An Animal Kingdom State of Being with Cam and Fam COMPLETED 9/18 - Page 150 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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It's always sad to read the end of a TR, but you had some pretty great memories from this trip! What an ordeal having to wait for that storm to blow through, Glad you got home safe, though!
Sorry that Luke's throat was hurting...I hope he's feeling better!
It did make the last few hours most interesting! Poor Luke's throat is hurting again today. He has had all kinds of doctors look at it, but none of them can figure out why it hurts so often.
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Originally Posted by rhinohunter
Great last day. The Donald visit was most impressive. But Disney is always like that.
Donald's reaction this day was a great example of the Disney magic!
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Originally Posted by Coop
What a great trip Cam! Thanks for letting us tag along!
Quote:
Originally Posted by EmilyJ
What an amazing surprise. Love love love the tr
Thanks so much for reading along!
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Originally Posted by langefamily4
Cam I absolutely loved your TR!! Thanks for sharing all of your adventures, and I can't wait for your next PTR to begin
You are welcome! Sadly, it's still several months before I start the next PTR!
Sorry for the delay at the airport....seems that WDW was very sad to see you all go - talk about a storm (guess it was trying to keep you guys in Orlando for as long as it could). Glad that the late hour provided no traffic on the way home but I am surprised you got up as early as you all did....talk about one exhausting trip.
Another great Cam and Fam TR - what a wonderful trip filled with so much magic...definitely deserved by a wonderful group. Thanks again for sharing...it will be so strange not to have another Cam update waiting, but March will be here sooner or later....time for another wonderful PTR
I was thinking that we got up early for getting in bed at 3:00 AM, too. But I remember Stefanie and I both felt rested. March will probably be here before we know it.
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Originally Posted by unewillow
Another fantastic trip and TR to take us along! Can't wait to see your scrapbooks!
I have already posted my scrapbook in the Spare Room.
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Originally Posted by buzzspal2
It's over.... Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for following along!
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Originally Posted by goofyboysmama
What a wonderful, magical trip! I laughed and cried and cheered along with you. Poor Luke - I hope he's okay by now. A Disney World vacation can be a trial of endurance too! Thanks again for taking us along with you - 'see ya real soon!'
Luke's feet are mainly better that is until it rains and then they ache just like my arthritic joints.
Quote:
Originally Posted by emmalovesdisney
Another wonderful TR, thank you for sharing all your wonderful stories and photos
Glad you made it home eventually, safe and sound
Sad to see it over but glad you made it back safe.
Me, too! Little too interesting weather-wise there at the end, but we did make it home just fine!
Quote:
Originally Posted by debrabrown
How sad your TR is at an end. I fell woefully behind and can't possibly comment on all the wonderful pictures but I will say what a wonderful end to your trip to have that gate magically open and be in character heaven - wioth Chip and Dale to boot!
That will stay one of our special magical moments from all our WDW trips.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lsugirlinutah
I'm happy you're home safe, but sorry it all had to end. It always seems to go so quickly, doesn't it? I think I need to bring your family along on our next trip; special magic always seems to follow you around!
We did have a nice sprinkling of magic on our trip!
Quote:
Originally Posted by luvnwdwgal
Thanks so much for another terrific trip report Cam! I especially enjoyed it knowing that our own trip was quickly coming up! I'm keeping my fingers crossed though cause DH just started complaining of a sore throat!
for you DH's throat!
Quote:
Originally Posted by emvenable77
OK Cam I was waaaaaaay behind. I mean like 100 pages behind but I just had to say how awesome that you guys were in the parade and then you found your family on the you tube video!!!
So cool!!
glad another successful matthews trip to be had
you had so many amazing things happen
glad it was such a good time
cant wait for next year!
for reading along!
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
Meeting those characters was a wonderful and magical way to end your trip!! Sorry about the delay in leaving Orlando, but in the end you made it home safe and sound! Can't believe we have to wait until next June for another TR!
In spite of the storm, the whole trip was wonderful!
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Originally Posted by Roxie2006
I just caught up at Epcot area. What wonderful family Pictures. I think the pics in Teppon Edo were great too. Love all the magic and surprises that the Characters showed to you all on your last day!!!!!! Glad you all returned home safe from Magical Family Vacation!!!!!!
for reading along!
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Originally Posted by Tink and co.
What a wonderful character surprise at the end of the trip! Love those photos of Stephanie! Thanks so much for writing up another great trip report to share with us. I really enjoyed it.
:thanks; for reading because you all keep me accountable to finish!
Great TR!! The departure day is always the hardest. Excited to get home but depressed to leave the Disney bubble.
The last day is always a difficult one, and Stefanie is ready to go back now.
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Originally Posted by lexiemom
Just got all caught up on the last few updates. Sounds like you had a wonderful last day! We had a similar surprise with characters at Epcot this past Wednesday between Italy and The American Adventure, it was so much fun to be able to meet so many different characters all in one spot!
I am sad your TR is over. Thank you so much for sharing your memories with us!
So glad you all got a special character encounter, too! Can't wait to read about it, too!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Laurast
As always, thank you so much for sharing your trip with all of us. What a special time you had and I especially loved the update where Stefanie got to have so many of the characters all to herself at Epcot. The looks on her face were wonderful
Her face is so loving with all the characters!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
Fabulous, magic-filled trip and trip report. That was a long travel day with the bad storm! Wonderful that the pilots remembered Stefanie. I can just picture her with her "serious look" pushing her suitcase!
(Not sure if you usually check the "behind the scenes" forum-- I posted a health update on Lilly)
I'm going to head over there now and check on Lilly!
Quote:
Originally Posted by shnewell
What a wonderful magical surprise for Stefanie and a great way to spend your last afternoon! Sorry about the travel delays going home -- we often seem to find ourselves stuck at MCO, which just seems to prolong the pain of having to leave!
I'm sad your trip is at an end. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Thank you for reading the whole thing!
Quote:
Originally Posted by clio
I'm sitting in a Comfort in reading your TR, What a magical surprise for Stefanie. I'm glad Donald stopped for her and she got to show him her stuffed Donald. The last day is always the saddest. Sorry your flight was delayed and you got in so late. I really enjoyed reading all about your trip and seeing all you pictures.
Liz
Stefanie still talks about how Donald stop to see her stuffed Donald who is now proudly sitting beside her every night on her bed.
Great report! Loved following along on the whole adventure..thank you for sharing......my dgd loved Stephanie's tinker bell gear when I showed her.....so when is your next trip? Love reading about them...
We'll head back in June 2012 though we haven't set specific dates yet. We're hoping to stay at BWI.
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Originally Posted by bsblady01
sounds like you had a magical trip
It was! for reading along!
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Originally Posted by Linnynad
What a great way to end your trip with that amazing character extravaganza!!!
As ususal, I love following along with you and your family. I can't wait to hear about the next adventures!
Best of luck with the school year
We have just now starting planning for the our June 2012 trip. Luke can make reservations in November and I can make ADRs in December.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mousestruck
Another fantastic TR, Cam! As always, I loved reading about all your adventures!
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Such a wonderful trip with so many magical moments!!
It is so hard to believe that was over 3 months ago now!!
It will soon be time for you guys to make your resort ressies and then your ADRs!
Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to write such a great trip report!
PassPorter Guide Community Rank: Legend Extraordinaire
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Such a wonderful trip with so many magical moments!!
It is so hard to believe that was over 3 months ago now!!
It will soon be time for you guys to make your resort ressies and then your ADRs!
Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to write such a great trip report!
Such a wonderful trip with so many magical moments!!
It is so hard to believe that was over 3 months ago now!!
It will soon be time for you guys to make your resort ressies and then your ADRs!
Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to write such a great trip report!
Stefanie keeps telling me to be sure to plan time with Ann on our next trip!
What a magical trip!!!! I really enjoyed reading your trip report & am so sad it has come to an end.
Thanks for sharing the adventures of your wonderful family!!! Can't wait for the next TR!
Wow, that was quite some finish to a wonderful trip! I've loved reading all about it - thanks so much for sharing it with us and sorry to see it come to an end.
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I've loved reading all about it - thanks so much for sharing it with us and sorry to see it come to an end. 
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