VERY FIRST FAMILY VACATION-JUNE 21ST -JULY 5TH - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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Well I figured it was time to begin a trip report being we have less than 2 weeks before we fly out to the happiest place on earth. How did this whole thing begin?
Well, I love Disney absolutely adore Disney but the last time I have been there was in 2000 and due to marriage, pregnancies, and financial blows, I haven't been able to get back until now. Every year I planned that this would be the year that we would get to go to Disney and something else would happen. Sounds familiar right? Well, I figured I would not be able to go unless I just booked it and let everything fall into place. Ok, booking it was easier said than done when you have a family of 6 plus I wanted my Mom to come to help with the kids so that made 7. It was going to cost a lot more than I was prepared to pay to stay onsite so my Mother graciously offered to let us use her time share for the vacation. ( i her!) Well it had taken me so long to get to Disney I wasn't letting that offer pass, my Mom immediately booked AND paid for two weeks at her timeshare. We had three time slots to go with and since it was Saturday to Saturday that limited it even more. My son plays PopWarner so it usually began around the end of July so that eliminated July to November if they made it to playoffs and championships.
Moving on...I did not even speak to my husband about the possibility of going to Disney before the timeshare was booked! He is let's say not so easy going and it was going to be a hard sell. So, I ask ok no I tell him that next summer we're going to take a family vacation to Disney. We have NEVER had a family vacation and I want the first one to be in my favorite place. His reponse is "why don't you take the kids by yourself then?" My response, "then it won't be a family vacation. You kinda need all key members of your family to do it right" a very long and stressful pause.....
"Whatever. How much is it?"
Ok, I had to tread very lightly on this subject because we are in the lower middleclass bracket and spending thousands and thousands on vacation is not logical to my husband so I kinda ignored the exact question and told him we would use our income tax to pay for it. His response: "The whole thing?"
"Well...yeh"
"Are you kidding?"
"Nope actually Mommy booked the timeshare already" (Ok, I know maybe I shouldn't have said that but I was loosing him and FAST!)
"Without asking me?"
"yeh if I had asked you, you would have said no"
"so you just did it? Well whatever, I'm not paying for anything. I don't even like Disney"
I left well enough alone. I know when to retreat from battle. Fine so it was settled well for me anyway. I will use the income tax for plane tickets and Disney tickets. Three bedroom condo already paid for!! It was going to happen...or was it?
Up next.....INTRODUCTIONS & WOULD WE STILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD THIS?
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Not long now....August 22-August 28, 2011. Fort Wilderness Cabins!
Me, 32, stringent planner and lover of all things Disney. Favorite character: It's a tie between Tinkerbell & Minnie. They are my girls!
Experience: I have been to Disney several times but always as a guest of someone else. I've never been where I had total planning control so this planning experience has been a relief for me.
(I'm on the left)
My DH, 36, a pain in the butt but we all love him anyway. If it doesn't have to do with Bowling, Fishing, or Football, not interested. Favorite character: Doesn't have one if you read above, he doesn't even like Disney. I guess if I had to pick a character, it would be Mr. Incredible.
(Our mini vacation in Myrtle Beach)
My DS1, 11, looooves playing video games and studying animals. Favorite Character: Wall-E (I think that's just because he REALLY wants to see the movie). He trys to act cool but is still VERY much a kid which I love actually.
DS2, 5 years old, Thing 1 or thing 1 and thing 2, very lively likes to build things and take them apart equally as well. He is our future sports fanatic! Favorite Character: Well if you ask him, he'll say Minnie Mouse but if you say what movie character he'll say Lewis from Meet the Robinsons.
DS3, 5 years old, Thing 2 of Thing 1 and Thing 2, a little more reserved and that is not saying much, loves to sing and animals as well. He is our future singer! Favorite Character: Mickey Mouse if you ask him but he likes watching Handy Manny.
One more Cast Member continued on the next page:
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Not long now....August 22-August 28, 2011. Fort Wilderness Cabins!
My DD, 2, she is EVERY bit a Princess, demanding but loveable when she puts her mind to it. I've always wanted a daughter and at times I think I've gotten a little MORE than I bargained for. Her favorite character: MICKEY MOUSE of course but she loves the new Fairies that came out recently. Oddly enough, she is completely uninterested in Princesses. She is the dancer in the family. I loove dance and have exposed the kids to all different types of dance so she will listen to music and just create her own little dance piece to it. It's incredible to see a two year old do more than bounce around but actually DANCE waaay beyond her years and it's not just a mother talking proud, it's amazing.
My MOMMY, uh well she's past 60 and will be mad if I say more than that, she likes Disney a lot because she hates thrill rides and Disney doesn't have a lot of them so she can get on mostly anything there. My Mom is extremely organized but for some reason besides getting the timeshare, wanted no parts of planning. She just asked me where we were going each day and about reservations, otherwise she just goes with the flow. The last time she's been there was in 2003 when she took just my oldest for 10 days, they stayed on site but I forgot where and my son doesn't remember.
(self portriat. I gotta find a better picture LOL)
It just occured to me that I neglected to tell you all about the experience of the other cast members: This is the first visit for the twins and my daughter, the third visit for my older son, the second visit for my husband but I'm counting this as his first as he only visited Magic Kingdom and Epcot, and my Mom has been there countless times but not since 2003 because she wanted to see "other parts of the world".
Next up: Can we still afford this vacation?
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Not long now....August 22-August 28, 2011. Fort Wilderness Cabins!
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Was so happy to see that you started your PTR...
The kids are so adorable...I am looking forward to hopefully getting to meet you at Epcot while we are there...
Now that we decided it was a go, the next step was getting airline tickets. Well, I'm a procrastinator. I know this about myself and there is nothing worse than a planning procrastinator. I mean I love to plan but often wait to the last minute with things that shouldn't be left to the last minute. Case in point is these airline tickets. I got my income tax in February, why oh why didn't I buy the tickets then? I have no clue ok well I started looking in April and got a big surprise...not only were there not much availablity but the prices were STAGGERING!! I couldn't picture paying $400 a person for a flight. Because we are traveling with many people, I was not willing to fly out of anywhere. My choices were Newark, JFK, or Philly airports. I checked all over for both and the cheapest I found was Southwest out of Philly so I attemptd to book for the times I wanted and uh...no availability. HUH? During this time, my Mom joined some kind of travel website program and got a website up. I tried on her website and lo and behold a flight for $309 out of our choice airport, Newark, but...not the time we wanted to leave 3pm? But I was so happy I found something, I just booked it. Ok, check. Well, as I said in the beginning of this trip report, something always happens to derail my dream Disney Vacation. This time it was my car...IT BROKE DOWN! Let's back up. I got called into the office managers office and she tells me she received an order for garnishment from a creditor for me. WHAT!@!! I wasn't aware of any debt to the tune of $14,000! So, I had to go to the courthouse and figure out what was going on. I put in a motion to see a Judge and on my way back, my CAR OVERHEATED!!!! I actually am not sure how I didn't have a nervous breakdown right there but I just calmly pulled over, opened the hood to let all the smoke out then went to a restaurant to eat. I couldn't think too much about it or I think I would have lost it. I called my husband and he said to try to make it home so when he got there he could try to fix it. (My husband is not a mechanic but he should be. He is incredible with fixing things. Mr. Incredible is fitting eh?) Well he got there and said this is not going to be an easy fix because I can't figure out what's wrong. He then took about TWO WEEKS to replace almost everything barring the radiator and engine in my car. I mean my poor baby really was battling with this car and the car was winning! I just told him I couldn't keep depending on people to pick me up and take me here and there and we needed to break down and look for a car, quickly. Now, they are garnishing my check so paying my bills is VERY difficult, neither one of us had gotten a raise this year so where are we getting money to purchase a car? You got it, DISNEY FUND. I tried to pull as little as possible and finally found a 93 Aerostar. Anyway, now I'm looking at what we have left and realize we may not have enough to purchase ALL of the tickets AND have money for food, ect. We were already set to go but would we be able to afford to STAY?
This is where Mr. Bush SAVED the day! two words, ECONOMY STIMULUS. Thank you Mr. Bush! So, we purchased the Disney tickets from a discount outlet (Thank you Mousesavers) and I should receive the check any moment for spending money. On another note, I happen to work for an attorney's office soooo...one of the attorney's in my office cleared up the whole garnishment mess. Someone used my name for a car...don't ask..very messy. Anyway, the person has to pay on it but not a lot and as long as they do, I'm in the clear. So, no more garnishment. Whew!!! I got winded writing this and almost got a headache but later for that. I am going to DISNEY!!!
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Not long now....August 22-August 28, 2011. Fort Wilderness Cabins!
I forgot an honorable mention. My step daughter who is not going on the trip because according to her, she's been there too many times. After I began planning she ate her words because last month she said I really want to go with you guys. I said well you could have, had you told me ummmm.. a year ago when I told you I was doing this.
This is probably what she'll be doing with us this summer: Fishing. When I say us I mean my husband. She just became a teenager and although I looove her, she is in those grouchy, I'm always bored, and everyone is corny and stupid, moody AGE! And it is ANNOYING. We will however, god willing, have more vacations Disney ones including so I will make sure she goes on the next one.
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Not long now....August 22-August 28, 2011. Fort Wilderness Cabins!
Your back story sounds a lot like mine. This trip we just returned from on Saturday was my first since 2000, and the first that I got to plan myself. We had a blast, and I hope you guys will too. Don't be afraid to take some time and go with the flow while you're there. We planned everything until about 11:30 each morning, then after that, we just did whatever we felt like. It was wonderful!
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How did this whole thing begin?
absolutely adore Disney but the last time I have been there was in 2000 and due to marriage, pregnancies, and financial blows, I haven't been able to get back until now. Every year I planned that this would be the year that we would get to go to Disney and something else would happen. Sounds familiar right? Well, I figured I would not be able to go unless I just booked it and let everything fall into place. Ok, booking it was easier said than done when you have a family of 6 plus I wanted my Mom to come to help with the kids so that made 7. It was going to cost a lot more than I was prepared to pay to stay onsite so my Mother graciously offered to let us use her time share for the vacation. ( i 
He is let's say not so easy going and it was going to be a hard sell. So, I ask ok no I tell him that next summer we're going to take a family vacation to Disney. We have NEVER had a family vacation and I want the first one to be in my favorite place. His reponse is "why don't you take the kids by yourself then?" My response, "then it won't be a family vacation. You kinda need all key members of your family to do it right" a very long and stressful pause.....
It was going to happen...or was it?
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I couldn't think too much about it or I think I would have lost it. I called my husband and he said to try to make it home so when he got there he could try to fix it. (My husband is not a mechanic but he should be. He is incredible with fixing things. Mr. Incredible is fitting eh?) 
Well he got there and said this is not going to be an easy fix because I can't figure out what's wrong. He then took about TWO WEEKS to replace almost everything barring the radiator and engine in my car. I mean my poor baby really was battling with this car and the car was winning! 
I just told him I couldn't keep depending on people to pick me up and take me here and there and we needed to break down and look for a car, quickly. Now, they are garnishing my check so paying my bills is VERY difficult, neither one of us had gotten a raise this year so where are we getting money to purchase a car? You got it, DISNEY FUND. I tried to pull as little as possible and finally found a 93 Aerostar. Anyway, now I'm looking at what we have left and realize we may not have enough to purchase ALL of the tickets AND have money for food, ect. We were already set to go but would we be able to afford to STAY?
She just became a teenager and although I looove her, she is in those grouchy, I'm always bored, and everyone is corny and stupid, moody AGE! And it is ANNOYING. We will however, god willing, have more vacations Disney ones including so I will make sure she goes on the next one.
And hurrah for the stimulus check 
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