Four Days Off . . . TR Completed 12/2 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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.
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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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Lets Get this Wrapped Up! (So I can start the sequal?)
I was waiting for the DME bus and the other family was all decked out in their Saints gear . . . our flight was during the game! They had the cutest little girl, she asked me a ton of trivia questions on the bus ride. To the point where her parents were both apologizing and telling her to be quiet. I kind of enjoyed it. I don't interact with little kids very often. I sort of wished that I had something to give her--a pin or something, but I was traveling VERY light. I even squished my sweatshirt into my OL so I could get my new duds home!.
Anyway, the bus ride was very quick, because I was distracted. I ended up at the Disney Store in the Airport because I had forgotten to get a new 2011 Calendar. They have the new 2011 magnets but I couldn't bring myself to buy one--that will have to wait until April. The Calendar is now on the wall next to the front door so that I an look at the Castle Ice lights while I type!
I grabbed my standard SW airport fare--a big mac and fries and headed over to my gate after I finished eating.
The flight was non-eventful.
The plane landed at the 2 minute warning. Immediately someone shouted "We're losing!" Hmm I really wanted to see the last two minutes, but I really needed a restroom. We scored while I walked up the jetway. I settled for watching the play by play on score center on my phone. I watched as Dallas marched back down the field. I did not have a good feeling. (I'm now in a restroom stall.) The entire restroom cracked up when I screamed "He MISSED the FIELD GOAL!" A woman, obviously not a football fan said--are you really watching the game in the bathroom. To which I replied --of course -- there are only 24 seconds left!
My guests at the bar are still laughing about this.
A quick wrap up:
Transportation: I love SWA! Luv, Luv Luv Luv. I'm only 10.75 credits away from my next free flight. At the end of December I should be only 8.75 credits away!
We were on time and everything was clean and friendly!
DME was fine and dandy AND its still free--you'll have to wait for the sequal to hear about a current frustration.
Bus transportation at the Contemporary . . . Disney really needs to think about this--and the situation over at the Epcot Resorts. Its bad . . . really bad! I love the boats and the monorail and so would stay here again--but I wouldn't be visiting the Studios or AK on that trip! Ditto this for the Poly and the GF!
The Contemporary: I loved my room in the Garden Wing. It was spacious and beautifully decorated. The fake balcony was weird. I wish I still had a set of wineglasses in my OL. I only have one lonely one now. I'll remedy that soon.
OL: I love their service. I actually got a call from them right before I headed back to the Contemporary to catch DME. They couldn't find my locker. Did I still have it? Umm No . . . well Brian went back to the Contemporary to look for it a second time. Turns out Bell Services had stuffed it in a corner under a bunch of stuff. Didn't someone else have a weird thing happen with Contemporary Bag Services?
The Portable Pool Bar is safe and Sound. Brian called me back as soon as it was found.
Parks: It was crowded, but I didn't notice. Why? 20 minute rule. If you aren't waiting in line for things you don't know how busy it is. I walked on tons of stuff! I love the Christmas decorations, but not everything for the holidays was in full swing! I'll be concentrating on that really soon!
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Great finish, Heather! I was so thinking of you while watching that game. I'm with you on SWA - they're awesome. Glad you had a great trip and can't wait to hear about round 2!
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
(I'm now in a restroom stall.) The entire restroom cracked up when I screamed "He MISSED the FIELD GOAL!" A woman, obviously not a football fan said--are you really watching the game in the bathroom. To which I replied --of course -- there are only 24 seconds left!
Classic- so something me & my group of friends would be doing! it!
Great wrap up, as always! Looking forward to The Sequal.
Great TR Heather. And, you are amazing to be going back so soon. If I weren't going to be there soon I would be very jealous! Safe travels on your next trip and come back with another amazing TR!
Great wrap up! The business in the bathroom is hilarious! I've decided to employ your 20 minute rule, that's a great idea. Looking forward to the next one!!!
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Tanya
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I'm very late to the party but loved your TR. I especially love the restaurant reviews. Too funny about watching the game. You're a riot! Glad the totally solo trip was a success. The next one sounds like it will wonderful as well. Would love to go at that time of year as my birthday is the 22nd. Looking forward to reading about your next adventure.
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I can't believe you were watching the match in the restrooms either! 
Classic- so something me & my group of friends would be doing! 
it!
Too funny about watching the game. You're a riot! Glad the totally solo trip was a success. The next one sounds like it will wonderful as well. Would love to go at that time of year as my birthday is the 22nd. Looking forward to reading about your next adventure.
šOš ~*~ 
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