Disney and Southern California Adventure- PTR - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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My mistake, she leaves in 9 days (May 31) an will be gone for 5 weeks ( she returns the day we leave. I think we are pushing the "no 2 full time people out at the same time rule".
That makes a lot more sense! What an amazing trip that will be...
I think that tight drive time would drive me nuts too (even with the 1hr cushion.) Is there an option to get 4 hrs or so down the night before?
I have to work the day before, and DH will be home with the kids all day so no naps! But I'm thinking I might take some Benadryl when I get home and go straight to sleep. Then plan on leaving at 2am! We didn't really want to drive through the mountains at dark, but may have no choice. I better tell the wildlife to be on alert
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.
Just joining in! Your plans sound great, less the slight snag with the drive times. I just returned from a mini trip to Vegas. The fountains are lovely, and ran nightly with different songs for the water to "dance" to. There is a nice tram that runs from Mandalay to the near by (same side of the street) hotels, including the Luxor and Excal. While I like walking...walking with little ones in Vegas can be daunting. I'm excited to hear about your trip !
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~ Jenn **Disney is REAL LIFE Magic, so much more than optical illusions **
Just joining in! Your plans sound great, less the slight snag with the drive times. I just returned from a mini trip to Vegas. The fountains are lovely, and ran nightly with different songs for the water to "dance" to. There is a nice tram that runs from Mandalay to the near by (same side of the street) hotels, including the Luxor and Excal. While I like walking...walking with little ones in Vegas can be daunting. I'm excited to hear about your trip !
Thanks, I'm going to make a point of checking out the fountains. I have done some research about the trams, I think we might give them a try, however I'm very impatient and might walk!
Look what came today, I was so excited I just ordered it the other day.
I don't have anything new to report. I am getting close to the 30 day mark. In a few days I'm going to book the Fantasmic dessert party, so I will let everyone know how that goes. I'm starting to take an account of what we have and what I need to get for the trip. I've ordered some water shoes for the kids, and some new swim suits. Like a good over-planner I've created my calendar for the week before the trip, including when I will clean, pack, put services on hold, and take the dog to board. I do need to schedule a haircut and mani-pedi a few days before we leave.
I pick up one Saturday a month at another pharmacy, naturally (as always) it is the Saturday before we leave. One day I will learn to ask for the weekend before a trip not to be scheduled .
Oh well, DH will just have to help with laundry and cleaning!!!
Today I booked the Fantasmic dessert party!!! I knew I would have to do it before work, waiting all day would've made me . I had a meeting at corporate this morning so decided to leave a little early and call before the meeting. I called at 7:30am pacific time (1/2 hr after the 7am posted time according to the website), and the CM told me that booking wouldn't be available till 8am, now that's 9am mountain time and when I would've been in my meeting. Not much I can do about that, but I don't get why it says to call between 7am-8pm Monday-Friday if it's not open till 8????. Every time someone wanted to discuss a topic that had been decided on further I kept thinking that I was going to call and it be unavailable. After the meeting ended, and after the 2nd meeting I was asked to sit in on, and after one of the marketing people had to get my opinion on some design banner she was having made for some medical conference, I was finally on my way to book the party. Oh, and I was finally on my way back to my store to relieve the float who was suppose to leave an hour ago (this makes me mad b/c it looks like I'm running late, when in reality I had no control over when I left). I spoke with Craig, who was great, and I was able to book the dessert party for the day and time I wanted !
I am giving some thought to switching the days we go to SeaWorld and the zoo. I'm thinking we could get the quick queue passes and do SeaWorld on Sunday July 6th and the zoo on Monday. I was thinking with the 4th weekend crowds both places would be busy, but with SeaWorld I could get the passes to help circumvent the wait. Thoughts??
Also, my mom threw the monkey wrench in I was expecting. I may have mentioned earlier that she has a house in Palm Springs. She is planning on being in CA the end of June till July 12 (the week before and week of our trip). We have plans to stay there the last day. When DH heard of her plans he said "she's going to try to insert herself in this trip" . I thought the same thing but disagreed out of sheer hopefulness. I love my mom and I know she misses seeing the kids but I can't vacation with her. I've taken many trips with her, after each I say never again then, after time has passed, I give it another try only to wish I haven't. Here are a few examples so you know where I am coming from.
She never wants to eat at a mealtime, she insists she's not hungry and would just get a snack, then wants to eat/is hungry at non mealtimes. This is fine for her and my dad, but not us with 2 kids we are trying to keep on some type of schedule.
On trips she thinks it's ok to not respect what DH or I say the kids can/ can't do. Like buying them candy/desserts between meals, and saying "they're on vacation, it's not everyday".
If we decide to do a,b, then c she will ask well why not do c,b, and a or x,y,z?
My most disliked one....if we tell the kids what we are doing next she will suggest something else. One of the kids will think her idea is better while the other wants to do our plan. She suggests the group split up and she take one kid on her idea while we take the other, this really bugs me b/c it's a family vacation. If she wasn't there we wouldn't send one kid off on their own.
Well the other day on the phone she mentioned that San Diego is only a few hours away and she'd love to go to the zoo (she's very passive aggressive and would never come out and ask what she wants). Then tells me that it's been years since she's been to SeaWorld. She told me about all of her plans and that the week we were there she'd be free, and I should call her when we get there. She did say she's been to DL recently and wouldn't have to see that again (see I told y'all there's something wrong with her)! I'm open to any suggestions, DH just said it's not happening no matter how I tell her.
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.
sorting things out with your mom. I have no words of wisdom for you on that front...
Congrats on getting the Fantasmic! dessert party, especially after everything you went through on the day to finally get through to Disney and book it!
That's a tough one, Katie. I'm a splitter-upper so I can't relate, but this behavior really bothered my sis and her husband on our recent trip, so you are not alone. I definitely can relate to wanting a trip to be just nuclear family though. Good luck sorting it all out.
Congrats on the dessert party! I have no good advice for the situation with your mom. Maybe do just one park with her, maybe the zoo, and have the rest of the trip to yourselves?
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getting the Fantasmic! dessert party.
. I had a meeting at corporate this morning so decided to leave a little early and call before the meeting. I called at 7:30am pacific time (1/2 hr after the 7am posted time according to the website), and the CM told me that booking wouldn't be available till 8am, now that's 9am mountain time and when I would've been in my meeting. Not much I can do about that, but I don't get why it says to call between 7am-8pm Monday-Friday if it's not open till 8????
. Every time someone wanted to discuss a topic that had been decided on further I kept thinking that I was going to call and it be unavailable. After the meeting ended, and after the 2nd meeting I was asked to sit in on, and after one of the marketing people had to get my opinion on some design banner she was having made for some medical conference, I was finally on my way to book the party
. Oh, and I was finally on my way back to my store to relieve the float who was suppose to leave an hour ago (this makes me mad b/c it looks like I'm running late, when in reality I had no control over when I left). I spoke with Craig, who was great, and I was able to book the dessert party for the day and time I wanted 
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