Halloween, Hawaii and holiday celebrations - the Hawaii section THIS SECTION COMPLETED 1/13 - Page 14 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
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.
To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.
If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.
Is that one picture of the sunrise a photo or a painting?
They're all photos.
Quote:
Do you happen to have a picture of your refillable mugs? Or did you already post one and I missed it?
You see - I knew this would happen! I kept saying to Mark I'd get home and forget to photograph something. They are in the kitchen cupboard somewhere, so I'll try and dig them out and get some photos for you...
The tours we saw advertised in the Daily Iwa (it's their version of a Personal Navigator from the cruises ) were for the ranch on the other side of O'ahu or shopping. I didn't see a single excursion to Pearl Harbor. I assume that people either drive (the car park was reasonably full) or maybe they rent a car for the day if they want to go somewhere special, as I know there was a car rental desk at the resort. Obviously we didn't explore that option any further, as we already had one. As far as I know, none of the main tour operators collect from Aulani. It's one of apparently only about eight or nine resorts in O'ahu not in Waikiki, so the pick-ups are naturally concentrated in Waikiki.
Thanks for this info! This is one reason why I probably wouldn't stay at Aulani if I ever give in and go to Hawaii. I won't have a car and I'd be much more interested in touring around and seeing everything than being at the resort and pool, beautiful though it is.
I haven't really done any research on Hawaii recently, so I am floored by the amount of traffic there that you all have had to deal with. Glad you made it and didn't have to park too far away. I love the picture of the morning sun reflecting off of Aulani. Gorgeous!
Wow this is bringing back so many memories. I love the documentation of your arrival flight into the islands as I was getting excited (as if I'm there with you).
I don't remember the traffic being so bad but I haven;t been since the mid 90's and didn't drive in Honolulu, more just Waikiki.
Wait til you see the outer islands at night - the sky is simply amazing when you get away from the city lights.
There is just something about all the open air stores and lobbies it is so beautiful and peaceful.
I haven't really done any research on Hawaii recently, so I am floored by the amount of traffic there that you all have had to deal with.
I did a lot of research and found no mention of it. The only guidebook that did tell it how it is was O'ahu Revealed, which I can thoroughly recommend. I learnt a lot from it and it's written by real locals and packed with information only they would know.
And of course Jeannie did her best to warn me, although I must admit nothing really prepares you for how bad it is out there!
Quote:
Glad you made it and didn't have to park too far away. I love the picture of the morning sun reflecting off of Aulani. Gorgeous!
Wow this is bringing back so many memories. I love the documentation of your arrival flight into the islands as I was getting excited (as if I'm there with you).
Oh I'm so glad you said that - I always think that's the best praise, if someone feels like they're there with us!
Quote:
I don't remember the traffic being so bad but I haven;t been since the mid 90's and didn't drive in Honolulu, more just Waikiki.
It may well have got worse, and we didn't drive between Honolulu and Waikiki at peak hours so that part of the island may be a lot better.
Quote:
Wait til you see the outer islands at night - the sky is simply amazing when you get away from the city lights.
The view from Aulani at night was pretty stunning. I don't think we really got to see much of the sky away from the city lights when we visited the other islands. The only night we really had the opportunity was on Maui and then it was rained, so the sky wasn't the clearest...
Quote:
There is just something about all the open air stores and lobbies it is so beautiful and peaceful.
Oh I loved that - especially at the airports, as it's just something you don't normally see that at an airport.
Registered Message Board Members Get Our Free Newsletter! When you register you'll have the option to sign up for our weekly PassPorter Newsletter. It's chock-full of feature articles; news; tips; contests; photos; and special offers in our online store.
You see - I knew this would happen! I kept saying to Mark I'd get home and forget to photograph something. They are in the kitchen cupboard somewhere, so I'll try and dig them out and get some photos for you...
Thank you! I'm curious to see what design they came up with!
Sorry about the traffic! I had to go check and see if it was a weekday for you, and sure enough it was! You were stuck in the regular morning commuter traffic as Aulani is in the "suburbs" and most of the work is in town in Honolulu.
And Waikiki traffic isn't much better. Almost every tourist rents a car, so it's hard to get away from the traffic with so many tourists coming and going.
I'm glad you weren't terribly late to Pearl Harbor. I hope that didn't mess up your plans for the day.
Looking forward to hearing your thought about the Arizona. I've only been once many years ago, and the feeling I got standing on the memorial is still with me. It's not something that ever goes away.
__________________
Huge Disney Fan...Always Have Been...Always Will Be!
Disneyland 60th Anniversary Celebration TR here!
2013 WDW trip here!
2011 trip to Hawaii here!
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.
I really don't remember her name. I know she told us that she'd worked at Disneyland and I think, if I remember right, she hadn't been at Aulani that long, if that helps?
Thats not her then. I think she started right after it opened.
My parents stayed at the Marriott a few years back. they said they could see Aulani being built at the time.
Gotta love GPS at times.
PassPorter Guide Community Rank: Legend Extraordinaire
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 31,940
Post Thanks / Like
Likes (Given): 2
Likes (Received): 7
Thanks (Given): 0
Thanks (Received): 1
Pixie Dust (Given): 0
Pixie Dust (Received): 0
Beautiful photos of the morning and the sunrise. One of them almost looks like it has a rainbow in it. WOW that traffic looks horrid. Sorry you missed the 8am tour. We went to Pearl Harbor when I was 13 and we went to Hawaii for 2 weeks. I went to Honolulu for work a few years ago but really didn't get to do much touring at all. I need to go back. Like I said - DVC and Hilton HHonors need to help that to happen.
More great pictures of Aulani! Seems like an unbelievable resort!
Too bad on missing your Pearl Harbor tour, even though it seemed like you left far ahead that you needed to! It's crazy how the traffic is in Honolulu! Hopefully, you were able to go on a later one, but at least you didn't get there too late!
When, I visited Pearl Harbor (back in 2001 on my return from New Zealand and Australia), I had a package for it, which I purchased back home through my travel agency. It was just the tour of the USS Arizona Memorial and the orientation beforehand, along with a round trip trolley pass to get there. I gave myself plenty of time to get there and still got there only about ten minutes prior to my scheduled a.m tour. Probably around 10 am. The traffic is unbelievable. Like I said yesterday, it took a good 45 minutes or so from Waikiki to Pearl Harbor by trolley.
I was staying a bit east of the Royal Hawaiian on Waikiki. About a ten minute walk from there. Forget the exact name of the place I was staying at but there was a Hyatt nearby and the name of my hotel had some chain name followed by Circle Hotel. It was on Waikiki Beach basically and you only had to cross the boulevard in front of the hotel to get to the beach. Right in front of my hotel is where they had the sundown ceremonies each night. That was convenient as I enjoyed those!
__________________
October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
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.
Just getting caught up again! What a great room and view you have! Great pictures from both night and daybreak! Sorry for the issues with the GPS and the problems getting to the national park!
About This Page: 
PassPorter Guide Author
I kept saying to Mark I'd get home and forget to photograph something. They are in the kitchen cupboard somewhere, so I'll try and dig them out and get some photos for you...
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
) were for the ranch on the other side of O'ahu or shopping. I didn't see a single excursion to Pearl Harbor. I assume that people either drive (the car park was reasonably full) or maybe they rent a car for the day if they want to go somewhere special, as I know there was a car rental desk at the resort. Obviously we didn't explore that option any further, as we already had one. As far as I know, none of the main tour operators collect from Aulani. It's one of apparently only about eight or nine resorts in O'ahu not in Waikiki, so the pick-ups are naturally concentrated in Waikiki.
Holly: 
Thank you! I'm curious to see what design they came up with!
It's crazy how the traffic is in Honolulu! 
Linear Mode
