DN's first trip to Walt Disney World COMPLETED **Updated 6/29** - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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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.
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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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DN's first trip to Walt Disney World COMPLETED **Updated 6/29**
Hi all - yes I know I am on DAY 2 of the DL Girls trip report and I have that TR to work on - but since I have a WDW trip in 7 days - I needed to post that as well. I guess I am following Eileen's lead in "crossing streams"!
Cast – Me (DrDolphin) – WDW veteran (32 trips) DGM (grandma) – been there 8 (?) times? (My mother) DGP (grandpa) – same 8 times as DGM (My father) DNephew – Kevin – First trip to WDW
Dates – March 25 – March 30 Resort – Shades of Green
Backstory – As many of you know, I have taken my DNiece Jolene to WDW a few times now – a couple of those solo. Kevin is about 4 years younger than his sister. He has never been to WDW and since his sister will be accompanying my parents and I on the med cruise this summer, I felt it was necessary to do something special for Kevin . I talked to my parents and his mother about taking him to WDW solo in February. I had 2 free tickets left on Southwest – so getting him there would require 3 RT tickets – hopefully two would be free. My original plan had been to do this before the girl’s trip to California – you know – that SLOW time at WDW?? Well DGM decided that she wanted to be there when Kevin went to WDW for the first time – and we tried to figure out dates that would allow her to do that. Since she is taking her 2 weeks leave this summer for the cruise – we would have to pick a time that did not require her to use vacation time. Well – mom works at a private school. Can you all see where this is going?? That’s right – spring break!!!
As a trade off – she would fly to Portland to get Kevin. That’s right – did I mention that my sister and her family live in Portland OREGON?? My mom is in New Mexico and I am in Florida. Well – ok – so I don’t have to buy me a plane ticket…. That’s it – I am saving money…. That will make the whole spring break thing work – right (“keep telling yourself that Jordan” says my skeptical side).
Another interesting wrinkle develops. My original resort plan was Pop or one of the AS resorts. He’s 4.5 after all…. And his sister loved it when she was that age. Well DGM is a hotel SNOB!!! She wants a deluxe resort. Remember that whole spring break thing? Spring break = not cheap hotels!! And there is NO WAY I am staying off property – on spring break??? OK – so I remember that there is an additional option – Shades of Green. My father is retired Army, and I work for Dept of Defense. Both of these qualify us to stay there. I hopped online, and made a reservation for DGM, Kevin and I. A couple of days later – my dad emails me and asks to join us – well there is no way the 4 of us can share a room : so he tried to get a second room at SOG – no luck. Sorry dad…. A few more weeks go by – and he has a room – so now we are up to 4 people . Don't get me wrong - I my parents - but so much for a solo trip with DNephew. And now I have to worry about DGP who does not walk well and will need an ECV the whole time - but does not want to rent one from a company off property :
A few more weeks go by and Southwest opens it’s dates that cover the trip – and here things get really screwy. My dad get’s his tickets from ABQ – MCO… and the route from Portland to MCO had changed!! SW used to have a direct flight – with a stop (no plane change) in Kansas City. Well not any more. Nope – you have to fly to Chicago and change planes. Gee – mom will be SO happy (can you hear the sarcasm in my voice?). Well we manage to get Kevin’s seat for free and one of mom’s free (I really don’t like the way Southwest has changed their free ticket program – this from a very frequent SW flier).
Ok – so here is where we are one week out ( me, inside right now) – Mom plane ticket – check Kevin ticket – same flights as mom – check Dad plane ticket – check 2 rooms at SOG (with request that they be connecting) – check ADRs made – check Pre-trip shopping for Aunt T to complete – not yet checked Packing – HAHAHA For the first time - Touring plans - check
And of course this whole week – I have a DL trip report to work on, work, gym, packing, shopping and teaching to do before I leave next Sunday!
Sounds like it's going to be quite the trip Terri! Kudos to you for being able to keep everything straight, with everything else going on (work and DL)
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Plans, Plans, Plans
Sunday – March 25 Terri drive to WDW from JAX. Leave JAX no later than noon. DGP arrives in MCO at 3pm, and DGM and DN arrive at MCO at 750pm. Dinner – Earl of Sandwich or at Shades of Green – depends on how folks are feeling
Monday – March 26 Park – MGM B – Hollywood and Vine character breakfast D – Mama Melrose’s Fantasmic Dinner package Fantasmic
Kevin must do’s – Playhouse Disney LMA Stunt Show Car’s meet and greet Stars and motorcars parade
Tuesday – March 27 Park – MK D – LTT Character dinner
Kevin must do’s – Fantasyland attractions Indy speedway Buzz Goofy’s barnstormer Jungle Cruise Possible – Splash and BTMRR
Wednesday – March 28 Park – AK B – Donald’s D – Jiko
Kevin must do’s – Dinoland & Boneyard Festival of the Lion King Safari Character meet & greet Kid’s discovery activities
Thursday - March 29 Park – EPCOT D – Le Cellier
Kevin’s must do’s – Seas with Nemo and Friends Soarin’ Test Track Ellen’s energy Adventure (maybe) World Showcase passport
Our plans are pretty flexible, and we are getting a stroller. We are packing swimsuits and are considering options like mini-golf as well as a trip to DTD for the Toy Store (Aunt T has new MPH parts to buy!)
4 days to go – I have a test to write, give and grade… not to mention pack and all that stuff – but I am getting more and more excited about seeing Kevin’s impressions of WDW!!
What an awesome auntie! Will you adopt me... please! I'll pretend I've never been there before... and that I'm 4.5 (I often act that way anyway)... and...
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. I talked to my parents and his mother about taking him to WDW solo in February. I had 2 free tickets left on Southwest – so getting him there would require 3 RT tickets – hopefully two would be free. My original plan had been to do this before the girl’s trip to California – you know – that SLOW time at WDW?? Well DGM decided that she wanted to be there when Kevin went to WDW for the first time – and we tried to figure out dates that would allow her to do that. Since she is taking her 2 weeks leave this summer for the cruise – we would have to pick a time that did not require her to use vacation time. Well – mom works at a private school. Can you all see where this is going?? That’s right – spring break!!!
: so he tried to get a second room at SOG – no luck. Sorry dad…. A few more weeks go by – and he has a room – so now we are up to 4 people 
. Don't get me wrong - I 
my parents - but so much for a solo trip with DNephew. And now I have to worry about DGP who does not walk well and will need an ECV the whole time - but does not want to rent one from a company off property 
me, inside right now) – 
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Pixie Dust
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I hope the trip goes smoothly Terri. 
And one fabulous aunt! 
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