The Promise of Spring: F&GF 4.0 UPDATED: 5/11 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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I really like to see others make Epcot a 2 day event like we do. April or May can never be a time that we would be able to get to Disney until retirement. So I am looking forward to the beautiful flowers and gardens pic you will take. We like the Character Spot too and make sure that is one of our FP choices!!!!
Both times we did Characters in Flight it took numerous visits to find a day/time that it was going up. Even though there didn't seem to be much wind at ground level, they would tell us that they weren't flying because it was too windy higher up. It was well worth the wait. The view is stunning. The night view was impressive.
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Yes, the cameras are working again at Spaceship Earth - well, they were last week. I am so with you that, outside the tier 1 attractions, I struggle to use my Fastpasses, but last week, there was a 35 minute wait for Spaceship Earth at around midday and a 50 minute wait for the character spot - I've seen it longer on the app as well, so those sound like good choices to me.
That is great news about the cameras. I love seeing our faces on our future bodies as our future unfolds. Now I'm so glad we got those two FPs as I wouldn't want to wait that long for either one of those.
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Originally Posted by DMA
Spaceship Earth and Character Spot are usually my tier two choices as well. The problem comes when making Epcot FP selections for our second Epcot day as we don't really need to do SE or CS a second time.
We have the same dilemma on our second Epcot day.
Quote:
Originally Posted by wheezie
Add me to the list of those who don't like the tiered system at Epcot!
I have a feeling that that list is much longer than the list of those who like the tiered system.
I really like to see others make Epcot a 2 day event like we do. April or May can never be a time that we would be able to get to Disney until retirement. So I am looking forward to the beautiful flowers and gardens pic you will take. We like the Character Spot too and make sure that is one of our FP choices!!!!
We've actually planned two and half days at Epcot. We love to leisurely explore the World Showcase. You know I'll be taking lots of topiary and garden photos. Can't wait!
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Both times we did Characters in Flight it took numerous visits to find a day/time that it was going up. Even though there didn't seem to be much wind at ground level, they would tell us that they weren't flying because it was too windy higher up. It was well worth the wait. The view is stunning. The night view was impressive.
There was one time long ago when the balloon first came to Disney Springs that we wanted to try it but the wind kept it grounded. So I'm crossing my fingers for a good chance this trip.
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Originally Posted by KMB733
Great plans for Epcot. Hopefully it won't be too crazy busy for you on Saturday!
Our third park will be Hollywood Studios, and right now we can take this park rather slowly since half of it is missing. I’m guessing when Toy Story Land opens next year this park will require quite a bit more time and planning. Then it will get even more complicated in 2019 with the opening of Star Wars Land. But for now we can relax a little in our touring.
First up is a favorite, Toy Story Midway Mania at 9:20. I’m sure Luke’s score will blow me out of the water, but I’ll still have a blast. Second, we have Star Tours at 10:20. Afterwards, we want to try out PizzeRizzo. We may be a bit lacking in gustatory discretion, but we love Disney pizza. Once we’ve eaten, it’ll be time to head down Sunset Boulevard for a ride on Tower of Terror (12:30 – 1:30).
Hopefully, we’ll be able to squeeze in a few other attractions between FastPasses. Some I'd like to do include the Beauty and the Beast show, The Great Movie Ride, Muppets Vision 3D, and the meet and greets with Olaf and Mickey and Minnie. Dinner tonight will be at Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater, a place we enjoy, but often skip for several trips before returning. Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular is at 9:30 this night and hopefully, we’ll be able to find a good spot for viewing it. Once the fireworks are over, we’ll join the masses heading to the bus stops for our return to AKL. And another Disney day will end.
Update (3/7): After sending texts back and forth with Pam over the past several days, it is looking like both she and Charlotte will be joining us this day.
We are not big Hollywood Studio fans with the exception of Toy Story Mania and Star Tours. My grown children love Tower of Terror and RRC. You are right, for now it is a relaxed Park to do. You know my whole Disney family loves Disney Pizza. We have a Pizza Night and swim time for the kids at the Resort. I will have both my DGD and DGS this trip!!!
Plans look great and you'll be packing a lot in at Studios on this day! It will definitely require a full day once Toy Story and Star Wars lands are open plus all of this will be new to us! Not a big fan of WDW pizza as I'm quite spoiled from great pizza in NYC and in CT as well!
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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!
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We did like Pizza Planet!
How fun that Pam & Charlotte will be joining you!
I was sad to not be able to ride ToT at DL, as it's being changed over to the Guardians of the Galaxy ride. After Spalsh Mountain, I think ToT is my favorite ride.
Your plans for DHS sound perfect as it is a park that you can take leisurely for now. It's going to be crazy once they open up the new lands for sure. Looking forward to doing TOT together there
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Now I'm so glad we got those two FPs as I wouldn't want to wait that long for either one of those. 
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Not a big fan of WDW pizza as I'm quite spoiled from great pizza in NYC and in CT as well! 
Looking forward to doing TOT together there
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