The Big Family Adventure - WDW 2016, part 1 - Page 2 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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
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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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So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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Day 8 -- We've never done any of the dining plans, so I've been amazed at what you all can get for a snack credit. Sounds like a really good deal! Your MK day was going so well, and then that horrible bit got in there. So sorry it happened, but you all seem to work it out quite well. I get wondering about getting the Wishes FP+, but usually like to use all three of our pre-planned FP+ earlier in the day.
Well I wasn't sure how it would work out, but I was really happy with it - the garden area you stand in is really uncrowded, and you don't have anyone shoving in front of you at the last minute. There just seemed to be a bit more space around us, which was lovely.
But I know what you mean - it meant we were tied up with that FastPass for the whole day, and couldn't get another one as you have to wait until your 3 have expired or been used before getting a 4th.
The minor argument was a bit horrible, but it was over in a matter of a few minutes. The trouble is that I always like everyone to be happy and loving together all the time, and that isn't realistic I know. DH and DSis fight like a pair of teenage siblings sometimes! Neither of them will let something go, and neither of them know when to shut up and walk away sometimes!
Still loving your daily reports on each day!
__________________
Silvercat
(Enjoy reading trip reports? Why not try my books, "Tiggerific Travels Parts 1, 2, 3 & the new volume 4" - available now as e-books)
Day 9 -- You are were quite successful this day with your shopping. I'm so glad you finally got your XBox One! You all had a fabulous meal at 50s Prime Time. It's so much fun with the servers play along. So cool that your DH ended up loving RnRC. Too funny how they tried to make you think otherwise. Too funny adding the random shots to your DSon's camera. I would have been scared angry if I'd been told a package had already been picked up. Thank goodness the CM was mistake and a shame she didn't have better manners to admit her error.
Day 10 -- Thank goodness you had a FP+ for Soarin' as the stand by wait was incredibly long. You had me laughing with your story of DH and his ordeal with the glasses and an eyebrow. How cool to meet a Disney consultant and a sweet one at that. I bet your DH's photo of the monorail with SE is very cool. You picked two of my favorites at the F&WF booths, scallops from Scotland and the beef burguignon from France. I had forgotten until reading it again in your TR about the drunk trying to climb the Mexico pyramid. Sounds like everyone enjoyed a wonderful day apart and then ending together with a great meal and fireworks.
Day 11 -- Your sister's bathing suits are hilarious in the water. As you described it, the black one reminded me of Ursula. BOG has quickly become a favorite of ours. The "wind" story is too funny. The Jingle Cruise overlay is a neat holiday addition, and Holiday Wishes is so beautiful it always makes me teary eyed. I love how your son was waving at the characters on the parade floats. Priceless! I had forgotten about the sprinkles before BOG, so thank goodness it ended before you came out.
I absolutely LOVE your trip reports !!! I guess I don't have much patience or something but I like being able to finish what I start (including books). Your trip sounds wonderful !!! Your attention to detail (without being boring) makes me feel like I'm there, also. Can't wait until your next trip so I can join in again !
Day 12 -- When we've done two week vacations at WDW, I've found my day 12, even if we've rested a day or two, that overtiredness just seems to creep in. Glad it didn't cause any real problems today. Congrats on finally beating your family at TSMM! Don't know that I'll ever beat Luke. Funny story about the toilet paper. Smart move to buy food before heading up to watch Fantasmic. I'm going to remember that suggestion. I'm a little jealous of all the times you all got to see the Osborne Lights on this trip. I do hope they find a new spot for it.
Originally Posted by Cam22 Day 11 -- Your sister's bathing suits are hilarious in the water. As you described it, the black one reminded me of Ursula. BOG has quickly become a favorite of ours. The "wind" story is too funny. The Jingle Cruise overlay is a neat holiday addition, and Holiday Wishes is so beautiful it always makes me teary eyed. I love how your son was waving at the characters on the parade floats. Priceless! I had forgotten about the sprinkles before BOG, so thank goodness it ended before you came out.
Oh no! For pity's sake don't tell her it made you think of Ursula, she will kill me!!
Sorry about the 'wind' story, but it made us laugh so much at the time, and we have not let DSon forget it yet, either!
Bless him, he astonished me this visit with his love of characters, I mean this is a 34 year old, 6'2" tall, chunky bloke - and he was waving at them all like he was a 5 year old girl! It was so funny and yet so cute at the same time.
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Originally Posted by ath334@aol.com I absolutely LOVE your trip reports !!! I guess I don't have much patience or something but I like being able to finish what I start (including books). Your trip sounds wonderful !!! Your attention to detail (without being boring) makes me feel like I'm there, also. Can't wait until your next trip so I can join in again !
Thank you so much for your kind words, I had worried there was too much writing and no photos, but I personally love both kinds of trip report, so I hoped there were other folk who would also like the ones without photos and loads of words!
You may have to wait a little while for the next TR, I am currently writing up Disneyland Paris from last December, but I am also busy publishing books at the moment - I have just published my third book of Trip Reports on *cough* a popular book website, and am trying to write enough short stories to put together an anthology of fiction to publish. I already have 2 decent stories, and ideas for another 2 outlined, I just need to find the time to get them finished!
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Originally Posted by Cam22 Day 12 -- When we've done two week vacations at WDW, I've found my day 12, even if we've rested a day or two, that overtiredness just seems to creep in. Glad it didn't cause any real problems today. Congrats on finally beating your family at TSMM! Don't know that I'll ever beat Luke. Funny story about the toilet paper. Smart move to buy food before heading up to watch Fantasmic. I'm going to remember that suggestion. I'm a little jealous of all the times you all got to see the Osborne Lights on this trip. I do hope they find a new spot for it.
Yeah, sorry about the toilet paper story too - I have a tendency to over-share, sometimes!
We were sad to see the Osborne Lights because we love seeing them, and we just kept thinking that this would probably be the last we would see of them. It was so hard to be grateful that at least we got this opportunity, when others hadn't.
Anyway, DSon pointed out to me yesterday that I left a funny story out of Day 12 at the Studios, so here it is :-
When we got to the Studios, it was a bit crowded and we struggled to park, again. DSis took herself off to watch the Beauty & the Beast stage show, which we had kept missing up to this point, while the 3 of us went to use our Toy Story Midway Mania FastPasses. I won, for the first time in ages! As we left the theatre, DH was ahead of DSon and I, and we were a little slower returning our 3D glasses to the bins. DSon casually tossed the yellow-framed plastic glasses into the collection bin, then as he began to walk down the ramp to leave the attraction, he felt something on top of his head and wondered what it was. He felt around, and his hand came away with a pair of yellow-framed, plastic 3D glasses …… To his horror, he realised he had thrown his prescription spectacles into the collection bin!! DH carried on exiting, he hadn't noticed, but DSon and I raced back to the collection bin and began to frantically search through it, (I was trying not to laugh at this point). A Cast Member walked past and casually said, "oh, put your real glasses in the bin, did you", as if this happens all the time! DSon finally found his glasses, and we had a good laugh about it, catching up with DH to tell him what had happened. Yet another reason we should never take a vacation without a responsible adult in tow!
__________________
Silvercat
(Enjoy reading trip reports? Why not try my books, "Tiggerific Travels Parts 1, 2, 3 & the new volume 4" - available now as e-books)
Last edited by Silvercat; 01-25-2016 at 07:03 AM..
Day 13 -- The Undiscovered Future World Tour definitely sounds like one Luke and I need to do. So cool that you got to be at least temporarily an honorary cast member. Of course, the tour could have done without rude dude who was 20 minutes late for regrouping. How cool that Disney replaced DSon's torn shorts. Glad you were finally able to valet park without cost so you made it on time to California Grill. I love watching Wishes from CR, and how neat to watch Holiday Wishes.
Day 14 -- This update reminds me that we need to see Flights of Wonder again as it has been years since we last saw it. I love the Maharajah Jungle Trek, and so neat that you got to see a tiger up and moving on a hot day. The little brown bird sounds so sweet. I had the same experience trying to photograph Luke on Primeval Whirl last May. I stood in the heat with my camera ready, and then waited and waited. Suddenly, he appeared right in front of me. We had a good laugh at that, and it was the first I realized there were two sides to this ride. Dinner at Tony's Town Square Restaurant sounded delicious, but too bad your server was in such a rush. Sounds like the packing went pretty well.
Day 15 -- I've finally finished and you all have made it home. Glad that everything with your luggage worked out in the end, though it wasn't fun for your DSis that her luggage was damaged on the way home. Sounds like the four of you made wonderful use of your last few hours in the parks. The only bad part is that is now over and no trip for another two years. Thanks so much for taking the time to relive your trip, so we could read along.
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Day 15 -- I've finally finished and you all have made it home. Glad that everything with your luggage worked out in the end, though it wasn't fun for your DSis that her luggage was damaged on the way home. Sounds like the four of you made wonderful use of your last few hours in the parks. The only bad part is that is now over and no trip for another two years. Thanks so much for taking the time to relive your trip, so we could read along.
You're welcome - thank you for taking the time to read it, and for commenting on every day too! I've really enjoyed reading your comments.
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Originally Posted by disney fan 46
OMG I luvd your trip report!
Thank you, glad I could provide something entertaining!
__________________
Silvercat
(Enjoy reading trip reports? Why not try my books, "Tiggerific Travels Parts 1, 2, 3 & the new volume 4" - available now as e-books)
I read all of your trip report on the flight up to Iceland this morning and I loved every minute of it. It was so much fun to read and you guys obviously had an absolute blast, with one notable exception, but I think the less said about that one, the better.
I especially loved your description of the tour - we took that one many years ago and now I'm thinking maybe we should do it again? Mark was also devouring a bacon roll on the plane when I got to your bit in the trip report about taking a fork to Piglet - talk about timing!
I read all of your trip report on the flight up to Iceland this morning and I loved every minute of it. It was so much fun to read and you guys obviously had an absolute blast, with one notable exception, but I think the less said about that one, the better.
I especially loved your description of the tour - we took that one many years ago and now I'm thinking maybe we should do it again? Mark was also devouring a bacon roll on the plane when I got to your bit in the trip report about taking a fork to Piglet - talk about timing!
Thank you for the kind words, and I'm really glad you enjoyed the report. We did indeed have a lot of fun, it was a very different trip to how we normally tour on our own, but we are so glad we did this for lots of reasons. I think it would have been a miracle had 4 adults survived each other's almost constant company for 2 weeks without having some kind of disagreement, but it was over so quickly that it really didn't spoil the holiday.
We really love our WDW tours, and this one was absolutely amazing - Epcot is our favourite park, and it was wonderful to learn more about Future World. We are torn for next time though - I want to do the Animal Kingdom one, but also the World Showcase one! We may have to draw a name out of a hat for next year ....
Sadly, I am in wholehearted agreement with your lovely hubby about Piglet - I think Mark and I could quite happily devour the small pink pig between us, given enough bread!!
Have a great time in Iceland, and good luck with the whales and the Northern Lights - I hope you see lots of both!
__________________
Silvercat
(Enjoy reading trip reports? Why not try my books, "Tiggerific Travels Parts 1, 2, 3 & the new volume 4" - available now as e-books)
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
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Your MK day was going so well, and then that horrible bit got in there. So sorry it happened, but you all seem to work it out quite well. 
I get wondering about getting the Wishes FP+, but usually like to use all three of our pre-planned FP+ earlier in the day. 
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I would have been scared angry if I'd been told a package had already been picked up. Thank goodness the CM was mistake and a shame she didn't have better manners to admit her error. 
I had forgotten until reading it again in your TR about the drunk trying to climb the Mexico pyramid. 
Sounds like everyone enjoyed a wonderful day apart and then ending together with a great meal and fireworks. 
Funny story about the toilet paper. 
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