Our "30 Year Anniversary" Disney Vacation 2014 [February 7-14] - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
What a wonderful day! I still hope to see Wishes some day from the beach at the Poly. Glad you all enjoyed it and a delicious dinner. Your picture of Maelstrom made me miss this ride. Our trip in October I took a picture of Luke at the entrance with his Maelstrom t-shirt on, but all the signs for the ride were gone.
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.
It's neat to read this given how many things have changed.... I really miss Maelstrom! But I don't miss the old fast pass system- I like the new fast pass plus better.... You've definitely got me considering dinner at O'hanas for next trip!!
Great day! We've never managed to see Wishes from the beach, but like you, it's been on our list. Glad Peter agreed to a dance!
I would have never known about that if it hadn't been for PP. I have picked up so many great ideas here!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Glad you've come back to finish up your report! Great time at Epcot and dinner at 'Ohana!
It was a great day and dinner never disappoints at OHana!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
What a wonderful day! I still hope to see Wishes some day from the beach at the Poly. Glad you all enjoyed it and a delicious dinner. Your picture of Maelstrom made me miss this ride. Our trip in October I took a picture of Luke at the entrance with his Maelstrom t-shirt on, but all the signs for the ride were gone.
I didn't know Maelstom was gone. Is there something in it's place? I am surprised you haven't watched Wishes from Poly beach. Goes to show you there is always a to-do list at Disney (no matter how many times you've been, huh?).
Quote:
Originally Posted by lfredsbo
What a great day! I love Ohana also!
OHana!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by B.M.
It's neat to read this given how many things have changed.... I really miss Maelstrom! But I don't miss the old fast pass system- I like the new fast pass plus better.... You've definitely got me considering dinner at O'hanas for next trip!!
the new FP system! You have to try dinner at OHana!
Thanks everyone for coming back to read the rest of my TR!!
Another gorgeous day! We headed to Downtown Disney for a little shopping and lunch at Planet Hollywood. This had been a trip of many firsts for us and we almost got to try something I've always wanted to do!
Characters in Flight.......
Notice I say almost! Every trip I ask Peter to ride it with me and he always says no. Peter is somewhat afraid of heights, and this thing goes wayyyyyy up (like 400 feet) in the air for an amazing view. As we were walking over to Planet Hollywood, we passed the balloon, and I asked, like I do every year, if we could try it, and this time he said ok! I was so excited! When we went up to the counter to buy tickets, I was so disappointed to see that it wasn't running due to wind. Awe, we came so close! But I have that on our to-do list for next trip. There are still so many things I want to see and do at Disney!!
Lunch was pretty good at Planet Hollywood. I got the turkey club and Peter got the cheese steak. We paid OOP ( minus a $10 coupon from our resort packet)= approx. $30.00 plus the pictures we bought.
We browsed through a few more shops before leaving. I love the Lego displays in front of the Lego store!
We had planned to do a little resort hopping during this trip, and since Port Orleans Resort was nearby and it is where we'd like to stay sometime in the future, we got on the bus to Port Orleans.
We met the nicest family and chatted the whole way there. One of the ladies shared that she was a Disney travel agent/trip planner and had her own online business. That is always so fascinating to me and is my(dream) job! She gave me lots of helpful information, and we ended up talking again at the bus stop when we were leaving the resort. Who knows? Maybe someday! :0)
We stopped at Port Orleans French Quarter.......
It is a beautiful resort!!
I want to stay there even more now after seeing it!
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
I would also love to do the Characters in Flight sometime.
Port Orleans is nice - we did a split stay our last trip between French Quarter and Riverside, and we decided we like Riverside a bit more. There's something about it that reminds me of a DVC resort.
I would also love to do the Characters in Flight sometime.
Port Orleans is nice - we did a split stay our last trip between French Quarter and Riverside, and we decided we like Riverside a bit more. There's something about it that reminds me of a DVC resort.
I couldn't believe we were finally going to ride CIF and it was too windy! It really didn't seem like it to me, but I guess up that far, conditions have to right. Peter has talked about us trying it this trip...keep your fingers crossed! I l've heard great feedback about Riverside. I would love to stay at P.O. someday (and maybe do a split stay like you!).
We finally got to Hollywood Studios around 3:00. Peter wanted to watch a couple of American Idol shows, so I went over to the Animation Academy for the drawing class. There are several things in this park that I love to do that Peter doesn't, and taking the drawing class is definitely one of them!
We drew Snow White.....and I didn't do so great this time...
......not my best work!! The demonstration was a bit rushed (that's what I'll blame it on anyway).
I'm posting my Pluto picture from a few years ago since I did much better on that one!!
Next, I rode Rock n' Roller Coaster.
I love that this ride has a single rider option. In a matter of minutes, I was boarding my limo.
I love it when my ride partner is taking their first ride on RnRC. I tell them how fun it is and love to see their reaction! I am such a fun ride partner , I wish Peter loved more rides!!!
After riding a second time, I met up with Peter for the next AI show.
We picked the winner!
It was getting close to our dinner reservation, so we left the park and took the boat over to Beach Club. This is one of our favorite places in Disney.....
Peter's 3rd or 4th plate of mussels and clams!
The waitress brought us this anniversary treat. <3
Cost:$80.92 {or 2 TS credits} + cash tip
Love the view of Boardwalk from the beach at night :O)
We were just in time for the fireworks! We walked over to the International Gateway and found a spot there to watch- this will become another new tradition for us!
Maelstrom is being redesigned as a Frozen attraction.
Will it be a ride or meet & greet type thing? Peter liked riding Maelstrom.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
Nice finish to the night!!
It was a good end to the night. We love Beach Club and just walking around Boardwalk. We saw a small crowd gathering near the boat launch area as you walk back over to Epcot. We stopped there to watch Illuminations. A great spot to catch it if you aren't doing Epcot that day!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lfredsbo
Sounds like a great day! I want to do CIF one day too, bummer it wasn't flying for you
He wants to try again, so maybe we'll get to do it in 2 weeks!!
About This Page: 
I still hope to see Wishes some day from the beach at the Poly. Glad you all enjoyed it and a delicious dinner. Your picture of Maelstrom made me miss this ride. Our trip in October I took a picture of Luke at the entrance with his Maelstrom t-shirt on, but all the signs for the ride were gone. 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
- I like the new fast pass plus better.... You've definitely got me considering dinner at O'hanas for next trip!!
Great time at Epcot and dinner at 'Ohana! 
Susan
Linear Mode
