Checking off that Bucket List ~ Disney Style! - Page 20 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
Although this was my 18th trip to WDW – there were so MANY new adventures, and things that were on my Disney Bucket List that I was able to check off along the way!
The new things/bucket list things that we accomplished on this trip were:
§ Using Disney’s Magical Express: we had a very good experience with this! Although this was a short trip for us during the busiest week in WDW, we managed just fine with Disney transportation – never really waiting too long for a bus. We found that we really can do Disney without renting a car!
§ Carry On Luggage Only: Because this was a shorter trip and the weather was cooler, we managed to pack all of our stuff into Carry on Suitcases and managed just fine with it – we did have a package mailed home with items that we purchased, but it was good and made transport much easier (now, I know there is NO WAY I could manage this with a long trip!).
§ Garden Grocer: first time using any type of grocery delivery service and it was fantastic!!! We usually have a rental car and do our own shopping at the local Wal-Mart, but we found this to be very convenient and gave us more park time!
§ Port Orleans Riverside: being DVC members, we rarely get the opportunity to venture out to the other resorts for stays (on my Disney Bucket List is to stay at every WDW Resort!) – So it was nice to have a change and be able to see what another resort was like! Again, because of the time of the year and the shorter visit, I feel like we didn’t really spend a lot of time exploring the resort – but that can happen at another time!
§ New Rides/Attractions this time: Under the Sea-Journey of the Little Mermaid; Enchanted Tales with Belle; Ariel’s New Grotto; New Test Track; Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow……see, there is always something new!!!
§ Birthday in Disney! – it was at the top of my Disney bucket list to be in WDW on my birthday – but giving the date of my birthday – I always felt that was next to impossible – but we did it – and I would do it again in a heartbeat!!! No matter how old you are, there is nothing more magical than spending your day in DisneyWorld!
§ Wishes Desert Fireworks Party: this has been going on for years, and this was the first time we had decided to do it – mainly as a celebration for my birthday – but I think it’s going to be near the top of the “must do” list for all future trips!
§ Gaston’s Tavern: this was new to us – delicious LeFou’s brew and pork shank for a quick snack – or you can make a meal of it!
§ Katsura Grill: we had sushi here one evening – this was a new place to eat for us! Had never tried it before – will definitely go back!
§ Cape May Café: had never given it a second thought for dinner – but it turned out to be a new favorite!
§ Be our Guest: we managed to get in for lunch one day – and it was fantastic!!! We will definitely go back – although we want to give dinner a try!
§ New Year’s Eve: another activity near the top of the Disney Bucket List (helps that it is the day after my birthday!) and we did it! I think if we were to do it again, we would choose a different park ~ the crowds we can handle, it was the drinking that bothered us with having our daughter with us – it would have been different if it was just Scott and I, otherwise it was a great experience.
§ Backstage at Epcot: because of how busy it was, we had the opportunity to go backstage for crowd control – it was very interesting to see this!
§ Starting a New Year in Disney! – again, this goes with spending New Year’s Eve in Disney – but it was an incredible feeling waking up in Disney on a New Year! No better way to start the year off right in my opinion!
§ Merida: meeting Merida has been something that my daughter and I have tried to accomplish the last few trips to Disney and never managed to do – and this time we did – and the verdict was she was ADORABLE and very much like her true character!
§ Cinderella’s Horse: I have always wanted to be able to ride Cinderella’s horse on the carousel and I did it finally!!!
So there you have it – even after so many trips to WDW, there are so many new adventures to be had each and every trip! This is WHY we continue to love it so much! I might be an adult, but, Disney World will always be a magical place for me. My family and I have created so many memories that we will treasure for our lifetime…………..and we will continue to build those memories!
Watch soon my new PTR!!! We are going back this summer……………for………………….15 days!!!
__________________
Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
Great wrap-up to a great trip! People never believe me when I say there's always something new to do at WDW, but it's true! How great that you're going to stay for 15 days next time!
Great wrap-up to a great trip! People never believe me when I say there's always something new to do at WDW, but it's true! How great that you're going to stay for 15 days next time!
Thanks Laurie! It is so true that there is always something new for us each time!!!
I can't wait for 15 days!!! And 2 new resorts!!!
If I don't get the chance beforehand, have a wonderful trip to Africa!!!! Can't wait to hear all about it!!!
__________________
Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
Lisa Thank you to You Scott and Em for allowing us to come along on you special trip. That you did it for your birthday gives me hope that I'll get to do it for mine in 2016 at least that's the plan for now. Can't wait to share your next trip cause that means our will only be around the corner.
Our prayers are with you and and your family over your difficult situations you face as is Scott's coworker
I've loved your TR! My only complaint is that it wasn't long enough. That wasn't your fault of course. Let's just say I'm really looking forward to your 15 day trip this summer! You sure got a lot of things checked off your bucket list!
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.
Beautiful report, Lisa. You guys really made the most of your short visit - especially with the crowds!
15 Days!!!! That boggles my mind - we expect to see lots of photos. And, I can just imagine how many PhotoPass Pics your family will get. Looking forward to the PTR.
Thanks for sharing your trip with us!! I loved it. Just makes me more excited for ours to get here!! 15 days. WOW, I can't wait to read all about that one!!
Great TR Lisa! And a great wrap up! Now on to your next!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
Great wrap up and proof yet again why we must return to WDW over and over again -- so many firsts still to do. for sharing another trip with us!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Great wrap-up to a wonderful trip report!
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeL
Lisa Thank you to You Scott and Em for allowing us to come along on you special trip. That you did it for your birthday gives me hope that I'll get to do it for mine in 2016 at least that's the plan for now. Can't wait to share your next trip cause that means our will only be around the corner.
Our prayers are with you and and your family over your difficult situations you face as is Scott's coworker
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
Great wrap up to your trip! You got to do a lot of firsts on your trip, which is always exciting!! Thanks for sharing your birthday trip with us!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by num1DVCfan
What a great wrap up! I agree, there is always something new and magical with each trip to Disney. I'm looking forward to the next TR. Wow, 15 days!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Great finish Lisa! What a great trip! Thanks for sharing it with us!
Quote:
Originally Posted by DMA
Great wrap up! Yes there is always something new at WDW!
Quote:
Originally Posted by dutchdisneyfamily
I've loved your TR! My only complaint is that it wasn't long enough. That wasn't your fault of course. Let's just say I'm really looking forward to your 15 day trip this summer! You sure got a lot of things checked off your bucket list!
Quote:
Originally Posted by shazza
Beautiful report, Lisa. You guys really made the most of your short visit - especially with the crowds!
15 Days!!!! That boggles my mind - we expect to see lots of photos. And, I can just imagine how many PhotoPass Pics your family will get. Looking forward to the PTR.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Russi01
Thanks for sharing your trip with us!! I loved it. Just makes me more excited for ours to get here!! 15 days. WOW, I can't wait to read all about that one!!
Thanks all!!! Hopefully I will begin the next PTR soon.............things are bit crazy around here right now!!!
But in the mean time, I did manage to get my photo mat framed - was kinda bummed that I had to do a clip frame due to not wanting to cover any of the autographs - but otherwise very happy with it!!!
__________________
Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports