A Hop, NO Skip, and Many Mishaps to a Disney Dream - Page 56 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
Glad you had a good day at sea world, I would have been upset about the camera charger too...but we have done that as well, leaving things in the room (we actually just did it on our most recent trip with a phone charger). Glad you were able to find another one, even though it did seem quite expensive. Looks like a yummy dinner!
I was in shock wit hthe price. And it wasn't even a "Disney" price. LOL!
Dinner was good!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
Sorry the charger was so expensive. We're ruled now by all these electronic gizmos, wires and chargers. Hard to keep track. I have a drawer full of wires from I don't know what! They really do give you a lot of food at Cheesecake Factory! I have one just a couple of blocks away and have never tried the pizza. Looked very tasty!
I just ordered (and recieved) a mobile charger for my phone. I was so tire of my phone going dead so fast this past trip. I did a lot of posting to facebook and it just wears that battery down fast. One of hte other girls had a mobile charger and it was so neat. She never ran out of of battrery charge. I got it yesterday and it works great so far...but of course I had to order a cord so I could plug it in the wall to charge as well. Another item to add to my packing list in the future.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pamcarey
Wow! I can't believe how much that charger cost! Your pizza at Cheesecake Factory looked great!
I about fainted. There is no way in real life I woule EVER pay that much for one.
The pizza was pretty good.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rhinohunter
WOW all that for one charger. Your meal sure looked good. The cheesecake sounds great. would like to have some right now.
I could go for some now too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jennie622
WOW! I can't believe the charger was so expensive!!!!
I used to work at a Cheesecake Factory about 6-7 years ago and there were 260 menu items!!!! My advice, go for items that are exclusive to CF, they are delicious. Items you can get elsewhere (Chinese, Mexican, Italian) are so so. Their salads are the bomb!! Wish I had one close to me right now!
Thats good to know. I had never been to one before and it was kind of overwelming.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mommapants
All caught up - so sad the stories about all the whales. I didn't think they still caught them from the wild but I guess 34 years ago they did - I think they are all breed in captivity now??
The Cheescake factory near me is always super crowded. The last time I went was only because I had a gift card and we waited over an hour to be seated - no thank you - no cheescake is THAT good.
Yes they are all bred in captivity now. I can't remember how long ago, but it was banned from capturing them I guess I just never think about how they got there. It wasn't like Tinkerbell sprinkled pixie dust and they just flew there because they wanted to. (an Tink doesn't work for Sea World anyways. LOL)
Does the CF do to go orders? That could be bad though. I would order cheescake every night!
Sadly, this was our last full day. I got up bright and early and showered. I took a few shots of our room, which was quite messy at the time.
I then went for breakfast. Like the other Residence Inn, this one had a buffet with a good selection as well. My original plan was to be at Epcot at opening, but that plan went out the door, since I had to wait till 9 to talk to the lost and found for Pop. Mom and Dad did not want to go for Rope Drop, nor did they want to stay till closing. I let them know that I was going as soon as I could, they could come or get a shuttle or taxi. Mom said something about just leaving early and I could take them back. Again, I knew how precious our time was going to be and I told her they could take the Van back and then come back and pick us up later, or take a taxi back. But at this point in time, my whole family just kept sleeping, which drove me nuts. I wandered around outside after breakfast and called Skip, who didn’t answer. So I called Paige and told her about the trip so far. As we were finishing up I got a call waiting beep and answered it. It was about 8:50 now. And it was a CM from Pop Century, I think her name was Lisa. She was really nice and let me know right away that the charger and battery had indeed been found and turned in. I am so happy, but I do think they need a better system for this. She told me I could go over to Pop and pick it up (she was sending it back over there.) If I had been staying on property, they would’ve sent it to my resort. She also said, “I notice you are from Swanton, OH”, and I said yes, and she let me know she was from there too. She told me the road she used to live on and I was familiar with the area. Small World. I went back to the room and told the family that I was going over to Pop to get the charger and if they weren’t going to get up…Claire included….then I was heading over to Epcot and they could call me when they got up. Mom let me know she had finished up the laundry last night and brought it all back up. (she was up till 2 AM!) Dad just kept saying it was going to rain and my reply was, I don’t care, I’ll wear a poncho. I wasn’t going to sit in a hotel room all day because of rain. They decided they would get up and ready and then eat breakfast and I could come back and pick them all up after I got the charger. I left and the skies did look a bit awful. Skip called me and he also mentioned the rain….I guess I may melt if the rain touches me? Of course the minute I hang up with him, the sky opens up and just starts pouring. As I pulled into Pops parking lot it did lesson up a bit.
And of course, the ponchos were left in my bag back at the hotel. I scrambled around the back of the van and found Moms coat that had a hood. I went to the desk and asked about the charger, she made a call and went to the back to fetch it. I talked to 2 other CM’s while waiting, they both said the rain should be done by noon. Yay! That was a relief! The CM came back with a bag of my goodies and I signed for them and took a quick look around the gift shop. I headed back and the family was just about ready when I returned. We hit the road to Epcot and arrived with it just lightly raining. I think it was about 10:30 by now. Claire and I were going in, but Mom and Dad were going to wait for the rain to slow up more. Now here is where things went downhill, but I didn’t really know it at the time. I got ponchos on Claire and myself, and Claire is evidently a poncho snob. My cheap dollar store ponchos weren’t cutting it for her. She said they were ugly and complained about wearing it. I told her to wear it till we got in the park and then I would fix it so it could cover the stroller. At the same time my Dad was asking….over and over…if I had my phone. YES, I had the dang phone! I finally got us situated and made our way to the tram and hopped aboard. I was amazed at how close we had actually parked to the entrance. It has been many years since I have actually parked at Epcot ( and then my ex had a handicap parking permit, so we parked very close) and I wasn’t familiar with the whole parking lot thing. We finally got in and we stopped for some photopass pictures.
And a few of mine.
We looked for the lockers and I got one for my bag. Claire had decided to bring along her Mary Poppins dress again, in hopes of seeing her again. So we shoved all that gear in the locker. I then bought her a Disney poncho, as that one was “OK” for her to wear. The plan then was to head over to Soarin and get Fast Passes. I took a few pictures on the way over.
1 was OK, I go smiles!
I guess the 2nd one was pushing it a little. LOL!
Again, I think I was pushing it with a 2nd picture.
We got FP’s for later that afternoon, but I didn’t write down the time, that I can see at this point. I am think it was like 4:20?
Claire was a little hungry and since I wasn’t sure how much she actually ate for breakfast, we stopped off for a pretzel. And I think this shot was from the pretzel cart area.
It was now when I realized that I did NOT have my phone in my pocket!!!!! I was pretty sure I had it when I left, after all Dad kept asking me, but I was slightly stressed too, so maybe I didn’t. I decided we should go back to the van and see if I did indeed leave it out there. After all, if I didn’t find it, how would I get in contact with Mom and Dad later on?
I'm glad they found your charger and it was really amazing that the CM was from your town, but.... I thought all the mishaps would be over! Your last day is not going well!
I'm glad they found your charger and it was really amazing that the CM was from your town, but.... I thought all the mishaps would be over! Your last day is not going well!
I seemed to be plagued with mishaps that trip.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
Oh no! Hope you found the phone! (and hope your dad didn't give you too hard a time!)
Claire and I headed off to the front to see if my phone was left in the van. Now this phone was only about 7 months old and the nicest phone I have ever owned as well, a droid, so I worried even more about finding it. I have insurance, but I have no clue what it covers, plus all the lost info on it. As we got near to Spaceship Earth, who should I see coming out of the bathroom….my Dad! I hollered over to him, then made a few rude comments about whether or not the launch sequence had started and then asked if he saw my phone in the van. He didn’t and of course gave me a bit of a hard time (jokingly) about me saying I had it when I left. Mom came out of the bathroom and I asked her as well. No, she didn’t remember seeing it either. I said I was going to go check, but she told me to just take her phone since Dad had his and we could communicate that way. Now this was stupid on my part. I just was too lazy to walk back out to the van to go look and I just forgot about it for the rest of the day. Also, just because I had her phone, didn’t mean I knew how to use it. LOL! I had a heck of a time trying to figure that bugger out. We decided that since we were together we would ride Spaceship Earth.
The line was kind of long, but it moved quickly.
And then I had them pose for a family shot. I took 2 and neither turned out too great.
Soon we were on our journey. I rode with Dad. I took a lot of pictures, some turned out OK, while others not so much.
I got a few pictures of Dad and I. We were laughing at how dumb we (mostly me because I purposely made that face) looked.
I love this one! LOL
I guess I never took one of Mom and Claire. But I did get a pic of Dad and I on the big screen as well.
I believe we separated after this. I reminded them the time and where to meet for lunch and off Claire and I went.
Honestly, I'm exhausted already with all the to-ing and fro-ing and worrying this morning. Glad your dad didn't razz you too much about the phone. And a nice ride on SE with some great photos of you and your dad. I don't see smooth sailing ahead, though, with your mom's phone and finding yours...
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.
1st I want to say I am sorry for the lack of updates. Claire has had tummy issues all week and was home Mon-Thurs. I finally sent her back on Friday and guess who now has the tummy troubles...Yep! me! I did a lot of napping today as Skip took Claire to see Phineas and Ferb in concert this afternoon. Hopefully by tomorrow I will be feeling back to normal. Claire wasn't so down, just need the bathroom a lot, me on the other hand ...I feel queesy all day long.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
Honestly, I'm exhausted already with all the to-ing and fro-ing and worrying this morning. Glad your dad didn't razz you too much about the phone. And a nice ride on SE with some great photos of you and your dad. I don't see smooth sailing ahead, though, with your mom's phone and finding yours...
There was a lot of tooing and froing. LOL! It was one of the best days with Claire, but then it ended with a bit of a bang. Lots of emotions this day.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pamcarey
Glad you got your charger back, but now I'm worried about your phone!!
I should've just cut my head off and readjusted it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Baloo
Uh oh--mommy meltdowns are the worst feeling ever. Here's hoping yours wasn't too bad....:-)
What trip isn;t complete with a mommy meltdown?
Quote:
Originally Posted by jennie622
Your facial expression on SE is fantastic!!
So you get the charger back only to lose your phone? Geez!
I swear , I am usually never this bad...must be old age.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ilovedisney247
Hope you found your phone! You got some great pics on Spaceship Earth and I think the family photo turned out pretty good!
I wish we could've gotten a nice family photo with photopass but I swear my parents would run the other way if they saw one.
Quote:
Originally Posted by smcnaught
We got back from our vacation and I am now catching up on yours!!
We love the Cheesecake Factory!! And the Red Velvet is my favorite!!!
I hope you find your phone!!
I hope you had a great time. I am moving pretty slowly these days. So you should be able to keep caught up pretty well. I need to start reading more reports, but it seems like everytime I start another it takes me a week to catch up!
The line was pretty much walk through. I tried to grab a few shots, but I was moving to fast to get anything good.
We soon had our journey on the clamobile and exited. We also made a stop to talk with Crush. Claire was disappointed that she wasn’t picked to talk to Crush this time around. (she was last trip and it turned on me and I had to talk to him as well) I let her know that other kids get to have a turn as well and she seemed fine with that. We totally skipped the picture with Bruce. I guess I forgot. We did stop and take a few outdoor pictures though.
….But first a trip down memory lane……
Claire in 2007
2008
2009
And on to 2011!
We decided to head over to Figment next. Claire had made a comment that last trip we totally missed it, so I wanted to be sure she did ride it this time.
I tried to get the butterfly topiary on the way over.
for your tummy troubles! Glad Claire is feeling better. I really enjoyed seeing the photos of Claire growing up at Epcot. What a cutie! They grow up way too fast.
About This Page: 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
Linear Mode
