Holy Great Movie Ride (April 5 - 10)! TR Begins - COMPLETE!! 6/8 - Page 28 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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.
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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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Another great update!! What a wonderful morning at AK!!! And DH & I are just the opposite of you & Andy, we've only eaten at Flame Tree which is ......so we've never given anywhere else a chance!! Maybe someday we'll get to try Y&Y!!!
that's how we used to be before the Y&Y came about. I heart me some Flame Tree and I am DETERMINED to eat there this summer..... although I say that before every trip now and we end up at the Y&Y or at the outside cafe.
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Holy Crow another update! I've actually got time this morning at work because 5th grade is doing their end of year testing so all's quiet on my end of the building.
Once we made it back to Pop I made the executive decision that it was time to check out the Hippy Dippy pool so we got changed into our poolside attire (aka our crappy lounging clothes) and headed down. We grabbed a couple drinks from the bar and found a table to sit and relax and people watch. I took a few photos around the pool area..
Andy decided anytime was the right time for a chocolate muffin. This would be chocolate muffin numero deuce for the trip.
The oversized décor
A couple of lazy bums.
My MIL had sent a bottle of this already mixed Captain Morgan’s Long Island Iced Tea with us… so I decided, you know, I’m gonna enjoy some of that whilst I bum by the pool. So Andy went and fixed some in my mug (I know, I feel kind of bad for drinking booze out of my mug at Disney… I do it at home all the time though…). We added a splash of coke and some ice to it and it was very tasty My cookie from Pecos Bills (I told you that it would get devoured at some point) was a nice accompaniment. They had some good music playing as well, heard a little Beatles and some other classic tunes. And of course, the people watching by the pool is choice.
We got a message from Brandi that the Bakers were on their way so we made our way back to the room to meet them…
First I had to get a picture in the 80’s since I was born in 1980.
And then I felt the need to pose like Goofy…
Silly.
The Bakers arrived and Andy and I got ready for the evening. We had a dinner ADR at Le Cellier and we were very excited about getting back in there. It’s been quite awhile…too long! Once we were ready we all headed out on the Baker Bus to Epcot. Of course we can’t make it past the entrance without a ride on SSE. And you know what?! Remember how they fudged up and our picture didn’t get taken the first time? Well it did it again! We said something when we got off the ride and the CM was like “sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t” Ummm.. Not cool. It needs to be fixed. And the fact it happened twice in one week to the same people. That tells me the odds are more than “sometimes”.
We stopped at the American Gothic Mickey and Minnie topiary (aka Harry Potter Mickey) and I took a few photos for the blog… as well as a couple silly ones..
We split up at Canada and agreed to meet up after our dinner. Andy and I headed down and checked in at Le Cellier, a bit early, but it was okay, they seated us almost immediately. We both enjoyed the cheddar cheese soup and pretzel bread first as well as some Unibroue (La Fin du Monde to be specific). For my meal I went with the duck two ways appetizer because I LOVE duck! And I love that dish! Andy had… I don’t remember what he had… I was too into my own food. We skipped on dessert as we were full and wanted to save room for some more goodies later. Always thinking ahead when it comes to food my friends
After dinner we caught up with the Bakers around near Mexico. I took this shot to show some of the construction going on..
Next up was Germany. For some reason Germany has become “our spot”. We always seem to end up in here, just sitting and people watching. Andy and Tom had to have a cupcake first though. This was one of the most icing potent cupcakes these boys have ever had… Me and Tom in line for the cupcakes.
Andy and his very sweet cupcake.
I opted against the very sweet cupcake and decided instead to have some apple strudel and a Franziskaner (?) (nice combo right? I have a garbage gut in case you haven’t noticed). We claimed our bench beside Der Teddybar (which the Bakers have another name for and now we call it that thanks to them… it involves the word “bar” and a word for a female body part …. Can you figure it out?) Brandi and I went to get my strudel and Franziskaner (one for me and one for her) and we tried to let the little (well not so little) German CM understand that we don’t know how to pronounce it correctly and he WAS NOT amused at our way of saying it He didn’t even crack a smile. Stone cold. After we ordered he disappeared for a bit, who knows what he was doing, and about 5 minutes later shows back up and lets us pay. I guess we offended him with our awful pronunciation. who knows. My strudel appeared in the window along with our beers and we headed back out to our bench. The strudel was verrrrrry tasty, especially the icing We sat back there for a good long while, even during Illuminations, just relaxing and people watching. It was evening EMH so we just took our time. I set up my tripod to get a shot of us on our bench and in my testing we ended up with this motley crew:
This picture makes me wanna pee my pants. I love all the aloof looks and Andy grinning off into space… Geez what a bunch.
Then we got a real one… (well maybe the one above is the “real” one, this is the “nice” one.)
After a bit of laughing and being stupid we started making our way out of the park. I really would have traded a day of my life to teleport to the car on this night. I was pooped and walking from Germany to the parking lot is a LOOOOONG walk. But the Bakers love us enough to take our tired butts to Pop and we called it a night. Tomorrow was a MK morning! Nothing better!
What a great morning at AK - sounds like a very fun journey through the safari. Love the photos. Appitizers and drinks at Y&Y does sound like the perfect way to enjoy a break at AK.
I love the apple studel in Germany, it is one of my must have's every trip . What the perfect evening at Epcot, a delicious meal at Le Cellier and just relaxing with good friends in Germany. Love the group shots, the first one is hysterical. Brandi looks like she is whispering under her breath to Tom "was that suppose to happen" Tom is answering back "don't think so but let's act like we knew we were taking a picture" and Andy, well he just got that look like "hey I thought Melissa was getting in the picture, ok guess not, its all good, see me relaxed and smiling".
So it wasn't too crowded? (We might have to start going during school holidays, because DS is getting older and missing school is harder. Especially with the darn SOLs in Virginia.) And the last 2 years we have gone in February it has just been way too cold!
Can't wiat for more!
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Donning my Wellies to cut Peat in Scotland
Melissa
What a relaxing time, just hanging around the pool! We def need to be more laid back next trip...........what a waste for us not enjoying the awesome resort pools!!! Another good review for LeCellier The pretzel bread & cheddar cheese soup are a must try-can't wait!!!!! Great update....so much fun w/friends!!!
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
The cupcake was like 75% icing and 20% cake...the remaining 5% was Disney Magic. I went into a sugar coma following the cupcake and that is why I look so loopy on the bench. Obviously it had the adverse effect on Tom Baker.
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Melissa and Andy, Charleston SC, February 2008.
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Coming up: July 2010 - Animal Kingdom Lodge for Mel's 30th Birthday!!!!!
Last edited by Brit_Invader; 05-21-2010 at 04:21 PM..
Love the AK pics and the ones on the blog are just beautiful! We LOVE Y&Y. I think I've had 2 of my favorite Disney meals there. The last was the bourbon chicken and fried rice. MMMMMMM
Did you use your tripod for all of the gorgeous night pics? I would like to get one that I can carry around to the parks for the next time. I love the night time shots.