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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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
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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.
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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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Life (and one non-Disney vacation . . . ssshhhh . . . . don’t tell anyone ) has truly gotten in the way of our Disney trips this year. We usually make it down at least a few times a year, but this year, we had been once . . . once . . . not good use of AP’s people (although we did use them last Oct and Dec so we more than got our money’s worth )!
All four of us were in extreme Disney withdrawal, but after spending two weeks in Europe this summer, we knew that we had to watch the budget. There’s nothing that says “practical” can’t be fun, right? Hence the name of this trip report!
For the past several years, we have gone down to Disney either on or around Maddie’s birthday, but Maddie shocked us this year by revealing that she wanted to go to Monkey Joe’s for her birthday instead of Disney. What?!? Sad, but true. So, for the first time since Maddie was born, we were missing a fall trip to Disney.
Our AP’s actually were expiring on Maddie’s birthday, so Thom and I knew that if we wanted to plan a long weekend trip then it needed to be before October 4th since we were not renewing our AP’s until we have plans set for another trip. We also knew that we had to limit the number of days that Mary Devall would miss from school since her homework would pile up quickly and have the potential to turn a fun trip into a stressful nightmare.
After doing a little research on crowds, we finally decided on Labor Day weekend. By this point, both girls would have only been in school for two weeks, so the likelihood of them missing anything crucial was minimal . . . especially on the Friday before a long holiday weekend (practical alert #1).
Once we made the decision, we were less than three weeks away from the trip. Since Amtrak prices only go up and up the closer you get to your departure date, we had already priced ourselves out of taking the train, so the car it would be (practical alert #2).
Me being me, of course I had already been looking at hotel options prior to the official date being set. Unfortunately, since we were being practical and all, I didn’t like what I saw. Thom is always up for staying off property at one of the nearby Hilton resorts, but the girls (okay, me too ) just love immersing themselves at Disney. Heck, they even love Disney transportation.
Finally, I remembered the Swan and the Dolphin. My friend, Carol, and I had stayed at the Swan last fall and truly enjoyed the hotel and the location. The girls had never stayed there, so they were immediately excited when I mentioned the possibility.
After checking out the rates on Expedia (where there happened to be a 40% sale that weekend ), Thom and I were equally excited about staying at the Swan. For less than the price of a moderate resort, we could be within walking distance of Epcot and DHS.
We were so sold that we even decided to leave the day before after the girls got out of school and drive straight through to Disney. It was going to be just as inexpensive to spend that night at the Swan as it was some place off the Interstate. Within minutes, I had us booked for four nights at the Swan at an incredible price (practical alert #3).
Now that our plans were shaping up, I set about working up a park plan by researching a crowd calendar since we were going on a holiday weekend which we usually try to avoid like the plague. Thankfully, it sounded like it was going to be pretty manageable since Labor Day Weekend didn’t appear to draw the Spring Break or Thanksgiving crowds.
Once we had a loose park plan, I polled everyone to find out if there were any special requests for restaurants. Maddie had already made it clear that the only place that she wanted to eat was Chef Mickey’s. With our trip being less than three weeks away, I had my doubts about this one, but it doesn’t hurt to try. We were going to MK on our first day, so I logged into online dining and plugged in a late breakfast time for that morning. I almost passed out when a 10:30 a.m. ADR popped up. It was mine!
That was the end of my luck that day because Mary Devall’s one request was. . . Be Our Guest. As one might imagine, there were no times available for any of the days that we were at Disney. She took it well and suggested that we try to eat CS from there instead. I told her that was a great idea, but I also secretly knew that I was going to be trying every single day to snag an ADR.
True to my word, I checked the online dining reservation every day and would even check the app on my phone numerous times a day. One time, my heart skipped a beat when the app came back with a “call the dining reservation number.” I did, but was told by the CM that there were still no openings and that the app gave out wrong information sometimes. At that point, I ditched the phone app and started calling every day along with checking the online dining reservation.
When the actual week of our trip rolled around, I began to lose a little hope so it was late morning of that Monday before I remembered to check online. I plugged in the date that I knew by heart now and waited to see the usual “No dining times available for your requested date.”
On this morning, what I saw instead was “7:00 p.m.” OMG! You would have thought I won the lottery! Thankfully my credit card was on file, so all my shaking fingers had to do was click a couple of buttons and we had our BOG ADR on the very date that we wanted it!
For the rest of the day at work, I waffled back and forth between telling the girls that evening or waiting until we were there, but when I saw them that evening I knew I couldn’t last three more days!
That night at dinner, we were quizzing Maddie on math problems, so I asked her “Maddie, at what time do some people eat dinner?” It took several tries, but I finally got 7 p.m. out of her. I then asked her where someone might eat if they were going to the Magic Kingdom. Once again, several tries, but she finally said “Be Our Guest.” Then I asked how many people are in our family. She got that one on the first guess. My final question was “So . . . where might four people eat at 7 p.m. in Magic Kingdom?” That’s when her eyes got huge and she screamed at her sister “Mary Devall, we’re eating at Be Our Guest!”
Now . . . if you’ll remember . . . Mary Devall is my child who jumps up and down, claps her hands and squeals over the smallest of victories. Anything from a new shirt to a close friend getting an Instagram account can elicit such a response, so . . . let’s just imagine what this news did to the one who requested it. If you guessed screaming, jumping around the room and lots of hugging, then you would be correct.
Their excitement went on for several minutes and, just went I thought they had calmed down and retired to the family room to watch tv, they returned to the kitchen with a “We’re eating at Be Our Guest” dance. Every phone call and obsessive checking of the online dining website was worth it just for this moment.
Now that both my girls had their dining requests granted, we decided on where else we would like to eat and I easily found ADR’s even with only a few days notice. After that, all that was left was to work a few more days, pack and send Heidi off to the boarder.
I also had a piece of good news that week when I discovered that my buddy, Ms. Sharon, was already at Disney. For some reason, I thought that her family was skipping their traditional Disney World trip this year, but she sent me a Happy Birthday text the first day of her trip telling me that she couldn’t toast me properly since she was going to be in MK that day! I quickly let her know that we were heading her way at the end of the week!
On the day of our departure, Thom took me to work after we dropped off the girls at school so that they could just swing by and grab me after school since I conveniently work near the interstate that connects to I-95. A little after 4 p.m., the call that I had been waiting for came and I hustled downstairs to wait for my ride. You can bet that the girls were all smiles when they pulled up.
I took this picture about 30 minutes into the drive.
This is SO them because Maddie always falls asleep on any car ride and Mary Devall is always attached to that phone.
Speaking of her phone, Mary Devall took these after Maddie woke up.
We rode for a couple of hours before stopping at a Wendy’s and then I drove so that Thom could watch the South Carolina vs. North Carolina game on his iPad. That went well until the game in Columbia was suspended for lightening in the area. Outside of Jacksonville, we switched drivers again because this girl cannot see to drive at night that well. Thom drove us the remainder of the way and we pulled up in front of the Swan shortly before midnight.
They were surprisingly busy at this time of night and I actually had to wait in line for about ten minutes to check in. Part of the problem was that they were turning off the electricity at 1 a.m. for a couple of hours to do some work, so they were offering guests the chance to move to the Dolphin. Um . . . no thanks . . . we should be asleep by then.
As soon as we had our room keys, a bellman was available to take us and our luggage up to our room. We were on the 8th floor in the west wing and our room was the first one after you got off the elevator (Carol and I had actually had the same luck last year only we were in the east wing ). This was a primo location!
Once the bellman left us and the luggage, we quickly unpacked and then got the girls ready for bed. The girls decided that they wanted to each sleep with a parent and I lucked out when the “kicker” called Daddy. I got Mary Devall, the relatively still one.
While everyone else drifted off to sleep, I stayed awake for a bit watching late night tv. I’m not one of those people who can go, go, go and then fall right to sleep. I have to have a little down time first.
I finally turned off the tv shortly before the power was to go off at 1 a.m. The air conditioning in those rooms had one setting - - high - - so it kept the room nice and cool. About the time that I heard the power cut off and the air with it, I said to myself “Uh oh, I forgot about the air conditioning.” Suddenly the Dolphin didn’t seem so bad.
Thankfully, the two hour power outage ended up lasting only ten minutes and the air was back on before I fell asleep. That was a good thing because it was already the next day and I needed my rest!
__________________
Sometimes words aren't needed . . .
Last edited by Jillybean; 10-24-2013 at 12:46 PM..
How great that you were able to work in a trip despite the need for practicality!
And awesome news about getting the CM and BoG ressies!
Looking forward to hearing all about your fun-filled four days!
Oh my goodness, that reaction to the Be Our Guest reveal almost had me checking flights. Want some extra guests for the week between Christmas and New Year? Missing you and your sweet, sweet, give-me-hope-for-the-future girls so, so much... Oh, and Thom too I guess.
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Karen, aka Zack's Mom - Lover of all Things Disney and the San Francisco Giants!
Oh my goodness, that reaction to the Be Our Guest reveal almost had me checking flights. Want some extra guests for the week between Christmas and New Year? Missing you and your sweet, sweet, give-me-hope-for-the-future girls so, so much... Oh, and Thom too I guess.
Girlfriend, I'm off that week and we have ZERO plans! Come on!
You know yesterday I was catching up on Miss Sharon's TR and she mentioned you all being in the MK one day and I said to myself....did Jill skip a TR on us
Now I knew you wouldn't so I knew it would be coming sooner or later and imagine my delight when I logged on for some reading at lunch and look what was up and waiting for me to read.
Love how you threw this Practial Trip together so Perfectly....and that even in only three weeks time you got both Chef Mickey's and BOG, now that is determination, but what better reason to be determined then two very happy, adorable little (ok one growing up) girls.
Loved the picture from the car...Mary Devell reminds me of Angel, forever on that phone and on Instagram, she loves taking all her funny photos and posting them for her friends to see.
Glad the power outage did not last too long so that you did not lose the nice cool air for long.
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About This Page: 
) has truly gotten in the way of our Disney trips this year. 
We usually make it down at least a few times a year, but this year, we had been once . . . once . . . 
not good use of AP’s people (although we did use them last Oct and Dec so we more than got our money’s worth 
Sad, but true. So, for the first time since Maddie was born, we were missing a fall trip to Disney. 
Unfortunately, since we were being practical and all, I didn’t like what I saw. 
Thom is always up for staying off property at one of the nearby Hilton resorts, but the girls (okay, me too 
) just love immersing themselves at Disney. Heck, they even love Disney transportation. 
My friend, Carol, and I had stayed at the Swan last fall and truly enjoyed the hotel and the location. The girls had never stayed there, so they were immediately excited when I mentioned the possibility.
), Thom and I were equally excited about staying at the Swan. For less than the price of a moderate resort, we could be within walking distance of Epcot and DHS. 
It was mine! 
She took it well and suggested that we try to eat CS from there instead. I told her that was a great idea, but I also secretly knew that I was going to be trying every single day to snag an ADR. 
and she screamed at her sister “Mary Devall, we’re eating at Be Our Guest!” 
For some reason, I thought that her family was skipping their traditional Disney World trip this year, but she sent me a Happy Birthday text the first day of her trip telling me that she couldn’t toast me properly since she was going to be in MK that day! I quickly let her know that we were heading her way at the end of the week! 
Outside of Jacksonville, we switched drivers again because this girl cannot see to drive at night that well. 
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Disney Magic - Oct 2015
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