Halloween, Hawaii and holiday celebrations - THIS SECTION COMPLETED 12/27 - Page 72 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Jean sounds like the ideal waitress. I had the same appetizer, but it was October 2012 and the balsamic was drizzled. Yours does look swamped. Luke and Mark had the same taste in dessert. After I tried a bite of Luke's, I wished I had ordered it, too. I don't even remember now what I had. I can't believe how deserted the park looks as you all are exiting. I like your room at the Hyatt.
In fairness, by the time we left the park, it was past closing, as it shut that night at 7:00pm.
Love the new updating at the Cali, it looks so sleek and modern! Can't believe they no longer have the Valhrona Cake on the menu. That was one of my faves and always remember you had to order it with the rest of your meal if you wanted it. Looking forward to seeing this and dining here at the end of March!
That's funny about the tea lights being stolen from the CG. That's the reason why in your hotel room you get just plain white towels and not ones with the WDW monogram on them! Those would disappear rather quickly!
Nice that you got to experience the WS in Epcot when it's empty like that. Pretty surreal. I got to experience this on a Segway tour last year.
Seems Akershus was way over priced for breakfast, even with the photo package. I had dinner hear a few years ago and liked it, but not overwhelmed by it.
Seems like a great time with Heather in FW and and the F&W Fest. Some of the offerings looked good. Surprised the salmon wasn't good as that would be one of the first things I'd get!
Another good time at studios again. Like the photos from the Great Movie Ride and of Mickey! Too bad your experience with the staff at Mama Melrose's was a bit off to say the least! At least the meal was good (even though a bit spicy) and your waiter went all out for you!
Now time to head over to the GT area for Hawaii!
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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!
Last edited by SuperDave; 12-29-2013 at 06:32 PM..
Love the new updating at the Cali, it looks so sleek and modern! Can't believe they no longer have the Valhrona Cake on the menu. That was one of my faves and always remember you had to order it with the rest of your meal if you wanted it. Looking forward to seeing this and dining here at the end of March!
I know, I'm so sad it's gone.
Quote:
That's funny about the tea lights being stolen from the CG. That's the reason why in your hotel room you get just plain white towels and not ones with the WDW monogram on them! Those would disappear rather quickly!
Good point - I hadn't thought of that!
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Nice that you got to experience the WS in Epcot when it's empty like that. Pretty surreal. I got to experience this on a Segway tour last year.
It's such a shame the Segway tours are now gone, as it was cool to whizz around on one when it was nice and quiet.
Quote:
Seems Akershus was way over priced for breakfast, even with the photo package. I had dinner hear a few years ago and liked it, but not overwhelmed by it.
Seems like a great time with Heather in FW and and the F&W Fest. Some of the offerings looked good. Surprised the salmon wasn't good as that would be one of the first things I'd get!
Another good time at studios again. Like the photos from the Great Movie Ride and of Mickey! Too bad your experience with the staff at Mama Melrose's was a bit off to say the least! At least the meal was good (even though a bit spicy) and your waiter went all out for you!
I never had the Valhrona chocolate cake before as we had never been to California Grill before (going for the first time in January), so I had to look it up. I found a recipe that I may have to try and make.
Le Cake
6 servings
Ingredients
3 Eggs
2 ½ Tbsp Honey
6 Tbsp Sugar
3 ½ Tbsp Ground Almonds
3 oz Crème Fraîche or Sour Cream
2/3 cup Flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
2 Tbsp Valrhona Cocoa Powder
3 ½ Tbsp melted Butter
½ oz Rum
1 oz Valrhona Chocolate, melted
8 inches round cake pan
Preparation
Combine eggs with the honey and sugar.
Add the ground almonds.
Sift the flour, cocoa powder and baking powder and add to the eggs
Add the crème fraîche and melted butter
Add the rum and finish with the melted chocolate
Assembly
Pour into greased cake pan and bake at 325 F for about 45 minutes
Chef’s tips:
Serve with a mug of hot chocolate or coffee topped with a spoon of whipped cream
I am going to go and start reading about Hawaii!
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Debbie
Many trips to WDW, too many to list. Going back in June 2017!
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Finally caught up. This is not the first time I have heard of bad service at MM, but at least you had good service with your waiter. Someone needs to take the front staff off their power trip and make things more efficient and friendly. I hate waiting only to come in and find empty tables too. It totally frustrates me.
Off to the next portion!!!!
Just joining in! What a fantastic trip you have planned!!! Sounds like you had a great time at WDW. Sorry you had such an awful experience checking into Mama Melrose. We ate there in November after a long hiatus and did not love it. Atmosphere is nice, but food was just okay. I don't think we'll be returning any time soon... but you are right... TS choices at Studios are so limited. We usually opt to eat at a resort on Studio days. I can't wait to hear all about Hawaii!!!
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I just wish we could've stayed there a bit longer the next morning... 
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I got to experience this on a Segway tour last year.
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