Going north, south, east, west - Chicago UPDATED 1/7 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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Wow this makes me miss Chicago! And holy cow (tm Harry Carey) that was one small room! Did you crawl over the bed to the other side or did you dodge the TV as you went around the bed?
Strange you should say that - I did have a couple of near misses with the TV during our stay!
Friday 24 October – part two: we know more than the local!
After that, we headed down North Michigan Avenue, as wanted to see the Tribune Tower. It was built in 1922 and was the winning design in a competition by the Chicago Tribune to build the world’s most beautiful office building. As well as having some great architecture, we knew that the base of it also had stones in from various famous sites around the whole. How did we know that? Well, it’s mentioned in my guidebook for starters but we originally found that out from an episode of CSI: NY, believe it or not. And the best bit? Lesley didn’t know that, so we were able to tell the local something new, which was pretty cool. It was really neat to look at all the various stones, which truly were from all over the world, as you can from this selection.
We continued walking and taking photos, as we went.
Hotel Inter-Continental, one of the nicest hotels in Chicago The NBC tower
Eventually we came to the Disney Store, so we just had to have a look in it, but there was nothing in there. It was very disappointing and just re-emphasised what I’ve thought about the Disney Store in America for some time – that they’ve a pretty lousy range in there now.
Something which certainly wasn’t lousy was the Water Tower and Pumping Station, which was built just before the fire of 1871 and was one of the few buildings to survive it. It’s designed to look like a gothic castle and it housed the city’s original waterworks. Today it’s home to a City Gallery, specialising in photography, a theatre and a visitor centre, but it also fulfils its original role and still pumps up to 250 million gallons of water a day.
The John Hancock Center looms behind the Water Tower and Pumping Station A close up of the John Hancock Center
We walked a little further and came across the stunning Fourth Presbyterian Church, which dates back to 1914, making it the second oldest surviving structure on Michigan Avenue, after the Water Tower. Despite that, it’s right in the heart of the city and looks as if it belongs there. That’s what I liked about Chicago. It’s very much a mixture of old and new and they’ve done there best to preserve their history, unlike some other cities we’ve been to. It makes for an interesting mix of styles. We went into the courtyard of the church and got some lovely shots and then walked inside, where there was a really distinctive display about domestic violence that really made you think. Some of the stories were truly horrific.
On to happier things. Just over the road was the John Hancock Center.
Fantastic pictures, Cheryl! I love the different stones from around the world. That is truly unique. It makes me wish I had gotten to see more of Chicago when I was there. There is always a next time! I can't wait to hear about seeing Chicago from above! Great update, as usual.
Just catching up! (It doesn't take long to get behind! )
From your description of the rain on the way to the Orlando airport, I know what Mark went through having to drive through it all in relatively strange territory! It can really be frustrating! I'm proud of him!
I like Southwest's new boarding procedure, too, as it generally takes away the "stampede factor" of before.
Your pictures and descriptions of Chicago have given me a whole new perspective on the city. I don't usually get to see the glamorous parts of a city. The Waterworks building and Church look very interesting.
Soooo, that's real deep dish pizza! Looks Gooood!!
Excellent updates. I remember how rainy it was on Friday morning. We had a 'behind the scenes' tour at MK. in the rain. Glad your plane took off without delays.
Your first Chicago meal looks I love all your photos. I haven't been to Chicago since I was a young girl. We used to go once a year til I reached maybe 12. So it's been awhile. Sounds like Lesley is the ultimate host.
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That’s what I liked about Chicago. It’s very much a mixture of old and new and they’ve done there best to preserve their history, unlike some other cities we’ve been to.
Hmmm, bet I can guess one of the cities you're talking about!
I love the top of the Hancock building, even better than the Sears Tower. We used to go to the 95th floor (I think that's the right floor) and eat lunch. At night, it's a gourmet room, but for lunch, it's a very reasonable buffet (at least it was the last time we were downtown....). Can't wait to see your pictures from there!
C heryl - It was so much fun touring Chicago as a tourist! I usually go into the city to meet friends, shop or on business so it had been awhile since I'd played tourist in my own city. Pizzaria Due (or Uno) are my favorite places for deep dish pizza. I am so glad you guys enjoyed it!
I've walked by the Tribune Tower so many times, but never really looked at the base. It was so interesting to learn about the different stones and read where they all came from.
The Fourth Presbyterian Church is one of my favorite places in the city. It is beautiful both inside and out. I've had the priviledge of hearing a couple of concerts here and it is also has wonderful acoustics.
I have to say that I felt rather guilty when I saw Cheryl and Mark's room. I was staying a block away at an Embassy Suites and had more roomthan I needed. As I recall there was even some talk of switching hotels.
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. It's so fun to see the city from the point of view of someone that's never been there. I honestly don't notice a lot of it anymore since I've grown up here. And your picture of the street performers cracked me up. I swear everytime I go into the city, I run across someone sitting with a bucket and a pair of drumsticks.
What a great day....the weather looks beautiful and the sights, wow....loved the pictures. Looks like you had a great day touring....love the combination of old beauty and new beauty...
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And the best bit? Lesley didn’t know that, so we were able to tell the local something new, which was pretty cool. It was really neat to look at all the various stones, which truly were from all over the world, as you can from this selection. 
) 
The Waterworks building and Church look very interesting. 
in the rain. Glad your plane took off without delays.
I love all your photos. I haven't been to Chicago since I was a young girl. We used to go once a year til I reached maybe 12. So 
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Claytrgtshooter (Minnie Lor's Hubbie)
I am so glad you guys enjoyed it!
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