Saving the Magic (with Cam and Luke plus Morgan) COMPLETED - Page 102 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
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Thanks for the pictures as they perfectly show the difference.
You're welcome! I think I have about 200 Giraffe pictures You would think for all the Safari's I've been on, I'd stop taking pictures, but I still want to like it is my first time every time!
You're welcome! I think I have about 200 Giraffe pictures You would think for all the Safari's I've been on, I'd stop taking pictures, but I still want to like it is my first time every time!
I do at least 6 pages in every scrapbook of safari pictures. I think I have enough now, but I'll just keep taking them over and over.
Masai have dark brown spots that look like sunrays and the reticulated have spots that are hexagonal. Kind of looks like a net was thrown over the reticulated giraffes.
THANKS!
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Jennifer / Eeyore is my favorite!! OMG - He's sooooo grown up!!!! And an EAGLE SCOUT!! I can still remember my cute little Tiger Cub! 2016 Reading Goal - 75 books
Coop did an awesome job explaining the difference.
Thanks Cam! I am really a "big cats" kinda gal but my second love is giraffes!
Quote:
Originally Posted by tinker_me_happy
You would think for all the Safari's I've been on, I'd stop taking pictures, but I still want to like it is my first time every time!
great pics! I'm the same way. I always tell myself that I'm not going to take pics and just enjoy it. But I always do take more photos in AK and especially the safari every time.
Cam, I have the answer for you on what kind of animal Stefanie at Animal Kingdom is.... I hope you're sitting down. She's a 4-year-old Masai Giraffe!!! And more... She was received at Animal Kingdom at the end of April. If that isn't a message from your angel I don't know what is. I burst into tears when I got this news and am crying now, but so happy. You can visit Stefanie Giraffe every time you ride the safari.
Today was an early wake up at 6:00 for our breakfast at 8:30 at The Crystal Palace with Ann and Allen. We were all a little draggy. Thank goodness this was our last early morning. As we made our way to the elevators, Morgan noticed a surprise in the carpets that we hadn’t noted yet.
A hidden Tinker Bell – just made my morning and I knew Stefanie would have been so excited about it.
Once we were ready, it was off to the bus stop for an MK bus. While we waited, we watched a little girl play with a hula hoop left at the bus stop. Soon enough two MK buses arrived. We chose the second one as everyone else was trying to cram on the first one. Our bus left while the other was still loading. After a stop at the Swan and Dolphin, we were on our way.
At MK we went through a very short bag check line. The lady security guard took out my Vera Bradley sunglasses case and told me she would have to look inside. I told her fine, but was only sunglasses. She seemed a bit surprised that that was all it really was.
Now we headed to the far left to the event entrance. Quickly, we were through the gate and under the tunnel, marveling at a very quiet Main Street. Luke took several photos and I looked for a PP photographer who was stationed passed the scrim.
PP Photographer Curtis was delightful.
With our camera:
With Disney’s camera:
Morgan noticed the statue of Walt and Mickey and wanted a picture there, too. I forgot to check the name of this PP Photographer but he was great, too.
Luke snuck in one photo, too.
Tomorrowland without a crowd.
Luke several castle shots as we made our way over to CP.
At this point, it was starting to sprinkle. We also got a text from Ann that they had waited 25 minutes for a bus but were on their way. Then she called to find out which ticket gate to use when they arrived. Luke took more pictures while Morgan and I observed the wildlife – ducks, rabbits, and squirrels.
Ann and Allen arrived soon and I went to check us in. We waited maybe 2 minutes before our pager was going off and it was announced that they were ready for the Matthews. I had booked this breakfast at Stefanie’s request. In fact, she thought Morgan and John Paul would like this when they went with us in 2013, but that we should try it out first.
Our server was Frankie. He let us know it would be awhile before we had characters at our table, so we went to fill up our plates. My first plate held: Puffed French Toast, pineapple, grapes, scrambled eggs, bacon, biscuits and gravy. I later returned for another Puff French Toast, eggs and Raspberry Crumb Cake. All of it was very delicious! I started with orange juice and then switched to a Coke to take my medicine, but drank it all before I remembered that I was supposed to take my medicine. I thought this might have contributed to some later issues, but now I know it didn’t. And if that is confusing, it will all be explained later.
First around was Winnie the Pooh, who I had sign Stefanie’s autograph book in exchange for a long, caring hug. Then he kindly took care of Morgan.
Next was Eeyore whose tail fascinated Morgan. She got his autogrpaph has he hadn’t been available in England.
Third, was Tigger who posed with Luke and Morgan and then just with Luke.
Then we waited and waited but Piglet finally did arrive and Morgan got and autograph and picture.
Then it was time to settle up the check, so we could head off to new adventures. I can’t remember what Ann and Allen’s plans for the rest of the day were. We had about 10 attractions to do here, but Morgan was more interested in autographs this morning. The second PP photographer had told her where to find Tinker Bell, but we convinced her to start with Merida as we were afraid this line would get scary long later in the day. When we arrived, we were the third family that would be called inside. Shortly, we were past the rope and Morgan was getting an archery lesson. She scored a perfect bullseye!
PP Photos:
Next was the line to meet Merida.
I think she’s excited!
We were all three fascinated by the triplets as bears who magically posed for the pictures and responded with laughter to comments. They were just too cute! Great interaction! Disney set up for this character meet and greet is very well done!
What great empty MK pics. CP looked fun. It is on my list for 2014. Morgan looked like she was having fun with the bow. My oldest DD would love that too! The 3 bears looked adorable.
Love seeing your early morning pictures of Magic Kingdom! We love to have an early breakfast at Crystal Palace for just that reason - and the food is really good too! The meet and greet with Merida does look really neat with the archery "lesson" and the cute bears. Merida looks pretty authentic too! Morgan looks like she really enjoyed her morning!
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A Fairy Godmother wannabe -
Look what a little Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo can do!
Crystal Palace is a must do on every trip. Glad you enjoyed it. I love my Eeyore and must get my hug from him. The pics in the empty Park are really great Pics. My favorite are the pics with Merida, all the colors are beautiful, and I am parital to redheads.
WDW - August 1997 Off Property
WDW - January 2005 AKL
WDW - May 2006 Pop Century
WDW- november-dec 2007 pop century
WDW- dec/jan 2009/2010 pop century
WDW- oct/nov 2012 art of animation
WDW- sept 2013 port Orleans riverside
WDW- july 2015 beach club
All the photos on empty Main St are wonderful. I've got to look for that hidden Tink next time! Morgan has quite an eye for detail. The photo of you with Pooh is so touching. Love that the bear cubs are part of the action at the Merida meet. Morgan's a natural with the bow!
So glad you enjoyed CP! The Pooh's puff french toast is one of my favorites as well!
Your hug from Pooh was so special!
I love the pictures with Merida. And the archery lesson as well! Nice that they have a PP photographer to capture that part of it.
I love that pic of Pooh giving you such a sweet hug. The pics of Main Street have convinced me to give Crystal Palace a try for an early morning breakfast. Love all the Brave pics!
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You would think for all the Safari's I've been on, I'd stop taking pictures, but I still want to like it is my first time every time!
Liz 
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