Sue and the DoD trip that "Just might end up on the Internet somewhere" report!--COMPLETE 6/5/09 - Page 9 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
I'm curious though. How did you save a spot for 40 people?
We saw a large spot on the curb facing Main Street, so part of us stood on one end and I staked out to the trash can, and then we spread out and filled in. Meanwhile, I kept having to shorten it a bit or git ran over by strollers. As we filled in the spot(it was a good 15 feet of space), I got pushed further and further back. However, I didn't mind an awful amount as I could still see the floats, just not the walking characters! LOL!
A fantastic update Sue! I want to get back to the Contempo Cafe just to get another Mahi-mahi sandwich and that green bean salad! That was very yummy.
You have some FANTASTIC shots of the Castle and the fireworks!
I can't believe you still had the energy to go on to the lounge!! Ben and I'll have to check that out in July when we go.
Great updates Sue - whoever said you had a good eye is right, great photos. Everyone looks like they are having an amazing time...can't wait to hear more.
Wow! I'm finally caught up! I had no idea that you were taking so many photos, they're all wonderful. I had no idea you came back for a night cap at the resort. I don't remember if I was up then or not, but I would have come back over.
Great update, Sue! I love the first picture of the caslte - it's so neat! You've given me several ideas for my upcoming trip (Mahi-Mahi sandwich at CR; nightcap at POR) Thanks!
Sue, I'm loving your TR! Now I understand why I only caught glimpses of you -- you were one busy traveler! Glad you had such a great time -- so did I. Ready for more!
Registered Message Board Members Get Our Free Newsletter! When you register you'll have the option to sign up for our weekly PassPorter Newsletter. It's chock-full of feature articles; news; tips; contests; photos; and special offers in our online store.
Another great update! Spectromagic is my absolute favorite parade! In fact I have that CD in the car right now because it always makes me smile. You all are really packing a lot into a day.
We were up once again to the sound of our Disney alarm clock in the room next to us. Nothing like screaming children to get you going...better than coffee!
So I gave in to the inevitable, made some coffee and bagels, and sat on the balcony with my Passporter catching up on yesterday's events. It was going to be another fun filled day!
We got ready and headed out towards Epcot. We drove this morning. I had a special pass from AAA that gives you Diamond Parking (read: close) and we parked...well....close! We were soon through the gates and heading towards Soarin'.
I took a few pictures:
We didn't have any specific plans for meeting every one today, we all had cell phones and knew what park we were going to be in, so we figured we would eventually run into each other! A quick and exhilirating ride on Soarin, and into The Land we went. It was there we ran into...
So we moved out in one group and eased our way towards Nemo, where we got to ride in a clam!
When we left there, we had about an hour to kill before the Passporter Birthday lunch, so the photographers in the group decided that we wouold like to walk around and enjoy the Flower and Garden Show. Some...um....pictures ensued... (I know, you're shocked! )
We all stood in front of the lagoon, and as soon as our spotter yelled "MONORAIL" at least 5 camers went up into shooting position! Synchronized photography...the next Olympic sport!
Epcot is absolutely beautiful for the F & G Show! This year was no exception. I didn't even get to see everything, but I loved all that I saw!
We meandered over towards Coral Reef, which is where our birthday lunch was to be held. Many things awaited, but you will have to wait a bit since I have real work to do now!
About This Page: 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
Thanks!
Disney Magic - Oct 2015
the report and pictures, grasshopper 
Nothing like screaming children to get you going...better than coffee! 
Linear Mode
