DH & MIL should not travel together - IL. IN. KY. TN & WA, oh my! - Page 8 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
Day 6, Wonderworks, the family reunion and marshmellows
I had forgotten that yesterday we went out for dinner (tacos tonight I didn't get lots of notes and am going on memory). The reason I mention it is because we tried fried pickles!
I had never even heard of them, they were an interesting mix of flavors with all the salt at the end - yikes. I would not eat them again but interesting to try.
The family reunion gathering began at lunch so we had the morning free and I had promised DD, she and I would do something together and although I tried to talk her into the Titanic experience because it's what I wanted to do she picked Wonderworks.
Here she is outside the building. Upside down, no less.
We had an enjoyable morning, playing around with the the stuff.
DD makes great bubbles.
I actually laid on a bed of nails. It was a little pokey but didn't hurt like I expected it too. After checking everything out at Wonderworks we went back to the Campground, apparently while we were gone DH and MIL had gotten into a big yelling match and were now not talking to each other. Oh dear.
The aunts had went to pick up the pre-ordered food for the lunch and weren't back yet, when they did arrive they said there was a problem with the order not being ready and had to wait for it to be made, oh well lunch was late but at least arrived as everyone was hungry. After lunch one of the aunts requested a sing along which we really enjoyed. Another aunt who was the MC talked the kid cousins into coming up front and helping her lead one of the songs. DD's in blue, none of the kids really wanted to and no one would go up until my brave daughter got up and walked up front so the other kids followed her.
it is a tradition to have an auction to raise money for the following years event which was really fun. There were silly gifts and nice ones, I split up the money I had set aside between DD, DH and I. DD was nervous about bidding and getting a gag gift as they were all wrapped and no one knew what it was they were bidding on. DD ended up with a box of candy which thrilled her. DH got a beautifully painted piece of wood to hang coats on, and I do not remember what I got because at the end of the auction, Uncle Bill said, I think it's Bonnie and when I heard my name I looked up to see one of the aunts bringing me a red hat. Apparently, every year they give a red hat to anyone who has recently turned 50. I wore it the rest of the afternoon.
At the end, DH's cousin had a game planned which involved marshmellows and I'll get to that in my next post.
__________________
Alaskan Mom aka Bonnie
Last edited by Alaskan Mom; 01-23-2016 at 05:46 PM..
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.
I don't care for fried pickles either. Wonderworks looks fun! Too bad about your DH and MIL. The rest of the day looks fun!
It's funny talking to people from other parts of the U.S. who think it weird that I've never heard of fried pickles and didn't fall in love with them or sweet tea; but I bet they wouldn't like mutuk. We did have fun at Wonderworks, it was the first time we'd been. The reunion gathering was a lot of fun.
I love pickles but have never even heard of "fried pickles"! I know that at some country fairs there are kiosks where they fry everything, but I've never tried anything. I'm not one who thinks anything is better if fried! Too bad your DH and MIL had a tiff, but it sounds like the rest of the group had a nice afternoon.
I don't like pickles full stop, so fried pickles do nothing for me. Fun time at Wonderworks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Sounds like a great lunch with all the family!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
I love pickles but have never even heard of "fried pickles"! I know that at some country fairs there are kiosks where they fry everything, but I've never tried anything. I'm not one who thinks anything is better if fried! Too bad your DH and MIL had a tiff, but it sounds like the rest of the group had a nice afternoon.
I like pickles, dill, bread & butter, sweet but fried was a little weird. I was surprised a little that I really enjoyed DH's family reunion day, the people were a little over the top but extremely nice and welcoming.
I'm thinking fried pickles is a southern thing. Lots of restaurants here offer them. My family loves them. The best ones are the dill hamburger slices.
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.
I'm thinking fried pickles is a southern thing. Lots of restaurants here offer them. My family loves them. The best ones are the dill hamburger slices.
I agree it's a southern thing. I heard about them from a lady who grew up in Texas. The kind I tried were the dill but I think it's an aquired taste
After the auction, DH's cousin had a game for whomever wanted to play. I talked DH's into being my partner and asked one of the aunts to take pictures of us. We were given a stick with a string tied to it and at the end of the string was a piece of a plastic straw. Then we were offered a marshmellow (the giant size) from the bag. The object was to push the marshmellow onto the straw, stand back to back while one partner held the stick over their head so that (hopefully) the marshmellow was dangling infront of the parnters face. Then whoever bit the marshmellow first without using hands won. DH and I finished first and then had time to watch everyone's else's efforts. Very fun.
Here I am, wearing my new Red Hat, holding the stick for DH.
We had a pleasant afternoon visiting with DH's family. After a bit, I headed back to our cabin and began packing then made taco's for dinner. After dinner we had promised DD we would go play in the pool for awhile and a bunch of DH's family came too. It was a fun evening.
The next morning I had originally wanted to drive to and through part of the Smokey Mountain park, but we also didn't really want to spend most of the day in MIL's jeep for the next two days and then fly on Sunday. So I agreed to give up the Smokies if we could just drive all day Friday to reach MIL's so could have Saturday off from traveling.
Took pictures after family reunion, here's us with Mil.
Early Friday AM we said goodbye to the three aunts and headed out. Our trip was fairly quiet, although long. I thought it was interesting that we drove through 4 states, TN, KY, Ohio, and IL which was amazing to me. We stopped at a rest area for a picnic lunch.
There was a little breeze which was nice, and as you can see we found the only shade at the rest stop. It was a hot day and with Mil's air conditioning in jeep not working well and she didn't want windows down DD and I were pretty hot so it was nice to be outside. We did make another gas/restroom stop later on, somewhere in Kentucky that ended up having homemade fudge which I can't resist. I just had to get some, cookies and cream fudge, peanut butter fudge, brownie fudge and regular, of course I shared! A little.
We made it back to Mil's town around 6pm and with nothing prepared for dinner decided to go out to eat. The sky was really amazing looking, I'll add pictures in my next post. Anyway, Mil picked a buffet which was fine. We had dinner and a desert, DD loves ice cream and hadn't had any in 4 days! She said she was going to get a cone, I said no problem, and this is what she came back to the table with...
I asked her what happened to just a cone? She told me that she did have a cone but then the top started to fall over so she plopped it on a plate and then decided she could add toppings since it was on the plate. Silly girl. Well she really enjoyed her ice cream.
We arrived at MIL's condo which wasn't too terribly stuffy since she had called neighbor and ask her to open windows and balcony door which let out some of the stuffiness. I put a load of laundry in and helped DH find his wallet. A major rain and thunder storm started with a nice cooling wind, DH, DD and I all sat on the balcony for quiet a while, since we do not get storms like this in Alaska.
We slept on the bouncing air mattress again. Cannot for the life of me remember what we had for breakfast Saturday AM, toast and fruit I think or maybe that was Sunday, see what happens when I don't take good notes?
Saturday AM, I finished laundry and was packing and re-packing all of our new items we brought back from TN, trying to squish everything in because I had a big suitcase that had left at Mil's that was more than 1/2 full for DD (29) and grandsons in WA. It was tricky but I managed. By this time I was so hot and sweaty and it was only 10AM! DH & I talked and all either of us really wanted was air conditioning so we decided to go to the movies. We asked Mil, she said we could take the jeep but she wanted to stay home. I grabbed a shower and changed clothes, while DD and DH waited then we headed out. We went to a big mall which was by the movie theatre, to have some lunch. I tried a burger place famous in the area and it was really good!. We walked the mall a bit, and a funny thing happened. I'm walking along checking out the window displays and listening to DD chatter when this man says "Excuse me, maam?" they he takes my hand and begins buffing my fingernail, talking a mile a minute about what a wonderful product they have. After about 30 seconds of rubbing that pad thing on my fingernail it felt like it was on fire. I yelled (for me) ow! and jerked my hand back. He apoligized and said he must have been rubbing too hard but insisted looking at my now very shiny fingernail. It was shiny but still a little hot and when he asked if I wanted to buy a buffer set, what do you think I said? That's right, "Thanks, but ."
After being in the mall a bit I realized we had been here once before with Mil, on a earlier trip and knew there was a double decker merry-go-round. DD loves them so made an effort to find it because she had rode it the previous time we had been there.
We left the mall, it was in the 90's and extremely humid, truly.
Made our way to the movie theatre, and watched Men in Black three. By the time we got back to Mil's it was late afternoon and the time together with just us three was relaxing and very cooling in the air conditioning.
We had a quiet evening and went to bed early, the heat got to all of us.
Continued in next post...
__________________
Alaskan Mom aka Bonnie
Last edited by Alaskan Mom; 01-23-2016 at 05:45 PM..
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.
About This Page: 
Alaskan Mom aka Bonnie
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
I didn't get lots of notes and am going on memory). The reason I mention it is because we tried fried pickles!
. I would not eat them again but interesting to try.
.
. It was a little pokey but didn't hurt like I expected it too. After checking everything out at Wonderworks we went back to the Campground, apparently while we were gone DH and MIL had gotten into a big yelling match and were now not talking to each other. Oh dear. 
PassPorter Guide Author
Fun time at Wonderworks! 
Mary - not enough trips!
. 
I asked her what happened to just a cone? She told me that she did have a cone but then the top started to fall over so she plopped it on a plate and then decided she could add toppings since it was on the plate.
. I yelled (for me) ow! and jerked my hand back. He apoligized and said he must have been rubbing too hard but insisted looking at my now very shiny fingernail.
, truly.
Linear Mode
