Forever Young: A Disneyland Trip 50 Years in the Making COMPLETED 1/16/16 - Page 47 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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
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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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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Saturday, October 10 -- Oh no, Radiator Springs Racers is DOWN!
I think four very early mornings in a row were beginning to wear on Luke and me just a bit. We got up as soon as the alarm went off, but we could seem to move with any speed in getting ready. I was texting back and forth with Tricia (triciadavids from here on the boards). Before our trip, Tricia and I had sent several private messages back and forth in hopes of meeting up. A little bit before our trip, Tricia let me know that they would be able to head south from their home a bit north of Anaheim. She let me know that they would be down late Friday night and staying through sometime on Sunday. The plan was to spend Saturday together as we’d have more time to spend together. Even though they had had a four hour trip down when it should have only been an hour and half, the Davids still beat us to the park. By the way the park for this majority of the day was Disney’s California Adventure. In our texting, I let them know that Luke was eager to ride Radiator Springs Racers first so that was where we agreed to meet up.
Luke and I entered DCA through the Grand Californian special entrance, which brought us in via Grizzly Peak and that much closer to Cars Land. As we neared Cars Land, Luke sped up to head to the FastPass machines, but I hadn’t heard him so I was confused as to why he was bypassing Cars Land. Then I heard someone yelling, “Cam,” turning to discover Tricia, Roger, and Katie flagging me down. As I got closer to them, Tricia also let me know that Radiator Springs Racers was down, and so FastPasses would not be available until it was up and running again. Luke and I hadn’t thought ahead to this situation, so there was no Plan B. Temporarily befuddled as to what to do, we clustered together and chatted, catching up on each other’s lives. Eventually, I remembered that we had discussed having breakfast at Flo’s V8 Café after our first RSR ride. So the adults decided we’d have breakfast first. Then as we were walking down the main drag in Radiator Springs with Tricia, Katie in the stroller, and me out front, Tricia noticed that the barricades for RSR were down and the line was actually moving. Great timing for us as the ride had just reopened. She asked what we should do, and I said, “Let’s ride.” The guys who were a bit behind us, yelled that we had passed the restaurant. We hollered back that the ride was working, and suddenly, the two fellows were right behind us.
Following the queue and the folks ahead of us, we found ourselves pretty much at the spot where the standby and FastPass queues merge. So glad we chose to postpone breakfast a little longer. I didn’t take any queue photos this time as we really just kept moving, and then I was also talking, and I had quite a few from our previous three rides. Our car this trip was a dark burgundy red and sped quite nicely through the canyon. When we got off, Luke and Roger stopped to get the photos added to the PhotoPass+ accounts.
Now we could have breakfast, and the exit to RSR dumps out very close to Flo’s V8 Café. I chose the American Breakfast, which came with bacon, scrambled eggs, potatoes, and a biscuit. Luke wanted to try something different, and got the Chicken Tamale Breakfast, which was a basic chicken tamale with addition of scrambled eggs, Salsa Verde, and Pico de Gallo. Both meals were very filling and delicious. Luke may have had to finish mine for me.
A cool light fixture made with tail pipes.
My breakfast
Luke's breakfast
One of the wall posters in the area where we ate.
After our tummies were sufficiently full, we made the decision to re-ride the DCA version of Tower of Terror. Actually, only Roger, Luke, and I would be riding as Katie was not in the mood today. Instead Tricia and Katie were going to play in a bug’s land until we were done. While in line, Roger shared with us some of the history of this Tower of Terror, and pointed out stuff in the queue that we might otherwise have missed. We did have a bit of a wait, but good conversation kept the time from dragging. By the way, we had expected it, but the park was so much busier today than when we’d been here back on Thursday. Eventually, an elevator was ready just for us, well, maybe for some other folks, too. So much fun dropping in at the Hollywood Hotel.
Row One meant no arms would blot me out in the ride photo. Or so you'd think.
I guess I no one to blame but myself for the arm in front of my face.
As we exited the ride, Roger pointed out to me several displays of early technology, e.g. typewriters, cameras, and radios. I would have totally missed this as I rushed headlong into the store if he hadn’t stopped me and drawn my attention to them. Really cool! While Luke waited in line to get our ride photo on the PhotoPass+ lanyard, I quickly browsed the store, hoping for something distinctive to California Adventure. But everything I liked, I could get at WDW, too.
From here our trio headed into a bug’s land to meet back up with Tricia and Katie. We all needed a bio break and I thought the theming for the outside of the restrooms was adorable.
Another update will probably not arrive any earlier than Sunday. Tomorrow we are headed to Evansville to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens in an IMAX 3D theater and then dining out. Saturday is Christmas with the Matthews, which will be an all-day event. If I'm not totally exhausted on Sunday, I'll work on a post. Have a great weekend, everyone!
I am literally laughing out loud at your TOT picture! I was not expecting that! Breakfast looked hearty. I am glad you were able to ride the racers after all.
So glad you got to ride Radiator Springs Racers - there is nothing worse than turning up to ride it and realising it's down and sadly it still happens more often than I'd expect, given how many years it's been open...
Enjoy Star Wars! We're booked to see it tomorrow afternoon and I cannot wait!
We came close to eating here. I LOVE the formica on the tables!!!! My grandmother had a similar pattern with gold design. I've always loved starburst patterns because of her affinity for them. She could even do them in pie crust, something I've never really figured out.
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Nice hearty breakfast! Glad RSR came back up so you guys could ride it again. I laughed out loud at the arm in front of your face on TOT - I didn't realize you would be the one whose arm was in the way!
Perfect timing with showing up just as RSR was reopened! Enjoy Star Wars tonight! My DD is going tonight, but I'm holding off until the 27th. Looking forward to it!
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Glad you were able to ride Radiator Springs. Breakfast looked really good. I really like Disneyland's version of ToT. And I had to laugh at your ride photo. Of all the times for the ride picture to be taken
I am literally laughing out loud at your TOT picture! I was not expecting that! Breakfast looked hearty. I am glad you were able to ride the racers after all.
I couldn't believe it myself. Luke, of course, had seen it when he had put on the lanyard, so he was laughing about it as soon as he got to me. I can't even remember now what I was pointing at.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DMA
Fun day so far! Breakfast looked yummy! I love the photos of the ToT queue and the typewriters and radios at the exit! Very cool!
I loved those little touches, too!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
So glad you got to ride Radiator Springs Racers - there is nothing worse than turning up to ride it and realising it's down and sadly it still happens more often than I'd expect, given how many years it's been open...
Enjoy Star Wars! We're booked to see it tomorrow afternoon and I cannot wait!
I had read several TRs that mentioned RSR being down off and on, but we had such good luck our first day that I'd forgotten. But thankfully, it was back up soon.
We came close to eating here. I LOVE the formica on the tables!!!! My grandmother had a similar pattern with gold design. I've always loved starburst patterns because of her affinity for them. She could even do them in pie crust, something I've never really figured out.
My grandmother had a Formica table, too. My dad even made me a kid sized kitchen table with a Formica top for Christmas one year.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SharonK0527
Nice hearty breakfast! Glad RSR came back up so you guys could ride it again. I laughed out loud at the arm in front of your face on TOT - I didn't realize you would be the one whose arm was in the way!
Luke and I had to laugh at that, too. I had been so excited when we boarded that no one would be blocking my face.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pamcarey
Perfect timing with showing up just as RSR was reopened! Enjoy Star Wars tonight! My DD is going tonight, but I'm holding off until the 27th. Looking forward to it!
We did luck out with our timing. We enjoyed it so much that we're headed back on Christmas Eve.
That tamale breakfast looks delicious!! I love tamales, so I think that's what I'd order.
Glad the ride reopening was timed so well for you!
Enjoy Star Wars - my kids & DH are seeing it right now, too. While I'm still at work.
Luke loved his breakfast, and if my memory serves me well, there wasn't so much as a crumb left.
Too bad you were at work! I loved it as it gave me that same feeling the first one did. The original trilogy is my favorite.
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
Glad you were able to ride Radiator Springs. Breakfast looked really good. I really like Disneyland's version of ToT. And I had to laugh at your ride photo. Of all the times for the ride picture to be taken
Luke had even reminded me where the ride photo was taken, but I remember getting excited about something I saw, but now I have no memory of it as we've laughed so hard at my own arm in my face.
Nice photos from within your hotel, which looks absolutely stunning for Halloween!
That was quite nice that you got to meet up with some fellow PPs and spend some time together in DL! Glad that RSR re-opened and also enjoyed TOT. Both of your breakfasts' looked quite good from Flo's.
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
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We're booked to see it tomorrow afternoon and I cannot wait! 
I can't even remember now what I was pointing at. 
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