Three Weeks in The World and 20 Happy Thoughts: a DTR (During Trip Report!) - Page 11 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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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
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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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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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While Tracy’s getting ready for our adventure itno the Animal Kingdom, I thought I’d tell you about our yesterday.
We got to MK just as they were performing the rope drop show, so we caught the end. I blame out lateness on the damn monorail, which wasn’t running. Once inside, we headed to Tomorrowland, where we rode Space Mountain, Tomorrowland PeopleMover, Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, Stitch’s Great Escape and Carousel of Progress in rapid succession. Seriously. It took us maybe 2 hours to do all of that.
Then we headed to Main Street, where we had to stop in the Main Street Bakery, lest I pass out and die from not eating enough breakfast. (Tracy eats so little … I was trying to be as dainty as her for breakfast, but I am a fatty, and I needed to eat more foods!!) I had a turkey and swiss on cibbata and a banana. Tracy had an incredible-looking fruit tart. YUM.
On our way out, we stopped to enjoy the Move It, Shake It, Celebrate It Street Party. We both got silly-excited over the stilt walkers. Me probably more than her, to be honest. After that, we walked down Main Street behind the parade (which was really cool … it felt like people were lined up to see us!), and into Town Square Theatre to meet Mickey and Minnie!
We met the nicest couple in line—celebrating their 30th (I think) anniversary. Then we met Mickey and Minnie, and it was Tracy’s first time waiting in line for a character meet. Can you believe it! I think she loved it, but she’ll probably tell you I forced her. Pffft.
After that, we rode Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, got FPs for Splash Mountain, sat through Country Bear Jamboree and rode on the Magic Carpets of Aladdin. There was a little girl dressed up like Jasmin … so freakin adorable. The ride operator let her ride a second time without getting off. She was seriously precious. Then Splash Mountain, which, oh man, is so so so fun.
After that, we headed to our reservations at The Plaza. I love it there!! The atmosphere is great and the CMs were so nice! The food was awesome, too. I had the strawberry salad with a Coke float, and Tracy had the vegetarian sandwich with a Coke. No photos because we were kind of starved.
After lunch, we took a quick walk around Fantasyland, but the waits were starting to get a little long, and we were starting to get a little tired. So we headed out through the Castle, where we were lucky enough to get to see the Dream Along with Mickey Parade! So awesome. We were grinning like idiots, and then we ducked into the stores and did some browsing before heading out to the monorail and back to the condo.
Tracy’s ready to go, so I will write more later this afternoon …
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After a little nap, we headed to Hollywood Studios, straight back and to the right. Down Sunset Blvd., we took some photos and had dinner at the Sunset Ranch Market. I had a pizza and salad from Catalina Eddie’s, and Tracy had a veggie burger from Rosie’s. I’ve never been in that area before, so I went photo crazy, and I even stopped to talk with a CM about her amazing uniform. (They’re skorts!) I guess I made an impression on her because later, she gave us a free Mickey Bar!! FREE MICKEY BAR!
Done with dinner, we headed into the Hollywood Hills Theatre for Fantasmic! We had to wait about an hour on those ungodly comfortable benches, but it wasn’t terrible. WE had good seats, actually, and really good company. It was drizzling a bit, but the crowds were in good spirits. They had The Wave going back and forth and back and forth for quite awhile. It was super fun.
Then the show started, and it was amazing! Neither of us have ever seen it before, so we were totally and completely blown away by how cool it is. We were trying to keep track of how many Mickeys are in the show. I’m remembering 5 right now, but I think it’s more than that.
We sloooowly walked from the park, stopping to take tons of photos. Then into the car and back to the condo. We had an early morning today …
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This morning, we ate breakfast in the condo, then headed out to Animal Kingdom at about 8:30. We were in the park by 8:52. Talk about amazing!!
We headed back to Africa for the Safari as well as the Pangani Trail, where we made a fuss over my gorillas. Also we saw Jabali!! He took off across the habitat, and his mother was trying to chase him. So exciting!!! Then over and back to Asia, where we slowly made our way through the Kali River Rapids queue area. How amazing is that place?! I took lots of photos, and Tracy was amazingly patient. The ride itself was awesome. But a little short. And the logging bit was totally sad.
Back through Discovery Island, we met with Pooh and Eeyore before heading into Dinoland. We spent a lot of time here, walking about in Restaurant-osaurus, the Cretaceous Trails, The Boneyard and Dinorama. I’m actually working on an article for Passporter about this section of the park, so we took lots of notes and photos. We especially loved the Bone Yard!
Sometime between riding Dinosaur and playing in the Bone Yard, we sat down to eat at Restaurant-osaurus. I got the kids meal burger with double grapes and a chocolate mousse. Tracy had the Veggie Subosaurus with sweet potato fries. Those are the best fries ever, I have to say. We were both really happy with lunch. Yum!
After that, we headed back through Discovery Island, heading toward The Oasis. But it was getting so hot, and we wanted to get a rest before our evening of resort hopping. So … we went back to the condo!
Now we’re getting ready to head back out into the breach. Tonight we’re touring Pop Century, then heading over to the Boardwalk. We have dinner reservations at Kouzzina, then we’re planning to hit Jellyrolls. We’ll see how we feel. I think we’re both feeling a little sun-frazzled. The sun was really beating down in Animal Kingdom this morning!!
I would just like to say how happy I am that Melissa Sue has taken over posting details! They are much (MUCH) better than my little three sentence highlight statements!
My head is swimming with so many things! I wish she could stay for the entire trip to be my photo journalist and trip note-taker!
Now...off to Pop and The Boardwalk. Super excited about dinner at Kouzzina!
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Sounds like you had a couple fabulous days! My favorite little bit was "sat through Country Bear Jamboree." We popped in on our last visit, and I was trying to get my kids to understand the concept of cult classic. As we were leaving, my DD (8 at the time) said, "well, that's 15 minutes of my life I'll never get back."
Again, I tried to explain how cool it will be when she's there with HER kids and it still hasn't changed. No luck...
Oooo, Jellyrolls?! I LOVE Jellyrolls! We want to stay at BW just so it would be easier to abandon the kids each night to go to Jellyrolls! (lest anyone call CPS on me, my kids are 15 & 11)
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I am so glad I found you! It was great to have my first PP meet. I am off to read what you have been up to the rest of the week, just wanted to pop in and say hello!
it was SO GOOD! definitely at the top of my favorite WDW restaurants! i want to go back during THIS trip (though i likely won't) more on the details of the meal later. but really--FANTASTIC!
Quote:
Originally Posted by truenancy
Sounds like you had a couple fabulous days! My favorite little bit was "sat through Country Bear Jamboree." We popped in on our last visit, and I was trying to get my kids to understand the concept of cult classic. As we were leaving, my DD (8 at the time) said, "well, that's 15 minutes of my life I'll never get back."
Again, I tried to explain how cool it will be when she's there with HER kids and it still hasn't changed. No luck...
ha! that's hysterical (the DD quote!) yeah--i was pretty energetic when we went in...and then felt like lying down and sleeping by the end. i've never experienced something that was so boring it actually made me yawn (i thought that was just something people on tv did!) ha!
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
Oooo, Jellyrolls?! I LOVE Jellyrolls! We want to stay at BW just so it would be easier to abandon the kids each night to go to Jellyrolls! (lest anyone call CPS on me, my kids are 15 & 11)
we didn't go! we decided we were tired AND it is saturday night and likely packed. so don't tell me how awesome it is--we just didn't have it in us (and i don't want to be sad!)
Quote:
Originally Posted by lexiemom
I am so glad I found you! It was great to have my first PP meet. I am off to read what you have been up to the rest of the week, just wanted to pop in and say hello!
i'm so glad you found me, too! i hope you had an amazing trip!!!
Trip sounds wonderful, your dinner at Jiko's sounded delicious and I love the pictures from AK. Love hearing views from both you and Melissa. Glad you enjoyed the Plaza, always an enjoyable meal there.
I knew when school work put me behind reading TRs that I was going to have quite a bit of catching up to do on yours. I really have to try the caramel covered peanut butter cookie now as those are two of my favorite things. My Mom used to make the most delicious peanut butter cookies. Melissa, for all the updates, too!
first, let me say that i feel as though i've been neglecting this DURING trip report. i will try to remedy that tonight. the operative word being 'try'!
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Originally Posted by mcc0313
Trip sounds wonderful, your dinner at Jiko's sounded delicious and I love the pictures from AK. Love hearing views from both you and Melissa. Glad you enjoyed the Plaza, always an enjoyable meal there.
jiko was great, but it was eclipsed by our meal at kouzzina. my top three are now brown derby, kouzzina, and jiko-i THINK in that order. but it depends upon my mood.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
I knew when school work put me behind reading TRs that I was going to have quite a bit of catching up to do on yours. I really have to try the caramel covered peanut butter cookie now as those are two of my favorite things. My Mom used to make the most delicious peanut butter cookies. Melissa, for all the updates, too!
yeah...the cookie was kind of amazing. and don't worry--i'm behind on WRITING thisl so you can be behind on reading it!
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Originally Posted by KMB733
Thanks Melissa Sue for sharing details of day! Sounds like the 2 of you had a blast!!
we did! and we continued to have a blast today! will try to update--i have lots of photos now, too!
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