For the First Time in Forever...Sisters Trip!!!! - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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Look fine to me, but what do I know about fashion being a guy?
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Dave, I can tell by your little thumbnail picture that you know a LOT about fashion.
I certainly do hope they work somewhat. I have high hopes that with some TLC, they will be 60-70% of what they look like. I can live with that.
I'm clearly getting really excited. Thinking about snacks, thinking about at least one meal in-park. EEEE!!!!!
That's a good one regarding my emoticon!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Now that wardrobe is settled, I'm diving into the world of ADRs vs quick service. I love having ADRs, making them, changing them etc. But so hard to predict what we will want to do!
My sis loves the Blue Bayou, but both of us don't feel like spending that kind of money. I really don't think it's worth the price tag except as an experience. I haven't been impressed with the service in the past, and paying $50 for a meal just isn't my style at all.
That said, atmosphere is really important to me, and I do like table service. I'm thinking about Cafe Orleans for our DL day. Sundown is at 4:30, so maybe try to catch sunset from the seating area?
UPDATE: I made a 4:30 ressie for Cafe Orleans for Friday. Saturday, I'm thinking Flo's V-8 at sundown. Should be really pretty!
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Themed environment junkie
Last edited by KimmyAnn1147; 10-07-2016 at 10:32 AM..
Café Orleans and Flo's sound like great sunset choices. I am so with you about the Blue Bayou - nice atmosphere, but we've never found the food to be worth the money.
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Well, DSis convinced me to make an ADR for Blue Bayou after all. It's been like pulling teeth to get her to express a preference on most things, I think because she is overwhelmed with family life. Her son has some behavioral problems that have really reared up in recent weeks, so she's consumed with that. Today, she said "I know it's not worth it, but I really love it. Let's go and just order gumbo or creme brulee". So we have a 3:40 lunch ADR for Blue Bayou! I'm really thrilled, so thrilled that I'm going to check the current menu now!
We aren't fine dining connoisseurs, so we probably won't be disappointed in the food, exactly. We're decided on splitting a meal, so that takes the sting out of it, for sure. If we refrain from ordering drinks and desserts, we should come out to about the cost of a QS meal for each of us. I'm happy to make DSis happy!
Over the last 2 days, I've been making my packing list (minimal, as we only are allowed a "personal item" on the flight.) I'm also thinking about what I'm going to take.
We arrive at 7pm on Thursday, and plan to hit the park before rope drop on Friday. Because of that, we will need to actually travel with our snack items! I'm planning apples, tangerines, beef jerky, hard boild eggs, and granola or fruit and nut bars.
I want to carry a leather-type tote, I think. I have cheap plastic reusable shopping bag that is the perfect size for touring the park with. I used it at Shanghai and found it big enough for all my snacks and water, for my coat when I got to hot, and for an umbrella. I think I'd like to recreate it in leather, so I'll be on the look out for an inexpensive leather item that is big enough to use to make a bag. That, or I'll pick out something suitable from the second hand shop that is already made. But I'm looking for something like this:
I'm always budget-conscious, but I love classic styles in high-quality materials.
Wonderful start. Your day 1 looks like a good time will be had. I really like the dresses you and your sister will be wearing. Very cute. Will be looking forward to more of your PTR and your TR.
Thanks, Cam. Making ADRs is so fun, I'm tempted to Jimmy with them just to prolong the excitement. I had a good experience at Carnation Cafe last trip and wouldn't mind revisiting there. I also like the idea of an ADR forcing us to park-hop (so we get our money's worth out of the hopper).
I now have touring plans complete for both park days. They are standard: "headliners in the morning, stay on top of FP selections, relax and dine during busy hours, go commando as desired at night". I haven't planned the evening attractions at all, just have a checklist of what I would like to hit.
I doubt they will bring back Olaf's snow zone, but I would love to do that sledding again with Dsis. DS and I had so much fun doing that last year.
I'm really looking forward to Frozen-Live, trying Animation Academy for the first time, and of course, experiencing ToT's Swan Song.
I'm also looking forward to just spending this time with my sister. She's had a tough few years, and it will be cool to have her all to myself, without family worries!
Updates:
1. I sent DSis a copy of the touring plans. She was happy with them, and was happy that the evenings are free to do as we please.
2. I made a second ADR for Blue Bayou. We now have 3:40 lunch ADRs for both Friday and Saturday. We'll be canceling one of those, but haven't decided which. I think probably we'll do Saturday, as it's our "last day".
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finding the leather tote. 
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