Trip Report "Dreams Really Can Come True" 6/1/09-6/8/09 - COMPLETED 7/19 - Page 5 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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Planning the luggage can be a challenge. Our flight down will be our first time being charged for all our checked bags. With the $59 one-way flight, we've decided that we will be good if we allow one checked back per person. Still planning on Southwest for the flight back - don't like AirTran's one non-stop flight in the morning. Besides we always have more luggage on the way home.
I know this is another post about food – what can I say? I have no excuse. Here are our ADR’s and why.
Tony’s Town Square Restaurant b/c it’s the first day, it’s familiar, and TTS puts us on Main Street for Spectromagic and Wishes. Read so many negative reviews about it*, but then there are some that say, “it was great”. Jennifer and Dave gave it an”8”in the 2009 PassPorter. Kid’s meals seem decent.
Chef Mickey’s – gotta have some characters in our diet. Plus it’s a buffet. J&D say “superior” food.
Tokyo Dining – ahh sushi. Besides the sushi, I really booked here b/c of the trendy Japanese décor. The atmosphere seems calming and relaxing. Did I mention the sushi? Jennifer gave it a “10”.
Boma dinner – makes sense, since we are staying there, buffet looks great, good reviews. BF loved it and she is strictly American Meat and Potatoes. Get to try some exotic food, but there are some familiar things for DH and the kids. J&D say “7 and 8”.
Jiko – one night to get cleaned up and go “out” to dinner. Satisfy my gourmet tooth (2TS! But it’s all good.) Kid’s choices are nice. When I booked, the CM was actually excited for me! I’m going to try not to think about it, so I won’t build it up too much. I’m not a wine drinker, but I’m going to take a chance. J&D give it a “9”.
Boma breakfast – must have at least one breakfast buffet. We are hardcore breakfast people and this is mandatory!
Wanted the Fantasmic Package with Hollywood & Vine, but I’ve called twice and it’s only showing the 2nd, 4th and 8th. Oh well, we’ll have to catch it next time .
We may try House of Blues. Not on the plan, I know, but we have a 15% coupon from Birnbaum’s Guide. I ate there in Vegas – it was outstanding. Plus you just can’t go wrong with the blues... J&D give it a “8 and 7”.
Counter service meals will be pretty much based on the kinds of kid’s meal choices. I seriously thought about upgrading DS6 (almost 7) to the adult plan, but couldn’t justify the park admission. Hopefully the boys will be so bedazzled by Disney, they won’t care that they are eating pizza or nuggets for the umpteenth time! Snacks: I checked out the link from Colexis Mom – the confirmed list of DDP snack items for 2009. This solves a lot of my “what to do for breakfast” questions.
*Just a thought about reviews. I always laugh when reading reviews about anything (Movies, video games, etc). One person says this is the best CS in Disney, then next person posting says it’s the worst. Ex: On the allears rate and review page, there is the BBQ pulled pork sandwich at Studio Catering at DHS. One person says its better tasting and bigger than at Flame Tree in AK. Another person says it’s not as good as the Flame Tree. Everyone has different tastes, so I’ve learned to take reviews with a grain of salt. I am considering the overall average rating and the recommendation percentage. If 94% of people reviewing say it’s good, then we should be alright.
PS – I just can’t spend anymore time drooling in the Food Photos thread. It’s getting ridiculous. (Schoolbread!)
Next time: Final Pre-Trip Report thoughts or “4 more weeks to goooooooo!”
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Just found your PTR. Your plans look great. I think that you should get a "First Visit" Button since you haven't been there in almost 15 years! So much as changed since then, it will feel like your first visit. Hope you enjoy all the food that WDW has to offer!
I am purposely NOT thinking about the actual day that we are leaving or the flight departure. I’m not actually thinking about the trip itself. I’m already driving people nuts with Disney-speak. At least I think I am – no one has complained yet! So I’m concentrating more on the preparations and planning, if you can understand what I mean.
Just checking off little daily things to do to keep me occupied:
-picking up little “wait in line” items, a little at a time
-Mousekeeping envelopes done and stuffed
-mentally checking off packing lists
-finally got the right shoes for everyone (Veggies and Teva and tennies)
-continuing to get in “Disney shape”. Actually doing all this walking and working out is showing me exactly where I’m going to have to put the moleskin!
-keeping my eye out for combo sunblock and insect repellant wipes
Big questions for me: To do or not to do pin trading. If so, lanyard or hat? To do or not to do PhotoPass. Fanny pack, messenger bag, or back pack? Bottled water or water bottle filter? Refill mugs or not? Epcot = Kim Possible or wing it? Pony tail or braid it? When to use the “freebies” – 30 min of arcade, free round of mini golf, etc., etc…
( Sigh… DS6 just came up behind me and read the title. Surprise! The look in his eyes, I’ll remember for a long time… Originally they agreed to be surprised on the morning of the trip, instead of the 10-day count down. So now it’s out of the proverbial bag. We’ll be doing the calendar check-off. Actually this eases a little stress for me – I was going to try to have the bags packed and car loaded without them knowing. Now they can actually help me pack! )
Next up: Tech info or “I really hate my digital camera”
just catching up
you have a beautiful family
you will have to let me know how touring plans work for you
we are trying it for the first time in oct
your adr's look awsome
hurry back with more please
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I feel the same way. And going with a toddler in diapers - it won't be an easy feat.
Disney Magic - Oct 2015
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Pixie Dust
Dreams, Wishes, Hopes... these are the parts of childhood we should never lose.
Thanks everyone!
But it’s all good.) Kid’s choices are nice. When I booked, the CM was actually excited for me! I’m going to try not to think about it, so I won’t build it up too much. I’m not a wine drinker, but I’m going to take a chance. J&D give it a “9”.
Oh well, we’ll have to catch it next time 
. 
J&D give it a “8 and 7”.
– 
(Schoolbread!)
So I’m concentrating more on the preparations and planning, if you can understand what I mean.
Sigh… DS6 just came up behind me and read the title. Surprise! The look in his eyes, I’ll remember for a long time… 
Originally they agreed to be surprised on the morning of the trip, instead of the 10-day count down. So now it’s out of the proverbial bag. We’ll be doing the calendar check-off. Actually this eases a little stress for me – I was going to try to have the bags packed and car loaded without them knowing. Now they can actually help me pack! 
)
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