the EIGHTEEN years, TEARS, CHEERS & Hurricane FEARS TR - Page 10 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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.
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.
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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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Yeah, I liked the EE pictures too. I hope you get water soon. I can see that you are one of those people that puts everyone else first. I'm sometimes like that even though it's to the detriment of ME. Hopefully, Jeff will get you some H2O and quick.
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Oct '99: CSR ~ May '02: CR ~ Nov '04: SOG ~ May '06: SOG ~ Dec '07: Solo @ Pop ~ May '08: Pop w/friends ~ Oct '08: SOG ~ Dec '09: Pop w/LeAnn ~ Sept '10: Solo @ Pop ~ Spring '11: AKL ~ Jan '12: Pop for 1/2 Marathon ~ Sept '12: 1st trip for DL 1/2 Marathon? ~ Feb '13: Pop w/pals? ~ Mar '13: Tokyo Disney w/PP's?
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
Alicia and Evan came off of Dinosaur all excited. “You would have love it Corey”. "The 'drop' was REALLY nothing." “Was there a drop?” “It was just bumpy” They stopped to look at their picture but didn’t want to go buy it because Alicia had her head buried in Evan’s armpit (“gross”). By now my head is starting to really pound. I wanted to go in and look at it but they didn’t get the number, so we passed. While we were waiting, Corey and I were talking about pictures. There was a picture of a Dinosaur eating a dinosaur and it was an ad for McDonald’s. Now we have issues with the whole McDonald’s thing at Disney so we joked about that. (I’m sure there are people who are glad it’s there, but for me I feel Mcdonald's in Disney is gross.) We were trying to do a perspective shot so it looked like Corey was eating the dinosaur in the picture, but my camera at this point was still being funky (when you turn it on it had to be set every time to the sport setting or every picture came out blurry!). We’d get the shot set up and people would come by and Corey’d move out of the way. He could have just stayed put (there was PLENTY of room for them to go around both sides of him!). This happened a couple times. Then the kids came out. Then we got set up again and more people. Set up again, and I hit OFF by accident. Now Jeff gets mad and storms off. Corey says forget it and he and Evan follow Jeff. We exit the area through another store…. Do I look for water…no…. and when we come out the other side I do not see the boys any where. I look left, I look right. Can't see them. Keep looking. NOPE.... OK I’m DONE! No need for Jeff to get all #*%( mad because my camera is stupid! Well and even if he was... why TAKE OFF!
I tell Alicia “I am getting a migraine. I’m going back to the hotel. I need to find water! Text the boys and figure out where they are to catch up to them, I’ll see you later.” I STILL have NO IDEA where the boys are! Can’t see them ANYWHERE!!! Alicia decides she is coming with me back to the hotel and… DRUM ROLL PLEASE… “Mom, I have a water in my backpack. It’s warm but you can have it.” I guzzled down that warm 16 oz water like there was no tomorrow! She texted Evan to let him know we were leaving (he always checks his texts as the girlfriend was constantly in contact with him) and off we went.
Back at the hotel, I drank A LOT more water (I think I drank three 16oz bottles in a matter of minutes!), took some motrin and laid down for a little bit. About 45 minutes later the pounding had stopped, so nap for me was done! Alicia was sound asleep on her bed. Tonight we had reservations for Chef Mickey’s. NO WAY! The thought of going anywhere with them right now made me feel sick. I was still roiling mad at Jeff for acting like a spoiled 3 year old (and I STILL can't figure out why!). I couldn’t deal with Corey’s complaints about characters again. A big part of why we had the reservations we did had nothing to do with characters, but because HE decided he was going to be a vegetarian and I tried to find restaurants where everyone would find something to eat. It just so happened that the buffets had better vegetarian choices (that HE would eat), AND they had characters! I just couldn’t do it! (oh and by the time we went to Disney he was no longer a vegetarian!)
So I went down to the concierge desk to see if there was ANYTHING sit down available at Epcot. I was hoping for Coral Reef but it was booked. Marakesh was open and at a good time for us so I took it. Cancelled Chef Mickey’s and went back up to the room. {The CM interaction here was cordial. She was polite but didn't even smile. Ok at least she wasn't rude! I still got the feeling that it was an imposition to ask her to do her job.}
At this point the boys were just getting back and in need of a nap. Alicia was just waking up, so after filling everyone in on the change in itinerary for dinner, the boys hit the sack and the girls went off to Epcot.
AK update: The boys toured the trails but didn’t take much for pictures. Corey got some fish pictures, and a couple of bird shots.
As I expected they said “You would have loved the trails mom!” I’m glad they had a good time, and I’m really disappointed that Animal Kingdom turned out to be such a difficult time for my family as a whole. I could call it a bad experience, but there was NO BLOODSHED, so over all I will just call it a DIFFERENT experience than the one I expected! I think over all they really liked the park, but next time I will do it very differently! FOOD FIRST!! Safari and trails second, and then rides. OH and biggest lesson learned: AVOID Animal Kingdom at all costs on an AM Extra Magic Hours day!
Up next: Girls afternoon at Epcot and our unexpected dinner at Marakesh
Last edited by tinker_me_happy; 09-09-2008 at 12:42 PM..
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I would've had a headache too and maybe some heart ache as well.
__________________
ºOº ~*~
Oct '99: CSR ~ May '02: CR ~ Nov '04: SOG ~ May '06: SOG ~ Dec '07: Solo @ Pop ~ May '08: Pop w/friends ~ Oct '08: SOG ~ Dec '09: Pop w/LeAnn ~ Sept '10: Solo @ Pop ~ Spring '11: AKL ~ Jan '12: Pop for 1/2 Marathon ~ Sept '12: 1st trip for DL 1/2 Marathon? ~ Feb '13: Pop w/pals? ~ Mar '13: Tokyo Disney w/PP's?
Almost named this the "It really does get better" trip report! or the "At least I didn't get arrested for killing my family" trip report! (ok... only kidding!) There were a LOT of tears at the beginning, but the CHEERS are coming, I promise!
Sorry your day at AK turned out the way it did, but at least you got your water and are feeling better. I can't believe the water was right next to you the whole time, lol. I can't wait to hear about your dinner. I'm dying to hear the cheers, you deserve it.
You are so right about that no AK on AMEMH!!! We were there on the 16th and it was hot, and crowded!! I hope your family pulls together later on this trip. Great update!
Glad to hear that your headache passed, that the boys enjoyed the rest of their time at AK and that you were able to change your ADR to a restaurant, that would better fit your crew. Can't wait to hear more
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
ºOº ~*~
Oct '99: CSR ~ May '02: CR ~ Nov '04: SOG ~ May '06: SOG ~ Dec '07: Solo @ Pop ~ May '08: Pop w/friends ~ Oct '08: SOG ~ Dec '09: Pop w/LeAnn ~ Sept '10: Solo @ Pop ~ Spring '11: AKL ~ Jan '12: Pop for 1/2 Marathon ~ Sept '12: 1st trip for DL 1/2 Marathon? ~ Feb '13: Pop w/pals? ~ Mar '13: Tokyo Disney w/PP's?
WDW - August 1997 Off Property
WDW - January 2005 AKL
WDW - May 2006 Pop Century
WDW- november-dec 2007 pop century
WDW- dec/jan 2009/2010 pop century
WDW- oct/nov 2012 art of animation
WDW- sept 2013 port Orleans riverside
WDW- july 2015 beach club
I had wanted to go on Soarin, but we never even made it out of England after entering Epcot through the International Gateway. On our way in we saw Stitch and I wanted to get a photo, but his handler was bringing him in. I did get this photo:
Not sure if he was waving, but it looks like he’s saying OH NO Papparazzi… No more pictures please!
We walked into the back of England and realized British Invasion was about to go on so we hung out there for a while.
The show was pretty good, and the sky was clearing up a bit. We poked around in the shops some too. Alice was there before the show started but we found her very annoying. I wanted to get a picture but the couple I took were TOO blurry. After British Invasion we headed off towards France as I was in need of trying a FAB. We saw the crazy guys that do the chair act. They had already started when we got there and were up to about 5 chairs. Here are some pix from where we came in:
After the stress of watching that (the trauma nurse in me could just see this guy falling! Now I KNEW he probably wouldn’t fall but still…) I decided it was time to try my first Grey Goose Slushy - YUM!! Definitely will repeat that drink!! After that we headed around the world exploring and watching the little acts along the way. We had a lot of fun just being silly girls.
As we worked our way around WS, we found the restaurant in Morocco and I'm glad we did, because I never would have found it in the dark! Marakesh is set way in the back part of the Moroccan Pavillion. I really like this Pavillion!! Lots of neat stuff to explore.
Alicia tried to talk me into another Italian Margareta – geesh she must think I’m a complete LUSH! (Sorry EJ I just couldn’t keep up the pace!) But instead we just goofed around:
I made Alicia do a bunch of pictures in China even though there was construction going on. We went inside to watch the movie, but the A.D.D. kicked in about 3 seconds after we got inside and we just wondered around for a few minutes then went out. Luckily we saw Mulan and Mushoo. But the line was really LONG. Alicia got in line, but Mushoo left. After a while we got sick of waiting so we just took her picture and left.
Alicia and I worked our way to Norway where I talked her into riding Maelstrom. She wasn’t too happy with me. It’s not that the ride is anything (except lame maybe!) but I like it! I said, look if it’s only a few minutes wait we’ll do it and if it’s too long we won’t. Well the sign said 20 minutes. She rolled her eyes at that, but it didn’t LOOK like 20 minutes so we got in. As soon as we passed under, they changed it to 40 minutes! Really it only took about 15 minutes and we were on a boat. Plus I was reading how some people are scared of it, and I remembered it being kind of lame, so I had to ride it again to find out. YUP, LAME! But I still like it! We bypassed the movie (someday I WILL watch it, but Alicia didn’t want to and I wasn’t going to make her since I made her do the ride!) and headed into the gift shop.
As we were walking around looking for something for Alicia’s BF, we ran into Jeff and Evan in the gift shop. The four of us then went over to Mexico. I tried to talk them into going on the boat ride, but I was FAR out numbered this time, so we passed. But I did get a good picture:
The girls decided to venture back to England to catch another set of British Invasion, so we went our separate ways again. While we were there we noticed the boys decided to follow us. Meanwhile....back at the ranch.....Corey was still napping!!!
At some point I decided to call and make sure Corey was awake so he wouldn't feel rushed for dinner and sure enough he was just getting up from his nap. Evan and Jeff headed back around to Moracco while Alicia and I waited for Corey on the bridge. I had to stop and try a Grand Marnier Slushie on the way to dinner, but didn't care for that as much as the Grey Goose Slushie. Everyone was feeling better and more relaxed. . . . I let Corey and Alicia have a sip of the Grand Marnier Slushie (I didn’t really care for it, plus I don’t think it had much alcohol in it, and I didn’t want to waste the $8 it cost!). We got to Morocco and then tracked Evan and Jeff down on the cell Phone.
Alicia had fun trying on a belly dancer hat. Corey was NOT happy about her trying it on him! Of course he was holding the slushy, and calling Evan so he couldn’t take it off! And my stupid camera… well let’s just say I won’t throw out the blurry photo cuz it’s too cute, even if Corey is not happy about the picture! AND soon... My camera gets FIXED!
up next Dinner at Marakesh