Feelin’ Groovy: A Cam and Luke TR Completed 7/31 - Page 45 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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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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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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Sounds like a great time at DHS! Really great photos from the attractions. I know the one mystery photo (the phone) is from the bathroom area right near Beauty and the Beast. I'm not sure about the other one.
Sounds like a great time at DHS! Really great photos from the attractions. I know the one mystery photo (the phone) is from the bathroom area right near Beauty and the Beast. I'm not sure about the other one.
You are correct. The phone is in the area between the Beauty and the Beast show and the Tower of Terror!
Now it was time to head back to Animal Kingdom Lodge – Kidani Village to spend time with Pam and Charlotte at Samawati Springs. Before we headed down to the pool, we spent a little time on the balcony of our studio as the animals were out and active. Of course, I had to get my camera out to document the activity.
The pool was very busy when we got down there, but we were able to find four lounge chairs together on the backside of the pool just over the little bridge. These photos are of our view from our lounge chairs.
At some point Charlotte, Pam, and I went to the pool where we sat for a little while. Luke left the pool around 4:15 and the rest of us joined him around 4:45. I actually got three days with Pam and Charlotte while we were visiting Disney World! They didn’t stay long after we returned to the room. Then Luke and I got ready and headed off to Disney Springs to check out the expansion that officially opened today. Our first stop was The Art of Disney where artist George McCulloch had an art display and was signing prints. On the sign outside Luke saw a print with a train, and that is what ultimately pulled us inside. As we were looking over the available prints, we realized we already owned one of his – The Return of the Mouse. It didn’t take us long to select the train print and then another of the Magic Kingdom sign. Luke originally opted for a smaller size, but I loved the matting on the larger version of the train. So in the end we bought the large ones.
Next was Mickey’s Pantry, but only for browsing. We checked out the limited edition and exculsive pins at Pin Traders, but bought nothing here either. Luke wanted to see if Once Upon a Toy had any of the Lego Mini-Figures, but the answer again was :, though it had a cool Star Wars section. Moving on we entered the World of Disney, which also had no Legos, though a sweet tiny CM led us on an epic search through the store for all the places she knew they had been. Finally, she went off to check on the computer and the verdict was all of WDW was sold out on Lego Mini-Figs.
As we exited World of Disney, we came out into new the Disney Springs Town Center.
Luke headed to the Lego Store just in case they had some mini figures while I began taking a series of photos. I was especially enthralled by the human statues, wondering just how long it takes to paint these CMs.
Luke had no luck at the Lego Store, so we moved on, roaming through the newest portions.
This is the new bus stop area, but it was not yet open on this day.
We stopped to evaluate the new restrooms. They passed with flying colors!
We came out near Wolfgang Puck arriving about 15 minutes early. We were seated immediately. Our server Carl was one of those who takes care of the basics, but lacks attentiveness. Whenever he was around, we felt he was in a hurry to disappear again. It was no easy task capturing his attention so I could order a dessert. Forget Carl, what did we eat? I had the Chicken Alfredo with rigatoni, mushrooms, baby peas, goat cheese, which was pretty standard, but delicious. Luke had selected a Sirloin Burger with lettuce, tomatoes, caramelized onions, pickles, cheddar, remoulade, garlic aioli and he chose French fries to accompany it. Dessert, which we shared was Key Lime Pie. Overall, we liked Wolfgang Puck Grand Café, but Carl was less than stellar. We’ll probably go back, but it won’t be a frequent spot on our dining rotations. There really are so many new and interesting places coming to Disney Springs that we will be wanting to try. We are glad we finally made time for this restaurant.
Luke's burger
My pasta
Once we were full, we walked back through the new expansion noting other sections and taking photos of everything now lit up as it was twilight. We stopped in a few shops. But the only one I can now verify is Curl by Sammy Duvall. Two things attracted us in here Luke wanted to look at the Oakley sunglasses and then as I wandered the shop, I discovered some cool Disney Vanns. Unfortunately, none were available in my size.
This is the new Welcome Center/Guest Services at Disney Springs.
The actual springs
Finally, we strolled our way back to the bus stop. While waiting for our bus, we discussed Boma with a couple who was also waiting. We had run out of steam again.
These two photos are of the area around the bus stop. Luke says there has been quite a bit of conjecture online about what they are doing with the road here since this area will no longer be a bus stop once the new one opens (which it has).
We did catch a glimpse of Illuminations from the bus on the ride home. We were dropped off back at AKL-K around 9:30. In the room we discussed plans for the next day because we both were really wanting to sleep in tomorrow. So we changed our FP+ selections to include Buzz and a later time for Space Mountain. I packed some of our stuff, typed notes, and then bid the day goodnight. Luke fell asleep shortly after 9:30 and I only made it twenty minutes longer, turning in at 9:50.
NEXT: Well, I have made better breakfast choices. Oops!
another great day! Interesting photos of Disney Springs...will be interesting to explore a bit, though it looks like it's more 'high end' than the kitch-y fun things of the past...Magnatron, anyone? I loved that store! and the magic shop, the memorabilia shop....
***I just noticed this was my 13,000 post on Passporters!
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another great day! Interesting photos of Disney Springs...will be interesting to explore a bit, though it looks like it's more 'high end' than the kitch-y fun things of the past...Magnatron, anyone? I loved that store! and the magic shop, the memorabilia shop....
***I just noticed this was my 13,000 post on Passporters!
Congrats on your 13,000 post! Most of the new expansion is filled with high end stores, and I found myself wondering if I'd ever go in some of them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by purplegal
Great pictures of Disney Springs I don't recognize the place.
My photos are of the newest expansion, so there may still be parts that you are somewhat familiar with.
Quote:
Originally Posted by clio
Great pictures of Disney Springs. It looks so different from before.
Liz
The newest expansion is so very different from the way I remember Downtown Disney way back when.
Your twilight pictures are beautiful. Were those actually living statues like they used to have in Italy? They were amazing whether real or simply statues.
Thanks for the photos of Disney Springs. It's been a few years since we have been to Downtown Disney, but are planning an evening there in September. I'd better pull up a current map and try to get the lay of the land before we get there!
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That was so nice that you got to spend three days with Pam and Charlotte!!! We enjoy taking small pool breaks while at the Disney resorts because the older we get, the more relaxation time we need! I enjoyed seeing your pictures of Disney Springs since we didn't get the chance to see it all on our last trip. Hope we can eat together at the Boathouse next May!
One of my absolute favourite stores in the 'old' Downtown Disney was Reel Finds - I LOVED that place. I once bought a printed script, bound into a book, of a Marilyn Monroe film from there - Some Like it Hot, I think it was (sadly lost in all the divorce hoo-ha 15 years ago). But they had some amazing props and costumes, and really cool film memorabilia and souvenirs to buy. When it closed down, a lot of the stuff moved to Sid Cahuga's in MGM Studios, but of course that has now gone as well. Sad.
Anyway, sorry to be a sad-sack, back to your lovely trip report!
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I love all your Disney Springs pictures! We didn't make it there in June and it has changed so much since November. We are looking forward to getting there next June!
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Of course, I had to get my camera out to document the activity.
They didn’t stay long after we returned to the room. Then Luke and I got ready and headed off to Disney Springs to check out the expansion that officially opened today. Our first stop was The Art of Disney where artist George McCulloch had an art display and was signing prints. On the sign outside Luke saw a print with a train, and that is what ultimately pulled us inside. As we were looking over the available prints, we realized we already owned one of his – The Return of the Mouse. It didn’t take us long to select the train print and then another of the Magic Kingdom sign. Luke originally opted for a smaller size, but I loved the matting on the larger version of the train. So in the end we bought the large ones.
:, though it had a cool Star Wars section. Moving on we entered the World of Disney, which also had no Legos, though a sweet tiny CM led us on an epic search through the store for all the places she knew they had been. Finally, she went off to check on the computer and the verdict was all of WDW was sold out on Lego Mini-Figs. 
They passed with flying colors! 
Overall, we liked Wolfgang Puck Grand Café, but Carl was less than stellar. We’ll probably go back, but it won’t be a frequent spot on our dining rotations. There really are so many new and interesting places coming to Disney Springs that we will be wanting to try. We are glad we finally made time for this restaurant. 
]
The newest expansion is so very different from the way I remember Downtown Disney way back when. 
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