Forums Closed
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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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!
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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.
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10-01-2005, 09:38 AM
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#61
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Community Rank: Explorer 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Longfellow's "Jewel by the Sea"
Posts: 14,165
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Re: The Freeman Not So Scary October Trip - Last Update 9/30
Bye bye! Have a great one!!!
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10-01-2005, 12:34 PM
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#62
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: Missouri
Posts: 4,595
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Re: The Freeman Not So Scary October Trip - Last Update 9/30
Have a wonderful trip! Bummer no live updates but I can't wait to hear about it when you get back!
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10-01-2005, 01:19 PM
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#63
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Community Rank: Explorer
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: NC
Posts: 12,270
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Re: The Freeman Not So Scary October Trip - Last Update 9/30
Have fun!!!!
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10-01-2005, 02:52 PM
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#64
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RED SOX NATION!!
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Connecticut
Concierge Level: 9
Posts: 136,854
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Re: The Freeman Not So Scary October Trip - Last Update 9/30
Have a great time Annabel  |
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10-03-2005, 04:51 PM
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#65
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Community Rank: Globetrotter 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,651
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Re: The Freeman Not So Scary October Trip - Last Update 9/30
I think it's going to be a long two weeks waiting for an update  |
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10-03-2005, 05:04 PM
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#66
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Community Rank: Legend 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Concierge Level: 7
Posts: 18,767
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Re: The Freeman Not So Scary October Trip - Last Update 9/30
Hope you are having a great trip Annabel and Andy!! Looking forward to reading all about it upon your return!!
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10-05-2005, 10:17 AM
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#67
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Eileeeeeeen!™
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 28,861
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Re: The Freeman Not So Scary October Trip - Last Update 9/30
[ QUOTE ]
I think it's going to be a long two weeks waiting for an update
[/ QUOTE ]
You said it, Christie. I was just thinking that myself!
Sigh... I'll just have to wait...
Eileen |
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10-05-2005, 04:37 PM
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#68
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Community Rank: Jetsetter 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Arlington Heights, IL
Posts: 2,739
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Re: The Freeman Not So Scary October Trip - Last Update 9/30
Hope you guys are having a wonderful time! I love your trip reports Annabel (with comments from Andy!  ). Can't wait to hear all about it when you get home!! |
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10-18-2005, 07:20 PM
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#69
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Community Rank: Passenger 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Buckeye Lake Ohio
Posts: 32
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Re: The Freeman Not So Scary October Trip - Last Update 9/30
Aren't you back yet?!?! I am so excited to read your trip report
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10-20-2005, 12:03 AM
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#70
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Community Rank: Explorer
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Illinois
Concierge Level: 1
Posts: 9,564
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Re: The Freeman Not So Scary October Trip - Last Update 9/30
Annabel and Andy, where are you???
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10-27-2005, 11:48 AM
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#71
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Community Rank: Traveler 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 355
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Re: The Freeman Not So Scary October Trip - Last Update 9/30
Ok-I'm waiting [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] where are you [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]
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10-27-2005, 11:54 AM
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#72
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Community Rank: Explorer
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Manchester NH
Concierge Level: 4
Posts: 12,514
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Re: The Freeman Not So Scary October Trip - Last Update 9/30
[ QUOTE ]
Ok-I'm waiting [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] where are you [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]
[/ QUOTE ]
[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/yeahthat.gif[/img]
so funny... I was just thinking of posting the same thing.
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10-31-2005, 12:27 PM
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#73
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PassPorter and WDW Addict
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Texas
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 12,489
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Re: The Freeman Not So Scary October Trip - Last Update 9/30
[ QUOTE ]
Annabel and Andy, where are you???
[/ QUOTE ]
My thoughts exactly!
We are so ready to hear about the trip!
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11-12-2005, 11:02 PM
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#74
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Community Rank: Trailblazer 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: South East London
Posts: 5,164
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The Freeman Not So Scary October Trip - Updated Day 1 Part 1
Sorry to have kept you all waiting - now on with the show [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
<font color="purple">Adventurers:
Annabel - 32, 7th trip, Chief Planner, hates flying but loves Dramamine
Andy - 35, 5th trip, Chief Rollercoaster Rider, loves everything - if he was any more laid back, he’d be lying down!
Dates: 1st - 15th October
Flying with First Choice, on their new planes and new Star Class Premium cabin. What can I say, we like our luxury - especially when we have to endure a 9 hour flight out and an 8 hour flight back. Staying at Pop Century, just for a change [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]
It’s amazing how it feels like the trip has come round quickly. This holiday was booked 18 months ago. We were told at the time that First Choice would be upgrading their long haul fleet and it would happen about 5 months before our trip. This was part of the reason why we chose them as it sounded great – the other part of the reason was how cheap the holiday was! We upgraded to the Premium cabin back in April for a mere £150 each – and that was return so we were looking forward to checking it out. Anyway, let’s begin!
Day 0 – The One About the Day Before
Our holiday began a day early as Andy had taken the day off, yay! We had packed up our main suitcases the night before so drove to Gatwick Airport to check in – First Choice offer day before check in from 12pm-10pm at a cost of £5 per person which we thought was reasonable. It is definitely worth doing! We made it to Gatwick in 45 minutes and headed for the North Terminal. There was no one at the First Choice desk when we arrived at 12.30. We were directed to another First Choice desk to pay for the check-in before being directed back to the first one. Here things got quite confusing. We were told at the second desk that we wouldn’t get our boarding passes today, we’d have to come back to the premium cabin check in desk to pick them before our flight. Hmm, so what was the point in checking in the day before then? We head back to the first desk and watch our cases being tagged before they are given back to us. The clerk at the first desk says “have you been told what you need to do tomorrow?” and Andy relays what the other clerk told us. The woman looks at us blankly and says “um, that doesn’t sound right.” She picks up the phone and speaks to someone, telling them what we’d been told. It turns out the first agent didn’t know what she was talking about and we would get our boarding cards today. All we’d have to do the day we fly is go back to the desk, show our boarding cards and they will release our luggage as the cases are kept in a locked holding pen over night – much better!
Once we’d left our cases, we headed back to the car park. We had been less than half an hour, very impressive. From here we drove to Crawley, which is about 10 minutes drive away, to where my brother Chris lives. We met Chris and my mum in the local pub and had a lovely lunch with them. We then headed to my brother’s house to say hello to his girlfriend Clair and hug their cats, Tash and Tiger. We spent a few hours together which was wonderful and we waited for the phone call from Andy’s brother Mike. Mike and his friend Byron had offered to look after the pets at our house to save us the 3 and a half hour journey to Wales to drop them there with Andy’s parents. As Mike hadn’t driven to London before, we had given him directions to a certain point and we were going to meet them and lead the way back to our house. The phone call came through and we bid farewell to my family.
We waited in our pre-arranged meeting spot for a good half hour before spotting their car and driving back to Croydon. We let them relax in front of the telly while we finished packing our carry-on bag. Later, we ordered pizza from Dominos and chilled out. We ended up watching footage from previous trips and a few of the Travel Channel programs. Byron has wanted to go to Florida for years but can’t stand the thought of the 9 hour flight. I told him it’s worth it but I’m not sure he really believed me. Anyway, next thing we knew it was 4am – oops! We were supposed to be getting up at 5.30am to get ready and leave by 6.20. Obviously there was no point going to bed so we carried on [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
Day 1 – The One with the Bleary Eyes
At 5.30, Andy and I showered and got dressed. We bid farewell to our gorgeous doggies – Foofoo the cat was outside and wouldn’t come when I called her, humph [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] We left at 6.20am and walked the 2 minutes to the tram stop. We then waited 15 minutes for our tram. 4 stops later, we were at East Croydon station so we got off to catch our train to Gatwick Airport. We arrived at Gatwick at 7.10am – after the train journey from hell [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] Good god, I’ve never had one like it! I was a bunch of nerves and shaking all over by the time we arrived. We’d spent the whole 20 minute journey being thrown all over the place. Maybe the driver was late and was trying to make up for lost time but oh my – I was praying we’d make it in one piece I tell you [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]
As the train station is at the South Terminal and not the North, where we due to take off from, we decided to eat breakfast at Frankie & Benny’s before changing terminals. We each had a cheese and tomato panini and shared a round of toast with a diet coke each. The cost was £15 including tip. The paninis were excellent and I’d recommend them to anyone [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/yuma.gif[/img] We then took the monorail to the North Terminal.
We walked back to the First Choice desk and handed over our boarding cards. Our luggage was released and we were off through security and the Departures lounge in no time. Once through the long line, we wandered through the main duty free shop, buying cigarettes for Mike and my brother. We stopped in WH Smith and bought 2 magazines and a bottle of water. Andy went for a last cigarette while I sat waiting. By the time he was done, our gate number 46 had been announced. It took us a good 15 minutes to reach it. We were exhausted by the time we got there. We sat down and waited patiently.
Eventually, we were called – premium cabin passengers were seated first which was quite snazzy [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] We were sat so close to the desks that we were the first ones on, very cool. We were in row 5, seats A&B. I took the window seat, naturally [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] After we’d settled, we were offered a champagne bellini or a glass of orange juice. I declined both and stuck to water, as did Andy. Our flight had been due to take off at 10am and by 10.15 we were up in the air. It took me awhile to get comfortable and settle down.
coming up in Part 2 - some photos of our plane and we finally get to Disney World [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img]
</font>
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11-12-2005, 11:27 PM
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#75
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Dopey's biggest fan!
Join Date: May 2004
Location: China Spring, TX
Concierge Level: 9
Posts: 26,975
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Re: The Freeman Not So Scary October Trip - Updated Day 1 Part 1
Great start!!! I cracked up when I read the "Adventurers" part!!! Especially the part about Andy being so "laid back" [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img]
Looking forward to the rest!!!
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