TO GO OR NOT TO GO, THAT IS THE QUESTION!! - Page 11 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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.
That said, PassPorter is not going away. Most of the resources will remain online for as long as we can support them, and after that we will find ways to make whatever we can available. PassPorter means a great deal to us, and to many of you, and we will do our best to keep it alive in whatever way we can. Our server costs are high, and they'll need to come out of our pockets, so in the future you can expect some changes so we can bring those costs down.
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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That is so cool... I hads no idea about the "foodie" tour at Boma. I love Stitch too, I would probably do anything for my boys to see hom and Lilo.
would you do the same for me? lmao...
Yes I just love the wonderful surprises you have in store. I too have some surprises for my children on this trip. It is so exciting and it takes place in 5 days...
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Wonderful surprises Cheryl. I am trying to decide on something for DH but haven't decided yet. I still have a couple more days. Great update. I'm sure the boys will love their basket. Hurry back. Can't wait to hear more.
Wow, Cheryl - I am so honored and had no idea I had any influence in your trip planning!!! I think you have me beat now with the magic - A basket full of goodies, a scuba tour and a food tour!! That all sounds unbelievable. And yes, I really can't say enough good things about Betsy. I recommend her every chance I get. She has the patience of a saint and was so appreciative that I was having her make 3 baskets for me Can't wait to hear more. I just love when I make "appearances" in peoples reports . . . . .
I'm glad you were happy with your appearance! For me the best part of the boards are hearing about magic in other peoples' trips!! Thank you for inspiring me!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by buzzspal2
What a great suprise Cheryl. Only 16 more days
I can't believe how soon it is!
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcc0313
What great surprises....I love Betsy - her baskets are amazing, the girls loved getting theirs. I just ordered another one from her for my neice and nephew who arrive on Friday....she just sent me the picture and it is so cute, I can't wait till my brother calls to let me know how they like it....
The food tour sounds great....my father would probably love that (I definitely have to look into that).
Can't wait to hear how they all enjoyed their surprises....
What kind of basket did you order for your niece and nephew?
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Wow, what an awesome trip with those surprises!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauren-roxy
You really have some wonderful surprises planned!!!! How exciting!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by DyanKJ130
WOW!! What wonderful surprises!! I'm sure you are going to have 3 very happy boys on your hands! Can't wait to hear more
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
What a great basket I hope you enjoy the tour at AKL and congrats on booking the SCUBA for Erik
Quote:
Originally Posted by piratefreak
Cheryl,
So glad you found Stitch. How awesome that you now get to leave a day earlier than planned. Love the baskets for the boys-I am sure they will love their surprise. What a great surprise for Eric too.
I think they will love their suprises!!! I really can't wait until I tell Eric about the Snorkeling tour!! I'm going to try to hold off until that day.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kristen C.
That is so cool... I hads no idea about the "foodie" tour at Boma. I love Stitch too, I would probably do anything for my boys to see hom and Lilo.
Stitch rocks!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by MaryEL8775
would you do the same for me? lmao...
Yes I just love the wonderful surprises you have in store. I too have some surprises for my children on this trip. It is so exciting and it takes place in 5 days...
Can I ask what surprises you have? You are leaving so soon!!!!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by ArielsMomto2
Wonderful surprises Cheryl. I am trying to decide on something for DH but haven't decided yet. I still have a couple more days. Great update. I'm sure the boys will love their basket. Hurry back. Can't wait to hear more.
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Well I only have a short update today (thank goodness, right?). I have an audit scheduled for early this afternoon and I want to make sure everything is ready. The audit is for PTA, since I am Treasurer I have to schedule an audit at the end of every fiscal year. The audit will probably turn into a pool party (just like my Cub Scout planning meeting that I hosted Sunday night did ). So getting ready is more about straightening the house, vacuming the pool, and getting some snacks ready. I know the official books are in order and I have all of my reports printed and ready to be submitted so that will be easy. I just need the audit committee to sign off.
A troll update: Remember Ugly Travelling Troll? Well.... I finally settled on a Christmas in July theme. The neighbors I "gifted" the UTT to are known as the Griswalds (remember the Chevy Chase movies? Think Christmas Vacation ). Two years ago I made the mistake of telling them that their Christmas decorations bordered on tacky (that was being polite). They took it as a challenge and kept adding more, and more, and more. Their house and yard were so bright from all of the decorations I was sure the FAA would contact them and tell them they were interferring with the airport (we are not that close). I can't even imagine what their electric bill was. People would call and ask about the "overly-decorated" house across from us. The funniest part was they ended up taking 2nd place in the neighborhood decorating contest. Some people take this very seriously and were FURIOUS!!! I got calls asking if I had exerted influence to get them the award (Eric use to be on the home owner board and I know many of the people on it). It was hilarious!!!
So I had Eric pull this gaudy plastic Santa that my dad gave us as a joke when we first bought the house out of the attic. I made a "Merry Christmas in July" sign. Then I went into their shed and pulled out 2 of their light up reindeer and set it up in the yard. The UTT is the center of my masterpiece on his Christmas THRONE (no longer known as a DELUXE potty chair). I had a co-conspirator in route bringing a tree and more junk, oops I mean props, but the Griswalds returned.
As I was setting things up our phone rings and I asked Nick to get it.
Nick: Sorry my momma can't come to the phone, she is busy vandalizing the neighbor's yard.
Thanks Nick! The mailman was delivering mail as I'm walking back and forth and setting everything up and he is just looking at me like I am crazed. As people drive by they slow down and stare.
The funniest part??? The neighbors LOVE it!! The husband wants to put more of his Christmas stuff out and run some lights out there!!!
Eric had wanted to do a computer/laptop/office setup. The husband across the street had his car broken into while in Cleveland on business and had a bunch of things including his laptop stolen. Eric wanted to play off of that, but I knew the neighbor and his wife were upset about the laptop (it had about 6 months of pictures on it that he hadn't backed up). I also debated a blowup doll in a kiddie pool, tastefully attired in a coconut bra and hula skirt, partying with the troll. Eric pointed out this would be better in the winter (when the water in the kiddie pool will freeze).
I'll post a picture of Ugly Traveling Troll celebrating Christmas in July later!
__________________
Last edited by Nick and Ryans Mom; 07-29-2008 at 09:37 AM..
Reason: spelling
OMG! I love the Christmas in July w/the UTT! I can't wait to see pictures....My Darling children would say the same thing, only they would be laughing histaricly (sp?) whilst telling ppl that I'm vandalizing...LOL. Can't wait to hear more.
OMG! I soooo want to live in your neighborhood even more now!! Too funny about Nick on the phone Dying to see a photo of that setup!!! Hope you're having a great time at the audit committee pool party. Can't wait to hear more
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OMG, this is too funny. You just have to post a picture. I bet it is so cool. Good Luck with the Audit Committee. You sound like you have everything together for it. I only worry about audits when its with the IRS!!! Them's scary. Thankfully, I only had to do that once while working. Hurry back. Can't wait to read more.
Here is a picture of the Ugly Traveling Troll on his Christmas THRONE. There is another spiral tree and a big head bobbing reindeer to the left of the troll that are not in the picture. The Merry Christmas sign shriveled due to rain.
On Monday I received my Disney Mail from Ears to You Travel!! I was so excited. I had a question about the vouchers so I called Lynn (OffKilter Lynn). While we were talking she said "You're probably already packed up!" Ummm.... no. That is when it hit me, I'm really not getting ready for this trip!!
I'm excited to go, don't get me wrong. BUT, I know that when we get back school starts. I am so not ready for school to start. I figured this out Tuesday afternoon when I walked into Super Wal-Mart and saw all of the school supplies front and center. I have to have all of DSs supplies puchased and labeled before we go on vacation. Oh. No.
Just thinking about Nick moving to the Middle School makes my stomach churn. Yesterday the Middle School packet arrived in the mail. We will miss the scheduled orientation but that is okay. Nick and I made a few trips to the Middle School in May to get familiar with the building. Nick has a private orientation session set up for early next week. I had to send an email out today regarding his bus stop, they have it around the corner which is not going to work. I have to be able to see what is going on at the stop. I'm still waiting to hear back. I'm sure it will work out.
Nick is being placed in the "advanced studies" classes. I have kept him out of the gifted program hoping that contact with "typical" students would help his social development. I'm confident that he will fit in with the other students in his classes but I know it will be a battle to get him to produce the work required for the advanced classes. I keep telling myself everything will be fine.
So, between Lynn, the MS packet, and Wal-Mart I have kicked myself into gear. I have completed all of the required forms for Nick's orientation next week, have down loaded the supply lists from the school websites, and started school supply shopping. My school readiness goal is to have all of the school supplies labeled and ready to go by next Friday.
When I got off the phone with Lynn I went to look at my WDW stash. My very meager WDW stash. Hmmm... I have a case of water, a case of Pepsi (in 12 oz plastic bottles), 12 bottles of Diet Dr. Pepper (the elixir of life), and some food (Vanilla Wafers, Cheez Its, Fruit Sensation Berry Paradis gum (can't live without it), Crystal Light mix packets), and 3 water cameras. In my Disney back pack I have our trusty old ponchos, my Passporter pouch, my Rainforest Cafe Safari Club card, moleskin, mister fan, and our autograph book. In my "surprise" box for the car trip I have a look and find book, a Disney sticker book, and the Indiana Jones Lego game for the Wii.
Well, I certainly needed to work on my stash!!! SO this week I stopped at the bank and got $40 in quarters (laundry and pressed pennies). I sorted through our pennies to find the shiniest ones, and I purchased more supplies. I picked up a small bottle of Tide (I'll also bring my bottle of Shout and Bounce sheets), M&Ms, Gardetto Snack Mix, Kool Aid drink packets, and Disney Dollars. I have been trying to get the Disney Dollars for a while and recently read on the boards that someone else had finally scored some. I bought each of the boys $100. I also found the glow sticks I had bought so I added those to my stash.
The guys infomed me that they will be brining the Xbox and PS2 on the vacation. Not the Wii. Okay.... I went and exchanged the Indiana Jones Lego game for the XBox360 version instead of the Wii version.
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I hope you enjoy the tour at AKL and congrats on booking the SCUBA for Erik 
I think you have me beat now with the magic - A basket full of goodies, a scuba tour and a food tour!! 
That all sounds unbelievable. And yes, I really can't say enough good things about Betsy. I recommend her every chance I get. She has the patience of a saint and was so appreciative that I was having her make 3 baskets for me 
Can't wait to hear more. I just love when I make "appearances" in peoples reports . . . . . 
For me the best part of the boards are hearing about magic in other peoples' trips!! Thank you for inspiring me!! 
I really can't wait until I tell Eric about the Snorkeling tour!! I'm going to try to hold off until that day. 
You are leaving so soon!!!!!!
I know the official books are in order and I have all of my reports printed and ready to be submitted so that will be easy. I just need the audit committee to sign off. 
The neighbors I "gifted" the UTT to are known as the Griswalds (remember the Chevy Chase movies? Think Christmas Vacation 
). Two years ago I made the mistake of telling them that their Christmas decorations bordered on tacky 
(that was being polite
I was sure the FAA would contact them and tell them they were interferring with the airport 
(we are not that close
The funniest part was they ended up taking 2nd place in the neighborhood decorating contest. 
Some people take this very seriously and were FURIOUS!!! 
I got calls asking if I had exerted influence to get them the award (Eric use to be on the home owner board and I know many of the people on it). 
It was hilarious!!! 
The UTT is the center of my masterpiece on his Christmas THRONE 
). I had a co-conspirator in route bringing a tree and more junk, oops I mean props, but the Griswalds returned. 
The mailman was delivering mail as I'm walking back and forth and setting everything up and he is just looking at me like I am crazed. 
LOVE 
The husband across the street had his car broken into while in Cleveland on business and had a bunch of things including his laptop stolen. 
). I also debated a blowup doll in a kiddie pool
, tastefully attired in a coconut bra and hula skirt, partying with the troll. 
Eric pointed out this would be better in the winter (when the water in the kiddie pool will freeze). 
Danny and I at Epcot 8/14/08
PassPorter Guide Author
Oh. No. 
We will miss the scheduled orientation but that is okay. Nick and I made a few trips to the Middle School in May to get familiar with the building. Nick has a private orientation session set up for early next week. 
I had to send an email out today regarding his bus stop, they have it around the corner which is not going to work. I have to be able to see what is going on at the stop. I'm still waiting to hear back. I'm sure it will work out. 
I'm confident that he will fit in with the other students in his classes but I know it will be a battle to get him to produce the work required for the advanced classes. I keep telling myself everything will be fine. 
I have completed all of the required forms for Nick's orientation next week, have down loaded the supply lists from the school websites, and started school supply shopping. My school readiness goal is to have all of the school supplies labeled and ready to go by next Friday. 
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