It’s Always Sunny in California!..Eh?...L’il Bit! - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
I slept for about 3 more hours after I turned the TV off and woke with my stomach really hurting. I tossed and turned, but by 3 or so I just couldn’t take it and found the keys to the car and went out and dug through my suitcase for some antacid. That did help quite a bit. By then I gave up on trying to get anymore sleep. I knew I would have to be up in about an hour to shower, so I just jumped in then and started getting ready. Claire also barely slept that night and I think it was because she was worried about me being away for a week.
After we were all ready and the car was packed back up, we headed over to the airport. I think we got there just before 5. I drove, so I jumped out and got my suitcases out and gave Claire plenty of hugs and kisses and left them then to check my bags in. It was right after that I realized I still had my big bulky winter coat. UGH! My plan was to leave it in the car and just wear my sweatshirt. Now I would have this stupid big thing taking up space!
I went through security, which wasn’t too bad, though I had to have my head patted down. I think it was because I was wearing a barrette in my hair. They asked if I wanted to do it in private and I said no. LOL After that I found a spot and jammed my big coat in my carryon. I found the store and bought a diet coke and a few power bars and ate one while I waited.
I read emails and posted on facebook. I watched this girl from afar. I swear this is the girl from Hardcore Pawn. She looked so much like her and a guy was talking to her and he took her picture. I also heard her mention the name Josh, which is what I think her brothers name is (Skip has since told me her brother’s name is Seth). I snuck a couple of pictures of her.
I even walked to the window to see if I could see her better, but I couldn’t. My apology if this is not her to whoever it is.
Our plane was here and I did get a shot of that.
Soon it was time for one last potty break and time to board. I got on it to find the 1st row with a vacant seat and I went to sit there for the extra leg room. The flight attendant told me my carry on had to go in the next bin back and my backpack had to go in the overhead as well for takeoff and landing, but I could have it then while flying. I thought about it and decided that would work and be worth it for the extra leg room and aisle seat.
As I sat there, a guy with a Seeing Eye dog came on and he sat across the aisle from me.
The flight was great and I did well with the length. I had worried about these longer flights, but I listened to a book on my phone and it went by well enough. We were arriving in Denver about 30 minutes or so early, which was great as I had a transfer and worried about the time. I didn’t want to be running to the next gate. As we came down I tried to peer a bit out the window and it seemed like we were in the clouds forever and then we touched down. Holy cow, that wasn’t clouds, it was fog! It was very thick and eerie.
We proceeded to our gate and I was the 3rd person off the plane. Wow, that was neat. I let my 2 row mates go first because they were worried about their connecting flight as well. I was happy to have enough time to use the restroom and then go to my next gate and stand a stretch a bit. Skip timed it perfectly and called me then and I talked to him a few minutes.
I took a shot of my next plane.
Soon they were calling for us to line up and then to board. Once again I got the same exact front row aisle seat. I loved this spot. The only downer was I couldn’t see out the window very well. As we flew along I could tell there was some very beautiful scenery, but I couldn’t reach over 2 strangers to get pictures. It did look like we flew over canyons and mountains and from the l’il bit I could see, it was gorgeous.
After a few more hours it was time to land again and once again we were running a bit early. I turned on my phone and a second later Stacy texted that she was just leaving her house. I told her I just landed but still had to get off and get my bags and she said she would probably be there about the time I got my bags.
I was the first one off the plane this time…..that just seems so weird! But I must say I really liked it too. I headed down to baggage claim and no signs of the bags coming out yet, so I stepped outside. AHHHHHH! Warmth! It was so nice to be outside and not freezing my fanny off! After a few minutes I headed in and waited for the bags. I texted back and forth with Stacy and she had just parked. My bag came out at that same time so I grabbed it and headed outside to wait. I texted her that I went back outside and the next minute she came out to join me. She had been going in one door as I walked out another. We chatted a minute and hugged and then went to her car, which was just across the street in the garage. We loaded her trunk and off we went. She was there such a short time that they didn’t even charge her for parking, which was nice. Everything was timing out great! We then were on our way towards Venice Beach and I pulled out my camera and my phone and took some pictures as we drove along.
Palm Trees!!!!!
Getting Close!!!!!!
How strange is this? A ballerina clown, not something you see daily in my neck of the woods.
I was expecting to see some really bad traffic, but actually it wasn’t too bad. Stacy said it was really good this day and not the norm. I do think they all drive crazy in CA though. At times I just shut my eyes. LOL. As we approached the Venice Beach area we started looking for parking, but Stacy’s favorite free lot was full. We went through anyways and some big SUV was trying to squeeze into a spot that would’ve been perfect for Stacy’s car. Oh well, we went on and looked at some more lots. Everything seemed to be full, which she said is also not the norm. I guess all the traffic that was missing on the roads were parked at Venice Beach. We did find an alley that had parking and we were able to squeeze into a spot. I was amazed at how narrow this alley was and still allowed parking.
It even had meters, so I knew parking was allowed, but it just was crazy! We put in enough for just over 2 hours and we headed towards the beach. Lunch was needed by me and Stacy was hungry too.
Great seats on the plane and how cool to be one of the first off.
I love the photos when you landed - those beautiful blue skies, palm trees and then the beach.. .perfect! By the way, was that a Virgin Atlantic flight I saw in your photo?
Signing on, looks like the makings of a good trip!
Welcome!
Quote:
Originally Posted by JBelle
Joining!
Looks like a great trip to come!
I've only been to DL once in 2009 and hope to go back in the next few years so I'll just live vicariously thru you for the time being.
Welcome! I hope I can give you a good visual to relive it!
Quote:
Originally Posted by JenniferLynneRose521
Just signing in so I can catch up later
Welcome!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lfredsbo
How nice that you scored such great seats on the plane!!!!
This trip is starting off great!!!
I was happy with those seats. They really worked out well for me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Momof2Disneyboys
Sounds like you had some great seats on the planes and everything was working out great for your arrival!
Looking forward to more!
I liked those seats a lot. I had plenty of room to stretch out.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Great seats on the plane and how cool to be one of the first off.
I love the photos when you landed - those beautiful blue skies, palm trees and then the beach.. .perfect! By the way, was that a Virgin Atlantic flight I saw in your photo?
It might be...the one coming in from the air? I bet it is. I was just clicking away and not paying attention.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dutchdisneyfamily
The beach looks heavenly!
I tell you, after the winter we have had, that beach was paradise to my eyes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Baloo
Ha! For once I'm signing into your TR on the first page! So proud of me...
Yay!!! I love that too!
Quote:
Originally Posted by FanOfMickey
Great start!! Claire is really loving the swimming! Looking forward to reading more
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.
We are now officially at Venice Beach! We started to walk down the main walkway….I think it is called the boardwalk, though it’s not a boardwalk in the way I would think of one.
There were lots of people on bikes.
You can rent bikes here by the hour.
Stacy told me how the vendor spots are put up for a lottery and you then get that location for so long to sell your wears, or whatever it is you plan to do there.
The Beach looked so pretty and we planned to walk over to the water later after we had some lunch.
If course we checked out some of the strange people walking up and down as well.
This caught my eye right away.
Of course the guy there tried to sell me a smaller version of that.
We found a spot to eat and for the life of me I can’t remember what the name of the place was. We could sit inside or out and we chose outside. It was so nice to be eating a meal OUTSIDE in February! My view from my seat.
These people were setting up to play and they had the strangest instruments.
This was also in my view from the table.
We made our orders and caught up with each other and the food came out very fast. Stacy had a breakfast platter, while I went with the chicken Quesadilla. It was very good too.
After lunch we moved on and walked around just taking in the sites. I just loved these lifeguard shacks and I kept taking pictures of them.
After a bit, Stacy wanted to get an ice tea and a place she liked was right down a side street. Before doing so, she wanted to show me this really strange house.
Yep! That’s not something you see every day.
They had a sign on the door to tell people not to disturb them too. I found that funny. Why have such an outrageous house and then not want to be disturbed. LOL. I suppose people were ringing their bell at all hours of the day and night.
This sign was out by the house too, so I had Stacy take a picture.
This vine covered house was across the street and I thought it looked really neat too.
I thought these palms really looked neat as well.
And another look back at the strange house.
We then ducked into the shop where Stacy wanted to get her tea. I don’t drink tea and it smelled like coffee in there so I went outside to wait for her and watched these guys a bit.
We continued walking down the street. Stacy had told me about some semi-famous people who worked the area. Well famous to Venice Beach….and this guy was one of them.
I think his name is Harry Perry, but I could be wrong. Anyways, he used to have a different persona, but changed it a few years back to this one now.
There were a lot of shops and attractions along the way, including some freak shows.
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.
About This Page: 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
~ Jenn 
PassPorter Guide Author
Linear Mode
