Rides, Rainclouds and mishaps....Disney Style - Page 17 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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.
YIKES!! Changing a tire on the Mass Pike during Rush Hour near 495!!?? Ok never mind the knee up on to the horse on the carousel... your husband must REALLY LOVE YOU!!!
Glad you made it home in one piece~!
Great TR!! I'm sure now that you are home safe and sound the long ride home seems like just part of the over all adventure! Will you do it again?
Sorry about the rough trip home, but I'm glad you made it back safe and sound... with plenty of magical memories to carry you through until the next trip! Thanks so much for writing this trip report; I really enjoyed reading it!
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.
Catching up to your TR...so very sorry to hear about Gertie. It's so hard to loose a pet. They might not walk or talk as we do, but they're family members all the same.
Reading through your trip home...I'm a VA girl myself. I was reading at thinking OMG NO!!! Don't go that way!!! LOL. Luckily, you fixed your route. I feel your pain on the roads in this state...they're not the best. And we can't get the General Assembly to come to some kind of an agreement as to how to fix them. It's extremely frustrating!
So glad that you got home safe and sound. And your own bed is the best, isn't it?
Sorry about your rough trip home. Glad you are safe. Thank you for sharing your TR. I really enjoyed it and I am glad that you were able to make such magical memories for yourself and for Abby.
Thanks Cheryl. No matter what else went wrong, that's the one thing we'll remember - that it could have ended differently but thankfully it didn't.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DoraDoug
I'm really sorry to hear about Gertie . I can't imagine how difficult that drive home must have been knowing you would have to tell Abby when you got there. Thank goodness you made it back safely. Lenny sounds like a really handy fella to have around, especially for long car rides.
Thank you Dora. I really tried to think of positive things on the drive - the fun we had, writing my trip report, how good it would be to sleep in my own bed. Since Abby had no idea, if I sat in my seat and didn't act normal, Abby would have picked up on it and then she would have asked what was wrong. We did get home safely because Lenny is handy. You wouldn't believe all the things he fixes (cars, appliances, anything electrical). Because Lenny can fix almost anything, the van has been in the shop only like 3 times since we bought it new to us in 1999.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcc0313
I am so sorry about Gertie Darlene....how hard that must have been for your mom (trying to keep it from you so you would enjoy your trip) and then for you having to hold it in as to not upset Abby....
Glad you were able to find accomodations for your way home and that you made it out before those storm clouds could catch up...
Thank you. It ws hard, but you just do what has to be done
Quote:
Originally Posted by B.M.
I know that wasn't the ride home that you envisioned, but atleast you made it safely!
That's for sure, but it'll be remembered.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rainbowy
I am glad you made it home safe, thanks to Lenny's very handy nature! That was a great TR cinderAbby. Thanks it was fun to read! I have to get going and finish mine too!
Thanks. I've been enjoying your TR too. It's just a shame we didn't meet up at Country Bears - then we both would have had more to tell about that day.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bitterchickey
The thing about traveling is...years to come you and Lenny will have a good laugh about "remember that trip in 2008, trying to get home from WDW?" And yes, the important thing is that you had a wonderful family trip, and all of you got home safely. And who knows, if you had been home when Gertie died, it may have made it harder for Abby after all. These are the events of life, we bond together and get through them, and it really all is beautiful after all. I have really enjoyed reading your TR, it has helped me through some nerve-wracked days here, and more power to you for traveling in August heat to WDW, you are a stronger woman than I!!!! Much love to you and yours!
Thank you very much Chantel. And you're entirely right about everyting. We will have a good laugh about the trip home (kinda are already actually) and good memories of the whole vacation despite all the mishaps. And for Abby, I think that myself - that maybe it was a good thing we weren't home for Abby to see it happening and get even more upset than she was.
I'm glad that in reading my TR, you were able to get through those days with Gustav (sp??). After Katrina, I don't blame anyone for being really nervous and upset. I live in Mass and although I was young for the Blizzard of 78 - 30 years laster it still affects everyone who lived through it. We hear snow and ice are coming and we all run out and stock up on bread, water, milk and anything that can last a few days in case of power outages. Every year I say I'm going to avoid the stores because they'll be mobbed and wiped out of items, but every year that's where I find myself as I don't want to chance it, especially with Abby. I can afford to lose weight so it wouldn't hurt me to be without things, but I can't (and won't) do it to her.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Sorry about all the troubles getting home Thank goodness you made it safely!!
Thanks Marnie
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauren-roxy
Glad you made it home safely despite all the problems.
Thanks Lori.
Quote:
Originally Posted by emtpej
Pedro sez: It looks like you got home safely!
I guess the good and bad thing about the old US highways is that they will go through the center of every town (unless they have built a bypass).
Sounds like you did just fine with the interstates.
Pedro sez: Chili Today, Hot Tamale!! (it is today's weather, but I didn't see this sign this year).
I should have taken picutes of some of the signs - I didn't think of it at the time (too busy thinking of Gertie.) Oh well, maybe if we get another chance.
And yes, we did fine with the interstates. Next time (if it happens again) I won't be taking advice from the locals though. Of course now that the train cancelled once, you know I'm going to be totally anal and have all sorts of directions with maps and mileages with me so I'll be prepared in case it happens again.
Glad you made it home safely. Thanks so much for taking us along for the ride.
Thanks. I hope you enjoyed it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tinker_me_happy
YIKES!! Changing a tire on the Mass Pike during Rush Hour near 495!!?? Ok never mind the knee up on to the horse on the carousel... your husband must REALLY LOVE YOU!!!
Glad you made it home in one piece~!
Great TR!! I'm sure now that you are home safe and sound the long ride home seems like just part of the over all adventure! Will you do it again?
YIKES is putting it mildy. It's not really the word that was running through my mind at the time. And I don't know if it he really loves us or he was just impatient to get home and eat - it was getting dinner time. Seriously though, he knows how to change tires (he does his own winter changeover every year) and we have the full size spare with us all the time - it was like second nature to him and really only took a couple of minutes. I actually think it took him longer to get all the bags I had packed out of the way so he could get the tire and jack than it took him to change it.
Thanks Karen, and that's exactly how the ride was - just more of an adventure. We didn't see any strange things coming home, but you always have to be on the lookout. And believe it or not, Yes, I would do it again if I had to. The long drive is boring. Growing up, that's they only way we got to Disney so I don't want to drive (well, I didn't drive, but you know what I mean) the whole way again. That's why we take the Auto Train for the bulk of the miles (and to save time). But I won't let Fay and the train cancellation scare me from going in August again. If a cancellation were to happen again, I'd do everything the same way.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mousestruck
Sorry about the rough trip home, but I'm glad you made it back safe and sound... with plenty of magical memories to carry you through until the next trip! Thanks so much for writing this trip report; I really enjoyed reading it!
Thanks you. I'm glad you enjoyed it. And yes, between the report, the pictures and the videos we have, we can revisit our vacation any time we need a Disney fix or some cheering up.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DyanKJ130
Yikes!! Glad you made it home safely!!
Thanks Dyan.
Quote:
Originally Posted by loubell
Catching up to your TR...so very sorry to hear about Gertie. It's so hard to loose a pet. They might not walk or talk as we do, but they're family members all the same.
Reading through your trip home...I'm a VA girl myself. I was reading at thinking OMG NO!!! Don't go that way!!! LOL. Luckily, you fixed your route. I feel your pain on the roads in this state...they're not the best. And we can't get the General Assembly to come to some kind of an agreement as to how to fix them. It's extremely frustrating!
So glad that you got home safe and sound. And your own bed is the best, isn't it?
Lenny I think tolerates all our animals, but that's what I keep telling him. It's not just an animal we've lost, it's a member of the family. And thanks for your reassurance that we did the right thing by not staying on 17. Although the beds in Comfort Inn/Choice Hotels come close, you're right. Home in your own bed is definitely the best thing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by WeRDisneyFanatics
Sorry about the car troubles on the way home but glad you made it back safely.
Thanks
Quote:
Originally Posted by lissybri
Sorry about your rough trip home. Glad you are safe. Thank you for sharing your TR. I really enjoyed it and I am glad that you were able to make such magical memories for yourself and for Abby.
Thanks. I'm glad that you enjoyed it. And as for the magical memories - I think it's hard not to have at least a few after a Disney Vacation. I know some are more magical than others, but if there was no magic there to begin with, none of us would go back to create more memories.
I am finally all caught up. I loved seeing pictures of my beloved Richmond. We just moved from there to TX. I miss it.
I am so sorry about Gertie. How sad. I am so glad you made it safely home, though. Wow! You sure had a lot of factors to get through. But, all in all, it sounds like y'all had a fantastic trip.
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
Darlene, I enjoyed traveling with you and your family. Thank you for sharing your adventure. I was sorry to hear you had a rough ending, but I was glad you made it home safe and sound.
__________________
Trish ,
Me and the family Magic Kingdom New Years Eve December 29, 2009-January 9th, 2010
About This Page: 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
Changing a tire on the Mass Pike during Rush Hour near 495!!??
Ok never mind the knee up on to the horse on the carousel... your husband must REALLY LOVE YOU!!!
Thanks so much for writing this trip report; I really enjoyed reading it! 
Aimee
![[SIGPIC]](signaturepics/sigpic27594_7.gif)
. Seriously though, he knows how to change tires (he does his own winter changeover every year) and we have the full size spare with us all the time - it was like second nature to him and really only took a couple of minutes. I actually think it took him longer to get all the bags I had packed out of the way so he could get the tire and jack than it took him to change it.
What a wonderful way to make this trip special for Abby! You went with the flow in order to make it happy for her! That's great parents! Very 
!
, 
Linear Mode
