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There are other changes as well.
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We go on to the joy and through the tears
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Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
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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.
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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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 agree that some quieter dinner spots would be a good idea, + Coral reef's fish swimming by will be a wonderful calm focal point, It worked for me
Not to mention wonderful food
I know...I just *think* about being there and my shoulders relax.
I made ADRs last night, we have CP--breakfast--a first-morning tradition for DH and me. We took DS last time and he did ok. Tokyo Dining--early dinner--is this place as "zen" as I'm hoping? Akershus--late lunch--we did this last time and I was *hooked*. My prince looks so good with the ladies. Coral Reef--late lunch--ahhhhh... Kouzzina--dinner--new to us, has the exact item I've been pining (whole fish with olives and fennel.) I'm a little tense about this one, but we'll be staying at the BWV so it's convenient and we want to try some new places. Is it busy here at 5pm Sat night? H&V--lunch--to meet Special Agent Oso and other Playhouse Disney (Disney Jr) friends.
And, of course my attempts for CRT was a big FAIL but I also dropped Chef Mickey's---I decided he'll get enough monorails just being at WDW and the atmosphere is just too *ON* and I thought the food stunk anyways. I have one last TS credit we can use, any suggestions? I'm thinking Wilderness Canyon is OUT.
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We loved the Garden Grill. The booths are very private. The character interaction was good. It is all you care to eat. The food is brought to your table. We thought the food was great. It is very low key compared to Chef Mickey's. The restaurant also slowly rotates. It was nice to have a character meal that is not so in your face and really relaxing.
We loved the Garden Grill. The booths are very private. The character interaction was good. It is all you care to eat. The food is brought to your table. We thought the food was great. It is very low key compared to Chef Mickey's. The restaurant also slowly rotates. It was nice to have a character meal that is not so in your face and really relaxing.
This was on our list, but I was scared off by the menu (dh, the eater, doesn't care much for turkey breast or red meat, and I don't eat either of them) because it seemed ho-hum...but the way you've described it makes it sound like a no-brainer. I've seen booths in photos, do they have a lot of booths and what would be the likelihood we could get one? This might have us skipping H&V...ds loves the Playhouse Disney folks, but I just feel when I envision the meal---you say "relaxing character meal," that's a real selling point!
I'm quite concerned about the walking/stroller issue. He's bound to get tired. I'm happy to get/bring him a stroller, but I don't know that he'll be happy in it. When he was in the stroller at WDW at 18 mos, all the other guests' charging legs scared him, and I also think he was lonely so I had to carry him everywhere. This is the main reason why we're Epcot resort-bound, so we can come and go as needed, and nearby WS has more chillout walking space.
I'll be getting the PP Your Special Needs soon, DH was very encouraged when I told him about the GAC . I think the biggest thing is that DH and I have taken all these pre-DS trips so we're happy to drop the commando style and just smell the roses with DS. We haven't had a vacation for 2.5 years, we are READY FOR ONE!
Great news with the taxes!
Does your son like safe sensory places like forts? You can bring a cloth or drape a jacket over the little roof of the stroller and create a safe sanctuary. Some people do it do the child can peek through when wanted and close it back up.
I'm so glad you are getting the Open Mouse. Here are a few articles with some tips as well:
Does your son like safe sensory places like forts? You can bring a cloth or drape a jacket over the little roof of the stroller and create a safe sanctuary. Some people do it do the child can peek through when wanted and close it back up.
I'm so glad you are getting the Open Mouse. Here are a few articles with some tips as well:
I've seen and heard a lot about forting a stroller and it would work to cut out the lower-level clutter, but DS is also an affectionate marshmallow and I'm afraid he's going to be lonely and unhappy down there. A shopping cart is ideal since he can be up high and communicate and converse, but I don't see a lot of shopping carts at WDW. He likes to explore on his own two feet, but I'm afraid (very afraid) that when he gets tired, he's going to want one of us to carry him. It was hard enough at 18 mos, we can't do it at 50lbs. Off to read your links.
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Originally Posted by simbarel
This was on our list, but I was scared off by the menu (dh, the eater, doesn't care much for turkey breast or red meat, and I don't eat either of them) because it seemed ho-hum...but the way you've described it makes it sound like a no-brainer. I've seen booths in photos, do they have a lot of booths and what would be the likelihood we could get one? This might have us skipping H&V...ds loves the Playhouse Disney folks, but I just feel when I envision the meal---you say "relaxing character meal," that's a real selling point!
Since the restaurant is round, I think that there only booths. The meats were the turkey, beef, and fish. All were good. My daughter liked the fish and turkey the best. We also had a later ADR. We enjoyed this so much,we have it booked for April & August. There are two levels or tiers. The lower one looks out at the rotating view, the upper tier faces the wall.
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Garden Grill would be great! It is somewhat calming especially when it goes into the "dark portion" where it overlooks the Living With the Land ride. I really like the part that passes the area where it is "raining." That area does give me a sense of calm.
Ah boy. Tonight we went to Applebee's for dinner, we rarely go out to eat but we had a gift certificate, and DS did less-than-great. It wasn't BAD, but it reminded me how he gets at restaurants, and we were one of just 3 tables that had customers. His father didn't react all that great either, so I had to really address the issue before we pay for rental points and book airfare.
DH and I WDW dining, it's our favorite part about the vacation! I just don't know if DS can handle it. Thinking about being in the parks doesn't concern me nearly as much as dining, cuz that's when I want to be able to relax and enjoy myself and it's when DS is crawling upside down and threatening to stick his tongue in a head of beer or sticking his fork into a light socket, or into a fellow customer's ear. I swear on my life, he's not nearly that hyper in other public situations, but get him in a booth or a table, and watch out. I can get him to color or do iPad, but once in a while I'd like to eat without this little guy on my lap. DH said that he thought we should arrange all our dining to be QS and Buffet. I understand his mode of thinking---we're in, we're out, we're done---but it also makes me want to scream, just thinking about the bizzyness and the crowds, and the absence of the quality dining we there---not to mention I still think that the best options for DS so far are Coral Reef and Garden Grill.
I'm feeling uneasy. I think the trip is going to be difficult. I am tempted to research a relaxed cruising experience, but I know cruise dining would be a nightmare (unless we were with other ASD families, do they do that?) and I read that DCL is largely unprepared to deal with ASD kids. That, and DH still thinks that DS will be over the moon over the Disneyness of WDW. God, I hope he's right!!!
Maybe we should go out to eat more. Give DS some practice! Not that we can really afford it....
Do you think that a day in the park will make him tired & less likely to
"put his fork in a socket" ?
Being unfamiliar with ASD I don't know..
Your guess is as good as mine but that's a good point, with the schedule so different, we're in for a lot of surprises...looking on the bright side now!
simbarel here is what I am seeing in your dinners out.
Your child seems to behave in public but restaurants are a nightmare for you. This is because your child sees restaurants as a place to sit with Mommy (top notch bonding time), play time, food, and lots of attention. He has you trained, lol. Infants will cry just to get picked up. Dogs bark to get loving attention. It does not take many brain cells to realize that doing something will get a reward. You need to talk with parents on how to retrain the child so that you are in control.
If he crawls on the floor then one person takes him out of the restaurant for a time out. If need be get a to go meal and leave. Some people may say I am wrong and that I have no children but that is what I would do.
As for WDW the only options I see is for you to share babysitting and one person eat alone a fine meal, bring someone to babysit, or try to get take out. It is part of having someone in your group who limits what you do. Today I wanted to pop into DCA for a burger but Mom wanted breakfast, I lost. Sending hugs, do talk with Sue and others.
__________________
Mom calls to check on me and reminded me to pay the gardener. I love her so much.
Disneyland was fun with flag retreat and pickles. I have a home here, thank you. GAC is NOT a "front of the line pass".
She is gone but keeping signature. Laundry is getting done. My purpose in life is to help poor people in FL. Farewell, will miss you.
simbarel here is what I am seeing in your dinners out.
Your child seems to behave in public but restaurants are a nightmare for you. This is because your child sees restaurants as a place to sit with Mommy (top notch bonding time), play time, food, and lots of attention. He has you trained, lol. Infants will cry just to get picked up. Dogs bark to get loving attention. It does not take many brain cells to realize that doing something will get a reward. You need to talk with parents on how to retrain the child so that you are in control.
If he crawls on the floor then one person takes him out of the restaurant for a time out. If need be get a to go meal and leave. Some people may say I am wrong and that I have no children but that is what I would do.
As for WDW the only options I see is for you to share babysitting and one person eat alone a fine meal, bring someone to babysit, or try to get take out. It is part of having someone in your group who limits what you do. Today I wanted to pop into DCA for a burger but Mom wanted breakfast, I lost. Sending hugs, do talk with Sue and others.
I completely understand your view, and it stings a little to realize how arrogant I sounded when I used to give similar advice on childrearing. Multiply that with a SN child....
I'm feeling uneasy. I think the trip is going to be difficult. I am tempted to research a relaxed cruising experience, but I know cruise dining would be a nightmare (unless we were with other ASD families, do they do that?) and I read that DCL is largely unprepared to deal with ASD kids. That, and DH still thinks that DS will be over the moon over the Disneyness of WDW. God, I hope he's right!!!
Maybe we should go out to eat more. Give DS some practice! Not that we can really afford it....
I completely understand where you are coming from with the whole eating out thing. Our daughter does not like to eat out and does not do well with eating around other people. At school she eats most of her lunch while the other kids are napping. I don't know why and I don't know what to do about it but your idea of eating out more with your son for practice might be a good thing for him.
As far as the cruise question of a cruise with other families of children with autism you could look into Autism on the Seas. They do cruises on several different cruise lines. I have never done this myself but have looked into it some and it does look interesting. The website is www.alumnicruises.org/autism. I was just looking at the website and most of the cruises are on Royal Caribbean but DCL does a few also. Just a thought.
Thank you Tabitha. That is actually the second suggestion I've received for that service, and it's true it sounds awesome. We're hanging in the balance, I'm 3/4 of the way toward putting down $$$$ for DVC rental points at BWV (a dream!) but also, taking a cruise might be just so much more -chill- and if they provide respite, then hey. I think the majorest obstacle in our way is the price. RCCL is a great cruiseline and has way more affordable options, but it makes me too sad to miss out on the ~*magic*~.There's a kids-sail-free deal on a DCL Alaskan cruise, but since we're Mainahs my DH won't commit to a cold climate vacation destination, and as former cruisers we know we'd like at least 7 days. I'd be wildly interested in reading or hearing about someone's experiences with AotS.
In the meantime, lots of Better Public Dining dust for the both of our families.
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but I also dropped Chef Mickey's---I decided he'll get enough monorails just being at WDW and the atmosphere is just too *ON* and I thought the food stunk anyways. I have one last TS credit we can use, any suggestions? I'm thinking Wilderness Canyon is OUT. 
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when I envision the meal---you say "relaxing character meal," that's a real selling point! 
I've seen and heard a lot about forting a stroller and it would work to cut out the lower-level clutter, but DS is also an affectionate marshmallow and I'm afraid he's going to be lonely and unhappy down there. A shopping cart is ideal since he can be up high and communicate and converse, but I don't see a lot of shopping carts at WDW. 
He likes to explore on his own two feet, but I'm afraid (very afraid) that when he gets tired, he's going to want one of us to carry him. It was hard enough at 18 mos, we can't do it at 50lbs. Off to read your links. 
he gets at restaurants, and we were one of just 3 tables that had customers. His father didn't react all that great either, so I had to really address the issue before we pay for rental points and book airfare.
WDW dining, it's our favorite part about the vacation! I just don't know if DS can handle it. Thinking about being in the parks doesn't concern me nearly as much as dining, cuz that's when I want to be able to relax and enjoy myself and it's when DS is crawling upside down and threatening to stick his tongue in a head of beer or sticking his fork into a light socket, or into a fellow customer's ear. I swear on my life, he's not nearly that hyper in other public situations, but get him in a booth or a table, and watch out. I can get him to color or do iPad, but once in a while I'd like to eat without this little guy on my lap. DH said that he thought we should arrange all our dining to be QS and Buffet. I understand his mode of thinking---we're in, we're out, we're done---but it also makes me want to scream, just thinking about the bizzyness and the crowds, and the absence of the quality dining we 
but that's a good point, with the schedule so different, we're in for a lot of surprises...looking on the bright side now! 
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