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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.

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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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Old 11-14-2012, 05:28 PM   #1
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Christmas Surprises! Family Trip!



I was surprised a few months ago when my husband suggested that we go to Disneyland soon. We were in the middle of a big remodel at home, and we had been to WDW just last year in September. He is not nearly the fan of Disney as I am...I could go on a daily basis if we lived closer.

So I really didn't even think it was a possibility due to our finances. We talked about it a bit and then CarsLand opened. The kids have been waiting since they first announced it and started asking if we could go now that CL was open. Still I just couldn't see how that was going to work. Well, fast forward to September and after DH and I talked about it again we got an idea. Instead of Christmas gifts this year we are going to surprise then with a trip to the DLR!

The kids think we are going to Riverside to visit my DH's sister, which we are for a couple of days, then heading to DLR. After I booked a package deal with AAA, DH saw that Costco had a pretty good deal on tickets, and would actually give us an extra day in the parks. I cancelled the AAA package with no problems, booked a hotel and DH got the Costco tickets. (Plus with each ticket we got a $50 gift card!) My SIL is on the plan and is hoping to get at least one day with us at the parks.

I am updating my passporter, looking at the holiday happenings, and making a few things for the kids to open on Christmas day. I am making my daughter and I matching T-Shirts, my son and husband matching T-shirts, and making my daughter a special holiday crown. (I made her a crown, and myself a pair of Mickey Ears when went to WDW, plus a bunch of other stuff to wear while we were there.) Maybe I will make a pair of holiday ears for me? I also got her a lot of Disney pins from ebay (we did it for WDW and she loved it) all the pins are official pins and trade-able. They will each get a Disney gift card to use at the parks. Plus I asked the grandparents to give them Disney cards instead of gifts this year as well. Which they all agreed was easier than trying to get stuff for a 15 year old girl and 18 year old boy. I am also thinking I might make them a few fun coupons, like "free popcorn" or "free churro" not sure yet. I did book us a World of Color package since we haven't seen that yet!

We will still be there for the holiday season, January 2 to the 6th. The tail end of the holidays but we get a full weekend so that we won't miss anything. The CM said they will do all there holiday shows, etc. through to the 6th. I am getting excited seeing pictures and the commercials on TV. Even though I have been to DLR during the holidays, I think it will be great to really experience them. I just hope I can kept it a secret until December 25th!
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My Previous TripsDozen of trips to DLR as a kid, WDW May 1992, DLR September 1996, DLR September 2005 (50th Celebration!), DLR September 2007, WDW August 2008, DLR November 2009 and DLR December 2010 (celebrating DD Birthday!). WDW September 2011,DLR 2013, Surprise trip for our kids WDW 2015, Winter Break, DLR with DD 2016 Grad Celebration, D23 with DS, then 3 days at Disneyland. DD dance program at DLR2015 & 2017
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Old 11-14-2012, 06:57 PM   #2
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Sounds like a wonderful gift for the family! Enjoy the planning!
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Old 11-14-2012, 06:59 PM   #3
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Sounds like a wonderful gift for the family! Enjoy the planning!
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My Previous TripsDozen of trips to DLR as a kid, WDW May 1992, DLR September 1996, DLR September 2005 (50th Celebration!), DLR September 2007, WDW August 2008, DLR November 2009 and DLR December 2010 (celebrating DD Birthday!). WDW September 2011,DLR 2013, Surprise trip for our kids WDW 2015, Winter Break, DLR with DD 2016 Grad Celebration, D23 with DS, then 3 days at Disneyland. DD dance program at DLR2015 & 2017
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Old 11-14-2012, 07:03 PM   #4
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WOW that is really a great gift!!!
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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 11-15-2012, 01:42 AM   #5
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What a wonderful gift!
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Old 11-15-2012, 02:07 AM   #6
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My Previous TripsDozen of trips to DLR as a kid, WDW May 1992, DLR September 1996, DLR September 2005 (50th Celebration!), DLR September 2007, WDW August 2008, DLR November 2009 and DLR December 2010 (celebrating DD Birthday!). WDW September 2011,DLR 2013, Surprise trip for our kids WDW 2015, Winter Break, DLR with DD 2016 Grad Celebration, D23 with DS, then 3 days at Disneyland. DD dance program at DLR2015 & 2017
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Old 11-15-2012, 06:04 PM   #7
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We did a surprise visit to WDW in 2005- told the kids we were flying to Seattle (our layover) and then teased them about sneaking on a plane to Orlando- it was priceless to see their faces when we told them the surprise. I was just lucky they never questioned when I told them to pack shorts (a NW winter is NOT shorts weather)

Anyway, since then we have decided we only travel for the holidays. We make gifts for other family members, then we buy souvineers for each other for Christmas morning. Funny how the kids can't remember the 'stuff' they opened but they will never forget the trips we have taken over the years.

I hope you enjoy your getaway! We get to spend Christmas in DLR and I cant wait!
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