Forums Closed
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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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!
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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.
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12-10-2005, 10:09 PM
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#121
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Dopey's biggest fan!
Join Date: May 2004
Location: China Spring, TX
Concierge Level: 9
Posts: 26,975
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Re: A Gargantuan Gathering of Passporter Peoples . . . DAY 2 PART 2!!!! (updated 12/10)
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST!!!
<font color="darkblue">Since we really had no touring plan (other than “Go to MGM”) today, we let Emilie pick what to do next. She yells out “Playhouse Disney . . . then Chicken Little!” Well, it wasn’t quite time for the next Playhouse Disney show, so we wandered through the Animation Gallery then went in to see Chicken Little. Abby Mallard was out there for a few minutes but went to take a break just before we got up there . . . we still got to see Chicken Little though! Emilie gave him a big hug and said “The sky fell, didn’t it?! It’s right there!” and pointed to a octagon-shaped, sky-colored prop that was there . . . [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]
Next up was the 1:30 Playhouse Disney show . . . this was the first time we saw the new version with JoJo’s Circus instead of Rolie Polie Olie . . . I thought it was cute as usual, but was impressed that even though Emilie is almost 5, she is still interested in the show (not too cool for school yet [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] )
Mike said he would really like to go to Who Wants to be a Millionaire – Play It! next, and since neither of us had ever been there and Emilie is a BIG fan of the game show, we headed right over!!! This begins my week-long rant about the fact that they stuff all these people into this fairly small area (“If you can see the floor right in front of your feet, you aren’t close enough to the person in front of you! Please fill up ALL available space!” [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] ) then they expect these 100 or more people to squeeze through 2 sets of double doors . . . can you say CATTLE?! So, while we were waiting, Emilie tugs on my sleeve and says “Hey mom! If I win this, I’m gonna get the Capital One check! This is SO COOL!” Yes, my child is a game show geek . . . she LOVES Millionaire . . . she watches it every day after school! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img] None of us got in the Hot Seat . . . Emilie had a habit of blurting out “the answer” (or what she thought it was anyway) and Mike was SURE that Muhammad Ali fought George Foreman in the “Thrilla in Manila” but I was POSITIVE that it was Joe Frazier that he fought . . . and I was right. The girl that was in the Hot Seat the last time admitted that her friend was telling her the answers and that’s how she got down there . . . then she ended up getting the $500 question wrong (even though she was POSITIVE she was right) [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/foreheadslap.gif[/img] Still a fun time though!!!
 
“I know about the rules, I know about the Lifelines . . . I’m ready to play Who Wants to be . . . A MILLIONAIRE!”
Well, what next to do but go next door and see Mickey!!!
 
Then we wandered the Streets of America while it was still light out!!!
I saw this sign and thought IMMEDIATELY of Melissa . . . and Annabel . . . [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
”Paid for by the Fund to Keep Miss Piggy Happy” Why don’t I have one of those?! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img]
Ever wondered how Santa gets in those places without a chimney?
 
We came out of the “Streets” and headed into Tattooine . . . and Star Tours had a 5 minute wait posted so . . . on we went!!! Emilie was ½ inch taller than the required height and she was ITCHING to ride!!! She was just about tall enough this summer when we were at Disneyland, but they refused to let her ride . . . and she was kinda upset about it! FINALLY . . . Emilie was taking off on her first flight to Endor!!! She was a little shaky afterwards but said it was “fun but scary”. She didn’t really like the very beginning, but by the “Trench scene” she was giggling (so was I! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] ) I told her it was alright “after all, it was my first flight and I’m still getting used to my programming!” (I have the script memorized . . . I am SUCH a dork!)
 
We had originally planned on skipping the parade, but since we had a 4:10 ADR at 50’s Prime Time Café and in order to get there on time we really couldn’t go anywhere (or else we’d get stopped by the parade) . . . so, we hung out and watched over the crowds’ shoulders. It was the Hollywood Holly-Day Parade, which was basically the same as the Stars and Motor Cars parade. The cars, characters and performers were dressed up for the Holidays and the soundtrack was slightly different.
     </font>
CONTINUED IN NEXT POST!!!!
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12-10-2005, 10:18 PM
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#122
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Dopey's biggest fan!
Join Date: May 2004
Location: China Spring, TX
Concierge Level: 9
Posts: 26,975
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Re: A Gargantuan Gathering of Passporter Peoples . . . DAY 2 PART 3!!!! (updated 12/10)
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST!!!
<font color="darkblue">We checked in for our ADR at 3:57 and were taken to our table at 4:05pm . . . our server was Cousin Heather and she was very attentive, especially to Emilie. She told us all about how she has a 5 year old son at home that gets picky and won’t eat but that he likes to come to his mom’s work and eat on her days off . . . we thanked her for trying to help but Emilie was really more interested in coloring and trying to do the puzzles on her menu than eating the chicken nuggets she ordered. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] Mike kept his elbows off the table and took his hat off at the table! And he didn’t tattle when I didn’t eat my veggies!!! He ordered Mom’s Meatloaf and said it was VERY good . . . and I ordered the pot roast . . . HOLY COW!!! It was SO good!!! I wasn’t crazy about the “shredded” green beans, carrots and onions (read: I didn’t eat them [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] ) but the mashed potatoes and gravy were GREAT! Altogether, with tip and minus our DDE discount, our total was $40 . . . [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
 
Waiting to be seated at 50’s PTC . . .
After dinner, we weren’t sure WHAT we wanted to do next so we headed over to the Great Movie Ride . . . we only had to sit through the movie clips in the area right before you board the ride twice! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]</font>
“That’s mighty rough territory you’re headed into, pilgrim . . . “
That witch got hers . . .
<font color="darkblue">Once we were done there, it was right about 6pm, so we grabbed the stroller and headed over to the front of the Hat and found a large group of PassPorter looking peoples standing there!!! I walked up behind Bill and Terri and said “Nice hat, Bill.” (I think you all have seen his new “hair” hat? [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] ) Thus began the greetings, the meetings . . . the squealing!!! Robin and Angie and I screeched at each other when we saw each other! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img] I kid you not, even though the only people in this group I had ever seen before were Terri (who I first met in January) and Bill (who I had just met a few hours earlier), it was like I had known everyone for years and just hadn’t seen them in a while! It was a little weird at first actually SEEING everyone, but it was GREAT!!! My camera was somewhere in the crowd of camera when we all got together for a BIG meet photo, but somehow I didn't actually end up with any photos on my camera . . . never fear though! I am POSITIVE that Bill (and others) have some! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
We headed back toward the Streets of America once we had almost everyone there . . . once we came around that corner and saw the Osborne Lights . . . WHOA! As George Costanza would say “Sweet fancy Moses!” (granted, he said it when he saw Elaine dance, but it was kind of the same shock!) Let me tell you . . . that was a LOT of freakin’ lights!!! I told Mike he is NEVER allowed to say that I use too many lights EVER AGAIN! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img] I’ve got NOTHING on Disney and Mr. Osborne!!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img] ANYHOO . . . we were all kind of standing there in shock looking around and noticed that Mr. Osborne was there being interviewed by what looked like a local TV channel! Cheryl (chezp) and Mark arrived a little late, but they met up with us in the midst of the lights . . . it was SO great to finally meet those two!!! Mark is SUCH a funny guy and Chez is just as sweet as can be!!! I sure hope that we have the opportunity to meet up with them again!!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] They brought a supply of Cadbury chocolate from the UK for me . . . and I have made quite a dent in it so far!!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img] I told Mark it would be gone in a week . . . but I might have to make that 2 or 3 weeks now! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img]</font>
 
I can tell you whose heads you are seeing (or partially seeing . . . ) . . . right in the left front is Sheila (wheatenwalker), behind her is Lou Mongello, in the khaki colored hat is Steven Barrett (author of Hidden Mickeys!), in the green sweatshirt is Barb (Grammy Grumpy) and her DH Bob (white shirt) . . . Tara O’Hara’s daughter Katie is in the Mickey Santa ears in the center . . . Tara’s behind her (you can barely see her) in Stitch Santa ears . . . and that’s Dave in the front right corner!
 
 
Emilie and one of her new best buddies, Angie (poohsgirl) [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
Robin (RobinKay6573) singing in no rain . . . they turned the Singin’ in the Rain umbrella off . . . [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]
  
OK . . . from left to right . . . FRONT ROW: Terri (DrDolphin), Cheryl (Phoebe_Cates) and Chez (chezp) ----- BACK ROW: Barb (Grammy Grumpy), ME!, Robin (RobinKay6573), Emilie on the shoulders of Angie (poohsgirl), Katie (Tara's daughter), Tara (Tara O'Hara), Sheila (wheatenwalker), Joe (joe.hurley) and Evie (Evie5253)
<font color="darkblue">So . . . we were hanging out talking amidst all of the lights when a couple of CM’s came over and started “directing” us to the front of the park . . . it was past closing time, there was a private function going on in the park that night and they wanted everyone else out. So, we walked out the gates and said “See you tomorrow” to everyone, got on our bus back to Pop and were back by 8pm. We filled up our mugs, went back to the room, called our parents and watched “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” . . . Mike then decided he “needed” beer but was NOT going to pay $5 a bottle (can you blame him?!) so he went to Publix while Emilie and I wandered around the resort taking photos and went into Everything Pop to buy a couple of things and pick up some tie-dye cheesecake . . . oh yeah, and get some hot chocolate in my mug because, dang it, I WILL drink $12 or more worth of beverage to make that mug pay for itself!!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img]
          
Emilie “being the ball” . . .
We came back to the room, Emilie went to bed, I uploaded photos and did a live update on the boards then conked out about 11:30pm . . . in a room that did not smell of mildew!!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img]</font>
COMING UP NEXT: “But I don’t wanna be a Pirate!”
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12-10-2005, 10:28 PM
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#123
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Community Rank: Explorer 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Posts: 13,817
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Re: A Gargantuan Gathering of Passporter Peoples . . . DAY 2 PART 3!!!! (updated 12/10)
Great update Sarah! You all look like you had so much fun!
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12-10-2005, 10:38 PM
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#124
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Community Rank: Legend 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Concierge Level: 7
Posts: 18,767
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Re: A Gargantuan Gathering of Passporter Peoples . . . DAY 2 PART 3!!!! (updated 12/10)
What an awesome day all of you had!! Great pictures as always!! Looking forward to more!! Hurry back! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
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12-10-2005, 10:39 PM
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#125
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Community Rank: Jetsetter 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: 2 hour plane ride from the Magic
Posts: 2,761
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Re: A Gargantuan Gathering of Passporter Peoples . . . DAY 2 PART 3!!!! (updated 12/10)
GREAT update. I [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img] your TR's!!! YAY!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] Sounds like such a fun...and eventful...day.
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12-10-2005, 11:33 PM
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#126
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Community Rank: Legend
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Dreaming of the Future
Concierge Level: 1
Posts: 24,867
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Re: A Gargantuan Gathering of Passporter Peoples . . . DAY 2 PART 3!!!! (updated 12/10)
I just caught up Sarah! your Trip report is awesome!
More pretty please!
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12-10-2005, 11:48 PM
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#127
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Community Rank: Adventurer 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Carol Stream, IL
Posts: 670
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Re: A Gargantuan Gathering of Passporter Peoples . . . DAY 2 PART 3!!!! (updated 12/10)
I just got all caught up. Sounds like you had a perfect day. Love the report and can't wait to read more. Love the pictures too.
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12-11-2005, 08:09 AM
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#128
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The Original BagMan
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Shalimar, FL
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 22,002
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Re: A Gargantuan Gathering of Passporter Peoples . . . DAY 2 PART 3!!!! (updated 12/10)
Great Update Sarah... [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img] the photos!!!
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12-11-2005, 08:48 AM
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#129
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Community Rank: Explorer
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Niagara Falls
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 12,431
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Re: A Gargantuan Gathering of Passporter Peoples . . . DAY 2 PART 3!!!! (updated 12/10)
Great update! I'm really enjoying the Seinfeld references!
Jennifer
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12-11-2005, 09:07 AM
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#130
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Magic Happens!
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: E. Stroudsburg, PA
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 29,184
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Re: A Gargantuan Gathering of Passporter Peoples . . . DAY 2 PART 1!!!! (updated 12/10)
Cool update, great pictures!
How cool is it that you met up with Bill and Jan at Pop? [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]
Ready for more... [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]
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12-11-2005, 10:00 AM
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#131
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Community Rank: Legend Extraordinaire 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Ohio Football Hall Of Fame
Posts: 42,304
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Re: A Gargantuan Gathering of Passporter Peoples . . . DAY 2 PART 1!!!! (updated 12/10)
A really fantastic update Sarah!! Your pictures are so awesome!! Can't wait to read more!!!
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12-11-2005, 10:08 AM
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#132
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PassPorter Message Board Manager
 PassPorter Guide Author
Community Rank: Legend VIP 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Maidstone, Kent, UK
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 190,285
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Re: A Gargantuan Gathering of Passporter Peoples . . . DAY 2 PART 1!!!! (updated 12/10)
Great installment Sarah - and I'm glad to hear those chocolates have lasted longer than a week. I must admit when I heard how quickly you reckoned you'd get through them, I was a bit surprised. There was a fair bit there! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
I love your photos of the lights and Pop Century looks awesome at night. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img]
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12-11-2005, 12:27 PM
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#133
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: Missouri
Posts: 4,595
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Re: A Gargantuan Gathering of Passporter Peoples . . . DAY 2 PART 1!!!! (updated 12/10)
Great update! THanks for sharing all the pictures! Can't wait for more!
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12-11-2005, 12:50 PM
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#134
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Community Rank: Explorer
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Longfellow's "Jewel by the Sea"
Posts: 14,165
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Re: A Gargantuan Gathering of Passporter Peoples . . . DAY 2 PART 1!!!! (updated 12/10)
Bha! I need beer at Disney World, too. This cracked me up: [ QUOTE ]
Hey mom! If I win this, I’m gonna get the Capital One check!
[/ QUOTE ] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img] Awesome installment, Sarah, the photos and reporting are fantastic. Can't wait for more!
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12-11-2005, 02:17 PM
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#135
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Community Rank: Trailblazer 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Chicago Illinois
Posts: 5,421
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Re: A Gargantuan Gathering of Passporter Peoples . . . DAY 2 PART 1!!!! (updated 12/10)
Just getting caught up. Great start. Can't wait for more. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
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