Just call us Holly, Heidi and Honey - Page 12 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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We had the same routine this morning that we had the morning before - - up and ready by 9 a.m. and on to the bus stop after a quick stop at the Mara (and yes, I had another cinnamon roll ). The DHS bus took a little while to arrive, but we were soon on our way (after a stop at Blizzard Beach). The bag check lines were humongous, but Ramona found a small little line on the far right hand side and we were through in minutes. She made me so proud!
We headed straight down the main drag where we stopped for a little photo op.
I had intended to go right to TSMM for FP’s, but Ramona and Carol came to a dead halt when they saw characters. They hopped in a line for Pluto and Goofy, so I ran for FP’s while they waited. At 10 a.m. the FP time was already at 4:00!
They had barely moved in line when I rejoined them, so I was glad that I had taken the chance to run for FP's. When it was our turn, we had a blast with those two.
They spent a lot of time hugging us, but then after our pictures, Pluto must have smelled Ralph and Heidi on me because he would not stop kissing and hugging me.
Finally he just took my arm and walked off with me. Oh, that made me laugh! Goofy finally ran after us and made us come back.
We next went to Animation Academy to draw a character. Ramona and Carol doubted that they could do it, but I assured them if I could then anyone could. We waited for about 15 minutes before our class began. The class voted on Piglet first and then chose the pose. Carol said her Piglet looked more like Jay Leno (which had all three of us in tears ), but we had so much fun doing the class.
We still had a little time before lunch, so we waited about 15 minutes to ride GMR. I was surprised when we ended up with the Cowboy scene since this was their first time and told them afterwards how rare that was.
It wasn't quite time for our lunch ADR yet, but not enough time to really do anything so we headed in that direction. For some reason, I always have the hardest time finding Mama Melrose. We took the long way down Streets of America and I told them about the spectacle that is Osborne Lights.
When we turned the corner, Carol was excited to see Cars since her daughter loves the movie. We hopped in the short line and soon had a picture or two.
I checked us into MM and we only waited a couple of minutes before we were seated. We decided on a carafe of sangria and then I had the vodka pasta. Everything was absolutely delicious (Ramona had a pork chop that literally melted in your mouth ).
For dessert, I didn’t want any of the standard offerings so I asked our server if I could have the frozen cappuccino (we were on the Dining plan) for my dessert. He said of course and then offered one to Ramona and Carol even though they had ordered desserts since he said that it counts as a drink on the dining plan. Who knew!?! The funny thing is that they ended up liking the frozen cappuccino better than their desserts. This was a fantastic meal and a great way to relax for a bit - - we were surprised to discover that we had been there for 2 hours!
And yet another picture that we sent to the boys back at work.
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After our 2 hour lunch at Mama Melrose’s, I did go a bit commando. I knew there were certain things that Carol and Ramona would enjoy and, at DHS, you have to plan a little more with the show times. I didn’t voice my plan, but internally I had a schedule set for us (no need to make them nervous and jumpy if I didn’t have to ). If we stayed on track, we could accomplish everything we wanted to do . . . so off we went.
Muppets . . . check . . . Back Lot Studio Tour . . . check . . . VotLM . . . check . . . AI . . . check . . . Beauty and the Beast . . . check . . . and finally ToT. Whew!
I did take a picture of this little beauty during the Back Lot Studio Tour and sent it to Thom. He loves him some Hannah Montana, so I knew he would get a kick out of the real chicken coop from the movie!
Ramona had zero desire to ride ToT, but Carol thought she would give it a try. It helped that there was no line at all. When the ride was over, her first words were “That’s it?” She really liked it though and was proud of herself for giving it a try.
We snuck a picture of the ride photo, so you can see us on the middle row!
On our way back down Sunset Blvd., we took a couple of commemorative photos.
We did everything that we set out to do and even managed to throw in a little shopping (Ramona and Carol that you could send things back to the resort and fully took advantage of it ). The park was about to close so we headed to the boat dock and took the slow boat to Epcot which had EMH that night.
By the time we got to IG, the boat was packed (they even had to stop letting people on at BW ). I had just voiced to Ramona and Carol that the people in line at BW could walk to IG faster than taking the boat when we overheard one of the skippers mumbling to himself about the people left waiting in the line (if you would rather wait 15 minutes for another boat than taking a 5 minute walk . . .).
We were sitting on the front row, so we had a plan in place to beat the massive amount of people on the boat. We were some of the first people off and thankfully the gate to IG was closest to the front of the boat. We quickly walked to the empty bag check and turnstiles and were through the gates by the time that the lines had grown. Once again . . . another proud moment!
We were ready for a meal and wanted to use one of our CS credits, but nothing looked appetizing to us at the places that we checked. I don’t eat a ton of CS, so I wasn’t the best resource for what was on the menu in each country. Before we continued making our way through the crowds in WS, we did stop for a second when Billy Ocean came out to sing.
I was used to the 80's Billy Ocean, so I was shocked to see his white hair. He still looked and sounded great though. This is the best that my little camera will zoom (or at least the best that I can do - - I shouldn't blame my camera ).
Carol and I finally decided on orange chicken in China while Ramona ran for more nachos in Mexico and met us back in China. We had a nice leisurely dinner that hit the spot. I tried the strawberry red bean ice cream (I had tasted some of Monica’s back in June) and loved it.
I knew our best chance to ride Soarin’ would be during Illuminations, so we headed in that direction. Sure enough the standby line moved quickly and we were soon requesting row 1.
Afterwards we headed over to Mouse Gears to do a bit more shopping and then Carol and I did the single rider line on TT. We waited a bit longer this time (I think that the ride had actually broken down before we entered the line because the line didn’t move for about 10 minutes and then it just flew).
We had a rather strange fellow in front of us who was talking into his watch and telling it how much time he had been in line . This time Carol and I were in different cars. Another man and I were sent to rows 1 and 2 to be single riders along with a family of four. One of the sons in the family was assigned to the back seat with his dad, but when he saw me in the front row with his mom and other brother he asked if I would switch with him. No problem because I do believe that my oldest has asked the same thing of a single rider before.
Carol was ahead of me, but I was able to catch up with her in the gift shop. We found Ramona easily and then decided to head back to AKL. We had a little wait at the bus stop once again, but finally made it on a bus and got a seat. We headed right for the room and then went to bed pretty quickly after watching a little television.
__________________
Sometimes words aren't needed . . .
Last edited by Jillybean; 12-08-2010 at 02:13 PM..
Just catching up on your TR, it looks like you ladies are having quite a lot of fun and some delicious meals too!
But, I have to tell you that I got a bit choked up when reading about your stop in St. Augustine’s. My grandparents (who we lived with until I was 16) had a home in Palm Coast and it was like a second home to me. I recall fondly many trips up A1A to St. Augustine. Roaming the old town, the one room schoolhouse and exploring the fort. As a matter of fact, when DH and I were ‘just friends’ we took a trip to visit my grandparents and went to dinner in St. Augustine after which we went on a horse an buggy ride and then walked around the fort. It was outside the fort where he spilled his heart out and told me that he loved me. And what did I say??Nothing…absolutely nothing I was so shocked that he felt the same way I did that I didn’t know what to say. And we are now married 12 years and I still haven’t lived it down. My grandparents have since passed away, and I long to visit St. Augustine again with my boys. So, thank you soooo much for the stroll down memory lane for me.
(Sorry for the long winded ramblings, but your TR has brought back so many memories.)
What a great story! Now that I've been there, I can definitely see how St. Augustine could bring out a little romance. I loved your response too.
Carol's parents had a second home there for years when she was a child, so she spent many a holiday and summer there. She had such fond memories that she wanted to share them with us. Sounds like you had a very similar experience.
I can't wait to take Thom and my girls back there, so I know your boys will love it (especially given your history there!)
Thanks for sharing and I'm glad that I brought back some happy memories!
Jill
Quote:
Originally Posted by dsteiny23
Just catching up on your TR, it looks like you ladies are having quite a lot of fun and some delicious meals too!
But, I have to tell you that I got a bit choked up when reading about your stop in St. Augustine’s. My grandparents (who we lived with until I was 16) had a home in Palm Coast and it was like a second home to me. I recall fondly many trips up A1A to St. Augustine. Roaming the old town, the one room schoolhouse and exploring the fort. As a matter of fact, when DH and I were ‘just friends’ we took a trip to visit my grandparents and went to dinner in St. Augustine after which we went on a horse an buggy ride and then walked around the fort. It was outside the fort where he spilled his heart out and told me that he loved me. And what did I say??Nothing…absolutely nothing I was so shocked that he felt the same way I did that I didn’t know what to say. And we are now married 12 years and I still haven’t lived it down. My grandparents have since passed away, and I long to visit St. Augustine again with my boys. So, thank you soooo much for the stroll down memory lane for me.
(Sorry for the long winded ramblings, but your TR has brought back so many memories.)
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). The DHS bus took a little while to arrive, but we were soon on our way (after a stop at Blizzard Beach). The bag check lines were humongous, but Ramona found a small little line on the far right hand side and we were through in minutes. 
She made me so proud! 
Goofy finally ran after us and made us come back. 
We took the long way down Streets of America and I told them about the spectacle that is Osborne Lights. 
We decided on a carafe of sangria 
and then I had the vodka pasta. Everything was absolutely delicious (Ramona had a pork chop that literally melted in your mouth 
This was a fantastic meal and a great way to relax for a bit - - we were surprised to discover that we had been there for 2 hours! 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
Glad to see you are torturing your coworkers! 
that you could send things back to the resort and fully took advantage of it 
).
and wanted to use one of our CS credits, but nothing looked appetizing to us at the places that we checked. 
I don’t eat a ton of CS, so I wasn’t the best resource for what was on the menu in each country. Before we continued making our way through the crowds in WS, we did stop for a second when Billy Ocean came out to sing. 
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