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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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There are other changes as well.
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Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
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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.
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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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So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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Before I answer those who are following I have to say this. Back in the 1980's and 90's when I first knew I wanted to go for the Holidays Disney World was a lot more alcohol free than it is today. Yes there were those that played Drunk Around The World in World Showcase and DHS had it available in some of the Table Service locations. Today it is starting to look like it will be available nearly everywhere. Just my opinion but DISNEY has made a BIG MISTAKE with this. Knowing too many people over indulge for NYE we just don't want to be around it in a small crowd of 30 to 40 thousand of our nearest and dearest friends. Okay off my soap box
Before I answer those who are following I have to say this. Back in the 1980's and 90's when I first knew I wanted to go for the Holidays Disney World was a lot more alcohol free than it is today. Yes there were those that played Drunk Around The World in World Showcase and DHS had it available in some of the Table Service locations. Today it is starting to look like it will be available nearly everywhere. Just my opinion but DISNEY has made a BIG MISTAKE with this. Knowing too many people over indulge for NYE we just don't want to be around it in a small crowd of 30 to 40 thousand of our nearest and dearest friends. Okay off my soap box
I know what you mean Mike. I like enjoying a drink or two but don't make an ass out of myself! I skipped Illuminations in 2014 after a good meal in France at Momsieur Paul. The atmosphere was lively when I went for dinner but after dinner it was quite different as so many drunk people indulging for Illuminations, I skipped the show as I didn't want to deal with these idiots. These weren't the younger crowd but most in this condition were 35+. It was April, 2014 and not the F&W Festival, which you could understand. I think, I just may have run into the wrong people and groups. I was confronted a bit and why I left! I went to the Bellevue Lounge instead at BWI for a more relaxing time!
Enough of this for now!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
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I hear you Mike! Having experienced Food and Wine Festival a few times before, where that's also an issue, it really can mar the "family" feel of Disney.
I so understand. We tend to avoid Epcot on Friday and Saturday nights anymore. I don't understand the feeling you have to get so wasted you are staggering, shouting, slurring or otherwise showing your hind end!
I know what you mean Mike. I like enjoying a drink or two but don't make an ass out of myself! I skipped Illuminations in 2014 after a good meal in France at Momsieur Paul. The atmosphere was lively when I went for dinner but after dinner it was quite different as so many drunk people indulging for Illuminations, I skipped the show as I didn't want to deal with these idiots. These weren't the younger crowd but most in this condition were 35+. It was April, 2014 and not the F&W Festival, which you could understand. I think, I just may have run into the wrong people and groups. I was confronted a bit and why I left! I went to the Bellevue Lounge instead at BWI for a more relaxing time!
Enough of this for now!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
I hear you Mike! Having experienced Food and Wine Festival a few times before, where that's also an issue, it really can mar the "family" feel of Disney.
Quote:
Originally Posted by NanaTink
I so understand. We tend to avoid Epcot on Friday and Saturday nights anymore. I don't understand the feeling you have to get so wasted you are staggering, shouting, slurring or otherwise showing your hind end!
Thanks all I guess I am just the first to say what a apparently many of us feel. I think Cheryl hit the nail on the head with ".. it can mar the "family" feel of Disney". I don't object to people enjoying a drink or two but with so much alcohol available Disney is making it far to easy for those so inclined to overindulge. Hopefully I am wrong time will tell.
Great idea! Some of my favorite holiday meals have been like this. Nothing special, until you think of the care and forethought put into making them happen in unusual circumstances.
As it will just be us this should work out okay and neither of us has too much of an idea of how the convection oven works Hope that will be one of the seminars that Lazy Days has while we are there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pris
I think fireworks from the beach would be perfect rather than dealing with the crowds that are bound to be in the parks (even if calmed down a bit from earlier in the evening).
Dealing with wall to wall people not my idea of fun Rather deal with the 4-5 hundred at the Beach Bash
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
I don't blame you avoiding the parks on New Year's Eve. I'm not sure I'd do the parks again on that night if I'm being honest...
Cheryl you guys got lucky with the rain the year you and Mark were in EPCOT. I remember Lisa's account of her fiasco on NYE and then finding the Party in her resort and having a blast
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Sounds like the right idea to stay out of the parks on NYE!
I agree
Quote:
Originally Posted by DMA
Staying away from the parks and ultimately watching fireworks from the beach sounds like a great plan for New Years Eve.
I also like the idea of having a turkey dinner in your RV!
Quote:
Originally Posted by NanaTink
I like your NYE plans as well! We never go out at home for NY, so we would probably follow your plan of relaxing, maybe tour some resorts or engage in whatever was going on around us. And Fireworks on the beach is a capper!
Sally we normally do the same . If we do go out it's for an early dinner and a movie. Wookie bear was afraid of fireworks and in our neighborhood that has become a thing so we didn't mind staying home for her
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tara O'Hara
Your plans for AK sound amazing!! This is my absolute favorite park and you will just love Pandora!!!
Tara from your lips to God's ears on PANDORA . Like you we have come to Love AK and just walking around to see what the critters are up to.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperDave
Sounds good Mike for NYE as probably a good day to avoid the parks. You could always spend some time in DS, since you won't be at the parks if you don't want to spend the full day at FW.
Dave we are considering a potion of the day at DS but will likely see where the day takes us.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
We would be like you and opt out on the parks on NYE. I've never done well with crowds and the older I get the less I like them.
You'll get no argument from us on that. For 20 years I avoided the New Years Eve detail and not looking to get into that crowd at WDW
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DAY TWELVE NEW YEARS DAY.
Again anticipated crowd levels will keep us out of the parks. We have some friends in the camping community that will also be at Ft Wilderness and the idea of a meet and greet brunch but nothing has been firmed up on that front. For the afternoon we do plan on heading over to DS. We are considering bypassing the shopping today and hitting either Splitsville or the AMC Theater and catching a movie. Have to wait and see what is offered before we commit to anything on that front.
Lucille has been following the Disney Food Blog and was interested in Maria And Enzo's when it was first reviewed. However that reviewer and others have been back and apparently more than once and consensus appears this is a place that is lacking consistency. While I had booked it we changed it to The Edison that she was also interested in. ( Had to again tap my inner Tara)
DAY TWELVE NEW YEARS DAY.
Again anticipated crowd levels will keep us out of the parks. We have some friends in the camping community that will also be at Ft Wilderness and the idea of a meet and greet brunch but nothing has been firmed up on that front. For the afternoon we do plan on heading over to DS. We are considering bypassing the shopping today and hitting either Splitsville or the AMC Theater and catching a movie. Have to wait and see what is offered before we commit to anything on that front.
Lucille has been following the Disney Food Blog and was interested in Maria And Enzo's when it was first reviewed. However that reviewer and others have been back and apparently more than once and consensus appears this is a place that is lacking consistency. While I had booked it we changed it to The Edison that she was also interested in. ( Had to again tap my inner Tara)
Great plans for NYD Mike! Change is fun. Embrace it!!
Just got all caught up as we're back from our trip. You have some really great plans! I love the laid back touring, something that I need to still learn I'm not sure which is going to be worse, drunken people or strollers, or people who didn't think to drink but now do because of the strollers
Great plans for NYD Mike! Change is fun. Embrace it!!
Tara I completely understand that change is needed at times. Like we normally on day 1 go to Town Square have some Photo Pass taken then get on the WDW RR and ride to Fantasy Land stop. RR will be closed. Change when you need to but when it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by patclairesmom
Just got all caught up as we're back from our trip. You have some really great plans! I love the laid back touring, something that I need to still learn I'm not sure which is going to be worse, drunken people or strollers, or people who didn't think to drink but now do because of the strollers
I many times long for the days when a large portion of a DISNEY trip was not knowing what would happen next. No running from one FP attraction to the next. Characters appearing out of nowhere to address overcrowding somewhere else. So since we have plenty of time this trip to tour at a more leisurely pace we intend to make the most of it
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
I'm sorry to hear Maria and Enzo's is lacking consistency. That's a huge shame, as we had a wonderful meal there in January.
Cheryl don't be sorry. Lucille is getting plenty of Italian themed Dining options besides I only saw a few items at M&E that piqued my interest.
Great plans for New Year's Day!
How funny, we had the Edison and changed to M&E because of the menu and poor reviews! Thing is, some people will like things that others do not and vice versa! I didn't find much on the menu of Edison that intrigued me...but M&E has plenty for me as we lived in Italy for 3 years.
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We always talk about going to Splitsville, but we have done so yet. It does look fun. We've eaten at both Maria & Enzo's and The Edison, and we loved them both. The Edison was less expensive in price, but we loved the food at both.
Great plans for New Year's Day!
How funny, we had the Edison and changed to M&E because of the menu and poor reviews! Thing is, some people will like things that others do not and vice versa! I didn't find much on the menu of Edison that intrigued me...but M&E has plenty for me as we lived in Italy for 3 years.
Sally, Lucille would be very happy if did Italian 7 nights a week. Me, not so much. I wanted Homecoming but she asked so I lost it for now.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
We always talk about going to Splitsville, but we have done so yet. It does look fun. We've eaten at both Maria & Enzo's and The Edison, and we loved them both. The Edison was less expensive in price, but we loved the food at both.
Cam we are looking to do things we normally wouldn't on a trip to Disney. But we still need to what is playing at AMC.
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I skipped Illuminations in 2014 after a good meal in France at Momsieur Paul. The atmosphere was lively when I went for dinner but after dinner it was quite different as so many drunk people indulging for Illuminations, 
I skipped the show as I didn't want to deal with these idiots. These weren't the younger crowd but most in this condition were 35+. It was April, 2014 and not the F&W Festival, which you could understand. I think, I just may have run into the wrong people and groups. I was confronted a bit and why I left! 
PassPorter Guide Author
Having experienced Food and Wine Festival a few times before, where that's also an issue, it really can mar the "family" feel of Disney. 
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This is my absolute favorite park and you will just love Pandora!!! 
I'm not sure which is going to be worse, drunken people or strollers, or people who didn't think to drink but now do because of the strollers 
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