Two Foodies, More Tables and Disney At Christmas (Yes, it's STILL about the food!)--A TR - Page 8 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
Sorry to hear about the Boathouse - you could be right about it not being worth the hype, or you could've caught it on a bad day. I know we've had not-so-great meals at places that others rave about it, then we've tried them again and seen the attraction (Flying Fish and Citrico's are both examples of that for us in the past...)
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.
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.
Update: Tutto Italia vs. Trattoria al Forno, and the winnah is...
Tutto Italia by a landslide.
Trattoria was definitely in the running after our first courses. Then, service became veeeeery slow and erratic. Most of the veggies with our entrees were nearly raw and too large to scoop and bite, way too tough to cut. Really offputting was the near constant reek of burning food.
Nope, no contest, sorry to say. Tutto Italia has been consistently superb in atmosphere, quality and service.
Maybe we'll try TaF again sometime. Possibly just bad luck tonight.
__________________
“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
Sorry you didn't have the greatest experience at Trattoria al Forno - we absolutely loved our dinner here earlier in the year. See what I mean about it just depends what night you hit a restaurant?
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.
Sorry you didn't have the greatest experience at Trattoria al Forno - we absolutely loved our dinner here earlier in the year. See what I mean about it just depends what night you hit a restaurant?
I feel exactly the same although I dined there around the same time as Cheryl. Maybe it's gone downhill after opening?
Update: Christmas Day chow and beyond! Yup, there's one more meal than originally planned.
CRT Breakfast--Go figger, we thought it pretty good. Practically everybody else says, "Don't bother. Not very good. REALLY not worth its cost. Do lunch or dinner instead if you must do CRT." (Admittedly, it may not be worth the cost for most, particularly those trying to eke out the very best value per meal. We don't mind kind of blowing two DDP credits each on maybe not so great food because it's SO COOL to eat in the Castle!)
Of course, part of why we liked it was due to the princess shortage reported here: http://www.passporterboards.com/foru...d.php?t=293241
Not funnin' with y'all--We really did have it happen just as I relate at the above link.
Anna was as fun as when we met her last year, Elsa far more friendly and talkative. Elsa was pretty "snowy" the year prior by comparison. This year, she kidded Anna and us charmingly. Terrific fun despite my not being fond of the movie.
Les Chefs de France lunch: We had an opening ADR, and it seemed to take an AGE before they began seating people. The French nonchalance about being strictly punctual, maybe? Food pretty good but service also somewhat slow.
Yachtsman Steakhouse dinner: Their pull-apart onion rolls spread with some of the roasted half-bulb of garlic you get? Fantastic!
Very good overall although our server while efficient and friendly had some annoying speech patterns that about drove me bonkers. She thanked us after virtually everything we said! Hear "Thank you" THAT frequently, and you quickly want to smack her one every time she does it.
This morning, we're having a post-Christmas gift breakfast at 1900 Park Fare, something not at all planned in advance. You guys know how crazy popular that one is, often a challenge to get right at your 180, but we got a great early time via MDE last night for us to eat, have some final character fun and then get going homeward.
CRT refunded two credits because I felt so rotten at dinner there, only drinking half a glass of lemonade and eating about three leaves of salad before I bailed. We never expected they'd just do that for such a high-demand, expensive character meal, but they did! Ya gotta love that Disney magic!
We debated trading those for snack credits but then decided to see if we could get 1900 PF as much as Drew loves Mary Poppins and had sooooo much fun flirting with her there last year.
So, it's a last dose of character magic at 1900 PF for us, and then (SNIFFLE! ) goodbye to what's been easily The Most Magical Stay EVER. Virtually all my hopes and dreams for this Christmas trip came true and then some!
Bye-bye for a few days until after our return home when I'll start writing up the yummy (and occasionally not so yummy) details for each meal.
__________________
“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
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.
I can't wait to read your report. It sounds like a magical trip. I have always wanted to visit over Christmas but the crowds always make me think twice. I'd love to hear your assessment of the Christmas week crowds!!!
I can't wait to read your report. It sounds like a magical trip.
Quite truthfully, it was a practically perfect trip from initial planning to "See ya real soon," which were the saddest words I've read on a sign in a looooong time. Well, actually, the saddest in a little more than a year since I felt that sad when reading them as we drove out of WDW last year, too.
Quote:
I have always wanted to visit over Christmas but the crowds always make me think twice. I'd love to hear your assessment of the Christmas week crowds!!!
Drew's driving us on into Atlanta, so I'm posting.
Actually, until Christmas Eve morning in the MK, the crowds were no worse than we had the year we went in mid-July. Of course, that was ELEVEN years ago, and we all know how much more popular WDW has since become. That may not be a decent comparison unless anyone reading this recalls what a midsummer week that long ago was like.
Some days in supposedly "non-busy" November the last two years were close to as busy as Monday thru Wednesday were which was not bad at all in our estimation. We consider "crazy crowded" like it is on party nights.
We bailed out of the MK before 10:00 on both Christmas Eve and the day itself. By 10:00 is when it began to be as mobbed as on a Friday MNSSHP or MVMCP night.
Not sure when the MK closed yesterday. We got to Epcot at around 10:30, did some attractions and had lunch.
When we got to the monorail station at almost 2:30, there were notice boards that the MK was "at or near capacity." Disney-speak for "You ain't going there no matter how badly it'll RUIN your entire vacation."
We had to have MB's scanned as proof we were staying at the GF in order to get onto the Epcot monorail. As a result of CM efforts like that, the train wasn't crowded at all. They were vigilant and patient as ever with people screaming that they and their kids would be damaged forever if they didn't get to the MK immediately.
We were just glad to get back home so easily.
[Drew said today, 12/29, he saw an online news story that the MK opened to Disney resort guests about when we got back to the GF. As we considered doing, I could easily have gotten back onto the monorail, popped into the MK to the package pickup at the Chamber of Commerce next to Town Hall and gotten our package. But, who knew?]
__________________
“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
Last edited by Her Dotness; 12-29-2015 at 03:15 PM..
They probably have to have the mental attitude of "Failure to plan on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part"
True 'nuff.
I did feel sympathy for one CM at the Epcot station as we got our MB's scanned to allow us onto the train.
A man among a group of adults and kids (probably a family) was yelling and screaming at that CM that they simply HAD to get to the MK or the kids' Christmas would be completely ruined.
It was pretty sad to see and hear--a clear example of someone under the impression that if he yelled loudly and long enough he'd get what he wanted.
__________________
“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
Sounds like you had a great time with some great experiences and wonderful dining experiences! Sorry, to hear that some of the eateries let you down a bit (Boathouse and Trattoria al Forno). I plan to try Al Forno on my next trip but will most likely skip Boathouse for Morimoto's as I'm looking forward to this one. Perhaps, the Boathouse on another trip.
Thanks for the advice for my possible Fall trip! In all likeliness it will happen!
__________________
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!
About This Page: 
PassPorter Guide Author
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
, thanks, Julie. 
Tutto Italia has been consistently superb in atmosphere, quality and service. 
Update: Christmas Day chow and beyond! Yup, there's one more meal than originally planned.
Waiting for our next adventure after enjoying our Alaska cruise. 
Jenn
Linear Mode
