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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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.
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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.
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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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It’s taken me a while to get organized for this TR, and truth be told, I’m not actually organized yet. I’m going by cryptic notes that were most often scribbled down at the end of the day and the order of (and time stamp on) my photos. But I do want to share our trip with everyone, so I'm gong to start now and we'll see what happens.
I came up with the title while we were still at WDW and the reasoning behind it is…well, we made quite a few changes as we went along. But, all for the good. I am way too ambitious when I’m sitting at home planning the itinerary. Once we get to WDW…cue the heat and humidity…we just can’t do everything that we’d planned.
So, this trip is just DH (Jeff) and me (Donna), for 8 nights – 2 at BWV, Boardwalk View, and 6 at AKL, Kidani Village, Savanna View. It will be the third trip on our APs, activated last October, so yup, we made good use of those! And the first time in a long while that our arrival time was in the evening.
Enough small talk, let’s begin…
Jeff and I both worked a ˝ day at our jobs. We both got home before 12:00, had some lunch, did some last minute things around the house and finalized our packing.
My Dad and Mom came by to pick us up at 3:00. The airport was pretty dead and it didn’t take long to check our bags (with mine coming in at 48.5 pounds) and get through security. We both had TSA pre-check so all the easier. We arrived at our gate and saw our nieces husband Troy and his mom Carol who was on our flight. Troy was not flying but had a gate pass to accompany Carol to the gate. She was flying to meet a friend in Orlando, was going to stay a few days and then both of them fly to Toronto for a flight to the Holy Land. So, we chatted with them while we waited to board. Soon our plane pulled up to the walkway.
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While we were waiting for our flight, we got a text from BWV that our room was ready. Cool!
Carol was in a wheel chair, so she pre-boarded and because we did EBCI, our numbers were A27 and A28. When we got on, there were two seats next to Carol in the 2nd row, so we grabbed them. On the way we ate PB&J sandwiches that we’d made at home. I read a bit and played games on my ipad, in between talking with Carol.
We landed at 6:55. Carol chose not to get a wheel chair at MCO, and we ended up walking with her to make sure she knew where she was heading. After a restroom stop, we took the monorail and then parted ways when we had to head to DME and she went to baggage claim.
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We waited a few minutes and then, about 7:15, we boarded a bus that was pretty full. However it didn’t pull out until 7:35. The bus went to Art of Animation, Pop Century and then let us off at Boardwalk. I think we were the only ones who got off at the Boardwalk stop.
As we walked through the lobby I couldn’t resist taking a photo of the creepy chairs.
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And then on to our room. It was number 1005, so first floor... An elevator ride DOWN from the lobby which is on the 2nd floor. And a LONG, LONG walk down the hall. Let’s put it this way, room 1001 was the last room, so we weren’t far from the end of the hall.
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Pics of the room, which was the usual, basic DVC studio.
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Since we were on the 1st floor, we had a porch, not a balcony. And there were bushes and greenery between us and our “view”.
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I’ll be honest, I was not crazy about the view. I had pictured being in a 2nd or 3rd floor room, and having a lovely view of the lake. I had no idea there were 1st floor Boardwalk view rooms. But it is what it is, and we’re only here for 2 nights.
While we waited for our luggage to be delivered, we decided to take a walk around the lake and get some ice cream. We went to the end of the hall and found the exit door, but it led to the canal side of the building, where the path to DHS is. So, we headed back in and found our way to the front of Boardwalk. Then we saw Coney Island Chris, one of our favorite Boardwalk street performers. So we stopped to watch his antics. Not great shots, I know. But you get the idea.
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Laying on a bed of nails and smashing an egg on his head.
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We heard Illuminations as we were watching, and probably should have taken that as a warning, but we stayed to watch the entire show. By the time we headed around to Beaches and Cream, to their walk up window, the line was out the door and then some, from all the folks heading back from Illuminations. Well, Jeff doesn’t like to wait in line, even for ice cream. (I know!) So we continued on around the lake, past Yacht Club and then the Swan and Dolphin. Once we got back to Boardwalk, we saw Coney Island Chris was in the middle of another show! So we watched the end of that one and then headed for Ample Hill Creamery. I asked about their Gluten Free flavors and was given a GF menu. We ordered soon after and, even though I told them I was not worried about cross contamination, I was told I’d have to wait for the allergy person (or some such thing) to be free so she could scoop my ice cream in the back. Anyway, we eventually got both our treats, and it was worth the wait! Jeff got Butter Pecan Brittle and I got Peppermint Pattie. The sign said $5.99 for a small, but when we paid, she asked if it was 1 scoop or 2. We told her 1 because that’s what we thought a small was, but we were charged only $4.19 each, so I’m not sure what the mix up was, but we didn’t argue.
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We got back to the room around 10:00 and our luggage sill was not there, so we walked down to Bell Services to check. She checked and said it had just arrived and would be in our room momentarily.
We also went to the check-in desk to get Jeff’s MB fixed. It did not open the door to our room. That took a few minutes and the CM assured us it was fixed. (And it was!)
Then we went to the General Store and bought a pair of Rose Gold ears for me.
We got back to the room and our luggage was delivered around 11:00. We didn’t unpack too much, just the toiletries and the food. We were in bed by 11:30.
The weather today was – very warm and humid
The best thing today was – arriving at WDW
The worst thing was – the long wait for our luggage
The funniest thing today was – Coney Island Chris - twice!
Today we tried – Ample Hills Creamery
And the result was – Delicious!
The most magical moment today was – putting on my new rose gold ears!
I find those chairs really creepy too... why on earth they're there, I do not know. I'm sure a lot of people aren't fans...
I didn't think much of the view from your room and you're right about the basic DVC studio. It's so sad that they all look so similar now, regardless of which property they're at. They seem to have lost their individuality.
I find those chairs really creepy too... why on earth they're there, I do not know. I'm sure a lot of people aren't fans...
Definitely creepy!
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I didn't think much of the view from your room and you're right about the basic DVC studio. It's so sad that they all look so similar now, regardless of which property they're at. They seem to have lost their individuality.
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Donna, I am about the chairs!! we loved the Boardwalk so much but couldn't decide whether those chairs or the clown from It were creepier!! we also love
Coney Island Chris!! He is just adorable!! All in all, it sounds like a great first day!! Your ice cream flavor sounds
Donna, I am about the chairs!! we loved the Boardwalk so much but couldn't decide whether those chairs or the clown from It were creepier!! we also love
Coney Island Chris!! He is just adorable!! All in all, it sounds like a great first day!! Your ice cream flavor sounds
Yeah, the clown at the pool is pretty darn creepy too!
We’ve seen 4 or 5 different performers on the Boardwalk, and Coney Isalnd Chris is our favorite.
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Great first day even with the luggage wait, you didn't let that stop you. Sorry about the view, I would call that a Standard view if you have bushes to look at, imho.
Peppermint Pattie ice cream, yes please!! My favorite candy is peppermint patties that have been kept in the fridge!
Great first day even with the luggage wait, you didn't let that stop you. Sorry about the view, I would call that a Standard view if you have bushes to look at, imho.
It looked a little different in the light of day, which you’ll see when I post pictures from the next day, but still not what I was expecting.
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Peppermint Pattie ice cream, yes please!! My favorite candy is peppermint patties that have been kept in the fridge!
I love peppermint patties as well! But have never tried keeping them in the fridge! YUM.
It seems that you enjoyed your arrival day. I need to spend some time at the Boardwalk, as I love street performers.
Another Peppermint Patty fan......except I keep mine in the freezer!
Back when dating my DH, I used to fly in and out of Buffalo Airport on People's Express Airlines. The flights were $19 bucks. I would always run into people I knew. It's a Small World After All.
Great start! I always enjoying reading your TRs so I can wait to hear all about this trip and it's changes! Thank you for the photos of the Boardwalk!
Thanks for joining in!
Now I need to get busy writing the actual report! Last night I went through my notes and added things I thought of along the way. So, I’m getting there!
It seems that you enjoyed your arrival day. I need to spend some time at the Boardwalk, as I love street performers.
Another Peppermint Patty fan......except I keep mine in the freezer!
Back when dating my DH, I used to fly in and out of Buffalo Airport on People's Express Airlines. The flights were $19 bucks. I would always run into people I knew. It's a Small World After All.
Yes, it was an enjoyable arrival day.
Oh, wow! I hadn’t thought of People's Express for years!
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I am way too ambitious when I’m sitting at home planning the itinerary. Once we get to WDW…cue the heat and humidity…we just can’t do everything that we’d planned. 
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about the chairs!! we loved the Boardwalk so much but couldn't decide whether those chairs or the clown from It were creepier!! 
we also love 
All in all, it sounds like a great first day!! Your ice cream flavor sounds 
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