An Animal Kingdom State of Being with Cam and Fam COMPLETED 9/18 - Page 15 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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That looks like one crazy roller coaster! I'm enjoying reading your thoughts on US. I have not been there since 1994, and I know a lot has changed there since then. One of these days we'll venture out of WDW and give it another try.
I would never have venture out if it hadn't been Harry Potter!
Quote:
Originally Posted by MamaTink
That roller coaster looks crazy fun! Can't wait to read about your meeting with Donkey. He's one of my favorite Shrek characters!
The Donkey and Puss in Boots are my favorite Shrek characters, but Puss in Boots doesn't do meet and greets.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcc0313
That is a coaster I would be passing up as well, don't think my head handles all those twists and turns as well as they used too. Your pictures did remind me of the Streets of America over at DHS. I am really enjoying seeing and hearing some of your comparisons as well as differences between the parks.
We couldn't help making the comparisons between the two, but there is truly a lot good about US/IoA.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
Whoa... that coaster looks way too intense for me! I do like the theming of the area, though. After all, Universal's back-lot theme park idea came before Disney and I guess they do it well!
They do have a way with back lot theme; they do it very well!
Quote:
Originally Posted by omd
Yikes that is one crazy coaster!!! I don't think I would ever be able to ride it.
Sounds like Luke liked it .
He really loved it!
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Originally Posted by Huntermom
Just found this report. Just as great as all your others, although you haven't made me cry yet. I do love your quotes from Stefanie -guaranteed to me me smile.
I absolutely love the RPR and my stays there have been wonderful. Hope yours is too.
We really enjoyed RPR too and I wouldn't hesitate to stay again. More Stefanisms will be on the way, too.
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Originally Posted by WeRDisneyFanatics
Looks like a great start to your day - and the sky was such a pretty blue that day!
The sky was very blue most of our vacation!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nimros
Universal has changed so much since I was there in 1996! But I still remember some of the buildings you photographed. But there was nothing like the coasters they have now!
I would love to ride Rip Ride Rocket. Of course, I would probably be riding by myself just like Luke.
We may to travel together some day, so you and Luke can have ride partners.
Quote:
Originally Posted by emilyandlogansmom
Oh my goodness! That is a crazy roller coaster! I have a feeling you're opening up people's eyes to a world outside Disney. Not sure that I'm ready for that step in my life yet, but you've got me thinking!
I was still unsure when WWoHP opened, but Luke really worked it out to go this year, so I was willing to see what it was like. Turns out we both liked it, though not enough to return every year.
Quote:
Originally Posted by stubekis
We were just at BC in a standard room on Saturday (sniff, seems so long ago!) and can say there was definitely a magnifying makeup mirror in the bathroom. Wonder if it's refurbished rooms that have them or something they've added recently?
I hope it is a new trend! I keep writing about it here, opening somebody from Disney is reading and likes the idea!
Quote:
Originally Posted by dsteiny23
The hotel looks very nice! And it might just be me, but it always seems weird to me to see characters that aren't Disney characters. But, Stef seemed to be havin' a great time with them.
That Rip Ride Rockit looks amazing!! And you're right, a lot of those buildings remind me of DHS.
Oh, and yes...I totally agree about the magnifying mirror. I use one at home because I can't see that close up without my glasses, and it's a bit hard to put eye makeup on with glasses on. I'm going to have to look for a travel one for November.
And you betcha!! I'll send some Disney love your way.
I'm the same way, pretty much blind without my glasses and with my contacts in my up close vision is poor, so I need the magnifying me to see what I'm doing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Luvsun
That roller coaster has my son Zach's name written all over it! He loves roller coasters!
I do too, but ever since Zach and I rode The Hulk at Universal a few years ago, I am careful of which ones I ride. The Hulk made me very sick!
I am glad Luke loved it!!
What a great picture of you and Stefanie at Universal!
A great start to your first day!
I just never had the head and stomach for rides like that. They always make me sick.
A little bit behind, but all caught up now! Thanks for the pictures of the Royal Pacific. I've been contemplating a stay at one of the Universal Hotels for our 3 day jaunt off of Disney property next April. I think I'm going to be able to cross the Royal Pacific off of the list--I just don't love the color scheme. (At the moment I have a room booked at Marriott's Sabel Palms and got a great rate on a two bedroom suite--yea employee discounts)
It sounds and looks like dinner was a great success! I love the last photo of Stefanie!
It looks like your first morning at Universal is starting off well. I can't wait to ride that roller coaster!
Great arrival at your resort. I had to look up that roller coaster on you tube and all I have to say is wow! That looks like fun and seemed like a pretty long coaster too. More please!
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Check out my Pre-Trip Report for our 9/18-9/23/12 trip here:
[QUOTE=Cam22;3696465] A water taxi was pulling up as we arrived at the back of the line. The guy in front of me dropped a dime while getting his cell phone out of his pocket. His girlfriend pointed it out to him, and he said, “I’m not bending over for ten cents.” Luke will and pocketed the dime.
My DBF would have done the same, he's always finding coins and picking them up. That loose change can add up fast.
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Got a bit behind! How that Stefanie got to pilot the plane! Those goody bags sure helped your vacation start off magically!
Your hotel looks very nice! John and I plan on taking the boys to US/IOA when they are older, so your pics may help us decide to stay there!
I Scooby Doo! Those cartoons were my favorite growing up (I even got to see a German dubbed version in my German Class in HS). It seems like Stef loved the dinner!
That coaster is calling my name! John and I are both thrill ride junkies, so we are hoping the boys are too when they are older so we won't have to kid swap.
All caught up now....Love the pics of Stefanie flying the plane...they are awesome! The character meal looks like it was fun and your hotel looks great! We keep saying we are going to stay at Universal and go to the parks some day but just have never made it yet! We kind of park ourselves inside Disney and stay put...someday though!
Funny how that man wouldn't pick up a dime! I would and put it right in my coin jar for Disney loot!
The RRR wasn't running when we went last October so I never got to see it in action.
I really like the themeing of US over IoA (with the exception of WWoHP of course). I actually got excited to see DHS (then MGM) so I could compare. Currently, US has my vote until that horrible hat gets torn down (which we all know will never happen).
Cam- Your trip sounds so relaxed and wonderful! Seriously, can you teach me how you do it. I always seem to be so frantic about everything.
I'm glad you enjoyed RPR. Zack and I did too! Really felt like a deluxe experience at Disney moderate prices. And, I'm guessing your next update will really start showing some of the perks of the Express line, etc. They really treat their onsite guests well! Can't wait for more!
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Karen, aka Zack's Mom - Lover of all Things Disney and the San Francisco Giants!
In general I am the type of person that would pick up a dime... On the way to the parks I would definately pick it up; but at the end of a long day in the parks I could feature myself not picking it up;lol...
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Yikes that is one crazy coaster!!! I don't think I would ever be able to ride it.
But, Stef seemed to be havin' a great time with them. 
I'm going to have to look for a travel one for November.
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that Stefanie got to pilot the plane! Those goody bags sure helped your vacation start off magically!
Scooby Doo! Those cartoons were my favorite growing up (I even got to see a German dubbed version in my German Class in HS). It seems like Stef loved the dinner!
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