Southern Fried in Mickey's World Updated 12/31 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Originally, I called my PTR “Fall is in the Air”, but only a few days after I began that report, the weather here returned to summer with highs in the upper 80s and heat indexes in the 90s. Not our usual start to October at all. I’m a four seasons girl, loving the change of seasons. I particularly love fall with its cooler temperatures, colorful leaves, and pumpkin spice. But it simply wasn’t going to happen before we left for Florida, which ominously was itself having a heat wave and the threat of Hurricane Michael. The weather was not on my side.
When we arrived on October 9, I knew immediately as we made our way outside to the Disney’s Magical Express bus that we had walked into a sauna with the muggiest weather in our recent memory and trips. For the next three days, I felt damp all day long. Moisture covered our faces and my hair even began to think it was wavy. Our first three days were plagued by the outer rings of Hurricane Michael, but when it was finally spent the remaining eight days of the trip were rain free. That did not mean that any of those remaining days were humidity free though. Well, one day had lower humidity and its high only reached 88. Floridians called it a cold front. Not sure, I agree. I’m pretty sure that by the time we arrived back in Kentucky to late fall weather, my brain was thoroughly fried. By the way about halfway through our trip, I noticed that early winter had arrived back home with highs in the 50s and lows in the upper 30s. I’d be lying if I said I loved the Florida heat better. I kept wishing we were home, at least for the weather. Crazy!
Hence the title of this fall trip report -- Southern Fried in Mickey’s World. I may mentioned rain has it makes an appearance, but my gripe on the weather is now over.
Luke’s birthday (Monday, October 8) began at a decent hour, somewhere around 8:30. Our first task was to download our boarding passes to our cell phones. We had purchased Early Bird Check-In, which got us A44 and 45, the furthest back we’ve ever been. As we got ready, we finished packing, though we weren’t planning to leave for hours. At 11:00 we met our hair stylist for cuts. She had just returned on Sunday from Florida and was sadly suffering some respiratory issues due to the Red Time. Fortunately for us, she still felt well enough to cut hair. I even managed to wash two loads of laundry before we packed up the Edge and headed deeper south. Around 3:45 PM we made a quick stop at a McDonald’s in Franklin, Kentucky, to use the restrooms and buy two Cokes.
Once in Nashville, we decided to locate our hotel first before it got dark, making it a little harder. The hotel was listed as brand new, but we decided that it had been a refurb and renaming more than anything else. Still, it was very nice and very Nashville with Dolly Parton, Elvis, and country music décor. The best part was that we were literally just down the road from the parking service we have used for years now. We’d only need five minutes for the drive from the Best Western to Executive Travel and Parking. We took our bags for the night up to the room before heading out to Opry Mills Mall. The plan was to do some shopping and then have dinner. I had selected a few stores, but in the end, we traversed the entire mall.
When the Lego Store appeared on our right, we naturally went in. I expected Luke to find something, but instead I found a Luke Skywalker and Yoda BrickHeads that I will some day get around to building. Next up was Bath and Body, so I could pick up some purse size hand lotions and a hand sanitizer in Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin to have in my purse during the trip. I also got a navy-blue mesh sponge that remained behind in the car as it was for home. Moving on, we stopped at the Levi’s Outlet Store where I picked up a couple pairs of jeans. Luke’s birthday and I seem to be the one collecting goodies. Our finally shopping was done at Nike where Luke tried on several pairs of shoes, but didn’t like the feel of any of them. I found a pair at a very nice price cut, so again I get the goods.
Tired of shopping, the time had come to enjoy a birthday dinner. Luke picked Chuy’s, a new restaurant for us, but since it is Mexican we figured we’d enjoy it. And we did. When our server Felicia asked us if we’d ever eaten here before, I mentioned that Luke had picked Chuy’s to celebrate his birthday. I chose a Chuychanga with chicken and queso sauce while Luke opted for the Famous “Big as Yo’ Face” chicken burrito. After a huge basket of chips and a bowl or two of salsa plus our entrees, we were stuffed, but Felicia asked if wanted dessert anyway. Luke debated, but decided since it was his birthday, he would have dessert. He picked the Sopapillas, which she brought complete with a birthday candle. Later when she brought the check, we realized that she had not charged us for the dessert.
We were tired by this point and ready for bed. Tomorrow would be an early morning.
I’m happy to be the second, and am already enjoying the ride! Looking forward to hearing all about it!
__________________
First trip DW--Nov. 1975; Senior Class Trip DW--Oct. 1979; First trip w/kids--Oct. 1995; Halloween at DW--Oct. 2002; Spring Break at DW--April 2004; Christmas/Pop Warner Nationals-POR--Dec. 2005;Cruisin'--April 2008; Mom/Son trip-POP--March 2010;Taggin' along w/DD on DH's conference-BWI--Oct. 2011; 50th birthday with the Gartner Geeks--Adults only!--BWI--Oct. 2012; The Trip That Almost Wasn't--BWI--Oct. 2013; We climbed The Summit (National Cheer Competition)--ASMovies--May 2014
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I am in full agreement about the terrible heat and humidity in Orlando this fall!
Sounds like you made out quite well at the mall! Luke’s birthday dinner sounded great as well.
I”m surprised your Early Bird didn’t get you better numbers, but I guess it all depends on how many others utilize it.
About This Page: 
Our first three days were plagued by the outer rings of Hurricane Michael, but when it was finally spent the remaining eight days of the trip were rain free. That did not mean that any of those remaining days were humidity free though. Well, one day had lower humidity and its high only reached 88. Floridians called it a cold front. Not sure, I agree. I’m pretty sure that by the time we arrived back in Kentucky to late fall weather, my brain was thoroughly fried. By the way about halfway through our trip, I noticed that early winter had arrived back home with highs in the 50s and lows in the upper 30s. I’d be lying if I said I loved the Florida heat better. I kept wishing we were home, at least for the weather. Crazy!
Fortunately for us, she still felt well enough to cut hair. I even managed to wash two loads of laundry before we packed up the Edge and headed deeper south. Around 3:45 PM we made a quick stop at a McDonald’s in Franklin, Kentucky, to use the restrooms and buy two Cokes. 
We took our bags for the night up to the room before heading out to Opry Mills Mall. The plan was to do some shopping and then have dinner. I had selected a few stores, but in the end, we traversed the entire mall. 
Our finally shopping was done at Nike where Luke tried on several pairs of shoes, but didn’t like the feel of any of them. I found a pair at a very nice price cut, so again I get the goods. 
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Pixie Dust
Cathy
Waiting for our next adventure after enjoying our Alaska cruise. 
Jenn
PassPorter Guide Author
I can see why you changed the title of your trip report....
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