DrDolphin's Great California Adventure *COMPLETED* - Page 26 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
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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.
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Our last day!!
Sarah had booked the early morning Super Shuttle from the Hilton to LAX. Her flight left about 8am and my flight left at 1015. We woke up, got dressed, and were downstairs in a flash. As we were standing around - we saw a super shuttle.... but no driver. A few minutes later, the driver materialized and we loaded into the van. We made 2 other stops - one for a pregnant woman and her son, and one for a family. The family was NOT ready to go when we arrived -- so we waited like 15 minutes while the family ran around packing bags, etc and getting ready to leave.
FINALLY everyone was in the van and we were driving along the Interstate with the driver talking on one cell phone, while TEXT MESSAGING on another All while DRIVING!! Talk about not being a comfortable passenger in the van! And to add to that -- the seatbelts were either not there or not functioning.
We FINALLY arrived at LAX - and I think I jumped out of that van as quickly as I ever have! We grabbed the bags and entered the airport. We reprinted our boarding passes (I think we checked in the day before on my blackberry or on my laptop) and headed to security. I don't recall it taking a long time to get through security and we were on the way to our gates (which were pretty close together).
We went ahead and got in line for Sarah's flight - and I went to McDs to get us all some breakfast while she and Emilie waited in line. Emilie came to the realization that they were going home to Norfolk and she started to cry... poor kid. I am sure much of it was being tired from the early wake up - but hey - I didn't want to go home either!! At one point, Emilie decided she was not leaving LA!! It was funny to the adults - but she was dead serious.
Sarah and Emilie made their 8am flight -- I went to my flight, sat down in the A line and waited. Eventually I boarded the plane, made it to Nashville, changed planes and made it home to JAX about 700. After claiming the bags - I drove home, unpacked, started laundry and crawled in bed.
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.
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Final Thoughts -
I was originally somewhat apprehensive about another big group trip. It can be stressful, with very different goals among the members - which can lead to misunderstandings and lessened enjoyment. But this one was laid back - with few commitments of things that must be done together - and a nice long term trip that was spaced out - with down time included. And I must say - I totally enjoyed myself!!!
These ladies ROCK!!! They made the trip such a joy - from my roomies Sarah and Emilie -- two of the best roomies I know -- to Miss Crystal and Mr. Doug - who can always make you laugh! Speaking of laughter -- Miss Eileen, Karen and Sharon - the three musketeers -- You laugh so much around these three ladies you need to bring a case of depends... Just in case - cause you will be ROLLING!!! Dawn, Janine and Tina are three wonderful ladies - with warm, happy senses of humor that really make you feel wonderful. I didn't get to spend as much time with Liz, Robin or Cindy - but the time I did spend with these ladies was very enjoyable!!
This trip was FULL of wonderful sights and things to do - and we STILL didn't get to do them all (like Splash Mountain - 2 trips in a row and both times its been down for Rehab). DL has a different feel to it - and part of it is knowing that Walt Disney was here - he built this. It was more than just his idea.... it was his second home. You can really feel his presence there.
I know that I will have to return to DL again -- probably in a couple of years (as long as NASCAR is racing in Southern California, I always have a reason). But I really enjoyed myself.
The DLH is full of wonderful Disney theming!! It really has the Disney feel. I can't wait to go back and try the Grand Californian as well as all of the dining locations we missed.
Well - It's done. It's taken me 4 months to finish this 10 day trip report - and now - can start my Med Cruise Pre-Trip Report!
Great beginning, middle, and end, Terri. Thanks for taking the time to include us on your trip to DL. I'm glad that you had no regrets except for not getting to ride Splash. It sounds like you had a wonderful time.
Looking forward to your cruise TR.
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Oct '99: CSR ~ May '02: CR ~ Nov '04: SOG ~ May '06: SOG ~ Dec '07: Solo @ Pop ~ May '08: Pop w/friends ~ Oct '08: SOG ~ Dec '09: Pop w/LeAnn ~ Sept '10: Solo @ Pop ~ Spring '11: AKL ~ Jan '12: Pop for 1/2 Marathon ~ Sept '12: 1st trip for DL 1/2 Marathon? ~ Feb '13: Pop w/pals? ~ Mar '13: Tokyo Disney w/PP's?
It does not seem possible that the first of the girls trip TRs is already over. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with us and including us in all the fun. I've really felt like I was there sometimes while reading along!
OK . . . so that installment with the final thoughts got me a little teary eyed and a bit verklempt.
Maybe that's why I am taking so long to finish mine . . . because I know that once the reports are over, the TRIP is over. And I don't want the trip to be over.
I'm so sorry to see this trip report come to an end Terri. It sounds like you had a great time and I don't doubt that part of that was down to few commitments within the group, as you mentioned in the final thoughts section. I must admit when I heard what a big group was going, I did wonder how it would work out, but it sounds like it was great fun. I've really enjoyed this trip report, as we loved Disneyland when we were there last year and it's given me lots of ideas for our return trip - hopefully next year!
Great report Terri! I'm so sorry that it's over. Sounds like you had a wonderful time, and you all have inspired me to want to take a trip to DL!!! Looking foward to your next TR!!
Good times, good times!! It was a great trip full of laughs. Cahuenga - b/c of you I now know how to pronounce it and enjoy saying it daily.
We already are planning our return to Disneyland with the kids in June 2008 before our DCL Mexican cruise. We need to go back b/c somehow Doug and I managed to miss riding almost every ride in Fantasyland
Great finish to your trip report Terri!!! I really enjoyed reading about your adventures and it sounds like everyone really had a wonderful time!! Thanks so much for sharing with us!!
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Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with us and including us in all the fun. I've really felt like I was there sometimes while reading along! 
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