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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
Noah has gotten really tall. It almost makes it look like the other 2 boys (and their aunt ) are shrinking.
Great dinner at Teppan Edo! Glad everyone enjoyed the food. We ate there on our trip and loved it. Even my picky little eater ate almost all his food.
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
Trying to get caught up here! I kept looking out for you the rest of the day, hoping for a random spotting, but alas it wasn't to be You did save my day though - when you arrived, the rain stopped! LOL! Sounds like your parents are basking in all of the attention. Looking forward to reading more....
__________________
Stacey
Why do these kids look so pathetic?
Find out in: A New Grade, A New House, and A Surprise!Final Thoughts 01/30
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.
Your parents are so cute, but your nephews are adorable! (Or maybe it's the other way around!) That'd be so cool if Tigger & Piglet really did just start walking off with you around Epcot. Then you'd add another jewel to the Princess Sharon crown
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.
Awesome day at Epcot. I was thinking about Teppan Edo on my next visit as I think Evan would love the show. He went to a similar place while away this summer and did like it. I just saw that the Japanese restaurant right up the street from me is opening a Hibachi grill so now I think Teppan Edo will be out on the next visit.
Location: A little over 1000 miles from my happy place!
Posts: 1,628
Post Thanks / Like
Likes (Given): 6
Likes (Received): 1
Thanks (Given): 7
Thanks (Received): 0
Pixie Dust (Given): 0
Pixie Dust (Received): 0
Looks like you guys had a great day at Epcot, and got a lot done! I think I'll copy the Princes Sharon touring plan for our next visit. Loved reading the mini-review of Teppen Edo. We are eating here for the 1st time this Dec for dinner and I am hoping my boys will enjoy it as much as your nephews seemed to!
I'd love to see Isi and Meri together at Disney. The combined enthusiasm would be just too much to bear, I think!
Love all of the photos, and the SE video. It sounds like it was a really great day, and let me just tell you, I'm so glad I've already got plans to get Chinese food for dinner, because your dinner photos made me really crave rice!!!
I was up at 6:30 and spent a little time out on the balcony watching the animals. I was happy to see the sun shining brightly, considering Hurricane Isaac was still in the neighborhood.
I’d decided to let the others set the pace this morning. If everyone got moving early, we’d go to DHS for park opening, then go to DTD for some shopping later. If they were slow going, we’d go to DTD first. I bet you can guess what happened.
When Daniel woke up, we walked over and joined the others for breakfast. I just had some cereal today (which isn’t a bad thing – I like cereal). Everyone was pretty slow moving despite the early night before, so we’d be going to DTD first. DB Ed decided to join us later because he wasn’t interested in doing any shopping (at least not at DTD – I noticed him eyeing up some artwork at Zawadi Marketplace).
Once everyone was ready to go, we got a bus to DTD/TL. It was pretty crowded but most of us got seats. Can I complain about how buses going to the water parks stop there twice? It’s annoying! Either go before the park/DTD or after, not both.
At DTD, we stopped first in the create a t-shirt store (I forget the name of it right now ). The boys each designed a t-shirt, and they all picked piratey designs without knowing what the others were doing! They had a lot of fun doing this, and it would be cute when they went to the Pirates League the next day.
When Isaiah was finished (I helped him), the CM put his little miniature t-shirt in the machine and he got a big kick out of watching it zip around the room and into the back where “Mickey could work his magic.”
Our next stop was Goofy’s Candy Company. Daniel isn’t big on sweets, but he did get a slush. Noah and Isaiah both chose the make-your-own treat option. They enjoyed doing this, but they really enjoyed eating them once they were done.
Noah couldn’t even wait for the picture before he started munching on his!
Then we went down to the World of Disney for some more shopping.
We also made a quick stop in Basin for some bath bombs for Isaiah. Oh, and we might have popped into Ghirardelli for some chocolate samples as well.
With our shopping complete, it was time for lunch. DB Ed had perfect timing because he called to say he was just getting off the bus. I told him to meet us at WPE and then we went on in. I ordered the spaghetti, I think. I didn’t take a picture, and I didn’t put in my notes exactly what I had.
While we ate, it rained. It was actually raining and sunny at the same time! We figured that was a sign for us to make it a leisurely meal. It stopped raining when we were almost finished, but then it started up again a few minutes later. We only had to get to the create-a-tee store across the way, so when the rain slowed to a light drizzle, we left the restaurant.
After picking up the shirts, the rain had stopped, and we went and got a bus. We needed to go to a resort in order to get to DHS (dang parking cheaters ), so I decided to just get on whichever bus arrived first. It turned out to be a SSR bus, which was good because it was fairly close to DTD which meant not much riding around.
Unfortunately, at SSR we had to wait a while for a DHS bus. DSIL asked for a family photo (and when DSIL offers to be in a picture, you should take her up on it! ). It’s tricky getting a family photo – either Daniel is being difficult or Isaiah is making his face (every kid goes through a phase where they make a weird face in pictures, right?).
When the bus arrived, we were the only ones on it. Then the bus driver made stops at all the other stops again. I was slightly annoyed because I thought the Springs was the final stop. And to make matters worse, this dopey bus driver went to every stop, and then not a single other person got on at any of them. And the dopey bus driver would crane his neck, looking for passengers who might be approaching, and then even wait a minute in case anyone else showed up. What, does he get paid by the passenger? I wanted to say something, but I kept my mouth shut.
When we finally made it to DHS (and the dopey bus driver dropped us off at the secondary bus stop, further away ), I was happy to be off that bus finally! When we got into the park, we stopped for a few pictures.
I didn’t ask anyone what they wanted to do. We were doing what I wanted to do and that was that! Of course that meant riding TOT.
And I knew the boys would be happy with that decision, so it’s not like I had any convincing to do. We (those of us riding) were able to do TOT twice in a row, stopping long enough to add the ride photo to our PP+.
What was Noah doing? Silly boy!
Note: I didn’t add every ride photo to our PP+. If it was a boring one, then usually I didn’t bother adding it. Then, two spins on RNRC! I busted out a classic pose for the ride photo.
Daniel finally found something he wanted to buy here – drumsticks (he plays the drums). I added our picture to the PP+ and we found the rest of our group.
Then we were a little hungry, so we got snacks. I’m not sure I had anything. I don’t think so, because I had a bunch of DDP credits left on Friday when we moved to AOA.
Then we went and rode TOT again. Twice more, actually. Noah generally skipped the second ride, because more than once at a time tended to make him feel sick.
The boys and I would’ve happily stayed right where we were, alternating TOT and RNRC rides, but I felt like the others had sat on benches long enough (even though they insisted watching us have fun was fun). I knew the Great Movie Ride could be enjoyed by all, so we did that.
Then we went over to do Star Tours. There was a Photopass CM by the star speeder (I think that’s the name of that thing – if not, it should be! What else would you call it! ). Noah didn’t want to pose, but Daniel and Isaiah were willing.
Then we went on Star Tours. Jackie actually rides this one, and my DF often does, but he decided to keep DM company and sat this one out. I was hoping one of us would be the rebel spy, but no luck.
After the ride, DSIL wanted to boys to pose in the Star Wars pictures. They found one, and it came out really cute! If I remember, I'll scan and post it later.
Of course the boys all found something to buy in the gift shop. They got guns (I think this was Isaiah’s 3rd weapon – I’m starting to think I should be worried about him ). We had them sent back to the resort because nobody wanted to carry them around.
Isaiah wanted to try on a Chewbacca hat. He looked cute in it (he tends to look cute in every hat). I asked him to pose for a photo. What follows is an illustration of the frustrations of getting a nice picture out of him. First…
Okay, Isaiah, smile this time!
Look at me this time!
There’s that face again! I just gave up after that. But I’m totally showing him these pictures when he gets older so he can see what a goofball he was. I happen to really love dopey photos like that. Isaiah had better pray I don’t ever put together the slideshow at a party in his honor. Actually, that goes for pretty much everyone I know. You’ve been warned!
It was time for our ADR at this point, so we walked over and checked in. It looked like it was about to rain, so I hurried over to 50s PTC and checked us in. When it was time for us to “come and eat,” DM was in the bathroom, so I told our server to give us a minute. It seemed to be taking DM forever, so I went in there to hurry her along but she was just coming out as I went in. When we went back to be seated, somehow we ended up with a different CM, who took us to the wrong table! We figured it out when we were taken to a table for 6 and we’re a party of 8.
I know that sometimes servers “read” guests to decide how much teasing they ought to do, so right away, I let our server know we wanted to have fun. How’d I accomplish that? Well, I was a big tattletale. I pointed out that Daniel was wearing his hat at the dinner table. Our server (I didn’t write down her name because I’m a big doofus) told me not to be a snitch (and then told Daniel to take his hat off! ).
Some of us (not me) weren’t very hungry because they’d been snacking (DF and Noah), so they just ordered appetizers (or in DF’s case, dessert). I decided to get the fried chicken and I know Eddie got the sampler. I think DSIL had pot roast. I forget what anyone else had. I also ordered a chocolate milkshake which was just as delicious as the ones at Sci-Fi.
Because of my tattling, I had to set the table (which I did not accept well – I totally whined “Why do I have to?” ). The boys really got a kick out of her fussing at me! I think Eddie did too, because I never got in trouble when we were kids.
My fried chicken was probably 2 chickens! I had like 16 pieces of chicken and I only eat one! So I offered it up to anyone who wanted it. DF decided he was hungry after all and took 2 pieces! Eddie was jealous because it seemed like I got more food than he did (again). He joked that I know what to order. He also took me up on my offer of a piece of chicken even though he already had some with his sampler. That’s how much chicken I had! Anyway, it was good, just way too much food for me.
I was pretty full, but I’d been dying to try the Smores dessert. Pretty much everyone else was full too, but DSIL agreed to split them with me. I’m glad she did as they were yummy! And between the two of us, we couldn’t finish one dessert. We were all totally stuffed when we left the place. It was a very fun meal!
When we were finished with dinner, we were met with a huge group of people in the lobby. Because it was raining! This made a bunch of the group want to go back to AKL for the night. Isaiah and Daniel wanted to stay (they are Energizer bunnies), so I volunteered to stay with them and the rest of the group dashed through the raindrops back to AKL.
Daniel, Isaiah and I put on our ponchos and headed down Sunset Boulevard for a TOT/RNRC triple play. First was TOT, with like no wait at all. Then RNRC with practically no wait (the rain keeps people in one spot) and then TOT again, with a bit of a longer wait this time. It had stopped raining by this time, but we were all ready to call it a night.
Before leaving I had the boys stop for nighttime pictures.
Isaiah is making Mickey ears
We walked to the bus stop and were the only ones there so I figured we’d have a wait, but the bus came right away and we were back at AKL in no time! We hung out for a while and then went to bed.
Up Next: Arrrrrr!
__________________
Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
About This Page: 
) are shrinking.
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
You did save my day though - when you arrived, the rain stopped! LOL! Sounds like your parents are basking in all of the attention. Looking forward to reading more....
PassPorter Guide Author
Holly: 
Loved reading the mini-review of Teppen Edo. We are eating here for the 1st time this Dec for dinner and I am hoping my boys will enjoy it as much as your nephews seemed to!
). The boys each designed a t-shirt, and they all picked piratey designs without knowing what the others were doing! 
They had a lot of fun doing this, and it would be cute when they went to the Pirates League the next day. 
We figured that was a sign for us to make it a leisurely meal. It stopped raining when we were almost finished, but then it started up again a few minutes later. We only had to get to the create-a-tee store across the way, so when the rain slowed to a light drizzle, we left the restaurant. 
), so I decided to just get on whichever bus arrived first. It turned out to be a SSR bus, which was good because it was fairly close to DTD which meant not much riding around. 
And to make matters worse, this dopey bus driver went to every stop, and then not a single other person got on at any of them. And the dopey bus driver would crane his neck, looking for passengers who might be approaching, and then even wait a minute in case anyone else showed up. What, does he get paid by the passenger? 
Of course that meant riding TOT. 
I don’t think so, because I had a bunch of DDP credits left on Friday when we moved to AOA. 
I had like 16 pieces of chicken and I only eat one! So I offered it up to anyone who wanted it. DF decided he was hungry after all and took 2 pieces! 
This made a bunch of the group want to go back to AKL for the night. Isaiah and Daniel wanted to stay (they are Energizer bunnies), so I volunteered to stay with them and the rest of the group dashed through the raindrops back to AKL. 
Linear Mode
