Things don't always go as planned trip report - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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I'm so sorry you've been ill. My mother has severe Fibromyalgia along with alot of other probs, but I can empathize with the muscle weakness because of what she goes through! I hope they get you sorted really quickly!! I can't wait to hear more about your trip and especially about a certain petition?? lol you just gotta love brent!
Okay here goes---We had loads of fun at Downtown Disney but it was very cold. We had never been to Pleasure Island or the otherside of Downtown Disney so this was my destination.
PricklePants decided to stop at the Sosa Cigar company, then we thought we should hit the Harley Store for a few pics!
As soon as we left the store I looked up and what did I see?
A big Balloon of course.
Now, let me stop for a moment here, I don't mind heights, I'm not fond of snakes but I positively hate ledges. If I can see an edge and can see over it, I panic. I know it's a little wierd but. . . I've crawled to the edge of the Grand Canyon, I even crawled over the Royal Gorge Bridge. So, what was I thinking you ask. Oh yea, lets go up in a big balloon, you can't see over the edge right?
Well, Pat didn't want to ride but was perfectly contented to let Lily and I go, but I threw a fit and made him ride.
Thus, the Disney bully. . .
This is when we were on the ground
For some reason, when we were almost at the top, I looked over the edge, big mistake! PricklePants is being a little grumpy with me, I start sliding very carefully away from my family to balance the balloon better and so they couldn't see me shake. When the pilot started telling everyone they could move if they wanted I started to crouch down and really panic, everytime someone moved. . .Well, PricklePants thought this was hilarious and proceeded to tell the entire balloon the entire story. (there were about 5 of us).
Here is a pic I took while shaking
The pics of my face were too dark, sorry.
I was never so glad to be on the ground. It took me several minutes to calm down. So, after I composed myself we went to my newest favorite store. Tren-D.
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
Once I learned what Vinylmation was all about I was hooked. You buy a box of a particular series you are interested in and you open it. You never know which one you will get, After you open it, at certain places you can trade for a different one. Either in a display case or in a blind box. In the blind box you pick a number and you get the vinylmation in that box. You can trade twice in a blind box and 1 in the display case.
In each series there are certain pieces then a mystery "chaser" piece that is not advertised and usually worth more money. I don't worry about that so much because I like what I like but. . .
I bought them everyday I think. And as a matter of fact I ordered some last night from the Disney store. I'll post all of my collection here as there were many trades and I can't remember the order anymore.
Pluto is from the "Big eyes" set, and the solid pink is from the make your own set and these are not mystery boxes, you choose the one you want. The Candy Cane was popular and I was approached three times in the store with people wanting to trade. The Pink clear was my first display box trade.
These three are from the Park series, I love the Jeweled Tinkerbell one! and the Penguin, Lily loves the Animation Academy
Here we have Yellow clear (my first blind box trade), The Corn (being from corn country I wanted this one badly and then the Mardi Gras. I had this one three separate times after the one I kept!
These are the yellow/black is from the urban series and I will trade this one next trip, Then my Holiday chaser (I love this one) Santa. Then the popcorn, I also love that one, I got that one from a blind trade box.
This one looks like a werewolf (I love Twilight) then a cookie jar, then 3D, I'll probably trade that one too, I opened this on the DME bus
The bat will be traded, then I have Beaker from a blind trade box and Toy Story 3 Big Baby, that was from a blind trade box too.
Marie was the first one Pat gave me for our anniversary, then I got Ham for Christmas
Pat also got Lily and I a couple for Christmas, "Stitch and the 4th of July Drummer." I don't have a pic, they are downstairs, sorry.
Congrats on surviving the balloon ride. Kudos for doing it even though it made you nervous! I'm thinking about doing the balloon ride in September. How much does it cost?
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
Glad you are feeling better knowing what it is now and is treatable....pixies for you!!!!! I only have 2 of the same vinylmations as you so far..the popcorn box and beaker. They just came out out with a new series on 1-7-11 with is the animation series. I hope to get some more soon. Anyway, I love Pat at the beach and I am with you on the ledge thing...my DH thinks it's funny.
Just catching up! Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but glad it is treatable. I hope you are feeling better!
Very cool to get a room upgrade at AKL!
I give you kudos for trying out the balloon at DTD. I am terrified of heights. There is no way you could convince me to go on that. :
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