The First Thanksgiving (some 400 years later) TR - COMPLETE!! 3/7 - Page 28 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
Registered Message Board Members Get Our Free Newsletter! When you register you'll have the option to sign up for our weekly PassPorter Newsletter. It's chock-full of feature articles; news; tips; contests; photos; and special offers in our online store.
Well I'm majorly behind. In fact, I just saw this TR last week and finished reading it today. I it so far! It mustve been really nice to spend thanskgiving with friends at disney the way you guys did. Sounds like you had a great time despite the waiter at Ohana. I'm so glad they read the email...hopefully they did something about it like you said.
I've noticed the few times I have seen Osbourne lights they have been packed. Too bad because I gets a little scary with so many people when its such a great thing to see.
I love Cali Grill, in fact we are doing it again this time around. Looks like you guys had a great meal and I dont blame you for taking a cab back. We would've done the same thing!
We got competitive during TSMM during our rides on it this last time but he blew me away. I'm still not great on it, I gotta find out some secrets to get him back in sept.
We had a great experience at the Tune in lounge on our last visit and it sounds like a great idea to have lunch at the counter there. The smores looked delish!
I hope you feel better and I am so glad to have caught up! I cant wait to read about the rest of the trip!
Okay. Don't pass out. I'm actually going to finish this thing It wouldn't be me if I didn't stretch it out for like 3 months, now would it? I mean, it's expected so I can't disappoint!
So on our last evening in the World, I was blessed with one the most annoyingly painful headaches I'd had in a while. Wonderful. Thank you body. You rock.
I must say, that interfered in the fun that should have been had that night, and really put a damper on the fact we were leaving the next day Not into the leaving Nope.
So anyway, on with the show! We (the Bakelins) got ourselves together at POFQ and headed out on the Baker Bus to Epcot.
We headed into Innoventions to do Sum of All Thrills again. This time Brandi and I were DETERMINED to get a better score than Andy. I have to say, our ride kicked major geek butt and Andy wanted to ride it himself. I don't remember if he ever did or not, but you can reuse your card and ride again, I think. Right?
Anyway, while we built the roller coaster of our dreams, Pom held my camera....
NICE. He's like the floating Madame Leota head.
Us, upside down on our kick butt roller coaster
They said you could hear us screaming and laughing all through the joint. Way for us to be "That Guy" and be annoying. What else is new I guess
We of course meandered over to Club Cool next, where drinks were again on Pom. Such a nice guy that Pom.
Good stuff in there. I do the Mezzo Mix.
We headed into the World Showcase next....
We worked our way around starting in Mexico.
A little fun in the pavilion
Andy doing his Roger Daltrey impersonation...
Meeting THE DUCK!
We also visited him on his ride through Mexico.
Next up was a stop in China for some pot stickers... Brandi and Tom got some Chinese dinner while we were there. And we also saw some of the best parenting skills EVER. This like 13 year old girl, wearing way too tight clothes for her age and her shape, was SHOVING whole huge big pieces of chicken in her mouth and then prancing around while chewing. It was not a nice sight, and she could've choked. And her parental unit was not much better. Geez. Such sights to see at Disney.
Next stop for us was Germany. (Can you tell this was our eat around the world night?)
Andy had a pretzel...
I think Brandi got herself a brat
I didn't have anything as my stupid head was not feeling hungry...
Whilst in Germany, Brandi found this hot little number that I still think she should've bought..
Japan was next on our list, so we went up to the Yakitori House. Andy got himself some actual dinner here. I still couldn't eat, so I passed. How annoying is that feeling? You want to be able to eat the things you've been dreaming about for months, only to feel like complete poop and know if you eat, you'll hurl? I hate headaches. I mean, who loves them, really?
While we were in Japan we made connection with Lorraine and her fam who had arrived at the World We met up with them outside the Yakitori House, chatted for a bit (I heart me some Lorraine's daughter....girl after my own heart. Stitch lover, animal lover...... Smart gal right there !) Then we all made our way to the Frenchy movie. It was here that I thought my head my actually explode, like something out of an episode of Fringe. Luckily Lorraine had something I could take which helped a bit. I was sure I wasn't going to make it through Illuminations but somehow I managed
After Illuminations we headed out of the park but stopped to get a photo of everyone together..
It was really nice to finally meet Lorraine and her family. I've gotten to know her over on FB a lot and really appreciate her kindness. Hopefully we'll see each other again this year!
We made our way back to the Baker Bus only to have to listen to Andy and Pom go on about how they were getting sick. So we stopped in the gift shop at POFQ so they could get some Nyquil and I picked up a sweet pair of flannel looking patchwork Mickey PJ pants.
I forgot to mention this was our Bakelin sleepover. No trip is complete without one, whether it be on property or at the Baker House. When we got to the room I went to put my new PJs on, only to find that the stupid security tag thing was still attached. Nice. And they were closed now. Double Nice. And I started thinking I threw the receipt away b/c we were recording our spending on my iPhone and once stuff was recorded I threw the receipt away so as not to double record it. Triple Nice.
We all hit the sack eventually, and thank the sweet Lord, I woke up refreshed the next morning. I can't say the same for Pom and Andy. Maybe if they hadn't swapped spit back at 'Ohana they wouldn't have been BOTH sick.
We couldn't get Pom out of bed so after sharing some beignets Andy and I packed up the car and headed out with the plan of meeting the Bakers at Epcot later. Luckily Andy found the receipt for my PJ pants somewhere and we were able to get that thing taken off. Then we hit the road to Epcot. We started at Test Track first.
Poor Andy. You can tell he felt like total crap that morning But he was a trooper.
After Test Track we decided to do a Sum of All Thrills together b/c we had yet to do that. It was kick @$$
The Bakers met up with us in here and we all headed over to The Seas for a ride on Nemo. Afterwards we chilled and watched some fishies..
Andy, pooping out.
We made our way back to France because I had to get me some Boulangerie Patisserie since I was too sick to eat it the night before. YUM. I heart that ham and cheese croissant!
Finally, it was time to drag our feet towards the exit. Ugh. Dead man walking.
SUCKS.
We said our farewells for now to the Bakers in the parking lot...and yes, a tear or two, or fifty, was shed by me.
BUT, it's all GOOD, because we'll be back in our happy place, with our happy friends, in just 29 days! !!
So, thanks for reading this long, drawn out, possibly boring at times, TR. Maybe I'll be better on the next one I know you just busted a gut laughing at that comment.
Later gators!
Great to see you writing again Melissa, even if it is to finish off a trip report, which is always a miserable chore. But sounds like a fun end to your trip.
Great finish! Thanks so much for sharing! I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed the Sum of All Thrills so much. I work for the company that sponsors it, and I can't wait to check it out in August. (Just wish my work badge would get me front of the line on it... but I don't think so...)
Great finish! I hate leaving too! I am sure sucks more leaving friends behind! Bummer about your headache and Andy not feeling well, makes for an even more sad exit!
Melissa, it was great meeting you too and I'm glad I was able to give you something for that headache! We definitely have to get together again so I can buy you that drink for earning your Masters! Maybe in July for your BD? My daugter also you and now wants a Stitch tattoo when she gets older...(I wonder why! Great TR as always! Now you have to start a PTR since you only have 29 days left!
The pic of all of us came out great! Can you send me a copy to FB? Thanks and I hope to see all 4 of you again soon!
Great finish Melissa! Sorry you were all not feeling well at the end, but still sounds like a great ending (minus the security tag)! Thanks so much for sharing your adventures with us! Looking forward to the next one!
About This Page: 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
it so far! It mustve been really nice to spend thanskgiving with friends at disney the way you guys did. Sounds like you had a great time despite the waiter at Ohana. I'm so glad they read the email...hopefully they did something about it like you said. 
Our 3 princesses LOVE the RED SOX!!!!
It wouldn't be me if I didn't stretch it out for like 3 months, now would it? I mean, it's expected so I can't disappoint! 
Not into the leaving 
Nope.
!) Then we all made our way to the Frenchy movie. It was here that I thought my head my actually explode, like something out of an episode of Fringe. Luckily Lorraine had something I could take which helped a bit. I was sure I wasn't going to make it through Illuminations but somehow I managed 
I know you just busted a gut laughing at that comment. 
PassPorter Guide Author
Sorry you were all not feeling well at the end, but still sounds like a great ending (minus the security tag)! 
Thanks so much for sharing your adventures with us! Looking forward to the next one! 
Linear Mode
