An Animal Kingdom State of Being with Cam and Fam COMPLETED 9/18 - Page 59 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
Fun update! I was very excited to show my kids and my DH your pics of the Fantasyland progress. They've come so far since we were there in August - we can't wait for it to be open!
__________________
Stacey
Why do these kids look so pathetic?
Find out in: A New Grade, A New House, and A Surprise!Final Thoughts 01/30
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.
Glad you clarified about having food (not fun) before you were able to sit. I was trying to figure out how much fun a person could have holding food trays!
I really loved the pictures of the Fantasyland construction. I, too, am hoping some of the new area will be ready and waiting for us when we visit in September of 2012.
Wow, it's really cool how much of the Fantasyland work you can see. Don't think it'll be done for our next trip though (I know it won't). The Pooh queue is really neat. I've already made my DS promise he'll ride Dumbo with me the next trip as I've never ridden. We'll have to do Winnie the Pooh too. He just turned 10 so he's not going to be real excited to do that (too , ya know?).
Hope you enjoyed to movie. Can't wait for your next update.
Another great update! What a nice surprise to run into Pinnochio!
The new Pooh queue looks cool. I hope we'll have a chance to play during our next visit. Sorry about your real-life gophers, but the little stinker in the Pooh queue is adorable!
I much prefer the 100 Woods gopher to the ones in my yard!
Quote:
Originally Posted by OCEANGRLLG
Another great update! The new contsruction is really noticeable and the new castle in the background looks great!
The construction was much more noticeable than it had been in November when we last visited. Gives me hope that we might get to experience some of it next June.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mommapants
Nice update even if Photobucket wasn't cooperating. Have fun at the movie tonight
HP Deathly Hallows Part 2 was awesome!
Quote:
Originally Posted by jennie622
I read a FB post from my buddy in FL regarding Harry Potter and I thought, "Cam would FREAK OUT!" Not only did she buy her DBF (in NJ) a flight to FL but also presented him with movie tix to see Part 2 in Universal Studios at midnite (cool bday present huh?). They were both surprised when, after the movie let out, US allowed folks that saw the movie to enter WWoHP from 3am-5am!!!! They had Hogsmeade basically to themselves in the wee hours of the morning!
Isn't Village Haus the cutest CS?? I find something new everytime I eat there. I have yet to snag a seat by the windows overlooking IASW. Always occupied. One day.
I actually teared up when I read Stephanie's comment to Dopey. I am so saddened by the fact that this will be closing - that's why I rode three times in Feb. I would love to get a hold of a piece of that ride when it's torn down. I wouldn't mind the character pictures off the construction walls either. Ariel and the Beast would look great on my walls!
Seeing HP at US and then visiting Hogsmeade in the middle of the night would have been so ! We haven't gotten one of those prize seats overlooking iasw either, but we always check that area first before finding our seats. I wonder what they will do with the pieces of SWSA. I wouldn't mind having Dopey at my house full time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhToodles!
Can't wait to go through the Pooh queue. Although we might get stuck in there with the litle ones.
I noticed lots of parents coaxing kids to move on.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DMA
The pictures of Fantasyland refurb are very exciting!
And thanks for the reminder about the giant in the gift shop. I think that little tip about looking up in the shop was in the Hidden Magic Book, wasn't it? I'll have to jot that down so I remember to stop in there and look up when we're there in August.
Glad you clarified about having food (not fun) before you were able to sit. I was trying to figure out how much fun a person could have holding food trays!
Looking forward to more!
I had totally forgot the Giant was one of the things I wanted to check on so it was a nice surprise to turn around and see it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roxie2006
Another enjoyable update. I really love the pictures with Stephanie and the Characters!!!.. I enjoy seeing her in action!!!!...
She is so precious when she's around the characters!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ace_Athena
I hadn't noticed the giant before! I love how Disney adds in those "little" details everywhere!
I am anxiously waiting to try out the new Pooh queue... err, I mean, I am anxiously waiting for my boys to try out the new Pooh queue. I must say I selfishly would love if every queue had (updated) interactive queues!
Don't worry as we played with the stuff along with lots of other adults in the line.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jbd
Photographing the giant is actually one of the items on the scavenger hunt I wrote for my family's trip in August. It was nice to get a pic in advance! My kids were excited by your pics of the line at the Pooh ride. They both asked if we could go there in August. I think I can arrange that.
Sounds like you had a great day!
What a neat idea for your family! Maybe I need to put together a scavenger hunt for us, too!
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
Great update!! Sorry Photobucket was giving you so many problems!! Enjoy Harry Potter, I can't wait to see it on Sunday!!
Hope you love it as much as I did! I'm ready to go back!
Quote:
Originally Posted by islandgirl
Great update & pictures {sorry you are having picture troubles!}. We tried PVH in Feb & loved it!! Peter really loved the meatbal sub too!
How to run into Pinocchio- maybe we'll see him next time. Can't wait to read more!!!
We really were surprised to walk out of the restaurant and find him right there. !
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Just getting caught up Cam! Phew! That was a lot of pages! Glad you guys had a great time at IoA and WWoHP! Loved all the purchases! Sorry about the heat and the crowds! Pixies for Luke's toe! What a nightmare getting checked in to AKL! Your room view was definitely worth the wait! Great pictures from MK! Stefanie looks like she's having a great time!
You are doing a remarkable job of catching up! BTW -- Love your new sig pic and it reminds me I need to change mine.
Quote:
Originally Posted by sc507
Fun update! I was very excited to show my kids and my DH your pics of the Fantasyland progress. They've come so far since we were there in August - we can't wait for it to be open!
We can't wait either! Hurry up, Disney!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jessie092408
I really loved the pictures of the Fantasyland construction. I, too, am hoping some of the new area will be ready and waiting for us when we visit in September of 2012.
I'm hoping some is opened by June 2012. I'm starting to feel like we've waited a long time, though I know it's not been that long.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rhinohunter
Just got in from the HP movie. Great!!!!!! It was so good in 2D I have to see it in 3D. Hope you guys enjoyed it as well.
I'm ready to see it in an IMAX theater! The 3D was great!
Quote:
Originally Posted by nalexander
Just getting caught up.
Love the pictures of Fantasyland. I can't wait to see the new Pooh que in the fall.
I think you all will really like the new queue.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ilovedisney247
Uh Oh! What happened to Cam? She almost never misses a day? J/K I know you are busy!
I don't know what happened to the time yesterday, but I had a few pages on the scrapbook I wanted to work on, and then we went to a picnic at lunch, and then before I knew it I needed to great for the movie, so no update got posted.
Quote:
Originally Posted by goofyboysmama
Thanks for the pics of the Winnie queue. My boys think they are so grown up - I don't think we'll get a chance to try this ride. Yay Pinocchio!
That is sad that they feel too grown up!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
I always worry when Cam or Cheryl don't have an update when I log on in the morning!
Hopefully, I'll get one up after church tonight!
Quote:
Originally Posted by HollyH
Wow, it's really cool how much of the Fantasyland work you can see. Don't think it'll be done for our next trip though (I know it won't). The Pooh queue is really neat. I've already made my DS promise he'll ride Dumbo with me the next trip as I've never ridden. We'll have to do Winnie the Pooh too. He just turned 10 so he's not going to be real excited to do that (too , ya know?).
Hope you enjoyed to movie. Can't wait for your next update.
I'm thankful each time we visit that Stefanie is still young at heart and never minds riding any of the little kid type rides because her parents who are two big kids themselves still love these rides.
From it’s a small world, we headed toward Haunted Mansion, excited to try out the new interactive queue here. The stand by time was posted at 20 minutes, so we queued up with other potential grim grinning ghosts. At a certain point in the line it breaks off into two paths, one labeled Direct Route and one labeled Scenic Route through the cemetery (the interactive one). This was the least chosen route on our day in line, but it actually moved faster due to so many folks staying in the Direct Route lane. We thoroughly enjoyed playing with everything.
The organ
Some of the graves
Stefanie loved pushing these back in as they popped out.
This part of the line did slow us down a bit as Stefanie had the most fun here.
I was trying for a few artsy type pictures of the graves at this point.
Soon we were inside and being directed to the Stretching Room. The cattle shoot to the Doombuggies moved very slowly this day, but we were absorbing the air conditioning and hardly noticed. During the ride, we experienced two short stops early in the ride. At the end the new hitchhiking ghosts were a superb addition and had all three of us laughing. Those rascally ghost sure do love playing with heads.
We came out of Haunted Mansion just as the 3 o’clock parade was arriving at Liberty Square. We were several rows back, but managed a spot near the riverboat loading dock where Stefanie could see the characters aboard each float. I love how she waves at all the characters and calls them each by name. A precious moment with that smile making it worth standing in the heat! Right after we found our spot, I walked back to cart we had passed to get us some cold Cokes.
Luke got enough good shots. After some cropping by me, I’ll have a pretty nice scrapbook page for the afternoon parade.
I could tell Luke needed some air conditioning, so we headed over to Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe, a favorite of both Stefanie and me. I found a few items that went on my wishlist, but I wanted a chance to check out Days of Christmas as DownTown Disney before I made a decision. I found a really cute ladies Nightmare Before Christmas jacket and a 40th Anniversary Mickey with banner ornament. Luke finally mentioned that he needed to sit down for a while.
Stefanie was still wanting to do a little shopping, so I found some nice rockers on a porch across the way and got Luke settled there. She and I then went into Heritage House to shop. As we entered a woman said, “Owensboro, Kentucky, is a long way away.” I turned and said it sure is.”
She told me she was formerly a bus driver for Stefanie a few years ago. But two years ago they had moved to North Carolina and hadn’t seen Stefanie since. The whole family had been positive that Stefanie was the Stefanie they remembered. Our small world encounter for our trip!
We looked around for a while and then returned to sit on the steps with Luke.
We called my DSis June to wish her a happy birthday. Then Stefanie called Mamaw to update her while I caught up on my daily notes. Once Luke felt his feet had rested enough, we headed to the Main Street shops. We did pick up a few items: Luke got a Nightmare Before Christmas Sally Vinylmation and a car vinyl that says “My other car is a monorail”, I got the cutest antenna toppers (Mickey in a yellow rain poncho, a castle, and a monorail car) plus the WDW family vinyls (Daddy, Mommy, and Stefanie). Stefanie picked up a set of three Mickey head dangling earrings. Very cute!
Hate to hear Luke was still struggling with his foot:! Sounds like a fun time in the MK! I love, love, love the Haunted Mansion and can't wait to ride it now that they have made some upgrades!