SURPRISE! You're Going to Disney World!... PTR - Page 16 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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.
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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 finally did Astro Orbiter last month........the wait was soooooo long (don't let the 20 minute SB time fool you)......when I finally got on, I was a bit disappointed! Def not worth the wait for me.
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Onto EPCOT... this list is a bit longer. EPCOT is not my favorite park (not sure why)... Reading a lot of the posts on here I'm going to give EPCOT some more time this trip (more than a half day, which is what it got last trip LOL)
Innovations (haven't been there since I was a kid, I'm sure it's changed since)
Captain EO (I've seen it, Mo hasn't - for obvious reasons - it just rejoined the WDW lineup)
Mission Space (we will ride the chicken $hit version because I don't do dizzy)
Universe of Energy (I haven't been on it since Ellen took over)
Kim Possible (Mommy will enjoy a few FABs while lovely daughter chases down the bad guys)
O'Canada (Mo hasn't been to it)
Impressions de France (Mo hasn't done it)
Reflections of China (I don't think I've seen it since 1988? Has it changed?)
***UPDATE ON THE PLANNING FRONT***
This afternoon we watched the planning video ("to get some ideas for when I run the princess half marathon next year" ) and she saw the Pirates League... and said "Mom that looks soooo cool..."
So this mama called the Pirate League and booked her pirate princess for a makeover
Oh Miss Morgan you have NO IDEA the wonderful adventures that are coming your way!!!
Side note: the girl on the phone tried to convince me to add the Pirates & Pals Wishes Cruise to my adventures. To the Tune of $90 for the two of us. Now, I know that I haven't exactly pinched pennies with this trip, but I've gotta say no somewhere, right? It sounded so neat... anyone ever do it? My cousin is a CM and he took it. He said it's a cookie and the story of Peter Pan while the fireworks go off (reservations CM said snacks w/Captain Hook followed by Disney Trivia and fireworks - doesn't sound all that much different than my cousin's definition).
Sounds like your getting so much accomplished! Not long now!! So nice that you have such great in-laws!
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Originally Posted by Jessie092408
Congrats on the packing accomplishments! that the rest of packing goes just as smoothly. It's so that even though it's your ex-husbands parents, they're still very supportive of and kind to you. You're one lucky lady!
They are truly wonderful!!! I am quite a lucky girl!
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Originally Posted by niccole
Wow your really getting it done now that it's the home stretch. You ladies are going to be so cute together. can't wait to see the results.
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Originally Posted by Ace_Athena
Wow, you are getting so close to trip time!
I love the idea of coordinated outfits! I want to do this on our next trip... so maybe that can be a reason for me to get DH to go clothes shopping! I look forward to seeing your pictures!
Good luck with the reveal. I am anxiously waiting to hear (read?) how it goes!
Got the idea on here. A few people had posted pics of their fam in coordinating outfits. It really does make the people in the pictures pop.
Quote:
Originally Posted by emilyandlogansmom
I'm excited for you! I've got high hopes to surprise my kids on our next trip. I think it should be easy enough since we're ALWAYS talking about our next trip anyway. So, if something slips, it should be easy enough to recover. Secret packing is a challenge though...but I like that emptry drawer technique!
I'm covering my desire to watch the planning video with the fact that I really truly want to run the 1/2 marathon next year.(And like I said, I can't take credit for the empty drawer, just for it's successful use!)
Ooh! Good idea! For some reason I always forget about Astro Orbiter.
We did Hall of Presidents with a 2 and 3 year old. (My husband insisted, though I knew better.) My Emily was convinced that it was the "Hall of Presents"...boy was she disappointed!
Love that - The Hall of Presents!
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Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Good luck getting thru that list at MK!
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Originally Posted by mommapants
Good list so far - nice and manageable. So true about HOP. I do like it but really not for little kids.
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Originally Posted by Cam22
Neat idea for the lists!
I think it would be fun to check off a few items. In addition to my "must do"s (which still has to be made)
Quote:
Originally Posted by islandgirl
I finally did Astro Orbiter last month........the wait was soooooo long (don't let the 20 minute SB time fool you)......when I finally got on, I was a bit disappointed! Def not worth the wait for me.
Can't wait to read your lists!!!!
I don't know if it will be worth it for me because I'm not a huge fan of heights to begin with (yet love ToT go figure). I'll have to eyeball the wait time. If not I'll try again at another trip (assuming they don't close it down).
we did the pirates and pals firework voyage in may of last yr! There was 4 of us! Anyway I wasn't feeling well that day so the boat ride was not fun but everything thing else was a blast! I didnt even know about the elctrical water pagaent til we were out on the water, watched that then cruised a little more to watch Wishes. they do trivia and hand out gifts and prizes etc! It is great for the kids. At the end when you return from your voyage you are met by Peter Pan and the wisked away to do photos with him! You meet at the Contemporary and yes there are snacks and also photo ops there as well with Captain Hook and Mr Smee!!
we did the pirates and pals firework voyage in may of last yr! There was 4 of us! Anyway I wasn't feeling well that day so the boat ride was not fun but everything thing else was a blast! I didnt even know about the elctrical water pagaent til we were out on the water, watched that then cruised a little more to watch Wishes. they do trivia and hand out gifts and prizes etc! It is great for the kids. At the end when you return from your voyage you are met by Peter Pan and the wisked away to do photos with him! You meet at the Contemporary and yes there are snacks and also photo ops there as well with Captain Hook and Mr Smee!!
You make it sound very tempting... especially since she will be dressed as a pirate (or empress) already. It could be the icing on the cake... hmm...
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Like the idea of the list!
Credit totally goes to Susan on that one. I'm actually planning to steal her idea for the end of each day on the TR - what was the best part of every day, the worst part, most magical, etc
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Great plans for Epcot! Congrats on booking the Pirate League!
Thanks! The very helpful CM wrote on the ticket that it was a surprise, so I may just have her saunter in and "see if they have any openings" when we have the reservation...
Quote:
Originally Posted by OCEANGRLLG
Great plans for Epcot...we LOVE that park, when we go to Disney we do Epcot for atleast 2 days, 1 day for the WS
I'm going to try and give it at least two days this time. I think as a kid I found it so boring that I never really gave it the time of day as an adult. (There was always soooo much walking and there wasn't as much "fun" going on there.)
***** MGM/HS List ****
My "never have I ever" list for Hollywood Studios which I almost always refer to as MGM.
Magic of Animation - I'm pretty sure this has changed since the last time I went there. And I don't think Morgan ever went there. So I'm calling it new. The New Playhouse Disney (Disney Jr?) Show - On the list but I can almost guarantee that we won't be going there this trip. (I think the next time (if only) time we will hit this up is if my DNiece (20 mos old) ever joins us on an adventure.) Lights Motors Action Sounds Dangerous - I don't think I've seen this in a while, and Mo I don't think has ever seen this (and in the "I don't think" means that it wasn't on any trip where she was not on a leash) Star Tours - Been on the old one... never on the new one... crossing my fingers for the possibility of a soft opening at some point. (My cousin is a CM @ HS and I've told him to be on lookout LOL) Idol - I have absolutely no desire to see this. I honestly don't like the show. But we've never seen it so it's on the list. (Plus Morgan saw it on the DVD and got all excited.)
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... Walked around the Tree of Life Trails (definitely want to do that this year - thanks Taylan)
... Sat through It's Tough to be a Bug (probably won't do that one - I scheve little critters so I can't imagine choosing to sit through this unless I sit on my backpack with my feet tucked into my chest - like I did for Honey, I Shrunk the Audience)
... taken the train to Rafiki's Planet Watch (well, I have, but it was in 1998 before the Grand Opening of AK, so Mo has never seen it. Thanks to lauriep's TR I think I may make an effort this time)
... caught the Flights of Wonder show (and I'm gonna go ahead and say that this is probably a big fat for us. As much as I scheve the above mentioned little critters I have an even bigger fear of flying birds - love penguins and flamingoes but don't put an eagle or pigeon anywhere near me)
... spent some time just digging in the Boneyard (if Morgan wants to do this I will totally grab a Yak Attack and sit on the bench and let her dig til her little heart's content.)
I may try to work on our MUST DO/MUST SEE list tonight... after my laundry and PTA meeting of course
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)......when I finally got on, I was a bit disappointed! Def not worth the wait for me.
Susan
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Pixie Dust
) and she saw the Pirates League... and said "Mom that looks soooo cool..." 
that even though it's your ex-husbands parents, they're still very supportive of and kind to you. You're one lucky lady!
I've got high hopes to surprise my kids on our next trip. I think it should be easy enough since we're ALWAYS talking about our next trip anyway. So, if something slips, it should be easy enough to recover. Secret packing is a challenge though...but I like that emptry drawer technique!
PassPorter Guide Author
for us. As much as I scheve the above mentioned little critters I have an even bigger fear of flying birds - love penguins and flamingoes but don't put an eagle or pigeon anywhere near me)
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