Feelin’ Groovy: A Cam and Luke TR Completed 7/31 - Page 13 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel 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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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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Cam, I soo love your trip reports! They are a joy to read in between the long wait I have before I can visit Disney again. Your Vera Bradley purchases are beautiful and I love your bracelet and charms. Looking forward to the rest of the report. Thanks for sharing!!!
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Cam, I soo love your trip reports! They are a joy to read in between the long wait I have before I can visit Disney again. Your Vera Bradley purchases are beautiful and I love your bracelet and charms. Looking forward to the rest of the report. Thanks for sharing!!!
You are so sweet! It is always nice to know that my trip reports help others out.
Before I start day two, I have to share about our room. It was the BEST location we have had at any Disney resort since 2009 when we first stayed at Animal Kingdom Kidani Village a month after it opened. We were definitely grooving to this room location. From this room, we were near the bus stop exit, the elevator, the vending/ice, the laundry, the lobby, and the gift shop. Literally, we only had only a two to three minute walk to anywhere. Groovy times! Each time we left the room, we felt that this room was very near our first room here in 2009. So Thursday night I finally remembered when I had access to my computer to look at our photos from our 2009 stay. I could remember a photo that I used in that scrapbook. In it Luke and Stefanie were standing in front of the door with the room number to the side. I had to check several folders of photos of the 2009 trip before I found that photo, but there it was. We were in 7214 this year; back then we were in 7216. Cool! In fact, I realized looking at those photos that this is the first time we have ever stayed in a studio at Kidani. We’ve always stayed in either a one-bedroom or two-bedroom villa there. 7216 is a one-bedroom villa, and marked the first time our family of three had ever stayed in a one-bedroom. (The studio was necessary for our May trip, so we could book a two-bedroom for us and the Vaughns in October.) I missed the shower stall in the one-bedroom as in the studio we only had the tub/shower combo. Additionally, the fridge is very small, but we just couldn’t beat this location. : waytogo: No long walks when we were tired upon returning to the resort. That turned out to be a blessing for Luke.
The balcony view had been a bit sparse of animals until Thursday at dusk when it suddenly came to life. I was preparing to go to the laundry when I looked up from the basket where I was sorting clothes to see a giraffe running into view. He was actually running, but that photo will have to wait until Thursday’s update as I’m getting a wee bit ahead of myself in this room review. Shortly, this one giraffe was joined by three others, and the laundry had to wait. Friday morning there was a flurry of activity outside our window with four giraffes, four ankole cattle, and an ostrich in a pear tree, well, not really in a pear tree. And I’ll save all the Sunset Savanna photos for their appropriate days. Needless to say, by the end of the trip I had a plethora of wildlife photos so the Sunset Savanna will have its very own two page layout in the scrapbook.
We were so tired, and I still had the unpacking to do on Monday night that I never even thought to take photos of the room. It wouldn’t be until Friday, May 13, when we were joined by Linda (lindawdw) that I realized my mistake. She asked us if the gauzy strip was still hanging over the headboard of the bed to give it an African feel. I couldn’t answer immediately because I honestly hadn’t noticed nor had I taken any photos. Luke did remember, and let her know that it was still there. When we got back to the room Friday night, I thought I would correct the shortage of room photos. BUT we had stuff strewn everywhere. Luke’s shoes were even lined up in a row in front of the couch. Because of the disarray, I only two a couple of photos. I wasn’t planning on doing a scrapbook page for it, but that unfortunately means, you all won’t have much of an idea of how the room is set up.
Day 2, Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Since we were headed to Animal Kingdom today, last night I had set my alarm for 7:30 AM so we could get a wee bit more rest before another adventurous and groovy day. I first woke up around 6:30 AM, but managed to doze off again until 7:05 when I pulled my laptop up and checked e-mails. Once I’d taken care of the important stuff, I got ready while Luke slept a bit longer. He was up by 8:00 AM. We managed to head out of the room around 9:00, arriving at Animal Kingdom about fifteen minutes after park opening. Once we neared the entrance, I veered off from Luke for bag check and even found a security guard with no one in line. Score! Or should that be groovy. Luke and I reunited and headed toward ticket scan where we were surprised by a fairly long line all the way across. We had hoped that by arriving a little after opening that the line would be down already. Not groovy! We watched the lines and eventually moved to one where folks were scanning through quickly. Now that was groovy! I wanted a PhotoPass photo with the Tree of Life in the background, but my goodness, every photographer had a line six plus families deep. Just like Magic Kingdom yesterday. So we passed on that for the moment.
Our first adventures took us shopping, which later in the trip I will confess to Luke, is a fun part of any vacation to me. I’m pretty sure he already understood that. He also wanted to check out the newly renovated shops on the right as guests come down towards the Tree of Life, Riverside Depot and The Outfitters, the names on the outside of each. They now flow very nicely together. My receipt from here calls it Discovery Trading Company. We were on a small mission to find a Mother’s Day limited edition pin. We had looked at Frontier Trading the day before at MK, but the CM there had told us they were sold out. I saw the pin displays almost as soon as we entered the shop, and quickly began looking through all the exclusives and holidays. No luck! Meanwhile, Luke had noticed some pins behind the counter and wondered if maybe one of these was the Mother’s Day pin. I went over to check, and after quite a bit of squinting and stretching, I saw exactly what I wanted -- the Marie Mother’s Day limited edition pin. A CM was soon waiting on me. In no time, I had that little pin stuffed away in my purse.
From here we walked down to the Tree of Life to check again on PhotoPass photographers. The lines hadn’t thinned one bit, but I did a couple of photos of the ToL. While I was taking these, Luke wandered over to an enclosure. He came back to me saying there was some kind of animal back there. I walked over and got a couple of photos, but I wasn’t sure at first what the little fellow was because I couldn’t see his face. For my final photo, he turned to look at me, and I then knew he was lemur. Too cute!
On our way to breakfast at Starbucks, I captured a few more interesting items: a duck, a flower, a sign, and a stationary giraffe.
We had purchased a Starbucks gift card at Kroger prior to leaving home, so we could have breakfast a number of days here while at WDW. Creature Comforts still blends into the African terrain as though it has always been here. I really appreciate how the Starbucks in each park fit into the theming.
Inside Luke ordered a Bacon Gouda Ciabbata and a Vente Café Mocha while I got a Ham and Swiss Croissant. I didn’t realize until we sat down to eat that I had forgotten to order a drink. Oops! While Luke waited to pick up our order I took some photos.
Once we had our food, we down to the entrance to Tusker House where there were lots of empty tables in the shade. From there I ran over to the cart that sells beverages, and was actually able to get an orange juice. Groovy! This really turned out to be a great location for breakfast dining as we had African musical accompaniment the whole time. Revived by the food and music, we were now ready for some attractions.
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Great start to your day at AK. I think we may have had that exact same one-bedroom that you had on your first stay in Kidani. I'll have to go and check my old Passporters. The perfect location is what makes me think it might have been the same villa. We loved how close we were to the lobby, elevator, and bus stop. But, in fairness, we've really lucked out with location there. We have always been in that same general area for each of our Kidani stays.
Can't wait to see the your animal photos. You always get some great ones.
Great start to your day at AK. I think we may have had that exact same one-bedroom that you had on your first stay in Kidani. I'll have to go and check my old Passporters. The perfect location is what makes me think it might have been the same villa. We loved how close we were to the lobby, elevator, and bus stop. But, in fairness, we've really lucked out with location there. We have always been in that same general area for each of our Kidani stays.
Can't wait to see the your animal photos. You always get some great ones.
You have scored so much better than us at Kidani. Our one-bedroom was closer there was closer to Jambo than the lobby at Kidani. Our two-bedroom wasn't as far but still quite a walk.
Quote:
Originally Posted by purplegal
Great start for your day, good idea to pre buy a Starbucks gift card.
Thanks! Just a couple of nights before we left, we got the idea for the gift card, and we will definitely be buying another for our October trip.
I'm glad you did the Wishes Fireworks Dessert Party & gave an honest review. It doesn't really seem like something we need to try ourselves. I think Disney could really put more into it for the price they charge, imo.
I also think Stefanie had a little something to do with the room selection. She was just letting you know she was still there with you!
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Each time we left the room, we felt that this room was very near our first room here in 2009. So Thursday night I finally remembered when I had access to my computer to look at our photos from our 2009 stay. I could remember a photo that I used in that scrapbook. In it Luke and Stefanie were standing in front of the door with the room number to the side. I had to check several folders of photos of the 2009 trip before I found that photo, but there it was. We were in 7214 this year; back then we were in 7216. Cool! 
And I’ll save all the Sunset Savanna photos for their appropriate days. Needless to say, by the end of the trip I had a plethora of wildlife photos so the Sunset Savanna will have its very own two page layout in the scrapbook. 
Luke and I reunited and headed toward ticket scan where we were surprised by a fairly long line all the way across. We had hoped that by arriving a little after opening that the line would be down already. Not groovy! We watched the lines and eventually moved to one where folks were scanning through quickly. Now that was groovy! I wanted a PhotoPass photo with the Tree of Life in the background, but my goodness, every photographer had a line six plus families deep. Just like Magic Kingdom yesterday. So we passed on that for the moment. 
This really turned out to be a great location for breakfast dining as we had African musical accompaniment the whole time. Revived by the food and music, we were now ready for some attractions. 
Alaskan Mom aka Bonnie
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