Forums Closed
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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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
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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.
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07-16-2003, 02:03 PM
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#1
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Community Rank: Legend 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Newtown Square, PA
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 23,859
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Up the Coast of California and Back Again!
Since, Tiki is on her last day of her trip report, [img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img] and before I forget every detail, I'd better get started on mine! Since, we spent the latter half of our trip at Disney, I asked both Steve and Tiki how to report my trip and they both said that I should write it here, with a link to Globetrotting as well. Since they are both older and wiser than I, [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] that is what I am trying to attempt!
First, let me say that this was one of the best trips that I have ever taken!! We did so much stuff and it was so diverse! The weather was gorgeous, with the exception of San Francisco, which was pretty chilly- ah, but it was totally worth wearing sweatshirts to see those gorgeous fireworks on the bay!! I have never seen such a beautiful presentation before and if I never see it again, I am lucky to have done it this once! [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img] Our highlights included the Hearst Castle, Monterey Aquarium, Elephant Seals molting, San Francisco, Muir Woods, Yosemite, Napa Valley, and of course, Disneyland and DCA!!
We all managed to get up and get to the airport well before our flight on July 1st. We had no problems going through security and had plenty of time to spare before boarding the plane. We all had a treat from the airport Starbucks and bought a book or magazine at the airport shop. ( This is a tradition!) The flight was probably the smoothest one I have ever been on and it honestly went quickly! I must be getting more mature because I have not one incident to report about our flight out! We arrived at LAX on time at 11:50 AM and were off to begin our journey! The Dollar rent a car lady talked John into getting a Grand Caravan and I'm glad she did because we wound up with so much stuff! Anyway, we packed up the van and were off in no time to Solvang, CA. This is a little Dutch community that is clean and pretty. Our hotel was a Marriott that was adorable and the kids, right away, wanted to take a swim! We all trekked down to the pool and had a fabulous afternoon in the sun, working out all of the kinks from the plane and car ride.  Me and Mike at Dollar Rent a car
 A HUGE donut on the way to Solvang
Me and Muffin
Mike, Kate and Chris
Me and Muffin at the Airport |
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07-16-2003, 02:05 PM
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#2
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Community Rank: Legend
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Newtown Square, PA
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 23,859
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Re: Up the Coast of California and Back Again!
Plane picture
Airport picture!
Anyway, we really just kind of relaxed the first day! Muffin and I got some yummy coconut drinks at the pool bar and we met these two producer kind of guys that were very friendly and told us alot about the area, including the fact that real estate was going for 750,000.00 for a modest three bedroom home! [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] The next morning we got up and went to breakfast in Solvang on the reccommendation of our pool friends and were not disappointed! YUM OUT on the Dutch pancakes!! [img]graemlins/yuma.gif[/img] They are a very thin, huge pancake that just melts in your mouth! Here are a few pics from the restaurant where we sat outside on the patio to eat!
Chris and Katie not wanting to sit with their parents
Mike and John 
Mike, Mike Motorbike!
[ 07-16-2003, 02:47 PM: Message edited by: Tara O'Hara ] |
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07-16-2003, 02:11 PM
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#3
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Community Rank: Jetsetter 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 2,873
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Re: Up the Coast of California and Back Again!
Woo Hoo! Can't wait to read more. Glad you had such a magical trip. And your family is just too beautiful.
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07-16-2003, 02:14 PM
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#4
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Community Rank: Jetsetter
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Katy, Texas
Posts: 2,416
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Re: Up the Coast of California and Back Again!
Woo-hoo, Tara!!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] Good start to your trip report!
If you need any help identifying the locations in your pics, let me know - lol!! [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]
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07-16-2003, 02:27 PM
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#5
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Community Rank: Trailblazer 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Pittsburgh, PA , USA
Posts: 5,943
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Re: Up the Coast of California and Back Again!
Quote:
Originally posted by Tara O'Hara:
I asked both Steve and Tiki how to report my trip and they both said that I should write it here, with a link to Globetrotting as well. Since they are both older and wiser than I, [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]
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<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">OUCH!!!! [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
Great start Tara, and love the pictures - can't wait to hear more! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] |
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07-16-2003, 03:05 PM
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#6
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Community Rank: Legend
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Newtown Square, PA
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 23,859
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Re: Up the Coast of California and Back Again!
Okay, so after breakfast, we strolled around Solvang, which is a quaint, pretty town. However, it isn't very big and it took us all of two hours to do! We started, again, up the coast towards Hearst Castle and stopped at a little roadside deli sort of place for lunch! I'm talking hot dogs and lemonade here, but yum! We reached Hearst Castle around 1PM and here are some gorgeous pics from the castle!!
The outdoor pool used by moviestars!!
Some of the ornamentation in this pace was incredibly old and shipped from Europe!
Muffin and his friend, Toto!
A courtyard pond
This was Randolph Hearst and Marion Davies private entrance into the Castle! This wasn't even his primary residence. He inherited it from his parents and it now belongs to the State of California.
I guess I don't look too happy here!
The view of the Pacific is unbelievable here! |
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07-16-2003, 03:40 PM
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#7
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Community Rank: Legend
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,365
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Re: Up the Coast of California and Back Again!
Me? Older?! HA! 
Excellent photos and report ya got going - didn't you just want to accidentally fall into that pool at Hearst! It's too tempting not to swim in it! Would have been your chance to get discovered too! I'm glad you stayed out of trouble so far.
MORE!  |
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07-16-2003, 04:33 PM
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#8
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Community Rank: Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Michigan's Upper Peninsula
Posts: 27,691
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Re: Up the Coast of California and Back Again!
Oh, man, a swim in that pool at the Hearst would have to be the most relaxing thing on Earth. Too beautiful.
I'm so glad you started your report, Tara [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img]
Your pics are great and your kids are so good-looking!! Must be good genes, huh?
Can't wait to read more. Keep [img]graemlins/puter.gif[/img]
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07-16-2003, 07:02 PM
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#9
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Community Rank: Legend
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Newtown Square, PA
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 23,859
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Re: Up the Coast of California and Back Again!
After our tour of Hearst Castle, we drove up to Monterey. On the way, we stopped for a while to see the Elephant seals molting on the beach!! Oh my gosh, you guys!! What a sight this is!
Apparently, these guys stay beached for 2-3 weeks until they are completely done shedding and regenerating a new coat! The guide also let us touch their fur (not on a real seal!). He had a piece of shed fur. It was pretty cool!
After this, we just sort of stopped at some random places along the coast that looked cool!
Chris and Mike on the beach.
A cool looking chick
Just a pretty view
Katie at another cool vista point
I really hope everyone has a chance to get out here at some point in their lives! |
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07-16-2003, 07:02 PM
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#10
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Community Rank: Adventurer 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Sacramento, CA
Concierge Level: 2
Posts: 917
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Re: Up the Coast of California and Back Again!
Wow! Great pictures, I love Solvang...glad you had the pancakes--they are fantastic! This was a treat that my mom learned to make and she made them for us all the time.
And Hearst Castle is beautiful! I work for California State Parks, and I can tell you that the pool isn't heated, and they used to let the tour guides swim in the pool after hours, but not anymore-- after an incident when a tour guide pool party conflicted with a private Hearst pool party. The Hearst family still has access to the castle as part of the sale agreement.
Looks like you had GREAT weather, Tara! Can't wait to hear and see more!!!
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07-16-2003, 07:05 PM
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#11
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Community Rank: Legend
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: North Central Ohio
Posts: 21,629
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Re: Up the Coast of California and Back Again!
Yay!! A new trip report from Tara!! The kids sure have grown since the last one!
Hey! That looks just like our pool!! LOL [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
Hurry with more!! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
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07-16-2003, 07:12 PM
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#12
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Whitefield, NH
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 13,599
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Re: Up the Coast of California and Back Again!
Wow! What awesome pics - your family is gorgeous! I love that your kids are so happy and willing to be on a family vacation still!
Can't wait for more!
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07-16-2003, 07:19 PM
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#13
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Community Rank: Trailblazer
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Pittsburgh, PA , USA
Posts: 5,943
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Re: Up the Coast of California and Back Again!
Wow, what awesome pictures - I want to go to the ocean!!!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
More, please!!!!
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07-16-2003, 08:11 PM
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#14
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Community Rank: Legend
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Newtown Square, PA
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 23,859
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Re: Up the Coast of California and Back Again!
Thanks for reading this you guys and for your, as usual, encouraging words! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] You people are the best! [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img]
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07-16-2003, 08:18 PM
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#15
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Community Rank: Legend
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,365
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Re: Up the Coast of California and Back Again!
Quote:
Originally posted by Tara O'Hara:
Thanks for reading this you guys and for your, as usual, encouraging words! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] You people are the best! [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img]
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<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">MORE! |
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