Things Don't Always Go As You Planned TR 12/11 - 12/18/11 - Page 7 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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
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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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 just read through your trip report - the title caught my eye and I had to laugh. None of my family's trips go according to my well thought out and awe inspiring touring plans, lol. I hope the next installment ends up all right!
Ok, all caught up! I read the beginning of your TR awhile ago and I'm glad to see I didn't get too far behind. I'm nervous to hear about your bus fiasco!
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Sounds like a great day so far, although the next installment doesn't sound as good.
Thanks we had a great day at HS until we left to catch the bus. Wasn't fun.
Quote:
Originally Posted by goofyboysmama
I just read through your trip report - the title caught my eye and I had to laugh. None of my family's trips go according to my well thought out and awe inspiring touring plans, lol. I hope the next installment ends up all right!
Hi, thanks for reading along. Yes they never do, I can't remember one trip that actually went as planned.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Sounds like a great morning swimming and a great time at DHS! More please!
Thanks, we really took the time to enjoy what the resort has to offer this time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
Glad you got to enjoy some pool time before heading to DHS!!
Thanks, although the boys manage to get in swimming every trip, I have yet to experience any pool at WDW. Hopefully next time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dutchdisneyfamily
Sounds like great great adjustment to your plans. Cute ketchup Mickey!
Thank you, I know our waiter did that Mickey perfect and right in front of us too. They must have lots of training making special Mickeys.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolfy6688
Ok, all caught up! I read the beginning of your TR awhile ago and I'm glad to see I didn't get too far behind. I'm nervous to hear about your bus fiasco!
Thanks for reading along, I was a TR slacker for a few months but I have every intention to get this one done soon because I am dying to start my next PTR.
Sounds like a great day, even if it wasn't what you had originally planned! Dinner sounded good, love the ketchup hidden Mickey I'm glad you'll get to Fantasmic in the next update, but I'm a little scared about your bus fiasco teaser!
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Sounds like a great day, even if it wasn't what you had originally planned! Dinner sounded good, love the ketchup hidden Mickey I'm glad you'll get to Fantasmic in the next update, but I'm a little scared about your bus fiasco teaser!
Thank you, this was the first trip that the boys really got a lot of swimming in and it was really nice and relaxing. Let's just say it a was when we left HS.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MayraLR
Great day so far! Meal sounded delicious, especially the shakes!
Thanks, the shakes were really yummy, I really didn't need the extra calories but it was so worth it.
Sorry of the lack of photos in this update, my takes crappy night pictures, therefore none of them were worthy of being in my TR. I really need to get a better one.
It was dark by the time we exited Sci-Fi and the OFOL were glowing bright, so we headed in that direction to check them out. OMG was it crowded, there were people everywhere. I felt bad for people in scooters and pushing strollers because it was so hard to get through the sea of people. My poor Mom gave up trying to maneuver down the street in the scooter and just stayed near the beginning. We attempted to walk up the street but also found it difficult, some people are just so oblivious to others around them and people were bumping into each other left and right, that we also turned around to head back towards my Mom. It's a shame that we didn't get to see it all because that is one of the reasons why we love to go around the holidays and I really wanted to search for some hidden Mickey's. I assume that it was so busy because it was the beginning of the night and perhaps it would have been less crowded later on but we couldn’t come back because Fantasmic was calling our names.
With no rain insight, we worked our way over to the Fantasmic Theater. Since my Mom had the scooter the CM took us along the top of the theater where there was reserved seating for scooters and wheelchairs. I think the view is much better near the top, you can see the whole theater. As we waited an announcement came on saying the show was canceled for the evening. What not again, we looked around and noticed that no one was leaving or telling us to get out, so we thought this must have been a mistake. About two minutes later the lights dimmed and the show started.
It was an awesome show it was so great to finally see it all the way through. I am so glad that we were able to rearrange our plans and fit it in another night. Definitely, looking forward to it again on our next trip.
After the show we made our way out of the theater and ended up right by the front gate. The park was closed at this point, so everyone that was at Fantasmic were making their way towards the exit and the buses. Little did we know what a nightmare the buses were going to be that night.
We approached the assigned stop to wait for the Poly bus, there were four other guests on scooters and there families of about 10 in front of us. We waited about 20 minutes for a bus to pull up and by that time the regular line on grown tremendously. Of course the driver came to assist the people with scooters and started to load them on and this is where the trouble started. This bus was able to handle 3 ECV's, so the driver loaded the first 2. He came to load the third but the next group had two scooters and said they would wait for the next bus. I then, as well as the other group, called out and said we only had one. Now at this point I don’t know if he heard us or just didn’t want to be bothered loading another scooter, he proceeded to close up the back of the bus and let the regular line board. After the bus was full he said we would have to wait for the next one. 15 minutes later another bus pulled up but unfortunately already had one scooter on it, so the group in front of us was able to get on but unfortunately we were still left to wait.
Now by this point we have been waiting almost 40 minutes for a bus and was still not on one. My Mom had a difficult time getting the scooter on the buses to begin with but it was something she really needed, was at this point beyond annoyed and was ready to leave the scooter there just to be able to get on any bus. Believe or not another 15 minutes goes by and still no bus to the Poly, however there were tons of buses pulling up for other resorts that had no one waiting. I am pretty sure by this point we were the last group of people waiting for a bus at DHS.
I know waiting for buses can be long, especially at a park closing but almost an hour just for one to come is a bit ridiculous. Another bus pulls in and our fingers are crossed that it says Poly but NOOO iits for the TTC. OK, we have been waiting an hour and no Poly bus, so we figured that TTC was close enough to the Poly, so we hopped on. The driver was super nice and helped by Mom, who was practically in tears, with getting the scooter on the bus. A few people that were left followed our lead and got on the bus too. We waited about another five minutes and then finally after a little over an hour; we were on our way back to the Poly, well at least the TTC.
The ride to the TTC seemed like it took forever and no one really spoke, sometimes that’s better, and about 20 minutes later we were at the TTC. We didn’t want to wait on anymore lines so we decided to walk back to the Poly. The walk was peaceful and quiet due to the fact that we weren't saying much to each other. I think at that point we were pretty much done and just need to get a good nigh sleep.
It was well after 10 by the time we got to our rooms, Mom called it a night, as did Frank, I got Chris settled in and Frankie and Justin headed to the pool for a late night swim. The boys swam till just about midnight, then came in and were quickly asleep.
All in all despite the bus situation it was a pardon the pun a “Fantasmic” day.
Up next, a ride on the savanna, a climb up the mountain and a date with a King.
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