you there as long as they can. If Amy had not warned us, and Scott had not raised a little Cain, Beth might still be there waiting for her release papers! The dialysis clinic is also very close to the World and not a bad place to go.
The Osborne Lights. An absolute “Must See”! This is “Christmas Lights Gone Wild!” It is much more than just the lights. I recorded a little video that will give you some idea of the experience.
Wishes/IllumiNations. Simply, Amazing!
For me:
It's NOT the rides.
It's NOT the shows.
It's NOT the resorts.
For me:
It's the feeling I get when you see a child experience WDW for the first time... or the forty-first time!
It's the feeling I get when I turn and look down Main Street USA... even when it's crowded beyond possibility!
It's the feeling I get when I see the first burst of light and color over Cinderella's Castle.
There is a special kind of Magic in Disney for some of us. Jimmy Buffett sings about a “Special kind of medicine, No doctor could prescribe” in reference to the Sea. Well, “Disney Magic” is also a special kind of medicine that will make you forget reality and believe in Dreams and Fairy Tales, if just for a few days a year.
Brenda and I hope to escape back to WDW again for a few days this Fall, if the money is there. Perhaps we will take our Step-Granddaughters so they can experience Disney Magic themselves. Perhaps we will go, just the two of us, and relive our childhoods again. Hopefully, we will get to have some time in “The World”, as it has become a great way to “get away from it all” for us.
For now, I have this Trip Report, full of Beautiful Princesses, Delicious Food and Wine, an array of beautiful lights, the sky bursting into, oh, so much color, and Swans and a Rabbit that made a few days in 2012...
MAGICAL!!!
Thank You All for coming along with Us!
If you have never experienced "Soarin'", or just want a taste: Soarin' Video
If you would like to see a bit of the Osborne Lights:Osborne Lights Video
I am working on Wishes. If I get something working, I will post it here.
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 said it, Kenny! I hope you and Brenda do get to go back in the fall, with or without grandkids. I guess "magic" is really the only way to describe what Disney means for a lot of us. Just being there is enough for me. Add any of the "extras", like the fireworks, shows, a child hugging Mickey, and the happy bubble just explodes! Thanks for sharing your trip with 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.