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There are other changes as well.

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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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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!

Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!

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Old 12-29-2011, 12:34 PM   #1
chezp
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Highlights of 2011

I've been thinking about this for a few days now, as obviously we're heading towards the end of 2011.

There have been a lot of bad things about this year, not least the loss of Lorie and Glenn but I thought it would be nice to finish the year on a more positive note and think about our highlights. It's very easy sometimes, I find, to think about the bad things and forget all the good things.

So what were your top five highlights of 2011?

Mine were:
1) Seeing the Queen
2) Meeting my best friend’s family for the first time and having a great time with them in WDW
3) An amazing Alaskan cruise with good friends
4) Visiting some of America’s most stunning national parks
5) Finally getting London 2012 Olympics tickets
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My Previous Trips21 trips to WDW, 6 to Disneyland in California, 9 to Disneyland Paris, 1 to Hong Kong Disneyland, 1 to Tokyo Disney, 1 to Aulani, 1 to Hilton Head, 2 to Vero Beach and 13 Disney cruises on the Magic, Wonder, Dream and Fantasy
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Old 12-29-2011, 05:28 PM   #2
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Two Highlights for me were the birth of my niece in May, and my first visit to Disneyland in October!
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My Previous TripsWDW June 1979, WDW 1985, WDW 1987, WDW Oct 2003, WDW March 2004, WDW Oct 2004, WDW Sept 2005--Pop Century , WDW Nov 2006--Pop Century, WDW Jan 2007--Pop Century, WDW Nov/Dec 2009--Pop Century, DLR Oct 2011, WDW Dec 2014
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Old 12-29-2011, 07:17 PM   #3
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1. Watching oldest DD graduate high school with all of her honors.
2. Watching this same DD adapt to life away from home at college (and still managing to exel).
3. Seeing youngest DD score her personal best on the high school golf team and placing in the regional tourney.
4. DS made our school district's honor band!
5. We added a new fur baby to our family. I Buddy!
6. I had a most amazing trip to Australia this summer and actually saw some people I'd met when I was there two years ago. So fun!
7. My kids are all healthy and happy.
8. I was able to purchase a new car. Mini is so cute.

Those are in no particular order! Great topic Cheryl!
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Old 12-29-2011, 07:29 PM   #4
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In no particular order....

1) Getting my new position at work...
2) Taking our Alaska cruise
3) Having the "baby" start kindergarten...
hmmmm.... I'll come back w/ a 4 and 5 when I think of more....
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My Previous TripsWDW/Pop Century June 2008-- WDW/AS Movies Thanksgiving 2009-- WDW/Pop Century March 2010-- DCL/Wonder to Alaska May 2011-- WDW/Vaca Home off property Christmas 2012-- WDW/AS Music Christmas 2014
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Old 12-29-2011, 08:24 PM   #5
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My highlights were:

1. Having my DH be able to go to most of my DD's cross country races.
2. Katie making the local newspaper in said cross country races.
3. My surgery...best thing ever!!
4. The Boston Bruins winning the Stanley Cup
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Old 12-29-2011, 08:50 PM   #6
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I've had quite a few downs, but just as many ups this year - so on with the plus side of things!

1. Attending first my DD Kathryn's high school graduation - all 34 students
2. A week later attending my favorite (and only) nephew's high school graduation of 600+ students!
3. Watching those same two teens become young adults - and make their college decisions
4. Watching DD Lauren get her Black Belt in Karate
5. a wonderful Mediterranean cruise with DDs Samantha, Kathryn, Lauren and DH in July
6. A trip to WDW with DDs, a niece, and some friends in June
7. A trip to WDW with DDs Samantha and Kathryn and step-mom
8. Graduating University (after a few stumbles and almost 6 years)
9. Celebrating 22 years of truly wedded bliss with DH - and having my DDs tell us they're happy we don't really fight, we don't yell at each other, and we respect each other - unlike a lot of their friends' parents.
10 - and this is going to sound weird, but really it was probably one of the happiest moments of my year: getting the phone call that they had found my dad's body.
11. Following #10 - getting the honor of giving my dad's eulogy and then watching the honor guard fold and hand my step-mother his flag as a 21 gun salute was fired.
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Old 12-29-2011, 10:36 PM   #7
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I can name a few "Big Blessings" for sure:

1. My Oldest DD getting healthy after suffering many years with Depression.
2. My DH getting a bonus that paid for our trip to Disney..
3. "Paying off" my Truck and my DH's truck 6 months apart!!
4. The Biggest of them all, the birth of my grandson!!!
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My Previous TripsNOVEMBER 1994-LARSON'S LODGE/NOVEMBER 1996-LARSON'S LODGE/JULY 1998-LARSON'S LODGE/ OCTOBER 2008 -POP CENTURY/ 2010- POP CENTURY/ SEPTEMBER 2012-POP CENTURY/OCTOBER 2013-POP CENTURY/SEPTEMBER 2014~POP CENTURY/NOVEMBER 2015 POP CENTURY
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Old 12-30-2011, 08:58 AM   #8
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In no particular order:

1. Our trip to WDW
2. My baby's kindergarten graduation
3. Having a healthy and happy family
4. My DH's accomplishments at work
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Old 12-30-2011, 09:25 AM   #9
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1) Trip to Alaska - AMAZING!
2) 15th year Anniversary with DH
3) Healthy kids and family!
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Old 12-30-2011, 10:31 AM   #10
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My top highlites..............
!. the birth of Luke, our first grandson
2. our 40th anniversary
3. my trip to WDW
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Old 12-30-2011, 10:52 AM   #11
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Some highlights in no particular order:
1. Seeing relatives in North Carolina due to being stranded by Hurricane Irene
2. Being able to keep my job. Here's hoping for another whole year in 2012.
3. Enjoying time with both my brother and sister who live far away
4. Watching Andrew enjoy his first major league baseball game.
5. Andrew's baseball team finishing in 2nd place for their league.
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Old 12-30-2011, 10:53 AM   #12
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Great idea, Cheryl!

Here are mine:

1. Getting to take 3 Disney trips this year (2 to WDW, 1 to DLR)
2. Switching DS#1 to a new school where he is thriving
3. Publishing my first article (work-related)
4. Watching DS#2 in Little League playoffs for the first time
5. Celebrating 12 years of marriaage with DH -- just 13 years to go until we renew our vows at WDW!!
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My Previous TripsWDW: AKL Kidani July 2016; CSR April 2015; BCV January 2015, September 2012, and December 2011; Poly August 2014; CR April 2013; AKL Jambo September 2012; POR February 2011; BC January 2010; WL June 2009 and January 2006; GF January 2001 and May 1999; Off property in 1997, 1993, 1991, and 1981. DLR: Disneyland Hotel March 2016; VGC November 2014, September 2013, March 2013, February 2012, and September 2010; GC June 2011; DCL: Disney Dream November 2013; Disney Magic May 1999
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Old 12-30-2011, 04:19 PM   #13
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Great thread idea!

Mine, in no particular oder:

1) adopting our dog, Pippy
2) getting to visit WDW 2x and having another trip to look forward to in Febuary
3) finding out that my cousin is adopting a baby from Ethiopia in a few months after years of waiting
4) buying our house
5) becoming DVC members and AP holders!
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My Previous TripsWDW- Dec. 2002 (WL), Oct. 2003 (WL), Feb. 2007 (WLV), Dec. 2009 (POFQ), Feb. 2011 (Poly), Nov. 2011 (BLT/AKV Kidani), Feb. 2012 (SSR), Nov. 2012 (AoA/OKW), Jan. 2014 (BWV), March 2014 (AKV Kidani), Nov. 2014 (SSR), March 2015 (BWV), Oct. 2015 (AKV Jambo), March 2016 (OKW), April 2016 (BWV), Dec. 2016 (BWV) DL- May/June 2013 (DLH) Aulani- Nov. 2012, Jan. 2016
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Old 12-30-2011, 06:21 PM   #14
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My highlights were:

1. Alice's first Birthday!
2. Taking Alice to DLP for the first time.
3. Christmas!
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Old 12-30-2011, 09:43 PM   #15
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Our highlights were . . .
  1. Stefanie turning 25!
  2. Another wonderful trip to WDW in June.
  3. Teaching a new course that is so much fun (and work)!
  4. Celebrating our 30th anniversary with new rings
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My Previous TripsAKL Jambo April/May 2017--SSR/OKW Sept/Oct 2016 --AKL Kidani May 2016 -- Polynesian Village Resort May 2015 -- OKW/Magic December 2014 -- AKL Jambo House October 2014 -- VWL May 2014--SSR October 2013--AKL/Kidani June 2013--CBR October 2012--BWI June 2012--AKV Jambo House/Kidani Village June 2011 -- November 2010 Beach Club -- June 2010 Beach Club -- October 2009 CBR and Gaylord Palms -- June 2009 AKV/Kidani Village -- June 2008 VWL --June 2007 OKW--June 2006 Disney Wonder/SSR -- June 2005 SSR -- June 2004 VWL -- June 2003 AKL -- August 1997 Off Property -- March 1980 Cocoa Beach
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