The Great Big East Coast Adventure - PTR - Page 14 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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!
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(Due to all of the photos, I'm breaking this update up into numerous posts)
Now, you're not supposed to wade in the fountain or put coins in, but I felt it was ok to allow Meri to stick her little tootsies in the water briefly, just to cool off. It was a VERY quick dip of the feet (maybe 10 seconds), and she didn't stand up or anything. I was hoping no one was offended, and I'm pretty sure no one was, but in light of how hot it was, I felt like it was ok to do.
After the WWII Memorial, we walked past where the reflecting pool once was (it's now sadly torn up as they renovate it - a project which could take up to 2 years, blech). It sure is UGLY right now, but I guess it's necessary.
Our walk along the construction was all under trees, and it was a lovely little walk. I enjoyed being in the shade (the heat was definitely bearable in the shade) and Meri loved jumping around the tree bases, and getting herself extraordinarily dusty in the dry dirt.
We finally made it to the Lincoln Memorial, and after a quick photo at the bottom, we made our way quickly up to the top (and into the shade, lol).
When we entered the area where Lincoln's statue was, I said to Meri, "Do you know who that is?" Her first answer cracked me up. She said in a loud whisper, "Is it God??" LOL. I told her to take a really good look, and she did and said, "Oh *I* know him, that's Abraham Lincoln!" She sure got a good education in her preschool!
After some photos, we made our way down the steps, and to the left side of the mall, by Constitution Ave. I figured we would walk down in the shade toward the White House for a few photos. Meri had other plans. We were meandering VERY slowly, and all of a sudden, she says to me, "Come on mom!" I turn to my left to look at her and she's hailed a cab. Yes. Again. The cab driver, noting my very surprised expression, raised his eyebrows, as if to ask if he was needed. I can't say I blame Meri. It was REALLY hot, and she HAD walked a very long distance with absolutely no complaint. So, I nodded my head, laughing, and we hopped into the cab. It was a $3.70 cab ride to the White House, lol, and once we hopped out, I gave Meri a lecture about hailing taxis without permission. Admittedly it was half-hearted, though. I guess we'll have to revisit that conversation when I'm able to do so without grinning at her. Little termite.
We just looked briefly at the White House from the (very distant) Constitution Ave side. Meri could not have cared less. So we just did a quick photo and moved on.
Then it was FINALLY time for Meri to get her VERY fervent wish - a ride on the carousel. With mommy's permission, Meri hailed a taxi (this still cracks me up to no end - but she's excellent at it) and we took a $5 cab ride back to the carousel (which is right near the Smithsonian metro stop, a little bit towards the Capitol Building side).
The carousel ride is $3.50 per person, so we rode together (the breeze sounded extraordinarily appealing to me).
After that, we meandered across the mall - stopping to take a couple of photos of the Capitol Building...
Then we crossed the street, into the Museum of Natural History. A little note - the Smithsonian museums are all free. Gotta love that!!
Love her crabby shirt! Special to me since I am a Cancer baby and yes, I am crabby!!!
Boy, that is a long hike on a good day, let alone in that heat! You girls must be made of steel or something. Hope you didn't let her put her tootsie's in the reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial....let's just say they might have fallen off from that nasty looking water!
Your next post beat mine...glad to see they are re-vamping the reflecting pool. It was very disgusting the last time I saw it. A big YUCK!!!
Yep, gotta love those free museums. They do get you though in the gift shops and the food courts. Even the McDonald's at the Air & Space Museum is pricey.
Meri was VERY excited about getting to see the "Dinosaur Museum". So, after a quick photo with the elephant in the foyer...
... off we went, straight into the room with all of the dinosaur bones! Meri wanted her picture taken with every single bone in the place, without exception. I'm including just a handful, because really... lol... you can get the idea...
Meri's "dinosaur face", lol
After the dinosaurs, we headed in to see the Mammals. Here's Meri showing me her rhinocerous horn...
This one cracks me up, too...
We spent a lot of time with these two "friends"...
Then it was time to leave, to meet my friend for dinner out near Barracks Row. For that, we took the orange line out to the Eastern Market stop, then went about three blocks to the left, to Molly Malone's. Meri was tired and grumpy at this point, but we managed to survive dinner, then rode the metro back. She was nearly out cold in the car on the drive back to "our house", but I kept her awake by singing songs with her. We got home at just before 10pm and had to shower before going to bed. The water was a lovely brown for a few minutes, lol, until we cleaned off. That amused Meri to no end. It was really dry and dusty in the city, so I wasn't surprised we were covered in dirt.
We both happily fell asleep just as our heads hit the pillow. Phew! What a day!
Wednesday was a quiet day - just work til 2pm, then we napped / relaxed until 530pm, met a friend for dinner at 6pm, and we were home by 8pm. It was great!
Today brought a PP meet which was just lovely! But you'll have to wait until later for the photo / update!
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Meri is so cute in pigtails! I've never seen a pic of her without bangs. Good idea to pull her hair back in that heat. You got a ton done, thanks to Meri's cab-hailing skills. I don't know how you kept going without just melting into the pavement.
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You are certainly getting a LOT done on this big East Coast adventure of yours. What troopers out in that heat. Look at Meri's poor little red face...and you in jeans...are you crazy girlfriend
I need Meri around in NYC when cabs are scarce. That cracks me up!! And I love the pictures of the WWII memorial. Very beautiful, and sad and solemn all at the same time.
I know, I know, jeans and a black tshirt. I did NOT plan ahead for myself. LOL! Meri stayed nice and cool though because I constantly soaked her down with cold water. Every water fountain she would get drenched. She also stayed VERY hydrated. And we got ice pops, lol. Those helped alot!
Her cheeks were definitely red, but she actually was quite cool otherwise, all things given. She didn't love me hosing her down every 15 minutes, but she did agree that it was important, at least. And we both drank water like it was going out of style. She loved the pigtails. She is obsessed with having hair like Rapunzel, and is excited that at least MOST of her hair goes into pig tails... she can't wait til it can ALL go up!
I forgot to mention that I think it's impressive that Meri recognized Abraham Lincoln!
Thanks! I didn't really know she did until the last NY trip when we went to Mme Tussauds, and she walked up to George Washington and Abraham Lincoln and identified them with no prompting.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Wonderful updates! I had no idea that they were doing all that work to the reflecting pools.
I know! I was SHOCKED when I saw the construction. I was so sad, because I was really excited to see them, and it doesn't quite make the same impact without them. However, it really is a good thing, ultimately. I read that now they'll be pulling water from the tidal basin, and that the water will be circulated (as opposed to before, when it was just standing water, and got nasty and gross).
I know! I was SHOCKED when I saw the construction. I was so sad, because I was really excited to see them, and it doesn't quite make the same impact without them. However, it really is a good thing, ultimately. I read that now they'll be pulling water from the tidal basin, and that the water will be circulated (as opposed to before, when it was just standing water, and got nasty and gross).
That does sound like a big improvement eventually.
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Love her pigtails! 
Glad you're having a great time! 
I don't know how you kept going without just melting into the pavement.
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I had no idea that they were doing all that work to the reflecting pools. 
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