Forums Closed
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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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!
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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.
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11-22-2005, 08:20 AM
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#91
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Community Rank: Legend
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Concierge Level: 7
Posts: 18,767
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Re: The Big Disney Birthday Bash Trip Report Updated 11/15 - The Birthday Bash trip finally begins.
Great update!!! Glad that you got Molly in a character photo. Can't wait to read about HDDR.
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Sponsored links
Check out the many e-books by PassPorter. The e-books are free to download if you have a PassPorter's Club pass.
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11-22-2005, 09:20 AM
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#92
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Community Rank: Explorer
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Niagara Falls
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 12,431
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Re: The Big Disney Birthday Bash Trip Report Updated 11/15 - The Birthday Bash trip finally begins.
Great update! How sweet of Minnie to send Katie a card! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]
Can't wait for more!
Jennifer
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11-22-2005, 10:04 AM
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#93
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Community Rank: Explorer
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Robbinsdale, MN
Posts: 7,526
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Re: The Big Disney Birthday Bash Trip Report Updated 11/15 - The Birthday Bash trip finally begins.
Another great update, Stacey! Looking forward to the hijinks. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
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11-22-2005, 10:54 AM
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#94
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Community Rank: Explorer
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Longfellow's "Jewel by the Sea"
Posts: 14,165
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Re: The Big Disney Birthday Bash Trip Report Updated 11/15 - The Birthday Bash trip finally begins.
Fantastic photos! I can't wait to read about HDD!!!
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11-22-2005, 10:57 AM
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#95
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Community Rank: Legend
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Dreaming of the Future
Concierge Level: 1
Posts: 24,867
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Re: The Big Disney Birthday Bash Trip Report Updated 11/15 - The Birthday Bash trip finally begins.
Awesome Update! you got to see so many animals I am jealous!
Can't wait to hear about HDDR!
Amy
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11-22-2005, 12:31 PM
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#96
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RED SOX NATION!!
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Connecticut
Concierge Level: 9
Posts: 136,854
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Re: The Big Disney Birthday Bash Trip Report Updated 11/15 - The Birthday Bash trip finally begins.
What a great update and great pictures! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/birthday.gif[/img]
More please [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
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11-22-2005, 05:47 PM
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#97
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Living Seas wannabe
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 31,940
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Re: The Big Disney Birthday Bash Trip Report Updated 11/15 - The Birthday Bash trip finally begins.
What a great birthday (so far) and how [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] that Minnie remembered and sent a card!!! Can't wait to read about HDD!!
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11-22-2005, 06:06 PM
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#98
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Community Rank: Traveler
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Texas
Posts: 491
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Re: The Big Disney Birthday Bash Trip Report Updated 11/15 - The Birthday Bash trip finally begins.
Lovin' the TR
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11-22-2005, 07:39 PM
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#99
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Community Rank: Trekker
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 1,904
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Re: The Big Disney Birthday Bash Trip Report Updated 11/15 - The Birthday Bash trip finally begins.
Great update, Stacey. Sounds like you all had a great day. I love the birthday card from Minnie; what a great surprise.
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11-22-2005, 09:37 PM
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#100
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Community Rank: Scout
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Methuen,MA
Posts: 4,499
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Re: The Big Disney Birthday Bash Trip Report Updated 11/15 - The Birthday Bash trip finally begins.
I am loving this tr and can't wait for more!
Great stories and pics
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11-23-2005, 12:19 AM
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#101
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Community Rank: Scout
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Posts: 4,751
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Re: The Big Disney Birthday Bash Trip Report Updated 11/15 - The Birthday Bash trip finally begins.
Day 3, Part 2 - Katie's 5th Birthday - Hijinks at the Hoop Dee Doo
We were running a little late because we did the bus to MK and then boat to Fort Wilderness route and the bus to MK took a really long time to come and then seemed to drive REALLY slowly. Then when the boat got to Wilderness Lodge so many people got on it was crazy – the line of people was neverending. My Dad was worried that we would lose our seats so as soon as the boat docked he went ahead to check in. We didn’t have to worry though because my DFIL, who had split off at AK to go to EPCOT to hear a jazz band he liked that was playing at the Food & Wine Festival Eat to the Beat, had gotten there early and checked us in so no worries!!
We were seated at an absolutely awesome table right in the center of the room (the secret to this is to book as far in advance as possible, they assign tables on a first come-first served basis, we booked this meal 2 years from the date we wanted it). For anyone has been to the Hoop Dee Doo ours was the table that all the actors dance around in a circle.
This is the best picture I could get of the entertainers dancing around our table
Here are a couple of pictures of the kids enjoying the show
I asked Katie why she looked so sad in this picture and she told me that her birthday pin was open and was sticking her [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/foreheadslap.gif[/img] why didn't she just tell me
We were right in the middle of the action. When the Pioneer Hall Players came out into the audience to ask for birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Katie raised her hand and the guy in the yellow fringed shirt let her say her name and age into the microphone.
Yellow shirt guy (I think his name was Jim) asking for people with birthdays
Katie after she got to announce her birthday to the room
In the middle of the show two of the entertainers sing Shenandoah in the center of the room and that was right behind our table too.
Singing Shenandoah right behind our table
Our server Nancy knew it was Katie's birthday since she had announced it so she gave her a birthday certificate.
Katie with her certificate
A couple more pictures of Shannon, Katie & Molly enjoying the show
When our dessert came Nancy gave Katie her very own Strawberry Shortcake (everyone else had to share – one for every two people) with a candle in it.
Katie with her birthday cake, see the look on Molly's face? She blew that candle out right after I took this picture, can't you see her thinking about it? Nancy re-lit it for Katie and then Katie got to blow it out and make a birthday wish
The next thing I knew Claire (one of the actors) was hugging my Dad and pulling him onstage because he had been picked to be in the grand spectacle!!
I’ll let the pics speak for the themselves:
My Dad onstage with Claire
The Grand Spectacle to the tune of Davy Crockett
More Grand Spectacle
Can Can girl picked from the audience for Grand Spectacle
My Dad as the Angel in a pink tutu who comes for the soul of Davy Crockett
My Dad moons the audience (g-rated [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
My Dad taking a bow [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
I have never seen the kids laugh so hard!! Katie was actually pounding on the table with glee!! After the spectacle was over the waiters and waitresses handed out washboards and the kids went to town on them.
Shannon & Katie with their washboards
Molly with my DMIL & DFIL
Carol & Cathy with their washboard
Sadly, after that the show was over.
I can’t say enough good things about this show. I absolutely love it (and I know Tara is out there right now planning how she can get picked to be in the grand spectacle [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]) I have never come out of this show without a HUGE smile on my face and this time was no exception! I didn’t go into too much specific detail because I didn’t want to ruin it for the passporters out there who haven’t seen it but if you get the chance to see this show GO!! IMO it is the best show in WDW!!
When the show was over Yvonne (Tinkerbelz) and her DH & DD came over to say Hi. She knew we would be at the same show and knew that it was Katie’s birthday so when Katie said her name and age she knew where we were sitting. It was my first passporter meet and everyone is right I really did feel like I knew her personally – in fact my father thought she was someone I knew from my neighborhood at home. We chatted until we got outside discussing who else from the boards was/would be there that week and how she was hoping her DH would relax and have a good time and then we parted ways outside. She was really nice and I was excited to finally meet my first Passporter [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]!!
When I met back up with my family I found out that Carol & Cathy had given Katie a Barbie for her birthday that they had brought from home which I thought was so thoughtful of
them.
Then Shannon came over with a spinning Princess light that Katie had been wanting (she conned my parents in buying it for her to give Katie, which was very nice of her).
Shannon & Katie with the spinning princess light
We hopped the boat back to MK and I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face!!
My girls on the boat to MK
When we got back to the room my Dad took Katie & Shannon to the pool to finish out her wonderful birthday. (Molly had passed out on the bus and didn’t make it to the pool again).
They came back just after Midnight (after Katie’s birthday was over) and we all fell asleep after another wonderful day at WDW and the first of the three birthdays we would be celebrating.
The Weather Today was: gorgeous again 80s during the day and low 70s at night.
The Best Thing was: My Dad in the Hoop Dee Doo Revue
The Worst Thing Today was: the bus being so late for MK and worrying we would miss HDDR
Magical Moment: all the extra things the CMs did to make Katie’s birthday special.
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11-23-2005, 12:55 AM
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#102
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Dopey's biggest fan!
Join Date: May 2004
Location: China Spring, TX
Concierge Level: 9
Posts: 26,975
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Re: The Big Disney Birthday Bash Trip Report Updated 11/15 - The Birthday Bash trip finally begins.
[ QUOTE ]
(and I know Tara is out there right now planning how she can get picked to be in the grand spectacle [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img])
[/ QUOTE ]
[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img]
Great installment Stacey! More please! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]
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11-23-2005, 05:26 AM
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#103
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Community Rank: Trailblazer
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: South East London
Posts: 5,164
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Re: The Big Disney Birthday Bash Trip Report Updated 11/15 - The Birthday Bash trip finally begins.
Stacey, your trip report is awesome [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] I love your photos, your girls are so photogenic. I'm looking forward to more, come back soon [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]
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11-23-2005, 10:22 AM
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#104
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Community Rank: Trekker
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 1,742
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Re: The Big Disney Birthday Bash Trip Report Updated 11/15 - The Birthday Bash trip finally begins.
I'm glad you're all having such a great time! We love the HDDR! I remember my Dad being picked to be the Soul of Davy Crockett when I was a little girl. Isn't it funny! All your girls are beautiful. I'm glad Katie had a special day.
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11-23-2005, 10:30 AM
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#105
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Community Rank: Legend
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Dreaming of the Future
Concierge Level: 1
Posts: 24,867
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Re: The Big Disney Birthday Bash Trip Report Updated 11/15 - The Birthday Bash trip finally begins.
I [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img] your report! I can't wait for more!
Amy
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