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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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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mark really has a way with the donkeys. They all seem to love him.
They certainly do. He denies it, but I think it's obvious!
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It loos like they were having a great time playing in that field.
I adore those photos for exactly that reason - donkeys just having fun playing.
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It is really strange that they wouldn't offer you a king room since they were empty. Maybe the stone walls are too thick for a wifi signal . There are parts of the building I work in that cell phones don't work,
Liz
That could be it actually - now you say it, I think they may have mentioned the stone walls.
yay!!! Now that is some quality donkey time. How fun! Sometimes I think the animals save all their goofiness and cuteness for the end of the day when most visitors are gone. It's like they know they're not "on display" anymore and they can relax and be themselves!
It's funny you say that, that was the impression I got that night.
Great time with the donkeys and amazing how playful they are with each other! They certainly have a good time here and cared for so well! Mark seems to have a knack with your boys! Too funny with the donkey that had the gas problem! I wouldn't want to be anywhere near there! Perhaps, they need to change his diet!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Saturday 16 June – part nine: seeing more donkeys after hours
Having petted the donkeys, we wanted to wash our hands and Mark remembered that there was a hand washing station in the main barn, so we headed that way. We were able to park up outside and, as the gates were open, we headed inside. We spotted one of my adoption donkeys, Ruby (she’s the huge one), so I got some shots of her…
It felt very naughty to be in the main barn after the place had technically closed, but we weren’t the only ones here. There was an elderly guy just sitting on a bench near the entrance, so he was obviously enjoying some alone time here as well. The donkeys were certainly inquisitive to see humans at this late hour of the day!
We made our way out, passing by some of the nearby houses in the village here. As Mark said, you need to love donkeys to live here. That would work for me!
We made our way back to the bed and breakfast….
We parked up and headed across the road to the Bowd Inn, where we’d booked for dinner. As soon as we walked in, I was glad we’d booked when I saw how busy it was.
As soon as we walked in, Mark was happy as they were doing a carvery. I have to be honest, I really fancied that too, but the vegetarian option was apricot and goat’s cheese, so given I’m allergic to apricot, that didn’t work for me. I really fancied a fish dish, but the only one that they said came with the carvery was a fish pie and I wasn’t that keen on it. I had a word with our server and he basically asked what fish I’d like. I asked what could the chef do and he came back and told me that they could do grilled sea bass. Sold!
Oh my goodness, this was so good. It just tasted amazingly fresh and trust me, we have sea bass most weeks, so I know what ours is usually like from the supermarket and this was 100 times better.
Mark, of course, happily got the carvery with some meat… Ok a lot of meat then…
For dessert, I opted for the cheeseboard, which was very good…
Mark had the banana split and I hasten to add that this looked better in reality, but for some reason, the camera just didn’t want to focus properly on it.
When we were done, we settled up the check and walked back over the road to our bed and breakfast. It wasn’t long before we were in bed and asleep.
The weather today was mainly dry, but cloudy with some rain and some sun later and temperatures in the mid 60s. Today we walked 4.3 miles. The best thing today was having a relaxing time in the Bath Thermae Spa with everyone The worst thing today was the rain in Bath that really shortened our time there with Anne, Sean and Sara. The funniest thing today was those donkeys out playing! Today we tried walking around Sidmouth’s shops And the result was they have a good selection and a lot of unique places to go. The most magical moment today was seeing the donkeys playing.
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Definitely a wonderful ending to the day. Happy donkeys and happy bellies! Dinner looked delicious, so glad the chef could work something special for you!
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Tanya
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So cute to see the donkeys frolicking and playing! Your dinners looked yummy! If I may ask, what is a carvery? To me, that is where they carve the meats in front of you (usually beef, turkey, ham, ...), but since there was a fish stew, maybe it means something different there? I’m always curious as I find our little language differences fascinating.
So cute to see the donkeys frolicking and playing! Your dinners looked yummy! If I may ask, what is a carvery? To me, that is where they carve the meats in front of you (usually beef, turkey, ham, ...), but since there was a fish stew, maybe it means something different there? I’m always curious as I find our little language differences fascinating.
No, you're spot on - that's exactly what a carvery is over here as well. It's just these days (thank goodness!) that they offer options for those who don't eat meat. Usually it's something cooked separately in the kitchen, then you can have the vegetables, potatoes etc. to go with it on your plate. It's nice, as I no longer feel excluded in the way I once did....