Solo-on-a-Scooter takes the A-Train. LIVE TR, 8/29 - 9/11/2015 - Page 15 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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Glad you made it Laurie! How great to meet up with Sharon! Sorry the train ride was so exhausting! Your room at the BWV is gorgeous! And a great dinner at FFC! What a great gift to get!
Thanks, Marnie! The train ride was hard but so worth it to get here!
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Originally Posted by Hugmonster
Loving the updates! Sorry to hear the train ride was rough.
You know, the train ride is now in the past. I get to fly home, and for right now, I'm HERE!
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Originally Posted by KimmyAnn1147
That thoughtful gift is so sweet! I think the Boardwalk art is pretty nice!
Glad you had a rejuvinating day. Hope that tomorrow sees you up and at-em at AK!
Yep, I did get to AK today! I'll post it all tonight.
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Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
What a great gift basket - and so thoughtful! Looks like the trip is starting with some pixie dust!
It's either pixie dust or PassPorter dust-- or maybe they're the same thing!
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Originally Posted by Pris
Oh, how thoughtful the gift was. It sounds like a perfect selection of items for you! That pixie dust does get around when you are in Disney, doesn't it!
I'm just floored by the gift.
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Originally Posted by DawnK
Yay you are there!! Dinner at Flying Fish looked wonderful!! What a beautiful gift!! I just love how Disney goes above and beyond with their pixie dust...I guess that is why I don't want to go other places on vacation!!
I hope you will be able to get out today! Enjoy your day!!
Disney does make it hard to go other places. You KNOW you'll have a great time at Disney.
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Originally Posted by Tara O'Hara
I love your gift basket!! How thoughtful and just the thing!! Sounds like your indoor day turned out A-okay!! I do hope you get to AK in the morning. Rest well!!
The day of rest was wonderful, the gift amazing, and I went to AK this morning!!
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Originally Posted by pamcarey
Sorry that the train ride was so tiring for you! How great that Sharon was able to meet up with you at Penn Station and help keep you company! Your meal at FF looked great, and what a sweet gift you got from someone! I hope that the day of rest was rejuvenating for you.
I'm really having a nice time. Not doing as much as I'd like, but what I'm doing is pretty great.
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Originally Posted by jandsdennis
Glad to hear you had a nice restful day inside. What a nice surprise with the gift basket. Hope you were up for AK this morning.
I'll post today's update tonight with a report on my first morning at the vet window!
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How awesome that Sharon was able to meet up with you and keep you company while you waited for the train. So the train ride was rough. What a lovely gift to receive. That was thoughtful of whoever sent you the basket. Hope you were able to enjoy your time at AK today!
How thoughtful of the front desk staff to send a gift basket!
Sounds like you had a relaxing day yesterday. Can't wait to hear about your visit to AK today.
BWV are almost at the top of my list of favorite resorts. We've stayed there a few times and always been impressed with the service and care all the CMs give their guests. DH and I were there in January celebrating our 48th wedding anniversary and we found balloons, candy and a card waiting for us when we arrived. WLV is a favorite too but slipping down the list. No one wished us "Happy Anniversary" there. Not looking for material things just an acknowledgement of our special event.
May the remainder of your trip be as magical as the first part.
Glad you made it safely! I'm sorry I couldn't check in before now, but I had quite a hectic weekend! It was a pleasure to keep you company during your layover. It really was fun for me, and every time I looked at a clock, I kept wondering where you were and how it was going. Sorry the train ride wasn't great, but you're there now and that's what matters. Your dinner at FFC looked delicious. I'm glad to hear a recent positive experience. And I'm really glad you got to spend some time at the vet window! Hope that trend continues!
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
What a lovely and thoughtful gift. Sounds like a nice and relaxing day. Hope you enjoy a wonderful morning at AK.
Thanks! It's all working out now. I'll post today's report in a few minutes.
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Originally Posted by Ciavobella
That gift basket made me misty - how sweet!
Thanks for sharing your trip so far; can't wait to read more.
It really was a lovely gesture. Update coming right up.
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Originally Posted by KMB733
How awesome that Sharon was able to meet up with you and keep you company while you waited for the train. So the train ride was rough. What a lovely gift to receive. That was thoughtful of whoever sent you the basket. Hope you were able to enjoy your time at AK today!
I'd love to know who contacted the front desk! I had a great time at AK today, Kathy!
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Originally Posted by DMA
How thoughtful of the front desk staff to send a gift basket!
Sounds like you had a relaxing day yesterday. Can't wait to hear about your visit to AK today.
Yesterday's long rest was much needed and made today's brief trip to AK possible.
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Originally Posted by benchley
What a really thoughtful gift, that's what I love about wdw, the people
You are so right. It's the CMs here that make the magic!
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Originally Posted by mcneal
What a lovely gift basket! So thoughtful but of course it couldn't have happened to a nicer person.
Sorry about the rough trip. Hopefully the return trip will be a little better.
Your dinner at Flying Fish looked perfect. I was drooling! Then to top it off with the creme brulee. too much......just too much
You're so sweet, Mary. Thank you. I'm so glad FF was just as good for me as it always has been. They're just wizards with the side-dishes!
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Originally Posted by a_bernard
what a nice gesture.
Thank you. It really was.
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Originally Posted by Grammy Grumpy
BWV are almost at the top of my list of favorite resorts. We've stayed there a few times and always been impressed with the service and care all the CMs give their guests. DH and I were there in January celebrating our 48th wedding anniversary and we found balloons, candy and a card waiting for us when we arrived. WLV is a favorite too but slipping down the list. No one wished us "Happy Anniversary" there. Not looking for material things just an acknowledgement of our special event.
May the remainder of your trip be as magical as the first part.
I love the BW CMs. The front desk and bell staff are outstanding!
Quote:
Originally Posted by PrincessSharon
Glad you made it safely! I'm sorry I couldn't check in before now, but I had quite a hectic weekend! It was a pleasure to keep you company during your layover. It really was fun for me, and every time I looked at a clock, I kept wondering where you were and how it was going. Sorry the train ride wasn't great, but you're there now and that's what matters. Your dinner at FFC looked delicious. I'm glad to hear a recent positive experience. And I'm really glad you got to spend some time at the vet window! Hope that trend continues!
Thanks again, Sharon! I'm glad it was fun for you because I'm not exaggerating when I say your being there helped me to get through those hours and mostly forget about the pains in my body!
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.
Day 4, August 31, Monday. Overcast and threatening all day, but I don't think it rained until evening.
The forecasts were mixed, with some saying all-day rain, and others saying the rain would hold off until afternoon. I decided to risk it and headed off to AK, bright and early. Was I excited? YES!
I stopped for the Winged Encounter show in front of the Tree of Life. This little show was wonderful. VERY hard to get photos of the macaws in flight. They come in so fast. It is exciting, though. They make a lot of noise and soar overhead before landing on the roost in front of the Tree of Life. They stay for a while and then, whoosh! Off they go again, back home. I'll get better photos of the birds in flight tomorrow. I wasn't quick enough today and just concentrated in watching them.
I stopped, as always, to say hello to the giant catfish, Bruce, and the Galapagos Tortoise. The porcupines and kangaroos weren’t out this morning. I still had some time before the train, so I explored the new Harambe Market. I think they’ve done a wonderful job with this. I’ll have lunch there one day.
AK was not at all crowded today. When the train pulled into Conservation Station I was so excited and was grinning all the way down the trail to the vet building. I was hoping that my dear CM friend, Maralyn, would be there, and she WAS! I had to have our greeting recorded!
Maralyn is one of the education CMs working at Planet Watch and she’s been there since the park opened. My vet tech friend, Lidia, is on vacation in Europe and I knew I wouldn’t be seeing her this trip, but Vet Tech Juliana was working today. I met the new vet, Dr Geoff, from Australia. He came out to talk to me because Lidia told him to take care of me! What a very nice man. He did his internship 15 years ago at AK and now is back as a full-time staff member. Before the procedures started I went to see the first animal at the encounter stage. It was a beautiful banded king snake named Valentine. I petted her and she stared at me for a while, sniffing the air with her tongue. (I took photos of this and also more of the vet window, but photo bucket wouldn't load them!)
The procedures this morning were neonate exams on 5 Green-Wing Doves, and a check-up on a hooded rat. I only saw the doves, as I got too tired and headed out before the rat came out. I think this is the only time I haven’t stayed until all the procedures were over, but I don’t want to push it. I want to be back at the window tomorrow! James, the Aviary Manager, described the exams as they went on. He knows everything about birds!
After taking the train back to Harambe, I made my way out of the park. There’s so much I still need to do— mainly the Safari and the trails— but not today. A bus came right along and I was soon back at the hotel. I stopped at the Boardwalk Bakery to get some food for the rest of the day— a caprese sandwich and a goat-cheese salad— and then stopped at the store for some sparkling water. All set to rest until I set out again tomorrow morning.
Your gift basket brought a tear to my eye, it was such a thoughtful gift! I'm so happy you were able to make it to the vet window and I enjoyed seeing your pictures of AK. It is such a beautifully themed park. I'm a bit embarrassed to ask, but where are the kangaroos? All the times we've been there, I don't think I've seen them.
I have been looking forward to hearing about your day! The winged encounter show sounds great! I want to make sure to look for that on our AK day. How excited you must have been on the ride to Conservation Station! And what a great welcome from Maralyn! Hoping that after a restful afternoon and evening, you'll be able to visit the vet window again tomorrow.
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Your room at the BWV is gorgeous! And a great dinner at FFC! 
What a great gift to get! 
I do hope you get to AK in the morning. 
Rest well!!
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Mary - not enough trips!
It was a pleasure to keep you company during your layover. It really was fun for me, and every time I looked at a clock, I kept wondering where you were and how it was going. Sorry the train ride wasn't great, but you're there now and that's what matters. Your dinner at FFC looked delicious. I'm glad to hear a recent positive experience. And I'm really glad you got to spend some time at the vet window! Hope that trend continues! 
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