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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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01-29-2005, 02:09 PM
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#1
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Community Rank: Trailblazer 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Maine
Posts: 5,893
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poohmaine’s Christmas at WDW Dec. 18 to 27: Updated 3/16
The travelers:
poohmaine (Susan),42
DH Ben, 43
DD Hayley, 15
DD Evelyn (Evie), 10
Reason: Christmas present to the family, last big family vacation before college, and to celebrate our 20th anniversary
How has everyone been? As you may remember, I have been without Internet access for a few months. Now that I am back, I thought the least I could do was share my trip to WDW with you. So prepare for MY FIRST PASSPORTER TRIP REPORT ! 
Before I begin, I just want to thank ALL OF YOU for your kind and generous sharing of information. Without you, our trip could not have been as magical. I have never known such a wonderful, caring community of people. I hope I can help others in the future as much as you have helped me.
On with the report!
Day One: December 17
The one where they take a plane to Orlando
Both Ben and I went to work today. Why not? The packing was done, all reservations were made and confirmed-- really no reason not to. It would make the day go by faster.
Ben left work early at noon, and I left at 2:30. We gathered the last things to go into our carry-on bags. (Park tickets. Prescriptions. Passporter!) We waited for Evie to get home at 3:30 from school. We loaded everything into the car (it barely fit) and we were on our way by 4:00.
It is a two-hour drive to the Manchester, NH airport. We are flying Southwest because it has a non-stop flight. The only traffic we encountered was the merge from Route 95 onto Route 101. The rode to the airport was easy to find. (Did I mention this is our first time flying out of Manchester on Southwest?)
Ben dropped us off at the terminal and went to park in the long-term lot. Oops! I forgot to leave my winter coat in the car. (BUT this turns out to be a very good thing . . .)
There are no lines at the Southwest counter-- no line anywhere. We checked our bags immediately and went to get something to eat.
Then we went through security. This is all new to us. The last time Ben and I were on a plane was March 2001. We have to take our shoes off and out everything into those little plastic trays. I can see how this process would be a huge hassle at peak times through major airports, but there aren't that many people in line, and we are through to the gate in 5 minutes.
We chose to fly at night to save valuable vacation time, and because flights cost less; but the big benefit we did not anticipate was short lines in the airports! 
This was our first time on Southwest. We didn't get the A-B-C line thing and were a little confused as to where to go. But we soon found the A line and got in. The flight was not full and we were able to sit together towards the front of the plane with empty seats between us. The girls sat together in front of us so they could watch a DVD. I put my Earplanes in and tried to calm down. I HATE TO FLY!
Next time: our first Southwest flight |
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01-29-2005, 02:25 PM
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#2
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Community Rank: Jetsetter 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Berwick, PA
Posts: 2,931
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Re: poohmaine’s Christmas at WDW Dec. 18 to 27: Day One
Great start, can't wait for more!
Paula  |
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01-29-2005, 03:16 PM
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#3
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The Original BagMan
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Shalimar, FL
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 22,002
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Re: poohmaine’s Christmas at WDW Dec. 18 to 27: Day One
 Great Start |
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01-29-2005, 03:52 PM
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#4
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Community Rank: Explorer 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Longfellow's "Jewel by the Sea"
Posts: 14,165
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Re: poohmaine’s Christmas at WDW Dec. 18 to 27: Day One
Hey Susan!  I've thought about flying Southwest out of Manchester for the non-stop flight myself--I'm a nervous flyer, too! Looking forward to seeing how it went. |
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01-29-2005, 03:59 PM
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#5
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Community Rank: Explorer
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Northern New England
Posts: 12,249
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Re: poohmaine’s Christmas at WDW Dec. 18 to 27: Day One
Hi Susan,
Glad you got to fly out of Manchester. Although it's grown tremendously since the old days, it's still a nice place to fly out of and makes for a nice relaxing start to a vacation. Even if you fly first thing in the morning the lines have never been bad but I've been spoiled and when I have to go into Logan it's lines seem even worse than they are.
We love the non-stops to Orlando and Southwest Air. Some of the fares are so good you'll have to go back. It's become our "we've got to get a break" quickie vacation.
There's also a couple of great flight crews that do this trip. I can't wait to see if you got one of them. If not you'll really have to keep going back again. 
Diane |
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01-29-2005, 04:19 PM
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#6
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Whitefield, NH
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 13,599
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Re: poohmaine’s Christmas at WDW Dec. 18 to 27: Day One
Welcome back Susan - I'm another Southwest out of Manchester addict!! It's my airline of choice - and the Manchester Airport is the best! They really work with you - I've seen a line or two there taking an overbooked flight to Orlando, but really, the lines were only at the ticket counter (pre kiosk or online check in!). My last 4-5 trips using them have been a breeze!!
Can't wait to hear about your trip!
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*
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Sponsored links
Check out the many e-books by PassPorter. The e-books are free to download if you have a PassPorter's Club pass.
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01-29-2005, 04:30 PM
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#7
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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: poohmaine’s Christmas at WDW Dec. 18 to 27: Day One
Great start, Susan! |
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01-29-2005, 04:50 PM
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#8
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Community Rank: Trailblazer
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Maine
Posts: 5,893
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poohmaine’s Christmas at WDW Dec. 18 to 27: Day One, Part Two
Day One, Part Two
Oh, yes, I HATE TO FLY. I don't know why. Always have. Perhaps if I had to travel more often . . .
Anyway, I hate to fly. So I am loaded up on the Dramamine which makes me sleepy and my Earplanes are in. (I need the Earplanes for my sinuses, but they have an added bonus of drowning out those weird airplane noises. Nervous flyers, I know you know what I mean.)
The flight crew is great and although the plane could have been a bit more tidy, I am a happy $149 roundtrip flyer.
The flight was smooth and uneventful, except for the constant bickering between the girls. They are so loud I can hear them with the Earplanes in!  I tried to sleep, but I couldn't. My nerves are shot; between the trip planning, the fear of flying, and the bickering . . . I was a wreck!
We landed at 11:10 p.m. (ten minutes late, not bad) and set off to retrieve our luggage. The airport was pretty much empty except for the folks from our flight. The bags were thus quite easy to find.
We headed upstairs and tried to find the entrance to the Hyatt. After some sleepy searching we figured out we had to go under the Hyatt logo and take the elevators up to the lobby. DUH, Susan! Check-in was quick. The clerk asked if I would take a king room with a rollaway. I said, "Are you crazy? There are four of us! No way!" We got room 7036.
The room was nothing special. Two double beds, the usual desk and chair. The high ceiling made it look bigger, but the room is small. But we are here for convenience only. I did not want to go somewhere offsite at such a late hour. Just going up an elevator to the room was very appealing to me. Our balcony overlooked the concourse below.
Our view of the concourse below.
We all collapsed into bed. Evie would not sleep in the same bed as Hayley and made herself a bed out of the chair and ottoman.
Up next: Day Two |
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01-29-2005, 11:30 PM
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#9
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Community Rank: Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Florida Big Bend
Posts: 17,133
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poohmaine’s Christmas at WDW Dec. 18 to 27: Day One
 back Susan! Sorry to read about your internet troubles but you've got a great trip report so far. Look forward to reading more.
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01-30-2005, 08:02 AM
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#10
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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: poohmaine’s Christmas at WDW Dec. 18 to 27: Day One
Glad you made it down safely!!  Looking forward to more!! |
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01-30-2005, 08:44 AM
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#11
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The Original BagMan
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Shalimar, FL
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 22,002
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Re: poohmaine’s Christmas at WDW Dec. 18 to 27: Day One
In my wizened old age (I thought I'd get that out before one of my friends did) I have spent 18.5 years as an air traffic controller and over 30 years in law enforcement, primarily a traffic cop, (both at the same time for a while) and from a safety standpoint, I'd rather be flying...
Glad you made it safe and looking forward to more!!!
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01-30-2005, 02:25 PM
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#12
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Community Rank: Globetrotter 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: NC
Posts: 3,536
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Re: poohmaine’s Christmas at WDW Dec. 18 to 27: Day One
Great start, can't wait to read the rest.
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01-30-2005, 02:30 PM
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#13
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Community Rank: Trekker 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 1,357
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Re: poohmaine’s Christmas at WDW Dec. 18 to 27: Day One
Great start, looking forward to more!
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01-30-2005, 05:13 PM
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#14
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Community Rank: Explorer
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Northern New England
Posts: 12,249
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Re: poohmaine’s Christmas at WDW Dec. 18 to 27: Day One
I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who has kids who will not share beds. With three kids it means we need two rooms or a two bedroom condo/villa.
We've had Southwest crews seranade us and one even throw snacks down the aisle as the plane took off to see who could catch them. Always a great diversion.
Can't wait to hear more of your trip.
Diane
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01-30-2005, 05:31 PM
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#15
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Community Rank: Jetsetter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Berwick, PA
Posts: 2,931
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Re: poohmaine’s Christmas at WDW Dec. 18 to 27: Day One
That's why we love the trundle bed in AB at POR!! THe boys take turns sleeping on it because they won't share a bed!!
Paula
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