Forums Closed
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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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!
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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.
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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.
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10-01-2003, 02:35 AM
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#31
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PassPorter Message Board Manager
 PassPorter Guide Author
Community Rank: Legend VIP 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Maidstone, Kent, UK
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 190,285
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Re: Disney in the French quarter - DAY 4, PART 5 POSTED
Tuesday 23 September, part three – an hour and a half in and finally an attraction!
We crossed into Frontierland, where work was obviously underway to change it into Halloweenland. It was nice to get a glimpse of what it would look like in another week or so’s time.
 
Turning Frontierland into Halloweenland - we especially loved the camera in the first shot!
We strolled down to watch Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the steamboat for a couple of minutes and DH asked if I'd ever try BTMRR. “I might”, I cautiously replied, but he didn't take the conversation any further and as I watched the mine cars shoot round the tracks, I was suddenly relieved!
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, French style!
By now we'd been in the park for an hour and a half and hadn't been on any rides, so as we were nearby, we started with Phantom Manor in (their equivalent to the Haunted Mansion), a decision I’m sure Steve would approve of! Interestingly enough, here in Disneyland Paris the Haunted Mansion is in Frontierland, but it obviously works well for them when the area’s transformed into Halloweenland. I can tell you, that house looks scary enough without pumpkins, ghosts and skeletons out as well!
Phantom Manor and Thunder Mesa Riverboat Landing
The other thing we quickly noticed was that it wasn't just the characters who were playing up more, so did the CM's and the ones at the Phantom Manor were having a blast. The guy at the gate was taking great joy in scaring any kids that walked past him by jumping out of them! We walked up to the imposing main doors with no one else in sight and were able to take our time as we passed through the queuing area, although it didn't have the gravestones of WDW.
Phantom Manor
The stretching room didn't seem to have as many pictures in it and what was revealed was a lot less scary than WDW. I finally remembered to look up at the ceiling in the stretching room when it went dark, but I wasn't quite sure what was up there. We both later decided it was hanging man. When we got out of there, we had a fair walk to our doombuggy, longer it seemed than WDW, but it was all themed as if we were in an old house.
The differences didn't end there, the whole ride seemed to have more of a storyline to it, about a bride who never got to marry her intended. You saw her at various points of the ride, eventually as a skeleton with all the other ghosts in the Manor. Towards the end of the ride we also went through the town with ghosts, ghouls and skeletons in, again something I don't remember from WDW, but I'm sure Steve can correct me if I'm wrong! We both really enjoyed this and decided we should go back on it again before leaving, something we never seem to get a chance to do at WDW.
As we came out, the English couple in front of us asked their young child whether he wanted to go on it again. “No” was the very firm answer they got in reply. We chatted to them and discovered the father had been to WDW for one day, while for the mother, it was her first ever experience of a Disney park. Like us, they'd arrived on the Eurostar train just a couple of hours earlier and they were impressed with what they'd seen so far and how quiet it was. I certainly couldn't argue about the latter point, the park was deserted, but that probably had something to do with the Princess Parade taking place at that time.
As we walked out of Phantom Manor, we saw a host of characters - Captain Hook, Chip and Dale, Tweedledum and Tweedledee (all of which we got autographs from) Pluto and Jafar. Here again we saw the characters playing up to the full, both Chip and Pluto ended up lying in a flowerbed (don't ask me why!), Tweedledum was dancing with a woman and Dale had taken up residence in a stroller! It was all very bizarre and at times it did lead to long queues for the characters, as I'd earlier suspected it might.
Chip in a flowerbed!
And in a more usual pose with DH!
DH with Dale... in a stroller!
To be continued...
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10-01-2003, 02:37 AM
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#32
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PassPorter Message Board Manager
PassPorter Guide Author
Community Rank: Legend VIP
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Maidstone, Kent, UK
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 190,285
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Re: Disney in the French quarter - DAY 4, PART 5 POSTED
By this time, it was coming up for 5 p.m. and I was getting hungry, having only had a pain au chocolat and shortbread biscuit for lunch on the train, so I suggested we eat fairly soon and we started heading for the Blue Lagoon, at the entrance to Pirates of the Caribbean. On the way, we found Pluto and Brer Fox and I gave in and let DH go and get autographs. Here we did find kids trying to push in, but a quick “excusez moi” and a sharp look from me and the kids got the message!
DH with Brer Fox
Skull Rock and Captain Hook's Pirate Ship in Adventureland
By now, we were learning that nothing is clearly signposted at Disneyland Paris and so we ended up taking the Pirates of the Caribbean ride rather than going into the Blue Lagoon, as we originally intended. Again there were a lot of differences from WDW, some lovely scenes of pirate treasure at the end of the ride in particular and you cruise past the Blue Lagoon first, with crickets chirping in the background – I read somewhere this is how Walt wanted the ride to be originally, with a chance for visitors to have the scene set, before they got to any animatronics scenes. The drops were also steeper and you certainly had to climb to get to them. I had visions of Splash Mountain at times, but none of the drops were really too bad!
Next: our first taste of French Disney food! |
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10-01-2003, 06:11 AM
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#33
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Community Rank: Trekker 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Maine
Posts: 1,831
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Re: Disney in the French quarter - DAY 4, PART 5 POSTED
Great report, Cheryl! I love the pictures. Looking forward to the next installment! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
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10-01-2003, 07:44 AM
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#34
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RED SOX NATION!!
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Connecticut
Concierge Level: 9
Posts: 136,854
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Re: Disney in the French quarter - DAY 4, PART 5 POSTED
Great update Cheryl [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img] Love your pictures!! Keep it coming, it's very interesting, having never seen that park before!!
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10-01-2003, 08:11 AM
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#35
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Community Rank: Jetsetter 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 2,734
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Re: Disney in the French quarter - DAY 4, PART 5 POSTED
Thanks for the update! I love your new pics, espcially the ones of Chip and Dale!
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10-01-2003, 08:18 AM
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#36
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Community Rank: Legend 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,365
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Re: Disney in the French quarter - DAY 4, PART 5 POSTED
Outstanding! Gosh, Cheryl, thanks so much for the cool write up on Phantom Manor - love the photos! We actually have the soundtrack to Phantom Manor on the WDW/DL Haunted Mansion CD track and it does appear that there is much more of a story to it than the loose ones here in the states. Boy, am I envious of you on that!
Nice pictures of your hubby w/ the characters, too!
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10-01-2003, 10:04 AM
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#37
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Community Rank: Trailblazer 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Houston
Posts: 5,162
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Re: Disney in the French quarter - DAY 4, PART 5 POSTED
This is fascinating. I feel like I'm hearing about DisneyWorld for the first time! I LOVE the looks of Phantom Manor and the Castle is fantastic.
Love the report, love the pics. More! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
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10-01-2003, 10:59 AM
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#38
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Community Rank: Trailblazer
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Pittsburgh, PA , USA
Posts: 5,943
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Re: Disney in the French quarter - DAY 4, PART 5 POSTED
Loving hearing about the differences in the parks!
Blue Lagoon sounds very similar to the Blue Bayou in Disneyland.
Can't wait to hear more and see more awesome pics! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
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10-01-2003, 02:11 PM
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#39
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Community Rank: Legend
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: North Central Ohio
Posts: 21,629
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Re: Disney in the French quarter - DAY 4, PART 5 POSTED
This is really good Cheryl! Hurry with more installments! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
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10-01-2003, 02:34 PM
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#40
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Community Rank: Legend
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Newtown Square, PA
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 23,859
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Re: Disney in the French quarter - DAY 4, PART 5 POSTED
Cheryl, your report is terrific!! DLp looks so cool and I love the pictures of your hubby! [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img] It looks like you guys are having a wonderful time and you are making me want to go there tomorrow!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
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10-01-2003, 04:21 PM
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#41
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Community Rank: Jetsetter
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Boston, MA USA
Posts: 2,535
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Re: Disney in the French quarter - DAY 4, PART 5 POSTED
Wow, everybody's taking great pics these days! Great report Cheryl. Fun to get a look at, and hear about DLP. Can't wait for the rest.
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10-01-2003, 08:36 PM
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#42
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Community Rank: Explorer 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 9,619
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Re: Disney in the French quarter - DAY 4, PART 5 POSTED
Cheryl, I LOVE this report! Its so interesting hearing about this park and how its similar but different from WDW. I cant wait to read more, Sheila
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10-01-2003, 11:01 PM
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#43
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Community Rank: Explorer
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Fort Smith, Arkansas
Posts: 10,721
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Re: Disney in the French quarter - DAY 4, PART 5 POSTED
I adore these photos of Mark but Chez, we simply must see some photos of you!!!
Wonderful report!! Thank you so much!
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10-02-2003, 12:40 AM
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#44
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Community Rank: Adventurer 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Carrollton, TX
Posts: 965
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Re: Disney in the French quarter - DAY 4, PART 5 POSTED
Great updates, Cheryl! Love the report, and your pictures are fantastic!!
Thanks [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
Carol
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10-02-2003, 12:42 AM
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#45
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Community Rank: Wayfarer 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 197
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Re: Disney in the French quarter - DAY 4, PART 5 POSTED
As I suspected I would, I am loving your report.
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