Solo and Not So Solo TR - updated with final Magical Moment! - Page 4 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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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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You're inspiring me to crunch the numbers for another solo trip.
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šOš ~*~
Oct '99: CSR ~ May '02: CR ~ Nov '04: SOG ~ May '06: SOG ~ Dec '07: Solo @ Pop ~ May '08: Pop w/friends ~ Oct '08: SOG ~ Dec '09: Pop w/LeAnn ~ Sept '10: Solo @ Pop ~ Spring '11: AKL ~ Jan '12: Pop for 1/2 Marathon ~ Sept '12: 1st trip for DL 1/2 Marathon? ~ Feb '13: Pop w/pals? ~ Mar '13: Tokyo Disney w/PP's?
That Carl is such a charmer -- not at all the grouch he was for most of the movie. When I went up to meet him, he started to dance with me.
Now "Ellie's Theme" from "Up" is going through my head again. What a lovely story, and how wonderful was it to get most of Ellie's plot in pictures and music and very little dialogue.
At this point, I waved goodbye to Allison and Elliott, who were off to see Belle and Ariel at their shows. (Sheri and I hoped to meet up with them on Thursday at MK.) I had skipped breakfast (which I never do at home) so I would be good and famished for my 11:05 ressie at 50's Prime Time Cafe -- so I rushed out of the Animation building (but knew I'd be coming back later).
This was my healthiest meal of the trip, that's for sure. I started with a big glass of milk and a yummy salad (with oranges in it). I also had the Chicken Pot Pie, which was really, really full of big chunks of chicken. My photo of that can't do it justice, but here's my salad and milk.
After eating the entire salad and most of the Chicken Pot Pie (and drinking all the milk -- which I never do at home), I was way too stuffed for dessert -- but I enjoyed looking at the dessert options on the Viewmaster, anyway! That was a fun and yummy lunch!
You're inspiring me to crunch the numbers for another solo trip.
Lorie, I started crunching numbers for my next trip as soon as I got home Friday night -- BEFORE I had even added up everything I spent on THIS trip. I just keep thinking, "Life is too short -- if you can get to the Happy Place, DO IT."
After lunch, I got a FP for ToT and then did the SRL at RnR. I rode ToT 3 times total. Love, love, LOVE that ride. It was raining pretty steadily, but still a warm rain so who cares? I had my Mickey poncho and then purchased an umbrella, which came in handy a few other days as well.
Look familiar? I've got to believe most or even ALL of us have been at WDW during a steady rain. It goes with the territory.
And the ToT always looks creepy, so a few clouds in the sky only adds to the terror.
I wanted to show my PassPorter spirit, so wore my little pouch around my neck most of the trip. On ToT, I always have to show my bravery by lifting my hands up -- so this time, I held onto my PP pouch. Here are a couple of my trips on ToT:
Hey Jennifer, feel free to use either of these as publicity for your next PP book!
Then I walked back toward the Animation building, since I was determined to try my hand at drawing.
Thanks to "nladams" and her solo trip report from early January, I became convinced that I simply had-had-HAD to try my hand at taking the animation class. So after lunch on Tuesday, I went back to the Animation building, viewed the film (with Mushu -- I'd seen it before, but it's cute) and then went upstairs to wait for my "Animation Academy" class to begin.
While waiting, I checked my cell phone and saw that Sheri (Skateycat) had called me about a gazillion times that morning. I called her back and discovered that she had gotten off work at 11:00 a.m. and so would be able to drive up to WDW that afternoon unless I wanted her to wait until her planned arrival time on Wednesday morning. Are you nuts? Get yourself up here, young lady! She hoped to drive like a bat out of h-e- double hockey sticks so she could join me for my dinner at the Brown Derby. So the "solo" part of my trip would be ending sooner than expected. No problemo!
Then I went into the animation class. And I must say, as one who cannot draw ANYTHING resembling ANYTHING, I was pretty proud of my little attempt at Daisy Duck. Judge for yourself.
After class was over, I went to the front of the room to meet the teacher, who's been working there for 18 years. I asked him to pose at his easel, but he insisted that I pose instead. (Like anyone is going to believe I drew Daisy Duck that well! )
I asked if they ever offered a class in drawing Goofy, but apparently not. If they had, I would have signed up again -- class was really fun, and about 20 minutes long. There were a few children but mostly adults in the class, which holds 38 people.
Maybe I can study how to draw Goofy on my own. . . . then again, maybe not!
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im so glad you found it and had a chance to do the animation class!! it's my favourite thing to do at Hollywood Studios now You picture turned out really well!! I've almost got my hubby convinced to give it a go in September...he says he can't even draw stick people well but they make it so easy and simple for everyone to follow along...great TR ..love hearing about others' solo adventures
If you've been to my public page, you've probably looked through my photo albums of collectibles and my Disney "shrine room" as Rick so eloquently refers to it. In my dining room, my corner hutch is reserved for Goofy collectibles. It's already pretty full, but I can always squeeze in another one, right? I mean, can't I?
So I generally "allow" myself to purchase one collectible per WDW trip. I mean, that's not so bad, is it? (Look at me, writing to Disneyholics, asking for affirmation! )
So I forgot to tell you that on Monday I actually went a bit further than France before calling it a night. I walked all the way to Germany, where they have that shop with Hummel figurines. You see where I'm going with this?
This little guy is about 3 inches tall, and he was positively calling out to me. I had no choice, really I didn't. So I knew he'd be waiting for me back at the resort's general store on Tuesday night. (Because Disney wants you to keep your hands free to make more purchases. )
I mean, who could have resisted
So now I KNOW I'm done buying collectibles on this trip. Don't need to think about it again, no sirree. I am resolved to making NO MORE collectibles purchases on this trip.
Well, Tuesday morning after getting my pic snapped with Carl, Russell, and Doug, and just BEFORE I dashed off to the 50's Prime Time Cafe, I "happened" to stop downstairs at the Art of Disney Store. I mean, I should at least LOOK at what they've got, right? And I can be happy with a photo of some collectible that I might purchase on a future trip, right? I mean, I have self control. Really.
So what do I see there?
Now, in case you can't fully appreciate this object, here it is from another angle.
Then, the cast member was no help at ALL, because she dragged me over to a wall which showed the inspiration for the piece: You all know the cartoon short called "The Band Concert" (1935) with Mickey as the bandleader, right?
Now let's focus in on Goofy in that band.
But because I have so much self control, I didn't buy that Goofy figurine, no sir I did not. At least, not right away. I went to lunch and thought about it and then as I waited for the Animation Academy to start I thought about it some more and figured I would go downstairs and look at it one more time later. . . . and then I got Sheri's phone call. She's coming TONIGHT? She's going to split ONE MORE NIGHT of the resort expense with me? Gee, that will save me about $100. That's not enough to pay for that figurine, but STILL. . . .
So yep, right after the class ended, I went downstairs, pointed to the Goofy figurine and said, "Please ship this to my office." Yes, my willpower is incredible.
If my friends and coworkers back home didn't ALREADY think I needed a Disney intervention, when this large collectible shows up I will definitely have some 'splainin' to do.
One cool thing, though -- the cast member who rang up my sizable purchase asked if I was an Annual Passholder. Yes, but the "rules" clearly state you don't get an AP discount on the Classics Collection or on most collectibles, right? EXCEPT THAT WDW has been running a special since the Christmas holidays that will expire March 1, and so I got 10% off. (At least, this is how I explained the purchase to Rick, but he doesn't miss a trick -- "Let me get this right. You were in the process of handing over your credit card and THEN you found out about the AP discount. So you didn't decide to buy AFTER hearing about the discount." Well, technically that would be correct. But if I hadn't made the purchase, I would never have been told about the discount. So you see, I actually saved MILLIONS OF DOLLARS by making this purchase now.
That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!
Lorie, now you see what I mean about crunching numbers for my next trip -- it's a little difficult when all my February purchases haven't really sunk into my noggin yet!
I hadn't seen the "Beauty and the Beast" show in well over 10 years, but happened to be walking out of ToT as the "Belle" music started playing. What the heck -- I went in and had a delightful time, staying until the last notes of Celine Dion's vocal finale. Is it as good as the Broadway show? No, it is not. But for a 20-minute show, it's pretty delightful.
Lumi will always be my favorite Disney movie star!
I also saw the Little Mermaid show, but found it lacking. I think they need to rewrite that one -- it's such a fast jumble of scenes that it doesn't come close to capturing the magic of the film. A lot of little girls love it, though -- so who am I to argue?
I always have to see the Muppets 3D show. It was really pouring when I entered the building, but I dropped all my rain gear to take a quick pic of a dustbin that I don't recall seeing there before:
Animal !!!
Then I must confess I went looking for this object, which hangs from the ceiling just outside the Muppets' theater. Think bad jokes and then ask yourself: What is this thing?
LARRY, when I think of bad jokes, I think of you. So come on, what is that?
Then I must confess I went looking for this object, which hangs from the ceiling just outside the Muppets' theater. Think bad jokes and then ask yourself: What is this thing?
LARRY, when I think of bad jokes, I think of you. So come on, what is that?
Give up?
It's a net full of Jello.
A net full of Jello.
Now say it faster.
Wokka-wokka!
.
Bwaaahaaahaaa!
Love it!
And thanks for thinking of me! By the way, I am wondering if Bob & I are responsible for you reading about Jiko's BBQ Chicken Flatbread a lot. It's my fav. Perhaps you saw the TR where I talked about Bob ordering it, and then I ordered it, and then we had to point out to the CM that, yes, we each wanted one!
Great narrative and how cool that Sheri gets to join you early!
So many great stories for today! Now I almost hate to tell you this, but we have drawn Goofy two different times at the Animation Studios. But your Daisy is wonderful! I can see why you bought both the Hummel Goofy and the Classics Goofy. Awesome choices! Can't wait for Sheri to join you!
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I just keep thinking, "Life is too short -- if you can get to the Happy Place, DO IT." 
Get yourself up here, young lady! She hoped to drive like a bat out of h-e- double hockey sticks so she could join me for my dinner at the Brown Derby. So the "solo" part of my trip would be ending sooner than expected. No problemo! 
Dreams, Wishes, Hopes... these are the parts of childhood we should never lose.
You picture turned out really well!! I've almost got my hubby convinced to give it a go in September...he says he can't even draw stick people well but they make it so easy and simple for everyone to follow along...great TR ..love hearing about others' solo adventures
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She's coming TONIGHT? She's going to split ONE MORE NIGHT of the resort expense with me? Gee, that will save me about $100. That's not enough to pay for that figurine, but STILL. . . . 
So come on, what is that?
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