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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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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
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Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
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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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I'm looking at taking my family of five to Disney in June, so I have six months to plan the trip...... getting a TA may be my best option, but not sure yet.....
Myself and my husband
17 year old F
18 year old F
20 year old M
2 severely diet restricted of the extra unordinary kind due to hereditary disease.
1 semi diet restricted due to allergies
2 completely starving teenagers with no diet restrictions
I think at least two of the three teens, if not all three, will run off to do their own thing and we will have very little "family" time to work with - my one absolute is dinner together every night.
Myself and Hubby will have to have a semi structured day of events, making sure our schedule is peppered with just the right amount of active time and downtime (resting, sitting, or just being inactive in some capacity, etc.). I will also have to be aware of where all restrooms are in proximity to where we will be at all times. (I love the Disney maps for that!!)
I'd like to keep it as cost conscious as possible - just a basic no frills trip is going to be costly - but I don't want to skimp on the fun and adventure factor either.
Being teens and adults -
character sightings/signings aren't a huge concern
Experiences are more of what we're after
Rides and shows will eclipse all others
I can't remember Disney's rules on food (last trip was '07) - but we will have to take some "safe" snacks for emergencies where we can't find any -- if anyone has any thoughts on the proper way to do this - rules, concerns, packing them, etc. -- that would be great.
Looking at three to four nights, ON WDW grounds.
Everything I've looked at for planning wants to put us in a "family" room - I think I'd rather have two adjacent rooms or something similar, kids are too old for sharing one big family room.
Ideas? Thoughts? Tips? Help????
PMs are perfectly fine (especially if you can REALLY help me figure all this out!!!!)
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As long as you're not trying to bring in a big honkin' cooler or something, Disney doesn't seem to care if you bring in snacks. I do it all the time.
I would reserve two rooms at a Value resort, myself--connected (sharing a door between them) or adjoining (nearby). The pillows are weenie, though, if you like firm ones, btw.
I hear that WDW is very very accommodating for food allergies; just let them know ahead of time. Put it on your ADRs. If you're eating quick service, I think they like you to call the day before if your needs are super-restrictive. Gluten-free, kosher, nut-free, dairy-free, vegan, I think they see all the time.
No, we wouldn't need a cooler or anything honkin big. I was thinking more of bringing snacks, or even a sandwich or two they can eat *if* we cannot find food on the grounds -- wherever we are in the park when they get hungry -- until we can get back to our hotel room where I plan to have sufficient food for them to stay happy and energized.
I'm still trying to figure out how to get a "package" to let me book two rooms instead of it choosing one room for me and not wanting to let me change it. - Online at least. I need to price it all out before I lock it in, as our dates are flexible.
I personally have a diet extremely similar to Gluten-Free/Paleo - I cannot have any yeasts, sugars, or carbs in my food.
My husband and a daughter have FAP - a hereditary disease of the digestion track - it's most commonly known cousin is Chron's - but their restrictions list is extremely long and contains way more than a typical Chron's patient. The more surgeries and complications they have, the more restrictions they get hit with - and they can be very different from person to person too. Currently my daughter's restrictions are actually much less than my husband's, because she has had far fewer complications and surgeries to date (age!).
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Your best bet is to not look at packages. Do your room and tickets separately. You won't want a meal plan with all the special needs you have.
I'd go to Undercover Tourist and see if they have any specials on rooms and buy discounted tickets from them. Definitely get two Value resort rooms that adjoin or connect for the best bang for your buck when you're not wanting to spend too much.
If you want to get someone to help, PM me. I have a friend who does a great job with her Disney clients and spends time trying to save you money by continuing to look for specials after you've reserved.
The Value Resorts have family suites with separate bedroom with queen size bed and the living area has a pull out couch, a chair that makes a twin bed, and a hassock that makes a twin bed. That would be the most economical as far as hotel prices. Ticket prices are now based on how many days you buy tickets for. If you need a handicapped room with a walk in shower do a King bed and a Double bed. This is two connecting rooms. King bed room has walk in show connected to a regular room with two double beds and a regular bath.
Myself and my husband
17 year old F
18 year old F
20 year old M
Two rooms at a value _might_ work - one for the guys, one for the girls. The girls' room would be a bit crowded, two of you would have to share a bed. And I think there might be a small fee for a third adult in a room, I'm not sure.
You can request connecting rooms, but it's not a guarantee you'd get them. Adjacent, while still not guaranteed, should be much more possible.
Quote:
2 severely diet restricted of the extra unordinary kind due to hereditary disease.
1 semi diet restricted due to allergies
2 completely starving teenagers with no diet restrictions
I think at least two of the three teens, if not all three, will run off to do their own thing and we will have very little "family" time to work with - my one absolute is dinner together every night.
Disney is EXTREMELY pro-active in providing for people with food allergies or other dietary restrictions.
Make sure you note those allergies/restrictions on all of your Advanced Dining Reservations. Then, mention them again when you check in at the podium. And, just to be absolutely extra-super sure, mention them a third time to your server when he or she introduces themselves to you.
Disney maintains separate cooking stations, to avoid cross-contamination. And one of the chefs - specially trained to handle food allergies - will come out to your table, to discuss what menu items can be done as-is, or with alterations, for each restriction. If nothing on the menu can be made workable, they can and will _create_ a new, suitable dish.
Those meals will have a little yellow flag put on the plate, and each of those plates will be handled separately (by someone who washes their hands thoroughly before touching the plates) in order to further avoid risk of cross-contamination.
At counter-service locations, you can also mention those dietary restrictions; I believe they have a separate menu that goes into detail about everything that is used to prepare any menu item, so you can make informed choices. They may also have alternate ingredients - gluten-free bread for burgers, for example - but that's just a guess on my part.
Oh, and make sure those with dietary restrictions know about all this, for if/when they are dining on their own.
Edit to add: On my last trip, in 2014, one ofus had a very mild allergy to seafood. Just enough it would make her feel sick for hours. Every single meal, I did as I describe above: noted on the ADR, mentioned at the podium, and thenmentioned to our server. Every time (except once), one of the chefs came out to the table, talked to her about what she could or could not have. Even when she ordered something off the regular menu, it was still made at a separate station, and came out with that little yellow flag on the plate, carried separately from all the other meals.
The only exception was Nine Dragons, in EPCOT. I think the reason given was that none of the cooks spoke English. :shrug:
Quote:
I can't remember Disney's rules on food (last trip was '07) - but we will have to take some "safe" snacks for emergencies where we can't find any -- if anyone has any thoughts on the proper way to do this - rules, concerns, packing them, etc. -- that would be great.
I'm not sure what Disney's rules are in specific about "outside food", but Animal Kingdom has pretty strict rules on things like straws, etc. (No plastic straws or cup lids to be found anywhere in that park.) Disposable plastic wrappers might also be frowned upon.
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