TR: Thingamabobs, Zebra & Giraffes, Oh My! Completed 3/25/15 - Page 19 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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What great pics from Sunrise Safari That was like one of the things that would have us stay again at AKL But the early start is something I know Lucille could live without
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What a great Sunrise experience! Totally worth waking up early for
Thanks! Yes, it was!
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Originally Posted by JKnott17
What an amazing experience!
Thanks! It definitely was!
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Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
Sounds like a great, and very informative, safari!!
Thanks! We had a great time!
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Originally Posted by DMA
What a great morning!
Thanks!
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Originally Posted by shazza
What a nice experience for the two of you. You got some great photos in the early morning light
I burst out laughing at the idea of people going on the tour in their pajamas!
Thanks! Yes, I was thinking, really? Couldn't even bother to get dressed???
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Originally Posted by Jambo
Looks like a wonderful morning!
Thanks! It was!
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Originally Posted by Cam22
The Sunrise Safari is tied with Keys to the Kingdom as my favorite WDW tour. You got some awesome animal photos. I loved that the truck would stop and give you time to take photos without all the bumps and jerks. Yari sounds like an terrific guide.
Thanks! Yari was amazing! I really hope that we can find her at AKL in the future!
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Originally Posted by Nemo125
Love your photos of the sunrise safari! And all the little tidbits of the "naughty" animals. So cute. I love the sunrise safari - I like it that they stop the truck for long periods of time so you can get great photos - like you did. Also love all the info the give you too!
Thanks! It is funny to hear their stories - and Yari spoke like they are their pets, which just makes it so much nicer!
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Originally Posted by Tara O'Hara
Girl time cannot be overrated! !! The sunrise safari ROCKS and I'm glad you got a chance to do it! I'm not sure why you are apologizing for the quality of your pictures. Your so-so pictures are as good as my great pictures! . It sounds like you and Emily had a wonderful time!
Thanks! And thank you for the compliment on my photos - I am trying to really boost my skills - and taking safari photos in manual was quite challenging!
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Originally Posted by SuperDave
What an amazing experience you had as the photos justify it! WOW! I've thought about this, but I need to get myself back for a stay at the AKL to do it! Is it all guests staying at the AKL that can do this or just concierge as I think that may have been the way they originally implemented this experience? I think I'd be more willing to do the Sunset version as that's dinner rather than breakfast and experience some of Jiko's great cuisine and fine SA wines! Anyway, I think you got your money's worth!
Thanks! Unfortunately - this is no longer available - only the sunset.
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Originally Posted by Coop
What a great tour! Sounds like talking to Yari would be very interesting. You got some great photos and breakfast looked yummy! I really need to do that one time when we are staying at AKL!
Thanks! Unfortunately, this tour has been discontinued But they still do the sunset one, but it stays on AKL property.
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Originally Posted by lauriep
What a great experience! I'm sad I never got to do this tour before it was discontinued. As far as I know, the last day for the Sunrise Safari tour was December 28, 2014. Unless they reconsidered, there was an announcement about this last summer. They still offer the Sunset Safari, which is a tour of the savannas at the lodge followed by dinner at Jiko.
Thanks! This was amazing - and you know us - any chance to see our animal friends, we are there!
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Originally Posted by MayraLR
Wow, what a neat experience! The safari is a wonderful ride on its own but to be able to do it with such detailing. Awesome!
Thanks! It was amazing!
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Originally Posted by MikeL
What great pics from Sunrise Safari That was like one of the things that would have us stay again at AKL But the early start is something I know Lucille could live without
Thanks!
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Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
Didn't know the Sunrise version was discontinued as Laurie mentioned it as well. Although, I'd be much more interested in the Sunset tour with a dinner at Jiko as it's one of my favorite WDW eateries!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
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What a sweet gift from Emily. I loved Bree's ears. They look like they had a great time with the characters. And sounded like your afternoon was lovely as well.
So glad you got to do the sunrise safari! It was an amazing experience wasn't it?!
Great pictures from the safari! Glad you and Em had a great time!
Thanks! We did!
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Originally Posted by stardust190
Great safari! And how sweet was that anniversary gift from Emily? You've got a sweet little girl there!
Thanks! She is very sweet!
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Originally Posted by SuperDave
Didn't know the Sunrise version was discontinued as Laurie mentioned it as well. Although, I'd be much more interested in the Sunset tour with a dinner at Jiko as it's one of my favorite WDW eateries!
We would love to try the sunset one sometime.
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Originally Posted by OhToodles!
What a sweet gift from Emily. I loved Bree's ears. They look like they had a great time with the characters. And sounded like your afternoon was lovely as well.
So glad you got to do the sunrise safari! It was an amazing experience wasn't it?!
Thanks! It really was an amazing experience!
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Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
So we met up with Scott and headed over (grabbing a diet coke and a conservation pin on the way) to Adventure’s Outpost, talking his ear off , filling him in on our morning adventure!
Apparently – Scott had stopped for a photopass photo when he entered the park.
And we had a family photopass photo done!
We scanned our magic bands and were soon meeting up with Mickey & Minnie! I just love them in the safari outfits!!!
Next we headed into the Maharajah Jungle Trek where we caught a glimpse of the Komodo dragon, many of the large bats, and barely a glimpse of some very sleepy tigers. So it was basically a scenic walk in the shade!
When we came out, it was time for our next fastpass at Kali River Rapids. We went to get a locker to put our personal items in (I had my DSLR with me) but the lockers were out of order!!! So we decided to skip KRR for now, as we did not want to chance it with my camera.
We were able to change our KRR fastpass for Expedition Everest fastpasses instead – so we headed over there and rode fastpass, then got off and got right back on through single rider line! Not sure what happened to our first ride photo – but it did not show up. And as you can see, in the single rider, Emily and I ended up in the same car! We did spot Heather when we were in the fastpass line – she was at the ride exit, but when we came off, she was on break.
Our next fast pass was for the Finding Nemo show, we headed there, grabbed our seats, which were in the lower section near the stage – GREAT seats!!!
After the show, we grabbed a couple beverages, of course a diet coke for me, water for Scott, and an orange soda for Emily.
Then we headed into Dinoland – and Emily really wanted to ride Primeval Whirl – we told her if she wanted to ride, she would have to go by herself – she was old enough now that neither Scott nor I needed to put ourselves through the abuse of that ride!!! It is just way too rough for Scott’s back – and I swear I come off with bruises immediately!! So off she went, enjoying her ride!
While Emily was on the ride, Scott and I got in a fairly long line for Goofy and Pluto – and Emily joined us when she returned from the ride. We met up with Goofy and Pluto – and had just missed Donald being with them before he went in for a break. I was super bummed as I love to get as many characters together as we can.
But we still had fun with those silly boys!
Then Donald was meeting over behind that area, so we still met with him – barely – before the line closed because it was starting to rain.
It was just drizzling at this point, so Scott and Emily wanted another ride on EE, and we got there, and it shut down due to the weather – there was lightning in the area.
Well, we decided to be adventurous and headed back over to Kilimanjaro Safari – the line was pretty short as it was now pouring!!! The park was definitely clearing out – but we were taking advantage!
We got on the safari truck and squeezed in towards the middle together, trying to avoid the rain – BUT let me tell you – this was the BEST safari we had ever been on!!! The pictures are not that great, but some of the animals were having a blast!!! Especially the elephants!!!
This hippo was catching the rain!!!
Not too sure this giraffe was that thrilled……..look at his/her poor ears!!!
BUT these elephants!!! They were playing and loving the pouring rain!!! The truck actually was able to stop and let us watch for a bit!!
After our adventure, we were soaked and decided to head back to the resort – thank goodness it is a short bus ride! But on the way, Emily stopped for a Mickey pretzel and then in one of the shops to purchase a Minnie Hair bow she had seen earlier!
Up Next: Are we seriously being rescued???
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Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
Wow! What a rain, but what a safari! Looks like you made the best choice for the weather. My kids love Primeval Whirl, but I'm one and done on that one. It's fun, but brutal.
Wow! What a rain, but what a safari! Looks like you made the best choice for the weather. My kids love Primeval Whirl, but I'm one and done on that one. It's fun, but brutal.
Thanks! We had so much fun in the rain!
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Originally Posted by MayraLR
Wow! That was quite a downpour. Never thought of doing the safari while it's raining. Now I know.
Thanks! We didn't think it would be that much fun!
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Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports