Disney + Birthday= An Incredible Gift! (PTR- May 18th - May 24th) - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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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.
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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 got up early because I had a breakfast at Cape May Café at 8:30am. I didn’t have to eat any cereal since I would be having a breakfast soon. I finished packing, and then left at 8am to walk over to the Beach Club. It was a nice walk. I got there early and checked in. they sat me right in front of the buffet- a small booth for 2. I ordered chocolate milk. The 1st plate I started with was scrambled eggs, bacon, 2- pieces of banana bread w/ butter, potatoes, and spicy scrambled eggs. The banana bread was so moist and delicious. The spicy eggs weren’t too spicy but okay. The 2nd plate was 2- more slices of banana bread, bacon, Mickey waffle, French toast with banana foster sauce, asparagus, and cube cheese. The French toast was really good even with the sauce. The bacon was crisp. The 3rd plate was fruit- watermelon, strawberries, oranges, pineapple, and grapefruit, I tried to eat it all but just could. I hate wasting food. So this was a character breakfast: Minnie, Donald, and Goofy. I first missed Minnie, but she remembered to come back to me! I missed Goofy. Donald was so cute- he let me take his arm. Then my server gave me a cupcake with a candle in it. Donald stood next to me for the picture. I wish I had room to eat it. It had a candy Mickey head on the cupcake, with chocolate icing. The cake was rainbow. I took one bite and that is I could eat! Before I left I was able to get my picture with Goofy. I was over-stuffed!
I left and was walking back to Boardwalk. I saw a bride & groom on the beach taking photos. I took some pictures too. As I was crossing the bridge I felt a little nauseous, but it soon passed. I got back to the room and finished packing. The maid knocked on the door and I told her I was almost ready- she said no problem. I was out of the room by 11am. I went to Bell Services and checked my bags. I left to take a bus to MK, then to the monorail to the Contemporary. I had to do some shopping. Although I did need to be back by 4pm to get the DME bus to take me to the airport. My flight was at 8pm.
I was looking for those coconut ears. I did buy some things for the boys. The Contemporary was out of the coconut ears. So I went to the Polynesian, but they were sold out too. I then went to the Grand Floridian- they had them! I bought 3 boxes. I came out of the store and there was bride having pictures taken on the staircase. I ended up talking to her grandmother. She told me that the theme for the reception was the movie Up. The bridesmaids’ dresses were a royal blue. I went upstairs and sat outside to take a break. I started wondering how much a wedding would cost here at the GF. I looked it up- pretty darn ridiculously expensive! It was pretty nice out too, not as hot as it has been. I still was not hungry at all. Well I had enough time so I headed back to the Boardwalk.
I walked into the lobby of the Boardwalk at 3pm. I had an hour until I had to retrieve my luggage. I was really tired by now so I sat in one of chairs and started to fall asleep. Then my Mom called and woke me up- no nap now. She wanted to know my flight time, since she would be picking me up. I took some pictures of the lobby. At 4:15pm, I decided to get my luggage and dragged everything outside to wait for the DME bus. I realized I left my pink jacket in my room, so went back into the resort, to the front desk. If they found it they would call me on my cell. I pulled the new sweatshirt out because I would need it for the flight and going home. The DME bus came right on schedule at 5:15pm. There was a couple that was flying to Philly too. Got on the bus and saw that it was almost filled. The bus then went to the Caribbean Beach- and there were so many people waiting for a DME bus. There would not be enough seats for all the people waiting. Then a family came on the bus and the father was pretty angry. They had been waiting for an hour for a DME bus to come. They tried to get on that bus, but there weren’t any seats. The driver told him that he would call for a car to pick him and family up. It never came! I would have been angry too. The bus got full with 2 people standing, but apparently another DME bus was behind us for all the other people. Anyway the mom notices that not everyone can get a seat (and her kids were older), Mom says she wants to get off the bus and wait for the next one. But then the dad gets on the bus and says “No one is going anywhere”. It was funny because the wife seemed uptight and husband seemed laid back. She sat next to me with her nook and read until we got to the airport. The driver said he was only making one stop, I thought SWA, but not he dropped us off at the DME stop. Not great because I had to go up to the 3rd level and walk across the airport to get to the SWA side, just so I could do curbside. (and by the way at the Boardwalk the airline curbside was down, so everyone had their luggage on the DME bus). Then all I had to carry was the bug bag and my back pack. I was starving at this time. I went to find something to eat. Not many choices at least not good choices for me. I decided to go through security and then find something after. I made it through and found McDonald’s- the hamburger, fries, and Coke tasted good even at 6:55pm. I needed something to fill me up for the plane ride. I bought a magazine and a bag of animal cookies. I got on the plane and again just like when I left Philly, not too many choices for seats. I ended up sitting on the aisle, next to a mom and her daughter. I made a few little conversations with both of them. I didn’t have a drink, just listened to my music and read. I did not sleep either. I was able to do my grocery list though.
I got off the plane and as soon as I got off the plane I knew I was home. Such a drabby airport we have, compared to the lovely airport at Orlando! So I headed down to get the luggage. It would start coming but then it would stop and an annoying, loud buzzard would go off. It did it a few times. Finally got the 2 pieces of luggage, walked outside and called mom. She came and put the luggage in the trunk and drove back to her house that is where my car was waiting. I came into the house and talked to my parents. I had a Great trip!
Then I drove home in my car! It was weird to be doing that since I hadn’t driven in awhile. I got home and was so tired. My kids were up!
I will write the Good, Bad, and Best of times that I learned from this recent trip to Disney. It will NOT take me 5 weeks to write it either!
Thank you for hanging in there and reading my Trip report!
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Kate in PA All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them- Walt Disney
I knew you said you were going to get your TR posted but wow - you were posting so quick that I couldn't really keep up (but I'm at work too - at least it sounds like a good reason ). Some of the comments I wanted to make, I've already forgotten but I know they were all good. I'm sorry your trip came to an end as quickly as it did but I do hear you on how it's hard to do a lot when it's so hot outside. I think it's easier for me because I work in the school kitchens and they're always so hot - and I have to wear pants and a plastic bag...I mean a supplied shirt....too which doesn't help. At least when I'm in Disney, even though it's hot at least I can wear shorts and shirts that are much lighter which does make a difference.
I will definitely send you an email with our info but some of it will be posted in my hopefully soon to be started PTR. I've only wanted to start it since last week but other things always seemed to crop up and take precedence over it. And then once it starts, it won't be long before we go and you'll feel like you're back in Disney but with a difference - our just slightly busier days with less TS options. Not to mention higher temps too.
Darlene...I get to live through your vacation at Disney! I LOVE that!
And your right depending where you live, and what you do will depend on how you tolerate the heat in Disney! I just think it was just too hot so quickly that my body just couldn't take it. But I bet if I took another trip in August my body would have had alot of time to adjust to it.
In some ways your job was training your body to accept the heat when you go to Disney in August. (hmmm sounded good didn't it?) I drank alot of water and took breaks when I needed them. I didn't think I would be taking 2 showers a day. Plus it being so hot and humid I couldn't even think about doing a 1/2 day at Animal Kingdom. The crowds on May 23rd, a Saturday, were unbelievable- so even if I wanted to stay it would be impossible to do anything.
There are some things I didn't get to do... but the positive part of my trip: there were heck of alot of stuff I DID get to do!
Keep those comments coming.... yeah well I figured I owed everyone! This is the 1st weekend I actually feel better to sit and type and post! Plus I want to start planning soon and I can't do that unless my Trip report was done!
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Kate in PA All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them- Walt Disney
I hope it doesn't take you 5 weeks to finish - that's getting pretty close to when we leave and I want to hear the rest before I go . It sounds like you had a great breakfast at CMC. We enjoy it there and keep going back. Sorry to hear it took you so many stops to find the coconut things for your boys but at least you were able to find them. And I can see why you were so tired when you got home that night. After days of heat and then all the traveling you did that morning, that's enough to tire anyone out.
Again, I'm sorry the trip came to a quick end but I've enjoyed reading you TR and seeing all the photos you've included. Now I want to go to Disney and I'm hungry. At least one of those two things I can do today.
And I just remembered - I'm glad you tried Monster Laugh Floor. It may be corny but it is cute. It's not something we did when it opened - we really only tried it last year but we did like it. We did it multiple times and I know Abby is already planning on repeating it this year so I'm glad I mentioned it to you and you gave it a try. If I remember what else I meant to say and forgot, I'll let you know.
Cheryl... well I am glad I wasn't the only one... but I thought since I couldn't get a reservation for BOG that going to Chef De France would be better!
I still love France and the ice cream and Dior... just not Chef De France. Plus I am not quite sure about going to Monsieur Paul. Not sure if I am grown-up to eat there! LOL!
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Kate in PA All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them- Walt Disney
Darlene..... I saw your counter and I couldn't believe how close your trip is getting!!!! No my likes, dislikes, and planning will probably happen over the holiday weekend! I need time to gather my thoughts! LOL
I have done the Monster Laugh Floor before but just not in a long time... but I am so glad you reminded me, because this time it was hilarious!
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Kate in PA All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them- Walt Disney
What a wonderful solo trip! Taking things at your own pace and meeting new people - sounds pretty good. I'm sorry you had to deal with the skin and allergy issues after returning home. I look forward to reading your wrap up of the trip.
Wow! You sound like you had a wonderful trip overall, Kate!! You sure did get to do a lot of cool things!! I agree about our airport. It is so dingy compared to most other airports I have been to!
So sorry you had such problems with poison ivy. I got it all over my arms and legs last summer and it was such a bother for about a month. Glad you were able to type up the whole TR now though. You have the best solo trips, and despite the heat you manage to do so many fun things.
Cam22...so you understand! I never got poison ivy as a kid, just as an adult! Lucky me! I am hoping that was it for the rest of the Summer! (Yeah, right)
Cam22 it was so hot and humid and I tried to do as much as I could. It was definitely a culture shock. Last year when I went for my Birthday in May it was totally different. No humidity and the temperatures were maybe 85. Yeah I was spoiled!
I am sure you will be doing a Disneyland Trip Report.... because one day I may have to go there at least for Cars Land! Thanks for reading!
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Kate in PA All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them- Walt Disney
Cam22...so you understand! I never got poison ivy as a kid, just as an adult! Lucky me! I am hoping that was it for the rest of the Summer! (Yeah, right)
Cam22 it was so hot and humid and I tried to do as much as I could. It was definitely a culture shock. Last year when I went for my Birthday in May it was totally different. No humidity and the temperatures were maybe 85. Yeah I was spoiled!
I am sure you will be doing a Disneyland Trip Report.... because one day I may have to go there at least for Cars Land! Thanks for reading!
It was way warmer and humid this year in May for us, too, and it does suck the energy out. We were both tired more quickly and turned in early quite a few nights. We used to go in June and deal with heat and humidity, but I think we've gotten spoiled as you've said.
Kate, your trip was so relaxing! I'm jealous that you had so much quiet time to just sit & take everything in. All your food sounded delist, except Chefs, I'm not sure why. We went there last year & loved it! I have it booked for our upcoming trip as well! The horse back riding sounds fun but after the pain & soreness you experienced, I might just pass on it. You really seemed to love this trip & im glad you did. Oh, & sorry about your som's "bad news". It's funny how bad news differs amongst parents & children! Lol
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We weren't overly impressed the last time we ate there either.
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). Some of the comments I wanted to make, I've already forgotten 
but I know they were all good. I'm sorry your trip came to an end as quickly as it did but I do hear you on how it's hard to do a lot when it's so hot outside. I think it's easier for me because I work in the school kitchens and they're always so hot - and I have to wear pants and a plastic bag...I mean a supplied shirt....too which doesn't help. At least when I'm in Disney, even though it's hot at least I can wear shorts and shirts that are much lighter which does make a difference.
busier days with less TS options. Not to mention higher temps too.
Thanks for taking us along for the ride! 
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