the EIGHTEEN years, TEARS, CHEERS & Hurricane FEARS 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
We get to Tusker House just about 9:05. No one wants to do the trail as everyone is hoping we get seated right away. I check us in and ask how long the wait is. The CM was polite but looked at me as if I had four heads and told me “you should be seated at your appointed time ma’am”. Ok…I was just asking! I half thought about going over to the CS next door and grabbing something while we waited! Tensions were no less and people were still grumbly, mostly because they were STARVING! I can’t help it if they are too stupid to listen to me! I told them to grab a granola bar before we left the hotel since we were eating a late breakfast. This meal was supposed to be more of a “brunch” with only a snack midday if we got hungry again and then a late dinner tonight. I SWEAR you’d think I never fed those kids the way they were acting!
There were more problems between Corey and Alicia, just not even worth repeating here, but the 20 or so minutes we waited were not calm! and Yup I cried – again! Now the thing is it take A LOT to get me to cry… I mean A LOT! AND now they have gotten me to cry TWICE in one day. Finally it is our turn to go in… or so I think. I had forgotten about the whole picture thing they do. At this point I am not in the best frame of mind and I try to give the guy my photopass card and he snaps at me “we don’t take that card here!”. I just look at him bewildered! We stand in front of the wall and they take our picture and REALLY FINALLY we get to go inside!
I’m not much in the mood for characters, I just want something to eat, but we are told to stay at our table until someone comes over. Our waitress was very pleasant and brought everyone some juice, but when we asked for coffee, it took a long time to get it. Then when it finally came, I had to ask for three additional coffee cups – I have older teens, they like coffee too sometimes! She seemed a little put out that I wanted them to have coffee. But hey I’m paying adult price for them, why not if they want it!?! When we were finally allowed to go to the food area, I waited with the stuff at the table while the rest of the gang grabbed some grub. Alicia offered to wait with me, and even though I insisted she go, she stayed until the boys got back. I think she was feeling bad about all the near bloodshed!
I had my much desired, though very tiny mickey waffle, a banana and a slice of bacon. YUM. And the juice mixure there is absolutely delish, but the coffee – YUK! I think that was probably the MOST EXPENSIVE meal I ate! Let’s see… $1.99 worth of food, actual cost $18.99 + tax and gratuity.. YUP most expensive meal! At least Jeff and the kids ate well! I tried to get the boys to eat some fruit, and my response was “there’s fruit on this danish!” oh well… some things never change.
We were done eating and the picture people still hadn’t made it to our table. The characters sort of came by but mostly ignored us. I think they were feeling the bloodshed vibe and stayed away! Although the tension was definitely lessening as the blood sugar levels were rising. I looked around for the people with the pictures hoping to at least take a peek at them. I didn’t think they would turn out all that good, but since we had NO pictures of us as a group yet, I was hopeful! No sooner had I decided to just give it up and the girl came by. Jeff, Evan and Alicia looked AWESOME. Corey and I … hmmm if we were going for the murderous rampage look we would have been all set! Seriously! Corey and I both had maniacal looks in our eyes, and looked like we were about to kill someone. It was kind of scary. I didn’t purchase the package. Kind of wish I had now, as I am looking back on it, but it was just too expensive for a picture where Corey and I look that crazed!!
up next EE experience!
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.
I'm just getting caught up. I just have to laugh a bit at the kid's behavior. It reminds me a lot of me and my brother and sister when we were growing up. Good times, good times.
I'm sorry that your morning started out so roughly. Thank you for being so honest with us. All of us have issues in our family (mine tend to occur when everyone is hungry also). Hope the day goes better now that everyone has some food in their tummies.
All caught up! I am also enjoying the honesty! Sometimes you feel like a failure if you have a bad day in what's supposed to be the happiest place on earth; but, everyone has there moments--let's face it--it's a very stressful place at times .
If it helps, I freaked out on a couple of CM's for moving my stroller one night . Hope you have some fabulous moments to make up for the chaios!
__________________
Read all about it in my TR, "Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!" Jill Phil. 4: 13
As soon as you mentioned what time they came in I knew it was going to be a bad morning...sorry that the whole ordeal had you in tears, that should not happen on vacation and especially not after all the hard work you put into this trip.
The pictures on the safari are great...I love the one with the weeds and the elk (??) peering through.
Hope after a good meal the rest of the day was not as bad as the morning was...
Tink I just got caught up on your TR, and Oh My! I must tell you that we also got just a plain yellow bus at DME, but to add to the FUN, ours was leaking right above DS and my seats!! ANd the bus was full!! I have never seen the movie but wished I had. We were in AK that same day,and we were in there eating breakfast at Tusker house from 8:40 till about 9:45! The little kid behind us threw such a fit becuase he didn't want his sister to be in HIS picture with mickey that he had to be removed from the restaruant!!!! I too loved that Jungle juice!! Wish I could get it at home!
Well, I love your TR and its funny how are paths must have crossed so many times!
Just getting caught up with your trip report. Hope the day got better. AK is a rough one in the Summer as it is always hotter there than anywhere else. I llok forward to more from your adventures. I arrived there a few days after you.
__________________
Aug,1978- LBV;Apr,1987-Disneyland;March,1993-offsite;Jan,1997-offsite;Aug,1999- CBR;Sept,2000- ASMo;Aug,2001- ASSP;Aug,2002- ASMU/AKL;Jan & July 2003-POR;June,December 2004- PC;January 2005- ASMU; Aug 2005-PC;Dec 2005-AKL;Jan 2006-CBR ; July/Aug-Saratoga springs; Dec. PC;April 2007- Disneyland;Aug 2007-Disneyland & So Cal;Dec 2007-POFQ; Aug2008-POFQ & Nov 2008 PC,Y&B May 2009 ASmu, June 2009 PC ; Nov 2009 WL & POFQ;Jan 2010 BW & WL; June 2010 POFQ ; Aug 2010 Poly ;Oct 2010 WL; Jan 2011 PC
Loving your trip report!! So far I've laughed and cried!! Your DS with his rapid fire bathroom shots!! And the near bloodshed We missed you for the Dole Whip Meet, but it sounded like that might have been a good night for your gang!!
Oh and I'm sorry that your experience at the BC has been so poor. Its one of our favorite resorts, they should have treated you much better!
Thanks to Rainbowy who helped me FINALLY figure out the multiquote thing!
Quote:
Originally Posted by DyanKJ130
Great update! Sounds like you and Alicia had a nice walk before getting the boys. Glad she was able to find you some Pepto. We always try to pack a bottle of liquid Immodium. It seems we need to replace it each trip because it expires between trips, but it's so worth having just in case. The one time we didn't have it, we needed to buy that Pepto for a King's Ransom you speak of! Glad you were able to catch some of the entertainers on the Boardwalk. I think that Rude Family has taken up residence, as we've encountered them at least once on every trip! More please
Immodium and/or Pepto is now #1 on my packing list! I'd rather buy a small quantitiy at home and throw it out when it expires than pay that King's ransom again!
Quote:
Originally Posted by emtpej
Sorry to hear about the rude people! That's too bad about Spoodles -- maybe they were having an off night in there -- I guess sometimes, the staff kinda busy and don't pay attention like they should...
I guess every place can have an off night. Oh well... lesson learned about the DDE card for me
Quote:
Originally Posted by CountryTink
Sorry you didn't have such a great meal at Spoodles. I find it really annoying that they insist on automatically charging the gratuities under the DDE. They really need to remind their servers that just because they will automatically be getting their tip, they still need to provide exceptional service.
Next time I WILL talk to the manager and tell them I want the tip reduced if my service does not meet my expectations! They can say what they want about it being automatic, I will tip what I feel is deserved! (I usually tip over 18% but since they insist on MAKING tip 18%, sometimes I just left it at that)
Quote:
Originally Posted by tammyd_rn
Those were some great room pictures. Too funny. Hope he didn't give you the professional photography price tag to go with it.
HA HA!! I think the cost of the equipment balanced that out!
Quote:
Originally Posted by CountryTink
That's too funny! I just about spit Dr. Pepper all over my computer.
Careful there... That stuff stains!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Great pictures!!
He really IS a good photographer! Though it is hard to tell from his goofing around!
So after all that, he didn't take many photos! Yeesh!
He did take over 200, but except the bathroom shots, they were ALL on the safari!
Quote:
Originally Posted by ArielsMomto2
I just got caught up on your trip report Karen. Too funny. We have had the same experiences as you.
We too found the BC less than magical. The CM's were just doing a job and a lot were down right rude.
We found many servers lacking when they found out we had the DDE card. We were basically ignored while they worked for their tips.
I'm sad about all the rudeness we experienced there, but I tried to not let it ruin my vacation. A coworker (who also is a DVC owner) asked why I didn't make a big stink at the time, and I told him it wasn't worth my energy to fight with them or sink to their level!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Minnie Lor
Oh, my stomach hurts with you. The most magical place and they're ..... Ack! I don't know how you held it all together.
I know it gets better. Looking forward to more.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Well, you got some great pictures of the safari! Sorry about all the bloodshed and other stuff I hope things improve as the day goes on
Quote:
Originally Posted by B.M.
Rough morning................Hope the day improves after everyone eats..........Hurry back with more........
Quote:
Originally Posted by CountryTink
Oh sweetie, I feel your pain.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Wow, what a day. I really feel for you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by katskids
Great pictures! I especially love the ones of your bathroom lol. Sorry you had a rough morning, hope it gets better!
Thanks!! It DOES get better... eventually!
Quote:
Originally Posted by emtpej
Wow, what a rough start! I think every family reaches that point while at WDW...
Great photos, though...
We had already reached that point our first day (WELL ALMOST!) when we were leaving so I was HOPING we were done! But at least it was out of everyone's systems (ALMOST) now... (another teaser!)