So This is What a Dream Tastes Like - Page 7 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
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Thanks for the review and all the pics. Claire looked so cute with her BBB do and dress. Excited to read your TR.
Thanks. She enjoys getting herself done. I wasn't going to do it, but then she kept asking and she may grow out of that stage before i know, so I just went for it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by emvenable77
Sorry you didn't enjoy CRT this time. I am afraid the same thing happened to us in August although we didn't have anything to compare to. Bad service, rushed interactions and OK food. The good thing was that we had free dining and only paid for the upgrade to the TS dining plan otherwise I would not have been happy to pay OOP for that!!
We had the same Cinderella as you guys! I thought she was very pretty!
We loved Akershus in EPCOT on our last trip and this will now be our princess breakfast spot as long as DD wants to eat with the princesses.
I keep hearing more and more reviews like that about CRT.
We did dinner at Akershus last trip and really enjoyed it and I would like to give breakfast a go next trip.
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Breakfast today was at 1900 Park Fare. I booked this place for ONE main reason……We wanted to see Mary Poppins!
We were kind of rushing to get to the 10:45 ADR. And just so you know, if you drive there and self park, you end up across the street with a long walk. I did not know this. I would’ve valet parked if I knew how far out we had to park. But we still made it on time.
We checked in. Again, this ADR had been made for 3 people and I asked if a 4th could be added. No Problem!
We were given a pager and we walked out to the lobby.
Claire may not be looking at me, but at least Marie is!
I asked Claire to pose for me, but I got a lot of faces like this one.
Finally a nice face.
Our pager buzzed and we walked back. We got a picture of Claire taken. They have never done this at dinner at 1900 PF for us. Not sure if it’s because we have either had very early or late dinners, or because they just don’t do it at dinner? But the lady really liked her costume and took several. I jumped in for a few as well. And yes I bought it. It was really cute and then I could add them to photopass. (which should be coming any day now.
So here is the one we bought.
The photographer mentioned there was another girl in there dressed up at Mary as well. Who would’ve thought that?
We were seated …at the table right next to the other little Mary Poppins….and Claire got her autograph book ready. She was NOT here for food. She was here to see Characters.
I ran up and got Claire a plate of food. I must confess, I did not really take food pictures this day. I was too focused on getting Claire with characters, and of course being extra tired from the long trip, I kind of just plum forgot.
Claire enjoyed some ham, watermelon, bacon and a Mickey waffle.
Finally our first character arrived….Pooh Bear.
Next up was Alice. I could not get Claire to really look up for these pictures.
And then Tigger
Again, I felt like the characters were rushing through somewhat. But still it was better than CRT.
I realized I hadn’t been taking food pictures so I told Claire I wanted one of her Mickey waffle before she ate it.
Surprisingly, Claire was eating very well, and I did go up and get her more watermelon.
Then the moment we had been waiting for….Mary Poppins!!!!!
Mary talked a lot to Claire. Very good interaction. Claire would nod and smile here and there. Before Mary left, she said to us that it was a very nice conversation with Claire, though she didn’t believe Claire even said one word!
Claire was all smiles after her visit with Mary, but we still had one more visitor to come. The Mad Hatter. Claire has seen him before. She went to the Wonderland Tea Party last trip and LOVED him there, but she was a little intimidated by him this time. She said she didn’t want a picture, or if she did, someone had to be in it with her. But by the time he made it to the table, she was a little more open to him.
Ironically, this is probably the best smile she gave for all the characters.
We finished up eating, and some of the characters had even made it around for a 2nd time. We just said hi, but didn’t take more pictures.
Again, I did feel that a lot of the characters didn’t take much time. Mary was excellent though. She took a lot of time with Claire, and that was all that mattered to us.
The meal was good. Great selection of food and we all enjoyed it. I don’t seem to have this receipt anymore. I know it was under $50 with a tip for Claire and I. I do remember thinking it was cheaper than I thought it would be. It was worth every penny for us.
We then made the long trek back out to the van to start the rest of the day!
I'm amazed at all the outfits Claire has! She looks like a perfect little Mary Poppins and I'm glad she got to spend some time with the real one.
Yes. I tend to liek to buy costumes for her! WE actually held back this trip and didn't bring as many. And she didn't wear them as often as she did last trip. She would only wear them a few hours most and then want it off for something more comfy. Last trip she suffered for beauty!
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.
Claire looks wonderful in all her outfits! You've got so many great photos of her from this vacation.
Thanks. She usually likes to be dressed a Princess. At home we sometimes have little arguments on what she is wearing to school. Everyday could be prom for her.
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.
Dinner was at The Cheesecake Factory.
I had never eaten here before, but have heard about it many times. We don’t have one anywhere near where I live.
Because of a mishap I had during the day, I had to make a trip to Best Buy. The guy at the hotel desk said there was a mall near the Best Buy with many restaurants and when he mentioned Cheesecake Factory, I knew that was my choice.
I dropped the family off near the doors and I went into the lot to park.
Off topic note, but I swear the parking spaces in Florida are smaller than the ones in Ohio. I felt like I was squeezing into each one and prayed we could all open our doors.
I couldn’t believe this menu. It was like 20 some pages long! I knew no matter what else I got…Cheesecake would be ordered! Claire also wanted Cheesecake, and Dad found one he liked as well! Yes, we were looking at the desserts first…what’s wrong with that? LOL!
I think we decided we would just get the cheesecake to go for a snack later on.
I decided on pizza. Mom wanted to share, and that was fine by me. She also wanted quesadillas, so we decided to share those as well. Note to self…that was way too much food!
I think Dad had a steak. I didn’t take a picture of his. I have to admit again, that the lack of sleep was catching up to me, and I would forget to take pictures sometimes, or the camera was becoming heavy! LOL!
Actually I only brought my point and shoot in to the Cheesecake factory, so the pictures I took of the actual restaurant are awful. I do have a few food shots though.
The bread was REALLY good here. Claire was going to town on it, and would yell at us if we went for some. WE asked for more and some went back to the room with us as well.
Our quesadilla after we had already started to attack it.
It was good. Not the best one I have ever had, but still very good.
Claire went with the corndog and fries. She loves corndogs (after all it is in the hotdog family) and really enjoyed this meal.
Our pizza arrived and we attacked it before I even thought to take a picture. It was very good.
We boxed up half of the quesadilla and the pizza and received our cheesecakes to go. We were stuffed, and I couldn’t even imagine how we were going to eat those wonderful desserts. And sadly I never took a picture of them. I got Reeses Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake Cheesecake and it was fabulous and rich. Dad got UltimateRed Velvet CakeCheesecake™ and Claire got strawberry cheesecake. All were great, though it took us 2 days to eat them.
I don’t know what this cost. Mom paid for us all. I offered to pay the tip, but she told me not to worry about it since I had just spent some money (much more than I wanted to) at Best Buy. I was very happy to try this place. I wish there was one close to me. I will definitely try to find one in my travels in the future.
What a great breakfast at 1900 Fare. Claire looks so cute in her outfit.
I understand about the Cheesecake Factory. We have one about 10 minutes from our house. DH and I will spilt a meal most of the time and still have leftovers.