Escaping The Brutal Northeast For Sunny, Warm Florida and Fun! Completed 7/12 - Page 30 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.
To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.
If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.
The Adventurer's Club...lives on only in Disney Lore for me, as I never visited. I'm glad I'm a West Coaster, as at least I have Trader Sam's. Wish I could have seen it.
I have very much heard of Trader Sam's at the DLR in Cali, even though, I have yet to visit there. How does it compare to the Adventurer's Club in diversity and fun? Explain in detail if you could of this place!
As much of a WDW aficionado I am, I must visit Disneyland in due course as I know I am missing something. Not as diverse as WDW, but still plenty to do! I'm quite educated with the offerings in the parks in DL, but don't know much about the cuisine offerings! I'm a big foodie and love dining out at TS restaurants as TS (for dinner)is always the way I go in my 11 trips to WDW! If you could, LMK some of the best at DLR for TS.! I could always look it up or get a DL PP, but a firsthand experience is best! Thanks Kimmy Ann!
__________________
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!
I have very much heard of Trader Sam's at the DLR in Cali, even though, I have yet to visit there. How does it compare to the Adventurer's Club in diversity and fun? Explain in detail if you could of this place!
As much of a WDW aficionado I am, I must visit Disneyland in due course as I know I am missing something. Not as diverse as WDW, but still plenty to do! I'm quite educated with the offerings in the parks in DL, but don't know much about the cuisine offerings! I'm a big foodie and love dining out at TS restaurants as TS (for dinner)is always the way I go in my 11 trips to WDW! If you could, LMK some of the best at DLR for TS.! I could always look it up or get a DL PP, but a firsthand experience is best! Thanks Kimmy Ann!
Sorry, Dave, I can't help you with that...I'm a super budget traveler and don't eat on site much. However, being a DA, I do know the BIG TS stuff...
Blue Bayou-you are paying for the ambiance, which is AMAZING. From the reviews I've read, the food doesn't merit the label "fine dining", their offerings are mostly surf and turf, and the famed monte cristo, which usually gets a "too heavy" review.
Carthay Circle-I would say this gets the most universally positive reviews.
I like Disneytouristblog for both food and other reviews, check them out if you decide to plan a trip in earnest.
Trader Sams....Well, I don't know too much about the Adventurer's club, but I've read that some of their back-story props found their way to TS when it closed. Trader Sam's backstory involves Trader Sam, the headhunter at the end of the Jungle Cruise. It is filled with exotica, including animatronic volcanos, tikis, and other stuff that is triggered when guests order certain drinks. The inside is small, dim, and decked out like any well-themed tiki bar, which it is. When I went we were initially seated at a table, I think the bar would be much better. We ended up moving outside as it was a bit noisy and stiffling-feeling, but this meant we missed much of the animatronic show. I did take time to look over many of the back-story inspired ephemera on the walls, though a true disney historian would get even more out of it. Here's a fun article from our buddy Tom at disneytouristblog. Trader Sam's Backstory & Details - Disney Tourist Blog
The bar is located on Disneyland Hotel property, and is a stand-alone building shared with Tangaroa Terrace.
The patio outside is lit with tiki torches and they have a hawaiian guitar duo that we were lucky enough to hear one night, at least for their last few songs. On my next trip, I will ask their schedule and try to see their whole set.
A celebrated menu item is the deep-fried long beans appetizer. I did like these, though I thought they could have been somewhat better.
I only ordered one drink and it was more ice than drink, but the flavor was amazing. I have since tried my best to replicated it. The Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Rum is basically a pina colada made with orange as well as pinapple juice, and sprinkled with cinnamon and nutmeg. I have to say it was gone way too soon for my $11...but I enjoyed every drop.
This is a MUST stop-off for me going forward. I'm a tiki bar fan, and this is a truely great one, with all the Disney bells and whistles.
I'll be visiting this Dec with my 6yo son, and the one TS meal I'm planning is the Big Thunder Ranch BBQ, for the entertainment and ambiance. The food looks to be just your run of the mill disney BBQ buffet, , but I was captivated when passing by last visit by the stage themeing for the holidays and the low-key entertainment that seemed continuous. (similar, maybe, to the golden horseshoe?)
I'll be visiting this Dec with my 6yo son, and the one TS meal I'm planning is the Big Thunder Ranch BBQ, for the entertainment and ambiance. The food looks to be just your run of the mill disney BBQ buffet, , but I was captivated when passing by last visit by the stage themeing for the holidays and the low-key entertainment that seemed continuous. (similar, maybe, to the golden horseshoe?)
Thanks for all of your information and gave me some good insight for DL!
__________________
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!
I'll chime in that we absolutely loved Cathay circle. The best meal of the trip! Blue bayou was a one and done for me. My steak was cooked wrong and by the time they came to check my friends were done eating...
Registered Message Board Members Get Our Free Newsletter! When you register you'll have the option to sign up for our weekly PassPorter Newsletter. It's chock-full of feature articles; news; tips; contests; photos; and special offers in our online store.
I'll chime in that we absolutely loved Cathay circle. The best meal of the trip! Blue bayou was a one and done for me. My steak was cooked wrong and by the time they came to check my friends were done eating...
Thanks for the info. Sorry, about your dinner experience!
Quote:
Originally Posted by shazza
All caught up. I'm with you on wanting to visit DLR - it's been a long time since we've been there.
It's in a bucket, but just don't know when at this point!
__________________
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!
Very enjoyable TR! I was curious to read one with golfing in it. Our last stay was at Shades of Green and our balcony overlooked the start of a course. This had my golf loving husband almost drooling and me promising him next time!
Very enjoyable TR! I was curious to read one with golfing in it. Our last stay was at Shades of Green and our balcony overlooked the start of a course. This had my golf loving husband almost drooling and me promising him next time!
My TR is probably one of the few that involves golf in it! That would be the Palm Course, which your balcony overlooked. It's my favorite of the Disney courses. It used to be Osprey Ridge but that course was overhauled and incorporated into the Four Seasons Resort between the Port Orleans and Fort Wilderness resorts (to give you an idea of where it is located) I'm sure your husband will enjoy the golf at Disney!
__________________
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 a few weeks delay on this TR, I'm glad I got it back up and running again!
After being up quite late the first three nights, I think it was taking its’ toll on me a bit. I could sleep in today a bit as I had no golf rounds reserved for the day, so it would be a free day in one of the parks. Not the whole day as I had an earlier than usual ADR later today.
I woke up at about 9 am and felt pretty good after a decent 8+ hours sleep. I headed over to Riverside Mill around 9:45 am for a bit of breakfast. Just basic stuff with a banana, strawberry Greek yogurt, roll, coffee and orange juice. Headed back to my room for a bit and grabbed my camera, put on some sun screen and walked to the North Depot to take Disney Transportation to Epcot. It took a good 20 minutes or so for an Epcot bus to arrive. That probably meant, I’d miss my first Fastpass+ for the day which was Spaceship Earth. Although, the lines are usually not too bad and may be able to do it later or on another day on this trip.
It was about 11:30 or so when we arrived at Epcot, which was the end of my first Fastpass+ window. The lines weren’t too bad at the gates and had no problems with my Magic Band and went right in.
This was a nice sight to greet me, just after passing through the gates!
The next window was now open for my next Fastpass+ so I headed over there and got some photos on the way!
Love the look of this near The Land pavilion.
It was time for Soarin’
This is one of the better attractions in Epcot and always enjoy it. Although, without a Fastpass+ ressie, the waits are just too long to endure. So, I usually just do this once on each trip. The Fastpass+ line was pretty quick and it was only a few minutes wait, until we were sent to the holding area with the numbered places to await departure. I was on the middle level, which is fine. The top is the best as you can’t see others feet above you!
Some of the beauty at the Flower & Garden Festival.
Like these two above as well. Such beauty!
Next, it was over to Mission Space, which is fairly close by. It’s usually pretty much a walk on for the Green side and not too long of a wait for the Orange side. I prefer the Orange side, which had a twenty minute wait. So, I decided this was a go.
I went in and the line was considerably shorter than the twenty minutes stated for the Orange side. I think I was in the prep room (with the video) within ten minutes and on the ride itself in five minutes. It was as good as always. I like the orange version and doesn’t really bother me as it does some people. I can certainly see and feel why it would!
When I originally made my Fastpass+ reservations, I was hoping to get one for the newly reimagined Test Track. Unfortunately, one wasn’t available until much later in the afternoon around 4 pm or so and I had to leave before that. I decided to try the single rider line and the wait was 30 minutes. I could deal with that. So was I going to like this newly reimagined version better than the previous one?
It is definitely more modern and like the queue areas as well as the design area for your car. Although, mine turned out rather ugly as sort of a combo pickup truck, roadster and sports car. It looked rather ugly and especially in purple! So I like the upgrades with designing your car, but miss the room, where you watched the video before getting in your car. Always, liked that video!
Where you place your Magic Band before getting in your car
It was a good ride and I enjoyed the upgrades. It much more modern technologically. A lot of the previous features of the ride were kept with just some upgrading to the scenery.
Love these!
Not a long wait for SE
One of my favorites at Epcot! Especially at night with all the colors and music.
I had time before my final Fastpass+ and went over to Innoventions to look around and see if I wanted to participate in any of the attractions in here. I decided on Stormstruck as I like the experience of it, which seems quite real and being involved with it with the video questionnaire you get to do at the end involving how best to prepare for a severe storm like a tornado.
Never tired taking photos of this!
I headed over to The Land Pavilion for my final Fastpass+, which was Living With The Land. Unfortunately, I have no photos of this for some reason. There was basically very little wait for this and didn’t need a Fastpass+ for this. But I had to use it for something. I enjoyed this nice and relaxing ride of the greenhouses at Epcot and seeing some of the unusual and diverse plants, fruits and vegetables that are grown here.
I have an early dinner tonight, so after the ride I just had a frozen lemonade and a large pretzel from one of the kiosks, which would hold me over until dinner.
I headed toward Spaceship Earth and the park exit around 3 pm and back to my resort and get ready for dinner tonight. It wasn’t that long of a wait for my bus and I was back at Riverside around 3:30 pm.
NEXT: This Must Be Where Food Goes To Die!
__________________
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 you missed your first FP+ for Spaceship Earth, but otherwise, you had an great day at Epcot.
A small sacrifice to pay, but would have an opportunity later for SE. Had an overall great day in Epcot!
__________________
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!
About This Page: 
How does it compare to the Adventurer's Club in diversity and fun? 
Explain in detail if you could of this place! 
I'm a big foodie and love dining out at TS restaurants as TS (for dinner)is always the way I go in my 11 trips to WDW! 
If you could, LMK some of the best at DLR for TS.! 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
That would be the Palm Course, which your balcony overlooked. It's my favorite of the Disney courses. 
I could sleep in today a bit as I had no golf rounds reserved for the day, so it would be a free day in one of the parks. Not the whole day as I had an earlier than usual ADR later today.
PassPorter Guide Author
Linear Mode
