TR: Thingamabobs, Zebra & Giraffes, Oh My! Completed 3/25/15 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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Some fun times over in the MK and got a lot done! The theme pool over at AoA looks amazing and am overwhelmed by all the detail that went into the themeing of the pool and the resort itself! Whole, I usually shy away from the Value Resorts, I may give this one a shot down the road for a day or two.
Your meal looked great at BOG and glad you had good service! It was much better than my experience in April! But will give it another try some day!
Nice that you got to meet up with Heather in Epcot and enjoy some attractions and a meal at Spice Road Table. I plan to try this new eatery on my next visit as it looks good and heard a lot of good reviews of it!
Thanks! You really should AoA a try - at least once! And Spice Road Table -
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
Great day at Epcot. Wonderful that you got to spend time with Heather and enjoyed a really nice meal at Spice Road Table. I think this area is a terrific addition to the Morocco pavilion. Sounds like they have some new menu items since I was last there (with Heather as well!). Off to check out the menu.....
Thanks! Heather is wonderful to hang out with!
Quote:
Originally Posted by PhilsEagles08
Sounds like a great day & I'm glad you were able to run into Heather! Do you have a pic of the Phone wristlets?
Thanks! It was a great day! I will have to check to see if I have a photo - if not I will take one!
Quote:
Originally Posted by DMA
Fun day at Epcot! I love the pictures on Soarin'! I think that is my all time favorite ride!
Spice Road Table looks yummy. We might have to try that next time.
Thanks! It was super yummy!
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhToodles!
Great start to the day! I see another good shirt on Em! Nice time with Heather - loved her shirt too.
Thanks! I told you she stocked up
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
I'm always amazed at how much ground you all cover in a park. So neat to meet Heather again. Like Laurie, I was wondering about a picture of the wristlets.
Thanks! We do try to get as much in as possible
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
Lots of good food so far today - breakfast and lunch! Fun to catch up with Heather!
Thanks! It was a yummy day!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Weird about your Fastpasses not showing up. How cool that you were able to meet up with Heather - your food at Spice Road Table looks very
Thanks! next update will fill you in on the fastpass saga.
Quote:
Originally Posted by xwewhisper
You got some great pics from soarin and living with the land! Glad it worked out so great to meet up with heather too!
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Great day at Epcot! Love the pictures! Glad you got to spend so much time with Heather!
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
Great dinner at BoG. Love Emily's skirt! Sounds like a nice day at Epcot. How great that you got to meet up with Heather!
Thanks!
__________________
Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
Sorry for the delay in updates - the weekend was very busy with birthday party (for Lisa #1's youngest son) and I have been prepping my craft room for renovations!
We also got slammed with more than 2 feet of snow! And I could have probably updated sometime yesterday while snowed it - BUT I went out every few hours to shovel a bit, even though each time I went out you couldn't tell where I had already been! But had to keep making a path for the pups - who loved the snow!!! I pulled my lower back while shoveling, so when I was not out shoveling, I was resting, snuggled up with my fur babies catching up on my DVR shows!
Hopefully will get another update posted tonight
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Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
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We got over 2' here, too, with more coming Friday and Monday they say. I'm housebound for the next month, but at least I don't need to shovel or make my way to work any more!
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.
Hope you are able to enjoy the snow a little - love that the pups love it No good on the pulled back though, rest up!
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
for your back!
We got over 2' here, too, with more coming Friday and Monday they say. I'm housebound for the next month, but at least I don't need to shovel or make my way to work any more!
Thanks Laurie - and I am so glad that you responded so quickly here - I was going to email you to see how you were doing! Hopefully you have everything you need at home
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Sorry to hear about all the snow Lisa (and Laurie!) - that's a crazy amount to get!
thanks! It is a very crazy amount of snow - I am thinking we won't see grass until maybe April at this point! Em's dance has been cancelled for 3 nights now - it's still really bad with snow removal.
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Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
Hope your back starts feeling better soon! That's never fun.
We only got 2" of snow here in DC - feel kind of ripped off. But they still closed school yesterday and gave a two hour delay today. Ridiculous!
Hope your back starts feeling better soon! That's never fun.
We only got 2" of snow here in DC - feel kind of ripped off. But they still closed school yesterday and gave a two hour delay today. Ridiculous!
Thansk! I have been using a heating pad at work today. I will be glad to share a few feet of snow with you Our kids got out early Monday, had Tues & today off, and evening activities (em's dance) is still cancelled tonight - it is such a mess out there.
__________________
Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
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.
Well... I'm finally getting a chance to start this after missing the PTR. Sounds like a nice start to the trip. Minus the plane snafu, but at least you made your connecting flight. I'm pretty sure when we go on our cruise in 2016 we're going to stay at AoA for just a night. I think my kids would LOVE that pool!
Well... I'm finally getting a chance to start this after missing the PTR. Sounds like a nice start to the trip. Minus the plane snafu, but at least you made your connecting flight. I'm pretty sure when we go on our cruise in 2016 we're going to stay at AoA for just a night. I think my kids would LOVE that pool!
Thanks for joining in! I highly recommend a stay at AoA!!! I LOVED the pool!
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Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
After a little R&R back at our room, we got ready to head back out – tonight we had dinner at Hollywood Brown Derby at Disney Hollywood Studios – we had not been here in years and we were really looking forward to it. Back to the bus depot we went and were quickly entering DHS.
We made a stop at Guest Services to find out what was going on with my fastpasses – as I had checked when we got back to the room and noticed they were all different for tomorrow too??? And I had gotten a text message from Lisa that Bethany’s magic band was coming up with my name??? What the heck was going on?? So we stopped in GS and explained the morning fastpass issues with the CM (who for the life of me right now, cannot remember his name and I thought I had written it down, but apparently I did not) – he looked and saw that all my fastpasses were changed for the next few days – Scott and Emily’s were showing what I had printed out (thank goodness for being so type A in planning! ), so of course he was baffled as to why I would NOT want to ride the same rides as my family – but also why I would go to a completely different park! So come to find out – somehow in the process of accepting Lisa’s family friend request on My Disney Experience account – somehow when they made their fastpasses, it linked me to theirs – my guess is they clicked “select all” rather than each individual? Who knows – BUT this CM was amazing and managed to get all my fastpasses back for the most part – or at least over-lapping times so I could enjoy time with my family. And one of the days, we had overlapping times with Lisa’s family so that we could ride together when we were scheduled to spend park time together. So after about 30 minutes of getting all this straightened out, we were all set!
Emily had gone ahead of us to look for something – and met us at the Brown Derby – and apparently went ahead and found a photopass photographer along the way! She is so darn cute!
And we stopped and got some family photos:
Finally arrived at the Brown Derby ~
We got checked in for dinner and again, quickly led to our table – it was great – we got to sit at one of the rounded booth type tables – I love those, they feel so cozy!
We had decided to share a few things this evening – so we started with the Blue Lump Crab Spring Rolls! I could have eaten these all night long!!! DELISH!
For entrees we only ordered two – as we would just share them with each other – so we had the Noodle Bowl and the Pan-Seared Coriander-Crusted Black Grouper. Both of these dishes were very good – especially the fish.
For beverages, I had the Disney Legend Wine Flight – which included: MacMurray Ranch Pinot Gris, Russian River Valley ’11, MacMurray Ranch Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast ’11, and MacMurray Ranch Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast ’11.
Scott had the World Traveler Wine Flight – which included: St. Supery Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley ’13, Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand ’13, and Portilla Sauvignon Blanc, Mendoza, Argentina ’13.
Emily had the Mimi Ka-boom, which was mint, fresh lime juice, agave nectar, pineapple juice, and soda water.
We also shared the Dessert Sampler with Mini Grapefruit Cake, Double Vanilla Bean Crème Brulee, and Warm Blueberry Cobbler with Crème Fraiche and Orange Blossom Honey. None of us were too fond of the Mini Grapefruit cake - even though I know it's a favorite among many of you.
While we were having dinner I received an email from the CM that we visited in GS to fix the fastpass/magic band issue ~ he added a fastpass to every day of our stay to each of magic bands!!! Completed unexpected and not necessary – BUT so incredibly nice!!! I had given him one of our CM thank you cards when he helped us – and I believe that being nice, and saying thank you will sometimes take you a long way. Of course, now we went back to thank him in person, but he was not there, so we wrote up one of the CM guest service cards to praise him for making our stay that much more magical!
After dinner, we found another Photopass Photographer!
Next, we wanted to see Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream. We had walked through the exhibit before, but had never seen the film, so we finally did – and I am so glad that we did – what a great film! If you haven’t taken the time to see it – do so!
Our bellies were settled enough to get a roller coaster in – so we headed over to Rock ‘n Roller Coaster – we all three rode together first – then Scott and Emily rode again through the single rider line while I grabbed a diet coke!
We were now done for the day and were ready to head back to the hotel for our final night at AoA. We stopped in Sweet Spells on the way out to grab some treats for later – a giant Peanut Butter cookie for Scott and I to share, and a Macaroon for Emily.
I took photos of Hollywood Blvd lit up at night on our way out!
When we got back to the resort, we stopped in the gift shop to pick up some items we could only get here – such as a AoA pin, shirt, and a few other misc. items – I know Scott found a Cars theme window decal for his car. That gift shop has some pretty neat things that you won’t find anywhere else – or at least I haven’t seen elsewhere.
I also took a few photos of the lobby area.
We also stopped in Landscape of Flavors to pick up a few beverages for the room and to take advantage of that TIW discount!
When we got back to the room we packed up a few things so they would be ready in the morning to get our bags transferred to our next home for the remainder of our trip!
Total Miles Walked today: 15.01
Total Spent on Food & Beverages: $271.00
Total Spent on Souvenirs, Activities, Misc.: $89.23
Total TIW Discount savings: $33.50
Total Annual Pass Discount Savings: $10.82
Other Discount savings: $18.00
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Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
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.