The way We do a Disney Re-Do ~~ Beach club Aug 13-22 - FINISHED!!! 1/20 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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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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Before leaving our resort, I stopped by the concierge desk to request turn down service. I have never experienced turn down service—my only knowledge of it is from this board!
So imagine how I felt when I stepped to the only available CM at the concierge desk, and told her I wanted to arrange for turn down service, and she looked at me like I was crazy. She asked me to repeat my request. I did. She said they did not have that here. I told her that all Deluxe resorts have turn down service. She again disagreed. (Not trying to clarify or offer to ask someone else for help, but just flat out said there was no such thing there). I did my best to explain what turn down service is (granted my knowledge was slim), and she said, “oh—you want the housekeeper to clean your room again?” I tried one more time to explain/request, all the while trying to make eye contact with one of the other CM’s at the desk who may be able to rescue us, without speaking so loud that other guests could hear.
I eventually gave up. I said, “never mind,” and walked away. I was frustrated, and I may have became rude if I continued trying. As I was walking toward the door to meet my family, I spied the empty Bell Services desk, and thought I would ask them for information on how to arrange for turn down service (at this point, I am DETERMINED to get it! LOL!). I asked they guy at the desk about how I can request it and he said he would take care of it for me. Then I asked the best way to arrange for it in the future---and he said...
to call from the room or stop by the concierage desk! I explained my problem, he laughed and said they would provide more training.
We headed out into the sauna towards Epcot…
As we entered through the international gate, our first stop was at the gift shop—to pick up one of those cool spray bottle fans everyone seems to be using…because of the…
~Weather Report—Saturday August 14: High of 96 with 78 degree dew point and heat index of 106. It was cloudy and breezy this day, so it actually felt okay. The spray bottle, the sweat towel, and the air conditioned attractions of Future World were our friends! ~
We then picked up some fast passes for Test track and headed for the Land pavilion where our first stop was Soarin’. We used our GAC to enter this line through the FP lane. Last trip, Delaney was not quite tall enough for many of the rides. She was now pushing 41 inches in shoes, and was thrilled to be able to experience so many more attractions. Soarin’ was a family favorite last trip, and Delaney loved it as much as the rest of us!
As we walked up the corridor to Soarin’ the first time, we had to stop and remember how this was the spot we met “Disney Grandpa Jim.” (Anyone who read my PTR will remember our encounter with “WDW Gpa Jim” as a major turning point in our family’s first Disney experience. He gave us his business card as we said goodbye and I sent him a thank you email after we returned home. We have been in contact throughout the past year. He has “adopted” us as his Disney family and has even sent little WDW trinkets for the kids.) It is incredible for me to consider, given the HUGE impact he had on our attitude and vacation, that we, in turn, had some small positive impact in him J
After Soarin, we visited circle of life and living with the land. Being the dorky science geek family that we are---we all enjoyed living with the land and would definitely do it again on our next trip! The kids all had questions as we moved along our tour. It was very neat!
Next stop: The Disney Visa Character Meet and Greet.
We got the Disney Visa as soon as we started planning the first trip, but this is the first time we took advantage of this benefit. We needed to ask a CM where to find the meet and greet because it was not obvious to us at first glance. Once we were pointed in the right direction, I realized why we passed it by—it was nothing more than a small line of people and a small sign!
As we got in line, the one family in front of us was taken into the room and we were now the front of the line! We chatted with the CM about the characters we would meet as she took down the info from my Visa card. She told me they “never know” who will be visiting that day. After a bit more chatter (we were waiting about 10 minutes), I told her that I wish I knew who we would meet so I could prepare my ASD child—she has a hard time with some of the fur characters and it would be nice to have a plan. The CM then talked a bit quieter just to me, and told me that they do change every half hour or so, but Mickey or Minnie is always there along with one of the other fab 5. That was so nice of her to give me that information! Unfortunately, before I could prepare Hannah, we were being escorted into the doorway for our private meet and greet.
We walked in to see Mickey and Goofy waving, and about 3 CMs making an excited fuss. This was WONDERFUL! I loved EVERYTHING about this way of meeting characters! What a great opportunity for kids who struggle with over-stimulation and sensory overload to meet characters. Not only was our wait very short, we got to meet two characters at the same time, and did it in a large, wide open private room! That said…my girls were not as thrilled!
Hannah has always had a fear of fur characters. I know many kids are nervous around them—as is often the case with spectrum kids, her fear is intensified way beyond normal limits! (Side story: When she was 5, she spent almost 2 months working herself up to not be afraid to meet Santa! But she was determined…and she talked herself into it! It was our first picture with Hannah and Santa…back to WDW…).
Delaney, has grown up watching her big sisters’ reaction to life. She has learned to be afraid of characters, but it is completely different sort of fear than Hannah’s…It would be hard to explain…one of the many subtle ways that ASD manifests a bit different than “typical” behavior…BUT since she takes her lead from Hannah, she will not meet characters until she has witnessed Hannah doing it.
As soon as Hannah saw Goofy and Mickey…she started to scream and froze in one spot. The CMs in the room were amazing. They tried to encourage her to meet the characters, and got them to do silly things. I approached a CM, flashed my GAC, and said it may be best to not push it. The Cm gave me a knowing smile/nod and said Hannah could stand by the exit door. Hannah agreed, but she faced the door, not us. Once quiet, Delaney also stopped screaming, and I motioned the CM to try her encouragement on the little one. The CM’s in this room were INCREDIBLE—so unbelievably patient! We started the photo shoot with just me and DS, and after a couple pictures, Delaney wanted to meet Mickey. So DH picked her up and brought her to meet Mickey—but she would not go near Goofy
About an hour after the meet and greet, our free 5X7 picture would be available at the camera center. I asked the Cm how often we could do this and they said only once a day. I added it to the list for the next Epcot day.
Sounds like a great start at Epcot. I still think the Grandpa Jim story is neat! I love Soarin too, I am SO nervous during the whole thing, but love it and it seems to take a while for the "high" to wear off afterward. LOL
My DD didn't seem to care one way or another during the whole ride, though her being on it scared the living daylights out of me. I am not so sure I want her to ride it next year when we go and she will be 7! She will also be tall enough for some of the bigger rides and I don't know how I feel about that either. On her part she seemed to just go along with whereever and whatever we did. She did want to ride Splash Mountain and BTM, but I didn't let her on BTM as it is SO loud and she seemed to have a loudness sensitivity I didn't know about till that trip. I assume she will make the 1 inch she needs by next Sept. to ride the 44" height requirement rides, so....
Looks like we both updated today! Yay for us!!! Can't wait to hear more, no pressure though....
I skipped the Disney Visa picture, not realizing it was a PRIVATE thing! THanks Shelly, I will now add this to the must do list!
LOVE LOVE LOVE the new sig pic! You look great, like your having a ball, being a kid! Which is the point of WDW IMO, the ability to be 5 again and "play". Sounds like a great photo session!
I'm glad to hear how you handle Hannah's fear of characters. I stood in one line on my trip, it will be in my TR, so I wont say much...just this...
If your kid is crying and screaming, don't force your kid.
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Yay! I've been waiting for updates. You write very well, and I have enjoyed everything of yours I've read so far. As someone who will be taking her 6 and 4 yr olds to WDW for the first time in the spring, it's been helpful to read real reports thru the eyes of someone who is just figuring out the parks.
I skipped the Disney Visa picture, not realizing it was a PRIVATE thing! THanks Shelly, I will now add this to the must do list!
LOVE LOVE LOVE the new sig pic! You look great, like your having a ball, being a kid! Which is the point of WDW IMO, the ability to be 5 again and "play". Sounds like a great photo session!
I'm glad to hear how you handle Hannah's fear of characters. I stood in one line on my trip, it will be in my TR, so I wont say much...just this...
If your kid is crying and screaming, don't force your kid.
Can't wait to hear more!
Thanks for the positives! About the screaming kid in line for characters--I think the key is really knowing your kids, and that includes knowing when and how to "push" (or nudge) them. There will be more about that later in my report...but when it comes to Hannah--when she is set against something--there is NO getting her to change her mind!
Quote:
Originally Posted by KathleensKid
Yay! I've been waiting for updates. You write very well, and I have enjoyed everything of yours I've read so far. As someone who will be taking her 6 and 4 yr olds to WDW for the first time in the spring, it's been helpful to read real reports thru the eyes of someone who is just figuring out the parks.
Your comment just gave me tingles! Thank you! I wish I would have discovered the trip reports before my first trip. I researched a lot of factual information, but never posted questions, or read trip reports. After that stressful trip, I was determined to learn more about what our family needed and how to make WDW work for us...the TRs have been invaluable to me! Hope you are having lots of fun planning your first trip!!!
Wonderful updates! I couldn't help but get teary eyed again reading about Gpa Jim. Isn't it amazing how things "just happen" at just the right moment sometimes. I'm so glad you ran into him that day. And so nice that you remained in contact. With all the bad stuff we hear about everyday, isn't it great to know that there are still good people out there!?
I am so glad you got to do the private meet & greet! Wonderful picture!! Can't wait to read more!
I'm glad you were able to do the VISA meet and greet. We've tried to do it twice now but the line never moves! Maybe if we would get there right at the beginning, we could be a little luckier!
__________________
A Fairy Godmother wannabe -
Look what a little Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo can do!
I was so excited when I saw that you updated. I ♥ your TR. It is really enjoyable to read. So funny about the turn down service. Glad you did not give up. I'm so there with you when you said you were trying to talk loud enough so that maybe someone else would hear you and know what you were talking about. I've done that before too. lol
Soarin is my favorite ride ever and I'm so glad you brought up Grandpa Jim again. I love that story so much. I think that is such a magical moment and a blessing that you all have kept in touch. It make me teary to think about it.
The meet and greet sounds like so much fun to be able to have a private meeting. Sounds like a great start to another great day. Can't wait to read more.
Yea, great update, thanks for sharing! I love the meet and greet, sounds like it went pretty well. Hannah at least was in the room, a small victory! Can't wait to hear more!
That update is making me want to get a Disney Visa, what a great meet and greet. Now, I am dying to know if you ever got the turn down service or not?? I hate when the CM not only are un-informed but talk to you like your the stupid one.
Can't wait for more
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
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She asked me to repeat my request. I did. She said they did not have that here. 
I told her that all Deluxe resorts have turn down service. She again disagreed. (Not trying to clarify or offer to ask someone else for help, but just flat out said there was no such thing there). I did my best to explain what turn down service is (granted my knowledge was slim), and she said, “oh—you want the housekeeper to clean your room again?” I tried one more time to explain/request, all the while trying to make eye contact with one of the other CM’s at the desk who may be able to rescue us, without speaking so loud that other guests could hear. 
"Sparky"(My first trip.)
As someone who will be taking her 6 and 4 yr olds to WDW for the first time in the spring, it's been helpful to read real reports thru the eyes of someone who is just figuring out the parks.
I couldn't help but get teary eyed again reading about Gpa Jim. Isn't it amazing how things "just happen" at just the right moment sometimes. I'm so glad you ran into him that day. And so nice that you remained in contact. With all the bad stuff we hear about everyday, isn't it great to know that there are still good people out there!? 
Susan
Great times in Epcot! I remember Grandpa Jim! 
Great picture from the meet and greet! 
Cassie
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