An Island Frame of Mind (A Cam and Luke PTR) Updated 5/22 - Page 8 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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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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Dining choices look great! I have to agree with you on the San Angel Inn vs La Hacienda. I want to like SA because the atmosphere is so unique, but the food and service bring us back to LH. We are trying Sanaa this summer, in part, due to your raving reviews of the restaurant! Trip reports really do help others plan better trips!
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.
All of your choices are awesome. I'm sad to say the only one we know anything about is Hollywood and Vine. I am the 1 that is afraid to try something new. I will be looking forward to all your reviews and photos.
OH WOWZAS!!!!!! A stay at the Poly AND saving some points, win/win!!!
I am so happy you get to experience the F&GF along with SWW.
We too have our eyes set on a trip to DL in the very near future, now coming from Dallas we will be a bit closer than NJ. I like to say we will be equally between both DW AND DL. However I haven't the first clue on how to book, where to book, what to do in DL..........so I'll be taking notes from your trip for Luke's b-day for sure
I know I have said this a gazillion times........but man do I love the Poly for one very big reason, and that is watching Wishes. It could be from anywhere at that resort, our room, the beach, the pool........I just love it. I also love just listening to the sounds of the boats coming in, the music from the MK........I'm so excited for you guys.
I have to add that I was much younger when my family stayed at the Poly (it was during the mid 80's? Anyway I have always remembered opening the drapes to watch the Electric Water Pageant, watching Wishes ANYWHERE in the resort, and the feeling like I'd been transported to a magical tropical island....I was hoping that's what your title was getting at.
Kuddos to Luke for scoring the switch AND saving points!
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The Fun, Old-Fashioned Family Vacation, 3.0 http://www.passporterboards.com/foru...ml#post4472933
Ch-Ch-Changes July 2015
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I always love following along on your trips, staying at the Poly will make it all the sweeter! We love the resort and can't wait to see all the changes when we arrive in July. The studios look beautiful!
I'm anxious to see the changes, too. The last time we were there lots of walls were up.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcc0313
Love all your choices. We have not been to Le Cellier for many years and added it to our list too. I am excited to hear your reviews about Tratitoria Al Forno, so far hearing such good things as we have a ADR there in August so will be happy to get another review before we go.
I love Kona for breakfast (we ended up adding on a breakfast there as well when we switched some of our days there) - I love Tonga Toast - like my ultimate favorite....I think I am ready for some now.....LOL
The Wave sounds like the perfect ending to a great trip!!!
I read the description of Tonga Toast to Luke and he really liked the sound of it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PhilsEagles08
I'm shocked that you don't have an ADR for O'hana. When was the time you & Luke dined there?
Your selections look delicious though! I can't wait to read your review of trattoria al forno!
When we were making ADRs, we weren't staying at Poly so we didn't even consider it. I'm guessing the last time we ate there for breakfast was 2011 or 2010 with Stefanie. It has never been a favorite for any of us, so we only book it once in a blue moon. We're also not big eaters for breakfast. We've never done dinner, but we didn't want to give up any of the choices we'd already made.
Dining choices look great! I have to agree with you on the San Angel Inn vs La Hacienda. I want to like SA because the atmosphere is so unique, but the food and service bring us back to LH. We are trying Sanaa this summer, in part, due to your raving reviews of the restaurant! Trip reports really do help others plan better trips!
I hope you all enjoy Sanaa as much as we do. There are so many places we've tried because I've read about them here in TRs.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roxie2006
All of your choices are awesome. I'm sad to say the only one we know anything about is Hollywood and Vine. I am the 1 that is afraid to try something new. I will be looking forward to all your reviews and photos.
I used to be afraid to try new foods, and I'm still less adventurous than Luke.
I have to add that I was much younger when my family stayed at the Poly (it was during the mid 80's? Anyway I have always remembered opening the drapes to watch the Electric Water Pageant, watching Wishes ANYWHERE in the resort, and the feeling like I'd been transported to a magical tropical island....I was hoping that's what your title was getting at.
Kuddos to Luke for scoring the switch AND saving points!
I have a feeling that I'm going to really, really like the tropical island feel of the Poly. We visited to eat and I've always like what I saw.
Quote:
Originally Posted by B.M.
Great dining choices!
Quote:
Originally Posted by roaminggnome
Great choices for dining. We are in the process ourselves on making reservations.....So many good places!!
Sometimes it's a bit overwhelming to trim down the choices to what will fit into a single trip.
Great dining choices! I'm looking forward to your review of Paradiso 37 as that is a place I hope to try next trip. I think you will be very happy with Tratoria al Forno!
Cam, I really love your trip reports! I look forward to seeing your great photos. It is super that you and Luke get to stay in the new studios. Your Dining choices look great and I Can't wait for your report about them. I am excited for the both of you!!
Great dining choices! I'm looking forward to your review of Paradiso 37 as that is a place I hope to try next trip. I think you will be very happy with Tratoria al Forno!
Luke has wanted to eat at Paradiso for quite sometime now, so I told myself I couldn't forget it when the planning began.
Quote:
Originally Posted by booklady1
Cam, I really love your trip reports! I look forward to seeing your great photos. It is super that you and Luke get to stay in the new studios. Your Dining choices look great and I Can't wait for your report about them. I am excited for the both of you!!
Thank you so much! I'm thinking I might need to make a list of some of the photos I'd like to take this trip since we are getting to experience quite a few new dining experiences, the F&GF, and SWW.
Over the past four or five trips as a couple, Luke and I have been by trial and error trying to figure out how we like to tour the parks now that we’re, well, older. Our earliest trips with Stefanie, we were up for park opening and stayed until the park closed, but we were 20 years younger then. We’ve tried afternoon breaks, but these don’t really work so well for us. Neither of us can seem to nap while at WDW. We like the pool, but not for more than an hour and a half. So what experiment will we try this trip? We are both more night owls than early risers. Keeping that in mind, we will be starting some of our days later in hopes of being more rested for touring.
As the plans stand now, our days should go something like this.
Sunday, May 10 (Mother’s Day) – We’ll be up early to hit the road for our first day of travel, ending in Valdosta, Georgia, where we’re spending the night at a Hampton Inn. No plans yet for lunch, but there will be stops for refueling both the Edge and us.
Monday, May 11 – Hopefully, we’ll feel like getting up fairly early in order to finish off the traveling no later than 11:00 – 12:00. Who knows until we get there if our room will be ready that early or not, but since we are driving that won’t be a problem. It’s possible we’ll have a quick lunch at Captain Cook’s before heading to Epcot for our first experience of the Flower & Garden Festival. FastPass+ for this after include Test Track 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Mission: SPACE® 2:35 PM - 3:35 PM
Spaceship Earth 3:55 PM - 4:55 PM
Of course, I will pick up a PassPorter for the gardens, so we can begin ticking those off the list as well as taking lots of photos of flowers and topiaries both in Future World and the World Showcase. I think I get as excited about what I’m going to photograph at WDW as I do what I’ll get to ride and eat.
As I’ve already mentioned in my Table Dining update, we’ll have our dinner at Le Cellier Steakhouse at 6:10 PM. After dinner, we’ll wander the pavilions of the World Showcase until time to hold our spot for llluminations, which will finish off our first night in the parks.
Tuesday, May 12 – This will be our first MK day and we’ve decided to get a little later start. Our FastPass+ selections are
Peter Pan's Flight® 9:50 AM - 10:50 AM (Our plan is to be in line for this ride around 10:30, so we can sleep a wee bit later before starting our day.)
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train 11:05 AM - 12:05 PM
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad® 1:05 PM - 2:05 PM
Since getting additional FP+ at MK has been so easy for us in the past, we’ll probably try for another one or two or three. Otherwise, we’ll ride whatever suits us at the moment, and doesn’t make us wait excessively long.
Tonight’s dinner will be at Be Our Guest Restaurant at 5:50 PM. We may or may not stay for Wishes as we definitely have plans to see it another night.
NEXT: Touring Plans for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
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.
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. I will be looking forward to all your reviews and photos.
. However I haven't the first clue on how to book, where to book, what to do in DL..........so I'll be taking notes from your trip for Luke's b-day for sure
Our earliest trips with Stefanie, we were up for park opening and stayed until the park closed, but we were 20 years younger then. We’ve tried afternoon breaks, but these don’t really work so well for us. Neither of us can seem to nap while at WDW. We like the pool, but not for more than an hour and a half. So what experiment will we try this trip? We are both more night owls than early risers. Keeping that in mind, we will be starting some of our days later in hopes of being more rested for touring. 
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