Surf & Turf 2014 PTR! (February 22-March 6, 2014) - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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There are other changes as well.
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We go on to the joy and through the tears
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Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
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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.
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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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So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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Today I am officially 100 days until our next Disney adventure! I guess technically it is 99 days since we would be leaving in the early, early morning. I'm a little overwhelmed because I had a very unusual year as this will be my 3rd trip in a 1 year period of time. That never happens for me, we typically go once a year or maybe even once every other year. I am in fact still writing the TR for my last trip. Here is a link to that if you are interested. http://www.passporterboards.com/foru...4-2013-tr.html
I'm going to try to do my best keeping up with the TR and the PTR, but not sure how well that is going to work with the holidays fast approaching. But I am so excited about this next trip that I really want to share. So, let's get started!
Cast of Characters:
Me - Stefani - I'm the Disney fan and the planner of the trips. This will be my 8th trip to Disney World. I have also been to Disneyland 6 times. I love everything Disney and even if I don't have a trip planned I am usually planning something to do with Disney. Mickey is my favorite character although I love meeting all of them and for today I would say my favorite ride is Kilimanjaro Safari (this will change almost daily if you ask me). My favorite park is Animal Kingdom or Epcot.
Me with the Beast!
Pat - my DH - Loves to go to Disney, hates to plan or think about going to Disney. I am able to get him to tell me restaurants he would like to eat at and attractions he wants to include in the trip but that is about it. Pat travels a lot and is currently overseas and is not scheduled to be back until around the beginning of February. This always makes trips stressful, because there is always a chance he may not make it. Pat's favorite characters are Grumpy and Mickey. I'm not sure what his favorite ride is and I can't really ask him right now, but he likes Expedition Everest, Rock n' Roller Coaster and Kilimanjaro Safari. His favorite park is Animal Kingdom.
Pat with Tigger!
Shana - my DD - Shana will be 13 at the time of the trip and this will be her 6th trip to Disney World. Shana loves art and music and would like to work someday at Disney doing some kind of art, preferably sculpting. Shana's favorite character is Donald. Her favorite attraction is Expedition Everest (although she was debating with Rock n' Roller Coaster) and her favorite park is Epcot.
Shana meeting Ridley Pearson (author of the Kingdom Keepers book series) in Hollywood Studios.
Hunter - my DS - Hunter will turn 11 in January and this will also be his 6th trip (his first was when he was 6 months old). Hunter loves to make comic books, play video games and watch movies. Hunter wants to make comic books for a living. Hunter's favorite characters are Pluto and Mickey. His favorite attraction is Expedition Everest (which he rode for the first time in April) and his favorite park is Epcot.
Hunter being the "Dive Buddy" with Diver Sean in Epcot.
That is our full cast of characters for this trip. It is actually a little strange because we have not taken a trip to WDW as a family without someone else coming along. In 2003, we brought my cousin because I drove with a 6mo old and a 3yo to FL to meet Pat, he was training in Pensacola. In 2007, 2008, 2010 we had my mom with us. In 2013, we had Shana's best friend Maya with us. We did visit Disneyland in 2012 without additional family, but never WDW.
Note: For those that have not read any of my past PTR's or TR's I will point out that my kids are both on the autism spectrum. My DD also has severe anxiety and ADHD. I always mention this, because it really affects our trips and how we plan. I really have to have a good idea of what we are doing everyday and be prepared for back up plans, upon back up plans. We also rarely get through a trip without at least one major meltdown and I will tell it like it is when that happens. It is not easy visiting the most sensory overloading place in the world with kids like mine, but we have had so many wonderful memories there. I will be discussing some of the changes Disney has made for guests with disabilities during the PTR, as this affects my planning.
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Great start, Stefani. I'm going in February as well, but will be home by the time your trip starts. I hope the new DAC system will work out for you. Any change like this is hard to deal with at first.
Great start! I'm still playing catch up on your other trip report. LOL
If it makes you feel better, I still feel like I'm playing catch-up on my other TR. I still have over 1000 pictures to sort through for that one.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
Great start, Stefani. I'm going in February as well, but will be home by the time your trip starts. I hope the new DAC system will work out for you. Any change like this is hard to deal with at first.
I'm sorry we are going to miss you. We were originally going the 15th-27th of February, but because Pat's return is questionable we moved the WDW stay after the cruise, instead of before.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Great start!
Quote:
Originally Posted by JenniferLynneRose521
Just checking in so I can catch up reading in a bit!
Great start! Looking forward to reading all about your plans! My DS is on the Autism Spectrum as well and I am very curious about your plans with the new DAS. I can not wait to find out what your experience is with the DAS when you get there. It is a whole new World with that thrown into the mix.
Great start! Looking forward to reading all about your plans! My DS is on the Autism Spectrum as well and I am very curious about your plans with the new DAS. I can not wait to find out what your experience is with the DAS when you get there. It is a whole new World with that thrown into the mix.
I am actually in a bit of a planning slump, because between the FP+ changes and the DAS changes, I'm not really sure how to plan as well. It really changes how we will tour, but I am confident we will make it work. I hope.
About This Page: 
Mickey is my favorite character although I love meeting all of them and for today I would say my favorite ride is Kilimanjaro Safari (this will change almost daily if you ask me). My favorite park is Animal Kingdom or Epcot. 
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I hope the new DAC system will work out for you. Any change like this is hard to deal with at first.
~ Jenn 
Liz 
And thank you for adding the "PTR" to the title. 
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