A Walk in the Parks: A Cam and Fam TR COMPLETED 12/22/16 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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After we paid up, Luke asked if I wanted to do some shopping. Of course, I did and the Pandora Store was right across the sidewalk. A great meal followed by great shopping!
Once inside, I noted that the place was quite busy. I was looking for the Mickey and Minnie safety chain for by Pandora bracelet. I also looked over the new necklaces, finding one that had appeared in a recent e-mail. It is a locket that can hold charms, and I was especially interested in a set of charms that included an angel, a feather, and a star, all reminders of Stefanie. Here you are assigned a CM at the door to assist you, so once I found what I wanted, we walked back to the entrance to be assigned a CM. I got Emily who as we chatted I learned had formerly been a Kilimanjaro Safaris truck driver. She was so friendly and helpful, putting my necklace together and my safety clasp on my bracelet, and letting me wear everything out.
Now I must apologize first for my tiredness when I originally took these photos of the jewelry and second for my laziness as I haven't bothered retaking the photos.
Safety Clasp
Pandora Necklace
As we came out of Pandora, Luke called my attention to the sky. Lots of folks had in fact stopped to stare at the incredible sunset over Disney Springs. Check out these photos to see for yourself.
Definitely a sweet welcome to the World.
The next shop was Alex and Ani where I thought I’d just look. Alexander was so persuasive though that I tried on the Tinker Bell bracelet, and that was it. I had to buy it, my first Alex and Ani bangle.
By now we needed a restroom break and saw some nearby that turned out to be both clean and pretty. When we met back up outside, Luke asked where to next. I mentioned Uniqlo, and we began turning around to see where it might be. When we saw it, we chuckled at ourselves as it was connected to the restrooms we’d just used.
We were quickly inside and just as quickly impressed. The clothes are great quality and the prices are outlet store prices. The cast members here are great, too. I found two Supima cotton short-sleeve crewneck tops that normally sell for $12.90, but were currently on sale for $9.90. One is white and the other is navy. I was pretty sure that I was not done shopping here yet.
Now for some shops for Luke, starting with the Lego Store where we discovered the Winter Holiday Train new for this season. We were actually surprised by this as Luke usually has an e-mail heads up on new Lego items before they hit the stores. We knew we couldn’t get it home in our luggage, which led to an online purchase when we got back to the room. Luke had it shipped to his mom’s since it would arrive before we got back home. We learned in e-mails back and forth that she was finally able to drive to her friend’s house today. Hallelujah! A sad note: Mamaw’s friend lost her battle with cancer earlier this week. So I am very thankful that Mamaw got to spend some special time with her. Luke was looking for the Lego castle, but we had no luck with that. He did find several Batman Lego sets that I to photos of for possible Christmas gifts.
His last search in the store was actually trying out some individual blocks in hopes of creating an authentic looking railroad trestle.
From the Lego Store, we moved on to the World of Disney where I found the Halloween t-shirt and pins that had been on my souvenir wish list. There were no Halloween dish towels though.
We went into the Co-Op and quickly browsed to see if the dish towels would be there. No luck! In fact, we never did find them and they were no longer appearing on the Shop Parks app. I did just check the app again and they are back on there. Now I have to decide if I still want them.
By now the little sleep and lots of walking was wearing me down. I needed to go back to the room. We made one last stop for a drink for the walk back to the room and for taking our bedtime medicines. The walk was much more pleasant on the way back as the evening had turned mild. Unfortunately, the door to our villa still did not respond to either of our Magic Bands. So we drove to the Carriage House where Carlos finally fixed the problem. While at the Carriage House, we stopped into Artists Palette to get an orange juice for tomorrow morning. We returned to the villa, unpacked for tomorrow, got ready for bed, and lights were out by 11:18. Hence no photos of the room or the view, and I never thought of it again. Sorry!
Awesome purchases! I love the Tinkerbell Alex and Ani bracelet! And what a great price on the two short sleeve tops!
You sure had quite a long day! Glad you finally got the door situation resolved.
Love the Alex and Ani bangle! And the Halloween t-shirt. Wow, you had a busy night! Luke with Legos: a man after my own heart. That's usually our first stop at DS!
Love all your purchases!!! So glad that you finally got an Alex and Ani bracelet and the perfect one at that! I finally got my Pandora bracelet while at Aulani and it's the a nice reminder of our trip to Hawaii Sounds like it was a fun and relaxing evening at Disney Springs with the most perfect sunset.
What a beautiful and unusual sunset! I'm just not a bracelet person, but I do love the pandora idea and the new Alex and Ani one is perfect for you. I may have to check out the store where you got the shirts. Those look like some good buys.
Awesome purchases! I love the Tinkerbell Alex and Ani bracelet! And what a great price on the two short sleeve tops!
You sure had quite a long day! Glad you finally got the door situation resolved.
It had been a long day, so it was a blessing when Carlos finally figured out the problem with the door.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Wow, that was some serious shopping you did there! And oh my goodness, that sunset - I've never seen anything like that!
It was so cool how everyone had stopped and was oohing and aahing while lots of phones and cameras were snapping photos of the sunset. Gorgeous!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tara O'Hara
Oh my gosh!! I your jewelry buys!! What a great shopping night and a beautiful end to your day with that sky!!
I had a blast shopping though I totally wore myself out. That sunset was remarkable.
Love the Alex and Ani bangle! And the Halloween t-shirt. Wow, you had a busy night! Luke with Legos: a man after my own heart. That's usually our first stop at DS!.
You would love how Luke is combining his love of Legos and model trains in his train room. I'm ready for him to start building again as I'm totally fascinated by his skill and the skill of the Lego designers. He usually works in the winter when we can't get out as much.
Quote:
Originally Posted by B.M.
Great shopping!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lindawdw
Love all your purchases!!! So glad that you finally got an Alex and Ani bracelet and the perfect one at that! I finally got my Pandora bracelet while at Aulani and it's the a nice reminder of our trip to Hawaii Sounds like it was a fun and relaxing evening at Disney Springs with the most perfect sunset.
Thanks! You knew I was looking at the Alex and Ani, and when I saw this one, it just had to be mine. I'm so glad you finally got a Pandora bracelet. Such a great way to remember your time at Aulani. We were really enjoying not having to be anywhere at a set time that evening.
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She was so friendly and helpful, putting my necklace together and my safety clasp on my bracelet, and letting me wear everything out. 
I did just check the app again and they are back on there. Now I have to decide if I still want them. 
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your jewelry buys!!
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