Trip Report for "Our Summer Surprise Trip", August 15-22, 2011 - COMPLETED!! 12/4 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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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 like that you've planned more time to enjoy the activities at AKL and just down time at the resort. Mixed with time for the parks this is a good plan in the hot weather! Won't be long now!
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Thanks! How much does having a washer and dryer change your packing/luggage?
I would like to say that we usually take less with access to washer or dryer but I always over pack Yesterday we had to change our plans so now we are staying in a 1 bedroom
Your plans look wonderful and sound like they are what will work for you all!
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Originally Posted by lauriep
I like that you've planned more time to enjoy the activities at AKL and just down time at the resort. Mixed with time for the parks this is a good plan in the hot weather! Won't be long now!
I hope so! I went outside to pick some tomatoes for a few minutes and came back in dripping - how do people actually walk around Disney World for hours without melting?!
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Originally Posted by chezp
Nice plans!
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Originally Posted by ilovedisney247
Nice plans, make sure you take advatage of your breaks!
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Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Great plans!
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Originally Posted by shnewell
Plans look great! It's good that you've built in some down time. We learned the hard way that it makes for a much better vacation that way!
I hope it works, I mean we're going on vacation !
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Originally Posted by PrincessSharon
Great plans and ADRs. I think that even if you stick to your touring plan for only part of the day, it'll be a big help.
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Originally Posted by OCEANGRLLG
Plans are lookin good!
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Originally Posted by lazanya
Your plans look great!
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Originally Posted by KMB733
Great plans!! Hope the DVC meeting goes well
(crossing my fingers!)
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Originally Posted by jdawsonrn
I would like to say that we usually take less with access to washer or dryer but I always over pack Yesterday we had to change our plans so now we are staying in a 1 bedroom
Time is growing so short! Disney is on my mind ALL the time. I’m constantly planning or listening to Disney podcasts. The kid’s bedtime story is the Kingdom Keepers first book, Disney After Dark. I’m scrapbooking our last trip. We’re even putting together a 1000 pc puzzle: Disney Fine Art - Cinderella’s Grand Arrival by Peter Ellenshaw. Grandma took the kids to see Cars 2…
I’ve been filling out the worksheets I downloaded from PassPorter, like calendars and schedules and assorted lists. My poor old deluxe pp is literally stuffed with lists, touring plans and sticky notes.
I printed out all the menus of the places we’ll eat. Somehow we need a system to figure out how the 2 big boys will switch off with the kids meal and the adult meal. Maybe every other one? I don’t know. I have no idea what Caleb’s tastes are. Max is now willing to try new things, but doesn’t like “normal” things like ketchup or mac n cheese. Last time on the ddp, he was so bored (7 years old mind you ) with the kids offerings. Part of my dining planning has to do with menu choices for kids. Titus is cool – he can eat pizza or spaghetti every day, but getting him to eat vegetables or raw fruit is hard.
We’ve also been out there in the heat (morning or evening) walking and getting into Disney shape (aka walking-all-day-in-the-heat shape). I keep trying to imagine myself speed walking to the Soarin’ fastpass kiosk or to TSMM.
Shopping
Here’s how I’ve single-handedly stimulated the economy (besides the obvious Disney package )
Lane Bryant – unmentionables, flip flops, tops
Sports Authority – Teva sandals for Max, Columbia sandals for me, a new Camelbak, and a replacement water bladder for another Camelbak we have already, a Frogg Togg (very "cool")
Disney online store – autograph books, swim trunks (no more 2011 Disney World tees left! )
Ebay – pins and lanyards (not happy with pin selection this time, definitely not as good as the ones we've gotten before . I'm glad I got them to trade.)
5 Below – candy, umbrella, tee shirts, glow necklaces, travel games
Dh has done his part with his visit to the Nike Outlet. I’m telling you, Nike and Jordan would go out of business if he ever stopped buying their clothes. He’s a walking billboard.
I still haven't received the corrected ME vouchers from Disney Transportation. I'll call them today to see what's up...
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Sounds like it's all coming together! How are your kids enjoying Kingdom Keepers? I keep trying to get mine interested in it (we even looked at it at Barnes & Noble over the weekend), but they keep rejecting it. I may download it on my Kindle to read for myself -- I think it sounds cool!
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Yesterday we had to change our plans 
so now we are staying in a 1 bedroom 
My poor old deluxe pp is literally stuffed with lists, touring plans and sticky notes.
I have no idea what Caleb’s tastes are. Max is now willing to try new things, but doesn’t like “normal” things like ketchup or mac n cheese. Last time on the ddp, he was so bored (7 years old mind you 
) with the kids offerings. Part of my dining planning has to do with menu choices for kids. Titus is cool – he can eat pizza or spaghetti every day, but getting him to eat vegetables or raw fruit is hard. 
)
. I'm glad I got them to trade.)
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