Escaping The Brutal Northeast For Sunny, Warm Florida and Fun! Completed 7/12 - Page 26 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Yes, it was on such a perfect day! A bad day on the golf course is always better than a good day at work! This according to local legend!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Glad you had another good round!
Always enjoy playing here even if I'm not playing well. With so many other things to look forward to on a trip as a good dinner later each night and all the Disney sounds and sights I encounter during my round!
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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!
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.
I totally enjoyed your beautiful pictures of the GF Dave! We just enjoyed our first stay at VGF and loved entering the grand lobby each time we took the monorail!
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I totally enjoyed your beautiful pictures of the GF Dave! We just enjoyed our first stay at VGF and loved entering the grand lobby each time we took the monorail!
The GF is an amazing resort and glad I was able to capture the beauty of this for you! Even, better to do this when there are few people to get in you photos as doing this later at night certainly helps! Would love to stay at the GFV or other DVC properties. It would probably be worth my while to purchase a DVC home as I do come down to WDW each year for about 6 or 7 nights and sometimes more. Especially, since I love the deluxe resorts so much! What do you think it being worth it to me, regarding my WDW travel patterns?
Quote:
Originally Posted by disneydreamer33
What a nice round of golf and a great weather day!
I so already miss Disney!!!
It was a fun round and especially experiencing many of the sights and sounds of WDW on the Palm Course, which is quite close to the MK!
Falling behind on these as I'm a bit under the weather with a cold! Time of year and several people at work are feeling the same as probably where I got it from. Tough, to take the day off as a busy time of the year for me there! May take until the weekend to get caught up on Cheryl's and Cam's TRs as they make their updates more regularly than most, like myself!
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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!
[QUOTE=SuperDave;4395626]The GF is an amazing resort and glad I was able to capture the beauty of this for you! Even, better to do this when there are few people to get in you photos as doing this later at night certainly helps! Would love to stay at the GFV or other DVC properties. It would probably be worth my while to purchase a DVC home as I do come down to WDW each year for about 6 or 7 nights and sometimes more. Especially, since I love the deluxe resorts so much! What do you think it being worth it to me, regarding my WDW travel patterns?
Considering that you go to WDW at least once a year and probably anticipate always having Disney as a future destination, I would say it's a good investment! It took us 32 years of traveling there when we both felt it was just the right time in our lives with our grown children to finally make the investment!
The GF is an amazing resort and glad I was able to capture the beauty of this for you! Even, better to do this when there are few people to get in you photos as doing this later at night certainly helps! Would love to stay at the GFV or other DVC properties. It would probably be worth my while to purchase a DVC home as I do come down to WDW each year for about 6 or 7 nights and sometimes more. Especially, since I love the deluxe resorts so much! What do you think it being worth it to me, regarding my WDW travel patterns?
Considering that you go to WDW at least once a year and probably anticipate always having Disney as a future destination, I would say it's a good investment! It took us 32 years of traveling there when we both felt it was just the right time in our lives with our grown children to finally make the investment!
Thanks for the advice! I've asked a few DVC members here and all said basically what you did, considering I usually visit WDW each year. Only exceptions since 2002 being 2006 and 2013, when I made visits to Europe. Probably, won't be before 2016 as I'm taking a Disney cruise next spring and not sure, if I'll be able to squeeze in a WDW visit as well!
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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!
After getting everything ready for the morning, it was time to head out to one of the parks. Tomorrow will be an open day with no golf, so I could spend a good part of the day in one of the parks. Today, the original plan along with my Fastpass+ reservations, was to go to the Animal Kingdom. But, since it was after 4 pm now, I had to cancel that and visit another park. The bus ride is longer than the others from Riverside, plus there is the extra stop to/from the park at Blizzard Beach. This is the one aspect of taking the bus to the AK, I don’t like. Just wish they’d combine the two water parks on one single bus. May be tough as the two parks are not that close to one another.
So, the plan was now to visit the Magic Kingdom again as I also have an ADR for dinner in one of the MK resorts. Going to the AK would not have been the best move and allow me much time to spend there, plus take a bus from the AK on the return to the MK area for dinner. So, it looks like no Fastpass+ for me today! It’s a learning experience with these now! Makes it a bit more difficult, when I’m playing golf as well. So, I’ll be winging it in the Magic Kingdom! It will still be a good time!
I arrived at the North Depot at around 4:15 and waited about twenty minutes or so for a bus. Not what I was hoping for, especially, when your time is a bit limited to spend in the Magic Kingdom. After, stopping at the other bus stops in the resorts we were on the way to the Magic Kingdom and arrived there in about five minutes or so. It was quite busy as always and made my way up Main Street USA with some photos.
One of my favorite eateries in the Magic Kingdom! Just love the decor and theming of this place!
Stopped at the castle for the show and Donald and the others doing their numbers on stage!
Not easy getting a good photo as it was crowded here and the characters were constantly moving during the musical number!
Fountain at Cinderella’s Castle. Next, on to Fantasyland again!
This is from the boarded up area of SDMT, which was still under construction at the time
Nice view of Space Mountain from FL.
Walt Disney World Railroad Station in Fantasyland, adjacent to the Barnstormer attraction.
When I got to Fantasyland all the wait times for most of the attractions were over forty minutes with the exception of the Barnstormer, which I rode yesterday. So, this was the option for me.
I do enjoy the detail of this new attraction in the queue area. I liked experiencing this ride again, but it is a bit short on ride time and is pretty much over before you know it!
View a bit in the distance of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train undergoing testing
Closeup of tracks on SDMT attraction
After departing the Barnstormer at just around 6pm. I had to decide what I wanted to do! I wanted to take the WDWRR to the Main Street USA station, but the line was rather long and the train no where in sight. I have an ADR at one of the MK resorts for 7:30 pm and would like to get over there by 6:45 to explore and have a drink before a nice dinner. So I decided to walk to the park exit.
As I came to Main Street USA, the street party, “Move It, Shake It, Celebrate it!” was under way. I enjoy this, so I stayed for a while and got some photos!
Looks like this CM performer is pointing at me!
Always tough getting good photos during these events as there are so many people around in your way and crossing in front of your camera view! But at least, I got a few. After the conclusion of this, I exited the Magic Kingdom and get transportation for my dinner in about an hour’s time!
NEXT: A New Reimagined Experience At One of WDW’s Best!
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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!
Even with limited time in the MK, I think I made the best of it and enjoyed myself!
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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!
Sorry your afternoon didn't quite go as planned, but sounds like you got to take in a bit of fun at mk!
Still had a great time! I guess this is what happens, when you have a lot planned and can't always control your schedule!
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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!
Fun time at the Magic Kingdom! I must admit it's interesting to see what people were wearing in one of your shots, as I suddenly realised we'll be in Disney at that time of the year next year...
Sure sounds like a very crowded afternoon at MK! Glad you were able to get on one ride at least. Looking forward to hearing about your dinner.
Just wish I had more time in the MK, but tough to do both golf and parks on the same day, but I managed at least a little bit of parks activity!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Fun time at the Magic Kingdom! I must admit it's interesting to see what people were wearing in one of your shots, as I suddenly realised we'll be in Disney at that time of the year next year...
It was a good time and wish I had a fully day, but I will there before the end of my trip! Late March-Early April is such a nice time to visit for the weather. It was a bit crowded as Easter was only a couple of weeks away!
__________________
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!
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.