A BIG thanks for the advice and another question - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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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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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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I can't thank you all enough for helping me with my first planning effort. I got my PASSPORTER in the mail and it's fabulous. I also went out and got a couple of books you guys talk about here and I've turned into a highlighting fiend. I ordered my Orlando Magicard and the Disney video last night and my husband is shaking his head in amazement
We're going to be at Epcot during the Food and Wine Festival. Is this going to be affecting room availablility this far out? I ask because I called the Swan about the allears rate, and they said they had none left!! Also our biggest Disney day will probably be Thurs at Epcot with the 3 extra hours at night. We're going to concentrate on the Food and Wine because we've done all the rides and such there several times with family. If we plan to go into the countries section as soon as it opens, and just eat lunch at the booths as we meander around, how long do you think it would take us to do justice to the countries as well as the foods and wines on display?
I want to allow enough, but then I thought that we could be done long before dinner which I want to either set up to watch Illuminations as we eat, or to be done eating and take a cruise during the show. How do they do Illuminations when they are open the extra hours? THEY DON"T CANCEL DO THEY??
Yikes are there scheduled nights when the parks don't do their nighttime shows? Hadn't thought of that before right now.
Again I can't thank you guys enough for your help. Your response was overwhelming (pun intended LOL)
Re: A BIG thanks for the advice and another question
Was just there!
Epcot was evening EMH on the first day I visited it. The fireworks show (Imagination) was at 9. Certain rides/exhibits remained open for additional time.
Re: A BIG thanks for the advice and another question
Welcome to the boards!
I think if you're at World Showcase at 11 you should have amble time to wonder and snack around the world before you would need dinner PS for Illuminations. DH and I went this past November and had a blast. If you like beer, be sure and catch the "beer seminar" at the American Pavilion. It's put on by Samual Adams and is very funny and interesting.
IMHO, the best restaurant to eat and watch Illuminations from is Rose and Crown.
Don't know much about your room question.
tenya
Re: A BIG thanks for the advice and another question
Hi! Welcome to the Boards!!!
We did the F & W festival last October...it is awesome!! You should leave plenty of time to wander around the worlds. There are lots of great food places to stop at, plus an information booth in Future World with stands, crafts and information, We also did a wine tasting which was alot of fun. You WILL get stuffed! Do not pass up the chocolate creme brulee in France!
As far as Illuminations goes, it shows every night at 9 (and at 9:30 when the Candlelight Processional is running) and the only reason they cancel is for really inclement weather. If you want to see it from dinner, make a late PS at the Rose and Crown and ask for a lagoon view seat. Keep in mind, however, that no seat is guaranteed, and even making your PS 90 days out does not guarantee you a good view.
If you want to do a cruise, you must call exactly 90 days out and start at 6:55 in the morning. There are a total of 4 Illuminations (called Specialty) cruises and they sell out FAST. If you have your heart set on a cruise, I can give you some tips on how to MAYBE snag one, but they are tough. They are wonderful, however, no better way to see Illuminations.
One other thing...we did the F & W festival for our lunch, and we were so stuffed that we ended up cancelling our dinner PS. Later that night, I had a hot dog at Casey's, DH had a Dole Whip and we split french fries. That was at about 9 PM, and was all we were hungry for. Just something to keep in mind!
Can't answer your room question, but it may be that there was a block of rooms available at that rate that are gone. There are still discounts out there, you can always book your room and then apply the discounts. Someone else can advise you better on that, though.
Please don't hesitate to ask any questions you have!!!
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