An Island Frame of Mind (A Cam and Luke PTR) Updated 5/22 - Page 21 - 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
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Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
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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.
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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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I'm glad that you made it to the stores without the tornado coming through!!! I would have been freaking if I heard the sirens while I was stuck in traffic Sounds like your wardrobe is complete for the warm weather!
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Loving the TO DO list for AK! I'm sad our next trip isn't until Sept 2016 because hearing all your plans is making me miss WDW more than usual
I have started going through the kids spring clothes this weekend & they are pretty set! My clothing choices need an update though. I too tend to get some spring/summer outfits & keep them until they start looking raged.
Great list for AK! Congrats on changing out the clothes in the closet!
Usually when I switch my closet, the weather takes a downturn, but we are actually expecting highs in the upper 70s for three days this week. Of course, the warmth comes with the wet, lots of rain.
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Originally Posted by KMB733
A great list of must sees at AK!! Glad you were able to get some shopping done yesterday despite some bad weather!
I was glad we got the shopping in this weekend as the sales and coupons only worked together for Friday - Sunday.
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Originally Posted by Roxie2006
I am so looking forward to seeing all the new babies. We did not get to see Lily on our last trip, but I am sure she is getting very big. It just would not be right if you couldn't get a meal at Flame Tree.. Glad to hear your shopping was a success.
Lily seemed so big compared to the baby boys when we saw her in October, so I'm excited to see how much more she has grown.
Can't wait to hear about the babies and Flame Tree.
The babies have me very excited about this visit to AK.
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Originally Posted by SuperDave
So much to look forward to in the AK! Hope with any luck you'll get to see the baby white rhino! Glad you made it through unscathed with the weather!
We got to see a baby rhino a few years back, but the mom kept coming between us and the baby so my photos were mainly of the baby rhino's backside. Hopefully, I can do better this time.
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Originally Posted by OhToodles!
Very appropriate to read about your visit to AK today as we went to the zoo today. And we saw a tiger, giraffes, gorillas... ! We're looking forward to the polar bear exhibit opening in June - just hope we can get a polar bear by then!
Now you are tempting me to plan a short trip to St. Louis to see polar bears.
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Well of course giraffes are first...as well they should be
Those antelope are certainly a cute second though.
Guess a good place to be when you can't be outside in the pouring rain is shopping!!
I had the same thought -- either curl up and read on a stormy day or shop. We had such a beautiful sunset that night that it more than made up for the stormy day.
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Originally Posted by lfredsbo
Love your list!!! Looks like mine
I'm not surprised that our lists would be just alike. I'm a little jealous that you'll be checking of items before me.
I'm glad that you made it to the stores without the tornado coming through!!! I would have been freaking if I heard the sirens while I was stuck in traffic Sounds like your wardrobe is complete for the warm weather!
The warning was just for a severe thunderstorm when we were stuck in the traffic or I would have wanted out right then. The tornado watch was for our home county. But a watch just means a tornado is possible. So we were never really in any danger. Our county doesn't sound the alarms except for tornado warnings because when they go off for severe thunderstorms as well, people get rather desensitized to them. I realize how much I appreciate that as my heart sped up when it sounded until the radio announcer said thunderstorm.
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Originally Posted by MayraLR
I love watching the gorillas! I could spend all day there.
I could, too, and I'm very lucky that Luke patiently stays with me as long as I want.
Loving the TO DO list for AK! I'm sad our next trip isn't until Sept 2016 because hearing all your plans is making me miss WDW more than usual
I have started going through the kids spring clothes this weekend & they are pretty set! My clothing choices need an update though. I too tend to get some spring/summer outfits & keep them until they start looking raged.
Before I was retired, I didn't wear shorts and casual tops except when I was off from school, so I hated to spend too much on them. But now that is what I tend to wear most days.
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Originally Posted by mommapants
Great AK list - looking forward to the MK one.
I think I would mess my drawers if a tornado went off when I was sitting in the car. OMG I live in NJ - no tornados here.
Sorry, but you had me chuckling. I think I did jump in my seat, but Luke is always so calm. Thankfully, it was only an alarm for a severe thunderstorm. We have a weather radio in our bedroom in case a tornado comes through at night. There have been times when it went off, and I nearly leapt out of bed.
1. I love the smells and sounds when we first enter this park. Stopping in Starbucks for Luke’s coffee and a bite to eat, and then taking these to one of the little tables down the alley so we can absorb all this atmosphere is a wonderful start to any day
2. I’m looking forward to riding Seven Dwarfs Mine Training. Yes, I know it is shorter than expected, and I definitely wouldn’t want to wait in line over 30 minutes for a ride. That is why we have a FP+ for it each time we are in the Magic Kingdom for a total of three rides minimum.
3. We had stopped watching parades a number of years ago, but the Festival of Fantasy parade has changed that. One afternoon we will be stacking out a nice spot so I can get some cool photos.
4. We have a FP+ for Peter Pan’s Flight, but I would also like to experience the new queue as well. And of course, to take some photos of it.
5. Wishes is a favorite of both Luke and me because it was Stefanie’s favorite. We are hoping to see it from the park, from the beach at the Poly, and from our balcony in the studio.
6. I’m also excited to see what some of the refurb looks like now that walls are down around the new fireworks viewing area.
7. In spite of the noise level, we truly enjoy dinner at Be Our Guest. We have found our food here to be quite good, and I love having a glass of the Iron Horse Fairytale Cuvee with dinner.
Yesterday morning Luke was checking his e-mail and saw one from Groupon. Listed in the e-mail was an offer for a train room at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel. A little back story will be helpful. Luke has loved trains forever and lived for many years with an L&N railroad track behind his family home. When we began planning our honeymoon thirty-four years ago, Luke suggested that we spend our first night at the then Chattanooga Choo Choo Hilton, specifically in a train car. The price for a single night was well over our budget. We kept discussing it, trying to figure out how to make it work. By the time we decided to go ahead and book it, there were no train rooms available. Instead, we settled for a regular room, which was quite nice. It just wasn’t in an antique train car. Back to the present, Luke suggested we book a night at the Groupon rate for a train room for us to stay in on our way back home at the end of the May trip since we won’t be heading back until mid-afternoon. Finally 34 years later, we’re going to stay in a train room!
We looked into that as well for on our way back last year. Because Chatanooga is our stopping point! We ended up at a Holiday Inn Express in Ooletwah. We thought it was too expensive for us as we would be getting in late and leaving early. Maybe if we were spending more time there. Can't wait to see your pics and hear your review!
We looked into that as well for on our way back last year. Because Chatanooga is our stopping point! We ended up at a Holiday Inn Express in Ooletwah. We thought it was too expensive for us as we would be getting in late and leaving early. Maybe if we were spending more time there. Can't wait to see your pics and hear your review!
I think for us it is the fulfillment of a 34 year old dream that makes it worth it.
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Some really nice things to look forward to in the MK! I know you love BOG, but my first experience there wasn't the best as I noted in my TR. I will give it another try in time, but felt I was rushed, being a single diner! In general, I don't have that experience from the great dining CMs at Disney, but this night it happened unfortunately. My opinion it just depends on who your server is and how good they really are! As others have said....the place is a bit noisy! I absolutely loved exploring the corridors with all the different mementos and the armor of the metal guards! There is a word for the latter for those who wear these, but I just can't think of this.
Funny with the tornadoes that you get as being in CT, I have never experienced one! Thank God! CT averages only about 2 per year. We've had warnings on occasion, but never seen one on the ground. Have seen a funnel cloud, while at work, which never touched ground about five years ago or so and another in Orlando outside Disney in Celebration in 2008! Amazing, but too close!
Will be in Memphis for a few days in early May with some friends for a get together. (unfortunately during prime tornado season) and hope all goes well. You're in the same area for this in the south, so I'm sure you deal with it often this time of year! Always remember the videos from Nashville and the tornado hitting the downtown area about ten years ago or so! Just wild!
For your info, my friends and I will be going to Graceland and actually staying at Elvis' Heartbreak Hotel in one of the themed Elvis suites there. We did this back in 2005, so 10 year anniversary. It's a great suite and not WDW prices. About $100 a man per night. There are seven of us in a 1,200 foot suite. Includes a mini waterfall in a small replicate of Elvis' Jungle Room. There are also seven TVs in the suite as well. It's a great suite.
I think the hotel is being bought out by someone else and completely redone with the Elvis theme involved. Will begin sometime this year. The hotel needs a lot of work! The suites are great, but not a lot to the rest of the hotel! Sorry, to bore you with this....but just excited for another trip!
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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!
Love your list for MK! I saw that Group on! So great that you'll be staying there - finally!
And I'll be sure to notify you (and Laurie) when we get a polar bear.
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Sounds like your wardrobe is complete for the warm weather!
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Usually when I switch my closet, the weather takes a downturn, but we are actually expecting highs in the upper 70s for three days this week. Of course, the warmth comes with the wet, lots of rain. 
.. Glad to hear your shopping was a success. 
In general, I don't have that experience from the great dining CMs at Disney, but this night it happened unfortunately. My opinion it just depends on who your server is and how good they really are! 
Disney Magic - Oct 2015
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