10 Nights of Magic in The Orlando Trifecta-TR - COMPLETE!! 12/10 - Page 68 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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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.
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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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PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
How fun to have time to just walk around and experience AK!! That, IMHO, is the best way to enjoy this park!! We love TTBAB and always enjoy the show!!
I love your Tiffins dinner experience from start to finish!! The entire meal looked delicious!!
It certainly was and plan to return on a future trip!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tara O'Hara
How fun to have time to just walk around and experience AK!! That, IMHO, is the best way to enjoy this park!! We love TTBAB and always enjoy the show!!
I think you're right about doing AK this way. I feel the same about WS in Epcot as well. I like the show but I know it does creep some people out!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tara O'Hara
I am so happy that you loved ROL!! That show is visually stunning!! YOur photos are wonderful!!
It's an amazing show and loved it so much. The visuals and effects are quite something. Glad you enjoyed my photos so much!
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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've been skulking in the background because I was so far behind, but I caught up, and what a place to catch up! Such beauty! I haven't seen this yet, but it's now a must do for us!
I've been skulking in the background because I was so far behind, but I caught up, and what a place to catch up! Such beauty! I haven't seen this yet, but it's now a must do for us!
Glad you're all caught up now as much more to go! It's a great show and is so beautiful with all the colors and effects. I think you'll enjoy this show quite a lot.
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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!
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
Originally, the plan was to have this update posted on Sunday but I had other conflicts. Then it was Monday as I had most of it done, but the site was down. So here it is today!
Once I exited the Rivers of Light show, I began to head in the direction of Discovery Island. There was one more thing I wanted to do before returning to my Epcot area resort. Before going there, I looked for the kiosk where I had the mango margarita before the show, but unfortunately it was now closed! Oh, well!
As it was dark now, I wanted to see the Tree of Life show with the various lighting effects and animated characters on the tree. This would be a first for me as my first experience in the Animal Kingdom at night.
In a few minutes, I arrived at Discovery Island and walked over back from the Tree of Life towards the bridge. Unfortunately, the show was winding down and I only caught the last couple of minutes of it. I wish I had timed this a little better! I don’t think there is a set time for these shows, but I could be wrong? At least after this, I could admire the tree with its’ ever changing colors!
After enjoying this for several minutes, I began to head towards the park exit and take the bus back to the Dolphin.
After making my way across the bridge and down one of the right or left side nature trails, I exited the Animal Kingdom and walked towards the bus depot for my return to my resort.
When I arrived at the bay for my bus, I was in luck as a bus was waiting! It was about half full and the driver waited a few minutes for more guests and fill it up a bit more. We made good time as although, a long drive back to the Dolphin there were very few traffic delays, considering all the road construction in Disney now. The traffic was a little heavy in the Epcot resorts area, but that was it. Soon, we arrived at the Dolphin in good time around 9:15 pm.
Well, I entered the Dolphin lobby and I was just overwhelmed when I entered here! The whole lobby was packed as there was a convention and as usual all were congregated around the bar area and center of the lobby. It was crowded last night, but not like this. I’m not joking but there must have been well over 150+ people here or perhaps more! You couldn’t get anywhere near the bar and the first two days I had been crossing through the center of the lobby to get to the elevators but I had to go around the outskirts of the lobby with this situation.
There is seating in the corridors near the elevators and these areas were a bit crowded as well, but not nearly as bad! I had planned going to Phin’s tonight, but I think that is most definitely out. With my observation, the bartenders were overwhelmed and well understaffed for tonight as there were only three bartenders. First two nights there were two. After getting to the elevator, I returned to my room. I got everything prepared for tomorrow with my first Studios day and wrote up my notes from the day for a while as there was a lot from a long day in the Animal Kingdom as I spent about ten hours there. One of the longest days in a WDW park in one day. Although, my two days in Epcot in October, 2016 for the Food and Wine Festival are nearly 12 hours a piece. Well, one of them certainly and the other not far behind!
After finishing up in my room, I headed out of the hotel and through a still very crowded lobby that was even worse now. You should have heard the noise level! I walked towards the Boardwalk and my destination of the Bellevue Lounge in the hopes of something more relaxing than the Dolphin lobby! When, I arrived there, all was good as just a few patrons at the bar and lounge area behind. What a difference! I didn’t bring my camera as I captured this the other night and I needed to charge it for the morning.
The bartenders are always great here and quite chatty with some good talk. A couple of them still know me, even when I haven’t seen them in a year or two. Well, since I didn’t have the mango margarita in AK at end after ROL show I had two drinks. I had a margarita of some sort with Grand Marnier which sounded great and was. After this I had a Bailey’s on the rocks, which I always enjoy. It's been a while since I had the latter and a personal fave, but I never think of it. Must be close to a year or more since I had one!
After a relaxing and winding down in the Bellevue Lounge, I headed back to the Dolphin on the Boardwalk. It was probably (I’m guessing) around 11:30 pm. I had a great day but I was certainly tired after a long day in the Animal Kingdom. It takes a lot out of you. It was so peaceful on the Boardwalk as so few people around. When I returned to the Dolphin, it was still very packed in the lobby and at Phin’s. But, not as bad as before, but it was closing on midnight and I’m sure most them will be up early tomorrow morning and may regret spending too much time at Phin's!
Once, I returned to my room, I got ready for bed and just watched a bit of TV for a while.
NEXT: Without a FP+ I Hope I Make It For Rope Drop!
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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!
We’ve never seen the shows on the Tree of LIfe either! Maybe this next trip.
What craziness in the Dolphin lobby. And quite the opposite at the Belevue Lounge! It’s nice that there are quite a few choices around the Lake for a late night cocktail or two. Yum! Bailey’s on the rocks!
The shows on the Tree of Life play over and over when we were there these began at 8:35 and finished at park closing. We have waited around when one show finished and it seemed it was about 10 minutes before another started. What a crowd at the Dolphin upon your return.
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
Glad you got to see the Tree of Life lit up!! It's gorgeous!! I can't believe how crowded the lobby was at the Dolphin!! Good idea to head to the Boardwalk and it sounds like a lovely time there!!
The tree of life show is wonderful, but I only saw it walking backward leaving the park. I wonder how many people trip doing that That's a bummer that the Dolphin lobby was so crowded but I'm glad you found solace at the Bellvue lounge!
We’ve never seen the shows on the Tree of LIfe either! Maybe this next trip.
What craziness in the Dolphin lobby. And quite the opposite at the Belevue Lounge! It’s nice that there are quite a few choices around the Lake for a late night cocktail or two. Yum! Bailey’s on the rocks!
It's worth seeing the TOL show with the animation of the animals on the tree and the variety of changing colors that is so well done. Just wish I had caught it from the beginning, but that will be next time!
The Dolphin lobby was insane and the noise level was crazy as many were certainly enjoying the bevs at the bar! I wasn't even going to attempt the bar in any way as I love the Bellevue Lounge for the tranquility. Phin's was fine Sunday night and not crazily busy like tonight and last night as well but former not nearly as bad as tonight.
There are certainly a fair amount of options to chose from in the area for a beverage to wind down the night. One of the great things about the Boardwalk area. Better than the mods with probably one options at night and the values with nothing. Deluxes have good choices but can't beat the Boardwalk for overall choices. I think it's a good idea to stay in this area more often, but not always affordable, but are ways to do this with the DVC rentals now!
Can't beat a good Bailey's but then again I can't think of a bad one!
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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!
The shows on the Tree of Life play over and over when we were there these began at 8:35 and finished at park closing. We have waited around when one show finished and it seemed it was about 10 minutes before another started. What a crowd at the Dolphin upon your return.
Good to know about the shows and will remember this for my next WDW trip! The lobby was just insane and wasn't expecting it. Not what I wanted to return to but nothing I can do about it. The Swan and Dolphin are big on the conventions as probably being on Disney property as so close to everything they're not quite Disney as well as the business travelers may not want the whole Disney thing!
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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!
Glad you got to see the Tree of Life lit up!! It's gorgeous!! I can't believe how crowded the lobby was at the Dolphin!! Good idea to head to the Boardwalk and it sounds like a lovely time there!!
It was quite amazing to see this post show after the spectacular ROL show! Just wished I had seen more of it, but hope to next trip! The Dolphin lobby was just insane and had to get out of there and the Bellevue Lounge was more my style this evening as it was so relaxing!
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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!
The tree of life show is wonderful, but I only saw it walking backward leaving the park. I wonder how many people trip doing that That's a bummer that the Dolphin lobby was so crowded but I'm glad you found solace at the Bellvue lounge!
It's a very good show with all the moving characters with the illuminations and ever changing colors! Glad I saw at least part of it, but more next time for sure! The Dolphin lobby was beyond insane and glad I got out of there and sought great refuge at the Bellevue Lounge which was so relaxing and enjoyable and also the best way and place to end my night! One of the best lounges on WDW property! Along with GF's Mizner's and AK's VFs. My three faves on property without a doubt!
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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!
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.