Pre-Trip Report: Our Dream Disneymoon (12/16-23) COMPLETED - Page 6 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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 all caught up and everything sounds great! You're plans look perfect and how exciting that you don't have to switch resorts now. Are we by chance going to see wedding pictures when it's all said and done?
I'm all caught up and everything sounds great! You're plans look perfect and how exciting that you don't have to switch resorts now. Are we by chance going to see wedding pictures when it's all said and done?
AHH!! I can't believe you're reading this!! Haha ... I LOVE your TRs. You're like my PP celebrity.
Not sure if I'll post wedding pics (do you really think people will care?), but will for sure put up some photos from the trip!! We are going to pre-order the photo disc.
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.
AHH!! I can't believe you're reading this!! Haha ... I LOVE your TRs. You're like my PP celebrity.
Not sure if I'll post wedding pics (do you really think people will care?), but will for sure put up some photos from the trip!! We are going to pre-order the photo disc.
OMG!!! You made me laugh so hard when you said that. The people at work probably think I'm losing my mind!
I think people would love to see at least one picture of the beautiful couple on their wedding day, afterall, this is your DISNEYMOON, and a wedding has to come first right? Heck, we just got some professional pictures taken this past weekend, and once I get them I'm going to post a couple ion my report. Even though it's not Disney related I think it helps you to connect to everyon, or maybe it's just because I pictures so much!!!
MelissaSue, congrats on the great changes!!! More please!
Melissa (honeybee) I LOVE pics!!! It put faces with names and just makes you feel like you are there with them!!!
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Me and Cole in the Sears Tower Skydeck, 103 floors up, in a glass box hanging off the side!
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I had such a productive morning ... went to Walmart to buy some goodies for the wedding and Disneymoon. Very exciting!
For the wedding, I bought two pretty recycled wood baskets (for putting the bubbles, tissues and programs in at the entry of the ceremony location) and some body-sucking undergarments (can't believe how flat they make my tummy look! I haven't looked that thin for about 10 years!)
After today's trip, my "getting ready for Disney box," is now loaded with:
my awesome baggallini triple zip bag, pre-loaded with gum (for the plane) and chapstick
4 rain ponchos
a 'just married' tee and 'just married' sandals (gifts from my sister)
a mickey tee I bought for myself and a pooh polo I bought for FDH
tickets for La Nouba
package of 100 white notecards, an index card holder and some funky paper clips (see below for more info)
a 25 x 16 popup hamper
2 packages of Colgate wisps (for on the go), 2 mini deodorants and 2 mini clean and clear cleansers for my face (no pimples on vacation!)
The notecards and stuff are how I plan to keep myself organized while touring. For each day of the trip, I hope to note our ADRs, traveling tips, touring tips and other little tidbits for the park(s) we plan to be in that day on cards, then clip them together with those cute little paperclips along with the mousekeeping envelope for the day. The clips and card holder will also be a great way (I hope) to keep track of receipts.
Anyway, I am working on a post about the changes we've made to the trip, due to the amazing awesomeness of Judi. Should post it before tomorrow morning. I know ... it's too exciting.
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So, here are the changes we were able to make as a result of Judi's magic:
Day 1: Instead of eating at Sunshine Seasons, we’re going to grab some food to go (OOP) from the Contempo Café and eat it on the monorail ride over to Epcot. Otherwise, we’re sticking to the Epcot plan.
Day 2: This is the biggest change. Originally, this was our non-park day, but without the restrictions on our tickets as the result of a split stay, we decided to make this our Animal Kingdom day! I got early (8:15 am) ressies for Donald's Safari Breakfast at Tusker House and lunch ressies at Yak and Yeti, and we still have our dinner ressies at Boma. Our “must-dos” for the park are the same, and our plans for AKL are the same … we just moved it all up a bit. We’re very much looking forward to this adventure.
Day 3: This day was originally a little ADD (what with the changing resorts and trying to squeeze MK in before La Nouba) so we decided to totally rethink it! We’ll start it off with breakfast at the Grand Floridian and the rest of the day will include: minigolf at Winter Summerland, massages at the Grand Floridian, and lots of shopping time at DTD. Lunch will be at Earl of Sandwich, dinner (after some hours of shopping) will be at Wolfgang Puck Café. The icing on the cake is still La Nouba!
Day 4: Not much has changed here except our dinner ressie. Originally, we were going to go with 50’s Prime Time for dinner, but we decided to cancel that and go with a late ADR at Via Napoli. FDH and I both think that the pizza there looks too good to pass up, and I read several mixed reviews of 50's. Between the mixed reviews and FDH's excitement about Via Napoli, I opened up to the possibility of skipping 50s.
Day 5: This was originally our Animal Kingdom day, but since we did AK early, we decided to make this our first Magic Kingdom day! We’re locked in for an early breakfast at the Crystal Palace (FDH loves Pooh!) and lunch at Liberty Tree. Originally, we’d planned to dinner at the Grand Floridian but we instead got ressies at Narcoossee's. Still plan to watch fireworks from Poly Beach afterward.
Day 6: This day didn’t change at all! Still an Epcot day with some awesome ressies.
Day 7: We canceled our lunch ressie (originally at Liberty Tree Tavern--but now we're eating there on Day 5), and are instead going to binge on snacks or just grab some counter service instead of a standard lunch. Still having dinner at Cali Grill at Wishes time.
What I love most about Day 7 is that now it's pretty open. If we decide we'd rather spend another day in another park, we can. The only thing we HAVE to do this day is be at the Cali Grill by 9 p.m. So if Magic Kingdom doesn't hold our interest as much as AK or Epcot, we're free to go there instead.
Day 8: Nothing changed on this day either. Breakfast at The Wave before getting on DME.
I'm happy with all of these changes, and what I REALLY loved about the changes was that FDH and I sat down and made all of these decisions together one evening while we ate dinner. It was really fun to plan together.
I don't have much else to report. Right now, I am going out of my mind at work, and most of my spare time is spent doing last minute wedding stuff.
The only pressing Disneymoon related item on my mind has been figuring out how we're going to get to the airport because FDH has decided that he doesn't want to leave either of our cars in long term parking at the airport.
My problem, of course, is that long term parking will cost us $120, while taking a car service is going to cost us $200+, which seems like tooooo much to me.
I'd love to ask a friend or coworker to take us, but the airport is an hour away, and we have to be to the airport by 7:30 a.m., so ... that's asking a lot of a non-family member, and unfortunately none of them live close enough.
Up next … I don’t know!! Is that everything?? Am I missing anything? Is there anything you want to hear more about?? We might have to close the books on this PTR!
Of course we want to see some wedding photos! I love the new plans; Judi must be a miracle worker and you're a wise woman for letting her take care of making your trip easier instead of obsessing over it yourself. You have enough going on with the upcoming wedding details.
Sharon
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.