Forums Closed
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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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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!
Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!
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Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.
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07-19-2003, 07:59 AM
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#166
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Community Rank: Globetrotter 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: massachusetts
Posts: 3,672
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Re: Tikibird Goes West to Walk in Walt\'s Footsteps - June 2003, DLH- COMPLETED!!!
Wonderful Trip Report, I love hearing how much fun your sons have with you there. My 3 nephews are 10 & 13, I am taking them to the World next week. Each has been with me seperately. Hearing about your trips with your Boys makes me think my boys will still want to go when they are older. [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img] Now its time to think about a trip to Disneyland in the Future, maybe for the 50th Anniversary.
BTW... Andy has a very nice smile, tell him he should pack more than one or two in his suitcase. He is quite handsome with that Smile. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
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07-19-2003, 09:42 AM
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#167
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Faith, Trust, Pixie Dust
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Sasquatch Territory, Pacific Northwest
Concierge Level: 8
Posts: 17,166
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Re: Tikibird Goes West to Walk in Walt\'s Footsteps - June 2003, DLH- COMPLETED!!!
Ahhh Sandy...it can't end! [img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img]
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07-19-2003, 06:20 PM
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#168
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Community Rank: Trailblazer 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Pittsburgh, PA , USA
Posts: 5,943
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Re: Tikibird Goes West to Walk in Walt\'s Footsteps - June 2003, DLH- COMPLETED!!!
Day Six – part one - Thursday, June 12th – A Disney Meal for the Road
Wake up at 7:00 a.m. Still kind of sad that we’re leaving. I get one last cup of coffee at the coffee house and sit in my spot by the koi fish pond for devotions. When I get back, while everyone else is getting ready, I snap some shots of the Disney touches in our room.
This light fixture was over the sink.
The castle on the headboards
A map of Disneyland on the TV Cabinet
A mouse lamp!
A picture of early DL Adventureland
I really enjoyed these touches, as well as the wonderful art in the lobbies, and I ended up being very glad we stayed here.
Craig is ready to go with his new Mad Hatter hat (NOW I remember what it was he picked up at WOD!). We take a walk over to Goofy’s Kitchen. We are told it will be about 10 minutes, so we hang out in the lounge area.
After 5 minutes or so, we are called to the podium. Here you pay upfront prior to your meal, and the amount includes the gratuities. No DC discount on breakfast, which comes to $93.93 total. Now where else but in Disney would you plop down $100 for breakfast?
I’m glad we did, though. It gave us one last encounter with things Disney. The buffet here is wonderful!! I particularly enjoy the cinnamon roll, and Belle’s lasagna. Andy gets an omelet made, which looks quite yummy!
Goofy actually made it to our table this trip, as did Pocohontas. I still hear that she was pretty nice looking! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
The character interaction was still kind of weak though. But, we enjoy our last meal at DL, and then decide to take one last walk around the DLH grounds.
Next up, Day 6, Part 2 – Strolling The DLH grounds, and leaving DL
[ 07-19-2003, 06:35 PM: Message edited by: tikibird ]
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07-19-2003, 08:21 PM
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#169
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Community Rank: Legend 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: North Central Ohio
Posts: 21,629
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Re: Tikibird Goes West to Walk in Walt\'s Footsteps - June 2003, DLH- COMPLETED!!!
More great installments Sandy!! We've never done TSI. We'll have to check it out the next time we get there.
How great that Stitch talked to you! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
Sorry your report is coming to an end. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]
[ 07-19-2003, 08:33 PM: Message edited by: luvnwdwgal ]
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07-19-2003, 09:17 PM
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#170
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Community Rank: Explorer 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Poinciana, Florida
Posts: 9,422
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Re: Tikibird Goes West to Walk in Walt\'s Footsteps - June 2003, DLH- COMPLETED!!!
I started reading this TR early this morning and have been popping in and out all day to catch up. I'm a little sad it's ending. [img]graemlins/pout.gif[/img] Thanks Sandi.
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07-20-2003, 12:31 AM
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#171
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Community Rank: Adventurer 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: San Diego
Posts: 959
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Re: Tikibird Goes West to Walk in Walt\'s Footsteps - June 2003, DLH- COMPLETED!!!
Tiki, you sure have a way with a Trip Report! We have added talking to Stitch to our list of "must-do's" for next month, as well as a WIWF tour for me and DD. How cool was your trip! Sorry about the rough start, but it all came out good in the end.
Thank you for the TR!
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07-20-2003, 12:32 AM
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#172
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Mrs. Jack Sparrow
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Aboard the Black Pearl
Concierge Level: 7
Posts: 21,228
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Re: Tikibird Goes West to Walk in Walt\'s Footsteps - June 2003, DLH- COMPLETED!!!
I think Pocohontas made both boys happy. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] Love the Pic's from your room. [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img] Anther trip done. [img]graemlins/pout.gif[/img] But now you have WDW to look forward too!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
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07-20-2003, 08:32 AM
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#173
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Community Rank: Jetsetter 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 2,873
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Re: Tikibird Goes West to Walk in Walt\'s Footsteps - June 2003, DLH- COMPLETED!!!
Wow, I love the artwork and such in your room. Way cool! Glad breakfast was good too. Still sorry it has to end.
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07-20-2003, 01:47 PM
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#174
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Community Rank: Trailblazer
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Pittsburgh, PA , USA
Posts: 5,943
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Re: Tikibird Goes West to Walk in Walt\'s Footsteps - June 2003, DLH- COMPLETED!!!
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07-20-2003, 01:54 PM
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#175
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Community Rank: Trailblazer
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Pittsburgh, PA , USA
Posts: 5,943
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Re: Tikibird Goes West to Walk in Walt\'s Footsteps - June 2003, DLH- COMPLETED!!!
Day 6, Part 2 Continued…
We relax in the hotel home when we return, and the guys are enthralled for some reason by the Trip tips (DL’s version of Zip tips!).
We finish packing, and leave around 10:45 a.m. to head back to the car, after calling the front desk to tell them we are checking out.
It seems we have a lot more stuff (I know Craig did – turns out he got me this awesome theme park exclusive Indy figure for my birthday!) than when we started!
I snap a shot of the entrance on our way out,
And get a final shot of the boys, as well.
We get to the car, and Andy CAREFULLY loads the luggage – no scuff marks this time!
We have a quick 20 minute drive to the airpot, and no hassles returning the car. Total cost, with the couple gallons of gas we used - $105 for the six days. Even though we only used it once other than back/forth to the airport – it would have been $80 plus tips for the shuttle, so I felt it was worth it to have the car. We had planned on going to the beach one evening, but that just never worked out. Good reason to start planning another trip, right?! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
Checking in at the John Wayne airport was a thing of beauty after the disaster we had faced in Pittsburgh! Curbside check-in of luggage – no wait at either the ticket or security counters! Lovely! I get my 800-speed film (10 rolls!) hand-checked and we are ready for lunch.
Craig wants CHICKEN nuggets at McD’s, Chris has pizza, and I get a sandwich. Andy gets a hard boiled egg and a yogurt (yeech!). Things go very smoothly until we are on the plane with 5 minutes to take off and still no Andy (he told us he would meet us on the plane). He doesn’t like sitting still – they asked me where he was, and actually paged him, and nothing. I was sure he was going to miss the flight and was ready to let him do so. [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] Finally, he shows up. Sigh!
“The Recruit” was the film on the return. This was lame the first time I saw it, so I passed, and read my new Disney customer service book. We got sandwiches for a snack. The flight home was very bumpy (turns out there were tornadoes in the area that evening!), but we landed safely.
By the time we got to the end of the moving walk way there was a torrential down pour going on. Andy went to get the car while we waited. We all got soaked, but were soon on our way.
I was very scared initially, as I was once in an accident in the rain, and we could not see the cars in front of us. I decided to pray that either the rain would stop/let up, or that we would be protected through the storm and get home safely. Andy asked me what I was doing, and I told him. Next thing I knew, the rain tapered away, and then there was nothing - not even a drop of rain! Andy (who is not a believer) even said “That was weird!.” As we turned off the main road to our home, the rain started, and by the time we parked our car, it was a full-fledged storm again. Chris said “At least it could have waiting until we unloaded the car!” I replied “But I only prayed that we would get home safely.” God just never ceases to amaze me! [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img]
Last up – The Wrap Up!
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07-20-2003, 02:10 PM
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#176
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Community Rank: Trailblazer
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Pittsburgh, PA , USA
Posts: 5,943
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Re: Tikibird Goes West to Walk in Walt\'s Footsteps - June 2003, DLH- COMPLETED!!!
The Wrap Up!
Well here we are – 33 type-written pages and 160 scanned pictures later (I love my Canon 35mm, but think I’m going digital next trip – that’s a lot of scanning!).
I hope that I have been able to give you a good overview of what the Disneyland Resort is like. It is now truly is a resort destination with two great theme parks and a wonderful Downtown Disney section.
California Adventure – we really liked this park (don’t understand the bad reviews it has been given), and wish we had spent some more time in it.
Disneyland – I think I have communicated my passion for this place. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] This trip cemented its first place on my list of theme parks. Just a little extra magic here – I think it has something to do with Walt’s involvement in the park. [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img]
Disneyland Hotel – Wonderful place to stay, particularly if you are interested in Disney and Disneyland history!
Length of Stay – next time will be a week (or more!), with perhaps a day for Hollywood or the Beach. Tara is giving us a bunch of great ideas! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
Going in early June – Was not crazy about the “June Gloom” grayness, but did appreciate the milder temperatures. Wish the parks had been open later to accommodate the crowds.
A Walk in Walt’s Footsteps Tour - Just do it! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
Family Vacations – Although it started out a bit roughly, I treasure the time we got to spend with the boys. Craig is off to the WDW College Program in the Fall, and it looks as though Chris is going to get an opportunity to have one of the songs on his demo CD released on a techno compilation in the Spring of next year. Somehow, I think that they might just make room for a Disney trip here and there with us in the future, though! [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img]
I will be happy to answer any questions that any of you have about taking a trip to DL – just PM or email me.
Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement. I hope that you enjoyed our “Walk in Walt’s Footsteps.”
Sandy
[ 07-20-2003, 02:25 PM: Message edited by: tikibird ]
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07-20-2003, 02:34 PM
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#177
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Community Rank: Legend
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: North Central Ohio
Posts: 21,629
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Re: Tikibird Goes West to Walk in Walt\'s Footsteps - June 2003, DLH- COMPLETED!!!
Sandy, thanks so much for sharing your trip to DL with us, I truly loved every word and picture! Someday DH and I will have to get out that way to experience it for ourselves. DH is involved with the youth group at the Church/School he works at, and just recently started Lay Ministry classes. I mentioned to him about your morning devotions you take while on vacation. This fall we will be taking our first cruise and managed to get a cabin with a balcony. What a great place that will be for devotions! Thanks again! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
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07-20-2003, 06:57 PM
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#178
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Community Rank: Explorer
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Poinciana, Florida
Posts: 9,422
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Re: Tikibird Goes West to Walk in Walt\'s Footsteps - June 2003, DLH- COMPLETED!!!
Thank you for the wrap up Sandi. See you next month. [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img]
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07-20-2003, 08:34 PM
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#179
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Mrs. Jack Sparrow
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Aboard the Black Pearl
Concierge Level: 7
Posts: 21,228
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Re: Tikibird Goes West to Walk in Walt\'s Footsteps - June 2003, DLH- COMPLETED!!!
 Thank you for sharing your trip with us Sandy. I am looking forward to meeting you in 1 month and 7 days. |
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07-20-2003, 08:44 PM
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#180
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Community Rank: Legend
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Newtown Square, PA
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 23,859
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Re: Tikibird Goes West to Walk in Walt\'s Footsteps - June 2003, DLH- COMPLETED!!!
Tiki, that w a totally awesome trip report!!! You are the queen! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] ( Even if your choice of lodging is a little off at WDW. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] ) and oh my gosh!! Check this out!!  [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] |
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