The Spontaneous 40th Birthday Bonanza - 8/7-8/14 - PTR/TR - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
The Spontaneous 40th Birthday Bonanza - 8/7-8/14 - PTR/TR
[FONT="Comic Sans MS"]Hi all!
Well, I'm making my first attempt at a TR, and starting with a PTR for our upcoming August trip. I'm determined to finally do one and finish it, because I enjoy reading everyone else's so much and I also think it's a great way to relive your trip! Let me start off by saying that we were just at WDW in June, for 9 glorious days and 8 nights. It was a wonderful trip and I had every good intention of doing a TR for that trip when we got back. Except for one little hitch I hadn't counted on - we left our digital camera, with most of our Disney photos, at my in-law's condo in Florida ! Can you even imagine? So, the bad news is, that trip report will have to wait. Fortunately I took some pretty good notes, so hopefully I'll still be able to do one when my sister- and brother-in-law bring it back home with them next month. Thankfully they are visiting down there and can retrieve it for us! I'm not sure what I'd do if it was there til we go back next summmer
So let me start by introducing ourselves!
First, there's me - Samantha or "Sam", a 39 year old total Disney freak who is constantly scheming a way to fit in an extra trip, or two, or however many our pocketbooks and schedules can accommodate. I'm turning the dreaded 4-0 on August 24th, and this upcoming trip is my present to myself and my family! It's all I want and the best gift a girl could ever ask for, don't you agree? Oh, and my favorite Disney characters are Stitch and Donald Duck.
Next is Dean, my 40 year-old hubby, who loves Disney as well - just not quite as much as his wife. We have to allow him some time to decompress each trip and get into Disney mode, where as we joke, you take the "real-world" price of something, multiply it times 2, then add a few dollars for good measure. He grouses about the expenses but it's all done as a joke - he loves it as much as we do. I'm lucky to have found someone as tolerant of repeat WDW trips as he is!
Next is ds, Alex, age 8 3/4 - a miniature Disney fan who loves it as much as his mom. How could he not, with all the propoganda he hears from me day and night? He's not a thrill-ride kind of kid, which is actually OK with me ( I can enjoy them, but don't miss them). Ask him for his favorite part of Disney, he'll say World Showcase in Epcot, which I think is a little unusual for a kid his age - but I'm happy for it because I love it too! Alex's favorite Disney character is the main mouse himself, Mickey, which is why Chef Mickey's is an annual stop for us.
Last but not least is dd, Deanna, age 5, who adores Minnie, all the princesses (but Ariel most of all), Stitch, Chip and Dale, Tinkerbell, and on and on. She is also a Disney fanatic, and is making her 6th trip to WDW! We started going when she was just 22 months old and ds was 5.
So why are we headed back after having just visited in June, you may ask? Well, our June trip was fabulous - albeit HOT and CROWDED, all to be expected for June, but somehow this time just a little more HOT (record temps) and CROWDED (Touring Plans 8 and 9s rather than 6s or 7s we've had before in early June). We had a wonderful time and as usual, wished we could've stayed longer - who wouldn't, right? As a sidebar, I think I've got dh just about convinced we need at least 10 days at Disney to be able to enjoy everything and build in some R & R, too
It all started the day we came home from Florida in late June to find the weather pretty much as we'd left it 2 1/2 weeks before in early June - overcast and chilly. Depressing to say the least. In the ensuing weeks, it didn't improve much. We're having one of our coldest, and I believe (although this is not scientifically proven) cloudiest summers on record. While trying to make the best of it, I started plotting how we could get back down to Florida. I didn't start off even dreaming of visiting Disney again. I was trying to get us back down to my in-law's condo, on the Gulf Coast of Florida, where we can stay for free. Unfortunately, the two weeks in August that we could actually get away schedule-wise, my sister-in-law and her hubby were already booked to go down there for a christening in his family. Dates couldn't be changed, plane tickets were purchased and the condo was a big no-go. So then I started looked into alterative Florida destinations, and as usual, ended up playing the "what if we" game on the reservations page of the WDW site. I pitched it to dh, who seemed lukewarm (and why wouldn't he be, when the ink on our credit card bill from our last trip wasn't even dry yet). Eventually, through perserverance, I pretty much got him to agree with could drive down and stay at WDW for a five-day getaway , staying at a value or moderate. Long story short, through repeatedly checking flight and car prices, plus using the "this is all I want for my 40th birthday (which is at the end of August)" tactic, we are now going to be flying down on Allegiant Airlines, renting a car and splitting our stay - two nights at Pop Century, ds' favorite resort, and thanks to the 40% off rooms deal, five nights at the Poly! to me!!
Next up: Can I get any remotely desirable (to us) ADRs two WEEKS out? And other preparations for our next trip to the World!
__________________
15 total family trips with stays at the Poly, AKL, Wilderness Lodge, Beach Club, Swan, Dolphin, POFQ, Pop Century, All Star Music, Movies & Sports, and Coronado Springs.
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
So for starters, the theme of this trip is "Hakuna Matata", with "Ohana" as a subtheme. Meaning, relaxed, with a focus on enjoying time together as a family. One of the beautiful things about having just been in June is that we've seen and done a lot recently. So, while naturally we'll try to see some things we missed, and hit our favorites, it's mostly all gravy . A relaxed approach to Disney? Should be interesting and definitely not a natural state for me!
Touring Plans is now showing crowd levels most days we'll be there of 7s with an 8 thrown in there, whereas last week they were all 6s so I wonder if Disney will extend any hours - I'll have to keep checking. Here's what the schedule looks like:
8/7 - 5:30 flight out of Rockford, IL, touching down at Orlando-Sanford Airport at 9:05 PM. Pick up rental car and head to Pop Century. Have necessities in one suitcase so as not to have to completely unpack as we're only at Pop two nights. Depending on how keyed up kids are, maybe swim or grab a snack, or just hit the hay for a relatively early start in the AM.
8/8 - AM - Hollywood Studios - top priorities will be B&B Live on Stage, Indiana Jones, American Idol and of course, Toy Story Mania. I'll be curious to see if the lines are any shorter this trip, as on average they were around 120 minutes in June. Then in the evening, we'll probably swim or hit Downtown Disney, depending on how we feel.
8/9 - AM - check out of Pop and head over to Animal Kingdom. Stay til mid-afternoon, then over to check-in at the Poly. A nice long break, then head over to MK for the evening and EMH.
8/10 - sleep in, then head over to Epcot. If we feel like it, head over to MK after Epcot closes.
8/11 - AM - MK, PM- Epcot for EMH
8/12 - AM - MK, PM - HS for EMH
8/13 - AM - MK, PM - Epcot or MK - depending on what we feel like. Then back to the room to pack.
8/14 - check out of Poly, then depending on time, hit MK for some last-minute magic. Flight out of Orlando leaves at 3:30, back home around 4:45.
So those are the plans! Now, onto scoring an ADR. I'd like at least one nice TS meal somewhere for a birthday dinner, so we'll see what I can accomplish.
__________________
15 total family trips with stays at the Poly, AKL, Wilderness Lodge, Beach Club, Swan, Dolphin, POFQ, Pop Century, All Star Music, Movies & Sports, and Coronado Springs.
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.
So....are we "ADR"-less in Lake Buena Vista, or did I score a last minute ressie at Le Cellier for dinner?
What do you think? Naturally, no Le Cellier, nor did I find anything of interest available at some of the places we'd like to try. There were some openings at places I wasn't overly interested in, and since we aren't doing the dining plan, decided to pass! I'll keep checking on the online dining reservations system (which I am really loving, by the way), in case anything opens up! So we are going to be a CS family all the way - unless something spur of the moment should work out. We gave up a dinner ressie at Le Cellier in June if you can believe it, so I'm hoping karma works in our favor and maybe something will open up at a good place while we are there. No worries, though...that means more time in the parks and less schedule - a perfect combo for a relaxing combination! We had quite a few TS meals at some nice places in June so I don't feel deprived by any means. And I can still visit my favorite frosty beverage locations - no reservations required for those! Oh, and at dh's request, I'm going to call later today to try for T-Rex again, which we really enjoyed last trip...so hopefully we'll at least get that one.
The park tickets came yesterday from Undercover Tourist! This was our first time ordering park tickets from anywhere but Disney, and it was a really simple and pleasant transaction. In our case, we got a 6 day park hopper for $50 less than a 5 day park hopper from Disney, so it was worth it to order them separately. The kids started arguing over who gets the Goofy ticket and who gets the Pluto ticket . The things they can find to bicker over - it amazes me sometimes! I told them that since the tickets don't have names on them, they can take turns. They don't get to hold onto them anyway, I just let them walk through the turnstyle with them so I have no idea why it matters, but naturally it does!
Next up will be making lists of what to pack and do before we leave town - lots of lists - which I won't subject you to, but I am a list-making freak! Nothing will be forgotten - at least I siincerely hope so! My almost 40-year-old brain just doesn't store information as efficiently as it used to, so I rely on lists to keep me sane. I've tried using the computer or electronic organizers, but call me old-fashioned, I still favor the good-old notebook and pen! It's so satisfying to put those lines through the items as I accomplish them.
Thanks for your good wishes and for reading so far!
Next - can I get T-Rex? And getting things situated for the trip!
__________________
15 total family trips with stays at the Poly, AKL, Wilderness Lodge, Beach Club, Swan, Dolphin, POFQ, Pop Century, All Star Music, Movies & Sports, and Coronado Springs.
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.
About This Page: 
! Can you even imagine? So, the bad news is, that trip report will have to wait. Fortunately I took some pretty good notes, so hopefully I'll still be able to do one when my sister- and brother-in-law bring it back home with them next month. Thankfully they are visiting down there and can retrieve it for us! I'm not sure what I'd do if it was there til we go back next summmer
He's not a thrill-ride kind of kid, which is actually OK with me ( I can enjoy them, but don't miss them). Ask him for his favorite part of Disney, he'll say World Showcase in Epcot, which I think is a little unusual for a kid his age - but I'm happy for it because I love it too! Alex's favorite Disney character is the main mouse himself, Mickey, which is why Chef Mickey's is an annual stop for us. 
, staying at a value or moderate. Long story short, through repeatedly checking flight and car prices, plus using the "this is all I want for my 40th birthday (which is at the end of August)" tactic, we are now going to be flying down on Allegiant Airlines, renting a car and splitting our stay - two nights at Pop Century, ds' favorite resort, and thanks to the 40% off rooms deal, five nights at the Poly! 
to me!! 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
so I wonder if Disney will extend any hours - I'll have to keep checking. Here's what the schedule looks like:
PassPorter Guide Author
Naturally, no Le Cellier, nor did I find anything of interest available at some of the places we'd like to try. There were some openings at places I wasn't overly interested in, and since we aren't doing the dining plan, decided to pass! I'll keep checking on the online dining reservations system (which I am really loving, by the way), in case anything opens up! So we are going to be a CS family all the way - unless something spur of the moment should work out. We gave up a dinner ressie at Le Cellier in June 
Oh, and at dh's request, I'm going to call later today to try for T-Rex again, which we really enjoyed last trip...so hopefully we'll at least get that one.
. The things they can find to bicker over - it amazes me sometimes! I told them that since the tickets don't have names on them, they can take turns. They don't get to hold onto them anyway, I just let them walk through the turnstyle with them so I have no idea why it matters, but naturally it does!
Linear Mode
