Forever Young: A Disneyland Trip 50 Years in the Making COMPLETED 1/16/16 - Page 60 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
Great trip, great report, and loved the wrap up. Makes me realize just how much has changed at DL since the days we knew it like the back of our hand. We hope to visit in the summer of 2018 on the way to or from Aulani for DD's graduation trip. But I wish I could go now! (Or in 11 months, keeping with our DVC booking window! )
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.
Great trip, great report, and loved the wrap up. Makes me realize just how much has changed at DL since the days we knew it like the back of our hand. We hope to visit in the summer of 2018 on the way to or from Aulani for DD's graduation trip. But I wish I could go now! (Or in 11 months, keeping with our DVC booking window! )
Time will be flying with this as at that time your son will be heading into his senior year in college!
__________________
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!
Great set of final thoughts and I can imagine just how hard it was to put these together.
Quote:
I’ve been struggling for a couple of days now on just how to organize my thoughts about one of our best Disney trips, so special because it was our first time to the original, West Coast version. With all my apprehensions prior to the trip followed by a bit of frustration in getting the dining reservations, especially the dining show packages, I was unsure of what my reaction was going to be once we arrived. We wouldn’t be entering a park for the first time until the day after our arrival, so I hoped that wouldn’t further delay my excitement. Another part of me couldn’t imagine not loving the park that Walt built and that as a kid I had wanted to visit every time I watched World of Color on TV.
You sound exactly like me when we were planning our trip out to Japan. I was so worried that I wouldn't love the country I've wanted to visit for years and years and years and, just like you, I needn't have worried, as I loved it. I'm so glad it was the same for you, as I know exactly how you felt prior to your trip.
Quote:
We planned this trip as a once and done, but it is absolutely just the beginning. Luke says three years before we go back, but I’m working on the possibility of going back at Christmas time in 2017. If it works, Cheryl and I might be able to meet for the first time.
I so hope this works out, as it would be wonderful to finally get together. You never know, you could also join us out at Aulani first, as that's going to be our first stop, followed by Disneyland, then WDW and hopefully a Disney cruise. Yes, it's going to be a real Disney fest for that trip!
Your final thoughts reflect what an amazing vacation you had and how much the two of you enjoyed it It is wonderful that you got to experience DLR that way and it's no surprise to me that you're already planning when to go back
Once again, I have very much enjoyed reading along! Thanks for sharing this trip report with us, Cam.
Absolutely wonderful final thoughts Cam Your enthusiasm is contagious and it's made me so excited to go back to DL! I'm glad that it lived up to your expectations that you had since you were young. I will be referring back to your TR when I need to make dining reservations for sure! Thanks again for sharing your adventure with us.
Wonderful final thoughts. It was so nice reading along with a first time trip. I too can't wait to get back to California, but, it may be delayed due to changes happening at work. Oh well, when I get there it will still be a wonderful experience. Thanks again for sharing your trip with us.
__________________
Waiting for our next adventure after enjoying our Alaska cruise. Jenn
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.
What a great time you and Luke had Cam! Thanks so much for taking us along for the ride!
I agree with you. We did DL/DCA in 5 days, and still didn't see everything either (and this was before Carsland)! Their late openings and early night closings don't help that matter either, especially in the summer when things could be open so much more later (and earlier), like WDW!
Wonderful trip! It was so great seeing the parks through your eyes, as a first timer! Reading your TR gave lots of insight on how to go about the planning and touring DL. I'm happy to say that I'm starting to plan my first visit to DL in June 2017. So this report has helped me a lot.
Thanks for sharing such a magical and amazing trip with us!
The DL planning will be a different game as opposed to WDW and will definitely get myself a PP DL book for this, which I think makes sense, plus hanging out on the DL planning forums and asking for suggestions and guidance to those like you, who have the experience!
We can be planning buddies. I'm also planning my first DL trip for 2017.
We can be planning buddies. I'm also planning my first DL trip for 2017.
Won't be doing this until next year as I need to plan my October trip for this year first. We'll see as it's not set in stone yet.
__________________
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!
Well...not just joining in as I've been on your TR all along!
The DL planning will be a different game as opposed to WDW and will definitely get myself a PP DL book for this, which I think makes sense, plus hanging out on the DL planning forums and asking for suggestions and guidance to those like you, who have the experience!
This year it's Epcot F&W Wine Festival for me for the first time and looking forward to it!
Sorry I didn't mean to imply that you "just" joined in. What I meant my "joining in" was coming along for the whole trip report.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
Great trip, great report, and loved the wrap up. Makes me realize just how much has changed at DL since the days we knew it like the back of our hand. We hope to visit in the summer of 2018 on the way to or from Aulani for DD's graduation trip. But I wish I could go now! (Or in 11 months, keeping with our DVC booking window! )
I've mentioned to Luke several times that whenever we finally get to travel to Aulani that we should stop off at DLR either on the way there or back to break up all the flying. I can't believe your DD has only two more years before she graduates.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Great set of final thoughts and I can imagine just how hard it was to put these together.
You sound exactly like me when we were planning our trip out to Japan. I was so worried that I wouldn't love the country I've wanted to visit for years and years and years and, just like you, I needn't have worried, as I loved it. I'm so glad it was the same for you, as I know exactly how you felt prior to your trip.
I so hope this works out, as it would be wonderful to finally get together. You never know, you could also join us out at Aulani first, as that's going to be our first stop, followed by Disneyland, then WDW and hopefully a Disney cruise. Yes, it's going to be a real Disney fest for that trip!
I'm not sure if Aulani would work out for us or not, but you've planted a seed in my mind. You all will be covering a lot of Disney bases on that trip.
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.
Your final thoughts reflect what an amazing vacation you had and how much the two of you enjoyed it It is wonderful that you got to experience DLR that way and it's no surprise to me that you're already planning when to go back
Once again, I have very much enjoyed reading along! Thanks for sharing this trip report with us, Cam.
for reading! We really couldn't have asked for a trip that was any more magical for us.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lindawdw
Absolutely wonderful final thoughts Cam Your enthusiasm is contagious and it's made me so excited to go back to DL! I'm glad that it lived up to your expectations that you had since you were young. I will be referring back to your TR when I need to make dining reservations for sure! Thanks again for sharing your adventure with us.
I hope some of what I've written will help you and others as DLR trips are planned. I've even made myself excited about getting to go back in a few years.
Quote:
Originally Posted by manticorjenn
Wonderful final thoughts. It was so nice reading along with a first time trip. I too can't wait to get back to California, but, it may be delayed due to changes happening at work. Oh well, when I get there it will still be a wonderful experience. Thanks again for sharing your trip with us.
:thank: I know it will be different next time because it won't be the first. But I'm excited to get to know DLR as much as I know WDW.
Wonderful TR! And great final thoughts! I've really enjoyed following along!
I really appreciated your comments as you read along.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
What a great time you and Luke had Cam! Thanks so much for taking us along for the ride!
I agree with you. We did DL/DCA in 5 days, and still didn't see everything either (and this was before Carsland)! Their late openings and early night closings don't help that matter either, especially in the summer when things could be open so much more later (and earlier), like WDW!
I was amazed by the difference in hours at DLR as I've gotten so used to very long hours at WDW. It's good to know we weren't the only ones who realized we'd not make every thing before leaving.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MayraLR
Wonderful trip! It was so great seeing the parks through your eyes, as a first timer! Reading your TR gave lots of insight on how to go about the planning and touring DL. I'm happy to say that I'm starting to plan my first visit to DL in June 2017. So this report has helped me a lot.
Thanks for sharing such a magical and amazing trip with us!
I am so excited for you! I hope your first trip to DLR is as wonderful and magical as ours was!
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.
About This Page: 
)
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
PassPorter Guide Author
You never know, you could also join us out at Aulani first, as that's going to be our first stop, followed by Disneyland, then WDW and hopefully a Disney cruise. Yes, it's going to be a real Disney fest for that trip! 
It is wonderful that you got to experience DLR that way and it's no surprise to me that you're already planning when to go back 
Waiting for our next adventure after enjoying our Alaska cruise. 
Jenn
Linear Mode
