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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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
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.
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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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Hi Everyone!
I've been lurking and posting here and there....and working on trying to get my little family back to the World for another trip.
Before I begin, I will include the disclaimer that I'm not typically an indecisive person, but I will also include the additional disclaimer that you'll need to hang on tight, because this trip can (and more than likely will ) continue to see a lot of tweeks and changes....and yes, I'm completely making fun of myself at this point
Cast:
Melissa: Me, turning the big 4-2 sometime during this trip. I've recently started my first full time teaching job in 8 years....have a 45 minute commute to work which gives me a lot of time to listen to podcasts. This will be my 3rd trip with my immediate family, though I'd traveled to the World countless times while growing up. My new job provided the first change for our travel
Brian: AKA "Coach" - he is 42, a big time football fan...a hands on Dad...and recently returned to coaching track after a 1 year hiatus. Why? because he missed coaching. His return to coaching (and a really, really tough winter here in Ohio) provided the next series of travel adjustments
Nolan: My oldest - the scientific historian (is that a thing? It's his current "job wish" for his adult life). He loves basketball, adores flag football and can't stop reading. He's going to be finishing 4th grade....and we just learned that next year, 5th grade will be the "top dogs" in the elementary as the school is restructuring and moving 6th grade to the same hall as 7th and 8th. Notice I said hall? He goes to a K-12 school that's all in one building. Very cool, because his Dad teaches high school in the same building and can keep an eye on my buddies
Patrick: The "peanut" who is the same size as his youngest brother (they're 20 months apart). He'll be finishing 1st grade, with an amazing reading level of grade 4. He's always full of questions. For example " Why haven't we been able to create a mirror that doesn't show letters backwards?" He has a severe hereditary deficiency in digesting cow protein - in fact, if it touches his skin, he breaks out in hives (among other issues). We refer to it as a milk protein allergy because people understand that a lot easier.
Cullen: My youngest He marches to his own "drummer"....and has a pervasive development disorder. He is finishing his first year of a "typical" classroom where he's the only student with an IEP and has done tremendously well! He'll be starting Kindergarten in the fall in the same building where his brothers go to school.
The Thumbnail picture was taken last summer on a trip to Cedar Point. I've forgotten how to insert the pictures into a post
Why are we going? This will be the first real family vacation we've taken since 2012. I promised my DH that if I went back to work full time, we'd make this a priority.
The Original plans?
We originally planned to visit Orlando over Spring Break (the week right after Easter) and stay with his parents' at the Liki Tiki Resort where they own a timeshare...and visit MK and Epcot each once. Then....I got a job....and my spring break is different that Brian and the boys' break....and teachers can't take Personal Days to cover a vacation so we rearranged everything per our school calendars and booked 5 nights in June 10-15 at Caribbean Beach Resort. All good, right?
Ch-Ch-Changes happen....13 weather related closures for my district = adding 2 days to the end of the school year....which meant my last day of work? June 10th
So, we moved the trip back two days....then Brian announces that he's been asked to return as a Track Coach. June travel couldn't happen until after the State tournament....which could happen as late as June 13th, depending on Ohio's Spring weather.
Up next: More Ch-Ch-Changes?
__________________
The Fun, Old-Fashioned Family Vacation, 3.0 http://www.passporterboards.com/foru...ml#post4472933
Ch-Ch-Changes July 2015
[URL="http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/sharing-adventure-disney-world-trip-reports/288847-ch-ch-changes-ptr-july-16-24-a.html"]
Wow! You were not kidding about the changes! Congrats on the new job and congrats to your hubby on the Coaching position. Looking forward to hearing all about your plans! Your boys are adorable!
Melissa!!!! We are kindred souls! I am not a big change person either-normally!. Congratulations on your new job and your husband's coaching job! That's a lot of change in one year!
Your boys are adorable!!!!! Wherever your plans wind up, I hope that they feel right and it all comes together for you guys! If you do wind up with your current dates, I hope we can get together!
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Have you ever been to Liki Tiki? We have stayed at Orbit One which offers guest the ability to use the Liki Tiki water park. We never did since we could never get ourselves to leave the Disney parks. Just curious since the location is great for off site.
I know there are more changes coming up - based on the resort, but how many others will we see?
I can't beleive the weather you and the NE have had this year. We haven't had a snow day yet, so I'm thinking we won't. Dylan's last day is May 21!!!
Those boys are too cute! Congrats on the new job and Coach returning to coaching, which I'm sure has also made your life crazy.
Hi, Melissa! Glad to hear you're all doing so well, even if you're busier than ever. Sounds like it'll be a great trip coming up, once you nail down all the details! The boys look so cute!
Wow! You were not kidding about the changes! Congrats on the new job and congrats to your hubby on the Coaching position. Looking forward to hearing all about your plans! Your boys are adorable!
Glad you found this! Thank you so much....I didn't really realize how much I'd missed teaching full time until I had the opportunity to go back. I adore my 10th graders!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tara O'Hara
Melissa!!!! We are kindred souls! I am not a big change person either-normally!. Congratulations on your new job and your husband's coaching job! That's a lot of change in one year!
Your boys are adorable!!!!! Wherever your plans wind up, I hope that they feel right and it all comes together for you guys! If you do wind up with your current dates, I hope we can get together!
Great start to your report!
Tara
I read your report and thought - I'm soooo glad I'm not the only resort changer here We are indeed kindred souls! Once our plans are finalized, I'll let you know so we can try to get together!
Quote:
Originally Posted by merbears
Have you ever been to Liki Tiki? We have stayed at Orbit One which offers guest the ability to use the Liki Tiki water park. We never did since we could never get ourselves to leave the Disney parks. Just curious since the location is great for off site.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
We haven't stayed there, but my in-laws have taken the oldest and he the experience. To be fair, the don't do Disney parks anymore - my father in law can't move around as well anymore, and he can't tolerate the summer heat.
My in-laws schedule at least 2 weeks there every winter.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MayraLR
Great start! Your boys are getting so big!
It's not fair, right? Your boys are adorable too
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhToodles!
I know there are more changes coming up - based on the resort, but how many others will we see?
I can't beleive the weather you and the NE have had this year. We haven't had a snow day yet, so I'm thinking we won't. Dylan's last day is May 21!!!
Those boys are too cute! Congrats on the new job and Coach returning to coaching, which I'm sure has also made your life crazy.
Hang on tight and enjoy the change filled ride
I can't believe you've escaped the winter without a snow day for Dylan! It was a gorgeous 64 here yesterday...today's high? 40
Life has been a bit hectic and crazy - complete with basketball schedules (older two) bleeding into indoor soccer (younger boys) and flag football (oldest). I sometimes feel like I'm living in my minivan
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Great start! Wow, already you've had some pretty significant changes to this trip!
Yes, and unfortunately, like the title, there are more to come
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
Hi, Melissa! Glad to hear you're all doing so well, even if you're busier than ever. Sounds like it'll be a great trip coming up, once you nail down all the details! The boys look so cute!
Thanks Laurie! We've been pretty well and are finally starting to feel like our never-ending winter might just actually be....over. Spring time has always been really hectic and busy, just a bit more so this year.
__________________
The Fun, Old-Fashioned Family Vacation, 3.0 http://www.passporterboards.com/foru...ml#post4472933
Ch-Ch-Changes July 2015
[URL="http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/sharing-adventure-disney-world-trip-reports/288847-ch-ch-changes-ptr-july-16-24-a.html"]
This isn't really a PTR update, but more of me trying to remember how to attach pictures, so I thought I'd highlight a few of the kiddo's "changes"
Patrick and Cullen (Patrick's in the back) on our 2010 Trip. Yep - we learned AFTER developing our pictures that Cullen ate a Mickey Sticker The pediatrician assured me he was okay after my panicked phone call
Cullen on our 2012 trip
[IMG][/IMG]
He wasn't quite 3 yet, wasn't verbal, and busted his lip 12 hours before we left (that trip report "Rain, Tour Groups and Er..."
Cullen's School Picture from this year:
__________________
The Fun, Old-Fashioned Family Vacation, 3.0 http://www.passporterboards.com/foru...ml#post4472933
Ch-Ch-Changes July 2015
[URL="http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/sharing-adventure-disney-world-trip-reports/288847-ch-ch-changes-ptr-july-16-24-a.html"]
This isn't really a PTR update, but more of me trying to remember how to attach pictures, so I thought I'd highlight a few of the kiddo's "changes"
Patrick and Cullen (Patrick's in the back) on our 2010 Trip. Yep - we learned AFTER developing our pictures that Cullen ate a Mickey Sticker The pediatrician assured me he was okay after my panicked phone call
Cullen on our 2012 trip
[IMG][/IMG]
He wasn't quite 3 yet, wasn't verbal, and busted his lip 12 hours before we left (that trip report "Rain, Tour Groups and Er..."
Cullen's School Picture from this year:
Too funny! You can see the Mickey sticker in his mouth. Boys!! They will eat anything I swear!
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So true!!! Especially my youngest , unless it's actual food then he only eats his tried and true favorites.
__________________
The Fun, Old-Fashioned Family Vacation, 3.0 http://www.passporterboards.com/foru...ml#post4472933
Ch-Ch-Changes July 2015
[URL="http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/sharing-adventure-disney-world-trip-reports/288847-ch-ch-changes-ptr-july-16-24-a.html"]
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) continue to see a lot of tweeks and changes....and yes, I'm completely making fun of myself at this point
He has a severe hereditary deficiency in digesting cow protein - in fact, if it touches his skin, he breaks out in hives (among other issues). We refer to it as a milk protein allergy because people understand that a lot easier.
He marches to his own "drummer"....and has a pervasive development disorder. He is finishing his first year of a "typical" classroom where he's the only student with an IEP and has done tremendously well! He'll be starting Kindergarten in the fall in the same building where his brothers go to school.
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!!! We are kindred souls! I am not a big change person either-normally!
Disney Magic - Oct 2015
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