The Perpetual Disney Adventures with the D Family TR - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
Your photo's from 1900PF are really making me consider changing our plans for our January trip. We are currently have a princess dinner booked at Akershus, but I think my girls would really enjoy the Steps at 1900PF. Though I am afraid if I don't have an ADR in Epcot my DH may push to skip that park. We are only there a few days over marathon weekend.
Love your costume idea! Tulle tutus are very easy to make, so that with shorts underneath and the right colored shirt and shoes might be an option for Stella. (Not to add more to your procrastination plate, lol)
__________________
Jennifer "Scraps" Walker, Queen of the Helper Monkeys
2013 Scrapbook Page Goal: 98/175
Sounds like you had a wonderful birthday. Dinner at 1900PF sounded like a hoot! You should really get Tyler to warm up a little more to the ladies. You could have an ugly step sister in the family.
What a great idea for the costumes! I love it when people say things like "we might head to Animal Kingdom tomorrow". I am jealous!
I know, still pinching myself that we can say that!
Quote:
Originally Posted by disney fan 46
Your kids character meets at park fare with LT and step d's made me laugh out loud! Sounds like a good time
It was so cute and were definitely laughing so hard!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by rhinohunter
Great day at MK and 1900. Your kids are really cute with the characters. Good luck with the MNSSHP planning. Pixies for the job offers.
Thank you so much! He has 1 offer and sounds like another is coming! Pixies really work
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jakesmom1118
your birthday sounded like a great day!
Your costumes for MNSSHP sound fun!!!
Thank you!! It was a great day!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Erin1213
I love the interactions with the Step Family. We're going to be attending MNSSHP for the first time in September and decided on wearing matching shirts instead of costumes, since the weather will still be somewhat warm during that time. I do love the Snow White and dwarfs idea. Hopefully you'll be able to see them this time around. I was able to meet them at the MVMCP and it was a lot of fun.
They are definitely on our "must meet" list this year. Every time we've met them, they've hustled us through pretty quickly but I hope I can get a picture of Stella with them alone, and then all of us.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
MNSSHP is one of my favorite nights at WDW, too! It is the coolest party! I like the idea of Snow White and the Dwarfs. Lots of and to get the costumes done in time.
I definitely need those pixies to get those costumes done on time, lol!
Just signing in. Love that you can visit the parks whenever it's convenient!
What a great day at MK! And how fun to top it off with dinner at 1900 PF!
Both kids have grown so much since your previous TR! I had to remind myself that it was a year ago!
Looking forward to more!
I should have made that disclaimer that this was starting almost a full year after my last TR- lol! It is crazy to see how much they've grown in the last 12 months (and makes me a little sad )
Quote:
Originally Posted by PhilsEagles08
We love 1900PF!! I can skip the breakfast but the dinner is a must do! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
We have only done dinner once a few years ago (but breakfast a couple of times) and I was so impressed- I don't know why hadn't been back for dinner but it's definitely on our list now!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeanna
Your photo's from 1900PF are really making me consider changing our plans for our January trip. We are currently have a princess dinner booked at Akershus, but I think my girls would really enjoy the Steps at 1900PF. Though I am afraid if I don't have an ADR in Epcot my DH may push to skip that park. We are only there a few days over marathon weekend.
That's a tough one- we also love Akershus (but we prefer breakfast there.) I do like that the photo is included with Akershus and it's not at 1900 Park Fare (unless you are doing Photopass +.) So many options, so few days- that's so tough.
PS- DH is doing the Dopey challenge this year in January! Are you doing a race that weekend?
Quote:
Originally Posted by scrapsoflife
Love your costume idea! Tulle tutus are very easy to make, so that with shorts underneath and the right colored shirt and shoes might be an option for Stella. (Not to add more to your procrastination plate, lol)
LOL!!! More options!! I just ordered her the Snow White bodysuit from the Disney Store (it got marked down to $13.99!!) so I'm hoping that will work because it's definitely very well suited for warm weather. Otherwise, I really like your idea and totally agree! Oh boy....
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hugmonster
Signing in to join the fun.
Welcome! Hopefully it's more fun that totally craziness!
Quote:
Originally Posted by stardust190
Sounds like you had a wonderful birthday. Dinner at 1900PF sounded like a hoot! You should really get Tyler to warm up a little more to the ladies. You could have an ugly step sister in the family.
That's so funny! He was so embarrassed after he got kissed!!!
PS- DH is doing the Dopey challenge this year in January! Are you doing a race that weekend?
My husband is running the half marathon on Saturday. He ran it last year too. His goal is to one day do the Goofy. He says that will be the one and only time he runs a full marathon. He also says that we have to stay at a Deluxe that year as a reward. He is going to try a back to back 10K/Half in Cincinnati this spring. The Dopey is impressive. Wish your DH luck!
My husband is running the half marathon on Saturday. He ran it last year too. His goal is to one day do the Goofy. He says that will be the one and only time he runs a full marathon. He also says that we have to stay at a Deluxe that year as a reward. He is going to try a back to back 10K/Half in Cincinnati this spring. The Dopey is impressive. Wish your DH luck!
That's awesome!! And I agree- Deluxe accommodations are so in order as a reward for the full marathon! Allen is actually running for a charity and as a part if raising his money, he gets a room at Swan and Dolphin- I told him next time we need to figure how which charity gets a room at GF because I'm dying to stay there!!)
Quote:
Originally Posted by nanajoyx2
Has Allen received any more job offers? I hope he finds the right fit.
1 offer so far but he got a call from one of the recruiters he was working with and sounds like another offer is coming- fingers crossed!!!
I told him next time we need to figure how which charity gets a room at GF because I'm dying to stay there!!
That sounds like a good plan. I know it's early, but are you planning on taking your kids to watch any of the races? I am already stressing about the logistics of that.
That sounds like a good plan. I know it's early, but are you planning on taking your kids to watch any of the races? I am already stressing about the logistics of that.
Evidently we can get discounted cheer squad seats through his charity so we might do that. For the half I am thinking we will just meet him at the finish, although I'd love to see him at MK- I'm just worried about the timing of getting back to Epcot. They enter MK at like mile 5 so he would still have 8 miles to get back and with his current pace, I think we would have about an hour and 10 minutes. The other option is to see him at TTC?
For the marathon, I haven't figured out our plan. It's very challenging with kids in tow for sure!!!
Let me know if you figure out something manageable!!
On Friday night, we had discussed heading over to WDW on Saturday, either Epcot or AK, to get a little fun time on the weekend. This would be the last weekend before school starts that we could easily head over for some park time because Tyler is heading down to his grandparents house about an hour south of us mid-week through the weekend and then he starts school on the 19th.
Well, Saturday morning came and went and our house wasn’t moving much so heading over that day wasn’t going to happen. I know I mentioned this earlier but because of the heat right now, we aren’t doing a full days when we head over to WDW. Allen prefers going early in the am and then leaving early afternoon but I prefer heading over in the late afternoon and staying through the evening. Given that we get showers most afternoons during this part of the summer, early mornings tend to win out. Allen seemed more interested in AK anyway since we hadn’t actually been there since this past February and I agree that I prefer mornings at this park.
So Saturday morning we took a look at touringplans.com and the weather and decided Sunday looked ok to head over for a while.
Sunday morning I woke up with my internal alarm around 7:30am and jumped in the shower. The park was opening at 9am so I was hopeful we could all get out of the house in an hours time. Well, that didn’t happen and once again my crew was slow moving to get up. It took closer to 2 hours before we finally got out the door.
As usual, the drive over was easy peasy and we arrived to AK right about 9:45am. As we approached the gates, Allen tried to pick the lane that would move fastest but ended up unknowingly getting behind someone using a credit card. The CM working the booth followed procedure to a T and requested their ID because I could see the person digging to come up with their ID before the CM even swiped her card. By the time they pulled through, the lanes on either side of us were completely clear! The CM was on my side of the car so I showed her our AP with the red “parking” notation on the back. Rather than waiving us through, she requested ID as well. We’ve experienced this to be hit and miss in the parks- some don’t ask and some do. I had Allen’s card so he danced in his seat to get his wallet out of his back pocket so we could show the requested identification and then we were waved through. We ended up being parked in Dinosaur 33 about mid-way down the lane.
We opted to walk through the Unicorn lot to the gates rather than ride the tram (and we arrived quite ahead of the tram as it would happen.) Allen went through the bag check with our backpack and I pushed the stroller with the kids through the “no bag” entrance. Allen is evidently a pro at the bag check process (he always is the one to do it so he has had lots of practice) because he gets through really fast! And our backpack has many pockets so he must have a solid method!
We hadn’t been to AK in many months so I wasn’t sure how many old turnstile gates vs. RFID gates they’d have converted over. All but maybe 6 of them were converted though so while the turnstile lines were very long, we walked up with no wait to use our cards. I really really really love this new process!
Once inside, we decided first to head towards Africa. Tyler picked up a times guide since I wasn’t sure what changes were already in effect as far as character greets go. As we headed down the hill to Discovery Island, Allen spotted the station to picked up the Wilderness Explorer activity book. He asked Tyler if he wanted to try it out and Tyler said “no, I already did it.” So then Allen told Tyler that this was something new and different, not like the activity he did last Fall. Tyler wasn’t convinced so Allen escorted him over to show him and of course Tyler was immediately intrigued and wanting to participate. While they did that, I was already sweating terribly so I decided to take refuge inside the Island Mercentile. Stella and I browsed the books and CDs and before long we were rejoined by Allen and Tyler. Tyler not only got himself a Wilderness Explorer activity book, but he got one for his little sister too. She was all too happy to jump in the stroller so she could flip through her activity book.
When we exited the Island Mercentile, Allen decided to head over to KS for FP’s while I took the kids to Camp Minnie Mickey to see some of Mickey’s friends. I noted that there was a FOTLK starting at 10:30am and figured that we could easily catch that once Allen made it back from his FP run. As we turned the corner to cross the little bridge, I could see that the characters out were Chip and Dale, Donald Duck, Baloo and King Louie, and Pocahontas. Except for Pocahontas, they were all standing at the entrance of the paths for their respective M&G areas and they were lined up so that you could enter from the end and meet all of them one right after another. Perfect!
There was 1 family in front of us and first up was Chip and Dale. Stella was totally engrossed in his Wilderness Explorer book and refused to get out of her stroller to see them…very uncharacteristic for my child these days! I asked her repeatedly and she said no so Tyler got to meet them himself. As it happens, remember Stella’s brand new autograph book that we purchase the previous Monday….left it at home. I think had we remembered to grab it on the way out the door, she maybe have been more willing to see them so they would sign her book.
Next was Donald, who I thought for sure would be entice Stella to get out of the stroller. Nope, she wasn’t even going to get out of the stroller to see Donald (and he’s one of her favorites!) So again Tyler got see Donald all by himself.
Last was King Louie and Baloo. I was pretty sure after snubbing Donald, she wasn’t going to be at all interested in seeing King Louie and Baloo and sure enough, she wasn’t about to get out of the stroller. They had a great time with Tyler though, King Louie even teasing Tyler by reaching his hand up for a high 5 higher than what Tyler could reach!
As we walked away, Allen was crossing the bridge near the entrance to FOTLK and we both pointed to the entrance of the show….we both had the same idea. Allen decided to park the stroller and the kids and I made our way up the path as the show was just getting started but Stella was none too happy about being evicted from the stroller. A few tears were shed so Tyler and I tried to distract her while getting her to move a little faster so we didn’t miss the start of the show.
We arrived as each character group were being introduced and practicing their animal sounds. We were in the giraffe group. We quickly took our seats (feeling very refreshed with the air conditioning again!) I’m a little sad to say we haven’t seen this show in many years- probably not since 2008! I don’t know why we haven’t been over to watch it in so long??
Stella seemed a little nervous about it all, she stayed pretty close to Allen the whole time, rotating between sitting on his lap, sitting on the bench between us, and standing in front of Allen to dance. She isn’t terribly familiar with Lion King yet but she liked it well enough to dance along during a few spots. I think Tyler remembered most of the show even though it has been a number of years since he watched. Tyler will always rather spend his time in the parks riding rides so I don’t think he was totally excited to watch the show, but he’s a good sport and even sang along for “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” sing along.
After a great show , our KS FP’s were good so we decided to head that way. Plus Tyler had studied the Wilderness Explorer map and said that there were many spots to earn badges over there.
Someone is waiting for her stroller…aka, her chariot!
And now she’s ready for more adventures…
Up Next: The Wilderness Must Be Explored…Caw Caw Rawr!