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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
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(Sorry just had to put this as I just had this whole thing written out and one mis-click and now it is all gone! Grr)
So we woke up in our beautiful new home of Grand Floridian. Cool temperate and good spirits. The rain was still away and today looked like it was going to be a beautiful day. What was on the agenda? Animal Kingdom. I know I know, we just left AKL and we were just going to AK now? Again the resort switch was not really planned and perhaps had it been I would have thought this out better. Oh well - on with the show!
A quick breakfast in the club level lounge and we were on our way. Now as much as I love my monorail resorts I must agree with many other PP that it does take the buses FOREVER to get here. However the little TV at the GF bus station makes it not so terrible. Plus there are more benches here then other resorts so thats a plus.
It did not take long for us to get to AK and although we were not right there for opening we were pretty darn close. What was on our agenda? EE and the safari. We decided to grab FP for the safari then hit EE. Thankfully the line for EE was very short and we were on within a few seconds.
Now the first time we rode it last year it was very hot and I ended up getting off feeling TERRIBLE. (Heat+ going backwards = unhappy Dixie) So this time we knew better, it was cooler and I was prepared for the backwards. Since the first time was so off we had even missed the yeti! We had seen the shadow but not the mountain monster. We were determined.
One of us succeeded. And it was me! My DH STILL missed the monster (although is even more determined to see it the next time). Since he had missed the yeti he was now hoping the regular animals would be easier to spot. With that hope off to the safari we went.
Now remember yesterday when I mentioned that river creating rain we got hit with at Epcot? It make for not fun in France but great fun in Africa! The animals were out everywhere! This was the best pictures and animal sighting we had! Even with the more private safari ride my parents paid for us to have last year this one still came out on top. I picked two pictures (I know I know, only two. But it was either 2 or 2 million!) I really loved. First Now keep in mind this is with my terrible camera with a seat not by the window. Still baby elephant! Next my own little Pumba
After reading several other TR I think this guy wants to be a star! He always seems to be standing ready for his close up. Someone best tell him where the nearest bus to HS is so he gets his big break!
Well thankfully the safari helped cheer my DH up after missing the yeti. We wandered the jungle trek some and again the animals here did not dissapoint. I encourage anyone to try and go to AK after the rain. Clearly the animals get fiesty after the rain and makes the experience all the more fun!
Somehow enough time had passed and it was time for our lunch reservations at Yak and Yeti Now for anyone unsure of how this TS meal is, it is AMAZING! My DH and I were dissapointed with the TS restaurant in Epcots China but this well made up for it. The food, the atmosphere and our waiter was SO good. If you like asain fusion food I highly recommend this place. So very very yummy.
As we were finishing up our meal we saw a crowd gathering outside. We then realized the parade was starting. I am not a parade person but my DH loves them. Our honeymoon trip my poor DH was a newbie and so I dragged him everywher. Now this trip he knew what to expect and had a say (darn! lol) So I humored him and we got a spot outside the Yak and Yeti for the parade.
While I am not much of a parade person I did enjoy this one. It was colorful and fun and the interaction with the crowd I thought was better then the MK parades (at least I thought so). I even got a good picture despite the camera I had.
(BTW if you have not caught on yet I was really annoyed with my camera this trip. I missed a LOT of great shots because it was a poor quality. However I did get a new camera and so all future TR will have MUCH better photos - phew!) Now back to regularly scheduled programing. The big cheese himself! Looking very dashing in that jungle outfit - if I do say so myself!
Once the parade let free we decided to wander back towards the entrance. I know at some point we did Dinasaur (I pretty much hide my head the whole time. While I am aware that the creatures are not real I am also aware that if they do become real at any point if I hide my head and cannot see them then they in turn cannot see me. That is my story and I am sticking to it!)
We also did its tough to be a bug however since I have caught on to the tricks I spend more time anticipating the next thing that is going to get me instead of enjoying the show. I think I like walking through the tree more then the show.
At some point in that day we caught sight of something I know lots of people here look for.
Thats right DeVine! Now I know for a fact had the crowd and CM not been standing there I would have walked right past her. She is very good at blending. It was really neat to watch her and it took my DH a moment to even realize what we were looking at. He thought perhaps a bird in the tree.
We had such a great time at AK so we headed out before we got two drained (even two adults need to know their limits. And cranky me has limits!)
I know we spent the rest of the day relaxing in the resort. I think that night I finally bought my watch (with the gift cards from our DVC visit). Pool time and some time enjoying the lounge in GF as well as watching the fireworks.
Sometimes my favorite points are where we do nothing.
For the most part on this trip we had went with a lunch theme. It actually worked out very well for us. A big meal in the middle of the day gave us a programmed time for rest and a chance to regroup (and save ourselves from getting frustrated with one another). Also it was a nice chance to be able to end our time at one park and hit another. Also many signature meals that are not 2 TS credits are only 1 at lunch. Plus people tend to forget about sit down lunches so it was easier to get in to places I wanted to. Just my little PSA on the benefit of having your TS meal be lunch.
So why did I go on that tangent? Because this was our only breakfast. Why? Because I LOVE breakfast at WCC. In 1996 when I went to WDW with my Oma (german word for grandmother) and little sister we stayed at WL. It was amazing and to this day I still remember the meal there. Now every trip I go I eat there. Yum! So I break my lunch rule and make a breakfast ressie for that every time.
Since breakfast was at 9:20 we had some time to get up and lounge about. Then we took the monorail to MK and hopped the boat to WL. I love the boat rides, they are quiet and peaceful and allow me to get great pictures. Sadly I did not upload/resize them. However I think the boat ride offers a chance to soak in the moments. Sometimes - even for me- I lose sight of that.
So we stepped off the boat and as we moved towards WL I said to my DH "I want to stay here again". Now that we are DVC members obviously that is possible. However maybe more possible now then I thought (spoiler alert! If you like my TR perhaps you might find me making up a PTR soon involving this very topic!) Just a little teaser for anyone who likes - wants to stay at - or is thinking of staying at WL. I love it. Anyway after dreaming of a time when we could stay here we made our way in for breakfast. I do not think we waited any time here. And soon enough we were whisked away to our table. This meal is adorable (although it is loud here so if you want a quiet breakfast this is not a good place to have). The ketchup bit is always nice and the food is yummy. Although this was pre PP boards for me I still managed to get a picture of the food. (I think to tease my family with - oops! Mean me!) This is not an actual full skillet I think this was before we completely took out the second skillet they brought us. Yummy food and my kind of food (I am a southern girl after all!)
Stuffed and happy we actually wandered around the resort. And we even snagged a look at one of the DVC villas here! We politely asked the front desk if we could and after a bit of time a woman was able to take us over. She had not seen them either and so she enjoyed looking around. If anyone is thinking of buying DVC resale and you are going to Disney in the near future see if you can do the same. The sample rooms they have at the DVC tour (at least as of September 2010) were only AKL and BLT. I know if I was buying points at VWL I would have liked to SEE what I was buying.
Knowing we would use our points for here at one point we wandered away again.
Now sadly I did not take notes at all during this trip. (Having no idea what a TR was) and so I am not sure what we did the rest of the day. Although I do know we ate at Kona Cafe for dinner. (Another yum!).
This next time I know better. Next post - end of the trip day!
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So we woke up and that terrible reminder that today is our last day in paradise was on our door, the DME information. Boo.......How can something with Mickey on it bring on such sadness?
Well play through the pain as they say. So our last breakfast at the lounge (we were leaving at an ungodly time tomorrow morning) Tummys full the question was, where now.
The answer - Magic Kingdom of course! The start and end to my Disney experience is always here. Plus we had decided to finally try Liberty Tree Tavern. So on to the main event.
We spent most of the morning riding all the favorites. We also made it over to Tom Sawyer Island but did not find any paintbrushes. My DH says our next trip he is putting his nose to the grind stone so to speak. He is one determined little boy.
Over to PoTC so I could get in a couple more rides before our day was through. We were going to also go see Ariel but turned out we had just missed her. Boo.
My one sadness is that we still have not gotten to ride the carpets. Every time we go the line for it is out of control. My DH is never impressed with it enough to stand in line with me. I hope someone will soon
We were getting hungry and so we headed over to Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch. Let me just tell you, I wish I could have grown another stomach. I got the turkey and my DH the pot roast and it was SOOOO good. I felt like it was thanksgiving but better. I did not have to cook it or clean up after it. And I could unwind on HM! How much better does it get then that? My DH and I determined we definately had to come back and enjoy LTT again. Even now writing about the food has me so hungry. I recommend anyone looking for comfort food go there. It makes you feel good - and full!
Since it was our last day I knew I wanted to use the rest of the money burning a hole in my pocket. Bless my DH he was already tired of shopping so at some point he wandered out of the store. And what did he find? The parade!
Thankfully my DH knew if I saw one more parade I might explode so he got to enjoy what he likes (parades) and I got to enjoy what I like (shopping!) He apparently moved down main street and got a better spot. And a good picture.
After some purchases I finally found him (in all his parade happiness) and we wandered around MK. We finally decided it was time to say good bye to our favorite park and went back to GF.
That night we did manage to get back to WL for WCC dinner. It was as yummy as breakfast. This is the first time I had done dinner there and it was just as comforting as lunch. Good BBQ food with excellent service. Again my love for this hotel is both because of its appearance and the nostalgia for me since it was the first place I stayed with someone I very much care about who is no longer here.
When we finally realized we had to go back and get some sleep we took the boat back to MK and hopped on the monorail. There is something so sad about pulling away from MK for the last time of the trip. Like when you were younger visiting someone and your parents finally drove away. You wave and they wave but even though you know you will be back a little tear falls.
We repacked in our room (which is a bad game of tetris to fit in all the extra stuff I bought plus dirty cloths.) I did manage to get one good bye picture from our room that I love.
We finally dragged ourselves into our bed and called it a night. Our pick up for DME was very early (something like 5 or 6 am - yikes!) Our flight back was nothing remarkable and luckily my sister and BIL were there to pick us up. It is always fun to relive your trip by being able to tell someone about it right when you get back.
So as I sit here several months after this trip ended and several months before my next trip (or is it.....dun dun dun)
Thought 1 - While AKL certainly has some good points I do not think it is the place for my DH and I. The theming was nice and certain seeing the animals was fun but I do not like being that far away from the action. MK resorts have stolen my heart just like MK has stolen my heart.
Thought 2 - I am very excited to have gotten into DVC. If nothing else the look on my family's face about taking them to Disney was priceless. Disney magic lasts far beyond the bubble and it is something I take with me every day.
Thought 3 - Could Disney money have been spent else where? Yes. But the happiness my DH and I get whenever we are on property cannot be bought. As we think about using money that could be placed else where on another trip I remember that smile while we stand for pictures with Stitch. Is giving that up worth a painted kitchen?
Thought 4 - Disney is AWESOME! Only something based on a mouse could bring so many people together. Big things in small packages -definately.
So what is next? Definately a trip in December with my family. And possibly a surprise? Keep your eyes peeled for a possible PTR from me.
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(Sorry just had to put this as I just had this whole thing written out and one mis-click and now it is all gone! Grr)
) So this time we knew better, it was cooler and I was prepared for the backwards. Since the first time was so off we had even missed the yeti! We had seen the shadow but not the mountain monster. We were determined.
My DH STILL missed the monster (although is even more determined to see it the next time). Since he had missed the yeti he was now hoping the regular animals would be easier to spot. With that hope off to the safari we went.
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