The Promise of Spring: F&GF 4.0 UPDATED: 5/11 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
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.
Love Jambo house! And AKL in general. Still have such good memories of the kids' faces our first stay there, when they realized all they could see from the balcony.
all caught up! another fun and fantastic WDW trip featuring Cam and Luke is in the works. Everything sounds great! Can't wait to hear the rest of your plans
Registered Message Board Members Get Our Free Newsletter! When you register you'll have the option to sign up for our weekly PassPorter Newsletter. It's chock-full of feature articles; news; tips; contests; photos; and special offers in our online store.
Great going with the new MB selections! My MB will only be a year old this Fall, so it still should be in working order.....or at least I think as that is the usual concession with these!
I stayed at the AK once and in a Savanna room, but so long ago back in 2004. It was for ten days. I loved it so much and actually kept the deck doors open, so I could hear the animals at night and early in the morning to enliven my experience there which it did! It was an unbelievable stay for me.
But now, the nightly rates, even with discounts are just ridiculous. My rate back then in a Savanna was $225 per night including all taxes, which was great. Quite different now and as I'm not a DVC member, I won't be staying here any time soon as much as I love the resort! But, I will visit the resort as I often do, usually every other trip for a dinner! One of the very best WDW resorts!
Our first AKL stay was in 2003 and I remember those lower rates or we wouldn't have been able to stay there. I am very thankful that we can stay here on DVC points now.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lindawdw
I love AKL but have only stayed at Jambo House as I really enjoy the lobby there! We chose yellow and green for our magic bands for our May trip also!
Cool! We'll all match!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tara O'Hara
You are so lucky to have AKL as a home resort! great choices on the MB colors!!
About 6 months before my 50th birthday, Luke asked if I'd rather buy into DVC at AKL or get a new car. I took about 5 seconds to consider the options and then said AKL hands down. We'll get many more years out of those points than a new car. I have never regretted the choice once.
I am so happy you started your PTR. I also can't wait to read about your DVC stay at Jambo House. This September I booked a DVC rental at Jambo for me and my significant other. Tom has never been to WDW with me. I know crazy right. I need to make a "believer" out of him on this adult only trip so I am planning a LOT of down time at our resort (he will be amazed when he sees AKL) so as to noT overwhelm him! I think I may do a TR about it as well. Keep it coming Cam & Luke!
Thanks! We have stayed quite a few times at AKL with half of them being at Jambo House. We have never had a bad stay at either Jambo or Kidani. I love the pools at both, too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dj1028
We love Animal Kingdom Lodge too...definitely our favorite!
The first time we stayed back in 2003 I knew this would always be my favorite.
I can't believe you are writing your pre-trip report now, it only seems a short time since I finished reading your report from the last trip!
Colour me envious - it is MONTHS until we go again! And we've been all caught up in the CBR fiasco as well, we had picked that resort as we'd never been before, but have now chosen to move to PORFQ as a free upgrade/move, in order to avoid all the building work.
Still, at least I can live vicariously through your trip report! Have a great trip!
I guess it hasn't really been that long since I finished the fall TR, and I do know how fortunate we are to return twice in a year. Glad you were able to switch resorts because it does sound like the place will be pretty messed up soon.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pamcarey
Yellow and green are perfect MB colors for the F & GF! You've reminded me that I need to do online checkin!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Hope you got checked in!
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
Love Jambo house! And AKL in general. Still have such good memories of the kids' faces our first stay there, when they realized all they could see from the balcony.
On our first AKL stay, Stefanie kept telling Luke that I was outside flirting with the giraffes.
all caught up! another fun and fantastic WDW trip featuring Cam and Luke is in the works. Everything sounds great! Can't wait to hear the rest of your plans
Thanks! I'm eager to hear all about your family's trip coming up!
Signing in - you've got the perfect combination of Flora & Fauna for your trip. Looking forward to the details. I will add that whatever hotel or resort we stay at, we always request the top floor. It offers the best views, but more importantly, with nobody overhead, there's less chance of hearing footsteps at inopportune times.
__________________
Don't let your heart be filled with sorrow, for all you know, tomorrow, the dream that you wish will come true.
Signing in - you've got the perfect combination of Flora & Fauna for your trip. Looking forward to the details. I will add that whatever hotel or resort we stay at, we always request the top floor. It offers the best views, but more importantly, with nobody overhead, there's less chance of hearing footsteps at inopportune times.
You are so right about an upper floor room!
Quote:
Originally Posted by DMA
Just joining in. Everything sounds great so far!
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by tdhc
Great plans so far! What a wonderful time to go. Looking forward to hearing more!
Thanks! We are hoping for milder weather, but it's so hard to really know until we get there.
What can I tell you that I haven’t told you before?
Cam
First, there is me, Cam or legally Cornelia, a 58 year old retired English teacher and forever Disney kid. I love spring and fall for the milder temperatures plus I simply am happy when the world is turning green again in spring or turning orange, yellow, and red in fall. Probably explains why we travel to WDW every spring and fall. Duh!
I have suffered with a frozen shoulder since mid to late October. I’ve no idea what happened or what caused it. Initially, I thought it was arthritis taking over yet another joint, but then I lost a lot of range of motion in it. I wised up on Christmas Day when I was in a lot of pain, deciding after the holidays that my doctor and I needed to meet. She ran me through a series of motion tests, ruling out a problem with my rotator cuff. Hallelujah! For the past six weeks, I have been doing occupational therapy with the kindest, gentlest therapist. She is perfect for me. My O/T therapist has also referred me to a physical therapist who has been adjusting my neck to help free up my shoulder. He is also terrific, and he had also read up on how to use dry needling for a frozen shoulder. My neck and shoulder have recently graduated from this treatment, and feel so much better. As of today, I have almost complete range of motion back. Just the least bit of what my therapist describes as extreme motion is locked up still. I’ve been faithfully doing my stretches and exercises since therapy began. Hopefully, in a few weeks, I’ll be released from therapy, but I actually enjoy the exercises so they’ll be staying in my routine. Trust me I’m going to be working daily to keep full range of motion in my shoulders.
I’m not an athletic sort, but I do love to walk. The past couple of weeks with the temperatures in Kentucky hovering around 60 and then the 70s (Friday, 2/24 hit 80), we’ve been out walking a 5K each day. A little freaky walking in short sleeves in February, but also quite cool. Besides walking, I enjoy preserving our trips in scrapbooks and I love to read a lot because I don’t mind that I’m a nerd who often behaves a lot like Hermione Granger.
Disney Favorites:
The Lion King and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”
Animal Kingdom (and all the other parks share the number 2 spot)
Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness Lodge
Tinker Bell, Woody, Chip and Dale, and of course, Mickey
Kilimanjaro Safaris, Tower of Terror, Soarin’, Toy Story Midway Mania, and Mickey’s Philharmagic
Star Wars
Sanaa
Luke
Second, there is Luke or legally Luther, a retired Information Systems Manager or as Stefanie called him, a ‘puter operator, and a forever Disney kid. He loves trains and Batman and has combined these two loves quite well in a train room. His newest train is a Batman one, and it is very cool. He still loves winter, but then he doesn’t have arthritis. Don’t get me wrong, I love living where I get to experience all four seasons. I just wish winter were only about 8 weeks long and sunny or at least snowy. But here it’s three months of mainly gloomy weather.
Luke is one of the most patient and easy-going folks I know. He loves math, a subject that sent tremors through me when in school, but his love of number pays off in our budget. And that budget allows us two trips to WDW per year without accruing any debt. We’ve done the Dave Ramsey Financial University program, and I get the concepts, but the numbers make me crazy. So I’m thankful he actually enjoys the task. In fact, he told me recently that we will definitely be good with Disney gift cards by the time we leave in May. Hallelujah!
Luke is no more athletic than I am, but he does love walking. Walking together keeps us both accountable because when one of us gets lazy the other can motivate us both to walk. He does find it a little disappointing that I get more steps in a 5K walk than he does. He peruses a number of Disney sites daily for all the newest construction and rumor news. He’s my first source of all things new in Disneyverse.
Disney Favorites:
Nightmare Before Christmas and Cars
No particular park
Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness Lodge
Tigger, Goofy, and Buzz Lightyear
Expedition Everest, Rock ‘n Roller Coaster, Space Mountain, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Star Wars (Too bad Batman isn’t owned by Disney, too.)
Sanaa
Yay! So exited to find this and join you for another Disney adventure!
I love Jambo House! Walking into the lobby takes my breath away every time. And there's nothing like seeing giraffes first thing in the morning, and last thing at night. Bliss.
A nice overview of the two of you even though I knew a lot about this already from your various TRs! Glad the Dave Ramsey classes helped with your finances. I listen to his radio program quite often and enjoy it and find it quite informative!
Great to hear that your frozen shoulder seems to be getting better with the therapy!
__________________
October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
About This Page: 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
My MB will only be a year old this Fall, so it still should be in working order.....or at least I think as that is the usual concession with these! 
It was an unbelievable stay for me. 
My rate back then in a Savanna was $225 per night including all taxes, which was great. 
But, I will visit the resort as I often do, usually every other trip for a dinner! 
One of the very best WDW resorts! 
great choices on the MB colors!!
Aimee
Linear Mode
