Our WDW pre-trip report for Oct. 3-10, 2009 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
PassPorter.com
Award-winning travel guidebooks

   guidebooks   |   news   |   podcasts   |   boards   |   blog   |   worksheets   |   photos   |   articles   |   updates   |   register   |   follow us on


Forums Closed
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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!

Go Back   PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums > PassPorter's Walt Disney World Resort (Florida) > Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
Register


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.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-28-2009, 02:57 PM   #1
bkwrm
Community Rank: Wayfarer
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Posts: 176

Post Thanks / Like
Smile Our WDW pre-trip report for Oct. 3-10, 2009

Travel dates: Oct. 3-11, 2009
Travel method: Flying via Delta Airlines from Cody Wyoming
Accommodations: Port Orleans, French Quarter
Ages Represented in Group: 54 and 49
Disney Resort Experience Represented in Group: We've been twice in the past 23 years......not nearly enough
Comments: We need all the feedback and advice we can get
Cast of characters: John and Sharon

Let me preface this pre trip report by saying our first visit to WDW was on our honeymoon in 1986 and the second visit was June, 2006 for our 20th anniversary. The first time we went we were so broke we had to stay off property.......way, way off property.....in a Motel 6 type place, but as we spent every waking moment at the park our accommodations didn't matter much in the long run. As we have "grown up" though, we find that we want to enjoy the full-on, in your face experience of staying on site. Last time, we went off site once again and stayed at The Gaylord; expensive and not as worth it as I'd thought. We definitely felt cheated by staying off site and planned to remedy that this time, but as fate would have it our financial situation has made some economies necessary and we've opted to stay at Port Orleans, French Quarter. I've haunted this website and faithfully read as many trip reports as I can fit in and I know they've guided my decision to blurt out "POFQ" when Minnie ......yes, that's really her name...our friendly and knowledgeable Mouse Guide at a well known travel agency, was reading off the various resorts in our moderate price range. Now, I'm a fretter like a terrier with a bone and I find myself waking in the middle of the night wondering if I've chosen well and basically having a bit of "buyer's remorse". I'm hoping by turning to you wonderful group of WDW lovers that I can find some peace of mind and stop obsessing about our accommodations if you'll only let me know if you have stayed at POFQ and how you enjoyed it and what made it a good place to park yourselves on your Disney adventure. After you've done that will you please give me some advice on dining? We've opted for the Disney dining plan.......okay, I give up; it was FREE since I booked our trip during the promotion....once again, thanks to Minnie and her foresight and encouragement. Enough of my yapping, though, I need your input. Thank-you very kindly. Bkwrm
__________________
Bkwrm
bkwrm is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 04-28-2009, 03:12 PM   #2
RoonieRooToo
Community Rank: Trekker
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: The wilds of Texas
Posts: 1,613

Post Thanks / Like
Welcome Bkwrm. We are going to be there at the same time - Oct 3 to 14th at WL. I haven't stayed at POFQ yet but it is on our list since I've read so many wonderful things about it. We're doing Free Dining also! I think you make fabulous choice of POFQ with Free Dining personally
__________________
My Countdown Counting down to: First visit (well 2nd if you count when I was 6 years old) to Disneyland
In the Disney Bubble
My Previous Trips1971 Disneyland, May 1985 WDW offsite, Dec 2000 All Star Music, Oct 2001 Caribbean Beach, Oct 2003 Caribbean Beach, Oct 2009 Bay Lake Towers, Mar 2010 AKL, Dec 2011 BLT,Oct 2012 BLT,Dec 2013 BLT,Feb 2014 DL GCH,Sept 2015 Aulani
RoonieRooToo is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 04-28-2009, 03:20 PM   #3
belle0517
Community Rank: Trekker
 
belle0517's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Utah
Posts: 1,160

Post Thanks / Like
Great start! Glad you get to stay on property this time!
belle0517 is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 04-28-2009, 03:24 PM   #4
janicelovesmickey
Community Rank: Explorer
 
janicelovesmickey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: w/future ex husbands tommy lee, robert downey jr, adam lambert in NJ planet poptart
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 10,563

Post Thanks / Like
great start! I havent stayed there myself, but hear great things about it.
__________________
My Countdown Counting down to: A really quick weekend trip
I need to just live here
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous Trips1975, summer timeFirst family trip to WDW | 1983, May SR. HS Trip | 1999, November Off property | 2000, November Off property | 2004, June Off property | 2004, September Disneyland & hollywood | 2005 - July Hollywood | 2005, September All Star Music & November off property | 2006, April off property & Sept POP | 2006, July - Hollywood | 2007, March off property, July- Hollywood, Sept POP, Oct POP, Dec off property | 2008, January off property, April/May off property, July-HOLLYWOOD, September- All star Music PIN CODE! | 2009- feb, LAS VEGAS. APRIL-MAY Nashville June 2009 Nashville. JULY 2009 HOLLYWOOD, October 2009 WDW CSR pin code, DEC 2009/JAN 2010 OFF PROPERTY | April/May 2010-POP AP RATE | July 2010- Hollywood/Las Vegas | Sept 2010 CBR Pin Code!! | ANNUAL PASSHOLDER 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 | Universal Studios Orlando/Islands of Adventure Premium Annual Passholder 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 | Universal Studios Hollywood Annual Passholder 2008-2009
janicelovesmickey is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 04-28-2009, 03:57 PM   #5
vfair
Community Rank: Trekker
 
vfair's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Kansas City
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 1,814

Post Thanks / Like
Welcome Bkwrm! I have been through the off-site stays and I believe you will be much happier on property. I've never stayed at POFQ but I did stay at Dixie Landings (now POR) for our first two trips together (honeymoon and the following year). We liked it very much. We will be leaving for our next visit the day before you arrive - it's a very nice time of year. Enjoy your planning and feel free to ask any questions you have.
__________________
Vicki in KC


My Countdown Counting down to: 2009 WDW Vacation
It's here!
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsOff Site July 1984, Off Site July 1987, Off Site May 1993, Dixie Landings March 1996, Dixie Landings May 1997, OKW May 1999, OKW May 2000, OKW April 2001, BWV Jan 2003, BCV Oct 2003, BWV Sept 2004, BWV Oct 2005, BWV Oct 2006, BWV Oct 2007, BCV Oct 2008
vfair is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 04-28-2009, 04:48 PM   #6
Colexis Mom
RED SOX NATION!!
PassPorter's Club Passholder


What's this?

PassPorter Guide

Community Rank:
Legend VIP
 
Colexis Mom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Connecticut
Concierge Level: 9
Posts: 136,854

Post Thanks / Like
Great start!! Welcome to the boards!
__________________
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsAUG '16 - POFQ, APR '12 - POFQ, JUL '10 - DL, AUG '09 - DCL Western, AUG '08 - POFQ/BC, AUG '06 - AKL/BC/DisneyWonder/Poly, DEC '05 - AKL, APR '05 - AKL/BC, DEC '04 - AKL, MAY '04 - AKL/BC, MAY '03 - WL/BC, MAY '98 -offsite, MAY '94 - BC, AUG '85 - Poly, AUG '83 - Poly, AUG '81 - Poly, JUL '79 - World Inn, JUL '76 - World Inn
Colexis Mom is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 04-28-2009, 04:50 PM   #7
mcc0313
Community Rank: Legend
 
mcc0313's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: New York
Concierge Level: 2
Posts: 16,622

Post Thanks / Like
Great start....can't wait to hear more of your plans.
__________________
Meg

My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsBWV & POLY 8/15, OKW 2/15, BWI 11/14, AKV & BCV 8/14, CSR 10/13, OKW & AKV 8/13, AKV & BLT 7/12, AKV & BWV 8/11, BCV 2/11, POR & BWV 8/10, POR 8/09, POR 12/08, ASMo 6/08, POR 5/06, WDW 10/83
mcc0313 is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2009, 12:33 AM   #8
DyanKJ130
Go Red Sox!! :D
PassPorter's Club Passholder


What's this?

PassPorter Guide

Community Rank: Legend
 
DyanKJ130's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Rhode Island - Red Sox Nation
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 27,451

Post Thanks / Like
to the boards!! Great start!
__________________
Dyan PassPorter Guide: Disneyland Trip Reports, The Kitchen and The Library

My Countdown Counting down to: Bagman Days
Remembering Bill Myers: A great man; a true friend
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsPop December 2018, Contemporary September 2018, CSR/ASSports December 2017, OKW July 2017, Swan December 2016/January 2017, Pop September 2016, AKL July 2016, CSR December 2015, CSR BL July 2015, CSR/AKL February 2015, Swan December 2014, POR July 2014, WL CL September 2013, CSR BL July 2013, SSR December 2012, ASMo September/October 2012, CSR August 2011, SSR February 2010, CSR December 2008/January 2009, DLR (Dolphin's Cove Resort) February 2008, CBR September 2007, CSR August 2006, POR December 2005, WL June/July 2004, POR August 2002, Dixie Landings August 2000, Off-site February 1999, DLR March 1988, DLR March 1986, Golf Resort (now SOG) October 1979
DyanKJ130 is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2009, 12:10 AM   #9
lazanya
Community Rank: Legend
 
lazanya's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Concierge Level: 7
Posts: 26,695

Post Thanks / Like
Great start!
lazanya is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2009, 01:17 PM   #10
OhToodles!
PassPorter Guide

Community Rank: Explorer
 
OhToodles!'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: St. Peters, MO
Concierge Level: 7
Posts: 12,274

Post Thanks / Like

I can't give you any advice about POFQ, but I'm sure it's a lovely resort. We were in WDW last year at that time and it was great. Since you'll have free dining and going during Food & Wine Festival (at Epcot), I strongly encourage reservations for table service places. Have fun planning your first visit on property!
__________________
Disney Magic - Oct 2015
Kelly Co-Guide to Owning the Magic: Disney Vacation Club & Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
My Countdown Counting down to: Spring Break @ the Poly!
no parks, but still Disney!!
OhToodles! is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-2009, 06:16 PM   #11
KandJluvdisney
Community Rank: Scout
 
KandJluvdisney's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Methuen,MA
Posts: 4,499

Post Thanks / Like
we'll be there at about the same time - we arrive on the 1st and will be staying at pofq also
__________________
hi
My Countdown Counting down to: 10 days of sept fun
See you in 10 days
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsSept 2003 - off property Dec 2004 - Wilderness Lodge Jan 2006 - Pop Century Oct 2007 - Pop Century Oct 2009 - Port Orleans French Quarter April 2010 - Pop Century March 2011 - Pop Century Dec 2011 - Pop Century Oct 2012 - Port Orleans French Riverside Sept 2013 - Pop Century
KandJluvdisney is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2009, 03:46 PM   #12
KMB733
PassPorter Guide

Community Rank:
Legend Extraordinaire
 
KMB733's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ballston Lake, NY
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 46,162

Post Thanks / Like
to the Boards!
Great start! Glad to see you decided to stay on property. I have not stayed at POFQ, but I know many PP's have, so they will be able to help you out.
__________________
Kathy
PassPorter Co-Guide for: Making More Magic
My Countdown Counting down to: Christmas
Merry Christmas
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsWDW June 1979, WDW 1985, WDW 1987, WDW Oct 2003, WDW March 2004, WDW Oct 2004, WDW Sept 2005--Pop Century , WDW Nov 2006--Pop Century, WDW Jan 2007--Pop Century, WDW Nov/Dec 2009--Pop Century, DLR Oct 2011, WDW Dec 2014
KMB733 is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2009, 05:32 PM   #13
Bert & Sully
Community Rank: Legend
 
Bert & Sully's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Florida Big Bend
Posts: 17,133

Post Thanks / Like
Great start. POFQ is a favorite of ours.
__________________
Bert & Sully is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2009, 05:51 PM   #14
Suzie-Q
Community Rank: Trekker
 
Suzie-Q's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Ontario, Canada
Concierge Level: 1
Posts: 1,056

Post Thanks / Like
We're also staying there and overlapping (we're Oct 1-8th). I have heard many good things about POFQ and have stayed at other resorts on-sight so I took into account my likes and dislikes about the other resorts when I chose POFQ for this vacation, so I am confident we (and you too!0 will enjoy it. It seems the perfect size and very nice theming - what's not to like?
As someone has already pointed out - book your ADRs as soon as you can so you are not disappointed.
Have fun planning - you've come to the right place for guidance - the boards are great!
__________________
Guess where we were headed??
My Countdown Counting down to: Charter Catamaran in BVI's!
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsPop and CBR Nov, 2014, FW camping and Pop, then Royal Pacific at Universal, March 2012, POR Surprise trip Jan 2011, Pop (adults only) May 2010, POFQ Oct 09, Pop Sept 08, Pop Jan 08, FW Cabins Feb 07. 3 one-day trips from Daytona as a child
Suzie-Q is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2009, 06:39 PM   #15
DISNEY03
Community Rank: Trekker
 
DISNEY03's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: LONG ISLAND , NY
Posts: 1,095

Post Thanks / Like
Welcome! We've stayed at PORS (next door) and we love that and I know so many people who rave about POFG.
We did the dining plan for the first time in Nov. and honestly I think it was a great decision for us. You get sooooooo much food, it wasn't good for my waistline but it was a good choice. I agree, make your ADR's asap, you both might enjoy the primetime cafe in Hollywood Studio's. Also we enjoyed The Plaza on Main St in Magic Kingdom. Our children are little 4&5 but we enjoy those restaurants now but we really enjoyed them Pre-K (pre-kids).
Good luck with you plans!!!!
Don't forget to take the ride to downtown disney on the boat from POFQ, it's very nice. Bring a sweater at night it gets a little chilly.
__________________
[SIGPIC]
Have a Disney Day!
DVC member 2003 BCV
My Countdown Counting down to: Walt Disney World
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsDisney Fantasy Cruise Sept. 2014,WDW BCV Sept. 2012, WDW SSR Oct. 2010, WDW OKW NOV. 2008, WDW OKW SEPT. 2006, WDW BEACH CLUB NOV. 2004, WDW PORT ORLEANS NOV. 2003, WDW PORT NOV. 2001, WDW CORONADO SPRINGS NOV. 2000, WDW PORT DEC. 1999, OFF SITE JUNE 1998, OFF SITE SEPT. 1997,WDW OFF SITE MAY. 1996.
DISNEY03 is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Reply




Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump














Please login or register to hide these ads -- it's free and easy!

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:52 AM.

-->

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Feedback Buttons provided by Advanced Post Thanks / Like v3.4.0 Patch Level 1 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
(c) 1998-2017 PassPorter Travel Press/MediaMarx, Inc.
Celebrating 19 Years of Making Dreams Come True
Ad Management plugin by RedTyger