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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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.
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So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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Thank you everyone for reading and adding encouragement. I can promise that I will stay up with the PTR but doing a TR I might need even a little extra encouragement. Like some other individuals I know.
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Originally Posted by lauriep
I've never been in July, but will be going in the summer next year so I'll be interested to hear how you fare. The great thing about being repeat visitors is that you don't HAVE to do everything on this trip. When all is said and done, you'll be at DISNEY and that has to be a good thing!
I totally agree that with this being a repeat visit for us that we are going to take it one day at a time and live in the moment.
Quote:
Originally Posted by toddjodybrent
Great start! Can't wait to hear more about resort and dining plans.
We were at the World last July and survived! It was trip # 8 for us. Having been in March, Sept. and Nov, we found the crowds weren't really all that bad--I think most people avoid that time of year due to the heat. You've got the right idea with a laid back approach and the other advice about hitting the parks early is right on. The other is to take advantage of extended evening and night hours when it is cool--which ever fits your family's "schedule."
Have a great trip!
Good to hear that you didn't feel the crowds weren't that bad. From what I have read and with the numbers I am seeing on Touring.com I was feeling a little claustrophobic.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Principessa_di_Fata
YAY you started! I suggest in 2013 you go in... ohhhhh... the second or third week of October - which coincidentally is the same time *I* want to go!
Just sayin.
I can't wait to read all about this trip!
Hmm I wonder if I could squeeze a trip into October. Will have to look into our plans. We are talking about going to Disneyland next year to change it up and since my parents live on the West Coast they said they would come down for a visit too.
But with it being a holiday and all maybe I could entice you to come see some fireworks over the castle say July 3rd?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Great start Tammy!
Thanks for joining in!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ceara's mawmaw
We have been in July too and went to MK on 4th of July. The only tip I can really think of is plan which park you will be in on the 3rd & 4th get there early and plan to stay there. The parks we were in closed due to capacity both of those days. They close in phases and on the 4th that year they had a phase 4 closure for a few hours. Should have went to Epcot that day since it is the biggest park. Crowds are managable if you plan for the crowd and take things has they come, for us anyway. Have a wonderful trip!
This is my plan to be at the same park on the 3rd and 4th from opening to close. Then on the 5th I have us at the resort all morning until after nap then we will head out that evening.
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They caught us all smiling and looking at the camera!!!
Yesterday was a good day for mail at my house. I got a package from Disney delivered at my door step and then in the mailbox was our DME tickets. I also got a package from my mom and then Grayson had misplaced a drumstick to his drum that he got for his birthday so the company sent me a replacement. Plus there wasn't any bills so that was an added bonus.
I did have a frustrating experience with Dillon's AP though. I tried several times Saturday to renew it online and got the message that they didn't have any in the quantity I was asking for and to please lower the amount I was asking for. UMM, that would make it zero. We were gone most of the day Saturday so when I tried again Saturday night I still got the same answer. By this time Disney is closed when I tried the customer service number. I did shoot off an email which was of course automated saying they got my question. I had hoped to get the ticket before the ticket prices went up and was hoping since my email was sent before June 3rd they would be able to retroactive it. I got an email response back today saying sorry that I was having ticket problems and to contact the reservation number. Which I did and ended up speaking to a manager although politely gave me a BIG NO and a SORRY! Not what I was expecting from Disney.
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They caught us all smiling and looking at the camera!!!
Like most individuals we hem hawed about driving or flying. Realistically I don't think my 2 year old could take the 16+ hour road trip and my 7 year old has a tendency to get car sick so not so sure on him either for that long of a drive. So we priced airline tickets. Yikes...really. We were looking at $1500 for the 4 of us to fly out of Houston.
Then in the mail one day DH got a credit card offer from Southwest for 2 free tickets after your first purchase. Okay...this would make it a little more doable. So he applied and was approved. Our first transaction was $12 for Scholoastic Books. Yeah...now we had two free tickets. Now we just needed two more or my DH and the oldest were going to drive. Yeah, do any of you see that really happening?
Remember I was telling you were having hiccups with our house in Dallas. Turns out it was a big hiccup. It needed a new roof after all the hail and wind damage they had gotten in January and those don't come by cheapily in case in one is wondering. So we were able to stick a portion on the Southwest Credit card and amazingly enough I had enough points for ALMOST another two tickets.
I decided to see if I flew out of another airport if I would have enough points to fly all four of us. Turns out if we fly out of Austin we did have enough points. The flight going out to Orlando wasn't as early but it just made it where we didn't have to be at the airport at 5:30 in the morning now just 8:00 so 2.5 hours was probably in our favor. The flight home was 3 hours earlier so I ended up having to cancel my Via Napoli ADR. So now we are leaving Orlando at 3:30 instead of 6:30pm. Oh well, there is always another trip.
DH's older sister lives in Austin so we will drive 2.5hours and visit with her for a few hours and then I have made reservations to stay at a Holiday Inn at the airport. She lives further out from the airport so we can sleep in a little more and we can do the Stay and Park program with Holiday Inn this way. Besides she has a snake and even though it is in a aquarium I can't sleep because my mind wants to play tricks on me.
Resort Choice:
Dillon requested our stay this trip to be at our home resort, Kidani Village. At the time none of us had stayed there so I was happy to complete his request. I was able to sample Kidani in February during the Happiest Bachelorette Party on Earth and am very excited to be staying here again and to share with the rest of the family. We are just going with a standard view 1 bedroom villa. Although having a savannah room would be nice the Observation area is incredible at Kidani. I could sit there for hours rocking in the rocking chairs, watching the giraffees and zebras play and a nice beverage to go right along with it. Oh wait, I did do that while I waited on DME my last trip. Can't wait for a repeat!
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They caught us all smiling and looking at the camera!!!
Last edited by tammyd_rn; 06-10-2012 at 12:08 AM..
Reason: typo
Oh Kidani. Jealous. I'm craving Sanaa - especially after reading about it in one of Sharon's TR's (that I finally caught up on). I really need to get back to WDW... really. Really. Really.
Oh Kidani. Jealous. I'm craving Sanaa - especially after reading about it in one of Sharon's TR's (that I finally caught up on). I really need to get back to WDW... really. Really. Really.
So glad that you got everyone free tickets and out of the same airport!! Although not the time you are wanting, like you said theres always next time!!! Hate to had to get a new roof for yalls rental Congrats on the Disney mail!! They really could have help you out better!, its not your faught the web site dont work right!!!
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Me and Cole in the Sears Tower Skydeck, 103 floors up, in a glass box hanging off the side!
Ooo, AKL, that's the next resort on my want to do list! And yes, airfare is absolutely ridiculous these days! I thought last year was bad, but it seems like this year is even worse!
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Great start so far Tammy, sorry you had to switch your dates, but like you said, get up early and have a lot of pool time. Plus you'll have longer hours at the parks
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Dawn
Last edited by dsteiny23; 06-08-2012 at 10:20 AM..
Thanks for joining in. I am looking forward to our Kidani stay again. To see a little more of it then I did on the Bachelorette Party.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Principessa_di_Fata
Oh Kidani. Jealous. I'm craving Sanaa - especially after reading about it in one of Sharon's TR's (that I finally caught up on). I really need to get back to WDW... really. Really. Really.
We are doing Sanaa our first night and I am looking forward to the Chai Dessert. I thought you might be jealous of my resort. I'll draw a bubble bath in your honor and send you a pic.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MayraLR
Joining in. Great start!
Thanks for joining in. Hopefully I will keep you entertained and coming back for more.
Quote:
Originally Posted by OCEANGRLLG
So glad that you got everyone free tickets and out of the same airport!! Although not the time you are wanting, like you said theres always next time!!! Hate to had to get a new roof for yalls rental Congrats on the Disney mail!! They really could have help you out better!, its not your faught the web site dont work right!!!
Thats pretty much what I said about it being their website error but it didn't get me very far...just a simple sorry.
Every time I hear they are having a wind storm in Dallas I cringe a little and hope that the roof is behaving itself.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dlandmom2
Yep, you got me with your title!
Ooo, AKL, that's the next resort on my want to do list! And yes, airfare is absolutely ridiculous these days! I thought last year was bad, but it seems like this year is even worse!
Finally I found a title that is catching some attention. That is hard work. AKL is so welcoming to me. I know some don't feel that way but my family as a whole really likes it.
For some reason I don't foresee airplane tickets every getting back to the rest of our expectations of prices. How rude of them!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by dsteiny23
Great start so far Tammy, sorry you had to switch your dates, but like you said, get up early and have a lot of pool time. Plus you'll have longer hours at the parks
I am honestly looking forward to taking in the resort activities, pool and taking in the moment. I'll be sure to send you a text to say hi and let your beloved BC know you are not far behind in my foot steps.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ilovedisney247
Great start Tammy! Maybe I'll get to see you while you are here!
Coming up soon are my daily details. Hopefully we will be able to meet up. I did offer my children up to ride the Magic Carpets with you.
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They caught us all smiling and looking at the camera!!!
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I hope that you and your family have a magical time at the world
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Great start!! Can't wait to hear the rest. We arrive there on the 14th of July, a little nervous about the crowds too, we will have soccer games in the mornings so they will nit be an option for us!
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Congrats on the Disney mail!! They really could have help you out better!, its not your faught the web site dont work right!!!
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