Home is Where the Mouse Is TR (June 1 - 11, 2017) - Page 27 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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What a relaxing morning! I love the pictures around the resort.
Your FEA photopass pic turned out nice! You were sitting in the exact same spot as me when we did that ride. Unfortunately, water splashed into the boat and got my seat all wet. Hope that didn't happen to you.
I don't really remember if we got wet or not. We probably did. I really loved this ride, it was so cute.
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Sorry that it rained while swimming and then again at Epcot. Sounds like you all had the food selections that you wanted and enjoyed your time around the WS. How exciting that you're taking a cruise soon. Where are you going and what cruise line?
We will be cruising on Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas, going out of San Juan, PR. We'll be visiting St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Curacao, and Aruba.
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Good time at Studios with Sci-Fi dinner that everyone enjoyed. The food is good and the show is as well. Glad you were able to go on the GMR one last time before it closed. I feel the same as I got to in October, 2016. I will miss this attraction.
Nice time at the resort at the POR pool (except for AJ). Some fun in Epcot (except for the rain) with some good attraction experiences. Funny, that not everyone could agree where to go for lunch as it was split between Katsura Grill and Liberty Inn. The latter is pretty good, but not a fan in any way of Liberty Inn. In all my times to WDW I only ate there once and probably the worst food I've had in WDW. I compare it to the cafeteria food you get in school! Time for that place to go and they need a good eatery here as all the other countries around WS seem to have!
We never agree on food. EVER. Thank goodness there are many choices and that the kids are older and we can split up.
Funny story: when Abniel was younger he could be a big pain. We'd sometimes wanted some fast food and he would always pick a place different from the rest of us and would refuse to eat at the place we had chosen. I think he did this just to annoy us. So we'd have to go through 2 drive-thrus before finally being able to eat. Thankfully, he outgrew that phase.
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Today was another lazy morning. We wouldn't be going to the parks until the afternoon. We wanted to go to Disney Springs for some shopping and lunch. So after taking our time, we were finally ready to leave. I have no idea why, but we decided to take the bus to DS. Maybe because the bus stop was closer?? I don't know, as I enjoy taking the boat and would much prefer to do that.
We arrived at DS and guess what? It was raining. And not just a sprinkle, rather a monsoon. Oh my goodness, enough with the rain!! We put or ponchos and went our way.
The first store we went into was Stance, as my kids are obsessed with their socks. Plus, they have NBA edition and were on sale, so each got a pair. We continued our journey despite the rain. I think we browsed in a couple of more stores. We were getting kind of hungry so we headed over to Earl of Sandwich. Thankfully it wasn't too busy in there and we were able to snag a table for us. Everything was delicious as usual.
My new favorite: the Holiday sandwich.
I think after lunch we gave up and headed back to POR. We went back to the room for a moment to freshen up and drop off our purchases.
This little dude was waiting for us at the room.
Then we headed to the lobby area to sit for a little while. I was trying to make it to see Festival of Fantasy parade at MK, but didn't want to get there too early.
Here are a couple of photos while we waited.
We finally made our way to the bus stop. We got to MK and my timing was perfect, as the parade was on its way. I hadn't seen this parade yet (last trip, 2014, it was cancelled the day I had planned to see it) so I was really happy to be able to see it this time. AJ, not so much. He jokingly complained throughout the entire parade.
After the parade was over, we headed to our first fastpass for the day - Jungle Cruise.
Apparently, I had another fastpass because I have a MM photo of Splash Mountain. Since I have no idea when we rode it, I'm just going to put it here.
As you can see, I was practicing some yoga.
We had an ADR at Trail's End Restaurant, so we started heading to the front of the park. We got on the boat and we were on our way.
A little back story here. For those who followed my PTR, I had originally planned on staying at Fort Wilderness. My best friend, who works for ESPN, was able to get me her Friends & Family discount. But, after thinking about it for a long time I decided against it. Well, when my husband and kids saw the resort they absolutely fell in love with it. They were upset that I didn't book this one. Who knew my family would love the resort.
We made our way over to Trail's End and I checked us in. Less than 10 minutes later, we were called in and seated at a table in the downstairs area. We put our drink order in and then headed to the buffet.
Plate #1
Plate #2
Dessert
Oh my goodness, the food was DELICIOUS!! Everyone was super happy with the selection and super full by the time we were done. This will definitely be on our must-do list. We could hardly walk afterwards. LOL We walked around a little so the kids could see the cabins and then we went over to catch a boat back to MK.
We arrived at MK and made our way in.
We had some time to kill before our last fastpass so we headed to Tomorrwland and rode the People Mover.
Proof that I was there too.
Then we made our way to Fantasyland.
He was talking to his girlfriend. I was secretly sending her photos of him.
We saw my bil and family walking around. Today was their last day, as they'd be leaving tomorrow. Our fastpasses overlapped so, after chatting a bit, we headed over to 7DMT.
I rode with my niece/goddaughter and she had the time of her life. I had to hold her because her head kept bopping around.
After that, my kids wanted to go back to the room to watch the NBA finals game. I wanted to stay and watch Happily Ever After fireworks. I sent them on their way, that's the advantage of having older kids.
We found a fairly good spot close to the hub. I don't think we had to wait that long for the fireworks to start, at least I don't remember. It couldn't have been that long because I know my nieces wouldn't have been able to do a long wait.
I have to warn you again, I took lots of photos.
I really loved this new show, At first, I was sad when Wishes was over and thought I wouldn't like this new one, but I was wrong. It was absolutely breathtaking and I will say it's even better than Wishes.
We said our goodbyes to my bil and family, as they were headed back to their resort. I checked to see if there were any fastpasses left and there was one for It's a small world, for almost immediately, so I snagged it. It was kind of difficult to navigate the crowds because we were technically going against traffic, but we made it. We were on a boat in no time.
After our ride, we were ready to head back to the resort. When we got there, the game was still on. We changed, hopped into bed and watched the end of the game. Then it was lights off.
You guys had a great day despite the rain!
The parade photos are great! You must have had a good spot! I could see the pavement was wet, but doesn't look like it was raining, so that was good.
Dinner at Trails End looked delish! It's nice when you select a new restaurant and it's a hit with family!
Your photos of Happily Ever After are outstanding!
What an awesome rest of your day!! Your parade photos are wonderful and your Happily Ever After ones are far better than anything that I've taken!! What a great dinner and fun rides. Everyone looks happy!!
What a great day you had and love the photos and you certainly took a lot of them! Especially those of HEA Fireworks and the MK parade. Nice dinner at Trails End.
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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!
You certainly didn't let the rain get in the way of having a good time together. I haven't eaten at EOS in a while but I love the holiday sandwich! I've heard such great reviews about the buffet at Trail's End Restaurant and it certainly sounds like you all enjoyed it a lot! I felt the same way about Wishes and thought the new fireworks would never measure up, but it really did!!!
You guys had a great day despite the rain!
The parade photos are great! You must have had a good spot! I could see the pavement was wet, but doesn't look like it was raining, so that was good.
Dinner at Trails End looked delish! It's nice when you select a new restaurant and it's a hit with family!
Your photos of Happily Ever After are outstanding!
For Festival of Fantasy we were in front of Tony's right by the curb. We got there maybe 5 minutes before the start of the parade. Thankfully, the rain had stopped.
We had Trail's End for our last trip, in 2014, but I cancelled it. I knew the food would be a hit with my boys.
What an awesome rest of your day!! Your parade photos are wonderful and your Happily Ever After ones are far better than anything that I've taken!! What a great dinner and fun rides. Everyone looks happy!!
Thank you!! Shh, don't tell anyone, but I took all the photos with my Galaxy 6s. I was surprised they came out so good.
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Sounds like you all had the food selections that you wanted and enjoyed your time around the WS.
How exciting that you're taking a cruise soon. Where are you going and what cruise line?
The latter is pretty good, but not a fan in any way of Liberty Inn. 
In all my times to WDW I only ate there once and probably the worst food I've had in WDW. I compare it to the cafeteria food you get in school! 
Time for that place to go and they need a good eatery here as all the other countries around WS seem to have! 
Thank goodness there are many choices and that the kids are older and we can split up. 
We'd sometimes wanted some fast food and he would always pick a place different from the rest of us and would refuse to eat at the place we had chosen. I think he did this just to annoy us. So we'd have to go through 2 drive-thrus before finally being able to eat. Thankfully, he outgrew that phase.
And not just a sprinkle, rather a monsoon. Oh my goodness, enough with the rain!! We put or ponchos and went our way. 
I wanted to stay and watch Happily Ever After fireworks. I sent them on their way, that's the advantage of having older kids. 
What a great dinner and fun rides. Everyone looks happy!! 
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