An Animal Kingdom State of Being with Cam and Fam COMPLETED 9/18 - Page 42 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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WDW - August 1997 Off Property
WDW - January 2005 AKL
WDW - May 2006 Pop Century
WDW- november-dec 2007 pop century
WDW- dec/jan 2009/2010 pop century
WDW- oct/nov 2012 art of animation
WDW- sept 2013 port Orleans riverside
WDW- july 2015 beach club
Does not sound like a magical start, and I agree, there has to be some kind of back-up system, it is terrible to have guests waiting, rooms ready yet no one can get to them. Hoping that you hear something back from them, and that they figure out something for these issues. Hoping that the rest of the trip was minus any technical difficulties.
Wow, that whole check-in nightmare was insane! You'll see what we get to the bit about going concierge in our trip report that I had much the same plan as you guys, to check in early to get upstairs for the buffet offering and I had a real wait to get our keys - although nothing near as bad as yours, thank goodness.
Sorry about the check-in problems!! I completely agree that they should have a backup plan for when there are computer issues. Remember, once upon a time, there were no computers. It's funny how we have become so dependent on them!!
One question, what type of back/backpack do you use? I've been looking for one to use on our upcoming trip and I like the fact that yours has those wide (and comfortable looking) shoulder straps!!
I completely understand your frustration with your check in. They could have a least given you access to the club level so you could grab a snack!!! I agree..they need to really step up their computer technology. It drives me nuts when I try to get on the website and it is down AGAIN!!
That is NOT the way to step into the Disney bubble! You're right--computer issues are all too frequent at Disney and are no excuse for the kind of non-service you got. There's got to be a better way to handle a crash. It happens so often you'd think a back-up plan would be normal procedure. And poor Luke, hobbling along.
Glad you got in a couple of rides and some shopping at least.
I'm so sorry that you had to wait so long to check in! I would have been a bit peeved that I missed 2 food services in the lounge due to their computer problems. And now both Luke's toes are troubling him . I'm glad to hear that the magic is coming..... I can't wait to see your view! (We are currently waitlisted for a concierge studio for our April trip and I'm curious to hear about your experiences).
Loving this read! Getting us VERY excited for our next trip just a few weeks away. My 6 year old loves the idea of the goodie bags for the airline staff. Can I ask what you generally include?
Sorry about Luke's fall! I know it can put a bit of a damper on things when you aren't quite up to par. I know having that bug while I was there in Feb. made me push myself harder, and I also had to cut some of my days short as I just didn't feel good. I can imagine Luke's pain by the end of the day....{he is a trooper though!!} Also, I'm sorry about check-in....again, I know how you feel. Our check-in at BC took forever too!!! It really can start things off on a less than magical note! Glad you got a little time in at DHS! Oh, and I the flip flops {and all of your other purchases even though I'm not a HP fan!!!.) Hope the magic begins....SOON!
Wow, that check-in sounds ridiculous! I agree with you they should have a back up plan incase the computers go down! And I had not even thought about the concierge lounge offerings until you mentioned it towards the end of your update.... I would have been upset about that also! It really seems like they could have allowed you into the lounge while they worked out their problems.....
Glad you had AP's and were able to enjoy the studio's- if you had regular park tickets and didn't have a days tickets alloted for check in day- that really would have a been a long 6+ hours!!
Oh my! Your check-in woes must have been very frustrating. Those upgrades have been giving Disney fits over the past months. I am with you on the IT staff. They need to get it together and also come up with that back-up plan. Their computer problems should not interfere with your day - especially at Club Level. I can't wait to hear how the magic improves.
__________________
Betty Sue
Affiliated with CruisingCo.Com/MouseEarVacations.com
Disney Destination Specialist/ BettySueS@cruisingco.com August '09 Trip
Wow what a nightmare checking in. We checked in the same day at the Polynesian and they still were able to do it manually. It took the CM a while, but it wasn't more than about 15 minutes. I think we arrived there about 11:30 am or so? Not sure why they couldn't get you checked in at AKL? I'm sure things will go much smoother for you the rest of your trip.
What a stressful check in process. But awesome that yáll have ap's and were able to hit a park while you wait.
Thank goodness for the APs so we could begin our adventures and riding Star Tours was magical for us, so the day wasn't a total bust!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lexiemom
What a pain! I had been following you on facebook and knew that you were having issues with checking in that day, but I didn't realize it was that bad! I am glad you finally have a room, now I am ready to hear about the magic!
The room situation was getting ridiculous, but I don't like complaining as it sets me up for the grumpies. So I tried to keep positive on FB hoping it would work some magic. Thinking positive didn't seem to speed up the process, but I never got the grumpies.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeL
Cam did you book this vacation with SADDLECRAP TOURS all these malfunctions Peeves the poltergiest attacking poor Luke Backwards pants emergencies You might want to consider getting a new travel agent Don't think Ms D. Umbrage has your best intrest at heart or is keeping an eye on you
It would seem I did. I definitely know better than to trust Dolores Umbrage.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lumieregirl
Finally all caught up on your entire TR, and now you make me wait to see what your view is . I sure hope it is a great one after all you've been thru so far. I too spent a quite unmagical check-in time at AKL, and agree, you'd think they'd have some sort of contingency plan.
I also tripped over a curb and broke my foot at WDW, so tell Luke "I feel his pain". And I too just kept right on touring ... it seemed like a good idea at the time .
You are one more of several who also had problems at AKL, wonder what their problem is. And they definitely need a contigency plan. At the time when you are already there, continuing to tour sounds like a great plan. But Luke did great the rest of the trip as long as we gave him ample sitting time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nalexander
Sorry about your problems checking in.
Your pictures are realty getting me excited for our trip in October.
And reading yours and others TRs who are going in October has made me really want to go back at that time of year.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcc0313
Does not sound like a magical start, and I agree, there has to be some kind of back-up system, it is terrible to have guests waiting, rooms ready yet no one can get to them. Hoping that you hear something back from them, and that they figure out something for these issues. Hoping that the rest of the trip was minus any technical difficulties.
I'm hoping Disney learned a valuable lesson on having a back up plan if this were to ever happen again.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Wow, that whole check-in nightmare was insane! You'll see what we get to the bit about going concierge in our trip report that I had much the same plan as you guys, to check in early to get upstairs for the buffet offering and I had a real wait to get our keys - although nothing near as bad as yours, thank goodness.
This was our first planned Club Level stay and following advice from here, I was factoring in some of our eating here. It was totally fouled up for this first day, but was better the rest of our stay.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sweets5
Sorry about the check-in problems!! I completely agree that they should have a backup plan for when there are computer issues. Remember, once upon a time, there were no computers. It's funny how we have become so dependent on them!!
One question, what type of back/backpack do you use? I've been looking for one to use on our upcoming trip and I like the fact that yours has those wide (and comfortable looking) shoulder straps!!
My backpack is from Animal Kingdom and is a Kilimanjaro Safaris bag. The straps are very comfortable. A Security CM at Epcot told me that they now have ones with a pocket on the back where you can insert an ice pack to keep your back cool. I did not see these, but I'm trying devise a way to do this with my current bag.
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You'll see what we get to the bit about going concierge in our trip report that I had much the same plan as you guys, to check in early to get upstairs for the buffet offering and I had a real wait to get our keys - although nothing near as bad as yours, thank goodness.
. I'm glad to hear that the magic is coming..... I can't wait to see your view! (We are currently waitlisted for a concierge studio for our April trip and I'm curious to hear about your experiences).
} Also, I'm sorry about check-in....again, I know how you feel. Our check-in at BC took forever too!!! It really can start things off on a less than magical note! Glad you got a little time in at DHS! Oh, and I 
the flip flops {and all of your other purchases even though I'm not a HP fan!!!.) Hope the magic begins....SOON!
Susan
all these malfunctions Peeves the poltergiest attacking poor Luke Backwards pants emergencies You might want to consider getting a new travel agent Don't think Ms D. Umbrage has your best intrest at heart or is keeping an eye on you
... it seemed like a good idea at the time 
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