Springtime Jaunt to Disneyland: Final Days and Final Thoughts: COMPLETE 6/11/08 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
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This photo totally has me cracking up!! I'm thinking you should have told the hag to stop doing something more than stop making poison apples!! ( my mind is sick tonight! )
Dying to hear more!!
I totally did not catch this until this morning when I read your post. Well, at least I hope it made her day.
Day 3, Part 3: Day 3, Part 3: Our Tour through A Bug’s Land and Paradise Pier
Day 3, Part 3: Our Tour through A Bug’s Land and Paradise Pier
We headed over to Soarin’ and right into the FP line. We had about a 10 minute wait. We asked the CM if we could have the front row and she maneuvered us to the group C. Another wonderful ride and the smells of oranges and evergreens were really strong. Never disappointed in this ride. It was time for bathroom breaks. When I came out, Chuck was taking advantage of me not having the camera and taking some shots of the area.
We headed over in the direction of A Bug’s Land and stopped to get a couple of Photopass pics. The photographer focused more on us than the background. One of the pics turned out to be a favorite of the trip.
We finally made it over to A Bug’s Land and I became a massive shutterbug. Lots and lots of pictures. I am truly impressed with the attention to detail in this area, especially Flik’s Fun Fair. Our first stop was It’s Tough to Be a Bug. Never changes…still giggle at the end when some visitors leave the building. Next we went into Flik’s Fun Fair. This area is geared towards the little kids but that didn’t stop us from partaking in a few rides. We first took a ride on Heimlich’s Chew-Chew Train. I Heimlich. I think I enjoyed Heimlich’s commentary more than anything.
Next, we headed to Flik’s Flyers. We actually had about a 10 minute wait here which surprised me but not a big deal. I told Chuck to head for the animal crackers box. The CM was giving me a hard time about holding up the ride while getting a picture of Chuck in the box. He tapped his foot while I got buckled in and closed the door for me. With a wink and smile, the CM said have a good flight and off we went.
Here are some of the pics from A Bug’s Land.
After another bathroom stop, we headed over to Paradise Pier through the Pacific Wharf area. Since it was along the way, we stopped at the Mission Tortilla Factory. After watching the little movie prior to entering the factory, we buzzed through for a free tortilla. And I couldn’t leave the area without stopping for a photo op. Chuck didn’t know what he was getting his picture in until afterwards. Cruel I know.
Finally, we headed into the Paradise Pier area and made a beeline for a FP for CA Screamin’. The stand-by line was showing 45 minutes so after grabbing the FP we headed over to the Sun Wheel. In both of my visits, I had yet to ride this but really wanted to enjoy the vantage point. Both Chuck and I agreed on doing the non-swinging gondola for the better picture opportunities and truthfully, I didn’t know if I could handle the swinging ones. We had about a 15 minute wait for a non-swinging one. It was a beautiful day so we really enjoyed our time spent on the Sun Wheel. You go all the way around while they load and unload all the gondolas and then does a non-stop trip all the way around.
The first level up
The next level up
The top
Chuck enjoying the view.
After the Sun Wheel, Chuck wanted a snack so we went in search for something to eat. I think we just got some popcorn and a drink. My notes did not say what we got. We still had some time before our FP for CA Screamin’ was open so we took a spin on King Triton’s Carousel. I seem to have an easier time getting up on the sea horses then I do regular carousel horses.
Once we got off the carousel, we headed into the FP line for CA Screamin’. Now our time wasn’t open just yet, but the line was long enough that we knew we would be past our time by the time they took our FP. This was the only ride that they didn’t have someone check the FP at the beginning of the line. We were about 6 people back at the point where the two lines converge and they have a CM letting FP go then stand-by people go. There were a group of kids around 11 or 12 at the front of our line. The CM in charge of the line was standing closer to the unloading zones talking to another CM. The kids not knowing any better started to head toward the stairs to head over to the loading zone. This CM who wasn’t paying much attention noticed the boys as they were halfway up the stairs and went NUTS. Not a shout but screaming at them to come back down and then continued to yell at them. OK, so the kids should have waited but there was no reason to continue to yell at them. The adults behind the kids (who were not related to them) eventually told the CM to stop it. She gave our whole group the evil eye as she let us up the stairs. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the last encounter I had with this CM. You’ll hear about that in the next update.
Anywho, we boarded our train and my bag had a hard time fitting into the pouch for belongings. The pouch would not close. So, I went one handed throughout the ride with my other hand on the pouch keeping it closed. Didn’t want to lose the camera or anything else for that matter in the bag. It was a great time, but I couldn’t remember where they took the picture. Not the greatest as it cut part of me off but Chuck wanted it so we bought it. Chuck looked like he REALLY enjoyed the ride.
After that exhilarating ride, we noticed the time and made our way to the same spot we viewed the Electrical Parade for the new Pixar PLAY It! Parade.
Coming up: The Cranky CM, Parade Pictures, and A Much Needed Glass of Wine
Man what an experience with that CM and I'm so sorry to hear that it wasn't the only one. Sounds like a great time though. Might have to head to California one day.
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Great updates, Dawn. And so many wonderful pictures. I am sure I would've laughed at the kid on sitting on the ropes. Sorry you had one encounter with that rude CM, but more than one? Can't wait for more.
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
Thanks for all the wonderful pics of A Bugs Land. I am glad you and Chuck enjoyed a lovely day, save the rude CM. Can't imagine the next run-in with him/her.
danielle
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my mind is sick tonight! 
It was time for bathroom breaks. When I came out, Chuck was taking advantage of me not having the camera and taking some shots of the area. 
We first took a ride on Heimlich’s Chew-Chew Train. I 
Heimlich. I think I enjoyed Heimlich’s commentary more than anything. 
Can't wait for more.
It does look like Chuck had a great time on the ride - love that photo! 
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