The Two Week "Mini" Disney Vacation - Page 13 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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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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You've inspired me to make my list.
I wouldn't say I buy all new stuff for vacation, but some new things. Although with having little ones they grow out of clothes so fast I have to do it anyway.
Only thought you guys might have better luck than me they threw my scrawny butt out after yelling PUT IT BACK ON PUT IT BACK ON
I'm sure I would hear that too! (along with seeing a few shudders)
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhToodles!
You've inspired me to make my list.
I wouldn't say I buy all new stuff for vacation, but some new things. Although with having little ones they grow out of clothes so fast I have to do it anyway.
Glad to be some inspiration! That's always the case with little ones. It's a good thing I'm a girl because I had two older sisters and always had their hand-me-downs. I wouldn't say we are getting ALL new stuff. And for the most part - it's stuff we would need anyway - underwear, shoes, socks, etc. Just seems like a lot sometimes.
I hear you Coop! I did buy new things for DD but she needed them anyhow and has been wearing them all summer. Oh no, wait not one dress. It's straps need shortening so she isn't exposed. Hehehe I also bought myself a new sundress to go with. So I do buy a few things.
It's a good thing when you need new stuff bc yours is too big!
I hear you Coop! I did buy new things for DD but she needed them anyhow and has been wearing them all summer. Oh no, wait not one dress. It's straps need shortening so she isn't exposed. Hehehe I also bought myself a new sundress to go with. So I do buy a few things.
It's a good thing when you need new stuff bc yours is too big!
Yay! It's a bad thing when you need new stuff bc YOU are too big! LOL
I am starting to be a list-maker,thanks to Coop.I carry around several types of list making items,so that if I think of ANYTHING,I can write it down. I also start lists when I am under stress at work,and it helps better than a stiff drink(which I gave up several months ago) I can begin to tell you how many times I have written down each days possible activities,based on our dining plan, The parks magic hours,and highest crowd averages.
NO it doesn't take away any of the fun we have at the parks,and resorts. It saves a lot of frustration to pre-plan. Here's an example:
One day our last trip we wanted to go to one of the parks.So did most of the other guests at AKL. Coop gave me "the look" and we scooted over to another bus loading area for another destination.We got there,and hopped on an almost empty monorail.
Got to the park we wanted to go to in the first place,well a head of most of the others that were waiting at AKL. Sounds confusing,but Coop knew that even if it was a round about way,we'd get there quicker.Know your destinations other routes,it will save you a lot of frustration!
I agree Chuck that figuring out various plans of attack is a good thing. I like it for when we are standing around staring at the map figuring out what to do. I told my DH that this year we are doing 2 things different.
1.) we are not criss crossing the parks. We are going to do each area and then proceed.
2.) we are not standing around playing the "What do you want to do next?" "Idk, what do you want to do?" game. If we can't decide what to do, we are doing whatever is the closest attraction...whether we have done it or not. We can decide on the next plan while in line for that ride.
@ Coop giving you "the look". I think all us wives have that look. Mothers too. The death stare!
Part of my getting ready for another weekend of performances(only 4 left) is to keep busy at home. Chores,ect. help,but ALWAYS there's sometime to do vacation stuff.We just booked our hotel stay for our drives,there and back. We had a HORRIBLE experience on the way down last year,so we try to stay at Hilton Garden Inns.They are a little expensive,but clean and safe and we like to relax and not worry about anything.
I'm big on what to wear,it sounds a little diva-ish,but I dislike sloppy dressing for ANY occasion.When I was a kid,in the 60's,my Father would wear khakis and a sportshirt,at the minimum,just to go to the hardware store. I wasn't too comfortable wearing Tshirts,but after losing a few pounds I feel better about it.Unfortunately I have about 30 Ts I want to wear,and we're only there 10 days HAHA
Tips for driving: If you are going to get new bags,duffels, ect.Make sure they fit in the car you're going to drive.Now those of you with mini-vans,suv's ect. that's no problem.Coop and I asked to store manager if we could take the bags outside to see if they fit in the Mini. He laughed,they did fit,and we bought them. BTW rolling your clothes really takes up less room,and fewer wrinkles.Another tip: get bags with wheels! It seems everything involving moving into your room,on property is UPHILL! Especially at AKL Jambo House.
Good luck with the last 4 performances! Yay for getting the hotels booked for there and back. I agree it is worth the money for the peace of mind.
for losing a few pounds! That is always a good thing.
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2.) we are not standing around playing the "What do you want to do next?" "Idk, what do you want to do?" game. .
@ Coop giving you "the look". I think all us wives have that look. Mothers too. The death stare!
Too funny! Last time that's all Chuck was asking "What's next?" He started asking that from the planning stages. Every time we finished one thing he started in with "What's next?" Drove me crazy!
Quote:
Originally Posted by OCEANGRLLG
Just gettin in here! Great start!
- and Welcome back! Hope your trip was great!
Quote:
Originally Posted by OneLittleSpark
Good luck with the last 4 performances! Yay for getting the hotels booked for there and back. I agree it is worth the money for the peace of mind.
for losing a few pounds! That is always a good thing.
Sounds like things are coming along.
They are coming along. He's losing. Me - not so much. I will have to post the story of last time. It was scary! So I def will pay the extra $$.
First - the story of the trip down last time. This is the reason why we only stop at Hilton Garden Inn anymore. We decided that we were going to stop around Macon as I had with my BFF in the spring. But instead of spending $120/night at the Hilton Garden Inn, I decided to try to save some $$ and booked something at Econolodge. It was supposed to be one of the "Quality Inn" group and have an overnight with a hot breakfast buffet offered. Well, we were driving in at about 11:30 at night (thanks to traffic jams) and it wasn't "just off the expressway". It was WAY off the expressway! We got there (bad part of town), checked in (interrupted the desk clerk's tv watching and telephone call) and went to our room. Ewwww. The room was old, worn and dirty. I didn't even get in bed. I napped on top of the covers! DH was checking on the car every hour. So at about 3:30 in the am - we left. It was not relaxing at all! We should've just kept on driving! So yes - from now on I will pay the $$$ to stay at a nice (safe) place!
On to current events -
Today is Michael’s (DSS - dear stepson) 20th birthday. But he will be spending it with DH as they have their “double header” today -matinee and an evening performance. So we have to plan birthday dinner for later in the week. But the play will be done after tomorrow. Last night I went to the play with my BFF and her husband. We had dinner first and then saw the performance then we went out again so Chuck could have something to eat. It was a great night, great performance, so-so meal but great friends!
This week plans to be very busy. Here’s my week in a nutshell. Tomorrow I start my work week. (36 hours in 3 days) Tuesday DMiL is having back surgery - unfortunately it is at a different hospital so I won’t be able to check in on her. Wednesday we have the cable guy coming out “between 12 and 4” which we all know means closer to 4! Then Thursday we are having dinner with BFF and her husband and her daughters. Her oldest is leaving for college next week! Then Friday is birthday dinner for Michael (which I must find time to cook and clean the house) He is bringing his GF and hopefully his sister! Then next Saturday is the cast party for the play and I would like to try to get out to see DMiL (she lives about an hour away so it’s not exactly a “drop by”) Then back to work on Sunday. Sheesh - where did that week go?
Today, since DH will be gone all day - I have my “running around” to do. Bank, grocery store, fruit market. I also want to go to Target or WalMart to look for tank tops (they are on sale and I must get this stuff now even though we don’t leave for Disney for 75 days!) But first I must eat breakfast - NEVER go grocery shopping while hungry. It gets too expensive!
“You can't just let nature run wild.” - Walt Disney