3rd Times a Charm! Cali here we come! My first ever Disneyland trip and PTR! - Page 2 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
Great pre-trip report, more please. Your dog is sooooooo cute.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenny
Nice update Mel. I liked the pictures... especially that Pirate Pup! He's Coooool!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Great update
Thanks everyone! It took me a long time to make that one. Tried to get the right mix of pictures and words.
And thanks for the compliments on my puppy! He is such a good boy to sit and humor me by letting me dress him up! lol! Hes a good mix... I think he might have some Beagle in him too. I call the pirate costumer Captain Jack McPuppy... don't ask me why I just do! haha!
Oh yeah, and we leave on the 15th....have no idea why I wrote the 19th! I am losing my mind lately! So, we have 30 days to go and we have so much left to do! When I start my report, which will probably be a day or two before we leave , I will be sure to link you.
I think you are going to have a fabulous time...you will get to see LA, spend two days where the dream started and it will be a great change of pace...
This way when you go back in 2009 it will be all new again....I am looking forward to hearing your plans about the trip as they come along....
Oh yeah, and we leave on the 15th....have no idea why I wrote the 19th! I am losing my mind lately! So, we have 30 days to go and we have so much left to do! When I start my report, which will probably be a day or two before we leave , I will be sure to link you.
Can't wait to hear your plans!
Thanks! I love reading about everyone else's plans and trips! The 15th is so close! I am so jealous! I am officially booking/paying for my trip on the 15th so I will have some fun updates up for you to read when you get back!
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcc0313
Mel -
I think you are going to have a fabulous time...you will get to see LA, spend two days where the dream started and it will be a great change of pace...
This way when you go back in 2009 it will be all new again....I am looking forward to hearing your plans about the trip as they come along....
I really do think it will be a great change of pace as well. We love WDW but I think, especially for Rob, the monotony kind of turns him off to it. I also think that seeing all the similar attractions will make us want to return to WDW asap! A little extra kindling never hurts!
Okay so everyone has to start with a guide and since our B&N does not carry the Disneyland Passporter I got the 2008 Birnbaum guide!
It looks like I will have to order the Passporter... but its just as well because then I can just get the deluxe refill instead of getting the full one and not taking advantage of the awesome deluxe I got last year!
Either way I got some great info from it... and it has spawned some questions I need your help with...
1. Disney Dining Plan- I see that there is a DDP at DLR but is it the SAME? 1 TS, 1 QS, 1S per day? Are you only allowed to get DDP for the number of NIGHTS you are there or can you chose specific number amounts? Can we get DDP at a good nieghbor hotel?
2. Meals- Where are the best places to eat? Do ADRs exist? It seems his suggestions say to make reservations 30 days in advance? is this the only window?
3. Proximity- How close are we? Can I walk from DLR to dinner in Disneyland Hotel or Paradise Pier? Where does the monorail run? Where can I get on and off?
4. Whats the best time frame? Would we be better off extending our stay and spending 4 days there? Would we run out of things to do? Remember we can do WDW easy in a week.
Okay and now that I threw that out there... Rob ordered me some stuff from Disney Shopping because I have been such a help to him while he is trying to switch jobs and find something he enjoys doing. Now, I think he personally just needed to get out of where he was. Plus I like having him be stress-free, make me dinners, clean up and relax a bit more so it wasn't hard for me to support him. Anyways... back on topic... I got a Jungle Book frame (we got the semi-annual sale 50% coupon code), and this cute Snow White track suit. Even though I am sure I will lounge around in it, I though it would be a great long airplane ride outfit!
Cute, right?
There was also a Tink and Alice one but they only has XS in those and I haven't been an XS... well ever! lol! I love this Disney Store pattern. Rob got me for Christmas a dress shirt and zip- front hoodie with the Tink pattern.
In any case, buying stuff makes it way more real! And I think we will be purchasing tickets on February 1st instead of the 15th because I just found out I get paid 3 times in Feb! Yay!
Anyways, heres HOPING for a snow day tomorrow! ;-)
Mel! So this is where you've been! I'm surprised to see the WDW trip has become DL, but I just know you'll have a terrific time. I can't wait to hear all about it.
__________________
Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
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.
Yea!! Finally some questions I can answer (i love to feel helpful). You can walk to EVERYTHING!! We did and I'm sure you guys have the same stamina as us. The Grand Californian is absolutely beautiful and I'm sure it has an awesome restaurant whose name escapes me at the moment. I know Paradise Pier also has a good Italian restaurant. We ate at the ESPN zone in DTD and it is so much better than the one at Boardwalk. They have like a billion TV's and much more on the menu than BW's. I'm not sure about the Monorail because we walked everywhere.
To answer your "length of stay" question quite honestly ; I think 4 days is too much for just MK and CA. You guys will probably (JMO) run out of stuff to do. Danny and I had 2 days and we feel like we did pretty much everything we wanted to do.
That outfit is super cute. Good choice Rob!! You are really making progress, I'm so happy for you . . . . . Keep us posted and keep the questions coming!!
Hope I was somewhat helpful. . . . .
Mel! So this is where you've been! I'm surprised to see the WDW trip has become DL, but I just know you'll have a terrific time. I can't wait to hear all about it.
Im super excited! Thanks so much! I cannn't wait!
Quote:
Originally Posted by amandal
Yea!! Finally some questions I can answer (i love to feel helpful). You can walk to EVERYTHING!! We did and I'm sure you guys have the same stamina as us. The Grand Californian is absolutely beautiful and I'm sure it has an awesome restaurant whose name escapes me at the moment. I know Paradise Pier also has a good Italian restaurant. We ate at the ESPN zone in DTD and it is so much better than the one at Boardwalk. They have like a billion TV's and much more on the menu than BW's. I'm not sure about the Monorail because we walked everywhere.
To answer your "length of stay" question quite honestly ; I think 4 days is too much for just MK and CA. You guys will probably (JMO) run out of stuff to do. Danny and I had 2 days and we feel like we did pretty much everything we wanted to do.
So we have been toying with the idea of flying in on a Monday with a 3 day park hopper (for Mon, Tues, Weds) then renting a car for a day and going to like the San Diego zoo or LA? I really want to see the Hollywood sign. And Friday would be our departure day... Rob's major gripe with Contiki is the Best Western. I think he wants that Disneyness, ya know? Could we fill 3 days? Or like 2 and a half? I figured that might be a better idea if he doesn't want to do the tour or stay at Best Western. I dunno. I am still trying to figure it all out! The Disneyland Hotel looks so adorable though! The hat and the pool! Anyways... any other info you could share or opinions on what I have been thinking would be great!
You could probably fill 3 days simply because your going in July and it may be crowded. You might want to skip some things that are just too packed and go back to them the next day. Definitely get the hopper though, that's definitely worth it. I personally think you guys would LOVE any of the hotels "on property" but if you are obligated due to the tour, you'll still have a great time. Like I said, keep the questions coming sista!!
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.
From what I have gathered from reading the boards, the dining 'plan' at DLR is much different. It is basically vouchers and doesn't seem to be the great deal that the DDP is at WDW. You can probably find more info on it in the DL Feasting forum.
I would definitely try to get to the San Diego Zoo if you can! It is one of the best zoos around. I visited in 1986 and I'm sure a lot has changed, but I have very fond memories of my visit!
From what I have gathered from reading the boards, the dining 'plan' at DLR is much different. It is basically vouchers and doesn't seem to be the great deal that the DDP is at WDW. You can probably find more info on it in the DL Feasting forum.
I would definitely try to get to the San Diego Zoo if you can! It is one of the best zoos around. I visited in 1986 and I'm sure a lot has changed, but I have very fond memories of my visit!
Yeah... I agree about the mealplan... the DDP at WDW doesn't even seem to be that great of a deal with all the changes but this really doesn't seem like something that would work for us. I would rather pay OOP.
If we cancel with Contiki I think we will get the city pass and go to San Diego one day... we LOVE animals! And zoos are so much fun-- SDZ is supposed to the country's best!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Like your new track suit
Thanks! It came in the mail today! yay!
Quote:
Originally Posted by amandal
You could probably fill 3 days simply because your going in July and it may be crowded. You might want to skip some things that are just too packed and go back to them the next day. Definitely get the hopper though, that's definitely worth it. I personally think you guys would LOVE any of the hotels "on property" but if you are obligated due to the tour, you'll still have a great time. Like I said, keep the questions coming sista!!
I skimmed my guide and the online virtual tours and I think if we did change things up we will go with Disneyland Hotel. Its so cute with the themeing and its right by DTD if we go for some non DL days!
About This Page: 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
the cast of characters!!
When I start my report, which will probably be a day or two before we leave 
, I will be sure to link you.
Danny and I at Epcot 8/14/08
Linear Mode
