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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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Oh, yeah...this twinkie isn't giving up on the face paint in September either
Love the butterfly garden and how cool that Josie got some 'princess' time with Merida!! She is adorable and I'm LOVIN' the matchy outfits. Remy not showing up stinks!! I agree that you did the right thing letting her set the pace and make some choices of her own. Especially because you'll be back soon. We're trying to be less 'planny' (new word ) this trip as well and we're going to give the boys choices.
Those playgrounds are adorable!! And it would be a great idea to have a few in and around Epcot for the rest of the year as well.
Love the PP pics...Josie's face with Goofy is so cute!! But, I love her pose with her bathing suit...what a little SI model in the making
How nice to have your own little fireworks show too in the room.
I know my response is all over the place
Happy Mother's Day my friend
Love the "fireworks" in the room. I could be mesmerized by them for hours.
Sounds like a fun time in Pixie Hollow. I was never a "princes or fairy" kind of girl but I really like Pixie Hollow at the F&GF. It made me want to be a fairy and be able to fly and play in those little huts.
That's what I love about Disney. Even if you don't ride alot of rides, there is still so much to do that you discover and enjoy things you never thought you would.
Looks like a fun evening was had at Epcot. They should really look at keeping those play areas at Epcot full time. I always read complaints that Epcot doesn't really appeal to younger kids and those sure would help with that! I love all the special topiaries at the F&GF maybe someday we'll make it there. Josie looks great as a lion! You really should have gotten it done. Probably would have made Josie's day.
What a really nice day/night in Epcot. I've often thought about doing the face painting for myslef again just because I's figured Evan would get a kick out of it. But I never spend the extra money on it.
Josie looks so cute as a lion. Evan's standard is a tiger. How cool to have a private fireworks show in your room.
Hope you had a nice Mother's Day. We went to OC NJ - down towards your neck of the woods - so to speak.
Love, love, love the fireworks display in the room! So cool!
They were super cool!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Sounds like a great night at Epcot! Love the pictures (and the facepaint)! More please!
She's is really into the face paint now, she had it done again this weekend at the zoo!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by misty hailey
Awww She looks so cute coloring the sheet in fairy land
LOVED all the fairy stuff!!! Thank you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by valegirl5292
Hi Linny, loving your TR so far. Since I have 2 boys its so nice to see things from a little girls perspective, that I know I will probably never get to see. Josie looked so happy at BATB and those rooms at POR look so cool. Those play areas at Epcot look like a child's paradise, I know my son would love taking a little breather at them, I really wish they were permanent. Looking forward to more.
I know. I wish they would keep them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by clio
Josie is such a cute lion. You guys did so much in one day.
Liz
Thank you, we did get more done than I thought we did
Quote:
Originally Posted by BlueCinderellaEyes
OMGosh I want to see this best Photopass pic! Hurry! LOL Looks like a wonderful day and reading this has set the wheels in motion for a trip just DD and I! Well for her 10th birthday so we have some time yet
OH, you'll see this amazing pic, coming right now.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JKnott17
Great night at Epcot! Love the facepaint, you totally should have gotten it done too I'm glad that you and Josie are having such a great time, letting her take the lead seems to be working well!
Well I promised the twinkies I will do it, and I will keep that promise this Sept..........I
ll even let Josie pick which one.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mickeysgal
Just getting caught up....what an awesome trip you girls had!! From the Beauty and the Beast show, Pixie Hollow, special time with Merida, Dumbo movie on the lawn and your own fireworks in your room..AWESOME!!! Oh...and I loved the face paint....so cute!! Looking forward to reading more.
Merida was awesome! I can't wait to see the movie.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Oh wow - what a fun time you and your friendly lion are having!
She was a cute little lion wasn't she??
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
Sounds like a great time checking out all the fairies. The fireworks on the headboards is so cool!!!
Headboards were so cool, but I think I was more into them than Josie was.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lexiemom
Josie makes an adorable lion. Even though your afternoon didn't go exactly as planned it sounds like you still had some wonderful mommy/daughter time!
We had the best mommy/daughter time!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by dsteiny23
Oh, yeah...this twinkie isn't giving up on the face paint in September either
Love the butterfly garden and how cool that Josie got some 'princess' time with Merida!! She is adorable and I'm LOVIN' the matchy outfits. Remy not showing up stinks!! I agree that you did the right thing letting her set the pace and make some choices of her own. Especially because you'll be back soon. We're trying to be less 'planny' (new word ) this trip as well and we're going to give the boys choices.
Those playgrounds are adorable!! And it would be a great idea to have a few in and around Epcot for the rest of the year as well.
Love the PP pics...Josie's face with Goofy is so cute!! But, I love her pose with her bathing suit...what a little SI model in the making
How nice to have your own little fireworks show too in the room.
I know my response is all over the place
Happy Mother's Day my friend
I like less "planny" good word!
Oh, just wait for some more model pics coming up, the girl is killing me.
I hope your Mommy's day was great too.
You twinkies can keep me to my promise, I won't let ya's down!!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shelley the Pooh
Love the "fireworks" in the room. I could be mesmerized by them for hours.
Sounds like a fun time in Pixie Hollow. I was never a "princes or fairy" kind of girl but I really like Pixie Hollow at the F&GF. It made me want to be a fairy and be able to fly and play in those little huts.
That's what I love about Disney. Even if you don't ride alot of rides, there is still so much to do that you discover and enjoy things you never thought you would.
Yeah those fairies get to me too. Not sure why, but they are darn cute!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by stardust190
Looks like a fun evening was had at Epcot. They should really look at keeping those play areas at Epcot full time. I always read complaints that Epcot doesn't really appeal to younger kids and those sure would help with that! I love all the special topiaries at the F&GF maybe someday we'll make it there. Josie looks great as a lion! You really should have gotten it done. Probably would have made Josie's day.
I will, I will..........I have made too many promises now on the face paint, I can't let you all down.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mommapants
What a really nice day/night in Epcot. I've often thought about doing the face painting for myslef again just because I's figured Evan would get a kick out of it. But I never spend the extra money on it.
Josie looks so cute as a lion. Evan's standard is a tiger. How cool to have a private fireworks show in your room.
Hope you had a nice Mother's Day. We went to OC NJ - down towards your neck of the woods - so to speak.
Oh I am soooo doing it for Josie, I could give a crap about getting that stuff on my face.
Hope you had a great Mommy's day too. OC is exactly my neck of the woods, this is why we traveld up to Philly that day and went to the zoo, to get away. It sure was a hot day though wasn't it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by mpwife153
Wonderful start to your trip. I am loving the princess rooms at POR.
Today we woke up again with Stitch creaming in the phone to us. At 6:30am mind you……Josie came and cuddled with me in bed for a bit, we weren’t in a rush because we were headed to MK and they were opening at 9am, so we putzed around and had some breakfast, talked with Daddy and Andre and made our way to the bus stop around 8am. I never know how long the buses will take so I left in plenty of time to be able to see RD. MK RD is the only one I really like anyway.
The bus was crowded this day and we stood the whole ride over to MK. Once we got in we found a spot and just chilled out until the RD started.
We wound up talking with this adorable family from Connecticut while we waited. The conversation started over this guy’s wait time app saying that Splash had a 10 min wait. And the park wasn’t even opened yet. We had a good time trading stories and app info while our kids were playing together. They were a super cool family and this was the start of their first vacation to WDW. I sure hope they had a great time.
Our plan after the RD was to head to FL to see the new Dumbo and Barnstormer, but once inside I noticed Rapunzel had a meet set up on the left of TS. So we headed that way. I was greeted by a super snotty CM who told me I needed to park my stroller on the other side of MS by Tony’s. WHAT???? Can you all just imagine for a minute what is was like to cross over there while all of these people were swimming in through the main entrance……….not fun I tell ya. Once I got back the line had now tripled in size and she wasn’t even due to come out for another 15min. Sorry, but this is not how I am going to start my day, so back to get the stroller and we went back to the original plan.
Josie and I both adore the first “real” glimpse of the castle so we just stood and looked at it for a minute and of course Josie likes to walk through the castle too. Knowing it would have been quicker to go around the side to get to Dumbo, we walk through anyway. Once in FL I saw this BIG sign saying “Fantasyland Stroller Parking HERE!” OK then, I’ll park it and will just skip on over to Dumbo. We did just that, but later on I really didn’t know what that sign was all about because stroller parking was everywhere.
We finally found our way down to the new Dumbo and jumped in line. What a small line it was too. Maybe 10 min we waited. The whole area is super cute and it was nice and shaded while we waited. Once we were flying I was amazed at the work getting done in the new section. I seriously can’t wait for all the construction walls to finally be down and see the finished product!
From there we skipped again on over to Goofy’s Rollercoaster, which Josie has been talking about now for the past 2 yrs.!! Last time she was on it, actually her first time ever riding it, I was pregnant so she and Daddy tackled the ride. We basically walked right onto the ride and it was a blast. Once it was over Josie asked if we could ride it again, I said sure, but we have to get off and go back in line again. The exit for this ride started to crack me up a bit. It was this long twisty walk that took forever to get out of, once we did……..we went right back on again. Another fabulous trip, but Miss Josie pants wanted to ride AGAIN!! Back down the forever long exit and we hop back in line. I wasn’t sure how many times she was going to pull this, but after 3 rides, she said we could move on to something else now. Whew!!!!
When I parked the stroller back when we entered FL I grabbed FP for PP and they also gave me FP for Mickey’s Philharmagic too, so we went and used those up at this point. From there we moved over to Pooh and checked out that whole new queue, which was really cute BTW.
We were getting a little hungry and I noticed the wait for IaSW was only 5 min. I made a dumb mistake here by asking Josie if she would like to ride it now, or after lunch. She replied after, so off we went to dine in Pinocchio’s House.
We entered just as they were opening for the day, and for us, this is a great time to eat. I was so tired of eating French fries with every meal lately that I went with the chicken Caesar salad and Josie had a grilled cheese. Of course though we ordered breadsticks and sauce for dipping. So much for keeping it healthy. We found a great seat overlooking the loading entrance for IaSW and watched the line grow and grow and grow!!! The wait time soon became 30 minutes!
Our meal here was fabulous. Not like it was some amazing salad, it was good, but it was nice to have something a little healthier plus our view was kinda cool too. I think we may be going back here in the fall.
At this point Josie wanted to ride the carousel, but I nixed something this time. The line was very long, plus I do enjoy riding this at night, and she was more than fine with that idea too.
I wanted to head over to AL and ride the carpets so we took the sneaky side path that goes down by Dawn’s favorite spot. Which I thought was by Sleepy Hollow (cause that’s our spot) but later I realized “her” spot is down a bit further by the wooden bridge.
We heard the marching band playing so we detoured a little to see all the commotion. When they were finished I saw we were close to HM and asked if Josie wanted to ride that, but she was already excited for the carpets.
We parked the stroller and get in line for carpets which turned out to be probably the longest line ever. I think because it just seemed really hot at this point, but soon enough we were riding our carpet and having a great time.
Next I was trying to figure out what Josie wanted to ride…..JC, PoTC, HM, try out Splash for the first time???? She wanted to go swimming!!!! Well all right………..swimming it is!!
Now we made our way out to MS and I thought we should stop for some PP pics. I have issues with the PP photographers on Main Street, why is it that some can capture some really great shots, while others fall way short? This next picture could possibly be the best pic I have got on Main Street USA, here it comes…….
Wait for it……..
Wait….
OH, HELLO. Is there a castle anywhere??? Thanks for taking an upward shot of us, because that always looks great on, uhm just about NOBODY!!!!!!
These others are OK, though…..
Once back to POR I asked Josie if she wanted to go down to the main pool today, but no she was comfortable in the quite pool for some reason, so back to that pool is where we went. Now remember this, because this will all come back again to haunt me in a big way. On our way down to the pool, suddenly Josie turned into a supermodel……
Our usual routine followed with showers and again, another disco nap
All caught up! You girls certainly had a lot of un and I love how you went at Josie's pace. Wonderful photos too, I loved the one of Josie heading back to you with her rose, she looked so happy. Your room looked gorgeous and I loved the pictures on the wall. I'm with you with some of the Photopass peeps and your photo made me laugh. Umm don't these guys know we want the castle in our photos? Looking forward to more
Linny, between little too Handy Manny, no personal space Aladdin, busted down fairy, and no castle castle shot, your trip report is cracking me up. But beyond that, I love seeing the sweet relationship between you and your daughter. So precious! Josie in the playground reminds me so much of Jillybean's mommy/ daughter trips with Mary Devall. But then that makes me feel old; so thanks a lot! Really, just can't wait to hear more.
__________________
Karen, aka Zack's Mom - Lover of all Things Disney and the San Francisco Giants!
I totally thought I was going to see the "BEST" photopass picture ever! I agree that you and Josie just can't take a bad photo, but that sliver of a castle view is ridiculous. I agree that the photopass photographers a lot of the time are not photographers. They've been handed a camera and the outfit, but that's about it.
Sounds like you had fun at the MK. Funny how kids always want to go swimming. They have their choice of rides and they want in the pool. Oh well it's relaxing and fun too. I can't believe that MS picture. Don't the photographers realize you want the castle in the picture? Even I could have taken a better picture than that and I suck at photography. You ladies look fine, but the backdrop could be a lot better. Good thing they got the "bakery" in the background. Nothing like a little hidden construction/remodel as a backdrop!
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I agree that you did the right thing letting her set the pace and make some choices of her own. Especially because you'll be back soon. We're trying to be less 'planny' (new word 
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LOL Best photo ever
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