The Spring Break We Get Sick Trip to Washington DC Report - COMPLETE!! 5/22 - Page 3 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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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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That museum looks fun, Marnie. When we drove to Manassas last June, we noticed the same thing about driving off the rest stop exits. My sister goes to the bathroom about every 20 minutes, and needless to say this was very frustrating!! Funny how you noticed it too though . . . . . Looking foward to more!!
I remembered what we had for dinner last night......Maggie Moos Ice Cream
Back to the show......
Today I was starting to feel the effects of a cold coming on. The nasal congestion was starting, and so was a scratchy throat! GREAT! NOT! Today was pretty much of a rest day. DSiL had to go into work early for something, and DBiL also had to leave for work, so I got DNiece breakfast and a neighbor came to pick her up for school. DNephew was coming down with something as he spiked a fever during the night.....now I know why I'm sick!!
So, we really couldn't do anything today. DH was working on the car again.....still couldn't figure out what was wrong. I spent the morning either playing the Wii with the kids or cleaning my DSiLs windows (that were all streaky......I can't stand that)! DSiL came home at lunchtime. When DNiece got out of school, I took the kids to the playground....well, DNiece lead the way, which was about as big a detour as you can get (and I thought she lived here )!! Apparently she doesn't pay attention when she walks to school!! Alexa, Colin, and DNiece had their bikes. I was on a Razor and so was DNephew. DH and DSiL went to drop off our van at their mechanic. We played at the playground for about an hour, and then DSiL came to round us up as her in-laws had just arrived and wanted to see their grandkids. So she took them and their bike/razor in her car, and we had to make our way back Granted it was only 3 blocks, but it was the principle.
It was another dinner on the grill (chicken I think). Don't remember much after that. I think I did some reading, and was probably and early night since I wasn't feeling well at this point.
We were up by 7 or 8 this morning. I made everyone homemade waffles for breakfast. DNiece didn't go to school today so she could go to the Dulles Smithsonian with us. DNephew was still not feeling well, so he and DSiL stayed home. My DSiL's DFiL (did I lose you yet?? ) came with us to the museum. It's only about a 10 minute drive if that to the museum, and DSiL has an annual pass so you don't have to pay for parking Which I believe otherwise is $12/day (although there is no admission to the museum itself).
We had been here before (last year) so we knew the layout. First order of business was to get tickets for the IMAX show at 1 PM (Magnificent Desolation.....Walking on the Moon). We had seen the Fighter Pilot one last year, so those were are only real choices.
Then we started touring. This will be a picture tutorial more than anything else! Here are my pictures.........
We made it about 1/3 of the way thru the museum before the kids were hungry! Ugh! The only choice here is McDonald's, so that's what it was. At least the museum was deserted today so we had no problem finding a seat or having to wait in line! After lunch, we of course had to make a stop in the store and pick up some goodies, and then it was time for the IMAX movie. It was good, but I was expecting more, I guess. After the movie, we went up to the tower (which thankfully had no line either) and took in the sights. DBiL is a pilot and he was supposed to be flying in at 1:45, but apparently we missed him by 5 minutes since all we saw were United planes mostly (he flights for a Northwest regional).
Here are some shots from the tower.......
After the tower, the kids were done, so it was time to go! So much for seeing the rest of the museum. I have pictures from last year on the rest (never did that trip report), so I'll post those later on for those that want to see what else is in there!
As we were driving back, the mechanic called about our van. The tranmission is slipping in the low gears and basically we need a new transmission. Oh, and for the low price of $3600, and a 2-year warrantly!! I don't think so At this point.........we'll let it sit in the driveway and hope it makes it back to CT At least I'll be getting a new car and won't have to suffer thru another hot summer with it (the A/C was barely working)
Back at the house, we went with DSiL to Costco (her favorite store) and then to pick up the van. Another quiet night at her house. I don't remember doing anything, so maybe more reading and another early night!
Love your PIX! (I just wish there were some captions)
Y'know as close as we live to the Udvar-Hazy Center, we have not been there yet.
It is HARD to get the family to go to Virginia. Maybe we can catch the shuttle from downtown sometime.
I would love to see the Enteprise and the Blackbird they have as well as the JSF (F35) and I think it was an F15? Oh, and they have the re-assembled Enola Gay there, too (too big for NASM).
We may get to go to NASM next month as 'my Father's Day gift' I have been told .
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Great updates!! I can't believe your DSIL left you at the park expecting you & the kids to get home on your own! The Air & Space Museum looks amazing. I haven't been there in forever and those pictures made me realize that we really need to get there again soon! your van is on the fritz, but glad a new vehicle is on the horizon! Hope you're feeling better soon! Can't wait to hear more
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Great pictures of the Air and Space Museum! Sorry to hear about your car, I hope it made it back all right and you were able to get a new vehicle- I agree , I had a van where the transmission started slipping and I drove it for a year or more like that with little trouble but when it went out , I purchased a new van rather than replacing the transmission. Can't wait to hear more.
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Danny and I at Epcot 8/14/08
)!! Apparently she doesn't pay attention when she walks to school!! Alexa, Colin, and DNiece had their bikes. I was on a Razor and so was DNephew. DH and DSiL went to drop off our van at their mechanic. We played at the playground for about an hour, and then DSiL came to round us up as her in-laws had just arrived and wanted to see their grandkids. So she took them and their bike/razor in her car, and we had to make our way back 
Granted it was only 3 blocks, but it was the principle.
Which I believe otherwise is $12/day (although there is no admission to the museum itself).
At this point.........we'll let it sit in the driveway and hope it makes it back to CT 
At least I'll be getting a new car and won't have to suffer thru another hot summer with it (the A/C was barely working) 
your van is on the fritz, but glad a new vehicle is on the horizon! Hope you're feeling better soon! Can't wait to hear more
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