There’ll Be a Smile Where a Frown Used to Be - PTR - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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.
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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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I'm glad you didn't have to have the fluid drained and that your MD says you'll be ok for WDW!! I just have to laugh at the saga of booking/cancelling rooms. I understand the reasons you made every choice you made, but all the same it made me kind of glad I travel solo! Seriously, though, your 3 (or 2) guys will be great travel companions judging by how they're going along with the changes!
Believe me Laurie, I'm ready for a solo trip
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Originally Posted by MikeL
Sorry to hear that your plans are still so up in the air at this date. THat Mathew will will be able to join you before he reports. Think it will go a long way way with showing young Eric that he is not alone and has family he can turn to.
Side note The Girls did great at camp BUT went nuts when I picked them up They were pulling me so fast tring to get to the car that I lost my footing and had to let go of the leashes just in time to keep from being dragged under the car. (Hint a PRIUS isn't that high and while I may be skinny I am not that skinny
I'm just going to go with the flow from today on. I think I've done all I can do and I need to focus my neurosis on my practice packing.
Your Girls sound just like mine. When it's time to go home it's time to go NOW!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by kingfamily1129
I'm glad you got everything worked out! that Matthew does make it out to be with you all!
Thanks! I know that it will be especially nice for Eric if his cousin can join us. It will keep me from babying him too much and he and Matthew are very close.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
My goodness that is a whole of changing and then unchanging and changing. Hope it's all worked out.
It's going to be great. Steve told me last night to hurry up and do online check-in so that we can't make any more changes.
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Originally Posted by chezp
Wow, those were quite a few changes!
I need Disney on speed dial! Fortunately I've never gotten the same CM twice.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
I really hope that Matthew is able to join you!
It's looking better every day. I'll know for sure by Friday, but I've decided not to stress about it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by disneydreamer33
Oh my goodness! I am so glad everything turned out okay with your knees.
Sorry you don't have a definite plan. I know that is frustrating.
It is sort of crazy to be 9 days away and not have everything in place. But Disney Travel required trip insurance for Matt, so if he has to cancel last minute I won't have to eat his ticket and deluxe dining plan upgrade. So, I'm pretty much OK with everything.
Now that Matthew is (almost for certain) joining us, I thought I should take another look at our ADR’s. Matt has lived in Europe and the Middle East and traveled all over the world. But he’s never been to Disney World . Any time we mention the great meals we’ve had at WDW, he looks at us with pity. His poor unsophisticated parents with their middle class palates.
Well, I’ll show him! I wanted to avoid having to return to our resort to dress for dinner, since this trip is really supposed to be about Eric and not food. However, now that we’re staying at Kidani there won’t be a problem dressing up to eat at Jiko. We don’t arrive until nearly 7:00 p.m., so it’s not a park day anyway.
I’ve never eaten there, but the menu looks so interesting and the reviews of this restaurant are great. I’m pretty sure there will be something to impress our man-of-the-world . Our original plan was to go to AKL and eat dinner at Boma. I’m sad to miss dinner there but I think Jiko will be better for Matthew and Steve is now looking forward to having wild boar .
With the change of resorts I also had to modify our breakfast plans. We’re now having breakfast at Boma (yum!) and Kona Café. We’re still going to Whispering Canyon Café because we want to see the wonderful who was so kind to me when I was sick in January. Our dinner plans, except for the first day, were set in stone. Well, almost. I may still swop out Brown Derby for Flying Fish on our last night….. But for now we’re still doing HDDR, SofA (I know Matthew will not like this food ), LTT (another for Matthew), Teppan Edo (better, maybe) and Le Cellier.
This morning I was surprised by Disney email. We’ve been selected for the FastPass+ test next week! I was so excited I cheered out loud and scared my doggies! But, because I’m me, signing us up was not as smooth as it should have been. After entering my name, password and the special reservation number they provided I got a screen with just three names – Steve’s Eric’s and mine. No Matthew. Of course not, because they are randomly selecting people who are using Magical Express. Matthew is using ME, but his flight he’s on a different flight.
I called Disney and told them that we had another person in our party. They verified that he was set up for ME and told me that tomorrow after 11:00 a.m. Matthew would be on our list and I could make our selections.
I’m a little nervous because the email indicated that FastPass+ cards will be mailed to our home prior to our visit. I hope they get here in time!!!
I am very grateful for this bit of Disney Magic, especially today. It is exactly 10 months since my brother died and earlier this morning I got sad messages from the children. It is so very hard on them. His youngest daughter has a volleyball game this afternoon so I will see them there and then we’ll go to the cemetery . It is nice to have a happy Disney update to share with Eric.
Glad you were able to book Jiko! It's one restaurant that I really want to try. Glad you had something great to share with Eric today! for all the kids.
Wow, my head is spinning from all the changes -- I can't even imagine how you must feel! I really do hope that everything works out for Matthew to join you.
How stupendously cool that you are getting to test Fastpass + ! I can't wait to hear about it!
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Wow... I'm behind... I got busy with the beginning of school... I teach 3rd grade... and the beginning of my oldest daughter's senior year in high school... So I am 2 weeks behind! I'm sitting on pins and needles after reading about Matthew and hoping he is still able to go with you... Thank him for his service! My brother went to the Naval Academy and has been career Navy... currently a Captain on a submarine. I so hope you will get to spend this special time with him. You are only a couple of days away now and I will be praying for a wonderful trip for all of you! Say Hi to Mickey!
I think Jiko is a great choice for a more sophisticated dinner choice. How great to be chosen to test the new fast-pass plus!
I think we're going to love Jiko! Matt is very good with Eric and often gets him to try things in restaurants that he'd shy away from if it was just us, so I'm looking forward to seeing what Eric's meal selection will be. Looking forward to the FP+!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
Glad you were able to book Jiko! It's one restaurant that I really want to try. Glad you had something great to share with Eric today! for all the kids.
Thank you for the pixies. I didn't get to tell Eric about the FastPass+, he was having a very hard day and I thought the news would be trite. He just wanted comfort, so I'm going to wait to tell him.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Jiko sounds like a good choice and congrats on being selected for the Fastpass+ trials. I'm eager to find out how they go.
Happy about Jiko too. I'll let you know how the FP+ goes. It was so easy to make our selections! We chose BTMRR & Splash Mt from one group, and Jungle Cruise and Haunted Mansion from the other. I wanted Mickey's Philharmagic, but I was out voted.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Great dining plans! Glad you're able to try Fastpass+!
I think the dining plans are pretty good - at least they are done. I know that Matt will hate Hoop Dee Doo & Spirit of Aloha food. He's not a carb eater and he lived in Hawaii for 5 years, so he'll find the luau a little hokey. But our hope is that Eric will like it - if not the food, at least the fire dancer!
Quote:
Originally Posted by TinkBrat
Just now jumping in and can't wait to here about your trip, I'm sure it is going to be wonderful therapy for young eric!!
We think it will be a really good break for him. He expresses himself more to me than anyone. He has issues with siblings and relatives that he won't even tell his therapist but will share with me. I'm hoping we can share really fun times, but that I'll be there if something is troubling him.
Quote:
Originally Posted by shnewell
Wow, my head is spinning from all the changes -- I can't even imagine how you must feel! I really do hope that everything works out for Matthew to join you.
How stupendously cool that you are getting to test Fastpass + ! I can't wait to hear about it!
I'm am so glad things did work out with Matt. I like him quite a bit - he's a great friend to us and I love how tender he is with his cousin.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lazanya
Congrats on Disney mail!
That's pretty cool that you were chosen to try out the FastPass+!
Thanks! I'm pretty darned excited about the FP+ myself! I was hoping we'd get to do this so when I saw my email it was just magical. I LOVE Disney!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeL
Congrats on Fastpass and getting all the last minute tweeks done. Hope you are in rapid healing mode.
Thanks! I'm healing very well. I've been running for the past 5 days and it's not been too bad. There aren't very many places to run around Kidani, so I'm going to have to run in the fitness center - not my favorite, but at least it's air conditioned.
Quote:
Originally Posted by xrosario
Many many healing pixies to you Looking forward to hear how the FastPass+ works out!
Thank you for the pixies - they worked!!! I'm just about completely healed. My husband feels better too because he kept thinking people were looking at him and looking at my bruises and thinking bad things about him.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Miss Alaska
Wow... I'm behind... I got busy with the beginning of school... I teach 3rd grade... and the beginning of my oldest daughter's senior year in high school... So I am 2 weeks behind! I'm sitting on pins and needles after reading about Matthew and hoping he is still able to go with you... Thank him for his service! My brother went to the Naval Academy and has been career Navy... currently a Captain on a submarine. I so hope you will get to spend this special time with him. You are only a couple of days away now and I will be praying for a wonderful trip for all of you! Say Hi to Mickey!
kim
Wow - you've got lots going on. You can stop sitting on pins and needles - Matthew is joining us for certain! How great that your brother was a Midshipman. Some of our happiest memories are going back for the Army/Navy games when Matthew was at West Point. Those kids that get into the Academies are pretty special.
And thanks for the prayers for a wonderful trip. We really pray that this trip will lighten Eric's load and let him experience joy again without feeling guilty.
In less than 48 hours we’ll be on our way. Eric is a little bit nervous about going on his first airplane flight. He’s also a little worried about leaving his mom and sisters for an entire week! He doesn’t exactly tell us he anxious, but he keeps asking his mom is she’s nervous about him being on a plane and if she'll be sad or worried about him being so far away.
Eric has always been pampered by the other cousins (he has 9 female cousins who are all much older) and sheltered by all the aunts and uncles, so he lacks a certain degree of sophistication you might find in other 12 year olds. The reasons for this are twofold – Eric is physically so small he looks much younger than 12 and he’s just so doggone adorable. He makes it easy for all of us to cuddle him and baby him. Fortunately, all of the other cousins have been on planes – and all before the age of 12 - so they are all trying to reassure him.
Steve has mapped out our flight path from California to Florida. He has printed out color maps showing the cities we’ll fly over and special places like the Grand Canyon so that Eric can look for them during the flight. (The maps are full color, show the flight path, and have the approximate times over each landmark – engineers are great! )
We haven’t shared all our updates with Eric either. He will be surprised at MCO when Matt is there to greet him. We’ll tell him about the Fast Pass+ test when we’re on the plane. And he’ll find out that we’re staying at AKL-Kidani when we get on the bus.
Speaking of Kidani – we did make another change. Since Matt is definitely coming we have changed our room to a two bedroom villa. This way I don’t have to look at a messy living area every morning and they have their own bathrooms so I don’t have to hear my OCD son lecture Eric on how rude it is to not wipe down the sink after you use it.
Our ADRs are set. We are packed. My black eyes are almost imperceptible. My nose bump is still there, but I’ll wear glasses. Most of my cuts and bruises on my knees are healed. So, I’m ready to go!!! Eric’s mom will pick us up at 4:15 on Thursday morning to take us to the airport. I’m really happy and looking forward to spending some magical time with our nephew.
The only thing that makes me sad is leaving my girls. They have been moping ever since I took the suitcases out. Since I do speaking around the country, they know that when the cases come out, they are going to visit the resort. Vacations would be perfect if I didn’t have to leave my Baby Dogs!!!
(PS: Just a little bragging here. I enter a small number of baked goods in the Los Angeles County Fair every year. This year I was awarded 3 blue ribbons - S'More Cupcakes (inspired by the cupcake from Roaring Fork at WL), Amish Sandwich Bread, and Apple Caramel Cake. I also got second place (first loser) ribbons for an Apple Walnut Tart and Eggrolls. I love Fair competitions!)
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. Any time we mention the great meals we’ve had at WDW, he looks at us with pity. His poor unsophisticated parents with their middle class palates. 
. Our original plan was to go to AKL and eat dinner at Boma. I’m sad to miss dinner there but I think Jiko will be better for Matthew and Steve is now looking forward to having wild boar 
who was so kind to me when I was sick in January. Our dinner plans, except for the first day, were set in stone. Well, almost. I may still swop out Brown Derby for Flying Fish on our last night….. But for now we’re still doing HDDR, SofA (I know Matthew will not like this food 
), LTT (another 
for Matthew), Teppan Edo (better, maybe) and Le Cellier. 
. We’ve been selected for the FastPass+ test next week! I was so excited I cheered out loud and scared my doggies! But, because I’m me, signing us up was not as smooth as it should have been. After entering my name, password and the special reservation number they provided I got a screen with just three names – Steve’s Eric’s and mine. No Matthew. Of course not, because they are randomly selecting people who are using Magical Express. Matthew is using ME, but his flight he’s on a different flight. 
. It is nice to have a happy Disney update to share with Eric.
PassPorter Guide Author
Glad you're able to try Fastpass+! 
TinkBrat
kim
He makes it easy for all of us to cuddle him and baby him. Fortunately, all of the other cousins have been on planes – and all before the age of 12 - so they are all trying to reassure him.
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