The "Okay-So-I-Finally-Finished-Last-Year's-TR-And-We're-Leaving-In-Two-Weeks" PTR - Page 4 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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.
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.
I just finished a TR from September 2010, and I have several unfinished ones here on PP, so you'll get no judgment from me!
I think choosing dates is one of the most difficult parts of trip planning, especially when you add in conflicting school schedules. We had to give up our week-before-Labor-Day trip for next summer, because our oldest DD will be starting high school. We had to choose mid-June, which equals more DVC points and higher crowd levels. Vacations were easier to schedule when I was homeschooling!
Darn school getting in the way! Too bad you'll have to stay away from Epcot on your last day, but I agree with your reasoning. You'll run into detours and such in all the parks on race day, but I sort of got into watching the runners and cheering them on and am hoping to do another trip during the January marathon days again.
I didn't even think about the other parks. I think I'll take a look on Run Disney to see if I can at least get a view of the course map and try to plan out our day. Thanks for that
Quote:
Originally Posted by mousestruck
Oh man... your kids aren't off at all that week??? We used to get three days (Tuesday, Thursday and Friday), but so many families pulled their kids out that they now give us the whole week. Every year, around February, I say a little prayer that the School Board approves the week again!
We are leaving on 11/2 too, but a little later at about 4 p.m. from Philly, so my kids will miss a half day of school. And we return on Saturday night with a 8 p.m. flight. I have to admit I'm with Craig on that part... my fam needs a transition day or we're all miserable come Monday morning! On the other hand, you'll enjoy an extra day in the bubble!!!
I know, it stinks!! We used to have Tues-Fri off when Tyler started school. But our demographic is such that sooo many of the student population were being taken out for other religious holidays that they now built those into the year and took away the two extra days from Jersey Week. So far, the teachers have been very cool about it.
Count me in! Can't wait to hear all your plans! Do tell me more about the Disney jewelry
Ah! I'm not a big jewelry girl, but I do love me some Disney bracelets And now I've got more to love!
Quote:
Originally Posted by kingfamily1129
I LOVE the F&WF so much! And the weather is just beautiful around that time so you picked an excellent time to come!! My DH is the same, he doesn't like to come back from vacation the day before work, but sometimes you do what you gotta do for Disney and saving some $$$
I think next year our trip may be a little shorter because of the Sunday and not taking the boys out that extra Friday.
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhToodles!
You should have gone over Labor Day. You could've seen me & Princess Sharon!
I think Labor Day may be in our future at some point. I like the idea of the minimal lines you all had! And of course a Kelly and Sharon meet wouldn't be too shabby either
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
LOVE the title, but mostly love that you're doing another TR!
I agree about those bracelets being so cute! (And agree Lisa is to blame for all purchases!)
I'm placing all additional bracelet purchase blame squarely on Lisa's shoulders!
Quote:
Originally Posted by bsblady01
I hope that you and your family have a magical time at the world
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
We may be there that time of year next year, so I'll be interested to hear how it works out for you.
We have loved Jersey Week since we started going in 2008. The weather is usually great, the lines aren't unbearable and there's F&WF and if you time it right, both MNSSHP and MVMCP. Would love to meet you next year if it works out
Quote:
Originally Posted by lfredsbo
I guess we will just have to have an northeast meet to compare all our Disney Jewelry! . And shhh.....don't tell the hubbies!
That will be one blingy day
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Congrats on the dates!
Thanks!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by JKnott17
I love those Alex and Ani bracelets, I'm definitely going to check those out! And the Beads for Life This is turning out to be an expensive souvenir list I've got going!
I looked up the Alex and Ani bracelets and LOVE them!! Now...my only question is can you add charms, or do you have to buy a bracelet for each charm. (Not that I'm against that at all )
Quote:
Originally Posted by lfredsbo
Okay - so now you all have me thinking I need to start adding the Beads for Life to my collection!!! I looked at them too and meant to go back..........well, next time, something to look forward to!!! Gonna have to start really saving for all these "collections"..........Alex and Ani; Chamilia; photo frames, beads for life, and any other Disney jewelry I might find along the way.........
I love the Beads for Life and like that the proceeds go to a good cause. At least I can justify my purchase of them with a clear conscience
Quote:
Originally Posted by islandgirl
YAAA!!! 2 weeks isn't long to wait at all!!
11 more days now!! Yikes!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by kangelop
Checking in. . .can't wait to read more.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Coop
We bought Beads for Life too. I also started a Pandora bracelet. (some of the Chamila charms fit too) But I have to look in the Alex and Ani!
I have some Chamila charms on my Pandora bracelet. I think bracelets are my fave type of jewelry.
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
Glad you got the dates all figured out!
We went back and forth quite a bit, but I think we picked the right ones.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Suzie-Q
I agree totally - in fact, I have a mostly completed TR that I have still never posted because it's been so long, but I have enjoyed working on it and reliving the trip. I also enjoy dsteiny23 TRs so I am soooo okay with the overlap...otherwise, what else would I do on a Friday afternoon at er...work?
Glad to see all five of you are in - carry on!
See, I need to do more "work" at work too and maybe catch up on this before we leave
Originally Posted by mom to 3 princesses and 1 prince
I just finished a TR from September 2010, and I have several unfinished ones here on PP, so you'll get no judgment from me!
I think choosing dates is one of the most difficult parts of trip planning, especially when you add in conflicting school schedules. We had to give up our week-before-Labor-Day trip for next summer, because our oldest DD will be starting high school. We had to choose mid-June, which equals more DVC points and higher crowd levels. Vacations were easier to schedule when I was homeschooling!
We figure we might as well take advantage of the Jersey Week while we can. Once Tyler gets into High School, I think we might have to change things up.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
Perfect title! your intros!
Thanks Cam
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hugmonster
Glad to see you are diving right in. I might need to look at these beads for life. Anyone remember cost?
I think that the bracelets were only $10, which I didn't think was too bad
Okay, okay…what’s next??? Oh yeah, the FOOD!! Well I’m also going to quickly lump in the “Where” because I think most, if not all, of you know it’s the BC. I talked Craig into staying there in 2009 to try an Epcot resort. He grudgingly left the Poly kicking and screaming, and now I can’t get him back to the Poly and out of the BC. Of course, the BC is one of my favorites too, so that is where we will be laying our heads this trip.
Now, for the food. We went back and forth on this one as well. Whether or not to purchase the dining plan, because of course this trip we will miss Free Dining by one day. It ends on 11/1 for a black-out period during Jersey Week and we check in on 11/2. We had to decide if purchasing the dining plan would make sense because Zach wasn’t going to be with us for the entire trip again, but to get him on the DP it had to be for the entire package stay. Also, we wanted to be a little less scheduled and less worried about “Hurry we have to be at ‘x’ park at ‘x’ time to make our ADR”. So, one night Craig and I sat on the couch with a notebook and the iPad and went through each meal that we were going to eat and used the Allears menus and priced out meals for each of us for each day. It turns out that paying OOP is going to work better for us this trip. We’re planning less TS meals and even have one that I’d be okay with cancelling if we need to. We are also mixing it up between dinners, lunches and one breakfast. This worked well for us last year because at the end of a long day sometimes the boys just didn’t want to sit down for a big dinner. One thing I did do was give each of the boys a choice of one restaurant where they absolutely wanted to eat. Soooo…
Here’s our more laid back dining approach for this trip.
Friday 11/2 arrival day: 6:05 Coral Reef This is Tyler’s choice. Of course we’ll try to get a table as close to the tank as possible.
Saturday 11/3 1:00 lunch at Mama Melrose. (Penne Vodka YUM) This is Jason’s choice and it just so happens that friends of ours from home are also taking Jersey week and we are having lunch with them this day.
Sunday 11/4 No TS plans for this day. We’ll wing it and do CS for our meals.
Monday 11/5 No TS plans for this day either because it’s a short day for us so that Craig can go to the airport and pick Zach up to join us.
Tuesday 11/6 We’re going to hit the F&WF for snacking for lunch and get CS for the boys. Then, it’s our fancy dinner at California Grill. I got lucky enough to snag a 7:20 ressie and Wishes is at 8:00 this night. I think the boys will really like it here.
Wednesday 11/7 8:00 Breakfast at CMC. This has become a new tradition for us and Zach has yet to have breakfast there so we waited for him on this trip. Of course it’s right after our night at CG, but luckily we only have to roll out of bed and downstairs.
Thursday 11/8 Another no TS plan day. Not sure what we’ll do. But, I’m sure we’ll be just fine.
Friday 11/9 1:00 Yak&Yeti for lunch. This is Zach’s choice. But all of us are happy with this one. I do LOVE their bourbon chicken.
Saturday 11/10 1:20 lunch at Sci-Fi. This is the one extra we booked but I’d be okay cancelling. Not that I don’t like Sci-Fi, but I realized I had planned more than I wanted and want to keep this a low key plan trip. So, right now we’ve got this one, but it’s not a definite.
So, there’s the food. I’m soooo psyched about the food because Craig and I have been busting our butts for the last 7 weeks doing “Insanity” to get ready for this trip. My sole reason for doing Insanity is the Main Street cinnamon bun! Shaun T can kick my butt for 11 more days and then I’m eating ooey gooey cinnamon buns!!! (Seriously, if Shaun T has ruined me and makes me feel guilty about eating ooey gooey snacks in Disney I will find him...I will!! )
The dining choices sound great. I haven't scheduled that many TS meals for my next trip, either. I do like to eat at least one TS meal per day, but have been lucky getting things last minute or booking the day before or day of-- or just doing walk-ups.
I think your dining plans look great! Since we've always stayed off site before, that's usually how we planned dining, more relaxed with only about 3 or 4 ADRs for the entire trip. I think you are going to like it! I'm a little nervous about how the dining plan is going to work for us this year with ADRs nearly every day, but I think we'll survive
About This Page: 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
your intros!
Dreams, Wishes, Hopes... these are the parts of childhood we should never lose.
YAAA!!! 2 weeks isn't long to wait at all!! 
I agree totally - in fact, I have a mostly completed TR that I have still never posted because it's been so long, but I have enjoyed working on it and reliving the trip. I also enjoy dsteiny23 TRs so I am soooo okay with the overlap...otherwise, what else would I do on a Friday afternoon at er...work?
We went back and forth on this one as well. Whether or not to purchase the dining plan, because of course this trip we will miss Free Dining by one day. It ends on 11/1 for a black-out period during Jersey Week and we check in on 11/2. We had to decide if purchasing the dining plan would make sense because Zach wasn’t going to be with us for the entire trip again, but to get him on the DP it had to be for the entire package stay. Also, we wanted to be a little less scheduled and less worried about “Hurry we have to be at ‘x’ park at ‘x’ time to make our ADR”. 
I got lucky enough to snag a 7:20 ressie and Wishes is at 8:00 this night. I think the boys will really like it here.
)
PassPorter Guide Author
Linear Mode
