I Don’t Wanna Grow Up – 30th Birthday Trip x2, August 7-11, 2010 - Page 67 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
I've gotten a bit behind, so I hope and I can remember what all I want to say. First, your PP pictures are awesome! You all make the sweetest couple! Second, I wish I had gotten the MSEP pictures added to my PP CD as those are superb! The tea looked divine! Love your shirt, too (and you are awesome). The decorations in your studio were adorable as were the snacks from the lounge. Glad the rain didn't put a damper on your birthday. I think you all had the same seating for the dessert party that we had. It was our last night at WDW and to be able to seat for the fireworks was worth it for us, too. again!
The MSEP pics were beautiful.
Your birthday tea looked delish. You look so cute!
I love the birthday cake towel you had when you got back to the room.
I think I am sold on staying at AKL for my 40th! Plus it looks like it is the cheapest of the Deluxe resorts too!
Liz - you will love it! Its so cool there. We have stayed there twice and we are staying again in May 2011 for my 40th! Must do Club Level too.
Kelly - Y'all are just adorable! You look great and what a way to spend your 30th! Despite the rain it sounds like it turned out to be pretty good.
I loved your photos of the Tea. We definitely have this on our list of things to do for my 40th in May. I have never done it and am looking forward to this.
Those were really awesome pics from the Electrical Parade on your PP CD. I can't wait to see this in person in Oct.
Great pics of the animals at the Lodge. I like the one with the zebras.
Great update and pictures! I would love to experience the dessert party, but my waistline sure doesn't need it. I'll just enjoy everybody's food pics......they're fat free!
Thanks everyone for all the comments and saying how cute Mike & I are!
I need to get this finished this week since I do it at work and I have to train the temp next week. Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment and I really really want my date moved up - this weekend was rough! I know every pregnancy is different, but I didn't feel any of these pains like I am right now. I'm pretty sure the Braxton Hicks contractions are pretty intense right about now - especially at bedtime and I have the worst back ache - nothing makes it feel better and no sitting position works well either. OK, enough of my complaining - on to the TR!
Mike was up first today at 9am so he got ready first and then I did. We left the room at 10:15am and were off shortly to DHS. We looked in the shops on the right hand side of Hollywood Blvd and then browsed the Animation shop – still looking for that coveted Vinylmation that we never would get. We decided to head over to the Brown Derby early to check in for our lunch with an Imagineer. While Mike checked in, I used the restroom. When I came back I noticed that some of the CMs were talking about Mike/us. Well it ended up being a good thing and we were chosen to be Celebrities of the Day!!! We got to dress up and play like we were celebrities with a photo shoot and got to open the restaurant for the day. It was so much fun! I’ll let the pictures tell the story. The lady that was in charge of this was a riot and everything was “Fabulous!” Going over our 'roles'
After our red carpet walk and waving to all our adoring fans!
Mike cutting the ribbon - which they also gave us.
Entering the HBD seating area
In our cozy - to be seen - booth.
If it weren’t for the Imagineer lunch we would have also been the first to be seated that day, but instead faked it and then we rejoined our group. I forgot to mention that while we were prepping for this Mike was going to pin trade with the CM that ended up being our tour guide of the HBD before our lunch. He apparently had the other CM exclusive pin Mike was looking for, but when he came back with his pins it was sad news. Apparently someone else must have traded away the pin earlier. Oh well! He was still a great CM and we gave him one of appreciation cards we had made for the trip.
After opening the restaurant we were given a tour and told stories about all the HBD and how this one in DHS is the last one. We were then led to the Bamboo Room in the back where our Imagineer was waiting for us. We had the pleasure to dine with Joe Warren who is a Principal Concept Designer. Basically he’s an artist. He’s done many of the billboards in the front of DHS (photos of those he did to come later), artwork for America at Epcot (pic of that later too), artwork for the Yacht Club, the Cruise Line, worked a bit on AK as he taught over there for several years, some things for the new DVC Hawaii resort, the Pirates redesign, and was working on some artwork for a new shop in Epcot that hasn’t been announced yet (I was very intrigued by this last statement, but we got no further details). I wish I could remember everything that was said during the lunch, but I just can’t. I will say some of the other people we dined with were very opinionated, which I guess is good and bad. Joe told us about all he’d done leading up to working with Disney – teaching in Africa being one. He had two kids – a boy & girl and a couple grandkids too who he loved to take to the parks with him. His son is a designer (or something similar) for EA (video games). I believe his father had a similar work background as I remember Joe telling a story about how he sent his father and uncle (who were in their 80s) on Mission Space when it first opened. He wasn’t even thinking about them possibly being hurt with the g-forces and all and I think his uncle did have a heart condition. Anyway, they were fine, but they came off the ride critiquing the design of the ride. LOL! The bamboo room - if you're looking at the entrance to HBD this is on the left hand side. Several people almost got in (doors were unlocked) I'm assuming looking for a bathroom.
Entrance to Bamboo room from inside HBD.
The meal we had was delicious!! And here are the pictures to prove it:
We started with a creamy onion soup with a large crouton (sorry no pic of this), but it was really good. I’m not an onion eater and I’m not a soup eater, but I ate every last bit of this soup. Then we had the famous Cobb Salad. We had 3 entrée choices and I had the filet with corn polenta while Mike had the grouper and some vegetables (the other choice was a spicy chicken noddle dish), and for dessert I had the grapefruit cake and Mike had the crème brule. I was the ONLY person to have the grapefruit cake – can you believe it?! Everyone else had the flourless chocolate cake, which wasn’t even on our menu (one family did have a gluten allergy, so I understood that, but the others not only changed the dessert choice, but asked for several other meal changes as well). Our waiter gave me the recipe for this and was supposed to give me one for the grapefruit cake too, but I got 2 Cobb Salads instead. My in-laws went back when they were in WDW the week after us and got me the grapefruit cake recipe. (If anyone wants it let me know and I'll either post it here or PM you.)
Mike's grouper
My filet - so yummy!
Grapefruit cake
Mike's creme brule with chocolate dipped biscotti
We all (each one of us) got signed glass plates from Joe and then took pictures with him. The HBD also gave us personalized menus and Mike & I got a print out of our ‘Celebrity of the Day’ activities. The meal lasted about 3 hours as we were done at 2:30pm. This was a great experience and I’m so glad we were able to do it. I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again, but it’ll have to be several years or on another adults only trip as it’s not something for small kids. We had one girl in the group that was maybe 11 or 12, she wanted to become an Imagineer, and I think that might be the youngest I’d take to this experience. Us with Joe Warren
What a great lunch and wonderful experience. Love the pics....how great that you and Mike got to be stars for your birthdays. The meal sounded wonderful, I cannot believe no one else had the grapefruit cake, that is just such a great and refreshing dessert...and so much part of the HBD.
What a great lunch you had! I didn't realize there were other people there as well. I thought it was just your party and the Imagineer! Great pictures too!
OMG...OMG....What an awesome day!!! It looks like so much fun! How ...Celebrities of the Day!!! The food looks amazing...especially the GRAPEFRUIT CAKE!! Yes, I do want the recipe! You guys look adorable!!! Can't wait to read more!!
Wow, what a day! I didn't realize the HBD did an opening ceremony. You both look great in your dress-up duds! I'm so glad you had such a good experience with the Lunch with an Imagineer--I did it about 5 or 6 years ago and it was soooo boring! The Imagineer was uninteresting and dull and didn't seem to enjoy his job at all. I couldn't figure out how he was chosen to share with guests. I always love the food at the HBD, though!
I hope your doctor will move the big day up for you--sounds like Lucas wants to see the world.
Wow! What a great day! That is something that I've never done and it looks like it would be really interesting. Plus to be the celebrities of the day! It only made me it 10 times better!
On a side note...I hope you start to feel better. I, myself, never experienced the bad Braxton Hicks contractions, but I know that they can stop you in your tracks. Hopefully the doctor can get you as comfortable as possible to help make the wait a little easier.
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.
OMG...OMG....What an awesome day!!! It looks like so much fun! How ...Celebrities of the Day!!! The food looks amazing...especially the GRAPEFRUIT CAKE!! Yes, I do want the recipe! You guys look adorable!!! Can't wait to read more!!
You may have to remind me on the recipe, but I'll definitely send it to you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by honeybee723
Wow! What a great day! That is something that I've never done and it looks like it would be really interesting. Plus to be the celebrities of the day! It only made me it 10 times better!
On a side note...I hope you start to feel better. I, myself, never experienced the bad Braxton Hicks contractions, but I know that they can stop you in your tracks. Hopefully the doctor can get you as comfortable as possible to help make the wait a little easier.
I didn't have any of them with Dylan either, so when it started to get pretty intense Saturday night I was a bit worried and was very close to calling one of my doctors. It's definitely not a pleasant feeling those contractions and real labor contractions I only experience for a little, but very intensely when they broke my water with Dylan. They'll probably tell me to stay home or something and to be honest I don't really want to do that - I sit at a desk most of the day so I'm not really doing anything extra that keeping me at home is going to prevent. We'll see.
OMG!!!! You are a celebrity!! How adorable. That lunch looked and sounded super awesome. I would LOVE to take my dad to that one day, how many people in a group?
All your PP pics from your birthday are great! You both look very calm and relaxed, could it be the calm before the storm of having two little ones maybe??
The dessert party looked really nice as well, I am not much of a sweets person ( well except while I'm pregnant), so I'm not sure I would ever go to that. HOWEVER, I agree with you. Having a spot to sit, out of the way of the crowds and being pregnant was a brilliant idea on your part. Now, if it were a buffet of doritios and pringles, I would be all over it.
I'm sorry you aren't comfortable, I wish you had my only complaint right now, which is heartburn.
Wow Kelly, what an amazing day. How cool you &
Mike were the Celebrities of the Day, and how amazing your lunch was with Joe Warren. Kelly, will you please share the recipe for the Grapefrruit Cake with me? It sounds delicious. Those Menus and plates are awesome souvies from your Dining With an Imagineer Lunch.
I too hope you feel better. I can't even imagine how uncomfortable Lukas has to be making you right now. I hope your doctors can make you more comfortable soon. More please(and no pressure).
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.
About This Page: 
Second, I wish I had gotten the MSEP pictures added to my PP CD as those are superb! The tea looked divine! 
Love your shirt, too (and you are awesome). The decorations in your studio were adorable as were the snacks from the lounge. Glad the rain didn't put a damper on your birthday. 
I think you all had the same seating for the dessert party that we had. It was our last night at WDW and to be able to seat for the fireworks was worth it for us, too. 
again!
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment and I really really want my date moved up - this weekend was rough! I know every pregnancy is different, but I didn't feel any of these pains like I am right now. I'm pretty sure the Braxton Hicks contractions are pretty intense right about now - especially at bedtime and I have the worst back ache - nothing makes it feel better and no sitting position works well either. OK, enough of my complaining - on to the TR!
Disney Magic - Oct 2015
...Celebrities of the Day!!! The food looks amazing...especially the GRAPEFRUIT CAKE!!
Yes, I do want the recipe! You guys look adorable!!! Can't wait to read more!!
Susan
Linear Mode
